South Africa: Construction of Biovac ultra-cold storage facility completed

The commitments made towards investing in South Africa by Pfizer have been realised through the completion of the construction of a Freezer Farm facility at the Biovacs manufacturing plant in Cape Town.

A key deliverable of the additional investment was the construction of the Freezer Farm facility, which will serve as an ultra-cold storage facility and adds to the institutes capacity for vaccine storage and supply, said a joint statement by Biovac and Pfizer.

The partnership between Pfizer and Biovac goes back a long way, having been first established in 2015 to support the establishment of a sustainable supply of Pfizers innovative pneumococcal vaccine - a potentially life-saving vaccine for South African children.

We are pleased that this partnership between government and the private sector has brought to fruition the pledges made by Pfizer at the last South African Investment Conference.

To produce life-saving vaccines is a positive development for South Africa as we are currently dependent on the import of human vaccines. The success of this facility can enable greater health security on the African continent, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel said last Thursday.

The Freezer Farm facility is a state-of-the-art 1100m2, two-storey building, which houses 135 ultra-low temperature freezers that allow for the storage of vaccine products up to minus 70 degrees Celsius, and notably, the storage of the locally manufactured Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Biovac CEO Dr Morena Makhoana said the partnership between Biovac and Pfizer has enabled South Africa to expand its capabilities to locally produce not only the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine, but also the 13 valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

This one of the largest paediatric vaccines included in South Africas Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI)  the early childhood pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Over 20 million doses of vaccines are delivered a year by Biovac, with a significant number of these locally manufactured.

This journey has witnessed the full technology transfer of the innovative 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. With the technology transfer completed in 2022, Biovac can locally manufacture and distribute over three million vaccine doses of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate to the National Department of Health annually towards the immunisation of babies in South Africa, the statement said.

To date, Pfizer has invested over R855 million in Biovac in the form of infrastructure and skills development, with an economic benefit of over R500 million per year to the South African economy.

Pfizer remains resolute in enabling access to quality, affordable healthcare, and one of the most effective ways to do this is through public-private partnerships like this one with Biovac. We embraced the opportunity to get involved in a collaboration that would contribute to the health and wellbeing of South Africans, as well as Africans across the continent, Global President Pfizer Emerging Markets Nick Lagunowich said.

According to the statement, research indicates that more than 12 500 vaccine-related job roles can be created by 2040 on the continent, up from only 3 000 at present.

Furthermore, it has the potential to see an additional 33 000 jobs being created indirectly by industry suppliers. It is our hope that Pfizers investment into Biovac will significantly contribute to these numbers in the coming years, the statement said.

United States (US) Consul General Todd P. Haskell said the US government is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with South Africa in support of US companies such as Pfizer and their South Africa partner Biovac, whose investments make a real difference to health outcomes and support local upliftment  including the creation of jobs and the development of critical skills.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
China to benefit world with more sci-tech innovation achievements

13:09, March 12, 2023 By He Yin ( People's Daily

Sci-tech innovation remained one of the important topics that received wide attention from the international society during this year's "two sessions," the annual gatherings of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

As international sci-tech cooperation faces impacts and challenges from unilateralism and protectionism pursued by a few countries, China, while working to improve its capability in sci-tech innovation, is committed to launching sci-tech cooperation with other countries, for which it has won wide applause.

China is constantly making important original sci-tech achievements today.

Workers of an electricity company experience a power grid accident with virtual reality devices in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu province, March 2, 2023. (Photo by Pan Zhengguang/People's Daily Online)

China's space station, Tiangong, features a basic three-module configuration consisting of the core module, Tianhe, and two lab modules, Wentian and Mengtian. It is designed to be a versatile space lab, capable of accommodating 25 experiment cabinets for scientific exploration.

China has achieved rapid quantum computer development, with the launches of "Jiuzhang," "Zuchongzhi," and "Zuchongzhi 2" in recent years. Similar to conventional computers, quantum computers also need software to manage hardware devices, run applications, and provide a user interface.

Claudia Vernotti, co-founder and director of of Belgian non-profit organization ChinaEU, said that China's progress in sci-tech innovation is very impressive, from the top-level design to the translation of achievements and to the innovation in commercial models.

If there is a lush forest, giant trees naturally grow there, and China has long been nurturing forests, said a recent report by Russian media outlet RIA Novosti.

China has always placed sci-tech innovation in a central place in its development strategy. It follows a path of independent innovation with Chinese characteristics. The importance attached by the country on sci-tech innovation, the frequency of policies it has issued to promote sci-tech innovation and the efforts it has made to advance sci-tech innovation are unprecedented.

A model combination of the Tianhe core module and China's space station is exhibited at the National Museum of China, Feb. 28, 2023. (Photo by Chen Xiaogen/People's Daily Online)

China's gross domestic expenditure on R&D increased to 3.09 trillion yuan ($449 billion) last year, from 1 trillion yuan in 2012. It accounted for 2.55 percent of the country's GDP, up from 1.91 percent during the same period. The number of R&D personnel rose from 3.25 million in 2012 to over 6 million in 2022. The Chinese mainland has climbed to 11th place on the Global Innovation Index 2022 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), from 34th in 2012. The steady progress in the 10-year period is incomparable among all upper middle-income economies.

"China's growth (in GII ranking) from 34th ten years ago to 11th (in 2022) ... is really spectacular. The close attention paid by the government and the country to innovation as an engine of growth is paying off," WIPO Director General Daren Tang said at the press launch of GII 2022.

"The Chinese government takes IP (intellectual property) very seriously. They have five-year strategic plans in which they are able to harmonize IP policy making with all the related elements. China nurtures its innovation ecosystem in a holistic, comprehensive manner," he said.

To achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology is a path that China must take to promote high-quality development.

Education, science and technology, and human resources are the foundational and strategic pillars for building a modern socialist country in all respects. China regards science and technology as its primary productive force, talent as its primary resource, and innovation as its primary driver of growth. It has fully implemented the strategy for invigorating China through science and education, the workforce development strategy, and the innovation-driven development strategy.

A child poses for a picture in a model space station at the Shandong Science & Technology Museum, March 5, 2023. (Photo by Hao Xincheng/People's Daily Online)

With dynamic entities of innovation, policies to boost innovation and an increasingly better environment for innovation, the country will constantly enhance its capability in driving development with innovation and enjoy stronger power for high-quality development.

Openness and cooperation are the sure way to achieve progress in science and technology and growth of productivity.

To achieve common development, international cooperation as well as openness and sharing are needed more than ever. No country can become an innovation hub all by itself or keep all the outcomes of innovation to itself.

China actively shares sci-tech development outcomes with relevant parties, and attaches high importance to applying innovation outcomes in climate change response, energy, environment, agriculture, health and other sectors concerning human's wellbeing. It makes China a better innovator and benefits the world with more of Chinese innovation achievements.

Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesian think tank Asia Innovation Study Center, noted deepening technological exchanges with China and introducing more Chinese innovative technologies will significantly improve the sci-tech level of developing countries and is conducive to narrowing the technological gap between themselves and developed nations.

Sci-tech innovation is a strong force driving human progress. China will stay committed to the innovation-driven development strategy, promote high-quality economic development with greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, promote the openness, trust and cooperation of the international sci-tech community, and make greater contributions to human progress with more major innovative innovations and breakthroughs in key technologies.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Kou Jie)
Turkey says that global peace is impacted by too many factors that prevent it from reaching it in trying circumstances, like international institutions not helping it. The tools of international law which should give peace and stability have not been contributory of late.

Turkey Says International Institutions Have Failed

Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop attending the 8th MIKTA Speakers' Consultation in Istanbul, says more than ever instability is engulfing the globe, noted Move2Turkey.

The optimistic atmosphere after the cold war for all nations is now gone. Today's present environment is that of terrorist activities that have increased, wars, all crises of sorts, and even big battles follow after the Cold War, reported Anadolu.

One of the impacts of a globalized world is that any disturbance affecting nations' welfare prevents positive outcomes. Instead of being localized to one sector, that is not the case as it spreads all over. These breakout wars and misunderstandings are reaching a peace accord to achieve peace and a stable environment for all.

UN Is Failing To Achieve Global Peace

Sentop expressed views on how the United Nations may be a compromised organization due to global trends. He said that from the beginning, the UN had been the engine trusted by many countries for international peace and security.

He added that the UN had problems from the start of its creation in the form of anti-democratic processes that include the right of veto done by members of the UN Security Council, according to Council on Foreign Relations.

Interests concerning world peace and stability are tied to the politics of countries wanting to dominate. Using international law as their tool to perpetuate their agenda to increase their power only benefits them.

Read Also: Sweden Can Join NATO if Signed Agreement Is Followed, Turkey Says

UN Body Needs Reform

The primary concern of most nowadays is focusing on the problem of resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Sentop said that efforts to bring the two to the negotiating table so that a ceasefire can be arranged. The end goal is to bring peace after one year of fighting.

One of the biggest questions is when Moscow and Kyiv will decide to end the battle since Ankara is active in diplomatic approaches. Many international institutions which are supposed to be multilateral are useless compared to warmongers in the west choosing to sell arms, not stop the war.

The Turkish official clarified that changes like the inclusion of all members and decision-making processes should be encouraged in such global institutions. They need to be done now, or more divisiveness will follow.

The problem is not only the UN which needs revision because many of these international bodies are ridden with interests and non-plurality. Such organizations like NATO, the EU, and the IMF World Trade Organization are all flawed by the presence of hegemonic interests.

MIKTA was begun with the foreign ministers of Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia in 2013 at the sidelines of the 68th UN General Assembly. Its goals are to give added value to promoting solutions acceptable for all and to improve global governance. It stresses that it will express its concerns for global issues and keep economic and political ties.

Turkey says the MIKTA will help reach global peace as the UN and company drop the ball on world issues.

Related Articles: Finland Concludes NATO Bid Without Sweden, Erdogan Says

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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Police in Sri Lanka on Sunday fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters angry over a decision to postpone local elections after the government said it cannot finance them because of the country's crippling economic crisis.

About 15 people were treated for minor injuries, according to Colombo National Hospital.

Thousands of supporters of the opposition National People's Power party tried to march toward the main business district in capital Colombo, ignoring police warnings after a court order barred them from entering the area, which includes the president's residence, office and several key government buildings.

The order had been obtained in the backdrop of last July's massive protests, when thousands of people stormed the presidential office and residence and occupied them for days. The crisis forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and resign.

The turmoil was caused by severe shortages of some foods, fuel, cooking gas and medicine, after Sri Lanka went bankrupt because it could not repay its foreign debt. The new president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, negotiated a rescue package with the International Monetary Fund for $2.9 billion over four years, but it can be finalized only if Sri Lankas creditors give assurances on debt restructuring.

Sri Lankas total foreign debt exceeds $ 51 billion, of which it must repay $28 billion by 2027. India and several other creditor countries have so far given assurances that meet the IMF standards, but the deal hinges on whether China would agree to debt restructuring at the same level.

The Finance Ministry under Wickremesinghe said it can't allocate sufficient funds for the March 9 elections for town and village councils, even though political parties had submitted nominations.

The decision forced the Election Commission to indefinitely postpone the elections.

Despite signs of progress in reducing shortages and ending daily power cuts after nearly a year, Wickremesinghe is immensely unpopular. Many people say he lacks the mandate because he was elected by lawmakers backed by Rajapaksa supporters. They accuse Wickremesinghe of protecting members of the Rajapaksa family from corruption allegations in return for backing him in Parliament.

The National Peoples Power party, which organized Sunday's rally, has only three lawmakers in Sri Lanka's 225-member Parliament but it enjoys a wave of public support after the economic crisis eroded the popularity of traditional political parties that have ruled Sri Lanka since independence.
Game Of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has signed up to host eco series An Optimists Guide To The Planet for Bloomberg Media.

The series will feature Coster-Waldau traveling the globe searching for the people, ideas, and traditions that will turn environmental angst into optimism.

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He will meet electric aircraft engineers in Burlington, Vermont, Nashulai Conservancy elders in Kenya, and women leading sustainable Mezcal production in Mexico.

Described as Bloombergs most ambitious original to date, the series will be produced by Canadas Cream Productions and Wildfire Television, the UK production outfit. It is made in association with Bell Media and Ill Kippers Aps, Coster-Waldaus production company.

Executive producers are David Brady, Philip Clarke, Kate Harrison Karman, Coster-Waldau, Joe Derrick, Jennifer Baichwal, and Nicholas de Pencier. Patrick Cameron is the co-executive producer.

The climate crisis impacts all of us, however what I hope this show demonstrates is that we are not doomed. Together with Bloomberg we will showcase the stories of incredible innovators, problem-solvers and dreamers, Coster-Waldau said.

Bloombergs original content is available on the Bloomberg app on connected TV devices. Other originals include Getting Warmer with Kal Penn and The Future with Hannah Fry.

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Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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HA NOI  Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nong Rong in Ha Noi on Friday.

Minister Son expressed his belief that with the election of the State leadership for the new term at the ongoing first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China will successfully implement socio-economic development goals and tasks set out by the session, contributing to the realisation of the Resolution of the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The minister stated Viet Nam consistently attaches importance to consolidating and developing its comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, considering this a top priority in the countrys overall foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and diversification and multilateralisation of external relations.

He held that the relationship between the two Parties and countries is in front of a new beginning with great advantages and huge potential for cooperation, especially after General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trongs important visit to China in October last year.

Son suggested the two sides continue to maintain contacts and exchanges at all levels; improve the quality and efficiency of cooperation; develop trade in a more balanced and sustainable manner; expand investment cooperation in parallel with settling obstacles in several key projects; promote transport connectivity, and soon resume flights between the nations to facilitate travel of people and flows of goods, especially in the context that the two countries have opened their doors after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applauding Chinas placing of Viet Nam on the list of countries to which Chinas group tours will be piloted from March 15, the minister recommended the two sides facilitate the exchange of tourists, and effectively and sustainably exploit their extensive potential for tourism cooperation for mutual benefits.

Agreeing with the hosts suggestions for the promotion of the nations collaboration in the time to come, Nong affirmed that China treasures its relations with Viet Nam and is willing to work with Viet Nam to increase exchanges, consolidate political trust via all-level contacts, and constantly enhance the friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Viet Nam is becoming an increasingly important cooperation partner of China, with bilateral trade turnover nearing US$235 billion, the official said, expressing his wish that the two sides will further promote cooperation in economy, trade, investment, transport connectivity, culture, education and tourism.

He proposed Viet Nam continue to create a fair and favourable business climate for Chinese businesses.

Regarding the South China Sea issue, the two sides emphasised the importance of strictly implementing agreements and common perceptions of senior leaders of the two Parties and countries, well controlling and properly settling disagreements at sea.

Son suggested the two sides respect each other's legitimate rights and interests in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and make efforts to maintain peace and stability at sea for the development of each country and making positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and in the world.

The same day, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu held talks with Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nong Rong, during which the two sides agreed to continue fully implementing the high-level perceptions and thoroughly prepare for the 15th meeting of the Steering Committee for Viet Nam-China Bilateral Cooperation and step up bilateral cooperation in different areas.

Vu suggested both sides devise plans and well hold exchange activities, all-level meetings; facilitate locality-to-locality cooperation; and continue applying trade facilitation measures. He proposed China accelerate the opening of its market for Vietnamese farm produce, resume seafood imports, make it easier for Viet Nam to establish more trade promotion offices in the country and increase the quotas for Vietnamese goods in transit by Chinese railway to a third country.

Vu also proposed measures to boost cooperation in investment, finance, transport infrastructure connectivity, education, culture-sports.

Hailing China for adding Viet Nam into the list of countries for pilot group tours from March 15, he urged the two sides to resume flights soon, well deploy group tours and recover tourism cooperation to the pre-pandemic level.

Nong, for his part, affirmed that China treasures Viet Nams cooperation proposals and will continue expanding imports, with particular emphasis on the licensing of more Vietnamese farm produce.

China will encourage its businesses to expand investment and work closely with Viet Nams relevant agencies to deal with issues in several cooperation projects, he said.

The Chinese official proposed both sides accelerate the disbursement of Chinese aid funds to Viet Nam in the fields of health care, education and improving people's livelihoods, and continue coordination in multilateral mechanisms.

The two sides also discussed cooperation between the two ministries of Foreign Affairs and agreed to effectively implement the agreement on enhancing cooperation between the two ministries in the new situation; maintain regular meetings between their leaders, and exchanges between departments and agencies to share experience in economic diplomacy; and support localities, businesses and people and in foreign investment attraction for development of each country.

On border and territorial issues, they agreed to continue coordination in managing and protecting the shared border in accordance with the three legal documents on the land border and related agreements; to accelerate the upgrading and opening of several pairs of border gates; build the Viet Nam-China borderline of peace, stability, cooperation and development; seriously implement high-level common perceptions; well control disagreements; and maintain peace and stability at sea.

Viet Nam consistently pursues the mechanism of negotiations and exchanges between the two countries regarding maritime issues, and satisfactory settlement of disagreements and disputes in the South China Sea through peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Vu said.

He suggested both sides maintain regular communication to address arising issues, including providing humanitarian treatment for fishing vessels and fishermen at sea.  VNS
The real mom of an abused and starved California girl files a case for child welfare negligence for failure to choose the wrong foster home. Torriana Florey, the birth mother of Aarabella, stated that Child Welfare Services allowed the foster parents to harm the victim for a long time.

Child Welfare Services Fails To Monitor Aarabella in Foster Care

Florey, the birth mother of the California girl, pursued a suit of $10 million wrongful death claim versus San Diego county, reported Crime Online.

Details revealed that Deputy District Attorney Meredith Pro stated in December 2022 that Leticia McCormack, 49, is the prime suspect. She allowed the horrific torture, leading to 11-year-old Aarabella McCormack's death.

Letecia claimed that she was not alone in the abuse of Aarabella. Her husband, Brian McCormack, and her parents, Stanley Tom, 75, and Adella Tom, 70, had also treated the girl so monstrously until she died, noted CBS8.

Brian McCormack, who worked in the Border patrol, had just gotten home when the cops were at the house when the girl died. Deputies saw him shoot himself dead before getting arrested.

Florey alleged that the Child Welfare Services should have done something that could have saved Aarabella. She said her daughter is a good-natured girl who would not be so after the McCormacks took her in, and they hurt and abused the child, states NBC7.

A call on August 30, 2022, summoned the San Diego police to respond to deal with a suffering child. They took her to the hospital, but she expired there.

More information reveals that McCormacks did not limit the abuse done to Aarabella only. In addition, her two sisters, ages 6 and 7, were also tortured and abused.

Read Also: Oklahoma Couple Starves Daughter; Missing Son Might Be Dead

Prosecutors said the couple and grandparents were not only starving girls but did worse things. The girls were not allowed to use the bathroom at their will, and they struck them with paddles and sticks horribly.

California Girl Tortured Over Four Years

Investigation reveals the girl had about 15 bone fractures that were healing at different rates at the time of her death. They also found lacerations on her body with her bones sticking out from her skin, cited San Diego Union-Tribune.

Florey remarked that social services did not check the family adopting her daughter, and the abuse claims were not pursued. These adoptive parents did not bother to give the care which the victim needed.

She added it was the county's fault for not ensuring her daughter would be safe and well. She insisted that her girl's death would not go silent by filing a suit.

Aarabella, with her two sisters, was taken into the family in 2017 and adopted officially two years later. The prosecutors insisted that the deal girl suffered badly in four years without medical help.

Leticia McCormack and Stanley Tom were charged with murder, child abuse, and torture, while Adella Tom was charged with abuse and torture. All three say they are not guilty of the charges. Leticia is connected to the Rock Church but is now suspended.

Florey claimed that Child Welfare Services had failed in the process and would pursue the lawsuit saying, "I'm not going to stand down for my daughter. My daughter is going to have a voice."

Related Article: Texas Mom Stabs 5 Children, Kills 3 During Child Protective Service Visit

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One must forgive Steven Beseda, a self-described "boy from Penelope," for his unabashed enthusiasm over what Pivovar is and will become.

He sees beer canning, public parking and eventually an office tower rising near the Pivovar dining and lodging complex downtown.

Located on South Eighth Street, "steps" from Magnolia Market at the Silos, says promotional material, Pivovar checks many boxes relating to Czech culture. The most popular dish in its restaurant is pork schnitzel, hands down, Beseda said. Pivovar brews Czech-style beer on site, appropriate for an operation whose name means brewery in Czech. Brew masters from the Czech Republic fly over to shepherd the process.

A Czech-themed bakery doles out goodies there, so says big signs dominating a Pivovar wall facing Interstate 35. A stay at Pivovar's 28-room boutique hotel includes access to beer baths. Suites there during peak demand fetch anywhere from $750 to $850 an evening, Beseda said.

But wait, there is much more, said Beseda, a Central Texas native who spent most of his youth in Penelope, West and Waco. He attended Tarleton State University's ROTC program, graduating in 1997 as a second lieutenant.

"I wore my dress blues on a Saturday, reported to Fort Knox, Kentucky, on Sunday, going right into the service," Beseda said. "I traveled the world, visiting 37 different countries. I've been blessed. One of my favorite assignments was the consulate in Jerusalem, one of my least favorites was Afghanistan. I was assigned to Hawaii for a time, meaning I traveled throughout the Pacific. For a small town Penelope boy, I've seen a lot."

Fortunately, he crossed paths  or more accurately, flight paths  with Julius Kramaric, a businessman from the Czech Republic looking for investment opportunities in the United States. The two shared a sight-seeing helicopter ride in Hawaii and later dined together, sewing seeds for a collaboration with investors in Europe. Icing on the cake was Kramaric's visit to Westfest, West's annual celebration of Czech culture.

Fueled by foreign dollars, Pivovar arose next to Union Pacific Railroad tracks in downtown Waco.

"That was phase one," said Beseda, who knows about putting pieces together. The 5% of his career not dedicated to military service involved logistics, efficiently moving things from here to there. He rallied a start-up logistical team for Walmart in Fontana, California, so he knows "how to get beer to market."

That knowledge serves him well as CEO of Pivovar, which continues to maneuver and advance. Czech investors also acquired the Texas Meter & Device building next door to Pivovar and across Eighth Street from Waco Transit. Beseda said plans are to convert the building to office space for Pivovar's use. Any room left will be made available to mixed-use tenants.

"Not naming names, but in the past week or two, we've been in conversation with people looking to lease that space," Beseda said.

A second building nearby, also previously owned by Texas Meter & Device but now Pivovar controlled, may become home to a beer-canning operation, Beseda said. He said he made Pivovar-produced beer available to Westfest revelers last year. Targeting other Czech festivals and marketing the beer to retailers such as H-E-B would seem a logical next step, Beseda said.

Yet a third former Texas Meter & Device property in the neighborhood ended up in Pivovar's hands, and it quickly was leveled to create parking space. Beseda said with parking at a premium near downtown attractions, including Pivovar itself and various Magnolia enterprises, making spaces available to the public merits consideration. He said the going rate is about $10 per space.

"We are exploring parking lot options that would be available to tourists," he said. "Of course, our hotel would be given top priority."

Pivovar also secured parking between its complex on Eighth Street and the AC Hotel by Marriott going up on Sixth Street.

Looking well into the future, Pivovar still envisions an office tower rising skyward where Texas Meter & Device now sits, Beseda said. That move, of course, would necessitate leveling the space, but generating revenue there until concept leads to construction would work well.

"That's phase four, the office tower," Beseda said. "It's not going to happen tomorrow. We have to think smartly about market conditions, the cost of commodities, getting a return on investment. The smart approach is getting other businesses in next to the Pivovar brand, next to Magnolia."

Talking shop, Beseda said Pivovar is becoming an international destination, thanks to word-of-mouth and positive reviews online. He said he recently met three couples from London staying at Pivovar. He deduced they were part of the same traveling party, but surprisingly learned otherwise.

"I would be willing to bet most hotel guests are from outside Texas, same with the restaurant," Beseda said. "We know George's and Vitek's are iconic brands, but we're so near Magnolia, we're getting a different crowd."
Federal lawmakers and agriculture leaders will visit Waco on Wednesday for what is being described as a Farm Bill listening session.

The public is invited to attend the meeting that Texas Farm Bureau spokesperson Gary Joiner said likely will attract hundreds wanting to express themselves on farm and ranch issues. The gathering is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Base multipurpose facility at the Extraco Events Center, 4401 Bosque Blvd.

This listening session will feature several bipartisan members of the House Committee on Agriculture, a press release says. The event will bring together farmers, ranchers, producers, agribusiness owners, and more, to solicit feedbackan integral part of the Farm Bill reauthorization process.

Rep. Glenn Thompson, a Republican from Pennsylvania who chairs the House Committee on Agriculture, will attend, as will Rep. Pete Sessions, who represents Texas 17th congressional district that includes Waco.

The press release from Sessions office says The Farm Bill will be the most significant piece of legislation to impact farmers and ranchers since 2018.

Waco-based Texas Farm Bureau is not sponsoring the listening session, but has released its priorities related to the Farm Bill.

Principles it supports to guide development of programs in the next Farm Bill include protecting current Farm Bill spending; maintaining a unified Farm Bill which keeps nutrition programs and farm programs together; prioritizing risk management tools and funding for both federal crop insurance and commodity programs; and ensuring adequate U.S. Department of Agriculture staffing capacity and technical assistance, according to a Texas Farm Bureau press release.

The Texas Farm Bureau also urges that any change to farm legislation come as amendments to the Agriculture Act of 1938 or the Agricultural Act of 1949.

Congressional members confirmed to attend Wednesdays event in Waco include, besides Sessions and Thompson, Chellie Pingree, a Democrat from Maine; Austin Scott, a Republican from Georgia; Doug LaMalfa, Republican from California; Kat Cammack, a Republican from Florida; Ronny Jackson, a Republican from Texas; Tracey Mann, a Republican from Kansas; Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas; and Derrick Van Orden, a Republican from Wisconsin.

The press release says other attendees will be announced.
The state is sending $47 million in opioid settlement money to cities and counties, and Waco and McLennan County will get more than $320,000 between them to spend as they see fit. Funds being released now carry no stipulation they go to opioid-related treatment programs.

They are opening the first drip of the faucet, said Waco attorney Herb Bristow, legal counsel to McLennan County and a major player in efforts to hold drug companies legally accountable for the opioid epidemic.

Texas in 2021 joined in approving a $26 billion multistate settlement with three major pharmaceutical distributors  McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen  as well as drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in February last year that settlements to date had produced nearly $1.9 billion for Texas opioid efforts.

Bristow said settlement money is flowing into state coffers, and the Texas Comptrollers Office now is sending it along to local governments.

A fairly complex system is in place to make sure the political subdivisions get their initial payments. Some will come immediately, some over the years, Bristow said. Settlements are ongoing. Were working on our ninth or 10th. Some pretty big settlements will be arriving. If $160,000 is the countys initial drip, thats the baseline. We fully expect more than that.

For at least two years, the state has announced settlements with drug companies. Bristow said the Comptrollers Office serves as Texas conduit to local governments in distributing settlement payouts.

We hope to have this first tranche of monies sent by the end of the month, Comptrollers Office spokesperson Kevin Lyons said.

He said the city of Waco is receiving $160,729, the county, $166,264.

The state reached deals worth a combined $300 million with Teva Pharmaceutical, Endo Health Solutions, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Endo International and Par Pharmaceutical. The county stands to receive $626,000 from that deal, Bristow said, and another $140,000 from a $292 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson.

The Tribune-Herald early last year quoted Bristow saying the county may apply for an additional $2.5 million from the Johnson & Johnson arrangement, money the state would put into a regional Opioid Abatement Trust Fund guided by physicians and mental health professionals. McLennan County is lumped with Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Hamilton, Hill and Limestone counties in the regional approach to doling out opioid money.

McLennan County Administrator Dustin Chapman said decisions on spending money from opioid settlements rest with county commissioners.

We have not yet set up an account, Chapman said in an email.

City of Waco leaders also have yet to decide how they will use the settlement money.

The Waco City Council has approved the citys participation in the State of Texas settlements with several defendants in the opioid litigation, a statement from the city says. The city has not yet received the funding as part of these settlements. We are still determining how best to utilize the funds, once received, in addressing the opioid epidemic.

The county was among the first local governments statewide, if not the first, to file suit against an opioid manufacturer, doing so in 2017. It later joined claimants around Texas and nationally in seeking financial remedies.

The $47.1 million going out soon from the state to cities and counties is the first in a series of transfers that will continue for years, a Texas Comptrollers Office press release says.

As drug cartels funnel dangerous fentanyl across our southern border, the state of Texas and our local communities stand on the front line of this crisis, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, said in the press release. We are working tirelessly to ensure these dollars are put to use in the most effective way and to provide resources to entities committed to ending the senseless loss of life associated with the opioid epidemic.

Besides sending money to cities and counties, the state has created the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund that will underwrite distributions to hospital districts and make grants to other organizations dealing with opioid-related problems.

Bristow said about 70% of settlement money will flow into the trust fund for disbursement to mental health, opioid diversion and opioid addiction programs. Guidance on how the money must be spent is very clearly set out, and entities must apply for funding, Bristow said.

He said payments to political subdivisions are direct, without constraints, and could be earmarked for anything. He said cities and counties are not legally bound to do so, but could allocate the money for opioid-related issues.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show annual opioid overdose deaths nationwide more than tripled from 21,089 in 2010 to 68,630 in 2020, and continued climbing to 80,411 in 2021. The nation saw 109,699 overdose deaths involving any drug in 2021.
DES MOINES  The University of Northern Iowas Steve Carignan is one of several individuals being recognized for contributions to the arts in Iowa.

The Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, presented him with one of the 2023 Governors Arts Awards on March 1 at the State Historical Museum of Iowa.

Carignan, who is recognized in the category of Arts Champion, is an associate dean of special programs and executive director of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. First arriving at UNI in 1999, Carignan is approaching nearly 25 years at Gallagher Bluedorn and is responsible for overseeing all operations at the center.

Iowa is blessed with a cultural community of great talent and deep commitment, he said in a statement. It is an honor to be considered in such company.

Through Carignans leadership, Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center continued to offer virtual performances and arts experiences from its stage during the COVID-19 pandemic  safely bringing performances into the living rooms of audiences across Iowa.

In addition, the centers Kaleidoscope youth program was reworked for virtual performances  bringing unmatched success. In one season, the program reached more than 75,000 children in 16 states and Canada  bringing the program closer to celebrating the one-millionth child to benefit from life-changing educational arts experiences.

Thanks to Steves visionary leadership, the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center has found new and innovative ways to not only engage its existing audiences, but to build new ones  sharing the power of the arts across the Cedar Valley and Iowa, said John Fritch, dean of the UNI College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences. Steves leadership has been critical to maintaining a thriving arts community locally, and I want to congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.

Others receiving recognition for contributions to the arts include three graduates of the University of Northern Iowa.

Alan Greiner of Boone will retire from his position as executive director of the Iowa High School Music Association at the end of June, a position he held for 21 years. Greiner is a 2002 UNI graduate with a degree in music education.

Amber Danielson of Marshalltown was recognized as an Emerging Arts Leader. A 2011 UNI graduate with a degree in marketing, Danielson has transformed the Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance through managing major public art installations and securing grants for creative community projects.

Leon Kuehner of Hampton was recognized in the category of Arts Learning. Kuehner has served the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education for 25 years, following decades of service as a high school band director in Hampton and president of the Iowa Bandmasters Association. He holds bachelors and masters degrees in music education from the University of Northern Iowa.

Additional information about the 2023 Governors Arts Awards can be found on IowaCulture.gov.
CEDAR FALLS  A developer is seeking to rezone 14.43 acres of the 46.25 acres he owns in North Cedar for future residential construction.

The other northern, two-thirds portion of the agricultural land, north of Tomahawk Lane and west of Cypress Avenue, cant be developed at this time because the sanitary sewer infrastructure isnt there to service future buildings.

Jim Sands Construction purchased the entire swath of land for $786,250 last year. However, the rezoning matter was introduced to the Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday.

Action isnt expected until the next meeting March 22 when the panel will hold a public hearing before likely making a recommendation to the City Council on whether to approve the rezoning.

Daniel Arends, the civil engineer at VJ Engineering whos working with Sands, believes the developers long-term plan is to develop the entire 46.25 acres.

But for now, hell be focusing on what will be some combination of selling, or developing on his own, the approximately 30 future lots of a half-acre each or so for future single family homes.

Planner Michelle Pezley said Wednesday the street network would connect to Hiawatha and Pocahontas roads, which would be capable of supporting the future development.

The applicant is open to creating a park within the future development in the low density residential area, which they say is consistent with the plans for future residential homes.

Two neighbors approached the dais with requests that the city and commission make sure the development is limiting the stormwater runoff onto the surrounding properties.

We just want to make sure that everybodys on board with developing it and making sure that that the water thats in the field that comes out of it doesnt come into our neighborhoods, said Scott Bonorden, a resident of Rocklyn Street.

City engineer Matt Tolan responded that the development will be an improvement to the area and that a solution to the stormwater issues is being discussed.

The commission also:

Recommended in a 5-1 vote to the council with Oksana Grybovych Hafermann objecting that the citys zoning be amended to allow for salons as a conditional use for defunct institutional buildings in residential areas. The applicant, Chad Welsh, made the request as he looks to put a makeup and eyebrow salon inside the former Faith Wesleyan and Jordan Crossing church at 209 Walnut Street.

Set a March 22 public hearing for rezoning 3.07 acres of land west of Hudson Road along Ashworth Drive from agricultural to residential for the owners David and Tamara Nicol, as well as the city. A residential structure already stood on the property, but was demolished to make way for an extension of Ashworth Drive later this year from Hudson Road to Kara Drive.

Recommended for approval to the council a site plan for a triplex at the corner of Faithway Drive and Prairie Dock Road.
WATERLOO  Amid disputes over headwear and calls for recess, residents in Waterloo have recently come to question the way the City Council runs its meetings.

At Mondays council meeting, a few people spoke up about the issue during public comment in regards to time limits, rules suspension and wearing hats.

Dwayne Eilers, a regular council attendee whos almost always sporting a cap, approached the podium to speak. But since he was wearing a hat, Mayor Quentin Hart did not recognize Eilers, meaning Hart would not allow Eilers to speak.

Hart repeated himself several times before Eilers asked: Im not recognized because Im not dressed the way you want?

During the back-and-forth, the council motioned for a recess, which lasted a few minutes so Eilers could leave the podium or take off his hat. He opted to leave.

City Clerk Kelley Felchle said in an email that while removing a hat before speaking is not specifically addressed in the citys code, it gives the presiding officer the discretion to not recognize a speaker.

Felchle also wrote that asking a member of the public to remove their hat is a practice the presiding officer of the meeting has used for many years.

She cited two parts of the Waterloo City Code  1-4A-9(B) and 1-4A-32(B)  which both state that every member of the public or every council member must be recognized by the presiding officer in order to speak.

Another issue brought up is the city taking away the option for members of the public to speak for five minutes if they preregistered with the city clerk. Usually, the public receives three minutes.

Felchle said the requirement to register with the city clerks office was changed in September.

The requirement changed in part because the majority of speakers requesting five minutes did not fill the time, Felchle wrote. Three minutes to speak is not unusual. Digital city records show that from 1997 to 2014, the public received three minutes to address the council.

She also said that prior to 2022, the rules for public speaking were not written in city code or adopted by a resolution. By codifying the rules, she said, the council ensured a very public and multi-step process to changing the rules in the future.

On Monday, resident Al Mannington brought up how councilmembers can also only speak for three minutes and asked about how they time themselves.

Felchle wrote that councilmembers are aware of the three minute rule and their commentary is succinct. She also noted at the meeting that if a particular councilmember sponsors an item, they do not have a limit on the amount of time they can speak.

The suspension of rules has been another hot topic after the recent readings for a ban on conversion therapy in the city. The ban, along with any other ordinance, must be approved on three readings to pass. But Felchle said state law allows cities to waive the requirement by voting to suspend the rules and approve a measure in one meeting. She said motions to suspend the rules have appeared in city records as far back as 1986.

Resident Jacob Talo brought up concerns he had on Monday about how the council couldve passed the conversion therapy ban all at once.

You are giving the impression you are ramming an item through, Talo said. On controversial issues  it creates heat, and without due discussion this heat is not allowed to reach any form of resolution.

He noted a friend wanted to attend the first reading of the ban Feb. 20 but couldnt make it because of her job and a family commitments.

City Council generally will not suspend the rules if it believes an ordinance has a significant impact on the public or if there is public interest in the ordinance, Felchle wrote.

The council refused to suspend the rules on an ordinance to change the process for noise variances during the same meeting.

Residents applying for noise variances due to parties or celebrations currently have to get council approval. The new ordinance states that variances could instead be approved by the mayors office and reviewed by the police department instead to streamline the process, according to Felchle.

The ordinance passed 5-1, with Councilmember Dave Boesen voting against it. Boesen said he doesnt believe the public would have much chance to notice when noise variances were put in place for their neighborhood since they wouldnt appear on council agendas.

However, a motion to suspended the rules failed. The council was unanimous in its opposition.

The city council also unanimously:

Approved an allocation plan submitted by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Consortium for HOME  American Rescue Plan Program funds in the amount of $1.8 million. The money will be used to assist those experiencing homelessness.

Awarded a $164,500 bid to K&W Electric of Cedar Falls for the airports closed caption TV project in the airline passenger terminal building.

Authorized the sale and conveyance of city-owned property for $210,000 to Dieu Israel Kabangu for a housing project being completed by Hawkeye Community College.

The US surpasses 140 mass shootings in 2023. Here's every event mapped Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space
WATERLOO  Acres of open land surrounding Orange Elementary School will soon be sold by the plot for construction of what the president of the Cedar Valley Home Builders Association calls Waterloos largest residential development project in at least 20 years.

The first 64 of the eventual 240-250 lots of the Paradise Estates subdivision could become available as soon as the middle of April. CJs Construction, the land developer, hopes to wrap up the platting process this month, and sales would close around September, while groundwork gets underway and infrastructure is installed. The subdivision was approved by the Waterloo City Council in 2018.

This is just going to increase the pie, and give people more options on where they want to live. This is a stones throw from VGM and MercyOne. Both employers are excited to have options when they recruit, said Bob Manning, president of the Cedar Valley Home Builders Association, when plans were announced during the Cedar Valley Housing Conference at the Bien Venu Event Center in Cedar Falls earlier this month.

The 121-acre subdivision along Kimball Avenue  north, south and east of the school  is owned by Hope Martin Buzz Anderson.

Its a big need for Waterloo. Its an area where the census found the population to be so high but you have no lots for sale, said Cory Hodapp, owner of North Liberty-based CJs Construction.

CJs has been working with the city and Waterloo Community Schools to finalize plans, which will include a bus lane through the subdivision to alleviate Kimball Avenue traffic, a concern voiced by the Orange Neighborhood Association.

The future single-family homes could be anything from ranch and two-story houses to split foyers with decent-sized backyards and parking for two or three cars. Waterloo city documents describe the first 64 lots being 14,057 to 21,787 square feet.

Melissa Hodapp, company broker, anticipates the lots being sold in the $70,000 to $90,000 range with houses that would later be built and sold for upwards of $350,000.

It will be a nice walkable subdivision with cul de sacs, she said, adding it was a project that a couple other people had tried to take on and do some things with. She said CJs was able to make it happen with the help of various stakeholders whom she described as great to work with.

The company does not anticipate developing any of the lots on its own. If it does, the plan would include few of them. Most of the companys work can be found in and around Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.

The southern edge of Waterloo has continued to see growth around the Isle Casino and Lost Island Themepark & Waterpark. In fact, the Lost Island franchise sold Western Home Communities 53 acres at the corner of La Porte and East Shaulis roads for future senior and elderly housing.

Photos: Upper Iowa wrestlers at the NCAA DII championships at Cedar Rapids NCAA DII Nationals 1 NCAA DII Nationals 2 NCAA DII Nationals 3 NCAA DII Nationals 4 NCAA DII Nationals 5 NCAA DII Nationals 6 NCAA DII Nationals 7 NCAA DII Nationals 8 NCAA DII Nationals 9
ISU professors headline ag event

NASHUA  Mehari Tekeste, Iowa State University associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, and Donald Lewis, ISU professor emeritus and entomologist, will speak Wednesday at the annual meeting of the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association at the Borlaug Learning Center on the ISU Northeast Research Farm, 3327 290th St.

The program starts at 9:30 a.m. From 10 a.m. to noon will be the key presentations by Tekeste and Lewis.

Tekeste will focus on measurement and modeling of soil compaction from heavy equipment, and its impact on crop growth and crop yield. Lewis will discuss the current trend of monarch butterfly populations and the habitats that help them survive. In addition, Lewis will touch on insecticide usage.

Following lunch, Ken Pecinovsky, farm superintendent, will review 2022 research trial results at the Northeast Research Farm and discuss future research plans. The NEIAEA board of directors will then meet.

For more information about the event, call Terry Basol at (641) 426-6801.

INRCOG taking fund applications

WATERLOO  Agencies providing emergency food and shelter programs in Black Hawk County can apply for federal funds to assist their efforts.

The county has been awarded $47,695 through the US Dept. of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

A local board will determine how the funds are to be distributed among programs run by local service agencies in the area.

Eligible agencies must be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government eligible to receive federal funds, have an accounting system and practice non-discrimination, have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food or shelter programs and have a voluntary board if they are a private voluntary organization.

Agencies interested in applying could contact Sheri Alldredge at INRCOG at (319) 235-0311 for an application. Applications must be received by March 29.

Dust control materials allowed

WATERLOO  Black Hawk County residents may apply approved dust suppressing materials to gravel roads per county policy.

Residents must sign up with the county by April 17. They are responsible for all payments to the contractor, but will not be charged for a permit. If planning to use a dust suppressant, contact an approved contractor immediately.

For a list of approved contractors and more information on the countys dust control policy see Dust Control online at blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov/222/Dust-Control.

INRCOG unveils new trail map

WATERLOO  A new interactive Cedar Valley Trails map shows over 125 miles of trails and various features, such as bike repair stations, bird watching spots, cleared winter trails, closed trails, campgrounds and more.

Efforts are underway to incorporate the interactive map into the trail systems with QR code signage on the trails. For now, the map can be viewed at arcg.is/yvGn.
WATERLOO  A fire dealt heavy damage to a Waterloo home Saturday night.

Residents at 320 Glenwood St. escaped the home without injury, and neighbors called 911 after spotting smoke and flames.

Waterloo Fire Rescue had the fire knocked down in about 10 minutes, officials said.

The blaze started on the front porch and burned the front of the home, sending heat and smoke damage inside, firefighters said. Heat from the fire also damaged a car that was parked outside near the house.

The cause of the fire hasnt been determined and is under investigation by the city fire marshal.

The American Red Cross assisted the family with emergency shelter.

The home is owned by Christopher Rumachik, according to property records.

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WATERLOO  Scott Evans feels a sense of pride in students he works with at Waterloo Community Schools.

Once a week for five weeks, he steps into an elementary school classroom to help students understand how money works, the importance of education and financial literacy for future career success and what it means to start and run a business.

Evans isnt a teacher.

Hes a John Deere engineer and a volunteer for Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa.

Its rewarding and fun to work with kids and see the light bulbs go on over their heads when they begin to get what youre talking about, Evans said.

JA relies on volunteers to teach its curriculum. Evans has devoted 14 years to supporting the nonprofit organization that provides activity-based curriculum to kindergarten through eighth-grade students through an agreement with the school district.

Now the organization is seeking 30 volunteers to fill a need in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms beginning in April for the remainder of the school year, said JAs Education Manager Beth Horan. Anyone interested should apply by the end of March at the JA website, easterniowa.ja.org.

Like many charities across the country, COVID-19 curtailed volunteer activities and dealt a blow to Junior Achievements volunteer roster. Volunteers werent allowed in schools in 2021 and, since returning to classrooms in 2022, the organization has been rebuilding its pool of volunteers.

Its been challenging, Horan acknowledged, but other nonprofits are experiencing the same challenges. She hopes appealing to community-minded companies and individuals will attract new or returning volunteers.

No experience is required, Horan said. JA provides training and curriculum, including activities that are specific to each grade level. We want volunteers from a variety of backgrounds. Were looking for volunteers who are willing to share stories about themselves to enrich the lives of students, who bring excitement and energy into the classroom and are passionate about ensuring students have a good foundation as they continue to grow, with the idea of being successful after high school, she explained.

JA has volunteers from the financial community because of our focus on financial literacy. But we also have teachers, homemakers, small business owners and other community-minded individuals from all walks of life.

Many companies, like Principal Financial Group, encourage their employees to volunteer in their communities. Cassie Creighton, who is a relationship associate in customer care at Principal, began volunteering with JA about eight years ago.

The experience has been fulfilling. Ive enjoyed it every year, Creighton said. Although shes worked with kindergarteners and fifth-graders, the first-graders have her heart.

Its neat to see their interest. These young students catch on so fast and are willing to learn. At this age, the curriculum helps them understand the value of money and how to tell the difference between their wants and needs, she said.

Evans has taught JA at several elementary schools, including Fred Becker, Kingsley and Lou Henry, where he has been for the last seven years. Two of his six children are still in elementary school, so I tend to follow my kids. Other kids remember you from the last year, and thats great. I ask them questions about themselves and try to share a little about what I do, he said.

He believes JA is an important tool for classroom teachers.

Its a great introduction to managing money, saving and using credit and debit cards, Evans said. Kids also are encouraged to think about what kind of business they would start. You can see them light up when theyre talking about it. Its important for kids to be inspired about their future.

JA provides the lessons, materials, talking points and training in person or virtually, Horan said. Volunteers are asked to provide their time, stories to share and enthusiasm. There are games and projects to engage childrens interest.

We give volunteers the teaching kits with everything they need, and teachers are always in the classroom during the lessons. Volunteers are in the classroom for 30 to 45 minutes once a week for five or six weeks, and they spend about that much time prepping for the class, Horan explained.

Volunteers are seen as mentors by students, and someone who cares about their success. From a JA curriculum perspective, volunteers ensure that students have an understanding of real-life situations outside of what is normally covered in the classroom, Horan said.

For Creighton, one of her best rewards is seeing the excitement in the faces of the children and feeling like youre part of that, she explained.

Walking into a classroom for the first time can be a little scary and intimidating, especially if youre unfamiliar with the age group, Evans said. But you have a good lesson plan to follow, so just go for it, make it your own and take the opportunity to inspire young children.

Theyre our future, and we can help prepare them for that future, he added.
A new study reveals that a once-considered giant ancient armored fish is smaller than a bus as previously recorded. This monster from ancient seas about 360 million years ago is still as fearsome as thought.

Ancient Armored Fish Size Revised

A bony fish called Dunkleosteus terrelli or Dunk was alive during the Devonian period from 419 million to 358 million years ago that was a major predator, reported Live Science. Swimming oceans that once covered Ohio to look for helpless prey against 8,000 pounds of bite force, noted Yahoo.

The first fossils of the Dunk were found 150 years ago on Lake Erie, close to Cleveland. One of the most giant fossils of the Dunk is at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Unlike modern fishes, its body comprises bony armor and a skull with a cartilage skeleton. The skull measures 3 feet tall and is like an alien creature. Since the bony skull survived as fossils by the cartilage skeleton, that did not give the exact length. Researchers used a shark's skull size and length to estimate its size, but a recent study revealed something else.

Ancient Fish Not a Gargantuan Aquatic Behemoth

Things changed when Russell Engelman, a doctoral student at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio, went to the museum to research the topic because it was hard to do lab work during the pandemic, per Research Gate.

Looking at Dunk's fossil, something did not add up. The size and how organisms are affected by body size and the Dunk's size was puzzling.

Read Also: Researchers Discovered the First Animals To Develop Primitive Skeleton About 540 Million Years Ago

Suppose the giant fish had a 30-foot body which needed to be corrected based on reasoning. Attempts to make an image of the armored predator had been unrealistic and different from the original drawings. It became apparent that the estimates of its initial size need to be more accurate, as was concluded.

Not satisfied that it forced Engelman to go back over sources that said the size needed to be examined. It was glossed over, and more time was required to analyze it comprehensively.

Going through the many fish skull and relative sizes then matched up to how large the body is. The skull size and proportion of the body did match up. Applying what he learned about relative size and using the Dunk, it should be 30 feet long but is 13 feet instead, he wrote on February 21 in the Diversity Journal.

This analysis looked at many speculative aspects of fishy factors, and the height and with of a skull are major clues. In short, that says fish with long skulls will be much longer than those with shorter skulls. Such a conclusion has an impact on fish size.

Based on this, the Dunk is built like a tuna instead of a shark-like body which is not as impressive as Cleveland's paleontological mascot. However, the study concludes that its size has been exaggerated for some time. It cannot be denied that it is still lethal, but it shows that paleoichthyologists occasionally embellish. An ancient-armored fish gets a downgrade but is still chunky, though smaller than a bus.

Related Article: Fossil of 100-Million-Year-Old Fish Challenges Theory of the Evolution of Teeth in Animals

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For some, its a reward. For others, its a punishment.

The tequila worm divides alcohol connoisseurs as the wiggly little prize at the bottom of a bottle.

What started as a marketing trend for mezcal, an alcohol made from agave but different from tequila, has grown to be a global phenomenon. Friends would pass around the bottle, getting drunker and drunker, and whoever got the last sip of mezcal also had to bite into the worm floating at the bottom.

Its become prominent in pop culture, too. In Poltergeist II: The Other Side, the father of the family becomes possessed by a demon after swallowing a mezcal worm in the last sip of a bottle of tequila. The worm later leaves the fathers body, becoming a giant, tentacle-like monster.

But in a new study, published in the scientific journal Zoological Science on March 8, scientists confirmed that not only is the worm not found in tequila, its actually not a worm at all.

Mexican entrepreneur Jacobo Lozano Paez is thought to have been the first maestro mezcalero or mezcal master to place larvae in bottles as a marketing strategy, to enhance the flavor and color of the drink, the study authors said.

Notably, none of these mezcal brands are tequila, as authentic tequila never includes a worm, they continued.

The wiggly specimen was identified as an agave redworm moth larvae using DNA testing from the worms found in mezcal bottles from 2018 to 2022.

The researchers bought bottles of mezcal that contained the larvae from distributors across North America and from distilleries in Oaxaca, Mexico. The larvae were removed from the bottles and placed in a mason jar where they could be photographed and their DNA could be extracted.

The researchers said alcohol can degrade DNA over time, so of the 21 worms collected, only 18 could be used.

The DNA was compared to 63 species of insects that the researchers had on their short list, taken from species of worms that have been known to be consumed in Mexico. Many species have similar larval stages, and many look like the larvae floating in the alcohol.

The results showed that all 18 larvae were from the same species, Comadia redtenbacheri, or the agave redworm moth.

Adding larvae to Mexican beverages and foods (salts, garnishes, powders, etc.) is driven by health benefits and by beliefs that these larvae contain aphrodisiac properties, according to the study.

But the demand for the little grubs has put pressure on their native populations.

Unfortunately, wild-caught larvae are becoming less common, and gatherers are having to travel further to find them, the study said.

Scientists said that some researchers are trying to find a way to grow the larvae in captivity, which can be done more effectively for the mezcal industry now that the exact species has been identified.

10 brands you might not know were founded by celebrities 10 brands you might not know were founded by celebrities Teremana Hello Bello EBY Avaline Fabletics Kinlo Honest Risa Kinderfarms Dos Hombres
Less than a month after the revelation that a Wisconsin-based contractor, Packers Sanitation Services Inc. had illegally hired at least 102 teenagers between ages 13 and 17 to clean some of the nations most profitable industrial meatpacking plants, one middle school child at the center of the story has, according to a March 3 Washington Post account, watched her whole life unravel:

First, she lost the job that burned and blistered her skin but paid her $19 per hour.

Then the county judge sent her stepfather to jail for driving her to work each night, a violation of child labor laws.

Her mother also faces jail time for securing the fake papers that got the child the job in the first place.

Meanwhile, PSSI, the company that hired her and other children, has faced no criminal charges, despite evidence that it failed to take basic steps to verify the age of its young employees. It did, however, quickly resolve any charges it faced by paying a $1.5 million civil fine.

Thats the hidden-in-plain-sight, all too common side of todays global food system: It operates on the ragged edge of the law. Most giant meatpackers, despite their folksy corporate slogans and farm-friendly images, live on this edge.

For example, since 2020, two of the biggest, Tyson Foods and JBS, have paid nearly $800 million to settle either federal or civil suits for alleged labor and market violations.

Those costly settlements, however, havent hurt Big Meats ability to secure lucrative government contracts. Since 2017, JBS has been awarded nearly $500 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture  $400 million in meat contracts and $90 million under the Trump administrations China trade aid.

This latest revelation about underage, illegal immigrant cleaning crews only spotlights meatpackings worst kept secret. Federal labor experts estimate that 73% of all U.S. agbiz employees are immigrants and that half are undocumented, or in the U.S. illegally.

As such, its likely that half  maybe more  of the food purchased by Americans is picked, packed, milked, slaughtered, boxed, and/or delivered by undocumented, and sometimes, underage workers.

Thats one of the darker aspects of Americas cheapest, safest food supply in the world equation: Some of the biggest, richest ag companies anywhere often rely on powerless, illegal immigrant labor to do foods dirty work because, as agbiz often claims, No American will do it.

If true, the biggest part of the cure lies in the near-total control Big AgBiz holds over wages, benefits, harsh and/or dangerous working conditions, harassment, bullying, poor training, favoritism, and other worksite shortfalls.

This corrupt-at-its-core system continues because we  both agbiz and everyday Americans  personally benefit from the abuse of desperate immigrant workers seeking to remain in the U.S. to somehow earn enough money to pay off debts that brought them and family members to the Promised Land, America.

Thats exactly what happened to one of the middle-schoolers caught in the raid of the JBS Grand Island, Nebraska, beef plant.

Like most 13-year-olds, she wanted a job to buy nice clothes and an iPhone 13 so she lied about her age and was hired by JBSs cleaning contractor to scour blood and beef fat from the slippery kill floor, using high-pressure hoses, scalding water and industrial foams and acids.

PCCI, the contractor; JBS, the plant owner; and Blackstone, the $100-billion private equity fund that owns PCCI, all denied hiring underage workers.

But clearly they do, as proven by the 102 underage teenagers found cleaning slaughtering plants in eight states by U.S. Department of Labor in raids last October.

And so do we everytime we buy a ribeye, pork loin, chicken breast, carrot, strawberry, head of lettuce, or too-many-to-list other supermarket items that traveled a crooked, extra-legal path to our local meatcase or grocery shelf.

Which 13-year-old child, mother, grandfather, sister, or son was abused, underpaid, threatened, hurt, or fired so I could pay pennies less for that meat or vegetable?

If our politicians wont fix this corrupt system, then our shame  and courage  should.

5 of Iowa's oldest barns Gehlen Barn The Gehlen Barn in St. Donatus is one of the few stone barns in Iowa and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The three-story barn was built of locally quarried limestone by Peter Gehlen in 1839. Stromeyer Barn Stromeyer Barn, located at 37647 Iron Bridge Road in Spragueville. Built by brothers Henry, Otto and William F.H. Stromeyer, it is constructed of hand-sawed lumber from native cottonwood trees. The barn has 96 window panes and 40 doors. Knoll-Crest Round Barn The Knoll Crest Round Barn was built by Benton Steele in 1914. It is located in Scott County, between Davenport and Blue Grass. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tyden Farm No. 6 Barn The 1936 Tyden Farm No. 6 Barn in Dougherty, Iowa, owned by Ted and Judy Pitzenberger, is one of Iowa's largest barns. Marlow-Saak Barn The 1890 Marlow-Saak Barn, located in Waukon, Iowa, was built by German immigrants and owned by acclaimed-artist Jeremy Marlow.
In his letter March 5, Jerald Bartlett stated categorically "there is no way President Biden will finish his term." That opinion was not only uncalled for and undignified, but totally without merit or basis in fact. Unless Bartlett is a physician who examined the president, there is no foundation whatsoever for his speculation.

Bartlett goes on to praise Sarah Sanders' rebuttal to President Biden's State of the Union speech, saying she "hit the nail on the head" when she classified Democrats as "crazies" and the Republicans as "normal people." In point of fact, Democrats aren't the crazies who preach that government stay out of individual lives but pass laws controlling women's reproductive rights. Democrats aren't the crazies banning books and telling teachers what they can and can't say in the classroom. And Democrats definitely aren't the crazies enacting laws allowing anyone old enough to vote, many still in high school, to buy a military assault rifle.

Lastly, when Bartlett criticized the president for "taking 72 minutes to say what he should have in five minutes" and that he "struggled reading the Tele-prompter." The fact is there were very few instances of that, while most of the speech was clear and forceful. Bartlett also conveniently overlooked that former President Trump's 2020 State of the Union lasted 78 minutes, with numerous gaffes.

Denis Montenier, Hudson
Who doesnt want lower taxes? Or safety on our streets and in our homes? Or their children to grow up healthy and strong, as well as to get an excellent education? But will there really be positive outcomes for us with the present laws being implemented in Iowa? If taxes are continually cut, who pays for those school vouchers? Who pays for the property tax backfill that the state promised to return to local communities? (In Waterloo, 75% of the city budget pays for police and fire protection.) How can we have healthy children if families dont have access, in a timely manner, to mental health care? Or enough food to nourish them due to SNAP benefit changes? Or a decent education if funding to schools keeps getting cut? Or high standards for teachers are not required? Or child labor laws are loosened? Or school and neighborhood shootings continue to proliferate with easy access to guns? How limited the outlook for Iowa as the present administration and their cohorts in the Legislature continue to restrict rights for anyone who isnt a clone in thought of their insular brand of government. Public-spirited is not part of their vocabulary. Mean-spirited is.
A survivor of six heart attacks and a brain tumor, a grumpy bear of a man, whom has declared Russia as his new and wonderful home. His wife is a true Russian Sweet Pea of a girl and she puts up with this bear of a guy and keeps him in line. Thank God for my Sweet Pea and Russia.
Weather Alert

.Warming temperatures this weekend are bringing renewed snowmelt and streamflow rises, especially for snow covered terrain below about 7000 feet. Creeks that brought impacts this past week are likely to be problematic again and potentially reach higher levels, especially by late today. ...FLOOD WATCH FOR SNOWMELT REMAINS IN EFFECT 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...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. &&

...WINTER MAKES A BRIEF RETURN THIS WEEK... Another cold storm moves into the region Monday into Tuesday bringing gusty winds, significantly cooler temperatures, and chances for rain and snow showers. * WIND: Gusty southwest winds this afternoon and evening will be even stronger on Monday and Monday night. Please see the Wind Advisories for additional details. Gusty west winds to continue Tuesday and Wednesday as well. * SNOW: The word most of us don't want to hear at this point. Yes, snow will move into the region Monday night into Tuesday morning, mainly in the Sierra from Tioga Pass north, northeast California, and far northern Nevada near the Oregon border. Totals along the northern Sierra crest may reach 5 to 10 inches, with 1 to 4 inches possible in northeast CA west of US-395 and the Tahoe Basin. The question remains how much will stick to roadways given the recent warmth and mid-April sun angle. Expect slowdowns in the Sierra Monday night during the period of heaviest snowfall. Spotty light rain and snow showers are possible into western Nevada. * COLD: Temperatures will drop about 20 degrees by Tuesday, with the winds making it feel that much colder. There is a 50-80% chance of sub-freezing overnight lows Tuesday night and Wednesday night even in lower valley locations. You may want to turn off irrigation and protect exposed pipes, along with any new sensitive vegetation.

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM MONDAY TO 8 AM PDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. Wind prone locations may see gusts to 65 mph. * WHERE...Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Lassen- Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties. * WHEN...From 1 PM Monday to 8 AM PDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...High profile vehicles may have difficulty along I-80, I-580, and US-395. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Now is the time to secure loose outdoor items such as patio furniture and trash cans before winds increase which could blow these items away. The best thing to do is prepare ahead of time by making sure you have extra food and water on hand, flashlights with spare batteries and/or candles in the event of a power outage. &&
Russia is deploying more Penicillin complexes to Ukraine as more Russian units are hunting down field guns and US HIMARS used by the Armed Forced of Ukraine (AFU). Based on reports, these new sound-thermal reconnaissance systems are included with forces in the offensive, according to Ria Novosti.

Russia Uses Penicillin Complexes in Ukraine

A source said that a plan to double these complexes in the NVO zone is to improve the troops firing back at AFU batteries. It is common for a counter-battery fire which is helped by more accuracy, as reported by Eurasian Times.

These complexes were in operation from the start of the special military operation of Russia that proved efficient and valuable when it came to squaring off against western provided howitzers used by Ukrainians. But how many are used in the combat zone is kept a secret by Russia's military. Last year on December 22, the media stated that the military would be using these cutting-edge systems in the Ukraine War.

One of the functions of the Penicillin stated by the media is to beef up the Russian army's offensive to destroy the MLRS field guns. Claims that this system can do what it needs to do against NATO artillery systems already in use by the Ukrainians. At the time, the local media noted that the system was being pressed in service, focusing on anti-battery operations. Many reports claimed that the system has already demonstrated its effectiveness against NATO artillery in Ukraine.

One of the advantages of using the sound-thermal reconnaissance systems is how impactful it was laying better return fire versus long-range artillery at farther distances-a combo-pounding by the army and the destruction of the airpower of Ukraine.

Read Also: Russian Buk-M3 Defense System Can Destroy HIMARS, Ukrainian Armed Forces Aircraft

It might not be enough to state that Ukrainians avoid close contact. Ukraine's counter-battery radars of US origin which vulnerable to jamming and electronic warfare capabilities, per AP News.

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) did not confirm an alleged ammo shortage claimed by the west. It allegedly affects the battle of Bakhmut. More arms supplied by NATO allies and ammunition for MLRS means the Russians must smash all these weapons. This complex will come into a changing battle, states Army Technology.

Penicillin Acoustic Reconnaissance System

The system is designed for surveilling everything from cannons, missile batteries, anti-air, and even tactical missiles used by the AFU. It is one of the solutions to target the US MLRS.

Developed by the Research Institute via Vector, a part of Ruselectronics remarked who built it. Capable of functioning at temperatures of -40 to +50 degrees and installed on a KamAZ chassis with an optoelectronic module placed on a lifting mast structure. A sensor on extending boom with seismic and acoustic receivers for the groundworks unmanned at a range of about 40 kilometers, based on the specifications. A combo ground-based sensor, heat detection, and even sound sensors bundled into one system.

These sources help trace the MLRS or field gun firing and shaking the ground. Maps out where it is and sets coordinate to smash the AFU asset. A silent system that does not emit radiation or radio waves that will not be jammed or stopped by ECM equipment. These Penicillin complexes are not traditional, and the US HIMARS will be more vulnerable because the west has yet to acquire something similar.

Related Article: US HIMARS Affected by Freezing Winter; Russian Upgrades Challenges the MLRS

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Enrique Lamadrid says his good friend E.A. Tony Mares had a lifelong obsession with the Spanish Civil War.

Mares obsession came to a literary climax posthumously, in the recently published bilingual book Reflections through the Convex Mirror of Time/Reflexiones tras el Espejo Convexo del Tiempo. It is a collection of Mares poems in remembrance of that war, some published for the first time.

Mares continued to revise the poems in the years before his death in 2015 at the age of 76, said Lamadrid, who wrote the books prologue. Mares was professor emeritus of English at the University of New Mexico.

It was probably Tonys masterwork, he said. It combined Mares overlapping interests in politics, history, and poetry.

Lamadrid believes Mares had such a big heart that he was open to accepting all other ethnicities; he had Irish forebears on his mothers side.

It infuriated him that some (Hispanic) writers were anti-Americano. He was always open to friggin everybody, he said. He was a very compassionate human being.

Mares wrote the first essay on coyote consciousness, Lamadrid said. Coyote refers to a person of mixed Hispanic and Anglo descent.

And Mares, a left-winger, was accepting of people whose political views he vigorously disagreed with or opposed.

Mares political openness comes into sharp focus in the bold, visceral language of many of the poems in this volume. To experience their emotional force, they should be read aloud.

One poem, Couplets for the Spanish Civil War, imagines a uniting of adversaries:

You say kill the liberals/I say let them squabble forever

You say kill the fascists/I say let these sad humans live

You say kills the communists/I say let them plan and plan

You say kill the anarchists/I love the anarchists

You say kill the republicans/I say let them talk and talk

You say kill the socialists/I say let them pursue their differences

I say let us all go together/to enter the loveliest of dreams

Mares was born in Albuquerque in 1938. The Spanish Civil War would rage into 1939, concluding with a Nationalist (fascist) victory.

Lamadrid thinks his longtime friend had first heard of the war from the teacher-priests at San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town. In exile here from Spain, they ordered him to his knees to give thanks to God for the great victory over the Reds.

Mares later studied at UNM under two exiled left-wing Spanish writers, novelist Ramon Sender and poet Angel Gonzalez.

Mares doctoral dissertation in history was on the subject of the international brigades in the Spanish Civil War. The brigades were battalions of volunteers from different countries who fought on the side of the Republicans.

The poems in the second of the books four sections are devoted to Federico Garcia Lorca, perhaps the most famous Spanish poet to fight in the civil war. The fascists executed Lorca by firing squad.

Here are the opening lines of the Mares poem In the Curved Light that zeros in on one member of that squad:

Quiet man, a good shot. You said

The firing squad would drive you crazy.

Yet, you shot Lorca. It was your job.

It was your duty as a good Catholic,

Juan Jimenez Cascales,

As a good, obedient soldier. At least

You didnt like your job. Good shot,

I hope you aimed well at Lorca,

mercifully ending his suffering.

In the preface, written in 2013, Mares addressed the reason for the book: For me, the Spanish Civil War of the last century, with its dramatic and intense qualities, is a convex mirror where we can see ourselves as beings who fight a civil war within our very selves.

Learn more

An evening of reading and commentary on poems from Reflections Through the Convex Mirror of Time/Reflexiones tras el Espejo Convexo del Tiempo will be at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 12, at Teatro Paraguas, 3205 Calle Marie, Unit B, Santa Fe. Poems will be read by Enrique Lamadrid, Susana Rivera, Demetria Martinez, Gary Brower, Levi Romero and Larry Goodell. The event is free. For more information call 505-424-1601.
Oil and gas a bridge to cleaner energy

WE ARE experiencing the disastrous effects of climate change due in part by greenhouse emissions. I am doing what I can to reduce my carbon footprint by using public transportation. For example: As an avid skier, I take the Rail Runner to Santa Fe and get picked up by a shuttle with regular runs to the Santa Fe Ski Basin. My driving is reduced by about 160 miles. However, I cannot afford an electric vehicle on my retirement income. Also, EV vehicles and the energy grid required needs further development to be accessible to the masses. Other exciting clean energy sources are in the works as well.

In the meantime, we must rely on oil and gas extraction to power our vehicles and heat our homes. The Biden administration must not interfere with oil and gas leasing on federal land. Oil and gas leasing on federal lands needs to be restored to previous higher levels in order to maintain our energy independence, keep gas prices down, and support our allies in maintaining sanctions against Russian aggression.

Steve Epstein, Albuquerque

NM leaders on the right track

I MOVED here in 2000 and New Mexico was hardly in the news. Now we are being recognized nationally for keeping democracy alive.

Our states governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, members of Congress, courts, local, state representatives organizations, and citizens are engaged in numerous policies that are being recognized. We were the first to remove and ban a Jan. 6 participant, Couy Griffin, serving as a local commissioner from holding a public office (and) having a secretary of state, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, and the legislators passing voting rights bills making it easier to vote.

Our attorney general, Raul Torrez, (is) enforcing laws to protect our citizens from local ordinances banning LBQ and abortion health care. We are working toward becoming a model for other states in protecting citizens from environmental hazards, public health, climate resiliency, and energy costs.

Donna Thiersch, Santa Fe

NM should have wildlife, not game

IVE OCCASIONALLY gone hunting and fishing and have owned guns. I realize that some sportsmen rely on fish and big game for much of the food they put on their tables. But I do not believe fish and wildlife exist primarily for the sport of killing them.

That, however, seems to be the focus of the N.M. Department of Game and Fish. It exists to manage fish and wildlife so there will be plenty of animals for sportsmen to kill. Even the word game suggests every wild animal in New Mexico is potentially a target. Big game, small animals, and birds are managed so there will be enough for someone to harvest, that is, kill them. I suspect that if the Lesser Prairie Chicken numbers recover in sufficient quantity, there will be a hunting season for them as well Surely there are more New Mexicans who enjoy viewing, identifying and photographing living wild animals than there are people who want to kill them. Yet the department still has Game in its title

I strongly suggest (the department)s name be changed to the New Mexico Department of Wildlife to reflect the great value of living animals and the diverse ways New Mexicans appreciate them.

Rev. Donald Neidigk, Albuquerque

Lets all try to be more like Mr. Pettes

I DONT always read all obits, but on Feb. 17 a very long one caught my eye. It shared the life story of one Grover Lee Pettes, a Black man (who was) born in and lived under the Jim Crow laws in Las Cruces.  Having myself been born and lived my early life as a white person in a small East Texas town, I know exactly what Jim Crow laws looked like and even from a very early age thought they were reprehensible.

Pettes had an amazing life, raising children, opening and running successful businesses, working for equality, winning national awards, and most of all being what it really means to call yourself a Christian. He was a member of Bethel Second Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for 74 years. He was president of the Community Cemetery in Las Cruces where he made certain Blacks in the town had a place to bury their loved ones. I want to honor his life and memory, encourage more of us to follow his example, send condolences to his family for their great loss, and most importantly encourage more of us to be Mr. Pettes in our very challenged community. I encourage everyone reading this to check the Journal archives and read for yourself the life story of Mr. Pettes. And, to those macho guys out there for whom every perceived slight results in pulling out their guns and destroying lives, this is what a real man looks like. May you think about that and consider being more like him

Marti Wolf, Albuquerque

Santa Fe erasing Civil War heroes

NEW MEXICOS Soldiers Monument responses clearly demonstrate Santa Fe elected officials ignorance of Americas foundations, civic and social traditions, N.M.s historic populations, centuries of successes and progress. Seemingly leaders seek our submissiveness to authority and to the cult-like groups representatives advocate for.  Destroying and replacing monuments, allowing confusion and racial division, so to insert a new narrative. Rewarded are those claiming victimhood in America, so a department of equity and inclusion will be created

Our history and we are being preyed upon by ignorant representatives agreeing to destroy our symbols of American successes, who focus upon past struggles and errors to eliminate traditions, celebrations and positive symbols of our past as a way forward. The great contributions of our N.M. Civil War heroes are being disallowed, diminished, vilified and erased in the guise for equity, but at the expense of our historic heroes and our remarkable history.

S. Pauline Anaya, Santa Fe

Impairment cause of pedestrian deaths

THE FACT a number of pedestrians are being injured and killed comes as no surprise to anyone who drives on Albuquerque streets.

My wife and I live in SE Albuquerque and use Central between Tramway and Wyoming daily. On nearly every trip we see someone in the middle of the block walking across four lanes of traffic. Most appear to be homeless and likely alcohol- or drug-impaired.

Even when using designated crosswalks and lights they sometimes dont pay attention to traffic. Recently, I nearly hit a man at Tramway and Central who walked in front of me as I was turning left on the left-turn arrow.

Nothing will change until the city gets serious about cleaning up the area and recognizes the root of the problem is mental illness, drug addiction and alcohol abuse. Until then, the areas have to be patrolled and laws enforced. Inspect what you expect.

John Flynn, Albuquerque

Help foreign doctors relocate to NM, US

FOR ALMOST 16 years, I had the great opportunity to advocate and assist individuals/families resettling in our state among them, at least two dozen were MDs and scores more other medical professionals. At this time, only two of the MDs I knew personally managed to re-establish their practice of medicine in New Mexico. I would say that the lack of minimum assistance or investment by the federal government, state government, our major health care providers or our UNM School of Medicine is the fault.

I spoke to a dean of the UNM School of Medicine, executives at health care providers, various state and federal politicians and their staffs and directly to the N.M. Medical Board at one of their meetings. I explained that  Those we label undesirable and refugees include qualified professionals, including doctors. However, the U.S. resettlement program does not offer assistance to relocated medical professionals. Instead, it counts its amount of support in months. Doctors, nurses, etc., are not elevated for their professional competencies. Competent individuals are not assisted with focused financial support to use their skills and knowledge in our health care settings. A somewhat dated statistic from the time, but it is significant that Florida is supposedly home to over 2,400 Cuban doctors that migrated here through asylum offered by the federal government and werent given assistance to practice medicine by our society. Really! The goal was just decades of disruption of Cubas foreign aid throughout Latin America Perhaps N.M. politicians and media could ban refugees and use less dehumanizing terms as descriptors. If such professionals had been vetted for competency and skill and then given focused assistance to transition into their professions here, it would not solve our shortages of medicinal professionals. Still, it would have certainly bolstered the qualitative and quantitative statistics.

Jim Gannon, Rio Rancho

Illustrator captured prehistoric fashion

MY COMPLIMENTS to the illustrator for Setting the Record Straight (Life in New Mexico, Feb. 26, 2023) on the apparel style of the on-the-go Neolithic mom. She chooses a cool, sleeveless, boat-neck shift, a casual look for her mid-day summer jaunt to the mud-spa with the kids. The four-button shoulder detail adds a touch of interest to this timeless design, and the above-the knee hemline wont get caught in those pesky prickly pears.

Undaunted by wilderness, her elegantly minimalist footwear is accented by delicate ankle straps which scream insouciance as she carries her youngest with both arms over rugged Southwestern terrain. And theyre so easy to untie when its time to get her tired feet into that oozing, soothing mud!

Her long cut is flipped behind the left shoulder to complement this practical ensemble, for a style which has endured for 23,000 years.

Dave McBride, Albuquerque

Editors note: The illustration was courtesy of The Childrens Hour

Wax made me lose 80% of my hearing

MOST RECENTLY I experienced two of the most frightening days of my life. Out of nowhere I suddenly became deaf. Of course I panicked and didnt know what to do at that moment.

Eighty percent of my hearing was gone. Suddenly, my whole world crashed and frightened me to no end.

After a few moments, I regained my senses and thoughts and decided to immediately contact an ear nose and throat (ENT) doctor I was advised to contact an audiologist and be seen for further examination which I did. The audiologist discovered that both of my ears were filled with wax beyond belief and that my eardrums were completely blocked.

Upon removing all of the wax, my hearing returned 100%.

I had never experienced this at any time of my life. It was the most unnerving and scariest thing. Not being able to hear any sounds around me or talk to anyone without hearing a response was chilling.

I am writing this letter to share my experience to help anyone who may be in a similar position with diminished or no hearing. If this ever happens to you, dont wait, take action immediately.

Get the help you need and contact an audiologist or ear, nose and throat specialist who will test your hearing and determine if it is a sudden hearing loss or years of wax buildup. Dont ignore it; it can only get worse.

Mike Santullo, Albuquerque
Las Cruces Democrat Sen. Joseph Cervantes recently summed up the exasperation many lawmakers and New Mexicans feel toward the Children, Youth and Families Department.

Just last month the public was shocked to learn a 10-year-old foster child was sexually assaulted by a 14-year-old foster youth in a bathroom of CYFDs main office building in Albuquerque. CYFD seemingly cant keep kids safe even when theyre in the heart of the agencys complex on Indian School Road.

Were telling CYFD to get off their ass, Cervantes said during a committee hearing. I dont have a nice way to say this any more. Im beyond frustrated.

The frustration of lawmakers is readily apparent in the 60-day session entering its last week; more than 30 child welfare bills have been filed.

Several of those bills have merit, and their passage could actually, finally make a difference.

House Bill 10, whose supporters include CYFD and child advocacy groups, would relax some of the confidentiality restrictions in the Childrens Code, allowing CYFDs Child Protective Services division to disclose more information to more entities.

It sailed through the House Health and Human Services Committee last week by a unanimous vote. But time is running out before the session ends at noon Saturday, and lawmakers should make this one a priority.

HB 10 would greatly expand information that can be released about a case involving a child who has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect, such as the childs cause of death, where the child was living at the time and prior reports of abuse or neglect.

When a child who is alleged to have been neglected or abused dies, the public asks how could this have happened, and, unfortunately, almost always there have been no public answers, said bill sponsor Rep. Marian Matthews, D-Albuquerque. This is truly a sea change in the role of the agency in helping people understand in providing answers to important questions when we have children who are hurt or die when in custody of the department.

The bill also allows for more information to be given to a foster parent, prospective foster parent, grandparent, sibling or relative being considered for placement about the many needs of the child. This seems obvious: A person caring for a child needs this information.

The bill also requires that CYFD create a portal on its website disclosing mandated reports and basic data such as the number of fatalities or near fatalities of children in CYFD custody and the number of abuse and neglect complaints that lead to investigations.

But while HB 10 would be an important step, its not nearly enough. Senate Bill 373 and House Bill 11, one sponsored by House Democrats and the other by Senate Republicans, are equally as important. These bills would create a new child advocacy office outside of CYFD to investigate complaints and provide some oversight.

While the governor has acknowledged CYFD is dysfunctional, she has balked at an ombudsman or any separate oversight, saying that could lead to a confrontational relationship between government offices and make it harder for CYFD to hire new social workers.

Instead, she last month announced a shakeup of CYFD that entailed creating an office of innovation within the CYFD, a new advisory council and a national search to hire several new top agency officials. Unfortunately, CYFDs troubles have spanned too many years and too many administrations for the public to believe it can be fixed entirely from within. Despite a possible veto by the governor, the House passed HB 11 56-9 on Wednesday. The Senate later Wednesday passed SB 373 on a 30-8 vote.

Both bills would establish an Office of the Child Advocate within the state Attorney Generals Office that would accept complaints, investigate and attempt to resolve them and evaluate CYFD policies and procedures.

Matthews is correct when she said the Legislature should seize the chance in the final days of this years session to strengthen oversight and operations of CYFD.

We really have an opportunity this session to make some substantial changes in the laws that govern CYFD, she said, and those changes I believe will make it a more effective and responsive agency.

It is critical the House and Senate get together this week and sign off on identical legislation.

Other important measures are SB 150, which would require CYFD to conduct a family assessment when a newborn suffers from drug withdrawals and parents dont comply with a hospital-issued plan of care; SB 107, which gives CYFD up to three days, instead of two days, to file petitions in cases where the agency has taken custody of a child; and HB 434, which would change self-care plans for newborns.

There is no denying CYFD has one of the most important and difficult tasks in all of state government. There also is no denying that  for a multitude of reasons  it has failed too many of our most vulnerable children, ending in too many tragedies.

We have the opportunity to make real change here. We urge lawmakers and the governor to move forward with these bills.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
As the student body president at the University of New Mexico, I am the eyes and ears of administrators and lawmakers, and the voice of students. On a campus where our student body is divided on almost every topic, I have yet to find a consensus as universal as support for the Opportunity Scholarship.

In speaking with friends, colleagues and a number of UNM students, unencumbered access to higher education is one of the most impactful things to happen in their lifetimes. I have heard from students who have returned to UNM, where the Opportunity Scholarship means a second chance at their dream. Some students no longer have to work a second job and, to them, the scholarship funding means a good nights sleep before that big physics test. Other students need a safety net that allows them to set aside money for graduate school, and this scholarship means a brighter future. For some of us, the Opportunity Scholarship means we can invest back into our campus and peers through student leadership  ultimately leading to a better UNM and a better New Mexico.

I cannot capture the breadth of what the Opportunity Scholarship means to New Mexican students, except to simply say: a lot. This scholarship is a reminder to the young people and returning learners that we are valuable. It feels special because this reminder  and promise to invest in us  is available to all New Mexicans.

The stories I hear from my student constituents rhyme with those I hear from my student government colleagues who are leaders at New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and beyond. Student government leaders from every four-year college and university in New Mexico have jointly signed a letter in support of the Opportunity Scholarship. In this letter, we urge state legislators to fund  in full at $157 million  this essential piece of New Mexicos future. It is our hope to see lawmakers double down and invest in the students of this state who want to pursue new heights and vertical movement in their working lives.

UNM sophomore Adriana Gutierrez shared her personal experience with the Opportunity Scholarship. I was struggling to pay for college and, as a first-generation student, it is hard to explain to my parents why I owe almost $3,000 for school and I need it ASAP to register. Having the burden of the cost of attendance as a full-time student who is also working is a lot. Gutierrez will test for her Emergency Medical Technician license in March and continue work in New Mexico. The amount that I am able to do here is more than any other state when it comes to medicine. And, because I grew up here, it is my community and there are so many people that I want to give back to.

For many of my peers, a college education is the first step in breaking the cycle of generational poverty. To all New Mexicans, this scholarship means hope. As a voice representing UNM and New Mexico students, I truly hope our state honors the promise of opportunity to students, because I am excited for the New Mexico we will see when it does.
More than a thousand bills, memorials and resolutions have been introduced during this 60-day New Mexico legislative session. Many of these proposals tackle the most critical issues facing our families and communities, from education to health care to well-paid jobs and public safety. If, as a legislature, we worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout this session, we could devote roughly one hour to each piece of legislation.

While most other states have implemented modern legislative systems that include the staff, resources and time necessary to more carefully propose, consider and pass laws, the New Mexico Legislature remains behind the curve. New Mexico is a one-of-a-kind place, but we believe the outdated structure of our Legislature is holding our state back, which is why we are championing proposals this session to give voters the opportunity to weigh in on modernizing our Legislature.

The Legislature operates on a 60-day calendar in odd-numbered years and a scant 30-day calendar in even-numbered years, with interim committees between sessions. House Joint Resolution (HJR) 2 would allow voters to amend the New Mexico Constitution to make every regular session 60 days, providing us more time to address the year-round needs of New Mexicans.

Furthermore, legislators are not currently compensated for their work beyond a per diem to cover lodging, meals and out-of-pocket expenses during session and while serving on interim committees. Only a tiny fraction of New Mexicans can afford to work without pay, so the lack of compensation creates a significant barrier to participation in the Legislature for many, especially parents and working individuals.

Weve made tremendous strides in recent years to make our Legislature more representative of the communities we serve, by recruiting lawmakers from diverse backgrounds to join our efforts in the Roundhouse. But we have also seen how our current structures can make it difficult for some to serve. For example, former Reps. Brittany Barreras and Kay Bounkeua recently made the difficult decision to not return to the Legislature, citing the pressures legislative service puts on working families.

In order to build on our progress in recruiting and retaining diverse lawmakers from around the state, we must modernize this branch of government. HJR 8 would create an independent citizens commission to research, set and limit salaries for legislators, and ensure these salaries accurately reflect their responsibilities and duties while taking into consideration the states projected economic forecast.

As the Journal Editorial Board stated last year, Its well past time for lawmakers to acknowledge what many of their constituents have shared with the Journal: The current system bars too many New Mexicans from serving in the Legislature, and rush jobs are a poor way to run a state.

If both of these reforms were adopted today, the estimated cost to taxpayers would be less than 1% of the states budget.

The people of New Mexico deserve a modern legislature that represents them and serves their needs. These joint resolutions would let voters choose how we do that.
A tota l of $3.95 billion has been allocated for the expected cost of helping victims of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. The U.S. Forest Service has assumed responsibility for the fire, and the federal government will compensate those harmed.

The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office is expected to open in late March or early April in Mora and San Miguel counties, along with mobile office services. Claims navigators will be available at that time to respond to claims already filed and to assist those who will be filing claims.

Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon claims

Who is eligible?

Those who suffered losses because of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, including flood damage related to the fire. That includes:

Individuals/households

Businesses

Acequias

Nonprofit organizations

State, local and tribal governments

Eligibility is not based on location. For example, if a person or organization was near the fire and incurred expenses, they may be eligible.

What losses can you claim?

Here are some examples from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

Property  home, outbuildings, personal property, lost subsistence, wood that burned, including the value of lumber to be collected in the future

Businesses  equipment, buildings, trees, livestock, losses when forced to close

Financial  increased mortgage interest costs, lost wages, cost to relocate, expenses to remove debris or other cleanup costs, newly required flood insurance

Governmental losses

Document losses

Keep receipts and any documents of the value of items or current valuations, property titles, bank statements, pictures and videos.

To start the claims process, file a Notice of Loss form, available online at fema.gov/disaster/current/hermits-peak. Scroll down about a quarter of the page to Notice of Loss Form. This form asks for a description of the loss, not dollar amounts.

For assistance in English or Spanish by phone, call 1-800-621-3362.

Forms are also available at community centers and through community leaders.

Claims navigators will help with the application process in the claimants preferred language. Emergent and urgent matters will be prioritized.

It is not necessary to hire a lawyer. If you choose to do so, attorneys fees are capped at 20%. If a claimant hires an attorney, the claimant is responsible for paying the attorneys fees.

After submitting a Notice of Loss form, claimants receive correspondence from the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office acknowledging receipt of the form and any requests for additional information needed to complete acceptance of the form. Once the Claims Office confirms a completed Notice of Loss form, they have 180 days to determine the amount to be paid to the claimant. This does not mean you will be paid in 180 days, rather the claims process continues. (See Proof of Loss below.)

A claimant may amend the Notice of Loss to include additional claims at any time before signing a Proof of Loss. Notice of Loss claim deadline is Nov. 14, 2024. Submit the form:

By email: To fema-hermits-peak@fema.dhs.gov

By mail: Attention: FEMA Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Office, P.O. Box 1329, Santa Fe, N.M. 87504

Or at the claims offices to be opened soon.

Next step: Proof of Loss

Proof of Loss is a statement attesting to the nature and extent of the claimants loss. The burden of proving injuries and damages rests with the person filing the claim. The Proof of Loss form is provided through claims navigators, who can help with the process of documenting loss amounts. If documentation/evidence is lost in the fire, the claims office may determine that the claimants statement alone will be sufficient.

Claimants should submit a signed Proof of Loss to the claims office no later than 150 days after the date when the claims office formally acknowledges the Notice of Loss.

FEMA disaster assistance

FEMA disaster assistance is different than filing a claim to the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Claims Office. FEMA disaster assistance for individuals and households is designed to meet the immediate, basic needs of those affected by a particular disaster, with a primary focus on providing safe, sanitary and livable conditions. Funding is from the FEMA budget. Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire assistance has specific funding. FEMA disaster assistance is generally for those who are underinsured or not insured. To learn about this kind of assistance available after a disaster, visit fema.gov/assistance. For information in Spanish, visit fema.gov/es/assistance.

Even if you applied previously to FEMA or the Small Business Administration (SBA) for assistance after the presidentially declared disaster for New Mexico Wildfires and subsequent flooding due to the burn scars on May 4, 2022, you can still submit a Notice of Loss for compensation to the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office under the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act.

Resources: Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Regulation Summary fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema.gov_hermits-peak-calf-canyon-fire-assistance-act-summary_20221114.pdf

For more information about the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act and the claims office, visit fema.gov/hermits-peak. For information in Spanish, visit fema.gov/es/hermits-peak

For help from members of the states congressional delegation constituent services: U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez has offices in Las Vegas (505) 570-7558 and Santa Fe (505) 428-4680. U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan has a website, lujan.senate.gov and offices in Las Vegas (505) 398-9465, Santa Fe (505) 230-7040 and Washington, D.C., (202) 224-6621.
Nathan Millard's death under investigation has a new development as the closest to the person of interest in the disappearance and death of the Georgia businessman is identified by the Baton Rouge Police.

A bystander found the missing Georgia man's rotting corpse because of the rotting stench while covered in plastic and carpet. He had been missing for two weeks before the discovery.

Investigation of Nathan Milliard's Death

A statement from Police Sgt. L'Jean McKneely speaking to WAFB about naming Derrick Perkins, who is not considered a person of interest but close enough to clarify some concerns about how Millard died.

The police official said they were looking for him to ask questions about the circumstances and asked the public for help to find this individual, reported Crime Online. He explained that depending on the outcome of these conversations, that would chart where it leads.

Investigators want to question Perkins, 45, who is under probation violation, damaging property, three instances of fraudulently accessing a device, also using a vehicle with no permission.

Details show that Millard, 42, went to Louisiana last February 22 on a business trip to meet a client. He attended an LSU ball game and went to Happy's Irish Pub in downtown Baton Rouge near his hotel that night.

His client said the victim left at 11:30 p.m. but never returned to his hotel room, though cameras tracked him until 4:30 p.m. He went missing after that, and his body was found three miles from the pub, cited Yahoo.

Read Also: Silicon Valley Bank Collapse: What Happened? Which Companies Are Affected?

Person of Interest Could Shed Light on Millard's Death

No indication from the preliminary results of an autopsy showed that foul play was committed due to the lack of any internal or external injuries. It is not final because another toxicology check on the body is due, but they said that the person who wrapped the body and then left it in the lot would be charged.

Police Captain Kevin Heinz speaking at a press meeting, said that if something happened and panic was involved, they should contact the police. They aim to know the circumstances that happened to Millard.

Nathan Millard Investigation Still Ongoing

There is uncertainty about whether Perkin is involved or if he is the one who was with the victim walking on Florida Boulevard seen in a video from WBRZ.

One observation the authorities made from the videos is that Millard was not flustered about anything. The security guard at the Baton Rouge bus station saw Millard and remarked nothing was out of the ordinary, and he did not look distressed.

Furthermore, the guard at the station asked if he wanted an Uber or to call the police, which Heinz mentioned. Millard said it was not necessary and left the station on his own.

Getting the input of all those who interacted with the victim shows that nothing seemed to bother him to indicate any distress or problems when he disappeared.

The police have named someone closest to becoming a person of interest in Nathan Millard's death and seek the individual for questioning to shed light on what happened to the Georgia businessman.

Related Article: Corpse of Missing Georgia Man, Father of Five Was Found

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By early spring, energy developers could begin signing up potential customers to participate in the states first community solar projects.

InClime Inc.  a Maryland-based company that the Public Regulation Commission contracted last year to manage New Mexicos new community solar program  is now sifting through 404 potential projects around the state that developers want to build in response to an InClime request for proposals, or RFP, that the company launched in November.

Taken together, those proposals represent more than 1,700 megawatts of solar generation, or nearly nine times more power than is currently permitted in the first stage of program development, during which total community solar output will be limited to a combined cap of 200 MW.

The initial response shows overwhelming enthusiasm among developers, said Miana Campbell, InClimes community solar lead for New Mexico.

The tremendous response to the community solar program RFP is an early indicator of program success, Campbell said in a Feb. 20 statement announcing the bid results. InClime is (now) meticulously evaluating all proposals.

The company expects to approve the first projects in April, allowing select proposals to move forward on building the initial 200 MW of generation.

Under the program, residential and commercial consumers who want to participate can sign up as project subscribers. Then, once a project begins operating, the participants will pay a monthly fee for a percentage of the power generated, although the subscribers wont actually consume that electricity.

Rather, the power will be sent to one of the states three regulated electric utilities  Public Service Co. of New Mexico, El Paso Electric or Southwestern Public Service  depending on whose service territory the project is operating in. Subscribers will then receive a credit on their regular monthly utility bills for that portion of community solar generation they signed up for.

The first projects likely wont come online until late 2024, since it will take at least 18 months to build a solar facility, said Arthur ODonnell, PRC director of policy administration who helped develop the community solar program. And, before construction can begin, developers must first obtain an interconnection permit from the utility operating in the area where the project is located to connect the planned solar facility to that utilitys grid.

But customer sign-ups can begin immediately.

We expect projects to be selected in each utility territory by the end of Apriland then theyll go into the interconnection review, ODonnell told the Journal. But theyll begin marketing to solicit customers once their project is selected. It could take a whole year of marketing to sign up enough subscribers for each project.

Low-income carve-out

That prolonged marketing period reflects strict requirements that developers must follow under program rules the PRC approved last year to comply with new state legislation, which authorized the launch of community solar development in 2021. That includes a mandated 30% carve-out for low-income households, or for low-income-serving organizations, to ensure that under-privileged populations have a fair opportunity to participate in community solar projects.

Low-income subscribers will be eligible for discounts on the fees they pay to community solar developers, which could increase the solar credit they receive on their monthly utility bills. And, in the current project selection process, InClime is now working to ensure bidders have plans in place to offer discounts to low-income households and community-based organizations, Campbell said.

New Mexico is one of only five states that signed on last year with the U.S. Department of Energys National Community Solar Partnership, which is working to broaden the availability of affordable renewable energy for consumers nationwide. Under the DOE partnership, participating states will receive assistance in reaching out to local households enrolled in the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to recruit them into community solar projects.

The low-income carve-out reflects basic goals in community solar development, which aims to empower people and businesses with access to low-cost solar generation when things like renting rather than owning homes and facilities or lack of financial resources prevent independent installation of rooftop solar systems.

Under the partnership program, the DOE wants to power up to five million households across the U.S. with community solar by 2025. And, by specifically reaching out to low-income households, the DOE estimates community solar enrollment could lead to $30 million in energy savings for New Mexicans.

Maximizing participation

Apart from low-income participation, PRC rules require community solar developers to reserve at least 40% of each facilitys capacity for subscribers who sign up for 25 kilowatts or less of total electric generation. That can help ensure residential participants, small-business owners and others with lower electric consumption can obtain subscriptions without large-scale industry and commercial consumers crowding them out.

In fact, under PRC rules, no single project participant can subscribe to more than 40% of a facilitys capacity.

Those rules could increase the number of households and entities that join community solar projects, potentially allowing tens of thousands of local residents to benefit over time as projects spread throughout the state.

But that could will take years, since the program is capped at just 200 MW of total development until year-end 2024, and all individual projects are limited to a 5 MW capacity cap to help smooth community solars integration into the local electric market. Thats critical to work out program challenges, including disagreements with the states three investor-owned utilities, which want to ensure equitable distribution of costs when connecting solar projects to their grids.

Energy developers also need time to develop strategies for pursuing community solar, which is very different from building individual solar systems for a single customer, said Dylan Connelly, commercial and community solar development director at Albuquerque-based Affordable Solar  the states largest solar construction and installation company. Affordable submitted a number of bids under InClimes RFP to build company-managed projects in New Mexico.

Affordable Solar has never built its own community solar projects, Connelly told the Journal. The physical installation is the same as other projects, but the new component is not just about building a facility for one owner, but for 1,500 to 2,000 owners (subscribers). And with the 30% low-income carve-out, you have to go out and find those folks to sign them up.

Still, the solar industry is excited by the emerging opportunities, Connelly said.

Only 4% of homes in New Mexico have solar on their roofs, because if you rent, or if you have bad credit, you couldnt do it, he said. But now, even those consumers can sign up for community solar. That means a lot more people can get involved, which could make the solar market a lot more equitable.
SANTA FE  Tension over the lack of progress on medical malpractice legislation boiled over Saturday, triggering procedural skirmishes at the Roundhouse as about 100 doctors in white coats and scrubs watched from the gallery.

In the House, Republicans sought to dislodge a bill stuck in committee and move it either to the full chamber for final action or to another committee  procedural moves that failed.

Democrats said it would be inappropriate to bypass the usual committee process.

In the Senate, lawmakers of both parties thanked physicians and medical providers in the audience and said legislation intended to address New Mexicos doctor shortage remains a priority.

But time is running out. Just a week is left in the 60-day session.

The speeches and procedural skirmishes came after the doctors had been warned by sergeants at arms  who keep order during legislative meetings  to avoid disrupting the proceedings.

The doctors had clapped during an earlier committee hearing after a senator called for action to revise New Mexicos medical malpractice law. Applause is normally  but not always  prohibited during legislative meetings.

Senate Minority Whip Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, said the physicians had done nothing wrong.

Lets stop treating the doctors rudely, he told his colleagues. They have saved our lives over the last three years. They deserve a little leeway.

The doctors, in any case, watched quietly from the gallery Saturday as the House and Senate engaged in procedural clashes and speeches about the states medical malpractice law.

The tension comes as lawmakers talk behind the scenes about how to address New Mexicos doctor shortage. Proposals to boost student loan repayment programs and compensation for treating Medicaid patients have advanced at the Roundhouse.

But Democrats in each chamber have blocked proposals to revise the states 2021 medical malpractice law.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, told the doctors Saturday that he and Republican legislative leaders in his chamber are still trying to facilitate a compromise among the physicians, hospitals, patients and plaintiffs lawyers.

Theres a recognition that we need to get this resolved, Wirth said. We have a week to go. Theres still plenty of time to make this happen.

Republicans arent so optimistic and pushed for immediate action Saturday.

We have a medical crisis, Republican Rep. Bill Rehm of Albuquerque said.

He tried to move one of the medical malpractice bills out of the House Health and Human Services Committee  where it had been tabled last month  and send it either to its next committee, House Judiciary, or to the full House.

Blasting a bill out of committee, as its called, is a rarely used motion.

Despite the failure to move the bill Saturday, it could still be revived  either in committee or through new legislation, if a compromise is reached.

Like Wirth in the Senate, House Speaker Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, suggested Saturdays action isnt the end of the debate.

My hope and expectation is that there is a good compromise on the table, he said.

Democrats hold large majorities in each chamber, making their support critical to any potential changes to the malpractice law.

Much of the debate focuses on independently owned outpatient clinics. They face higher legal exposure for medical malpractice claims next year  a result of legislation in 2021 that phased in higher caps on legal damages.

The clinics say they cannot obtain the full insurance needed to operate under the higher cap and will have to close or sell to a corporate hospital. Opponents, in turn, say insurance companies are trying to protect their bottom line at the expense of families harmed by medical mistakes.
Copyright  2023 Albuquerque Journal

Police have arrested two 16-year-old boys in the shooting death of another teenager on Interstate 25 outside of Las Cruces about a week ago.

New Mexico State Police spokesman Wilson Silver on Saturday said Daniel Ortiz and Drake Armendariz are each charged with first-degree murder in the March 3 killing of 17-year-old Benjamin Archuleta.

Ortiz and Armendariz also face shooting at or from a motor vehicle resulting in great bodily injury, assault with intent to commit a violent felony and multiple conspiracy charges.

According to State Police, which responded to the incident around 9 p.m., Archuleta and a passenger briefly stopped at a gas station in Dona Ana and when they left they were followed by a Honda sedan onto southbound I-25.

While on the interstate at least one occupant from the other vehicle shot a firearm at Archuletas vehicle, State Police said. The Honda sedan then fled the area.

Archuleta, who was struck by gunfire, was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

State Police identified Ortiz as the driver of the Honda and Armendariz as the passenger/shooter.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reported that Archuleta was enrolled at Las Cruces High School but had dropped out before the shooting occurred. The newspaper added that the enrollment status of Armendariz and Ortiz wasnt readily available.

Ortiz was arrested Tuesday; Armendariz on Thursday, according to State Police.
Public controversy over Public Service Co. of New Mexico and Connecticut-based energy giant Avangrids proposed merger could soon explode again as the state Public Regulation Commission seeks to rehear the case.

The PRC joined PNM and Avangrid last week in a joint request to the state Supreme Court to remand the case back to the commission for a rehearing and reconsideration of a previous commission decision in December 2021 to reject the merger.

PNM and Avangrid appealed that rejection last year at the Supreme Court, which could now take up to 30 days to respond to the request, although last weeks joint motion asked the court to expedite the process to just 10 days.

But assuming the request is approved, its bound to reignite intense public debate over the reasons why the prior, five-member elected commission decided against the merger, with supporters and opponents who participated the first time likely to line up again to litigate the pros and cons before the new three-member commission that took office in January.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who supports the merger, chose those three new commissioners under a constitutional amendment that converted the PRC from a five-member elected tribunal to a three-member body appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate.

Speculation has swirled for weeks over whether the new commission would opt to rehear the merger case, prompting the Journal in January to begin a series of interviews and investigative reporting in preparation for the mergers possible return to the PRC.

Most positions by parties in the case remain unchanged from 2021. But Journal inquiries shed more light on some of the basic disagreements over the merger, and additional insight into what supporters allege are irregularities and errors committed by the previous commission.

Whats it all about?

If allowed to merge, Avangrid and its parent firm, Spanish company Iberdrola S.A., would acquire PNM Resources and its two utility subsidiaries  PNM and Texas New Mexico Power  in a $4.3 billion all-cash transaction. The deal would impact about 800,000 electricity customers in New Mexico and West Texas.

Iberdrola, a global energy mammoth with operations in dozens of countries, owns an 82% stake in Avangrid, its U.S. subsidiary. And Avangrid, in turn, has two divisions, including Avangrid Networks  which owns eight electric and gas utilities in four northeastern states  and Avangrid Renewables, which builds and operates renewable energy facilities nationwide.

In the 2021 hearings, 23 of the 24 parties intervening in the case either directly supported or did not oppose the merger, after negotiating dozens of commitments and benefits promised by Avangrid if allowed to acquire PNM.

Those concessions amounted to $334 million in direct economic and consumer investments. That includes $94 million in ratepayer-related benefits  such as $67 million in rate relief for PNM customers  plus $40 million in economic development spending, and creation of 150 new jobs with an estimated $200 million local economic impact.

Among other things, it also included checks and balances to ensure that PNM ratepayer interests were safeguarded against undue corporate interest by Avangrid and Iberdrola, plus commitments to maintain post-merger grid reliability, with automatic penalties for violations.

Avangrid negotiated those commitments almost right up until the PRC rejected the deal in December 2021, with some opponents waiting nearly to the end before dropping their opposition.

Who was the lone opponent? And why?

In the end, one party, Santa Fe-based New Energy Economy, remained opposed to the deal, based on what it alleged to be chronically poor performance and mismanagement at Avangrids utility subsidiaries in the Northeast.

During the case, NEE outlined a litany of regulatory proceedings against Avangrid utilities for things like poor infrastructure upkeep, extensive blackouts during storms, systemic billing problems and poor customer service. It also cited a criminal investigation in Spain involving one top-level Iberdrola executive as alleged evidence of egregious corporate misbehavior.

NEE Executive Director Mariel Nanasi says such regulatory issues  which generated a combined $64 million in fines against Avangrid utilities by 2021  continue today.

Extensive evidence (shows) that where Iberdrola/Avangrid has acquired American utilities, those utilities have provided poor service, ignored or evaded regulatory control, and sacrificed basic standards of service in order to meet investors profit expectations, Nanasi told the Journal last week.

Those allegations echoed throughout the 2021 PRC hearings, culminating in a recommended decision by the hearing examiner, Ashley Schannauer, for commissioners to reject the merger. Schannauer concluded that the merger was not in the publics best interest given the likelihood of PNMs quality of service deteriorating under Avangrid, and the difficulty commissioners could face in regulating the new utility owner.

Schannauer said Avangrid and Iberdrolas corporate culture showed a clear tendency to put profit over customer interests, based on consistently poor performance by Avangrids northeastern utilities, and through Iberdrolas actions in other countries.

All five commissioners agreed, leading to a unanimous vote against the merger.

Does that criticism have merit?

Merger supporters and industry experts in both New Mexico and the Northeast say Avangrids regulatory issues were blown out of proportion in the PRC hearings.

While fines have been levied against many of Avangrids utilities, those service violations are generally no worse than most competing utilities throughout the northeastern states. Other companies have, in fact, faced much larger fines than Avangrid.

Following Hurricane Isaias in summer 2020, for example, state regulators fined Con Edison in New York $100 million for storm-related outages. Two other New York utilities also received $35 million in combined fines, and Eversource Energy in Connecticut paid $30 million for its storm failures in that state.

Those fines combined total $165 million just for outages that occurred during the 2020 hurricane. That compares to $64 million in total fines levied on Avangrid in the six-year period from 2016 to 2021.

PRC hearings particularly highlighted Avangrid problems in Maine, where its utility, Central Maine Power, installed a new billing and customer service system in 2016 that led to widespread problems and took years to fix. As a result, CMP has in recent years ranked lowest on industry consultant J.D. Powers annual survey of residential customer satisfaction.

That encouraged New Mexico opponents to label Avangrid the worst of the worst in the utility industry, creating a mantra frequently repeated by PRC commissioners themselves.

David Littell, a former member of the Maine Public Utility Commission from 2010 to 2015  and before that commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection  called that label unfair.

From my perspective, after serving on the PUC where I regulated CMP, its a very competent company, Littell told the Journal. That doesnt mean everyone likes what it does and how it does it. But in terms of running a utility, theres not much evidence to paint it as incompetent.

Littell  now a full-time energy and environmental attorney in Maine  has directly advised commissions and regulators in more than 20 states, including nearly every commission in the Northeast.

He said the CMP billing problems were, indeed, fairly atrocious, and it ravaged the utilitys local reputation. But calling CMP the worst of the worst is simply untrue, Littell told the Journal. Its a competent, well-run company that has to be regulated like any other utility, and if regulators do their job, the company will comply.

Can regulators safeguard NM?

In fact, while Avangrids other electric utilities have faced regulatory issues as well in New York and Connecticut, their public standing differs significantly from Maine.

J.D. Power, for example, ranked Avangrids Rochester Gas & Electric utility in New York No. 1 in customer satisfaction among midsize utilities in the East in its December 2020 survey.

Doug Howe, a utility economist and 35-year veteran of the utility industry who previously served as a PRC commissioner, says that shows Avangrid faces varying performance issues in places it operates like any utility, and that it can fix problems that arise with proper regulatory oversight.

Such regulatory oversight is critical for utilities, which are for-profit companies that seek to maximize return on investment, said Howe, who is also the former vice president for customer services at GPU Inc., a public utility holding company whose eastern subsidiaries served some 2 million customers when Howe worked there.

A cost-cutting mentality is ingrained in the culture of nearly all utilities, Howe said.  But with Avangrid, it seemed to me that that whole issue was overblown by opponents to deliberately tank the merger. It struck me that the PRC commissioners had so little experience working with or observing other utilities across the U.S. that they were unable to see this in a realistic perspective  that they didnt know about how the industry basically operates everywhere  and they concluded that Avangrid was the worst possible operator.

In addition, some issues that directly influenced commissioners in the hearings  particularly the criminal investigation involving Iberdrola in Spain  have since evaporated. That case was dismissed in mid-2022.

There was nothing there, simple as that, Howe said.

What will be different this time?

NEE says Avangrid and Iberdolas emphasis on profit is precisely why they should not be allowed to take over PNM.

Their concern is about return for investors, not running an efficient utility that provides beneficial and reliable customer service, Nanasi told the Journal

And that makes it difficult for effective PRC regulation, she added.

Avangrid hasnt met the regulatory burden of proving it will be a reliable, law-abiding company in New Mexico, Nanasi said.

But supporters say Avangrid never got a fair shake at the PRC, which ignored all the commitments and benefits that Avangrid agreed to in negotiations with parties in the case. That includes explicit checks and balances to firmly safeguard customer interests, said Noah Long of the Natural Resources Defense Council, which supports the merger.

The PRC commissioners dismissed all the economic, environmental and consumer benefits in the settlement agreement as insignificant, and instead focused on their own misgivings about the company, which are no more or less warranted than any other company that might invest in New Mexico, Long told the Journal. The commission needs to look at this case again on its merits with the full suite of negotiated benefits.
The possible return of Public Service Co. of New Mexico and Avangrids proposed merger back to the state Public Regulation Commission is raising questions about due process among parties intervening in the case.

If the Supreme Court does remand the case back to the PRC for a rehearing and reconsideration, it means that just two commissioners on the newly appointed three-member commission, which took office in January, will decide on whether to approve or reject the deal.

The third commissioner, Patrick OConnell, recused himself in January from any proceedings in the case because he testified in favor of the deal during PRC hearings in 2021 as a representative of the environmental group Western Resource Advocates, which supports the merger.

New Energy Economy, which opposes the merger, says thats a significant problem, given the thousands of pages of evidence and testimony accumulated during the 2021 hearing process.

Noah Long of the National Resources Defense Council (Courtesy photo)

Its an awesome responsibility to designate all that to just two people who must uphold and safeguard the public interest, NEE Executive Director Mariel Nanasi told the Journal. And with all that evidence in the record, it raises questions about what exactly they will reconsider.

Noah Long of the Natural Resources Defense Council, which supports the merger, said such situations will inevitably arise at the PRC going forward after a constitutional amendment approved by voters turned the commission from a five-member elected tribunal into a three-member body appointed by the governor.

There will be some cases with the new commission where recusals need to happen, and thats not a problem, Long told the Journal. I believe the remaining commissioners are fully capable of evaluating this case on its merits to make a decision thats right for New Mexico.

Cydney Beadles, New Mexico Clean Energy Manager for Western Resource Advocates, said a rehearing is essential because the 2021 hearing process was riddled with irregularities and errors made by both the hearing examiner in the case, Ashley Schannauer, and the five-member commission.

Cydney Beadles, Western Resource Advocates (Courtesy photo)

Many aspects of the proceedings were highly unorthodox, said Beadles, a lawyer who worked at the commission for nearly 25 years, eventually serving as Legal Division director before leaving in 2019.

The hearing examiner and the commissioners treated the case in ways Ive never seen before, Beadles said.

Among other things, that included:

A decision by Schannauer to exclude dozens of benefits offered by Avangrid from consideration when he recommended rejecting the merger because those agreements were reached with parties in the case after a deadline Schannauer imposed on submitting negotiated commitments

Exclusion of testimony by 10 expert witnesses who supported the merger in Schannauers 248-page recommended decision against the merger

Schannauers conclusion that the interlocking corporate structure of Avangrid and its parent firm, Spanish company Iberdrola S.A., made it too difficult for the commission to regulate against self-dealing among Iberdrola and Avangrid subsidiaries, despite decades-old internal PRC rules and federal regulations specifically designed to safeguard against such conflicts of interest

A decision to submit confidential legal documents from Spain about a criminal investigation involving a top Iberdrola executive that commissioners were allowed to review, but nobody else in the case could see.

The Spanish investigation, which was dismissed by the Spanish courts in July 2020, apparently had a significant impact on commissioners. But intervenors had no chance to review the confidential report to provide a different perspective or challenge its relevance.

Ive never seen such a thing, Beadles said. This is a public agency that evaluates and regulates public utilities and transparency is critical.

Nanasi said it would have been better for all parties to see the Spanish report, but Schannauer and the commission didnt rely on it to reject the merger. Rather, they concluded that Avangrid and Iberdrola demonstrated a patter of misconduct based on all evidence in the case.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russias advance seems to have stalled in Moscows campaign to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a leading think tank said in an assessment of the longest ground battle of the war.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said there were no confirmed advances by Russian forces in Bakhmut. Russian forces and units from the Kremlin-controlled paramilitary Wagner Group continued to launch ground attacks in the city, but there was no evidence that they were able to make any progress, the ISW said.

The founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Sunday on the Telegram messaging app that the situation in Bakhmut was difficult, very difficult, with the enemy fighting for each meter.

The ISW report issued Saturday cited the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Eastern Group, Serhii Cherevaty, who said that fighting in the Bakhmut area had been more intense this week than the previous one. According to Cherevaty, there were 23 clashes in the city over the previous 24 hours.

The ISWs report comes following claims of Russian progress earlier this week. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Saturday that paramilitary units from the Kremlin-controlled Wagner Group had seized most of eastern Bakhmut, with a river flowing through the city now marking the front line of the fighting. The assessment highlighted that Russias assault will be difficult to sustain without more significant personnel losses.

The mining city of Bakhmut is located in Ukraines eastern Donetsk province, one of four regions of Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed last year. Russias military opened the campaign to take control of Bakhmut in August, and both sides have experienced staggering casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed not to retreat.

In its latest report, the U.K. Defense Ministry said Sunday that the impact of heavy Russian military casualties in Ukraine varies dramatically across Russia. The British militarys intelligence update said Moscow and St. Petersburg remained relatively unscathed, particularly among members of Russias elite.

In many of Russias eastern regions, however, the death rate as a percentage of the population is 30-40 times higher than in Moscow, the U.K. ministry said. It added that ethnic minorities often take the biggest hit. In the southern Astrakhan region, for example, about 75% of casualties come from the minority Kazakh and Tartar populations.

Russias mounting casualties are reflected in a loss of government control over the countrys information sphere, the Institute for the Study of War said. The think tank said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed infighting in the Kremlin inner circle and that the Kremlin has effectively ceded control over the countrys information space, with Putin unable to readily regain control.

The ISW saw Zakharovas comments, made at a forum on the practical and technological aspects of information and cognitive warfare in modern realities in Moscow, as noteworthy and in line with the think tanks long standing assessments about the deteriorating Kremlin regime and information space control dynamics.

In a separate statement, Zakharova said Sunday that the next round of talks regarding extending the Black Sea grain deal would take place Monday in Geneva. A Russian delegation is expected to meet with top U.N. officials. The deal currently is set to expire on March 18.

The wartime agreement that unblocked grain shipments from Ukraine and helped temper rising global food prices was last extended by four months in November.

The deal, which Ukraine and Russia signed in separate agreements with the U.N. and Turkey on July 22, established a safe shipping corridor in the Black Sea and inspection procedures to address concerns that cargo vessels might carry weapons or launch attacks.

Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food to countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia where millions of impoverished people lack enough to eat. Russia was also the worlds top exporter of fertilizer before the war.

A loss of those supplies following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had pushed up global food prices and fueled concerns of a hunger crisis in poorer countries.

Zelenskyy said Sunday that he posthumously conferred the highest national title, Hero of Ukraine, on a soldier who is thought to have been killed by Russian-speakers. Zelenskyy identified him as Oleksandr Matsiyevsky, although the Ukrainian military previously gave a different name for the soldier pending final confirmation.

A brief video that surfaced this month and caused a national outcry in Ukraine showed a man standing and smoking a cigarette in a wooded area and exclaiming Glory to Ukraine before being cut down with gunfire. Senior Ukrainian officials alleged, without providing further evidence, that the man was an unarmed prisoner of war killed by Russian soldiers.

Matsiyevsky was a Ukrainian warrior. A man who will be known and remembered forever, Zelenskyy said. Ukraines national security service, the SBU, said Matsiyevsky had served as a sniper and was shot on Dec. 30.

Ukrainian authorities reported Sunday morning that Russian attacks over the past day killed at least five people and wounded another seven across Ukraines Donetsk and Kherson regions, local Ukrainian authorities reported Sunday morning.

Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said that two people were killed in the region, one in the city of Kostyantynivka and one in the village of Tonenke. Four civilians were wounded.

Also in the Donetsk province, Sloviansk Mayor Vadim Lyakh said the power grid and railway lines were damaged by Russian shelling on Sunday, but didnt report any casualties.

Local officials in the southern Kherson province confirmed that Russian forces fired 29 times on Ukrainian-controlled territory in the region on Saturday, with residential areas of the regional capital, Kherson, coming under fire three times. Three people died in the province and a further three were wounded.

A woman was wounded in Russian shelling in the village of Bilozerka on Sunday, just outside Kherson.

In Kharkiv province, three districts came under fire, but no civilian casualties were reported.

The governor of the Mykolaiv region, Vitali Kim, said the town of Ochakiv at the mouth of the Dnieper River came under artillery fire early Sunday. Cars were set ablaze and private houses and high-rise buildings sustained damage. No casualties were reported.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
A man was taken to a local hospital in an unknown condition after being shot early Sunday by a Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office deputy, who returned fire after the man shot inside a mobile home according to the department.

Deputy Angelina Navarro, a BCSO spokeswoman, said during a press conference Sunday morning deputies were called to the 200 block of Atrisco Vista SW at 4 a.m. Sunday.

She said there was a domestic dispute between a man and woman inside a mobile home at the address.

The woman exited the home and met with deputies, Navarro said.

A man, who stayed inside the home, fired at least one shot, she said. A deputy returned fire and struck the man, who was then transported to a local hospital.

At the scene of the shooting on Sunday morning, BCSO deputies had blocked the road with crime scene tape and marked and tactical vehicles were seen at the site.

New Mexico State Polices Metro Shoot Team is investigating the shooting, Navarro said.

The BCSO didnt release any other details about the shooting on Sunday morning.
Copyright  2023 Albuquerque Journal

PUYE CLIFF DWELLINGS  History is close to the surface here on the 6,700-foot-high mesa top, which hovers above Santa Clara Pueblo, 10 miles to the east.

Sherds of colorful pottery and sharp-edged pieces of obsidian dating back hundreds of years are strewn about in the dust, uncovered by wind, rain or the tread of human feet. Other elements of nature sometimes get in on the excavation.

Emeric Padilla, a resident of Santa Clara Pueblo and a Puye Cliff Dwellings guide, is crouched over an ant mound on a day late last month.

The ants are dormant now, but they push up things they dont need, he said as he moved his hand lightly over the mound, finding a bead and a piece of turquoise.

Padilla, 56, picks up a piece of obsidian and shows it to the eight people on a tour. He tells them that the people who once lived here, ancestors of the Santa Clara people, his ancestors, used obsidian to make arrow heads.

This one is a discard, he said. If you hold it up to the light, you can usually see a crack.

Pieces of pottery, beads, arrowheads and grinding stones 500 to 1,100 years old are right there on the ground. As if somebody dropped them yesterday.

Pick a tour

As many as 1,500 Pueblo people lived in this area  now on Santa Clara Pueblo land near Espanola  between 900 and 1580. Taking advantage of soft, volcanic rock, the product of an eruption in the Jemez Mountains 1.25 million years ago, these people carved dwellings in the cliffs just below the mesa top, and built houses on top of the mesa. Between 1907 and 1910, a team directed by archaeologist Edgar Lee Hewitt uncovered 140 rooms on top of the mesa.

The site, managed by Santa Clara Pueblo, was closed to the public at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but reopened in June 2022. Tours guided by members of Santa Clara Pueblo are available Thursday through Monday. Summer hours, which went into effect Sunday, March 12, are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors may choose from among the following three tours.  Mesa Top Tour: A one-hour tour in which guests are driven in a van to the top of the mesa above the Puye Cliffs to see the remains of multi-storied ancient dwellings, as well as the spectacular views of New Mexico landscape afforded by that vantage point. Tickets are $25 or $21 for seniors and children younger than 14.  Cliff Dwellings Tour: One-hour tour that follows the cliffside below the mesa top to carved-out dwellings and petroglyphs, $25 or $21 for seniors and children younger than 14.  Adventure Tour: Two-hour tour that combines the Mesa Top and Cliff Dwellings tours using ladders to connect them, $40, $36 for seniors and children younger than 14.

People may also pay a visit free of charge to the Puye Cliffs Harvey House, built by the Fred Harvey Company to serve railroad tourists. The building is now used as a visitor center, gift shop, offices and an exhibit area, which displays cultural information about the Puye people. It is the only Harvey House constructed on an Indian reservation.

Rooms with a view

Low rows of walls, remnants of the centuries-old buildings that once stood here, stretch along the mesa top. Reconstructions of two houses give some idea of what living conditions might have been like.

Padilla points out how small the doors are, noting they would be easy to defend against enemies.

Itd be easy to hit somebody on the head while he was crawling in here, he said.

The Puye peoples enemies were such nomadic tribes as the Apache and the Navajo, and, after the Spanish introduced the horse, making travel over distance easier, the Comanche and the Kiowa.

From the mesa top, you would have been able to see the enemy coming from a long way off. You can still see a lot of New Mexico from here.

Puye Cliff Dwellings Operations Manager Joseph Mark Chavarria, who accompanied this days tour, points out snow-capped peaks at Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, Los Alamos and Colorados San Luis Valley.

Theres a plaza up here on the mesa top and a kiva. The Puye people would have used the latter for religious or tribal government purposes, but Padilla remembers it as being a good place for playing hide-and-seek when he was a kid.

We used to have ceremonies up here, dances, until the late 1970s, Padilla said. He points to a depression in the ground, which he said once served as a water catchment.

As a kid, I remember when you could still see the walls (of the catchment) and the bottom, he said. It was probably 5-6 feet deep, but all this sediment has come in. We do still have springs up here. Most of them go so far and then they will go underground, and you dont see them.

A walk down

Shunning the van, tour members use narrow walkways and a ladder to descend from the mesa top, inspecting cliffside dwellings and age-old petroglyphs etched into the cliff walls as they make their way down to the visitor center.

Chavarria, 55, like Padilla, knows almost every inch of his Santa Clara Pueblo home. Both men have hunted this country extensively.

But Chavarria said he has seldom been far from his home. He feels connected to it, to the people who live here now, and to the people who lived here hundreds of years ago.

Our people were ingenious, he said of those who lived on the mesa top and in the cliff walls. They were engineers. They were hydrologists. And you can walk through their story at the Cliff Dwellings.
Celebrity

The 'Love Actually' actor remembers his teen years when he was still a struggling youth, claiming he turned down a job offer after being offered to sleep with older women.

Mar 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - Bill Nighy rejected a job in Paris after being offered cash to sleep with older women. The 73-year-old actor relocated to the French capital as a teenager and was just 16 years old when he applied for a role at a club which he rejected after bosses told him he could earn 200 francs by sleeping with some of the establishment's female clients.

"I was offered a job at a club and it was explained that if I slept with women of a certain age, they'd give me 200 francs. I never did it because I'd never done it and would not know how," Bill explained in an interview with The Sun newspaper.

He later returned to his native UK and studied at the Guildford School of Acting. He worked as a market stall holder in south London before eventually taking up a career in acting, and in the chat he opened up about how dabbling with drink and drugs in his youth could have ruined everything for him.

Bill ditched his bad habits in 1992 after landing a major TV role with the BBC and he is glad he was able to quit when he did. The "Love Actually" star - who is nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for "Living" at the upcoming Academy Awards - went on, "Had I continued to drink and take other drugs, I would not be having this conversation. That is the central fact of my life. I got help. There's not a day that goes by when I don't thank my lucky stars I do not have to drink."

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Instagram Celebrity

Prior to this, the hip-hop artist was arrested for pranking civilians at a Shoprite in New Jersey for harassing regular people at Shoprite while making a video with fellow content creator Buba100x.

Mar 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - NAS EBK has spoken up for the first time following his arrest. The "OYK" rapper, who was taken into custody for a second-degree murder charge, insisted in a social media post that he's "innocent."

The musical artist broke his silence via Instagram. Posting a note that read "INNOCENT", he captioned it, "ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME !!! BE HOME SOON !! FREE DA GUYS !!"

NAS reportedly was arrested by NY detectives in relation to a shooting he allegedly did in Times Square, Manhattan. The incident, which took place in February, reportedly left a man dead.

Prior to this, NAS was arrested for pranking civilians at a Shoprite in New Jersey. He and fellow content creator Buba100x allegedly harassed regular people at said Shoprite while making a YouTube video.

When an employee got into an altercation with the two, NAS pulled out what appeared to be a knife from his pocket. He threatened, "Walk toward me again and I'll violate you." Allegedly, he proceeded to kick the worker and quickly exit the store.

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The Financial Services Commission in central Seoul / Yonhap



By Anna J. Park



Korea's financial regulators recently imposed a total of 6 billion won ($4.5 million) worth of penalties on two foreign financial companies  UBS and ESK Asset Management  for violating local short-selling rules.



It is the first time that the financial authorities actually imposed penalties on financial firms for violating short-selling regulations, since the country's capital market act was revised in April 2021 to strengthen short-selling rules.



Financial regulators are also currently investigating 10 other local and foreign financial companies for similar violations.



According to industry sources, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), a decision-making body under the top financial regulator, the Financial Services Commission (FSC), decided last Wednesday to impose fines of 2.18 billion won for UBS and 3.87 billion won for ESK due to illegal short-selling practices.



UBS AG was caught by the financial authorities for naked short-selling. The company placed orders in 2021 to sell 7.3 billion won worth of shares of a local company, without even holding the shares. Ordinarily, traders must borrow stock before they can sell it short. ESK Asset Management was also fined over the naked short-selling of 25.1 billion won worth of orders for a local company.



An FSC official explained that the decision was made following several in-depth discussions on the reasonable level of sanctions.



Prior to the revision of the capital market act in April 2021, violations concerning short-selling regulations mostly saw companies face penalties or disciplinary warnings from financial regulators. With the revision, financial authorities are now capable of imposing stricter sanctions and criminal punishment.



Back in February, five other financial firms  Credit Suisse, Munich Ergo Asset Management, Bellevue Asset Management, Lingohr Asset Management and Invesco  were each fined 45 million to 75 million won by local financial authorities for violating short-selling rules in the country. But the fines imposed on the five companies in February were categorized as slight violations, differing from the major sanctions dealt on the two firms in March.



According to main opposition lawmaker Lee Jung-mun, 93.7 percent of 127 people fined or who had received disciplinary warnings by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) from 2010 to 2022, were foreign nationals.




Facebook/Instagram Celebrity

The producer is the latest member of the hip-hop community who has an issue with DJ Akademiks as he was also beefing with rappers Lil Baby and Blueface in recent months.

Mar 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - DJ Akademiks wasn't happy with Metro Boomin's special request. After the producer told Ak to stop posting anything about him on his Instagram page, the blogger called out the musician publicly.

Metro made his request on Friday, March 10 after DJ Akademiks reshared his Thursday tweet which appeared to be his response to Hit-Boy's song, "Slipping Into Darkness". In the comment section, Metro wrorte, "Hey I'm politely asking 1 more time that you please not post me or anything to do with me on this page. Thanks! [handshake emoji]."

Catching wind of the reply, Ak angrily responded, "@metroboomin respectfully my answer to ur request is F**K No. get the f**k off my page." He then raged, "I don't post for u. Nor do I can what u think about what I posted bout u Sincerely.-BIG AK[.]"

Not stopping there, Ak continued to rant against Metro while streaming on Twitch. The media personality called the "Heroes & Villains" artist a "sensitive b***h," and "moist" for making such a demand.

Ak went on to unleash a series of photos of Metro on his Instagram account. In one of the posts, which have since been deleted, Ak wrote, "@metroboomin u wanna address why u threw a hissy fit to get no jumper to take ya interview down? .. can't pull that over here pal. Grow up[.]"

Metro is the latest member of the hip-hop community who has an issue with DJ Akademiks. The YouTuber was beefing with rappers Lil Baby and Blueface in recent months.

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Instagram Celebrity

Christian Horner remembers meeting the Spice Girls member for the first time at a racing event and being left red-faced after the Baby Spice snubbed his kiss.

Mar 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Geri Halliwell refused to kiss her husband Christian Horner at their first meeting and made him settle for a handshake instead. Opening about his relationship with the Spice Girls star, the head of Red Bull's Formula One team thought he was going to be treated to a peck on the cheek when they were first introduced but he was left disappointed and red-faced when she offered him her hand.

"She was a guest of Bernie Ecclestone's in Monaco one year and came down the pit lane," he explained in an interview with The Telegraph. "I remember [McLaren boss] Ron Dennis was standing next to me and Eddie Jordan was there as well. Anyway, she gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, and she gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek. So I thought, 'OK, I'm on for a kiss on the cheek here!' And I went to give her one and she shoved her hand out at me!"

The pair's paths crossed again during a clay pigeon shoot at Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England and they later started dating. They married in 2015 and went on to become parents to a son named Montague together.

Christian went on to insist he didn't get together with Geri because of her pop star past, saying, "You know, life works in mysterious ways. I didn't marry Geri because she's a Spice Girl. I married her because I fell in love with her. It will be 10 years this time next year and we've been happily married for seven."

Christian is also a dad to a daughter from a previous relationship while Geri is mum to daughter Bluebell from her romance with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi.

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Instagram Celebrity

Nicky says her children haven't met Paris Hilton's newborn baby boy but they will soon as the two families plan to get together for the upcoming spring break.

Mar 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Paris Hilton has been over the moon since becoming a mother, according to her sister Nicky. Mum-of-three Nicky Hilton has dished on her sibling's journey to parenthood after Paris dropped the bombshell news about welcoming son Phoenix Barron with her husband Carter Reum via surrogate back in January - and Nicky is adamant the 42-year-old hotel heiress is doing a brilliant job in the first few months of her new life.

"She is on cloud nine. She is such an incredible mother. She was born to do this, and I'm just so happy for her," she told PEOPLE.

Nicky, 39, is mum to three kids - two daughters and a son - with her husband James Rothschild and she hopes the youngsters will be close to their little cousin once they finally get to meet him. She added, "I'm just so excited for all the cousins and babies to be together. They haven't all met yet. When my kids have spring break in a few weeks, they're going to come here and meet their new cousin."

Paris recently revealed she has undergone further IVF treatment in a bid to have a second child - and she wants the baby to be a girl. In an interview with Glamour magazine, she explained "We've done it [the IVF process] seven times I have all boys [embryos]. I have 20 boys."

She then revealed the latest round of IVF took place earlier this year and they are waiting to see if it has been successful. Paris added, "I just went through the process again a month ago, so I'm waiting for the results to see if there's any girls."

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Instagram Celebrity

One of the police officers denies that it was him that yells 'gun, gun, gun,' but the 'Thank You for Believing' rapper insists that he was the only one who pulls a gun on him.

Mar 13, 2023

AceShowbiz - Toosii had a run-in with police when they allegedly pulled a gun on him. The "Thank You for Believing" spitter brought up the claim in a video following the incident as he was arguing with some officers.

The emcee shared the clip on Instagram on Saturday, March 11. "I did not pull no gun on him," he argued at the officers. "My gun fell on the ground...no it was not in my hand, bro, it fell out my car."

Toosii went on to note that he picked up the gun and put it in the car. However, when he put his hands up, a police officer allegedly still pulled his gun on him without probable cause.

"You was dead a** finna to shoot me," the musician told the officer. "This n***a said, 'gun, gun, gun' as if someone was finna to like, what the f**k?"

The police officer denied that it was him that yelled "gun, gun, gun." Toosii begged to differ though, insisting that he was the only one who pulled a gun on him. Other officers later joined in the verbal argument with him.

In the caption, Toosii fumed, "Mind you I live in the state of North Carolina! An OPEN CARRY STATE where I am also LICENSED TO CARRY." He further raged, "You would think officers are more trained for situations like this but instead you get officer dip s**t who pulls his gun out on me because he'a so in fear for his life and ready to kill an innocent man and take him away from his family!"

"I'm in disbelief at how someone who could have went throhhh so much training could have honestly reacted this way," the hip-hop star continued. "I could have senselessly lost my life tonight because some coward was too afraid and doesn't know how to do his job."

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A car ferry approaches the Incheon International Ferry Terminal in this photo taken on Jun. 15, 2020. Newsis



By Lee Hae-rin



The Korea-China sea travel routes are likely to resume operation next month as the international car ferry services at Incheon ferry terminal plan to end the three-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.



Several shipping companies in the marine transport industry have announced the resumption of passenger transportation services between Incheon and various cities in China and started selling travel packages.



The exact date of the resumption is yet unannounced, but the industry's reopening plan comes in the wake of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' announcement earlier this month to lift all travel regulations including mandatory PCR tests on travelers from China, Hong Kong and Macao.



The health authorities decided to end travel restrictions against China and its neighboring countries because China has seen a stable trend in new cases of COVID-19 for over a month after the spring festival holidays in January and because there have been no signs of the coronavirus variant in and outside of the country.



The pandemic-induced three-year break has devastated the Incheon Ferry Terminal's ferry businesses. Before the pandemic, over 1 million passengers traveled via car ferries to Korea from 10 Chinese cities, including Qingdao, Dalian and Tianjin in 2019.



Since the terminal had all passenger transport halted on Feb. 28, 2020, the terminal and shipping companies have only been transporting cargo.



The Incheon Port Authority (IPA), which manages the port city's international ferry terminal, is in preparations to fully operate its customs, immigration and quarantine, as well as facilities like duty-free, restaurants and currency exchange offices.



Meanwhile, Korea and China will also see increased flight availability, as the authorities of the two countries agreed to increase the number of major destinations.



The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced in early March that by the end of the month, around 200 weekly flights will be operated between Korea and China and bring back its flight operations to pre-pandemic levels by October. Less than eight flights between Incheon and only Beijing and Shanghai are available now.



In turn, Korean Air, the country's biggest Full Service Carrier (FSC) announced last Friday that the airline plans to increase the number of flights to China from the current level of 13 flights per week to 84 by the end of this month. Also, in two months, the airline plans to operate 99 flights between Korea and China, which account for 43 percent of the pre-pandemic level from May 2019.



Asiana, Korea's other major FSC, also announced last Thursday that it will increase its number of flights to China from 10 to 89 flights per week before April. The airline will also resume routes suspended due to COVID-19 to Chinese cities including Guangzhou, Qingdao, Xi'an and Tianjin.



However, the tourism reboot of the two countries will only gain momentum if the Chinese authorities decide to allow group tours to Korea and begin issuing tourist visas for those wishing to visit Korea.



The Chinese government has been excluding Korea from its list of countries to which the Chinese people are allowed to travel to. Followed by its first announcement of 20 countries in February, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism revealed its second list of additional 40 countries from Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South and Central America last Friday.



However, Korea, along with Japan and the United States, has never been included in the list.


With the growing push to pass some type of reparations legislation, it becomes increasingly necessary to lay the foundation for both the support for and opposition to such a move.

Florida state senator Blaise Ingoglia introduced S.B. 1248, "The Ultimate Cancel Act," which would require the Florida Division of Elections to cancel the filings "of any political party that has ever endorsed slavery in its official party platform."

This comes on the heels of a cancel culture movement to tear down statues, ban Confederate flags, remove portraits of slave-owners from the U.S. Capitol, and rename thousands of public buildings across the country that carried the names of slave-owners. It is often overlooked that all these statues, the portraits, the school names...were all Democrats. All slave-holding Democrats. Because it was their party that fought a war causing hundreds of thousands of innocent people to lose their lives, as they fought to end slavery.

So should those families who fought to end slavery, receive a check for reparations? What about the families of Northern blacks who never experienced slavery and were quite successful businessmen and leaders? What about the first 23 black members of the U.S. Congress...all former slaves, but now leaders of the country? Their election out of slavery to positions of great power should serve as their progeny's reparations. What price could you put on this honor, treating it as a slight?

The Republican Party was founded in 1854 as an abolitionist party, with six of the nine planks in its platform dealing with abolishing slavery, equal rights, civil rights, and voting rights in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, respectively. The Democrats, on the other hand, had in their platforms in 1844, 1848, 1852, and 1856 that they proudly supported and defended slavery and the right of a person to own another person. They believed in it so strongly that when Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican ever elected, made it clear that he would rid the country of the scourge of slavery, the Democrats packed up their tents and seceded from the Union, causing a war that pitted citizens against each other, ending in almost 800,000 dead Americans.

If one dime of reparations is paid to family members of slaves who suffered under the iron rod of a political party that fought a war to keep those slaves in bondage, it should be paid by the Democrat party. Democrats not only left the United States of America, but also formed their own country, with their own president, currency, flag, constitution, elected officials, etc., etc.

The one issue that all Democrats agreed on, as members of the slavery party, was that slavery should be legal. That's what they fought for: to keep slavery legal, as the recently formed Republican Party did everything possible to end slavery.

It had been outlawed in 1808 to import slaves to the U.S., and by 1800, it was illegal for US citizens to engage in or be involved with the slave trade. But the Democrats found several workarounds until newly introduced states were either pro-slavery or anti-slavery, and it caused great division in the country.

Many say, that was then, this is now. Well, then why tear down statues and remove portraits? Wouldn't it be better to have that conversation and end by asking any black Democrat how he could possibly belong to the party of slavery?

The current support of Democrats for racists has not been hidden from view. In fact, it is justified when discussing power and position. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, once a leader in the Ku Klux Klan, was called "the conscience of the Senate" by Democrat Chris Dodd. Hillary Clinton lauded him as a mentor and dear friend. He was eulogized by the President and Vice President of the United States, the latter being the current president, Joe Biden. That's not ancient history. It just happened.

So, no, the Democrat support for openly racist individuals is not old at all. Look at the names they call any black who dares to leave their virtual plantation. See how people like Candace Owens, Larry Elder, Allen West, Ben Carson, Justice Clarence Thomas, etc. are treated by progressive, liberal white Democrats. That is called racism at its core...judging someone on the color of his skin as it relates to everything he believes that is at odds with the Democrat mindset. People like this are the enemy to be destroyed. That's pretty racist at its core.

And the "first black president" was really a white man. Boy, talk about cultural appropriation. How did Bill Clinton do that  especially when he is known for dropping the N-word with and around his KKK senatorloving wife? It just rolls off the tongue. Wasn't she the one who was so upset with Donna Brazile after she herself botched a debate, calling Brazile a buffalo? Is that the price we pay or power...just suck up the insults like a dutiful soldier of the left?

Bill's best "I love blacks" lie was the one he told at Rosa Parks's funeral, that she inspired him to give up his seat on the bus to a black person. Hmmm. Which bus was that, Bill? There were no city buses where you grew up, and when you were in high school, they were still segregated. There were no blacks on your school bus.

And no one challenged him or corrected him as he stood on the grave of a brave, amazing woman and used it as a podium of mendacious hubris. Not one journalist there even cared to research the reality of what he was peddling to a sycophant crowd.

Everything Bill Clinton did that was cringe-worthy, embarrassing, misogynist, and self-serving, while wrapping himself in the moniker of "first black president," should have been met with vocal opposition. So, Bill, are you insinuating that all black men are cads like you?

If this move  to forbid political parties who supported slavery  is recognized officially, it needs to be introduced as Exhibit A in a reparations trial. Exhibit B is the civil war and the Democrats' founding of their own country. Exhibit C is how white Democrats treat black Republicans today, suggesting that nothing has changed with them in 150 years, so they should be stuck paying the bill.

But if all this has legs  the denouncing of the slavery party and the move to pay reparations  it is necessary for people to have all the facts, understand the history, and not allow the Democrats to get away with murder. As to that...what about reparations for all the people who bought the lie of abortion and allowed their child to be killed? How are they made whole? It appears that the killing didn't end with the war, and abortion is far more current than the issue of state-sponsored slavery.

Nina May is the founder and chairman of the Renaissance Women, an educational non-profit foundation with international and production training programs and opportunities for internships on media projects. She is the creator, writer, and director of the dramatic TV series Daily Bread, which airs on a variety of platforms including Amazon Prime, Tubi, Hulu, and Roku. It is a faith-based, post-apocalyptic dramatic series where a solar flare knocks out electricity around the world. www.dailybreadseries.com

Image: PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
More Americans grasp how the U.S. government actually works. Large corporate interests pay off politicians and bureaucrats to advance their financial interests. In return, those politicians and bureaucrats are responsible for creating new problems for the American people that can be exploited to justify spending huge sums of money  the bulk of which falls into the laps of the large corporate interests.

The pharmaceutical industry, for instance, would love for lawmakers to mandate that Americans purchase and use their products in perpetuity. Big Pharma then pays hospitals, research scientists, and medical doctors to push its products. It privately funds public health agencies, while rewarding ostensibly objective bureaucrats with research grants and promises of future lucrative employment. Through its lobbying arms, Big Pharma fills the campaign coffers and family foundations of elected officials and works hand in glove with lawmakers to craft legislation that simultaneously expands Big Pharma's profits and lawmakers' personal stock portfolios. Lawmakers who refuse to play this corrupt game end up becoming the electoral targets of all those extra dollars in industry profits, and the stick-or-carrot system effectively works to eliminate ethical politicians, while elevating criminals. It's plain old bribery and extortion, and it is how Washington, D.C. operates.

Notice that for this system to thrive, industry and government agents must continue to create new crises for the American people. Far from being motivated to build a healthy future where humans are free from disease, Big Pharma has an incentive to invest in viral gain-of-function research or other dangerous experimental work that might inadvertently leak from a lab and unleash the next big pandemic. A healthy world is profitless. Likewise, defense industry interests have every incentive to see mortal threats throughout the globe and no incentive to sue for peace. Only endless war can sustain regular investment growth. If politicians and bureaucrats were slightly less immoral than they really are, then perhaps they could agree to just pay off Big Pharma and Big Defense with big bags of printed bills, rather than force their products on new victims around the world. Alas, as the stick-and-carrot machinery continues to corrupt the system, the politicians and bureaucrats become only more committed to total destruction both here at home and abroad.

That operation to destroy everything for an extra buck is D.C.'s mission, and if you are willing to concede that Big Pharma and Big Defense might have nefarious motivations but are still 100% convinced that government agencies are reliably warning about the "existential threat" from man-made climate change out of some altruistic obligation to humanity, then you have deluded yourself into thinking that evil government actors will, from time to time, generously tell the truth. Evil liars are evil liars; they do not lie about health emergencies, open borders, election integrity, and the need for war while embracing honesty when it comes to "global warming," "white supremacy," or "transgenderism." There is no spectrum where this subject is held reverently off-limits from government manipulation, while this other subject is deemed not worthy of providing the public with accurate information. Once you accept that the government is in the business of lies, you must scrutinize anything that it says and act accordingly.

Of course, politicians and bureaucrats aren't all stupid. They know that a growing share of Americans do not trust anything they have to say. That's why they funnel so much tax money directly into the pockets of "non-governmental" think-tanks, media organs, fact-checkers, universities, environmental groups, and distinguished institutes filled with so-called "policy wonks." As the government recognized that it had trashed its own credibility, it chose to delegate its policymaking to prefabricated third parties dripping in manufactured prestige. If you don't trust us, surely you must trust NBC, CNN, the Brookings Institution, the Council on Foreign Relations, The New York Times, the World Economic Forum, the Global Disinformation Index, or Greenpeace!

Third-party think-tanks that are direct or indirect recipients of taxpayer funds and corporate profits reach "objective" intellectual conclusions that just so happen to directly or indirectly benefit government and corporate interests. See how that works? Instead of adversarial reporters and true thinkers holding government power accountable, the government just put all its erstwhile enemies on its ever-growing payroll. "Democracy" works best when corporate oligarchs tell politicians and bureaucrats what to do, while corporate news and corporate-funded "non-profit" groups pretend that everything the government does is all very reasonable. Government power launders prestige to the academics, journalists, and think-tanks; those outside opinion-leaders launder their "objectivity" to the politicians and bureaucrats; the politicians and bureaucrats launder taxpayer dollars to big corporate interests; and the big corporate interests kick some coin back to the politicians, bureaucrats, academics, journalists, and think-tanks.

It's pillage and plunder  just like the old days.

That's the American system of "democracy"  a farcical wonderland where the wealthy and powerful use counterfeit money and counterfeit opinion to generate real policy and wealth while impoverishing and endangering the people in whose name the system is ludicrously said to serve. In this propaganda zone, "vaccines," "economic recession," "climate," "war," and even "womanhood" are redefined as nonchalantly as "democracy" has been redefined  all to benefit the financial and hegemonic interests of the corporate State.

This Frankensteinian fascism that we must pretend is "democracy" borrows from 1984's manipulation of language, Brave New World's psychologically engineered social hierarchy, Fahrenheit 451's commitment to destroying knowledge through censorship, and The Hunger Games' authoritarian control over desperate citizens who exist only to enrich the Capitol. All of these books have been banned at different times in countries around the world (including our own), and the more successfully that the American government forfeits Americans' birthright of freedom, the more likely that all four will someday be rewritten (just as so many other books have already been) as works of fiction in support of government's totalitarian control. Forty years after Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451, he warned that Western "political correctness" is "the real enemy these days" and should be considered "thought control and freedom of speech control." Remember those words when Big Tech works with Big Government to transform his warning into support for the criminalization of "disinformation," "misinformation," and "hate speech." Government censors have no shame.

I have no interest in this kind of future, but the first step to liberating ourselves from certain dystopia is understanding and accepting that the government is always lying. It does not consider telling the truth a civic or moral duty; rather, it believes in disseminating "narratives" that are most beneficial to its own grip on power. Those who advance farthest in government are not honest people, and their trickle-down dishonesty corrupts everyone around them. In politics and war, the lowest common denominator tends to win out. There is a race to the bottom in which ruthless violence and abject immorality succeed while honor and principle are rejected. As Representative Burchett from Tennessee recently acknowledged, congressional ethics doesn't exist.

What separated the American government for the longest time from others in the world was its steadfast (albeit imperfect) respect for personal freedom, representative government, constitutional fidelity, and limited bureaucratic power. That has gone out the window. When President Kennedy urged Americans during his Inaugural Address to "ask not what your country can do for you  ask what you can do for your country," he was "defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger." Today's politicians demand that Americans do what they say and have made government our maximum danger.

While the corporate-controlled State engages in false narratives, propaganda, and 1984 distortion of language, we have but one duty: to reject all lies. Resistance against illegitimate power begins with one simple thing  the truth.

Image: Mark Hillary via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
If youve ever wondered why the Left is so successful in fooling so many people for so long, you might consider branding expert Rob Frankels observation.

The average IQ score is 100, encompassing about 68% of the population. If you add in the population who isn't even that bright, all the way down to the bottom of the barrel, you'll find that an astonishing 84% of the population ranges from "average" to "breathing paperweight." That leaves about 16% of people who are "above average" or "really, really smart."

(Actually post pandemic, I believe U.S. I.Q. scores have gone down for the first time in decades.)

Of course, some really smart people can be taken in, too, but rarely do they confess their error. This week a very intelligent person, Naomi Wolf (B.A. Yale, PhD Oxford) did just that. She offered up a full-throated apology to conservatives for falling for the Democrats narrative on the January 6 events.

I believed a farrago of lies. And, as a result of these lies, and my credulity -- and the credulity of people similarly situated to me - many conservatives reputations are being tarnished, on false bases.

What opened her eyes was the videos shown by Tucker Carlson.

While fact-checkers state that it is misinformation to claim that Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi was in charge of Capitol Police on that day, the fact is that the USCP is under the oversight of Congress, according to -- the United States Capitol Police. This would be the same Congress that convened the January 6 Committee subsequently, and that used millions of dollars in taxpayer money to turn that horrible day, and that tragic event, into a message point that would be used to tar a former President as a would-be terrorist, and to smear all Republicans, by association, as insurrectionists, or as insurrectionists sympathizers and fellow-travelers. There is no way to unsee Officer Brian Sicknick, claimed by some Democrats in leadership and by most of the legacy media to have been killed by rioters at the Capitol that day, alive in at least one section of the newly released video.

She details how protestors assembling at the Capitol is not new and that public buildings belong to the public. The narrative on January 6 has been used to tar all conservatives (unfairly) she concedes. Other things she notes she once believed but are false, include these: Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian propaganda; Trump colluded with Russia; the Steele dossier; that Trump instigated the January 6 riot.

A far more accurate view of what happened on January 6 and the outrageous behavior of the prosecution, the FBI, and the D.C. judiciary has always been found at American Greatness, authored by Julie Kelly, and, if, you want an even more accurate and detailed summary on those events than Wolf provided, I suggest you read her latest, a January 6 crib sheet.

Heres the meat of it, but read it all if you care for a full picture:

The overwhelming majority of protestors did not act badly or violently -- even the DoJs data supports that.

No one is charged with bearing a weapon into the Capitol.

Body cams show outrageous misconduct by law enforcement. D.C. Metropolitan Police launched an aggressive and unnecessary offensive against the crowd assembled on the west lawn. Even though protestors were respecting police lines at the time, footage shows officers throwing stun grenades and other devices containing rubber bullets into the crowd beginning shortly after 1:00 p.m. and that conduct enraged the crowd.

Inside the Capitol police used batons to beat at least two women on the head resulting in injuries;" excessive force caused the deaths of four supporters.

Theres no evidence any officer was killed there and theres no evidence the reported suicides of other officers after January 6 were related to the protest.

The claim that the protest was to affect the count was also bunk. Congress was NOT voting to certify the electoral college results at the time, in fact, as the Electoral Count Reform Act permitted, Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Paul Gosar were in the process of disputing the election outcome in Arizona at the time and Congress had adjourned to consider this.

This is hardly the first time the Democrats and media have worked together to spread lies to injure conservatives. Did you believe President Nixon was a racist and the Republicans had a Southern strategy to garner the votes of die-hard racists in the South? If so, you might read Don Surbers detailed debunking of these widely believed falsehoods.

The [Washingtn] Post said on July 26, 2019, Most Americans have heard the story of the Southern strategy: The Republican Party, in the wake of the civil rights movement, decided to court Southern white voters by capitalizing on their racial fears. Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater first wielded this strategy in 1964 and Richard Nixon perfected it in 1968 and 1972, turning the solidly Democratic South into a bastion of Republicanism. The Washington Post lied. Nixon rejected the Southern Strategy. In 1968, he received but 13.52% of the votes in Mississippi -- a state that had given Goldwater 87.14% of its vote four years earlier. Nixon supported civil rights and the end of segregation in both words and deeds. Republicans tried for nearlya century to end lynching and to codify civil rights. Democrat segregationists from the 11 Confederate states filibustered it.

If anyone employed a Southern Strategy it was the Democrats, who were always for segregation.

The real Southern Strategy belonged to Democrats who took every single Confederate state after Reconstruction in 10 presidential elections until 1920, when Tennessee defected and went to Harding. The 11 went back to Democrats in the next election but Hoover took 5 Southern states. FDRs Southern Strategy took back those 11 Confederate states but 4 broke for the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party in 1948. Ike (with Nixon as his VP) took 4 of the 11 in 1952 and 6 in 1956 -- the first Republican majority in the South since Reconstruction. America was changing. A nation that was 85% white wanted to end treating blacks as second-class citizens The unsung hero of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was Senate Republican Leader Everett Dirksen who worked with LBJ to break the filibuster and get the bill passed. Only 33 of the 100 senators were Republican but Dirksen delivered 27 votes.

It was two generations after the passage of the Civil rights Act before the Republicans controlled most Southern state legislatures. His factual argument on this score is very well-documented. If you still believe this nonsense, you probably are okay with the Democrats latest lie that Republican President Abraham Lincoln did not emancipate slaves.
Over the past few years, one of the rallying cries and favored slogans of the left, for many cultural and political issues at least, has been, Follow the science! You heard Saint Fauci and company say it ad nauseam throughout the COVID pandemic the same man you can thank, in part at least, for starting the pandemic in the first place due to his generous donation to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

You have heard it for years coming from the Green cult, demanding that you follow the science of climate change, lest the world end in 10 years, as AOC has so helpfully informed us will happen if we dont take immediate drastic action. You hear extreme left-wing doctors tell you to follow the science when it comes to Gender Affirming Care for minors, otherwise known as chemical and physical castration, mutilation, and drugging of people who are not legally old enough to consent to such procedures and practices.

But curiously, they never tell you to follow the science of biology, even though Gender Affirming Care is a topic directly and obviously related to biology. Why might that be? Could it be because biological reality would directly refute not only GAC, but topple the entire fragile house of cards that their agenda and belief system sits on?

No, the left does not want you to follow the real science of biology because it would completely blow holes in their asinine, insane political narratives. If people followed the science of biology, and recognized anatomical reality, then they would know that there are only two sexes, can only be two sexes, and will only ever be two sexes, and that those born with XX chromosomes will be female for life, no matter whether they mutilate themselves and no matter how much testosterone they take, and that those born with XY chromosomes will be male for life, no matter how much cosmetic surgery they get or how much makeup they wear. They would see Dylan Mulvaney and instantly recognize that oh, no, hes a male if they followed the science of biology.

They would also know that men cannot get pregnant, no matter how many times mentally disturbed people tell themselves they can, there is no such thing as a female penis, and that the only time a man would ever bleed in his pelvic area is after he gets his reproductive organs removed by a surgeon, at which point the surgeon would invert it and try to sew it back on to him in some rough shape of a female reproductive organ on the inside, and then create external organs like the Clitoris out of scrotum tissue, which they call a vaginoplasty to give it an air of scientific credibility, when all it is in reality is A Frankenstein-like mad science experiment.

And remember, they want to do this to children under the age of 18 without their parents consent because they follow the science, for which they have no actual empirical evidence or data supporting their approach because such a procedure has never been studied long enough or in depth enough, as Matt Walsh points out.

But why else doesnt the left like biology? Could it be because biology indicates to them that a pregnant womans fetus has a heartbeat after 6 weeks of gestation, which means that it is a human being when, as far as the left is concerned, it should just be a clump of cells? Perhaps this inconvenient fact would interrupt The Sciences hegemony in American political discourse, and, of course, inconvenience one of the largest benefactors to The Science and the Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood. If the mother knew this dangerous science, she might be less likely to visit the death factory that gets so much support and financial backing.

But it isnt just biology that inconveniences them, it is virology too. As early as October 4, 2020, The Great Barrington Declaration was signed by nearly 50 epidemiologists and other public health officials. In it, these real scientists voiced their concerns about what was the present COVID-19 public health policies and recommended 3 years early what The Science is just now coming around to acknowledge was true: Current lockdown policies are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health. The results (to name a few) include lower childhood vaccination rates, worsening cardiovascular disease outcomes, fewer cancer screenings and deteriorating mental health  leading to greater excess mortality in years to come. They then went on to recommend natural immunity, herd immunity, and focused protection of those most vulnerable to acquiring the virus which, again, The Science is just now coming around to.

But, because both Presidents Trump and Biden listened to The Science instead of the science, 15 days to flatten the curve turned into, give or take 1,095 days to flatten the curveand counting. Sure these scientists who signed the declaration knew how to do science, but they didnt know how to do The Science.

Only Dr. Fauci knew how to do The Science, which is why he waffled on every single recommendation he made, and, after settling on one, ended up getting it wrong. The Science told us to mask constantly and everywhere you go in public, including outdoors, and in your careven though masks were ineffective at preventing transmission. The Science told us that schools must remain closed for as long as it takes to stop the spread  even though children were at the lowest risk of getting infected with COVID. The Science told us not only that vaccines would prevent infection, but that it would be more effective than natural immunityand then we saw twice and thrice vaccinated people getting infected with COVID, sometimes for the second or third time.

So, why does The Science have such a dismal track record of getting things wrong? Because it is NOT the science. The Science is what is known as Lysenkoism. Named after Soviet Biologist and Agronomist Trofim Lysenko, it essentially has come to represent the fusion of real, empirical, established science, science that allows room for correction or adjustment and is subject to change with new data, with official State/Government policy. In Lysenkos case, he completely discarded well established and credible theories of genetics that ran counter to Stalins official communist policies, and replaced it with a brand new theory created out of whole cloth by him, which basically insisted that nature itself was communist and would share its genes with other organisms when reproducing. This, of course, was nonsense, but it concurred with and supported the communist collectivized farming policies of the government and did not allow reality to get in the way of Marxist dogmatism.

Thus, we get what we have today: official government policy informed by manipulated and curated science that the government itself has informally demanded, scientists that collude with government to craft a scientific narrative that is completely intransigent and not willing to be adjusted in light of new evidence, and the exclusion of any scientific opinions that run contrary to the governments agenda, goals, or official statements. The Science cannot be wrong, ever. But the science can be, and is willing to seek the actual truth instead of the governments truth. That is why The Science should not be followed, but the science should always be followed.

Photo credit: YouTube screengrab (cropped)
This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, presiding over a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, where the country has decided on "important, practical" measures for the offensive use of war deterrents, March 12. Yonhap



North Korea has decided to take "important, practical" measures for the "offensive use" of war deterrents, state media said Sunday, with the United States and South Korea set to launch their joint military exercise this week.



The decision was made at an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), presided over by leader Kim Jong-un, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).



Washington and Seoul are scheduled to kick off the Freedom Shield (FS) exercise Monday for an 11-day run, along with a large-scale field maneuver, called the Warrior Shield.



"The meeting discussed and adopted the important practical steps for making more effective, powerful and offensive use of the war deterrent of the country in coping with the present situation in which the war provocations of the U.S. and South Korea are reaching the red-line," the KCNA said in an English-language dispatch. It did not specify what the practical measures would be.



The North is widely expected to conduct weapons tests timed with the allies' combined military exercises, which Pyongyang has long denounced as rehearsal for an invasion.



Kim inspected a "fire assault drill," simulating its attack on the enemy's airfield, last week in a bid to check the "actual war" readiness posture of its military.



His younger sister Kim Yo-jong earlier warned her country is ready to take "overwhelming" actions against military activities by the U.S. and the South.



The North also discussed issues of resolving rural problems at the key military meeting, the KCNA said.



They discussed "detailed duties for accelerating rural development, regional construction and grand socialist construction," as well as "measures for implementing them and ways for using military forces," it said.



Observers said the North appears to have discussed ways to dispatch the Korean People's Army to help with the construction of homes in rural areas and other projects aimed at improving people's lives. (Yonhap)


At the beginning of March of 2023, your Congress, the U.S. House & the U.S. Senate, both passed legislation that makes null and void the Biden administrations mandate that investment companies, nationwide, consider ESG standards when evaluating investments for their clients. This legislation is heading to the White House where President Biden has vowed to veto it. The veto, if not overridden by both houses of Congress, would allow the ESG mandate imposed by the U.S. Department of Labor to remain in place.

What the heck is ESG? In short, it stands for environmental, social and governance. So, the new Labor Department rule (not a law passed by Congress) tells investment companies that they should look at a companys ESG behaviors to screen for their potential investments. OK I get it now. This is why we have seen our nation seem to move at lightning speed towards woke policies. This is why we now see almost every TV commercial make some social or environmentally friendly statement, notwithstanding the product line. ESGs are important now to the investment world so -- says the federal government. Investment companies use ESGs, which are non-financial factors, in investment decisions. This means they are factoring in social accountability. Companies now need to have a desirable ESG rating in order to be considered investment worthy. Never mind their financial status or product or financial reliability.

If a company wants an investment firm to buy its stock, then it needs to have environmentally friendly policies. So, the company will begin to issue favorable climate change statements from their board of directors. They now need to make statements about safeguarding the environment. Remember, they want their ESG rating to be high!

They will need to begin to speak about social justice in America, and how well they manage relationships with their employees, suppliers, and the community around them. Even though their product might be a bar of soap! How that bar of soap comes into being must now have an emphasis on social justice. Hence the TV commercial with a politically correct racial mix of actors using the bar of soap. This TV commercial is designed to help project the company's ESG rating so it is will now be on the rise. The soap company is in essence promoting itself to be able to say: pick me, pick me to the investment world.

The company will need to pass the litmus test in their governances. So, they hire employees that consist of a variety of races, ethnicities, or gender leanings. Never mind that their employees already reflect the community in which their product is produced. After all, they want to be picked by the investment boards that might invest large state teachers retirement funds. They want to be considered by mutual funds and brokerage houses because those firms now want investment products that employ ESG principles.

Remember, the practice by investment firms considering companies ESG has nothing to do with the companys financial health or sustainability. It is based on the companys self-professed feelings and statements touting their ESG accomplishments.

Lets look at it this way. If an investor wants to invest his/her money in a highly rated ESG company, that is their prerogative. Same goes for a faith-based investor wanting his/her money to be invested in a company that promotes like-minded values. This is what the First Amendment to our Constitution is all about. But to promote one value over another, nationally, and mandated in regulation by our federal government, screams of scale-tipping. This paints a picture of our scales of justice being weighted down on one side instead of evenly balanced.

Also, is this good for the financial health of America? On paper it might sound like a good thing. In practice, when investing money, whether it is a small personal account or large public pension funds, the variables should be a companys financials, market position, industry trends, management skills and debt financing, just to name a few. Requiring the investment world to begin considering investment opportunities with companies that self-profess their social policies, either conservative or liberal, seems to be dangerous financial policy and thinly veiled Marxism to this writer.

Elizabeth B. Chryst (formerly Letchworth) was the first woman, and youngest when elected by the United States Senate to serve as the U. S. Senate Secretary for the Majority for the Republicans. (source: S. Res. 8, 104th Congress, 1st Session)

Photo crdit: AhmadArdity public domian
During a recent Appropriations and Budget meeting, Democrat Oklahoma state Rep. Regina Goodwin took umbrage at HB 2077, an education transparency bill introduced by Republican Rep. Chad Caldwell.

Caldwells legislation would require the Oklahoma Department of Education to allow parents to review their schools' curriculum on an "online transparency portal." Caldwell proposed the bill as a way to "support parental rights to access, review, and comment upon curriculum, instructional materials, textbooks, and library materials being used by the school district where their child attends school, and which their child might be exposed to without prior parental knowledge or consent."

Sounds reasonable. And eminently necessary in light of what educators have been foisting on students in recent years. After all, educators are supposed to be public servants, and their paychecks come out of those parents wallets.

Rep. Goodwin vehemently disagrees, however. She stated:

Long story short, this is a very controversial issue, its a very controversial bill, theres nothing thats simple about it. And when we start having government overreach, which I often hear folks talk about here, this is a prime example of government overreach, and I would hope that we would allow our teachers and our folks that are really trying to do the work of educatingleave them be.

Its a good thing Goodwin isnt an English teacher.

Government overreach is what Goodwin and her ilk support, and the opposite of Caldwells desire. The latters bill was introduced to address government overreach, by protecting parentsand their kidsfrom a vast public educational bureaucracy that wants to groom and indoctrinate students without their parents approval or knowledge.

At one point, Caldwell asked Goodwin to state whose voices she would like to have silenced.

She replied:

Voices that should be silenced, quite frankly, I would hope any thinking human being would know anybody that thinks diversity, equity, and inclusion is a bad idea, perhaps those voices that don't want to include all of humanity in this world and in our curriculum and in our education, perhaps those are the voices that should be silenced.

Incredibly, she then added, DEI is a deity; diversity, equity and inclusion is God.

Diversity, equity and inclusion is God?

I beg to differ. Call me a skeptic. Diversity, equity and inclusion is a social construct, essentially a progressive trope, a societal ideal to be achieved according to Marxists and other Democrats. It is not the supernatural Creator of the universe. Nor is it the Father, the Son, or the Holy Ghost. Rather, it replaces them in the fevered minds of lost and confused individuals like Rep. Regina Goodwin.

Taken to its extreme, equity can only be even partially achieved by a vast government wielding unchecked powers over its citizenry. As such, the pursuit of it is far more likely to destroy societies than to createanything at all.

Photo credit: Grabien video screengrab
Most of the media along with the other Democrats have told us for years that the life of an unborn child, no matter how developed, is just a reproductive choice.

Yet when a murderer killed this unborn baby, at seven months gestation, the media noted the child was a person:

A gunman killed six people [emphasis added] Thursday night at a Jehovah's Witnesses hall in the German city of Hamburg before apparently turning his gun on himself. The shooter was identified as a former member of the congregation, police said Friday. Four men, one woman and an unborn child were killed [emphasis added]. Police initially said Friday that a pregnant woman had died in the attack, but they later confirmed she was among eight people wounded. Her 7-month-old fetus died.

People in the U.S. who want limits on abortion, just like Europe and most of the world, and who want more Black and Brown babies to be born, are called anti-woman, extremists, and racists. The talking points say that we dont want women to have bodily autonomy, the freedom to make their own choices, and dont want them to have reproductive health.

A significant majority of Americans support limits on abortionbut not Democrats. They are the radical extremists, yet most of the media supports them and their policies which in turn makes most journalists radical extremists. On Thursday, Breitbart reported:

Senate Democrats reintroduced the Womens Health Protection Act on Wednesday, a radical piece of legislation which would usurp states ability to pass strong pro-life laws and would allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.

Is there anything more immoral or despicable than a party that would vote against providing health care to the most vulnerable, newborn children? Ones who just survived an attempt on their lives? Why would anyone trust these people to handle the health care for the rest of us? Who else will they just let die?

Yet somehow, the media doesnt call these Democrats extreme. Last month, Fox News reported:

Nearly every House Democrat on Wednesday voted against legislation that would require immediate medical attention for babies who are born alive after an attempt was made to abort them.

Here is a serious contradiction that demands a response:

If a woman has a baby at home, but decides she doesnt want the child and just lets him/her die, she will most likely be charged with a felony; it will not be called a reproductive choice.

Yet, if a woman goes to a Planned Parenthood for an abortion, the baby is born alive, and the clinic staff withhold care until he/she dies, it will be called reproductive choice. Isnt that unequal treatment under the law? Maybe Garland and Biden could explain the difference when they talk about equity and equality?

Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required.
Because of lies  in legacy media  lies which I and millions of others believed  half of our nations electorate was smeared and delegitimized, and I myself was misled. It damages our nation when legacy media put words in the mouths of  former Presidents, and call them traitors or criminals without evidence.  The Democrats in leadership  have cherry-picked, hyped, spun, and  appear to have lied about aspects of January 6, turning a tragedy for the nation into a politicized talking point aimed at discrediting half of our electorate.

--Liberal journalist, feminist, and Gore and Clinton campaign advisor Naomi Wolf after watching videos of the Capitol riot released by Tucker Carlson, March 10, 2023

Naomi Wolfs liberal credentials are impressive. Her mother, Deborah Goleman Wolf, is an anthropologist and author of The Lesbian Community, praised by many for its sympathetic approach to lesbianism (see back cover here). Her father, Leonard Wolf, was a faculty member of English Literature at San Francisco State University who twice won the Anna Radcliffe Award for Literature, and was a Yiddish translator.

Naomis own accomplishments are as impressive as it gets. She received a B.A in English Literature from Yale and spent 1985 to 1987 at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. She says that her initial time at Oxford was difficult because, in addition to the raw sexism, overt snobbery and casual anti-Semitism, she wanted to write on a subject that didnt exist, Feminist Theory.

After receiving her B.A. from Yale, she returned to Oxford where she obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in English Literature in 2015. She authored several books including The Beauty Myth and Outrages: Sex, Censorship and the Criminalization of Love.

Feminist Gloria Steinem wrote that The Beauty Myth is a smart, angry, insightful  clarion call to freedom. Every woman should read it." In Outrages, following in her mothers footsteps, she argues for a liberal attitude towards homosexuality, divorce and prostitution. In the 1990s she worked with both the Clinton and Gore presidential campaigns, famously advising Gore to wear "earth tones."

Wolf has since admittedly gotten into trouble with the Left several times. She was suspended from Twitter for posting alleged anti-vaccination misinformation (apparently Wolf had not been informed that one is not allowed to state ones opinions anymore; the First Amendment no longer in force unless one submits) and for comparing Anthony Fauci to Satan. Perhaps, given recent developments concerning Fauci and gain of function research (to create more lethal viruses) at the Wuhan Lab (about 7 million dead worldwide as of now), Wolf had a crystal ball. Further, the dangers of fast approval of new vaccines has been reported, not by right-wing wackos but by the liberal USAToday, CNN and Medical XPress. Maybe the self-appointed censors should respect the First Amendment and let people with a Doctorate of Philosophy that the censors dont have speak their mind? Despite straying from the herd a few times, what is there for a real liberal to dislike?

Fortunately, however, Wolf still has functioning eyeballs. After watching Tuckers videos, she issued an apology to conservatives and all those who put American first. From her open letter:

Its tempting to sweep this confrontation with my own gullibility under the rug  to 'move on' without ever acknowledging that I was duped, and that as a result I made mistakes in judgement [that] hurt millions of other people like you all, in existential ways.  I believed a farrago of lies.

It is reassuring that there still are a few liberals and journalists that cannot support hurting innocent people for no good reason. One had begun to think there were none left. Wolf deserves to be congratulated for her humanity.

It is also important to be specific. One much neglected specific point Wolf makes is that one cannot trust fact-checkers anymore because they are often part of the disinformation cabal.

While fact-checkers state that it is misinformation to claim that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in charge of Capitol Police on that day, the fact is that the USCP is under the oversight of Congress, according to  the United States Capitol Police.

Wolf also pointed out that when the tapes were released:

There is no way for anyone thoughtful, even if he or she is a lifelong Democrat, not to notice that Sen Chuck Schumer did not say to the world that the footage that Mr Carlson aired was not real. Rather, he warned that it was 'shameful' for Fox to allow us to see it.

Similarly, comrade Mitch McConnell, always willing to do his part to damage the last Republican who actually won the presidency, did not say the videos on Fox were fake or doctored. He said  it was 'a mistake' to depart from the views of the events held by the chief of the Capitol Police" (that same chief who knew in advance trouble was brewing for January 6 and did not adequately prepare for it). Why is that, Mitch? What are the rules now that the Constitution has been suspended in the service of the corrupt uniparty wealth and power? The message from our overlords is clearly, Believe us, not your lying eyes!

Having realized that she has been played by her tribe, Wolf refers to the long history of lies about Trump perpetrated by NPR, MSNBC, The New York Times and others, lies that Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian propaganda, that Trumps campaign colluded with Russia, that Trump was a Russian asset, that the Steele dossier was accurate, that Trump instigated the riot at the Capitol (because his words to his supporters to assemble peacefully and patriotically had been deleted from all of the news coverage I [Wolf] had seen), etc.

Perhaps what is most astonishing about Wolfs article is the heartfelt apology, not just to conservatives but even to MAGA. Yes, she apologizes to MAGA! Arent they NAZIS?

I dont like President Trump [but] I have been lied to about him so much for so long, I cant tell whether my instinctive aversion is simply the habituated residue of years of being on the receiving end of lies. But I like the liars [in] our current gatekeepers even less. The gatekeepers who lie to the public about the most consequential events of our time and  damage our nation, distort our history and deprive half of our citizenry of their right to speak, champion and choose, without being tarred as would-be violent traitors - deserve our disgust. I am sorry the nation was damaged by so much untruth issued by [my tribe] . I am sorry my former tribe is angry at a journalist [Carlson] for engaging in  journalism. I am sorry I believed so much nonsense. Conservatives, Republicans, MAGA: I am so sorry.

People are free to disagree with Trump and MAGA. That is, or used to be, the standard in the formerly free United States. That is why Wolfs admission that she is not even sure she should dislike Trump anymore because of all the lies told to her is so noteworthy. One must realize that the Democrat-Media Collusion Team does not argue simply that one should disagree with conservatives. Their deliberate strategy is to generate hatred for conservatives. Making hatred an election strategy is, of course, not wise and very dangerous but they just dont care.

Image: Thomas Good, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0
We've all heard about the four Americans who ran into a cartel at the U.S.-Mexico border. It was two dead in Matamoros. Shortly after, Senator Graham said we should "designate Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and authorize the use of military force against them."

Then came a speech by President Lopez-Obrador. The first part was nationalism and totally expected:

"We are not going to allow any foreign government to intervene, much less a foreign government's armed forces," Lopez Obrador told reporters during a press conference. "We are not a protectorate of the United States, nor a colony of the United States," he added. "Mexico is a free, independent, sovereign state."

Honestly, that's exactly what you'd expect a president to say. It's "putting America first a la mexicana." What else is he supposed to say?

Then AMLO stepped in it big time. He decided to jump into the U.S. political arena. See for yourself:

"Starting today we are going to start an information campaign for Mexicans who live and work in the United States and for all Hispanics to inform them of what we are doing in Mexico and how this initiative by the Republicans, in addition to being irresponsible, is an offense against the people of Mexico, a lack of respect for our independence, our sovereignty," he said. "And if they do not change their attitude and think that they are going to use Mexico for their propaganda, electoral, and political purposes, we are going to call for them not to vote for that party, because it is interventionist, inhumane, hypocritical, and corrupt," Lopez Obrador said, later adding that Mexico would be insisting that "not one vote" goes to Republicans from Mexicans and Hispanics.

That's beyond stupid. It is "estupido," and other Spanish words that I can't post in a family-friendly website. It would have been more productive if President Lopez-Obrador had called on the Biden administration to take the border seriously and not make it easier for these criminal organizations to operate on both sides.

Hopefully, both sides can sit down and talk about the border crisis. First, we consume. Yes, we do. We are the ones going into our pockets and buying the stuff. Second, Mexico has a bigger problem, because these well financed and armed cartels represent a direct threat to the Mexican state.

Finally, I agree with designating these groups as terrorists. They are terrorists. Just check the Mexican news  every day, there is a story in Mexico about murders.

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
The New York Times ran a lengthy hit piece, titled, Inside Ron DeSantiss Politicized Removal of an Elected Prosecutor, that demonstrates how fearful Democrats are of his appeal in an era when crime is on the mind of so many voters. So potent is the crime issue that President Biden and a significant number Congressional Democrats are overriding a soft-on-crime law passed the by the DC City Council over the veto of the Districts Mayor Muriel Bowser. Only a deep fear of voters wrath over spiraling crime would motivate these Democrats to anger their SJW pro-crime base.

Thus, it fell to two Times reporters, Alexandra Berzon (a veteran of left wing nonprofit Pro Publica) and Ken Benisnger (whose beat is covering right-wing media) to find fault with Governor DeSantiss firing of a district attorney in Hillsborough County (Tampa) who had openly announced he would refrain from prosecuting certain crimes, in this case, crimes by those who seek, provide or support abortions.

Governor DeSantis has taken the completely justified position that if a DA wants laws to be effectively repealed, then the DA should run for the state legislature and change the law. It is not the job of a DA to change the law that exists by categorically exempting certain crimes from prosecution. But that is precisely what Andrew H. Warren of Hillsborough County did, and that is why DeSantis removed him from office last summer.

The fact that this article appeared many months after Warrens firing, but shortly after crime became a defining issue of the 2024 election with the DC law override speaks volumes about eh the thinking of New York Times writers and editors.

As so often with the New York Times, the placement of facts being reported in the article tells you what is meant to be downplayed or ignored. For example, 29 paragraphs into the story, readers finally learn:

Floridas Constitution allows governors to suspend local office holders for reasons including malfeasance or neglect of duty until the Legislature votes on whether to permanently remove or reinstate them. Mr. DeSantis was the first Florida governor in many decades known to have suspended an elected prosecutor over a policy difference.

That basic fact is critical to understanding that DeSantis was discharging his duties, not taking some bizarre act with no precedent. In accord with previously announced policy about DAs taking on the role of the legislature and repealing laws, DeSantis used powers explicitly granted to him by the state constitution. Yet, this critical information comes at a point in a long article where most readers have given up and moved on.

The Times article feigns indignation that DeSantiss team took care to make sure that friendly media had the story.

If the investigation into Mr. Warren was cursory at best, the preparation to remove him while simultaneously publicizing that ouster involved greater planning. And those plans were executed with military precision. The governors aides gave special attention to news outlets they referred to as friendly. Immediately after the news conference, DeSantis aides exerted influence over communications at the state attorneys office, an independent county agency, working to ensure that the takeover did not result in negative coverage.

The military precision language is pretty amusing, conjuring up images that Times subscribers would detest. What politician doesnt take steps to play the media for political advantage? And what about making sure that friendly outlets get the story is military in nature?

In a small but telling reference late in the article, the writers take pains to call George Soros, who has organized funding for left wing prosecutors across the country (with disastrous results in major cities where his candidates won), a Jewish philanthropist.

The tone of an early draft, written by Mr. Keefe in July, was highly partisan. The document named Mr. Soros six times, pointing to reports that Mr. Warren had received indirect support for his campaign from the billionaire Jewish philanthropist, a frequent target of conservatives and of antisemitic tropes.

There is no evidence that Soros participates in Jewish life, is a member of a synagogue, or donates to Jewish causes, unless they are anti-Israel Jewish groups. To call him Jewish refers solely to his DNA. Reportedly, his parents were non-observant, as is Soros himself. So, there is no actual significance to the label beyond genetic heritage, the sort of thing that Nazis cared most about. But using the label Jewish philanthropist enables Soros critics to be called anti-Semitic based on no evidence, just because they point out the mayhem his activities generate.

Progressives generally tell us whom they fear by their choice of targets. Rightly or wrongly, I think that the House Organ of the Democrats, the New York Times, has concluded that the real electoral threat to Democrats in 2024 is Ron DeSantis.

Hat tip: Ed Lasky
FOX News, which last October marked its 26th anniversary as a cable news channel, has long been a target for its increasingly leftist competition, CNN and MSNBC. But now, the Federal Government is jumping on the kill-FOX bandwagon and making noises about trying to rein in, censor, or even silence the countrys #1 basic cable television channel.

In recent weeks, FOX Newss ratings-challenged competition  CNN and MSNBC  have devoted endless hours to bashing FOX News as an outlier  a fake news channel that lies, distorts, and serves as an inspiration for violent, election-denying, white nationalist insurrectionists. CNN and MSNBC have been joined in this First Amendment-busting crusade by the nations leading mainstream print and online media, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Associated Press, as well as PBS, NPR, the broadcast networks, and too many other broadcast and print/online outlets to mention.

This campaign against FOX News is nothing new. But the new 2023 rallying cry is the contents of several recent legal filings by the companies suing FOX for libel for its coverage of the aftermath of the 2020 election. As the left wing British publication The Guardian wrote, in one of its several score articles bashing FOX News in recent weeks, this new political red meat mobilizing FOXs critics results from:

the $1.6bn defamation lawsuit that has been brought against Fox News Network (FNN) [note: its actually FNC, FOX News channel] and its parent company Fox Corp. . . by Dominion Voting Systems. The firm, one of the largest providers of electronic vote counting machines in North America, is claiming that its business was harmed by falsehoods aired by Fox News hosts and their guests in the wake of the 2020 presidential election based on Donald Trumps lie that the election was stolen from him.

The Dominion vs. FOX lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial next month, if its not settled out of court before then. But the hundreds of pages of legal filings by Dominions lawyers, their contents cherry picked by the anti-FOX media, have led to literally hundreds of breathless reports in all media excoriating FOX News and predicting its imminent demise. A simple Google News search of fox news yields a plethora of recent anti-FOX articles.

In recent days, alarmingly, the anti-FOX campaign has moved from the Fourth Estate to the Federal Government. For example, as the Daily Wire reported on March 11, Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) [a candidate for the 2024 U.S. Senate seat vacated by Dianne Feinstein] suggested on Saturday that despite not wanting to get in the business of telling troops what they can and cannot watch, he might be open to banning Fox News on military installations. In an appearance Saturday on MSNBC, Swalwell cited his agreement with a tweet by a group called VoteVets:

FOX hosts' election lies and disinformation splits the ranks, hurts unit cohesion, and weakens America's national defense. They must be removed from all TVs on military installations NOW.

Swalwell made his opinion clear: I dont know if I disagree with VoteVets, who was [sic] saying that we need to take a look at, you know, how this is being broadcast to our troops.

Even more insidious was a comment on the subject by President Bidens spokeswoman. As Mediaite reported in an article on March 11 EXCLUSIVE: Karine Jean-Pierre Asked Straight-Up Should Fox News Face Being Shut Down By Government:

SiriusXM host Dean Obeidallah asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre if Congress should give the FCC the power to shut Fox News down over conduct revealed in the blockbuster filings from the Dominion defamation suit [Under current law, the FCC  Federal Communications Commission  can only regulate over the air broadcast channels and networks and not cable or satellite networks and channels]. . . In an interview for Mondays edition of The Dean Obeidallah Show obtained exclusively by Mediaite, the host asked Jean-Pierre about the need to hold Fox accountable, and suggested treating them the same as broadcast networks by expanding the jurisdiction of existing FCC regulations: DEAN OBEIDALLAH: Look, the FCC the way the law is right now, it does not cover cable news. We all know that. Broadcast news, though. It does. It, its called distortion. And it has to be you have to show that they said something false on purpose they knew was false and they could be sanctioned. They can lose their license on a network. It doesnt apply to cable. Do you think theres any chance to explore the idea of expanding that, it would take an act of Congress, to expand the FCCs mandate to include, just apply that, what that already applies to CBS and ABC and FOX on network to cable equally. It would apply to everyone, if (inaudible) did same thing that we know Fox did. Because if not, why would Fox not just keep lying to the American public without any consequence? I dont know why they would stop this. KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I have to be careful. FCC is an independent agency, so we need to be careful here. But I get your point. You know, look, I think everybody has a responsibility, if you call yourself a news organization, to tell the truth, you know, and I mean, thats probably as far as I can go. I think when you ask me about Fox, and I think thats I think the question that I got on MSNBC with Alex was close enough to that. But to the question that you did, you just you just asked me. And in the best way that I can answer it is even Fox News leadership, in their depositions say, as we as I was being asked about the Tucker Carlson show, that its not news or truthful. And I think that tells you everything that you need to know. I mean, when the when the leadership is saying that, I think that tells you everything that you need to know and Ill just leave it there.

Two years ago, I wrote several articles at American Thinker about moves in the first days of the Biden Administration to openly discuss regulating and censoring FOX News. For example, in an AT article on February 25, 2021, Capitol Hill hearing targets Fox News and lays the groundwork for government censorship, I wrote:

One of the most chilling examples in modern times of the accelerating full-spectrum assault on free speech and the First Amendment took place yesterday on Capitol Hill, courtesy of a subcommittee of the Democrat-controlled House Committee on Energy and Commerce. For over three hours on Wednesday afternoon, the subcommittee held a virtual hearing titled "Fanning the Flames: Disinformation and Extremism in the Media." The target was conservative media in general and Fox News in particular.

Instead of waiting to see what the outcome is of the scheduled trial next month in the Dominion vs. FOX News case, the government and the mainstream media now appear eager to shred the First Amendment to the Constitution and censor and de-platform FOX News.

Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran journalist who has covered national politics and the politics and economics of health care, popular culture, and media for over five decades. His web page with links to his work is http://peter.media. Peter's extensive American Thinker archive: http://tinyurl.com/pcathinker. Follow Peter on Twitter at @pchowka
Foreign patients consult a physician, in a white gown, and a medical coordinator, far left, before receiving treatment at a medical clinic in Incheon in February 2023. Courtesy of Incheon Metropolitan City



Health ministry injects money to offer clinics financial boost



By Ko Dong-hwan



Korea has become one of the favored destinations for foreigners seeking both affordable and quality medical services and the Ministry of Health and Welfare has selected cities that will receive funding to have hospitals there accommodate more patients from abroad.



Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Incheon Metropolitan City and Daegu Metropolitan City were selected after a tender process that was led by the ministry, which funded each with over 200 million won ($160,000).



The bidding process took place as the ministry is seeking to restructure policies to host more local medical service providers who are willing and qualified to cater to foreign patients. To this end, the ministry revised its enforcement ordinances on local clinics to allow them to advertise their services to foreign patients. The revision came into effect last December.



An official at the Jeju provincial government said, March 9, that it participated in the tender process by pitching the theme of "Medical Wellness Based on the Island's Natural Environment."



To transform the local medical infrastructure to one specialized for Jeju Island, the provincial government said it will connect the leading medical clinics on the island with local tourism agencies that can attract visitors from overseas who are interested in receiving medical services in Korea.





Global Healthcare Center at the Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary's Hospital in Bupyeong District caters to foreigners in need of the city's medical services. Courtesy of Incheon Metropolitan City



With the ministry's latest financial support, the island is looking to enhance its clinics and hospitals to accommodate patients from abroad for the next three years. One of the mantras behind the mission is "nature-friendly medical foundation."



"We are currently developing the island's unique medical and wellness model," said Kang Dong-won, chief of the Local Safety Health Bureau. "Also, by strengthening our government's high added-value policies on promoting local medical services to foreign patients, we are looking at a stronger medical industry unfolding on Jeju as well as the local economy on the increase."



A three-year plan to streamline and expand the channel between international tourists and medical clinics on the island has been launched by the government. This year, the authority is building back medical services available for foreigners after being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the authority aims to ramp up the global promotion of its medical services overseas. Finally, in 2025, the provincial government expects the investments made so far will create new jobs and reenergize the local economy.



Incheon, another local municipality in the country, said it has many strengths, which led to its selection  a number of specialized and research hospitals, diverse treatment fields for those with serious illnesses, a large-scale bio cluster complex and plenty of natural resources around the coastal city.



"It's going to be the service that tourists to our country from overseas will want to enjoy at least once in their lifetime," said Kim Seok-cheol, director general of the Health and Welfare Bureau of the city government.





In this photo from 2017, local people in the United Arab Emirates consult a Korean physician from Jeju Island at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The island's government sent a team to promote Jeju's local medical tourism industry. Courtesy of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
The BBC director-general facing calls to resign over the Gary Lineker row is a former Pepsi executive with past experience dealing with controversies at the corporation.

Tim Davie has had a tumultuous week after his decision to suspend Lineker over a tweet about the Governments asylum policy caused major disruption to the corporations sports coverage, as several presenters and reporters withdrew in solidarity with the former England star.

Faced with open rebellion among the ranks of the corporations top sports presenting talent, Mr Davie has already said he wants Lineker back on air delivering world-class sports coverage together with the BBC.

He has even had to confirm that he will not resign under questioning from one of the BBCs own journalists, Nomia Iqbal, in Washington DC on Saturday.

Despite the intense scrutiny Mr Davie has faced this week, it is not his first time dealing with a major crisis at the corporation.

In November 2012, Mr Davie, who was chief executive of BBC Worldwide at the time, stepped in to become acting director-general of the BBC after George Entwistle left the corporation in the wake of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal.

He served in the post until Lord Tony Hall took over in April 2013.

After Lord Hall became director-general, Mr Davie returned to BBC Worldwide and oversaw a merger with BBC Studios in 2018 and later became chief executive of the production.

He then got his opportunity to take on the director-general role for a second time when Lord Hall resigned in 2020.

Following his appointment, Mr Davie promised to accelerate change at the BBC.

Looking forward, we will need to accelerate change so that we serve all our audiences in this fast-moving world, he said.

Much great work has been done, but we will continue to reform, make clear choices and stay relevant. I am very confident we can do this because of the amazing teams of people that work at the BBC.

Tim Davie at BBC Scotland in Glasgow for his first day in the role as director-general (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Mr Davie, who was born in 1967 and educated at Whitgift School in Croydon, south London, and then Cambridge University, came to the BBC via a career in the private sector.

Like under-fire BBC chairman Richard Sharp, Mr Davies own impartiality has been questioned by critics due to his past links to the Conservative Party.

In the 1990s he was deputy chairman of the Hammersmith and Fulham Conservatives, standing unsuccessfully as a councillor in 1993 and 1994.

Prior to joining the BBC in 2005, Mr Davie served as the vice president for marketing and franchise for drinks giant PepsiCo Europe.

When he joined the broadcaster, he became director of its marketing, communications and audiences division.

Mr Davie subsequently became director of the BBCs audio and music division in 2008, assuming responsibility for its national radio stations.

It was in his first year in this role that Mr Davie had to address another major controversy, this time surrounding a prank call made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross to actor Andrew Sachs on Radio 2.

Brand quit the station after the broadcast of the pre-recorded prank, in which he left an obscene message on Sachss voicemail.

Mr Davie also decided to axe the 6 Music radio station in 2010, a decision which was later reversed.
Rishi Sunak has defended his policy of continuing to engage with China despite believing that Xi Jinpings increasingly authoritarian administration poses an epoch-defining challenge to the global order.

The Prime Minister, who claimed during the Tory leadership contest last year that China represented the biggest long-term threat to Britain, appears to have softened his stance but insisted he remained acutely aware of the challenges posed by Beijing.

The Government will on Monday publish an update to its foreign and security policy, motivated in part by concerns about Chinas increasingly assertive international role.

Mr Sunak will be in the United States when the document is published on Monday, holding talks with US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the Aukus nuclear-powered submarine programme  a project motivated by Canberras concerns about Chinas actions in the Pacific.

Speaking to reporters accompanying him on the trip, Mr Sunak said: China represents a country that has very different values to ours.

I think it presents an epoch-defining challenge to us and to the global order. Its a regime that is increasingly authoritarian at home and assertive abroad, and has a desire to reshape the world order.

Asked about his previous comments on China, Mr Sunak said: Weve recognised it as the biggest state-based threat to our economic security.

What I would say is I dont think its smart or sophisticated foreign policy to reduce our relationship with China  which, after all, is a country with one-and-a-half billion people, the second biggest economy and a member of the UN Security Council  to just two words.

He said you cant ignore China given the size of the economy, so it was necessary and right to try and engage with them, claiming the UK was following a similar policy to its allies in engaging with Beijing.

He said he was acutely aware of the challenge posed by China, adding: Its absolutely right that we are protecting ourselves against that. Since Ive been Prime Minister, weve taken very significant action to do that. Thats what well continue to do.

Asked if he would travel to Beijing to meet the Chinese president, he said: Its not about going there or not going there. I think engagement is the point  that all our allies take the view that its right to engage with China, on the issues that we can find common ground and make a difference on, for example climate change, global health, macroeconomic stability etc.

Thats the right approach whilst being very robust in defending our values and our interests.

Tory Alicia Kearns, chairwoman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, is among those who have called for a tougher stance on China.

She said: I welcome the recognition of the threat of China, but this threat cannot be seen as primarily economic, that is to fail to understand China is foremost seeking to undermine our national security and sovereignty.

Because no country can have economic security without national security.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said he feared the review would be a wasted opportunity to call out China as they are, a threat to our way of life and physically to us.

By being weak in facing China, China doesnt respect us, he said.

If we dont show strength they wont respect us.

Project Kowtow is alive and well.

Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China  an international campaign group seeking to co-ordinate the response of democratic nations to Beijing, said: The concern is that if the Integrated Review Refresh fails to acknowledge Beijing for the very real and present threat that it is, it will do little to help the UK to face up to Beijings increasingly troubling behaviour.
Stalker Igor Gorbochov lived in a tent in the woods in order to be close to his victim. (SWNS/North Yorkshire Police)

A stalker has been jailed after moving from Bedfordshire to North Yorkshire to be near his victim  even living in a tent and getting a job at the factory where she worked.

Igor Gorbochov, 41, was caught by police in the woman's house and pretended he was there to change the locks, York Crown Court heard.

He has been jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to stalking and breaching a previous restraining order.

His victim has told how she often stays at friends' houses as she is too scared to be by herself at home, and is seeing a doctor for depression.

Gorbochov had previously been convicted of domestic violence towards the woman and was banned from contacting her.

Read more: Why Gary Lineker migrant row has reopened calls for BBC chairman to resign

Gorbochov followed his victim after she moved to Selby, North Yorkshire, without telling him. (Getty Images)

She moved to Selby, North Yorkshire, without telling him, but he found out where she was, got a job with her employer, and regularly turned up at her house drunk.

He was sacked after the woman showed her manager the restraining order, but Gorbochov stayed in the market town and continued to contact her.

When police arrested Gorbochov on a different matter, he claimed to be living with the woman at her address and was arrested for breaching the restraining order and released on bail.

Read more: Letter envelope posted in Florida arrives at UK care home 80 years later

Despite this, he continued showing up at her house two or three times a week, until he was eventually caught inside the home in October last year.

At the time, he gave police officers a false name and claimed to be changing the locks, the court heard.

"I am very scared to be alone at home and I cannot go to work," the woman said in a personal statement to the court.

"I stay away from home a lot because I am frightened at home. I stay with friends."

Gorbochov's barrister Harry Bradford said the defendant wanted to return to Bedfordshire to work with his brother, be self-reliant, and send money home to his family in Latvia.

Gorbochov, who has been in custody since his arrest in October, is "fully supportive" of the restraining order remaining in place, his lawyer said.

Read more: Police officers 'using food banks' as they struggle to heat homes and feed families

Judge Simon Hickey said: "You have a poor record of complying with court orders. There is clearly a risk of a danger to the victim in this case.

"In July 2022, you turned up unannounced, and unexpectedly at her address. She wouldn't let you in and asked you to leave. You started living nearby in a tent in a forest."

Gorbochov, who followed proceedings with the help of a Russian interpreter, was jailed for 20 months and his restraining order was extended by five years.

Not only can he not contact the woman or visit her home or workplace, he is also banned from referring to her in any social media posts.
Rishi Sunak is flying to the United States for meetings with President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to flesh out a major defence deal.

The Prime Minister will arrive in San Diego on Sunday night to discuss Australias procurement of nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus pact.

Mr Albanese is expected to announce a plan for a British-designed fleet, with US boats being purchased as a stop-gap measure.

While on the US west coast on Monday, Mr Sunak is also set to unveil the new integrated review of defence and foreign policy, which has been updated in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The refreshed review will set out the UKs approach to threats from Moscow and an increasingly assertive China.

Ahead of his trip, the Prime Minister said: In turbulent times, the UKs global alliances are our greatest source of strength and security.

I am travelling to the United States today to launch the next stage of the Aukus nuclear submarine programme, a project which is binding ties to our closest allies and delivering security, new technology and economic advantage at home.

As we launch the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh tomorrow, this is the future we want to deliver  a UK that is secure, prosperous and standing shoulder to shoulder with our partners.

Last week Mr Sunak met French President Emmanuel Macron, smoothing out relations after they hit a low point with the September 2021 signing of the Aukus deal, which saw Australia ditch France in favour of an agreement with the UK and US.

Negotiations over the last 18 months have presented the Canberra government with a choice between a British or US design.

The UK, Australia and US are natural allies, and our new partnership will become increasingly vital for defending our interests around the world and protecting our people back at home.  https://t.co/wNEKOzAyzX   #AUKUS pic.twitter.com/7aV8PEKHlU  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 15, 2021

Reports suggest Australia could opt for a modified version of the British Astute-class submarine, plugging the gap until it enters into service in the 2040s with up to five American Virginia-class boats.

The UK hopes that Aukus will result in work for British shipyards such as BAE Systems facility in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

Mr Sunaks first visit to the US as Prime Minister comes in another crucial week for his leadership, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt setting out the Budget on Wednesday.

Defence minister James Heappey acknowledged there has been robust public and private clashes between the Ministry of Defence and Treasury over funding levels.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has been arguing for a multibillion-pound increase to his budget.

San Diego, in the state of California, where Mr Sunak used to live, is home to the US Pacific Fleet.

Mr Sunak spoke to Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday morning, before leaving for the US.

A Downing Street spokesman said: He updated the Secretary-General on the UKs Integrated Review Refresh, due to be published tomorrow, which will set out the Governments evolving global strategy in light of Russias invasion of Ukraine and growing international volatility and competition.

The Prime Minister also reaffirmed the UKs intention to remain a leading contributor to Nato, recognising the importance of continuing to invest in collective Euro-Atlantic security.

Secretary-General Stoltenberg welcomed the valuable role of the United Kingdom as a staunch Nato ally.

The Prime Minister and Secretary-General agreed to continue working together in the lead-up to the Nato leaders summit in Vilnius this June, to ensure the alliance is addressing the threat on Europes eastern flank and is ready for the conflicts of the future.
The BBC chairman under pressure to resign in light of the Gary Lineker row is a former banker with connections at the heart of the political establishment.

Richard Sharp became embroiled in a cronyism row earlier this year over helping former prime minister Boris Johnson secure an 800,000 loan facility.

His old friend Sam Blyth, a Canadian businessman, went to Mr Sharp with an offer to help Mr Johnson as the then-prime minister struggled financially in 2020.

Mr Sharp, by then working as a government adviser during the coronavirus pandemic, was able to put Mr Blyth in touch with Simon Case, the countrys most senior civil servant.

The 67-year-olds links with the political elite also include time as boss to a young Rishi Sunak during his Goldman Sachs career.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Kin Cheung/PA)

Mr Sharp  a major Tory Party donor who was on the board of conservative think tank the Centre for Policy Studies  described Mr Sunak to a friend as the best young financial analyst he had seen.

Before his stint at Goldman Sachs, which spanned from 1985 to 2007, he worked in both commercial and investment banking for JP Morgan.

Mr Sharp, who read philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University, is also a former chairman and an emeritus trustee of the Royal Academy.

He acted as an adviser to Mr Sunak during the pandemic, and played a key role in the creation of the Governments 1.57 billion culture recovery fund.

He was also a member of the Bank of Englands Financial Policy Committee from 2013 until 2019.

Mr Sharps appointment as chairman of the BBC, during one of the most turbulent periods in its history in February 2021, was widely regarded as political.

Richard Sharp is the Government's preferred candidate for @BBC Chair, and is expected to take over from Sir David Clementi in February. Richard has extensive experience in finance, commerce, the creative industries and public service.https://t.co/O067GrHiwL pic.twitter.com/MNWUIVFJtd  Department for Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) January 6, 2021

At the time, the corporation faced scrutiny over equal pay, diversity, free TV licences for the over-75s and competition from streaming services like Netflix.

The millionaire pledged to give his 160,000 annual salary for the role to charity.

During his tenure at the BBC, Mr Sharp has defended the broadcaster on numerous occasions and used his platform to highlight the importance of journalism in speaking truth to power while lamenting the threat of disinformation faced by the industry.

In 2021, he denied the controversy over the hiring of Jess Brammar as head of news channels had tainted her appointment, after her impartiality was questioned following the emergence of old tweets in which she was critical of Brexit.

He criticised the Governments two-year freeze of the licence fee, describing it as disappointing and saying it will lead to tougher choices that will affect viewers.

But he later said the board welcomes an informed debate about the future funding of the broadcaster, and nothing should be off the table.

BBC chairman Richard Sharp appearing before the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (House of Commons/PA)

He also said former BBC presenter Emily Maitlis was completely wrong to suggest that due process wasnt followed after she criticised the way the corporation handled her Newsnight speech about Dominic Cummings.

In an apparent reference to former prime minister Theresa Mays former communications director Sir Robbie Gibb, Maitlis said there was an active agent of the Conservative Party on the BBC board and that the corporation sought to pacify Number 10 after her monologue about the then-chief advisers trip to Durham during lockdown.

Mr Sharp told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) that Maitliss apparent description of Sir Robbie was completely wrong and he was disappointed she had made that point.

According to BBC News, Mr Sharp spent part of his childhood in America because his father held senior positions at agrochemical company Monsanto and telecommunications organisation Cable & Wireless.

He has a twin sister, Victoria, who is the president of the Kings Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in England and Wales.

The BBC also reported that he had another sister who died young from cancer, which led him to become a supporter of some of Maurice Saatchis campaigns to improve cancer research and care.
Richard Teer, 46, in his cap and gown ready for Offender Mentor Certification Program graduation ceremony at California State Prison in Lancaster. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Before the graduates strode in to the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance," their prison blues peeking out from under their gowns, correctional officer John Janvrin encouraged them not to rush.

"Remember guys, you worked real hard for this. Real hard," Janvrin reminded the incarcerated men as they lined up in a back room, reread their notes, fixed their bow ties and adjusted the gold tassels bobbing from their mortarboards. The music began to play.

"Don't walk too fast," Janvrin told them as they began their procession. "Let 'em see you."

For more than a year and a half, these 20 men had been working for this: their graduation from training as alcohol and drug counselors. It was an accomplishment that could help them secure jobs both inside and outside the California prisons. It had also become a brotherhood they dubbed the Storming Cohort: Scarred Team of Recovering Men Inspiring New Generations.

Andrew Sanchez, 29, left, helps fellow graduate Raymond Maldonado, 43, get ready in black cap, bow and gown. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Beyond the razor-wire and high fences of the state prison in Lancaster, in a visiting room strung with gold and black balloons and celebratory signs declaring,"On to the Next Chapter," the men walked in a procession before loved ones and state correctional officials to be recognized. Some said it was the first graduation they ever had.

Stepping up to the lectern, graduate Ivan Stine said that "this program was the most difficult and rewarding experience of my life."

"Myself, along with these other gentlemen in these fine caps and gowns, have embarked upon a 1-year journey of self-discovery, self-disclosure, self-examination, self-honesty and self-healing, in an effort to achieve the dual goal of becoming certified addiction treatment counselors  and overall better human beings," Stine told the seated crowd. "Each and every member of this cohort courageously opened up their heart and exposed raw their deepest secrets, hurts, fears and shame."

They had gotten lessons in neurobiology and pharmacology, ethics and the law, family dynamics and relapse prevention. They had spent hundreds of hours being educated on addiction and counseling, preparing for a required exam. They would soon start putting in thousands of hours as interns  the final step that would ultimately lead to them gaining state-recognized certification as alcohol and drug counselors.

Brian Neumann, 61, and fellow graduates all dressed in black cap, bow, gown and yellow sash ready for the Offender Mentor Certification Program graduation ceremony. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Even getting into the program was an accomplishment, as it's reserved for people who have gone years without serious violations of prison rules, penned a 500-word essay on maintaining their recovery and helping others, obtained at least two references from prison staff and gone through an interview process.

The intense, selective program is as demanding as a full-time job, prison officials said, and a training program that usually lasts a year had been interrupted repeatedly as the Lancaster facility grappled with the coronavirus.

Then there was the "storming" that this group had undergone together  the term for a tumultuous stage in team development that inspired their cohort name and ultimately forged them into a supportive fraternity. But the name had also come to stand, metaphorically, for the storms they wanted to pull themselves and others through.

"Today we are no longer prisoners," Stine declared. "We are professionals."

His shoulders were draped with a graduation stole of canary yellow, emblazoned on one side with the words "Offender Mentor Certification Program." On the other: "OMCP." It is a state program that has existed for more than a decade, beginning with an inaugural class at the state prison in Solano County now chronicled in a documentary film.

Kristopher Kirschner reaches out to his mother, Eileen Peterson, as new graduates walk in for the certification program graduation ceremony at California State Prison. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

But this was the first class to graduate from the Los Angeles County facility  and the first men to graduate from the program at a "Level 4" site, state officials said. Level 4 means "we're in a high-security institution for those that are considered to be the most violent and dangerous men in prison," Diana Weston explained to the crowd that Tuesday.

Weston is director of criminal justice contracts for Options Recovery Services, which helped develop the program and now operates its seven sites across the state. She went on to talk about the labels that could weigh the men down: Criminal. Addict. Failure.

Now, she said, these graduates had taken a chance and earned the right to be labeled something different: "Substance use disorder counselor," or "professional healer." It was a new label they needed to carry forward, she said, because "there's so many hurting individuals carrying those negative labels that need your help."

"If this is really, truly about rehabilitation, we should be doing it for everybody," Weston said in a later interview. "And that's what's happening."

The men had borne a number from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. They got a new one during this process  their registration number for certification as an alcohol and drug counselor, said Alvin Barksdale, director of the OMCP program in Lancaster.

Richard Teer, who said he had been incarcerated since 2015, could already recite that number from memory. It was the first thing he had ever completed, he said, holding the crisp piece of paper that had been handed to him during the ceremony, along with a certificate of recognition from U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Santa Clarita).

Richard Teer, 46, right, and others practice their speeches at the Offender Mentor Certification Program graduation ceremony at California State Prison in Lancaster. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

"I never thought I could be anything other than what I've been all my life," Teer said. Now, he said, he had gotten his GED and started picking up college credits in psychology, communications and social science. His goal, once released, is to return to work again in the prison system. "And this shows that there's an opportunity for us. That we're needed and wanted.

"It's funny that even though I'm in prison," he said, "this is the happiest I've ever felt in my life."

Drug overdoses claim thousands of lives annually in California, and the threat has not skipped over its prisons, where nearly 300 people have died of overdoses between 2012 and 2020, according to statewide reports. Prison officials have worked to bring down deaths through an initiative that offers substance use treatment, including medications to help people shake off addiction.

"There are so many people that are incarcerated in California that need help. We can't get to everybody. And then you step in," Brant Choate, director of the state division of rehabilitative programs, told the men in their mortarboards. "And you're part of our answer. ... That's how special you are."

The California program is set aside for people with more than five years left to serve on their prison sentences, and after finishing their training, many head on to other prisons toserve as paid mentors to people undergoing addiction treatment. Some were preparing themselves for the parole board or already eyeing a release date; a few members of the Storming Cohort had already been paroled and were working as interns to finish the hours needed for their certification as alcohol and drug counselors.

Graduating inmates applaud a presentation by a fellow graduate of the Offender Mentor Certification Program at the graduation ceremony. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

More than a dozen people across the state have graduated from the program, been released and gone on to work as contracted staff at California prisons; others who have been paroled work at community programs providing addiction treatment.

Among them is Jamal Johnson, now an internship supervisor with Options Recovery Services, who had worked at outpatient and residential recovery programs after being released from prison a decade ago, one of the "First 50" graduates of the state program. He now works with the program at the Lancaster prison.

"Without the program, I don't know where I would be," Johnson said. He had been arrested as a teenager, he said, having never had a job before. "I grew up as an alcoholic, a drug dealer and a gang member"  experiences that now help him build a "therapeutic alliance" with his clients, he said.

"They know that I empathize with their position that they're in," Johnson said. "Because I've been there."

Al Sasser, another one of the "First 50" graduates, credited the "parallel process" of working on the self and helping others. "We have this saying, 'The more I work on me, the better everybody else gets,'" said Sasser, who is now working with a San Luis Obispo-area prison. What sets the OMCP apart as a program in the prisons, he said, is that it "enables you to see past the gates."

Yet the program has also been life-changing for graduates who are unsure if they will ever use their skills on the outside. "I used to hear people say they wake up in prison  and they're not in prison. And I didn't get it," said Frederico De La Cruz, 58, who has been in prison for decades on a life sentence. "Now I do."

"I wake up. I'm in the same bed. Same walls," he said, holding fast to his certificate after the ceremony. "But it doesn't translate to me the same. I wake up different. I'm able to go out and be different."

During the ceremony, De La Cruz recited a poem he had written. "We are living proof that even those who are guilty of the most wrongful deeds/Can pluck from the flowers of love and hope and sow these very seeds," he read.

Graduating inmates lead by Michael Coats, 57, enter the hall for the Offender Mentor Certification Program graduation ceremony. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

His younger brother Rudy, who had made the trip from Fontana for the ceremony, looked on beaming at De La Cruz in his black robe. Around them, other grinning families embraced their new graduates and settled in at tables to eat barbecue, baked beans and cupcakes frosted in yellow and white. An instrumental cover of "Lean on Me" played in the background.

"I don't got that physical freedom," De La Cruz said. "But I have that spiritual freedom right now."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy needs to counter President Biden's budget with a realistic GOP spending plan  or risk a catastrophic default on the federal debt. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

President Biden unveiled his $6.8-trillion budget proposal last week, and it drew the customary jaded responses: a work of fiction. A party platform with price tags. And, of course, dead on arrival.

All true. But from Bidens standpoint, the budget rollout was a resounding success that served two purposes.

It put the president where he wants to be as he prepares an expected reelection campaign, with one foot in his partys center and one in its progressive left.

Biden gave centrists a promise to cut future deficits by almost $3 trillion and shore up Medicares deteriorating finances.

But he also asked for more funding for child care, elder care and fighting climate change, and said hed pay for the whole package by raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy.

In a campaign-style speech at a union hall in the swing state of Pennsylvania, he said his budget was designed to give working-class folks a fighting chance. Expect to hear more of that as he tries to woo those voters next year.

More important, the budget was Bidens opening offer in a battle over federal spending that is likely to consume the rest of the year.

The president knows the Republican-led House of Representatives wont agree to the social programs hes proposed or the tax increases to pay for them.

Beyond campaign positioning, his real goal was to nudge House Republicans toward serious negotiations and a vote to raise the debt ceiling, which limits government borrowing.

Republicans have said they wont raise it unless they get deep spending cuts in return  an ultimatum that risks touching off a catastrophic failure by the government to pay its bills. But they havent settled on a comprehensive list of the cuts they want; theres no official GOP budget proposal.

Theyve mostly recycled traditional conservative demands for cuts in spending they consider wasteful, plus one innovative wrinkle: Theyve promised to trim the budget by eliminating woke spending.

And what, you may ask, is that? The definition isnt clear.

Judging from the examples Republicans offer, woke spending appears to include anything conservative voters dont like: racial equity efforts, especially in the armed forces; programs aimed at helping LGBTQ people; and anything to do with climate change.

Plus a walking trail in the Atlanta suburbs. A $3.6-million federal grant to extend the Michelle Obama Trail is on the House Budget Committees hit list of woke waste. If the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners had named the path after Rosalynn Carter, it might not be in as much trouble.

But cutting every penny of so-called woke spending, no matter how broadly the term is defined, wont eliminate the deficit.

The woke waste list was compiled by House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), who has offered the closest thing Republicans have to a plan.

Arrington has proposed cutting domestic spending by $150 billion next year. That sounds like a lot, but it would reduce the federal deficit by only about 9%.

And that gets us to the House Republicans real problem: Theyve boxed themselves in to a fiscal trap, thanks mostly to former President Trump.

For decades, conservatives proposed balancing the budget partly by cutting future spending on Social Security and Medicare.

But Trump abandoned that doctrine, and other Republicans, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, fell in line  even though fiscal experts in both parties acknowledge that the programs are heading toward financial trouble.

So while Republicans want spending cuts, they have ruled out taking them from the biggest programs: Social Security, Medicare and defense.

To balance the budget within 10 years, as they say they want to do, they would need to cut almost every other part of the government by an unrealistic 85%, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Biden has taken Social Security and Medicare off the table, too, but he has built himself an escape hatch: He wants to raise taxes on corporations and people who make more than $400,000 a year. That would allow him to put money into Medicare and reduce the national debt.

Republicans have sworn never to raise taxes, so they need to find another solution to the math problem. They havent.

Thats why the danger of a budget crisis  not only a government shutdown, but a catastrophic default on the federal debt  looks greater this year than ever before.

The way to avert such a crisis is to begin serious negotiations. Bidens budget proposal has put the ball in McCarthys court. Wheres his plan?

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A scanned image of U.S. President Joe Biden's invitation letter to Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a photo released by Yoon's office on March 12. Yonhap



U.S. President Joe Biden has formally requested Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol chair a plenary session of the second Summit for Democracy, according to Yoon's office Sunday.



It made public a scanned image of Biden's recent letter to Yoon asking him to "lead one of the five plenary sessions" on March 29.



The summit is scheduled to be held on March 29-30, co-hosted by the United States, South Korea, Costa Rica, the Netherlands and Zambia. It is to assemble world leaders in a virtual, plenary format.



In the letter, Biden said Yoon's "close and tireless cooperation has helped ensure that this Summit will be a success."



Co-hosting the event "reinforces the truth that democracy is both a shared aspiration and a shared responsibility  one that we all must uphold," Biden added.



Meanwhile, Kim Il-bum, chief of protocol at the presidential office, tendered his resignation last week, less than a year after assuming the post, according to an official.



Speaking on the customary condition of anonymity, the official dismissed rumors of Kim having been fired.



Kim has offered to resign in a "voluntary decision" for a "personal reason," the official added amid reports that he will likely be appointed soon as head of Korea's diplomatic mission abroad. (Yonhap)


Rescuers from Orange County use rope to free Donald Stinson from quicksand near the Tule River on Saturday. Stinson, a 52-year-old hospital cook, became trapped after saving his mother's cat. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

The hard part should have been over. The Loftis family home had barely escaped the fierce floodwaters of the Tule River, which laid waste to many others early Friday morning in this Sierra foothill community.

Saturday was supposed to be for mopping up, regrouping and taking a breath. But Sherry and Ed Loftis son spotted one of the familys six cats stranded atop a flatbed truck that had become an island on the remade banks of the Tule.

Donald Stinson, 52, went to save the stranded cat, only to quickly need rescuing himself, as quicksand along the river quickly sucked him down. The big man in the Dodgers camo cap soon had his legs locked in ooze  as two neighbor women went running for help.

Good fortune (and a plan drawn by Tulare County's Fire Department) had delivered a swift water rescue team from the Orange County Fire Authority to the scene just minutes earlier. Before Stinson could sink farther, a half dozen firefighters threw him a lifeline, built a makeshift platform and began digging the successful cat rescuer out of a sucking pit he wasnt at all sure he would escape.

A Swift Water Rescue Team from the State Office of Emergency Services and a team from Orange County remove Kirsten Franks, MyKenzie Franks and Tracie Franks from their flooded Exeter property. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

Soaked, sweating fiercely and a bit embarrassed by all the attention, Stinson thanked firefighter Jason Trevino, Capt. Chris Stevens and the others who delivered him back to solid ground.

I am just thankful they were here, said Stinson, a cook for a hospital. It was looking pretty dim. Fifty-two, and you die right there, on your own property? Thats pretty sad. This gives a whole new meaning to life right now.

The save by the 17-man Orange County crew epitomized the work being done all over California by rescue squads deployed by the state Office of Emergency Services. They completed at least 100 rescues late this week, amid the latest storm of the states wettest winter in recent memory.

In Monterey County, a group of firefighters had to rescue some of their own Saturday after their boat capsized on the Pajaro River, a state Office of Emergency Services official said.

The Swift Water Rescue Team from Orange County pull their Zodiac from a flooded area after rescuing a family from their inundated property. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

The Orange County group headed north Thursday, bringing a Zodiac-style boat and enough gear for two weeks on their own. They started their work around Merced, then shifted south Friday and Saturday to Tulare County, where they plucked two stranded 90-somethings from a home in Cutler, evacuated an Exeter family of four (along with their ungrateful English bulldog), before extracting Stinson from the Tule River goo.

The Southern California squad expected to be deployed at least until Monday and for as long as two weeks  a timeline driven in part by Orange Countys own emergency operations guidelines.

After two nights in hotels, the O.C. firefighters drew a 24-hour shift Saturday and expected to camp overnight so that they could remain closer to the Tule and other spots that remained in danger from a new weather front and the rapid snowmelt the warm rain was likely to unleash.

Uncertainty and changing circumstances are the rule for swift water rescue teams. The Orange County groups previous assignments have taken them anywhere from plucking guests stranded atop rides at Knotts Berry Farm to mountainside where injured hikers were stranded after life-threatening falls.

On day one this week, they helped evacuate a farmworker community, using their boat to reunite two nonagenarians trapped by the floodwaters with their families. Saturday morning, the boat delivered the Franks family and their three dogs  including one growling bulldog  from a home surrounded by water.

The Tulare River raged through Springville and washed away the foundation of this home. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

With the sun shining for much of the day Saturday, their Tulare County hosts directed the O.C. group to double check on homes in Springville, where the Tule River flowed directly into multiple homes Friday morning.

William Woodmansee, a retired teacher, walked through two rental houses he owns along the river that had been ruined by water so powerful it tossed around large boulders like they were made of Styrofoam. A neighbor said the bone-chilling echo of the rocks slamming together sounded like two semi trucks colliding.

Bill Woodmansee tears up as he describes the damage to his home and the rentals he owns. Woodmansee didn't have flood insurance. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

The 70-something Woodmansee said his own home upriver had been spared, but the two others he maintains as income properties would be difficult to repair. Flood insurance had been so high, he and his wife had decided to go without. Uncertain how he would rebuild, the retiree said his worries pale in comparison with the burden on others, including one of his tenants  a mother working three jobs  who did not know where she would move.

Water and mud in a flooded home. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

A tearful Woodmansee nodded toward the Orange County crew  led by battalion chiefs Brett Buffington and Jason Sultzer  saying the mere presence of the uniformed crews gave some solace.

Weve been evacuated twice in the last four years for fires. Hundreds of homes burned in the last one, he said. These first responders come from everywhere, and they are just critical to us up here.

After confirming no one had been stranded near downtown Springville, one of the O.C. squads ventured to the other side of the river. While they were checking a washed out bridge on Globe Drive, two women came running, yelling Help!

They pointed firefighter Trevino, Stevens and their comrades behind some bushes, where Stinson, a cook for Sierra View District Hospital, was up to his armpits in muck. The water and mud effectively created a vacuum.

As Stinson's anxiety appeared to be spiraling, Trevino  looking at his cap  zinged him: "Dodgers, are you kidding me?" That may have cut the tension, as Stevens added: "Half an hour at most and we will have you out of here. You'll be having a cold beer. And a warm shower."

With their Tulare County brethren assisting, the southerners built a platform and dug around Stinson to give him room to maneuver. With a rope looped under his armpits, the firefighters pulled him free.

Don Stinson thanks firefighter Jason Trevino for pulling him from deep mud as Battalion Chief Jason Sultzer looks on. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

Looking sheepish, Stinson said: Truly, its an honor to have them help me out like that.

They had potentially a long night, and perhaps another week-plus in the field ahead of them, but the O.C. firefighters seemed satisfied.

"When it comes to the work, they knew what to do and we know their abilities," Buffington said. "And the job gets done."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
FILE - Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at a Coolidge and the American Project luncheon in the Madison Building of the Library of Congress, Feb. 16, 2023, in Washington. On Saturday, March 11, Pence harshly criticized former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, furthering the rift between the two men as they prepare to battle over the Republican nomination in next year's election. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Former Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday harshly criticized former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, widening the rift between the two men as they prepare to battle over the Republican nomination in next year's election.

President Trump was wrong," Pence said during remarks at the annual white-tie Gridiron Dinner attended by politicians and journalists. "I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.

Pence's remarks were the sharpest condemnation yet from the once-loyal lieutenant who has often shied away from confronting his former boss. Trump has already declared his candidacy. Pence has not, but he's been laying the groundwork to run.

In the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, Trump pressured Pence to overturn President Joe Biden's election victory as he presided over the ceremonial certification of the results. Pence refused, and when rioters stormed the Capitol, some chanted that they wanted to hang Mike Pence.

The House committee that investigated the attack said in its final report that the President of the United States had riled up a mob that hunted his own Vice President."

With his remarks, Pence solidified his place in a broader debate within the Republican Party over how to view the attack. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for example, recently provided Tucker Carlson with an archive of security camera footage from Jan. 6, which the Fox News host has used to downplay the day's events and promote conspiracy theories.

Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace," Pence said in his Gridiron Dinner remarks. "And it mocks decency to portray it any other way.

Trump, meanwhile, has continued to spread lies about his election loss. He's even spoken in support of the rioters and said he would consider pardoning them if he was reelected.

Speeches at the Gridiron Dinner are usually humorous affairs, where politicians poke fun at each other, and Pence did plenty of that as well.

He joked that Trump's ego was so fragile, he wanted his vice president to sing Wind Beneath My Wings  one of the lines is did you ever know that youre my hero?  during their weekly lunches.

He took another shot at Trump over classified documents.

I read that some of those classified documents they found at Mar-a-Lago were actually stuck in the president's Bible," Pence said. Which proves he had absolutely no idea they were there.

Even before the dinner was over, Pence was facing criticism for his jokes about Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, the first openly gay Cabinet member in U.S. history.

Pence mentioned that, despite travel problems that were plaguing Americans, Buttigieg took "maternity leave after he and his husband adopted newborn twins.

Pete is the only person in human history to have a child and everyone else gets post-partum depression, Pence said. ___

Megerian reported from Wilmington, Delaware.
Pope Francis, whose leadership of the Roman Catholic Church has resonated with many Californians, marks his 10th anniversary as pope on Monday. (Andrew Medichini / Associated Press)

Sitting in her family home in East Los Angeles, Rosa Manriquez kept her eyes on the TV screen as a flood of white smoke came pouring out of the roof of the Sistine Chapel 6,300 miles away  a century-old signal that the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church had chosen a new leader.

Manriquez, now 70, is the mother of two lesbian daughters who supports female ordination to the priesthood. On that day, 10 years ago, she waited impatiently to see who would emerge from behind the red curtain on a Vatican balcony as the head of the church she both loved and struggled against.

So I see this man come out, and I think, Theres something different about this guy, she said. And then I was like, Hes Latino! Oh my God!

A decade later, Manriquez says she does not agree with everything Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires now known as Pope Francis, has said and done. But like many Californians, she has come to respect and even love him.

Rosa Manriquez of East Los Angeles, who has a ministry working with LGBTQ people, would like Pope Francis to do more but figures "he is a creation of the time we are living in." (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Im not declaring him a saint; Im not into titles, she said. But I think this is the first pope since John XXIII who, rather than saying, Your holiness, I would say, My brother.

After Pope Benedict XVI resigned in February 2013, Paul Baumann, former editor of Commonweal Magazine, wrote that he hoped the next pontiff would be a bit of a Californian  sun-nier, more optimistic and more willing to engage with the modern world than his recent predecessors. It was a statement that turned out to be prophetic.

In many ways, Pope Francis is a buzzy pontiff in the California style. And being a California anything means getting lots of love  and lots of derision and disdain.

He has clashed with the states most powerful Catholic leaders  including Jose Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles, the largest Catholic diocese in America, and Salvatore Cordileone, archbishop of San Francisco  on the issue of denying communion to political leaders who support abortion rights.

But he is also the first pope to hail from Latin America, a point of pride and connection for many Catholics in a state that is roughly 40% Latino, and he has consistently refused to remain stuck in the hierarchical, traditionalist thinking that has characterized the churchs bureaucracy at the Vatican.

Pope Francis met with this boy and other internally displaced people last month in Juba, South Sudan. (Gregorio Borgia / Associated Press)

He has prioritized the environment and the poor, struck a more welcoming tone with LGBTQ Catholics, and appointed more women to leadership roles in the Vatican than any pope before him  demonstrating a commitment to values many Californians share. Its a stance that has gained him enmity.

The church is on the move, and some people dont want to be on the move, said Father Allan Deck, a scholar of theology and Latino studies at Loyola Marymount University. They want to remain where they are.

Immediately after his election on March 13, 2013, it was clear the pope from the end of the world would be doing things a different way. He paid his hotel bill in



person and then refused the ornate papal penthouse in favor of a more modest two-bedroom apartment. Just months into his papacy, he famously answered a journalists question about gay priests with another question: Who am I to judge?

More recently, he launched a global synod, or listening process, that encourages the laity to share their thoughts, dreams and hopes about the future of the church.

Hes much more relatable than any pope in the recent past, said Jacqueline Powers Doud, president emerita of Mount St. Marys College in Los Angeles. I think hes trying to embrace people with love and mercy, and thats a more winning approach than condemning.

Pope Francis is sunnier, more optimistic and more engaged in the modern world than recent predecessors  "a bit of a Californian," as former Commonweal Magazine editor Paul Baumann hoped for 10 years ago. (Andrew Medichini / Associated Press)

Catholic social justice leaders across the state say they have been inspired by his depiction of the church as a field hospital that serves the wounded and marginalized of the world. Spiritual seekers say his emphasis on spirituality and discernment  developing a relationship with God and letting that guide ones way forward  has supported them as they travel their own inner paths.

It may be tempting in a progressive state to claim the pope as a liberal, but experts advise against it. In fact, he has disappointed those who hoped he would do more to support womens ordination, LGBTQ Catholics and survivors of sexual abuse by priests.

The reality is, if you listen closely enough, Pope Francis challenges both liberals and conservatives, said John Gehring, Catholic program director for Faith in Public Life, an advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., and author of The Francis Effect: A Radical Popes Challenge to the American Catholic Church.

He really hasnt changed anything as far as doctrine, Doud said. There are people who wish he would, regarding women priests, married priests, celibacy and all that. And then there are people who think hes gone too much in the direction of leniency and mercy.

In California, his leadership has been felt in his selection of bishops and



cardinals across the state. He promoted to cardinal San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy, author of a recent essay on radical inclusion in the church, passing over the more conservative culture warriors Gomez and Cordileone.

People are tired of being judged by the church, and Francis gets that, said Michael Sean Winters, a columnist at the National Catholic Reporter. He doesnt ask people 10 questions before allowing them to come in and [saying theyre] worthy.

Francis was also responsible for elevating the beloved and recently killed Auxiliary Bishop David G. OConnell, who served parishes in South L.A. and was committed to supporting the most vulnerable people around him.

Like Francis, OConnells actions came not out of a progressive ideology, but out of faith, Deck said.

Faith, unlike ideology, is radically open because were trying to understand God, and God is beyond all ability for us to understand, he said.

Joseph McKellar gave the pope a card picturing this mural at Dolores Mission Church in L.A.'s Boyle Heights, portraying Mary and Jesus as refugees. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Joseph Tomas McKellar, director of Pico California, a large faith-based community organizing network, said Francis had helped deepen his own sense of faith as a Catholic.

What the pope is calling us to is a reexamination of what it means to be a church, said the 41-year-old Highland Park resident. For a lot of church history, the church is understood as the institution, the building, the sanctuary. But the pope is trying to turn that on its head. He says the church is the people, the body of Christ.

McKellar had a one-on-one conversation with Francis in 2019, after being invited by Cardinal Michael Czerny to the Vatican to participate in a meeting of leaders from around the world who were working on human-trafficking issues that affect migrants and refugees.

His heart racing, McKellar greeted the pontiff in Spanish and presented him a card with a picture of Mary and Jesus as a migrant mother and child, leaving a pueblo in Latin America and heading to Los Angeles. Its a fresco at his church, Dolores Mission Church in East L.A. Then, he asked the pope for words of encouragement to share with those who work alongside the most excluded and marginalized in California.

The pope leaned in close to McKellar and tapped him on the chest. In Spanish, he said, Stay close to the people. Stay close to the people. You have to listen deeply for what the people are yearning for and allow them to teach you. Stay close to the people.

The pope leaned back and McKellar put his hand on his chest. Gracias, Padre, he said.

I got super emotional, he said. I was overwhelmed.

Bishop Jane Via, 75, of San Diego has a more complicated view of Francis. Via was ordained as a priest in 2006 through an organization called Roman Catholic Womenpriests, and became bishop through the same group in 2017. (She was excommunicated from the Catholic Church as a result.)

She and a former Orange County priest started Mary Magdalene Apostle Catholic Community in San Diego, where she presides at Sunday Mass for roughly 70 people, in person and online.

Overall, Via sees Francis as a refreshing and welcome new face in the papacy  more open, more real and less engaged with orthodoxy than his predecessor, Benedict.

Hes not a pope who is afraid to say hes sorry for the wrongs of the Catholic Church, of which there have been many, she said. But one of them is the way women have been treated, and he hasnt apologized for that yet.

The pope established a commission in 2016 to study whether women should be ordained as deacons, but he has been clear that he believes they can never enter the priesthood. (Six in 10 American Catholics disagree with him and say the church should allow female priests, according to a 2015 Pew Research Center poll.)

Via says she finds the popes position disappointing but not surprising. She had hoped for more.

If he was to say that women are equal to men and can hold any office in the church that a man could hold, there would be a huge backlash  but also the change would begin, she said.

Melanie Sakoda, a survivor support coordinator in the Bay Area for SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is also disappointed with Francis leadership.

He talks a better game than a lot of the other popes, said Sakoda, who is not Catholic but works primarily with Catholics who have been abused. But I dont see any fundamental change in the way clergy sexual abuse is treated by the Catholic Church at this time.

She noted that in 2019, the pope established Vos Estis Lux Mundi, a church law to hold bishops accountable for the handling of sexual abuse cases, but said it wasnt clear how effective it had been.

Abuse survivors were upset with Francis defense of Bishop Juan Barros of Chile, who was accused of covering up abuse by Father Fernando Karadima, his mentor. The pontiff later apologized to the survivors, acknowledging that he had made grave errors in assessment and perception of the situation. But for Sakoda and others, his initial reaction  which included accusing the survivors of calumny, or slander  revealed what they believe is his true allegiance  protecting the churchs hierarchy.

After the attacks on the Chilean victims, it was sort of like, Oh, theres nothing new to see here, she said.

Still, most Catholics in California look upon the leader of their church with affection.

Pope Francis leaves at the end of a Mass in the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome on Ash Wednesday. (Gregorio Borgia / Associated Press)

Sister Margarita Rico, a member of the Order of the Servants of Mary in Los Angeles, said the pope seems very coherent with his life. When he lived in Argentina, he didnt have a car, and rode the bus instead; and he travels to places rife with conflict like the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He is always preaching peace, unity and an end to violence, she said. He wants to keep the human dignity of each individual, because we are all the sons and daughters of God.

Lori Stanley, executive director of the Loyola Institute for Spirituality in Orange, said that along with Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis has been a guiding figure to her as she continues to deepen her relationship with God.

As the first Jesuit pope, Francis is steeped in the same Ignatian spirituality that Stanley practices and teaches in parishes and on retreats around Southern California.

Ignatian spirituality is inclusive, and it is always striving to find God in the picture, she said. I try to find God in all people and all situations, and I see Pope Francis doing that too.

Manriquez would like to see the pope go further than he has.

A lot of us  alpha females, alpha males, prophets, badass chingones  we want to see people to do more, she said. But I figure he is a creation of the time we are living in, and I trust God he is doing the best he can.

Still, she wishes the pope would more proactively break down the churchs old hierarchical structures and open it up to those who have too often been excluded.

That he would, in other words, be less Rome, more California.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
HOUSTON (AP)  Authorities on Sunday continued to investigate what led a man to fatally shoot himself just before deputies entered his home and found he had been living for months with a corpse.

Neighbors contacted the Harris County Sheriffs Office on Saturday evening about concerns they hadn't seen one of the men who lived at the home for months, said Deputy Thomas Gilliland, an agency spokesman.

At the home in west Houston, deputies did notice that there were a lot of flies and a bad odor from one end of the house, Gilliland said.

After entering the home, the deputies heard a shot and found the body of a man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Gilliland said.

In another adjoining bedroom, they did find the body of a male also that had been severely decomposed," Gilliland said, citing a timeframe of at least several months.

He said an autopsy was planned on the decomposed body.

Investigators believe the two men lived together but said they were trying to determine other details about their relationship.

Both men were believed to be in their 60s. Their names have not been released by authorities.
FILE - Dr. Joseph Ladapo speaks with reporters after the Florida Senate confirmed his appointment as the state's surgeon general on Feb. 23, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. U.S. health agencies have sent a letter to Florida's surgeon general, warning him that his claims about COVID-19 risks are harmful to the public. The letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was sent to Ladapo on Friday, March 10, 2023.(AP Photo/Brendan Farrington, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  U.S. health agencies have sent a letter to Florida's surgeon general, warning him that his claims about COVID-19 vaccine risks are harmful to the public.

The letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was sent Friday to Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. It was a response to a letter Ladapo had written the agencies last month, expressing concerns about what he described as adverse effects from mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

Ladapo was appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021 and has attracted national scrutiny over his close alignment with the governor in opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other health policies embraced by the federal government.

Ladapo last year released guidance recommending against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children, contradicting federal public health leaders whose advice says all kids should get the shots.

He also has recommended against men ages 18 to 39 getting the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that an analysis by the Florida Department of Health showed an 84% increase in cardiac-related deaths.

In their letter, the federal agencies debunked the analysis' conclusion, saying that cardiovascular experts who studied the concern had concluded that the risk of strokes and heart attacks was lower in people who had been vaccinated, not higher.

More than 13 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given around the world with little evidence of adverse effects, the federal health agencies said.

It is the job of public health officials around the country to protect the lives of the populations they serve, particularly the vulnerable. Fueling vaccine hesitancy undermines this effort," said the letter signed by FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

The Florida Department of Health on Saturday didn't respond to an email inquiry about the letter.
China's high-quality development contributes to global economic recovery

13:14, March 12, 2023 By He Yin ( People's Daily

The international community has paid high attention to the ongoing "two sessions" in China, looking forward to more positive messages of promoting high-quality economic development and injecting more vitality and confidence into the global economy that is facing downward pressure.

The annual meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) bring together thousands of national legislators and political advisors.

International personages have voiced support for China's firm endeavor to pursue high-quality development unveiled in the meetings, believing that it will create more opportunities for the world and contribute to world economic recovery.

Photo taken on March 7, 2023 shows the busy scene at the container terminal of Lianyungang Port in Lianyungang city, east China's Jiangsu province. (Photo by Wang Jianmin/People's Daily Online)

High-quality development is the first and foremost task in building a modern socialist country in all respects, said Chinese President Xi Jinping while attending a deliberation with his fellow deputies from the delegation of east China's Jiangsu province at the first session of the 14th NPC on March 5.

During the deliberation, Xi stressed that efforts should be made to fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, and better coordinate the effective upgrade in quality with the appropriate expansion in quantity in economic development.

China must unswervingly deepen reform and opening-up and transform the development model, and the happiness and well-being of the people are the ultimate goals of promoting high-quality development, Xi said.

The remarks have charted the course and provided fundamental guidance for advancing high-quality development under new conditions and further enhanced the international community's confidence in China's economic development.

China aims to expand its economy by around 5 percent in 2023, according to a government work report submitted to the national legislature for deliberation.

The international community generally believes that the growth target is scientifically reasonable and has demonstrated to the world its firm resolve to promote high-quality economic development.

Photo taken on Feb. 22, 2023 shows a worker assembling intelligent spinners at a workshop of a textile machinery manufacturer in Ma'anshan city, east China's Anhui province. The spinners will be exported to countries along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative. (Photo by Wang Wensheng/People's Daily Online)

During the past five years, China's gross domestic product (GDP) has grown to over 121 trillion yuan ($17.95 trillion) at an average annual rate of 5.2 percent in spite of multiple challenges, including the rapidly evolving international landscape, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and domestic economic downward pressure.

Over the past decade, the country achieved a medium-high rate of economic growth given its large economic aggregate and transitioned to high-quality development. During the period, the country's GDP has increased by nearly 70 trillion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 6.2 percent.

Such remarkable achievements have fully proven that the fundamentals remain unchanged, and the Chinese economy still enjoys strong resilience, enormous potential, great vitality and long-term sustainability.

International organizations and investment institutions have lifted their growth forecasts on China's economic growth this year as a result of their growing confidence in its economy.

"If you are looking for growth, the answer is very simple. The next China is China," said Joe Ngai, managing partner of McKinsey Greater China. The positive judgment on China's economic outlook has sparked widespread resonance in the international community.

China accounts for more than 18 percent of the world economy and contributes around 30 percent to global economic growth. It ranks first globally in terms of trade in goods and services, and has become a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions.

The country has the world's most complete and largest industrial system with strong industrial supporting capacity. It also enjoys great technological innovation capacity and industrial production capacity.

China is in the process of industrialization and urbanization. Its middle-income group is expected to exceed 800 million in the next 15 years, further driving the development of an enormous market.

A foreign tourist takes photos with enthusiasts of Hanfu, the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group in China, at an ancient town in Huai'an city, east China's Jiangsu province, March 4, 2023. (Photo by Zhu Tianyu/People's Daily Online)

During the past five years, China's research and development (R&D) spending intensity has increased from 2.1 percent to more than 2.5 percent, and the contribution of scientific and technological progress to its economic growth has exceeded 60 percent, demonstrating the increasing capability to support development with innovations.

As of the end of 2022, China has registered over 52 million enterprises and 110 million self-employed individuals, indicating significant improvement in its endogenous driving force for development.

Such achievements have given China confidence on the path of its high-quality economic development, and made the international community optimistic about China's economic growth prospects.

China accelerates the establishment of a new development pattern and remains committed to improving the quality of development while expanding high-level opening-up, injecting important momentum into global economic development.

Over the past five years, China's total volume of trade in goods has surpassed 40 trillion yuan at an average annual growth rate of 8.6 percent, ranking first in the world for many consecutive years. Meanwhile, the country has been a major destination for foreign investment and a leading global outbound investor.

This year, China will prioritize the recovery and expansion of consumption, intensify efforts to attract and utilize foreign investment, steadily expand institutional opening-up, and continue the transition to green development. Such endeavors are expected to bring more opportunities to enterprises from all countries.

In January this year, China got off to a good start in attracting foreign investment, as the foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded 14.5 percent year on year to 127.69 billion yuan.

Many foreign-funded companies regard China as one of the most important destinations for investment and plan to increase investment in the country.

China is advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. Pursuing high-quality development is one of the essential requirements for the Chinese path to modernization.

Adhering to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, China will fully and faithfully apply its new development philosophy on all fronts, and accelerate creating a new development pattern.

It is ready to boost global economic recovery by promoting its high-quality development and create new opportunities for the world by striving for new achievements in development.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Kou Jie)
President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a summit held in Bali, Indonesia in this Nov. 15, 2022 file photo. Yonhap



By Lee Hyo-jin



Strained relations between Korea and China could continue and possibly worsen under Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose iron grip on power was solidified in a parliamentary vote, according to diplomatic observers, as Beijing becomes increasingly wary of Seoul's tilt toward Washington.



Following the unanimous vote passed at the National People's Congress on Friday, Xi secured a historic third term as president until 2028. He first took power in 2013.



Diplomatic experts think that the tricky relations between Korea and China are unlikely to be resolved under Xi's third term.



"In fact, external factors, such as the intensifying U.S-China rivalry and China's push toward unification with Taiwan, could rise as a source of conflict and worsen relations between Korea and China," said Lee Dong-gyu, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.



Unlike his predecessor Moon Jae-in, who pursued a policy of strategic ambiguity aimed at maintaining a diplomatic balance between the U.S. and China, President Yoon Suk Yeol has been overtly leaning toward Washington.



Despite Seoul's explanation that the move is not aimed at excluding a certain country, Beijing has been perceiving it as a hard tilt toward the U.S.' campaign to counter China.



"If Seoul remains silent to Beijing's protests against siding with the U.S., the Chinese government may decide to expand pressure by implementing sanctions on tourism and the economy," said Lee.



On Friday, China again excluded Korea from its second batch of countries that Chinese group tourists are allowed to visit. Exempting the neighboring country  while permitting tours to distant countries such as Brazil and Uruguay  is a clear expression of China's discontent concerning Korea's recent moves to strengthen its diplomatic and defense ties with the U.S., said Lee.



The researcher also noted that China's growing pressure on the self-governing island of Taiwan for unification may put Korea and China at odds.



"As Xi begins his third term, he will put his utmost efforts to achieving unification with Taiwan, which he views as his political legacy. How Korea positions itself in this matter will have a big influence on bilateral relations," he said.





China's President Xi Jinping signs a presidential order to appoint the new lineup of the State Council during the fifth plenary session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sunday. AFP-Yonhap



In February, China called on Korea "to be prudent" on the Taiwan issue, in response to Foreign Minister Park Jin's remarks during an interview with CNN that "Korea is opposed to a unilateral change of the status quo by force."



Kang Joon-young, a professor of Chinese Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, believes that signs of improving ties between Korea and Japan  which have paved the way for trilateral security cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington  are ruffling China's feathers.



The Korean government recently agreed to compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor through a public foundation, without direct payments from the Japanese firms that are responsible. The big diplomatic concession from Seoul was welcomed both by Tokyo and Washington.



In late April, Yoon will visit Washington for a summit with his counterpart Joe Biden to deepen the political, economic and security alliance. The summit may accelerate talks on Korea's participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) working group, a U.S.-led security forum that includes Australia, India and Japan, which is purportedly aimed at containing China's assertiveness.



Kang said, "Beijing will definitely be unhappy about this. It is important for the Korean government to assure China that joining Quad is a move to counter mutual humanitarian challenges faced by the member states, not to encircle China."



Korea's foreign ministry, for its part, said it is anticipating a potential visit this year by the Chinese president or a senior official, dismissing speculation that the two countries are at odds over Seoul's close relations with Washington.



"(The) Foreign policies of the Yoon administration do not intend to exclude a certain country," a senior foreign ministry official said in a closed-door briefing, Friday, stressing that China is Korea's major trade partner. He also shared plans to resume high-level talks between the two nations, which had been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.




China gains considerably from the deal by projecting its growing role as an economic and political power

A joint trilateral statement issued by China, Saudi Arabia and Iran at the end of last week took the world by surprise. It was known that China had been engaging both nations for a while, but the diplomatic outcome was unanticipated.

Saudi Arabia and Iran, who lead the Sunni and Shia factions of Islam respectively, had been at loggerheads ever since the 2011 Arab Spring, which had rattled autocratic regimes across the Islamic world. On countering the democratic upsurge in Iran, they had an identity of views. However, they ended up backing different factions, based on their shared

sectarian identities, once the upsurge mushroomed out of control all across West Asia and North Africa. The proxy war between them surged in Syria, Libya and most significantly in Yemen.

In 2016, after the Saudis beheaded a Shia cleric, Iranian mobs overran the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Diplomatic relations were snapped as the two ratcheted up what the New York Times calls their open hostility and proxy conflict. It climaxed when a Saudi oil facility was hit by missiles, suspected to be fired by the Houthis, under Iranian oversight.

The joint statement on Friday opens by lauding the noble initiative of His Excellency President Xi Jinping for supporting good neighbourly relations between the two Middle East rivals. It reveals that the three delegations had met in Beijing from March 6 to 10. Also, it thanks Oman and Iraq for the role they had played in the rapprochement. Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reopen their diplomatic missions in each others countries and resurrect the May 27, 1998 agreement on multi-sectoral cooperation. They committed to recognise the sovereignty of nations and non-interference in their internal affairs. The last concedes that support to allies and proxies, especially based on common sectarian identities, has caused regional conflicts like in Yemen and Syria.

This accord raises a number of questions. First, it directly undercuts the Abraham Accords sponsored by the United States which coaxed the Gulf nations into engaging with Israel. The United Arab Emirates has been at the forefront of this. The Saudis had been reluctant to join, realising that until Israel becomes more accommodative towards the Palestinians, any deal with Israel will invite criticism from public opinion across the Arab world, the so-called Arab street. The new trilateral agreement makes the Saudis engagement of Israel even more complex. Prior to it, the Saudis had publicly set conditions for normalising relations with Israel. They sought a civil nuclear programme and security guarantees. Calculating that the United States was unlikely to do that without an Israeli nod, the Saudis felt free to flirt with the Chinese.

China gains considerably from the deal by projecting its growing role as an economic and political power just as President Xi Jinpings third term was endorsed by the Communist Party of China. China steps into the strategic vacuum left by the US pivot, first to the Indo-Pacific and now to Europe and the Ukraine war as well. The Iranian government spokesman exulted that the historic agreement was forged entirely by Asian countries. He added that it will change the dynamics of the region. The last claim requires analysis.

As Western sanctions isolated the Iranian economy from global trade, China grabbed a bigger role in energy and goods trade with Iran. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia realise that as Europe weans itself off Russian oil and gas, by accelerating transition to a low-carbon energy future, their markets are in Asia, especially in China and India. The United States in any case is no longer dependent on oil from the Gulf. The Saudis are simply repositioning by asserting strategic independence. While the full implications of the changed dynamics will emerge gradually, two consequences are obvious. One, the Saudis have been struggling to find an honourable end to their intervention in the Yemeni civil war. If the Iranians play ball, the Houthis may accept a negotiated compromise.

Two, the Saudis are now unlikely to allow Israeli warplanes to use their airspace for attacking Iranian nuclear facilities. With a more hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now in charge in Jerusalem, such an attack looked more likely as the Iranian nuclear enrichment programme advances.

Where does this deal leave India? Only days earlier there was much backslapping as the four-nation I2U2 group, consisting of India, Israel, the UAE and the US, had met. The Abraham Accords were to create a new US-sponsored Gulf security paradigm to isolate Iran, limiting its influence across the Shia crescent stretching from the western Iranian border to the Mediterranean. A churn in Iraqi politics also created political forces which openly rejected Irans hegemony and manipulation of politics via surrogates. Even Syrias President Bashar al-Assad was drawn into engagement with the UAE and other Gulf sheikhdoms. But the new trilateral undercuts the grand American plan. Saudi Arabia was always critical to creating a solid anti-Iran front.

For India, it is a wake-up call. Pakistan, a Chinese ally, gains from the Saudi-Iran detente. The Chinese have already rolled over $1.3 billion Pakistani loan. Separately, the IMF is still examining a $ 6.5 billion bailout. The I2U2 now leaves India in a group isolated by the new Saudi-Iran-China convergence. There has been speculation for some time about differences between old friends Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan. The hurried investment by the Nahyan family in the eventually abandoned Adani Forward Public Offering showed Abu Dhabi keeping the Indian government in good humour. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heading a more intensely right-wing coalition appears a less desirable ally than most conservative Arab nations would stomach. New Delhi may have no issues with Mr Netanyahus domestic politics but even the UAE might be unable to digest it if the repression of the Palestinians intensifies.

The controversy generated by the ORF promotion video for the Raisina Dialogue, which showed protests in Iran over female head-covering, was avoidable. The cancellation of the Iranian foreign ministers visit leaves India-Iran relations in the lurch. The trilateral will only stiffen Iranian touchiness: they are difficult to handle at the best of times. The lesson is that new foreign policy forays based on supposed personal equations can stymie India.

China is displaying the readiness now to start shaping regional politics to suit it. India is not yet powerful enough to do so. But it can certainly avoid joining groups forged by outside powers. As Irans spokesman has pointed out, their new trilateral accord was made in Asia.
Ukrainian ability to defend itself could also be undermined by Russias continued attacks on Ukraines civilian population

Which of the two incidents at the recent New Delhi G-20 meeting was more important: the 10-minute Antony Blinken-Sergey Lavrov exchange or what stood in the way of a joint communique? Both give diverse signals on whether or not there is a buzz in the air about peace in Ukraine?

In the 1970s, well-known Rand Corporation strategist Fred Ikle wrote: All Wars Must End. The salient point was that the national leaderships entering a war generally plan, in any depth, only about the first act, not on the ending. In any war, circumstances often change which could alter the outcome.

A new Rand survey gives examples of possible shifts: wild cards, a major nuclear incident at Zaporizhzhia, another Middle East war, an invasion of Taiwan or another deadly pandemic. The longer a war continues, the greater the likelihood that such events will occur.

The study by a think tank close to the Pentagon isnt terribly optimistic of Ukraines chances on the battlefield: Ukrainian ability to defend itself could also be undermined by Russias continued attacks on Ukraines civilian population and infrastructure.

Another real possibility of Ukraine being undermined is by a reduction of Western military and financial support. This is a possibility if there is a decline in European unity. Much of this unity was a media build-up. Stories of clear differences between European countries werent played up. I have earlier mentioned French President Emanuel Macrons talk with his officials and diplomats. He felt strongly that the 300-year-long Western dominance of the world order was coming to an end. This is just one of the many examples.

Western hegemony may be ending, but Cambridge University research has produced copious data to confirm an accelerated global divide after Ukraine: between what it calls the liberal democracies of the West and the authoritarian states more inclined towards China and Russia.

This study says of the 1.2 billion people who live in liberal democracies, 75 per cent hold a negative view of China and 87 per cent of Russia. Only some of this must be credited to the way the Ukraine war was reported in the West. It only builds on the bias already there in the West, particularly since the rise of China 30 years ago. The growing dislike for Russia is both more intense and more recent.

What must disturb liberal democracies is that a majority of the worlds population, the 6.3 billion outside the West, have a different attitude towards China and Russia: 70 per cent of them are positive towards China and 66 per cent towards Russia. Large populations polarised in this way will have a huge effect on global politics, business and trade.

On the margins of the New Delhi G-20 meeting, as in Ukraine-related writing elsewhere, an expression commonly used to speculate on the end of the war is frozen conflict. In such a situation, according to Rands Brian Jenkins, Russian forces will keep the territory already held, while Ukraine lies in ruins, still under threat of renewed attacks. Clearly, Jenkins continues, few refugees are likely to return under these circumstances. Investments will simply not come because the risks of renewed fighting would be high.

All this would be a big disincentive for Western unity in support of the sanctions against Russia, as well as financial and military support for Ukraine. Is that the scenario for the endgame?

In my Ukraine catalogue, the incident that gives a clue to President Joe Bidens mind is his press conference on December 30, 2022. This took place after a three-hour meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Obviously, the meeting had been contentious, with Mr Zelenskyy asking for arms more lethal than Mr Biden was prepared to part with. The initial yen to defeat Vladimir Putin and carve up his country had yielded to a more realistic appraisal of the ground realities. This appraisal of the war was revealed quite inadvertently in a White House press briefing. Mr Biden was elaborating on the weapons being shipped to Ukraine, including Patriot batteries. One of the reporters chipped in: At an earlier stage of the war, a US official had told us the Patriots were not on the table because their induction will be seen as unnecessary escalation. And now the Patriots were on offer.

The reporter then asked: Lets make it brief: Why cant you give Ukraine all the capabilities it needs to liberate its territories sooner rather than later? Mr Biden was tongue-tied. In his nervousness, he pointed to Mr Zelensky, saying: He will say yes to your proposition. Clearly Mr Biden had said no to Mr Zelenskyys persistent demand for lethal arms.

Mr Biden explained his caution. The US wasnt giving Ukraine everything with reason: an entire alliance was sending arms which harmonised. If we gave equipment not cleared by Nato, the entire alliance coordination would come under strain. We are going to give Ukraine what it needs to defend itself.

It has been clear to me, at least, since the December press briefing that Washington wasnt going to place in Mr Zelenskyys hands anything more lethal than was required to keep the Russians tied down with the ability for battlefield gains.

This is a war the Russians cannot afford to lose. Survival is an existential necessity with Nato crouching around Russia. More firepower in Ukraine and use of nuclear weapons by the Russians in Ukraine would become a real possibility.

The Americans too cant afford to not emerge looking victorious. They do not wish to have a seal stamped on the end of the unipolar world. When the stakes are so high, the 10-meeting between the US secretary of state and the Russian foreign minister in New Delhi cannot be sniffed at.
Pope Francis's appeal during the Angelus comes on the Sunday the liturgy proposes the Gospel passage about the Samaritan woman. Meanwhile, the earth continues to be polluted and defaced. Exhausted and parched, she too is thirsty. During next Fridays 24 Hours for the Lord, the pontiff will hear confessions in a Roman parish.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis today spoke to the faithful in St Peter's Square during the Sunday Angelus prayer, reminding them that like Jesus at the well of the Samaritan woman, today's world also says in many ways: Give me a drink!

Commenting on the Gospel of John in todays liturgy on the journey of Lent, the pontiff described it as an image of Gods abasement. [. . .] Thirsty like us, he suffers our same thirst.

Francis cited Don Primo Mazzolari (1890-1959), an Italian parish priest jailed for his anti-fascist activities: So, he is thirsty like me. He shares my thirst. You are truly near me, Lord! You are in touch with my poverty. [. . .] You have grasped me from below, from the lowest part of myself, where no one reaches me.

Indeed, the Lord who asks for a drink is the One who gives to drink, the pope explained. Thirsty for love, Jesus quenches our thirst with love. And he does with us what he did with the Samaritan woman  he comes to meet us in our daily life, he shares our thirst, he promises us living water that makes eternal life well up within us.

Even today, the cry of thirst rises from the world. How many say give me a drink to us  in our family, at work, in other places we find ourselves. They thirst for closeness, for attention, for a listening ear. People say it who thirst for the Word of God and need to find an oasis in the Church where they can drink.

Give me a drink is a cry heard in our society, where the frenetic pace, the rush to consume, and especially indifference, that culture of indifference, generate aridity and interior emptiness. And  let us not forget this  give me a drink is the cry of many brothers and sisters who lack the water to live, while our common home continues to be polluted and defaced. Exhausted and parched, she too is thirsty.

From this comes the call to all to nurture the thirst for God" and become a refreshing spring for others.

At the end of the Angelus, Francis announced the 24 hours for the Lord" next Friday and Saturday in dioceses around the world, an initiative undertaken by the Dicastery for Evangelisation, with time dedicated to Eucharistic adoration and the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Next Friday afternoon, the pope will go in person to the Roman parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Trionfale, where he will hear the confessions of the faithful.

In connection with this initiative, the pontiff noted that last year he had carried out the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary to obtain the gift of peace.

This year, he urged everyone to persevere again in praying to Our Lady, especially keeping the martyred Ukrainian people in our hearts.
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Photo: Leasing Options

Unlike many other entrepreneurs of his time, who liked to make cars for the masses, Ettore Bugatti has always known that the perfect way to enter the history books and stay there as an exquisite brand is to make cars for the niches: the bold, the rich, and the famous, people who always add weight to the things they own.And the Veyron was no exception. Born in 2015, long after the founder left this world, it arrived as the worlds first production car to develop over 1,000 ps (986 hp), but also the first one to be capable of speeds of over 400 kph (249 mph).And it was a visual ten, too. Sure, it was a bit of a struggle getting to the final production form, as Bugatti needed (and showed at various auto shows across the world) no less than four concepts, one in 1998 and no less than three in 1999, before settling on the shape and form we now know.Such an exquisite machine was, of course, not cheap. It is quite difficult to say how much customers eventually ended up paying for one, but its agreed that the starting price of a Veyron always was just a tad shy of a full $2 million.By comparison, the Tesla Cybertruck is a bargain. Although from a performance standpoint is not that far from a Veyron (over 800 hp from the top-of-the-range tri-motor variant), the most expensive one will start at around $70,000. Once it actually gets here, of course.So what are these two vehicles with absolutely zero things in common doing on the same page? A blending of sorts, if you will, because someone decided to give the Veyron a Cybertruck-style makeover and see what happens.That someone is British outlet Leasing Options, and the crossbreed between the two is part of a larger set of five Cybertruck-inspired renderings that also include the MINI, Volkswagen Beetle , Jaguar F-Type, and Range Rover Evoque.The first three have all gotten their time under the spotlight here on autoevolution, and the conclusion when it comes to all of them is painfully clear: they are horrible. But will you judge me too harshly if I told you I kind of feel a Cybertruck-ed Veyron could work?You see, when it comes to the MINI, the Beetle, and even the F-Type, our perception is pretty clear. We know their flowing shapes and were used to seeing them in a certain way, so when someone tries to beat a circle into a square the result will always look bad to our eyes.The Veyron on the other hand is a different deal. Most of us will go through life never seeing one in person, and it is perhaps this exoticism that doesnt immediately place our brain on the defensive when a major design change is proposed.Sure, the Veyron is the embodiment of curves in car design, but can you really say that its snout looks much worse with sharp edges? Or that the air intakes look better shaped as an oval than as a rectangle? Or that the cabin looks better flattened inside the body than pointing upwards like a pyramid?True, reshaping the existing Veyron into something edgier will be met with fierce resistance, but you have to admit, compared to what else weve seen before, the bluntness of the Cybertruck doesnt look half bad covering the beauty of the Veyron. It just needs a little getting used to
Photo: Officially Gassed / YouTube

Today its the former category that gets a place in the spotlight, as not two but three such sleepers (if they can even be called that anymore) are lined up against each other in a drag and rolling race. The lineup consists of the equally famous Integra and Civic, joined by the slightly more underrated Del Sol.One thing that they all have in common, however, is power, as each car hovers around the 500 hp benchmark. That is a lot of grunt, especially for the ultra-light Del Sol, which only weighs 2,094 lbs (950 kg) and, consequently, boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 526 hp (533 ps) per ton. To put that into perspective, a Ferrari F8 Tributo only has a ratio of 461 hp (467 ps) per ton.So how does such a small car get so many horses under the hood? It all starts with a K24A engine swap (2.4-liter 4-cylinder). That power unit is then taken up a notch thanks to a turbo with a sidewinder exhaust manifold, center feed intake manifold, 3.5-inch (90mm) throttle body, 1050cc injectors, and a beefy intercooler.These cars also happen to share a couple of drawbacks when it comes to drag racing . The first and most important is traction, as all three cars are front-wheel drive, which means putting that much power down is quite a struggle. The triad of contestants is also equipped with manual gearboxes, providing an additional challenge in the race.Up against the aforementioned Del Sol stands the daddy of Honda memes, the Civic Type R. In this case, it is the EP3 generation, and it is just as powerful as its opponent, albeit 660 lbs (300 kg) heavier, thus having a worse power-to-weight ratio of just 400 hp (406 ps) per ton.Unsurprisingly, the engine modifications are similar, although this time they are applied to the cars stock K20A2 power unit. The same story applies to the Honda Integra Type R, which, just like the Del Sol, received a K24A engine swap and has a power-to-weight ratio of 476 hp (483 ps) per ton. These numbers hint at the race being a close affair, at least between two of the cars.But things dont always go as expected, or at least not as the raw numbers would dictate. Despite being on semi-slick tires and having the best power-to-weight ratio, the Del Sol ended up last in the rolling race, spinning its tires all the way due to a lack of mechanical grip caused by how light it is.The top step of the podium was taken by Integra, which managed to beat the competition by about three car lengths. Granted, this result was definitely influenced by the driver of the Civic fluffing a gear change.That leaves the drag race , and to the dismay of the Del Sol owner, not much changed. The first run has the same result as the rolling races, with the Integra being the winner and the Del Sol being left in the dust and proving power isnt everything. The second run switched things around, although only at the bottom of the leaderboard, with the Civic ending up last this time.
Lt. Gen. Andrew Harrison, the deputy commander of the U.N. Command (UNC), speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at the UNC headquarters in Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, 65 kilometers south of Seoul, on March 10. Yonhap



The deputy commander of the U.N. Command (UNC) stressed the significance of the upcoming South Korea-U.S. military exercise for peace on the peninsula, dismissing North Korea's pugnacious rhetoric coupled with blatant threats of taking provocative acts in response.



Lt. Gen. Andrew Harrison pointed out that the Freedom Shield (FS) set to kick off Monday for a 11-day run is a routine training to "retain peace" with "very tight oversight," speaking in an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency.



Tensions have been running high, as Pyongyang has threatened "overwhelming" measures to counter what it claims to be "preparations for a war of aggression" by the allies. The North has been highly sensitive to Washington's deployment of such strategic assets as high-profile bombers, stealth fighter jets and aircraft carriers as well as the allies' combined field maneuver.



"This routine training exercise is incredibly important for readiness," he said during the interview held last Friday at the UNC headquarters in Camp Humphreys, a major U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, located 65 kilometers south of Seoul. "I've heard (the North's criticism), and I just fundamentally disagree."



In that regard, Harrison emphasized the role of the UNC with a mission to secure a lasting peace on the peninsula by enforcing the 1953 Armistice Agreement that effectively ended the Korean War.



During the FS exercise, personnel from the command and the "sending states," which sent troops or other forms of support during the Korean War, plan to practice crisis management and other contingency procedures  in line with the command's primary role to maintain the armistice.



"In the early stages of an exercise, we look at the challenge to the armistice that might occur, and we always try and de-escalate back to a sort of pre-crisis position," he said. "If crisis turns to conflict, we're looking at how the sending states could operate together in whatever scenario."



In particular, the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) is poised to ensure the exercise will proceed in a "visibly fair" manner, he added. The NNSC is an impartial entity observing the implementation of the armistice.



"They have been tasked to observe us and ensure that everything we're doing is defensive, and is there to apply deterrence rather than anything offensive," he said. "That should give anyone, who has concerns from anywhere about the exercise, confidence that this isn't simply something that is happening unilaterally. It's got very tight oversight."



He noted that "every defense force in the world" trains in some way to make sure that it stands ready in case "the worst happens."



"It doesn't breach any international rules, any international law, any U.N. Security Council resolutions," he emphasized. "I think this is what militaries do to retain peace and security."





A table used during the signing of the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War is on display at the U.N. Command's headquarters in Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, 65 kilometers south of Seoul, on March 10. Yonhap



Harrison highlighted the importance of dialogue in order to promote regional stability.



"I think communication gives opportunity into the future. If one can't communicate, then you can't solve problems," he said. "I'm proud that the UNC is currently doing that and has consistently done that."



Earlier this year, the UNC got into the spotlight as it launched a special investigation into the North's Dec. 26 drone infiltrations and the South's subsequent step to send its own drones into the North in a "corresponding" step.



The UNC concluded both sides violated the armistice although the South Korean government maintains that its "counteraction" was a legitimate exercise of its "right to self-defense not restrained by the armistice."



"If we're mandated to enforce the armistice, and the armistice is breached or broken, then of course, it's a concern to me and to the commander," he said. "The commander will say we play the ball as we see it ... There is no bias."



Emphasizing that he does not want to be "drawn into any opinion on any government," Harrison said, "I hope we don't need to have any more armistice violations that lead to reports."



Meanwhile, Yonhap was given rare media access to the "Armistice Room" at the UNC headquarters, where one of the three tables used for the signing of the armistice is on display, along with books containing lists of Korean War deaths.



This year marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice in July. It was signed by the representatives of the U.S.-led UNC, North Korea and China.



"That peace was bought by the blood of our servicemen and women who are memorialized in this room," the general said. "We must never forget that if we ever breached that peace again, we risk more names, more families being represented in this room, and none of us want that."



Describing the armistice as the "longest standing" one in the history of the world, Harrison underscored the role of the armistice to keep at least "relative levels of peace" despite persistent cross-border tensions.





A Korean War monument is on display at the U.N. Command's headquarters in Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, 65 kilometers south of Seoul, on March 10. Yonhap
Photo: babyark

Photo: babyark

NHTSA

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

If the name Frank Stephenson doesnt ring a bell, not a problem; let me tell you a bit about him. Hes the mind behind the iconic 2000s MINIs and new-era Fiat 500s, and hes also designed many supercars. A few years ago, he moved on from his position at McLaren and established his own consultancy firm.Hes worked on several projects, such as the Limited-Edition Cosmos Watches , and recently he set his eyes on reimagining baby seats with the innovative babyark. Every last detail was designed as you'd expect from such a big name of the industry, and it comprises several advanced technologies. Lets get into its specifics.Its frame is built out of carbon fiber to benefit from the highest protection level while keeping its weight as low as possible. Specifically, it tips the scales at a total of 45 lbs. (20 kg), which comprises a 20 lb. (9 kg) base and a 25 lb. (11 kg) seat. Furthermore, it features a SafeCoil steel-based shock absorption system, which, as the company describes it, cheats time. Its built out of a steel coil that extends from its compressed mode upon impact and activation  the energy which would impact the childs head and body is instead used for the extension. Basically, it gently slows the seats forward momentum in a safe and controlled manner.Frank Stephenson explained, After my time within the automotive industry, I have always wanted to go beyond simply designing vehicle shapes. Safety standards and designs within the industry have evolved significantly, and yet we easily neglect the technology required for child safety.A strong anchor point is critical for any seat  in this regard, babyark is fitted with the "ANKR" rigid no-flex system, which keeps it completely secure in case of an impact and allows all other shock-absorbing mechanisms to work adequately.The simplicity and structural integrity of eggs inspired the innovative seats design. It takes the shape of a pod, blending an organic design with ergonomics. Furthermore, its equipped with a unique BioArk side impact protection, which mimics the woodpeckers plate-like bone natural protection system. Rest assured, Frank Stephenson made sure to use the worlds most efficient impact-absorbing polymer, D3O. If youre unfamiliar with the material, I invite you to search the web for it; what it can do is mind-blowing.At the core of the babyark are various techy features that undoubtedly make it the most technologically advanced baby seat youll find. It integrates 14 sensors in its base, constantly monitoring multiple parameters. Moreover, accelerometers and gyroscopes within the babyark can detect the impact force of any crash and will signal to you whether the seat needs to be replaced or can be reused. This way, babyark has no expiration date, also keeping sustainability in mind.Theres even a smartphone app that lets you know if the seat is installed correctly and if the child passenger is properly buckled. But its capabilities go even further than that  it can identify if your baby is still in the seat and will notify you if youve forgotten your child somewhere.The babyark seat can be installed both rear and front-facing, depending on the childs age and weight. Infants and small toddlers should be seated rear facing, while children who weigh more than 55 lbs. (25 kg) should be seated front facing.Upon purchase, youll also get what the company calls the SmartGuide, which provides step-by-step guidance and visual confirmation that the seat has been properly attached. This is especially important  unfortunately, people dont pay enough attention to the installation of child car seat s. According to the), almost half of all car seats are improperly installed. Whats more, by ensuring the proper position, the risk of fatal injury is reduced by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.Other notable features of the babyark seat are nine recline positions and eleven headrest positions. Moreover, its made from naturally flame-resistant fabric, which is also soft to the touch. Its maker claims its designed to fit in over 80% of all cars; you can check babyarks official website to see if your car model is suitable.By this point, you might be wondering, How much does the babyark cost? Of course, given the premium feature s and high-quality build, you can expect to pay more than your average car seat. You can now pre-order the babyark for $990 (929), down from the standard price of $1,190 (1,117). After choosing from the four color schemes available, youll have to pay a $50 deposit, and its shipping should be fulfilled by May 31 this year, according to its maker.
Photo: Image by Freepik

Photo: Image by Szabolcs Toth on Pexels

Photo: Image by macrovector on Freepik

ICE

Photo: Image by Freepik

We were all just doing fine until some nerd scientists came up with this carbon dioxide invented issue. They complained that burning coal, and oil, and gas leads to CO2 in the atmosphere. And this CO2 somehow traps heat from the sun, and then is global warming and climate change, and, bang, were doomed.It sounded like those funny apostles ranting about the end of days on Earth and how we should all repent. Or like that Elon Musk and his Tesla , who suddenly started ranting about electrifying everything and ditching oil-fueled cars, and all that nonsense.The people went crazy because they were brainwashed, I tell you. Im sure its a global conspiracy against Make America great again. And it keeps going now with this methane boo boo, allegedly more dangerous than carbon dioxide.They say that CH4 is up to 100 times more heat-trapping than CO2. And that its already responsible for 25% of global warming and is going to be worse. In 2022, the UN even put in place a global satellite-based system for methane detection. What a waste of money!So, let me get this straight. Methane is a gas you cannot see or smell, right? And now they invented some high-tech stuff to measure it. Well, folks, it smells like bulshit. And if the so-called capitol insurrection on January 6 had succeeded, we would not be talking about this methane nonsense today.But lets play along for the sake of debate. These guys from Kayrros claim that, in 2022, satellites discovered more than 1,000 methane super emitters sites. These are mostly fossil fuel facilities, where methane leaks either uncontrolled or, on contrary, on purpose, for ventilating purposes in the extraction process.Now get this: the top emitters are the U.S., Russia, and Turkmenistan. I never heard of the last one, but Im sure Russia is to blame, darn communists are a menace to everybody, as youve seen in the last year. Oh, but there's more to the story.These so-called scientists point out that, around the world, there are 55 methane bombs, and the biggest three of them are in North America. Now, isnt that convenient for those Greenpeace eco-terrorists? To blame the proudest nation on the face of the Earth for threatening the climate change mitigation efforts.Oh, and weve also got some statistics on human-caused methane emissions - 40% of them are because of fossil fuel exploration, production, and transportation- 40% are due to agriculture, mainly from burping cattle- 20% are from rotting waste sitesWhere do they come up with these numbers? Oh, the satellites, I forgot. And the high-tech sensors that can see and measure the invisible methane. Whom are they tryin to fool? Not me, for sure! This is only eco-propaganda trying to convince people that coal mining, oil drilling, and gas exploration are bad for us.It's bad for them because the U.S. is the most powerful country in the world, and they all want to take it down. Lets just shut down all the oil industry in the U.S., shall we? And replace it with that moronic wind turbines and solar panels.The next thing you know, they will blow up America in pieces because they fear our oil&gas power! Dont you see whats going on? They want to replace our so-called gas guzzlers with damn electric and hydrogen trucks.And who owns the lithium? China. Who makes all the batteries? China. Who wants to overtake the U.S.? China. And dont get me started on how much pollution is those damn batteries accountable for. And how clean is the electricity they use.Climate change is a hoax  I couldnt agree more! The man who spelled it out is a great man. As opposed to that annoying girl who was so insolent to shout How dare you at everybody. And everybody was fooled into thinking that oil, gas, and coal are bad for us.How can they be bad, I ask you? Our nation was built on fossil fuels, they give us jobs, energy, and the freedom to roam in our cars wherever we want and whenever we want. As opposed to those low-range electric carriages that are marketed as the future. Not my future, Im not ditching my trusted V8 truck. Over my dead body!I dont believe these so-called scientists, who estimated the total emissions from the so-called methane bombs are equivalent to almost half a trillion tons of CO2. The so-called environment experts claim that this would blow up the carbon budget needed to keep global warming below 1.5C.But, hey, follow the money. Did you know that, after the carbon tax, from 2024 the U.S. regulations will put in place a methane tax? The companies accused of methane leaks will be charged $900/ton (850/ton), and from 2026, this tax will almost double.The good old lets tax the pollution claim, isnt it? And they will get richer, while well get poorer. And America will fall because of this climate change and extinction hazard nonsense. I cant wait to see what else they will come up with after this methane thing. frankly, Im tired to try and think like this. I dont know how some people can ignore evidence, simply by dismissing science. The simple idea of a global conspiracy AGAINST the fossil fuel industry is just like the Dont look up! slogan in that movie starring Leonardo di Caprio. Who, by the way, is an advocate for environmental issues.All those who deny todays findings on fossil fuels' harm and climate change menace will eventually accept they were wrong by listening to the naysayers . Most likely, it will be too late for them to acknowledge that. Because the comet will be in plain sight, and there will be no place to hide from the consequences.I dont know what the comet will look like in a more-than-2C scenario. But we cannot act like its not going to happen. I guess the transition fromvehicles to electric vehicles is not the best thing to do, but as far as I know, it is the best thing we can do right now and as fast as we can.And thats because replacing coal and gas in the energy sector with wind and solar really is the best thing to do in the short and medium term. So, if were going to use renewable energy, its only logical to adapt the transportation sector to this fuel.Maybe e-fuels could be an interesting solution to over a billion ICE vehicles out there in the next two or three decades. But I doubt it. They are simply an inefficient solution to inefficient technology based on using fossil fuels.The renewable energy required by producing e-fuels used in internal combustion engines could power two or three times more electric vehicles. So, in my opinion, e-fuels investments are just a waste of money and time.Maybe a hydrogen-based economy is the best for achieving the zero-emissions society goal. But for now, it only aggravates the methane leaks issue, because it mainly relies on gray hydrogen, sourced from natural gas. And it also requires much more money and time for technology development.The waste of time is basically the common ground between e-fuels and hydrogen. The longer it takes for these technologies to become economically feasible, the greater the profits for Big Oil and the higher the climate change risk for the rest of us.Thats why electromobility is the safest or the least risky bet for the short and medium term. It has its share of collateral damage, no question about it. But in the greater picture, it has the best ratio of pros and cons.It's simply dumb to avoid focusing much of the energy and resources of society on a reliable solution, and instead, apply the dont keep all your eggs in the same basket principle. When time is of the essence, you simply must hurry and assume the risk of breaking a few eggs to make an omelet.At least, this is how the electrohead that I am is seeing things. It doesnt matter if electromobility is the best solution or the least damaging one. It is the only one we have left right now to gain more time to find a better one in the future.
ICE

Photo: YouTube/Drag Times

SUV

Photo: YouTube/Drag Times

Photo: YouTube/Drag Times

Still, there is a method in this crankshaft madness  and the answer is more horsepower (or, to be engineeringly accurate: more torque). If one wishes to beat a Tesla Model X Plaid in a quarter-mile sprint, it needs a solid boost in dyno-backedconfidence.Coincidentally, the YouTube channel with a soft spot for 1,320-foot-long sprints  Drag Times  has a new duel in store. Some time ago, he traveled to Bradenton Motorsport Park, just south of Tampa Bay, Florida, for a private drag racing session.We already told you about some of the events during that invitation-only floor it happening. Now its time for the latest. Tesla Model X Plaid versus Porsche 911 Turbo, one thousand hp against another thousand, blazing fire challenges lightning bolts (again).Before continuing, it would be to everyones advantage to disclose that the German sportscar is not a secretive project undertaken by the Stuttgart masters of the flat-six. The House of the Rearing Horse made a regular 3.7-liter twin-turbo all-wheel-drive Porsche 911.M-Engineering took charge of said 2021 model-year automobile and dropped their explosive-performance kit in it. Dyno proclamations put this steroid-fed 911 Turbo in the range of 1,100 crank horsepower (1,115 ps). Or, as the car owner likes to declare: around 910 wheel-horsepower (923 ps).The Model X, on the other hand, is not impressed by numbers and paper fantasies. Stock out of the factory, the 2022 Plaid version of the electricgrants roughly 1020 hp (1,034 ps). While it may appear unbalanced, the report on the two cars is modest on the Tesla side because there isnt much to say about it that hasnt already been told by the cars build sheet.Three electric motors and 94% state of charge for our storys race . End of the line. While we could discuss the Porsche modifications for hours, the X Plaid prefers the subtle approach (pun intended). Its all downhill from here as the two cars align for the first sprint.As expected from these high-performance machines, they blast off the line and stay neck and neck until the end. 10.008 seconds on the electric versus 9.925 on the race-fuel burner. Yes, the Porsche runs on 104-octane gasoline. And it still loses  although, at first sight, its elapsed time is lower, therefore superior.The reaction times turn the tables in the Teslas favor. The 911 driver was a full tenth slower off the start than his opponent. Its not the fable of the tortoise and the hare, but the peculiar algorithms behind drag racing are sometimes counterintuitive.The Plaid crossed the line first  and took the win  despite the Porsche being quicker between the starting point and the finish line. It left later, which translates into a second place across the trap. This race opened a comments debate between the partisans of the two paradigms, Electric and ICE Some argue that Porsche isnt putting 910 whp to the ground, judging by the quarter-mile times. Others wonder why the X Plaid is so slow (a 20-mph /32 kph headwinds might be one cause). The second run between the two contenders is even more unrevealing than the first. The Porsche short-shifts and nearly buries its nose in the tarmac. It loses the race to such an extent that it would be best not to put it on record.A decider is needed to mediate the unconvincing performances of the two horsepower warriors. Without transmission goofs and blitzing reaction time, the 2021 911 Turbo S gaps the X Plaid without bidding farewell. I suppose 35 psi of turbo pressure is one way of putting a Tesla in the rearview mirror.
SUV

Photo: YouTube Screenshot/Doug DeMuro

kWh

Some believe that Lexus name originally meant Luxury Export to the United States, but thats just a myth. The brands name is derived from three Latin, French, and Greek terms, which, when put together, reflect something along the lines of The Language of Luxury. However, advertising specialists have explained that Lexus doesnt hide any secret meaning. It just sounds good and resembles, in many languages, the pronunciation of a term that best describes luxury.Known as Toyotas design- and experience-focused arm, Lexus has also gained its parent companys reputation for reliability. In the automotive world, this combination is desired but seldom delivered by automakers. With some small hiccups here and there, the Japanese brand managed to not stain its reputation over the years. It still must pass the battery-electric test, but thats something Toyota must do first. Lexus shouldnt be held responsible if the move to zero-tailpipe emission powertrains does not work out right from the get-go.For some Lexus customers, the reluctance to drop the internal combustion engine might be good news. However, both brands are known for their self-charging hybrids that work well even after the 100,000-mile mark has been passed.This success might be what pushed Toyota and Lexus to develop the poshest Land Cruiser known to man  the LX700h.According to a Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) filing , Toyota wants the LX700h denomination to be trademarked in the automobile class. Considering that the current LX 600 is written with a space between the letters and the numbers, it is a bit weird that the new name for a potentially more capable vehicle is grouped in one word. It gets even more confusing if we look at the two-door LC hybrid, which displays the LC 500h tag. Not even the smallerRX compacts the entire name into one single word.Lexus or Toyota might amend this trademark if they feel like the LX700h denomination does not sit right with the other model in its lineup.Unfortunately, no reliable rumors are going around about what powertrain the new hybridized large SUV will have. But, if we had to guess, then we would say that the V6 remains and a small battery is added, which might help with moving from a standstill and rapid acceleration. In some markets, it could also allow the vehicle to travel in urban areas without paying various pollution, congestion, or parking charges.What were sure about is a price increase if this trademark previews a new LX to join the automakers ranks. Currently, the LX 600 has an MSRP of $90,660 in its cheapest form. The best specification, known as Ultra Luxury, has a starting price of $130,750 and comes with a four-seat configuration.Since the trademark does not show a + at the end of the name, its most likely not going to be a plug-in hybrid like the 2023 RX 450h+, which can be charged externally and boasts a 2.5-liter engine, a rear electric motor, and an 18.1-Li-Ion battery pack.Whats almost certain is that the Lexus LX700h will not come with a 7.0-liter V8. That ship has sailed, sadly.Finally, according to CIPO, the filing has been accepted, but it has not been reviewed yet by an examiner.
While the vehicle icon is only displayed on your mobile device, the username, the mood, and the rank can also be accessed by other users.Needless to say, this shouldnt necessarily be a privacy concern, given only limited information is made public. Some users arent big fans of this approach and would rather stay private, especially because the name and the photo could also be revealed to friends.Waze knows that disclosing such information isnt everybodys cup of tea. As such, the application also includes options to stay private when using the app.To do this, Waze users need to enable the invisible mode. When this feature is activated, users details are no longer revealed on the map.The invisible mode is located in the My Waze menu under Settings > Privacy. Look for a toggle called Go invisible and make sure its on.What you need to know is that this change isnt immediately applied. This means it should normally take a few minutes for your profile to appear offline after the invisible mode is activated.Unfortunately, because the invisible setting is supposed to keep your data private, some features are automatically disabled when you activate it. This is because by using certain functionality, your information, including the username, could still be revealed.For example, Waze says that you will no longer be able to send reports when you use the app in invisible mode. Every report shown on the map includes information about the sender, and as such, this feature is disabled to avoid disclosing your details.The Google-owned company also explains that sending messages to other Wazers isnt possible either. The reason is the same, as the messaging experience would involve revealing your username, and by enabling the invisible mode, you tell the app to avoid doing this.Last but not least, adding and editing places on the map is also disabled, as this feature also involves storing and revealing your username.The invisible mode is available on both Android and iPhone. When you activate it on a mobile device, the invisible mode also becomes available on Android Auto and CarPlay. The mirrored experience uses the settings on the mobile device.If you want to disable the invisible mode, you must follow the aforementioned steps but uncheck the option that reads Go invisible. Once you turn off the invisible mode, the aforementioned features are re-enabled in Waze, so youll be once again allowed to submit reports when using the app.
Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution

Whats Coolwalk?

Whats missing?

Photo: Y. Hakan Ozkan on Google forums

Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution

The weather information is no longer available in the new Android Auto interface . Googles promotional videos showed the current temperature and forecast displayed in a dedicated card alongside the rest of the apps on the dashboard.Coolwalk was originally announced by Google in early 2022. The company planned to ship it to users in the summer of the same year. It eventually missed the release target, so Coolwalk made its way to the beta program in late 2022.The search giant kicked off the rollout to non-beta devices in January, and since then, its bringing the new interface to users using a server-controlled approach.Coolwalk is the codename of Android Autos latest redesign . The new interface uses a layout similar to the CarPlay Dashboard and divides the available screen estate into multiple cards, also referred to as widgets.Each app category uses a certain card. For example, navigation software, such as Google Maps, receive the largest card because it must display more critical information to the driver. Music apps and phone calls are provided with smaller cards because only the essential controls are offered.The main benefit of Coolwalk is the support for running multiple apps side-by-side on the same screen. The redesign is available on screens of all sizes, resolutions, and orientations, so the UI is adjusted automatically to fit the media receiver in every car.By default, the navigation card is displayed closest to the driver on devices with a landscape orientation. A portrait display puts the same application at the top of the screen, with the rest of the cards displayed right below it.Coolwalk doesnt only come down to the dashboard screen . As a major Android Auto overhaul, it redesigns other key features as well.The status bar, typically displayed at the top of the screen, is gone now. All information, including the current time, has been moved to the navigation bar, also referred to as the taskbar, at the bottom of the screen.The weather information, which in the previous version of Android Auto was located in the top right corner, received a dedicated card.For many users, the weather card is missing.Googles promotional videos showed the weather card displayed side by side with other apps in the dashboard view. But most users who received the Coolwalk either dont get the weather card or the new feature is completely broken.First of all, worth knowing is the weather card only seems to show up on portrait displays. In theory, this is the only mode where Android Auto has the proper screen estate to show weather information.My car comes with a landscape display, so the weather card is missing. No hack is known to exist right now to enable the weather card on such head units.The more confusing tidbit is that the weather card is sometimes broken down even on portrait screens. This means that not even users who received this feature can use it, as the weather card displays blank information. It looks like the weather data cant be retrieved, so the conditions icon and the temperature info display empty fields.As if this behavior wasnt already confusing enough, a statement released by a member of the Android Auto team makes the availability of the weather card even more puzzling.In a post last month, the Android Auto Community Specialist said the weather information has not been included in the Coolwalk update. In theory, this means the weather card shouldnt show up on devices where the new design is enabled.But it does, so maybe the Community Specialist means the weather information doesnt work on these devices? This is more likely, though Ive also seen devices where the weather card is working properly. Chances are Google is still experimenting with the rollout of the refreshed weather experience and only a limited set of devices was included in the test. This is why the feature isnt available for all users right now.The Android Auto team member says Google is already exploring options to reinstate the feature. Its not clear if this means the company wants to bring the weather card to landscape screens as well or if other approaches are under consideration.Without a doubt, the easiest way to bring the weather card back without using too much screen estate is by displaying the current temperature and conditions next to the clock. The redesigned navigation bar at the bottom of the screen has plenty of room for additional information. Given the weather temperature isnt critical, it doesnt have to be in the corner closest to the driver.At this point, the buttons that are closest to the user are the dashboard/app launcher toggle and the microphone icon that allows drivers to activate the voice command-powered input on Android Auto.
Its been more than a week now, enough time for me to recover from all of that eye-rolling. The muscles around my faces orbital bones have ne
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South Korean and U.S. troops conduct Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, their annual combined training involving field maneuvers, Aug. 26, 2022. Korea Times file



By Lee Hae-rin



South Korea and the United States will commence their annual large-scale joint military exercise, known as the Freedom Shield (FS) drills, on Monday.



The exercise, which is the longest-ever operational exercise conducted by the two allies, will continue until March 23, according to military authorities, Sunday.



The 11-day non-stop exercise will feature live simulations of new war scenarios, which reflect the changing security environment, such as the North's nuclear threats and the war in Ukraine, according to the military.



The drills will include field training exercises on the Korean Peninsula under the name Warrior Shield FTX, the purpose of which is to enhance military cooperation between the two countries in the air, on land, at sea, in space, cyberspace and for special operations.



The joint drill has already drawn strong opposition from North Korea, which said it will take "important, practical" measures for the "offensive use" of war deterrents via Pyongyang's state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Sunday.



North Korea is widely expected to conduct weapons tests when the allies conduct their combined military drills. Pyongyang has been denouncing the allies' joint military exercises as a rehearsal for an invasion.


The 2023 Oscars are right around the corner, which means that the biggest Hollywood stars are descending on Los Angeles as we speak.

But if the nominees dont go home with the coveted golden statuette, they will at least be getting a very generous gift bag worth US$126,000 as a consolation.

Each year, nominees are gifted extravagant presents, including free trips to foreign countries, all manner of cosmetic treatments, luxury products and more.

In 2022, the goodie bag by Distinctive Assets  which is not associated with the official Oscars gift bag  reportedly included an entire plot of land in Scotland.

According to the Guardian, this years presents also includes a plot of land, this time in Australia. However, the size of the plot and exact location are unknown.

Recipients of the Everybody Wins gift bag will also get a three-night stay for eight people in a restored Italian lighthouse, valued at US$9,000, and a US$40,000 getaway to a Canadian estate called The Lifestyle.

Read more Oscars 2023: An Irish Goodbye star James Martin living the dream in Hollywood

Lash Fary, the founder of Distinctive Assets, told Forbes: Obviously, [the nominees] can afford to go where they want. Its not about the fact that this is free. Its about the fact that weve found a unique place that has built-in privacy for a celebrity.

I mean, its a hillside lighthouse on an island off the coast of Italy. Its very private.

Nominees like Cate Blanchett, Michelle Yeoh, Austin Butler, Brendan Gleeson and more will also walk away from the award ceremony on Sunday 12 March with US$25,000 worth of project management fees for home renovations, courtesy of Maison Construction.

Cosmetic procedures are also a popular inclusion in these lavish gift bags. Nominees can treat themselves to US$41,000 worth of treatments like Dr Thomas Sus Art Lipo arm sculpting, Dr Alan Baumans hair restoration and a facelift by Dr Konstantin Vasyukevich, plastic surgeon to the stars.

Other luxury wellness products that the bag will contain include NaturGeeks function wellness immunity boost, C60 Purple Power edible massage oil, Blush Silks pillowcases, and Harmless Harvest coconut water.

Fary also told Forbesthat this years gift selection highlights diverse brands, with 56 per cent of the companies included being owned by women and minorities.

The bag includes a loaf of Japanese milk bread by Ginza Nishikawa, worth US$18, and a pack of Clif Thins, a 100-calorie snack bar, worth US$13.56.

Fary said in a statement: While this gift bag does, as always, have an impressive value, that is neither our focus nor goal.

This is a straightforward win/win. These nominees are in a unique position to help participating brands immeasurably by simply wearing, using and talking about these products.
Police and ATO at the scene of a major search operation in Derry (Photo by Aodhan Roberts)

A major search operation in the Creggan area of Londonderry has continued into its second day.

The searches  being conducted around an abandoned farm site in the Magowan Park area of the city  are understood to be in relation to recent violent dissident republican terrorism, with police and Army ammunition technical officers attending.

It comes after police came under attack during the ongoing major search operation on Sunday evening.

Video shared on social media shows youths throwing bricks, bottles and missiles at police as the searches continued.

Police attacked with missiles during ongoing search operation at abandoned farm in Derry

The PSNI said officers came under attack when bottles and stones were thrown at them in the Magowan Park area of Derry on Sunday as the search operation in the vicinity of Brae Head Road continued.

Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard said: "Shortly before 7pm, police officers came under sporadic attack from a group of approximately 30 young people who had gathered in the area and started throwing stones and bottles at them.

"Some damage was caused to police vehicles but thankfully no officers were injured.

"Police liaised with local community representatives who assisted in moving the young people away from the area.

"Shortly after 7.30pm, police were also able to leave the area after concluding the search and the situation has now calmed."

Bomb disposal officers with search dogs were focusing on a shed during the operation.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton issued a statement on social media: Shameful scenes in the Creggan this evening. Whilst PSNI officers are out trying to protect our communities from those who want to cause hurt and misery, they come under attack.

Those involved are destroying their own area and preventing the PSNI from protecting their neighbours.The Belfast Telegraph understands the intelligence-led operation comes following an upsurge in dissident republican activity in the area.
The scene at Ravenhill Reach Court on Sunday

A man has been charged in connection with a serious assault on a woman in south Belfast.

Two men, aged in their 20s and 40s, were also injured during the attack which took place at a property in the Ravenhill Reach Court area on Sunday morning.

The 25-year-old suspect has been charged with a number of offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and grievous bodily harm with intent.

He is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday.

As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

PSNI Detective Sergeant McCartan previously said: Officers responded to the report, which was received just after 12.25am, and attended a property in the Ravenhill Reach Court area.

At this stage, we believe that an altercation took place within the property.

"As a result of this, a woman, aged in her thirties, sustained serious injuries.

"Two men, aged in their twenties and forties, sustained injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.

Police have asked that anyone with information contact them via 101.
Emergency services at the scene of an incident on the Cliftonville road in north Belfast on March 12th, 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

The PSNI has said a woman was taken to hospital in an air ambulance following a concern for safety on the Cliftonville Road in north Belfast.

Police closed the road for a short period of time as the fire and ambulance services attended the scene.

The charity air ambulance landed at Cliftonville FCs nearby Solitude stadium to assist during the incident.

The cordon has since been reduced with police focusing on a single property.

The PSNI said officers responded to a report of concern for the safety of a woman in the Cliftonville Road area of north Belfast this afternoon, Sunday, March 12.

The woman was taken to hospital by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for treatment, a police spokesperson added.
The SNP leadership candidate said he favoured collegiate leadership but backed whipping MSPs to vote for gender reforms (Andy Buchanan/PA)   Andy Buchanan

SNP leadership hopeful Humza Yousaf has told the partys most vociferous internal critic people do not vote for divided parties, as he urged her to be respectful.

Joanna Cherry has repeatedly railed against the partys hierarchy, most notable on her strong opposition to gender reforms, but has more recently hit out at the position of chief executive Peter Murrell  who is married to Nicola Sturgeon.

This week, the Edinburgh South West MP  who has announced her backing for Ash Regan in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon  said the party machine was working to elect the Health Secretary.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Yousaf said he did support her remaining as an SNP MP, adding: I would say to Joanna Cherry that its really important, of course, that we speak up about principles, but we do so in a very respectful manner.

The SNP MP has become a consistent critic of the party (Jane Barlow/PA)   Jane Barlow

He added: And what I would say is that people dont vote for divided parties or divided movements.

(Shes) absolutely right to raise concerns youve got, but I absolutely think you have to raise them in a way that is respectful and thats the type of leadership that I want to see.

When pushed on Ms Cherrys comments about the support from the SNP hierarchy for his candidacy, Mr Yousaf intimated there may be a political motive behind them.

Its also a leadership contest, he said.

You just take these things on the chin as you go.

I dont really entertain conspiracy theories, I never really have.

The question of discipline within the SNP has come to the fore in recent months more than it has since the party took power in 2007, starting with the rebellion of nine MSPs against the partys gender reform proposals.

The Bill  which would be blocked by the UK Government  passed by 86 votes to 39 in December, with the SNP group whipping its MSPs to vote in favour.

It is not clear what  if any  disciplinary action was taken against the nine rebels, but Mr Yousaf said he backed the decision to whip MSPs in favour of the Bill, adding he was not in favour of removing the whip for those who voted against.

I think collegiate leadership is whats needed to heal those divisions, and there are divisions in the party, theres no point in pretending otherwise, he said.

My view has always been that you create the biggest tent as possible.

Even if MSPs vote against the whip, Mr Yousaf said, the party has a duty to ensure they do not feel they are cast out as pariahs to live their whole political life on the back benches.

But he said it was important that the SNP whipped members to vote in favour of the gender reforms.

For me, this was an issue where we make the process ever so slightly easier for a very marginalised group of people, so I think its right that we had whipped the party, he said.

SNP MSPs, he said, were elected on a manifesto in 2021 which pledged to reform gender recognition legislation, but the controversial principle of self identification  where a person can change their gender without a medical diagnosis  was not included in the partys election platform.
Police came under attack in Londonderry during a search operation.

Bottles and stones were thrown at officers in the Magowan Park area on Sunday evening.

No officers were injured, police said.

Police had been carrying out a search in relation to violent dissident republican activity.

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Chief Inspector Nigel Goddard said around 30 young people were involved.

Shortly before 7pm, police officers came under sporadic attack from a group of approximately 30 young people who had gathered in the area and started throwing stones and bottles at them, he said.

Some damage was caused to police vehicles but thankfully no officers were injured.

Police liaised with local community representatives who assisted in moving the young people away from the area,

Shortly after 7.30pm, police were also able to leave the area after concluding the search and the situation has now calmed.
The three candidates running to be Scotlands next first minister have been challenged to do more to tackle child poverty (Nicolas Ansell/PA)   PA

Union leaders have joined with medics, faith groups and charities to challenge the three candidates vying to become Scotlands next first minister to do more to tackle child poverty.

Some 70 organisations, including the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, have endorsed a letter sent to each of the three politicians running to be the next SNP leader  and therefore also the next Scottish first minister  pressing them on the issue.

The letter, which has been signed by the general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, as well as the leaders of the trade unions Unite, Unison and the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has gone to Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan.

The group, End Child Poverty, coordinated the call, which comes the day before SNP members start voting in the leadership contest.

Around one in four children in Scotland are living in poverty  with the Scottish Government having set the target to reduce that to less than 10% of youngsters living in relative poverty by 2030.

Speaking on behalf of the End Child Poverty coalition, John Dickie, director of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said that huge progress had been made by the Scottish Government to put in place the building blocks needed to end child poverty.

Ms Sturgeons government introduced the Scottish Child Payment  a benefit paid to low-income families with children, with payments rates having been increased to 25 a week for each child.

The letter has been sent to the three candidates  Ash Regan (left) Humza Yousaf (centre) and Kate Forbes (right) (Jane Barlow/Andrew Milligan/PA)   PA

Mr Dickie said that this investment had relieved pressure on hard-pressed families and brought legally binding child poverty targets within reach.

But he added: Far too many children are still locked in hardship, and it is now vital that those vying to be next First Minister commit to not just sustain current policies but build on them.

We want to hear the candidates spell out what action they will take on social security, employment, childcare, housing and family support to ensure no child in Scotland is left in poverty.

Ms Forbes, the Scottish Finance Secretary, has already declared ending poverty to be her overriding mission as a politician.

She said: I think its disgraceful that one in four children live in poverty  going to bed hungry, cold or lonely every night.

The SNP has made great strides through the Scottish Child Payment, but we urgently need to do more.

I believe we need to completely transform the way we beat poverty, through fair, secure employment, investing more in frontline services and charities and making child poverty a national mission.

This can only be done if we make the Scottish economy more prosperous because that creates more, better jobs and raises more funding to reinvest in frontline services. We cannot just deal with the symptoms of poverty, we need to tackle the root causes.

Mr Yousaf meanwhile said he was incredibly proud of his partys record on tackling child poverty  highlighting measures such as the Scottish Child Payment, the expansion of free school meals and help for low-income families with feeding their children over the holidays.

But he said there is still more work to be done, adding: If I am elected First Minister, the fight against child poverty will be central to everything we do  on social security, housing, education and the economy, taking action to lift children out of poverty will be a defining theme of my government.

He has pledged 25 million for a scheme to help families with the initial costs of child care and also said he would want to explore what more we can do on the Scottish Child Payment.

But he stated: Of course, the key driver of child poverty is the actions of the Tory government in Westminster, which still holds far too many of the key policy levers over social security and the economy.

And while as First Minister I will passionately make the case for Scotland to have the full powers of independence and take a different path from Westminster, that wont prevent me from working night and day and taking all the action we can now to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up, and to do everything we can to eradicate child poverty.
A second mass shooting has pushed Democrats in Michigan to push for changes to gun laws.

Forty three-year-old Anthony McRae open fired on the Michigan State University campus on the night of February 13, killing three students and wounding five more.

He was armed with two handguns and dozens of rounds of ammunition

The mass shooting has pushed Michigan Democrats, who had already planned to prioritise changes to gun laws, into action.

Democrats are expected to bring a sweeping 11-bill gun safety package before the Michigan legislature this week.

Responding to two mass school shootings in 15 months, the partys leaders say it is only the beginning of gun reform in the state.

Nothing is off the table, said Democratic state senator Rosemary Bayer, who leads the firearm safety group.

But every state has a culture. So I think were trying to be conscious of Michigan and how we do things.

Michigan state representative Brenda Carter and state senator Rosemary Bayer join hands during a news conference to call for gun reform, (Al Goldis/PA)   AP

The package aims to establish safe storage laws, universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders, also known as red flag laws.

Politicians will consider the package less than three years after protesters armed with guns entered the statehouse.

Tyrannical government, like were witnessing here today, is why the Second Amendment is here in the first place, Republican representative Angela Rigas said on the House floor as Democrats voted to approve universal background checks last week.

The bills were introduced in the days following the shooting at Michigan State University.

Students across the vast campus were ordered to shelter for four hours while police hunted for McRae who  when confronted by police  killed himself near his Lansing home.

Students killed in the shooting were Arielle Anderson, 19; Brian Fraser, 20; and Alexandria Verner, 20, all of suburban Detroit.

Much of the package was drawn up by Democrats nearly 15 months ago following a shooting at Oxford High School that left four students dead and seven others injured.

The bills saw little movement with Republicans controlling the House and Senate.

But now, with Democrats in full control of state government for the first time in decades, the bills quickly came before House and Senate committees earlier this month.

Gun violence survivors and the families of victims packed committee meeting rooms and gave evidence to politicians.

Im not asking for your pity. Im asking for your change, Oxford High School senior Reina St Juliana told lawmakers during a hearing on March 2.Ms St Julianas younger sister, Hana, was killed in the Oxford shooting.

Krista Grettenberger attended a hearing Wednesday to tell politicians about a phone call she received February 13, from her 21-year-old son, MSU student Troy Forbush.

My son called my cellphone and said: I love you mom. Ive been shot. Theres a shooter,' Ms Grettenberger said. her son was critically injured in the shooting, but survived.

We are victim of a failed system that cant keep guns from those who aim to inflict devastating harm, she said.

Michigan law requires someone buying firearms such as rifles or shotguns to be 18 years or older and at least 21 years old to purchase a handgun from a federally licensed dealer.

Certain licenses allow 18-year-olds to purchase handguns from private sellers.

Police said they found dozens of rounds of ammunition on McRae, the MSU shooter, in addition to two handguns that were legally purchased but never registered.

Representative Elissa Slotkin (Carlos Osorio/AP)

Legislation passed in the House on Wednesday would address that loophole, shifting the responsibility to perform the background check and register the firearm with police onto the seller.

Democrats say safe storage and red flag laws could have stopped the Oxford attack.

The whole story of Oxford was this kid just grabbed his parents gun and took it to school and it wasnt locked up. There was no safe, there was no gun lock. There was no check on this kid, said representative Elissa Slotkin, who represents East Lansing.

The student accused in the shooting when he was just 15, Ethan Crumbley, has pleaded guilty to killing four fellow students and wounding seven other people using a gun that he said was purchased by his father.

James and Jennifer Crumbley are charged with involuntary manslaughter. They are accused of making the gun accessible to their son and failing to reasonably care for Ethan when he showed signs of mental distress.

Ms Bayer said she expects legislation implementing universal background checks and safe storage laws to quickly make it through the state Senate, but that Democrats are still working on red flag laws.

Republicans argue that current gun laws need to be better enforced, not altered.
Firefighters work to put out wildfires at Mount Jiri National Park in Hadong, South Gyeongsng Province, on March 11, in this photo provided by the Korea Forest Service. Yonhap



The main wildfire at Mount Jiri National Park in southern Korea was put out Sunday 21 hours after it began, having burned more than 900,000 hectares of woodland, authorities said.



A firefighter was killed in responding to the blaze that began in the mountainous town of Hadong, 286 kilometers south of Seoul, at 1:19 p.m. Saturday, according to the Korea Forest Service (KFS). It had spread to nearby areas before the main fire was put out around noon Sunday.



The firefighter was taken to a nearby hospital but later died.



Some 75 residents were forced to evacuate their homes, but no other casualties were reported, the KFS said.



The fire scorched an estimated 910,000 hectares of woodland, it added.



The authorities are working to put out the remaining fires and plan to launch probe into what caused them, according to the agency. (Yonhap)


Sonoma County Fires Eric Gromala guides a woman to safety after her vehicle stalled out in deep floodwater on Eastside Road near Forestville, California (The Press Democrat/AP)   Kent Porter

Authorities have ordered more than 1,500 people to evacuate from a Northern California agricultural community famous for its strawberry crop after the Pajaro Rivers levee was breached by flooding.

Monterey County officials said the break in the levee  upstream from the unincorporated community of Pajaro along Californias Central Coast  is about 100ft wide.

Crews had gone door-to-door on Friday afternoon to urge residents to leave before the rains came, but some stayed and had to be pulled from floodwaters early on Saturday.

State Parks swift water technicians Jeremy Paiss and Bryan Kine swim to rescue Lizbeth Hernandez, 18, who is standing on the top of her submerged truck in Casserly Creek in Watsonville (The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP)   Shmuel Thaler

First responders and the California National Guard rescued more than 50 people overnight. One video showed a member of the Guard helping a driver out of a car trapped by water up to their waists.

Luis Alejo, chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, wrote on Twitter: We were hoping to avoid and prevent this situation, but the worst case scenario has arrived with the Pajaro River overtopping and levee breaching at about midnight.

Mr Alejo called the flooding massive, saying it has affected Pajaros 1,700 residents  many of them Latino farm workers  and that the damage will take months to repair.

The Pajaro River separates the counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey in the area that flooded on Saturday.

Officials had been working along the levee in the hopes of shoring it up when it was breached early on Saturday morning. Crews began working to fix the levee at around daybreak Saturday as residents slept in evacuation centres.

Heavy rain washes the 110 Freeway in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles (AP)   Jae C. Hong

The Pajaro Valley is a coastal agricultural area known for growing strawberries, apples, cauliflower, broccoli and artichokes. National brands like Driscolls Strawberries and Martinellis are headquartered in the region.

In 1995, the Pajaro Rivers levees broke, submerging 2,500 acres of farmland and the community of Pajaro. Two peopled died and the flooding caused nearly 100 million dollars (83 million) of damage.

A state law, passed last year, advanced state funds for a levee project. It was scheduled to start construction in 2024.

Across the state on Saturday, Californians contended with drenching rains and rising water levels. In Tulare County, the sheriff ordered residents who live near the Tule River to evacuate, while people near the Poso Creek in Kern County were under an evacuation warning.

The National Weather Services meteorologists issued flood warnings and advisories, begging motorists to stay off deluged roadways.

A man walks his bicycle through floodwaters in Watsonville, California (AP)   Nic Coury

Democratic governor Gavin Newsom has declared emergencies in 34 counties in recent weeks, and the Biden administration approved a presidential disaster declaration for some on Friday morning, a move that will bring more federal assistance.

Snow levels in the Sierra Nevada, which provides about a third of the states water supply, are more than 180% of the April 1 average, when it is historically at its peak.

Officials reported 32in of snow had fallen by Saturday morning at the Mount Rose ski resort on the edge of Reno, Nevada.

The snowpack at high elevations is so massive it was expected to be able to absorb the rain, but snow below 4,000ft could start to melt, potentially contributing to flooding, forecasters said.
Ex-US president was on podcast with former taoiseach Bertie Ahern

Bill Clinton has said the families of those killed in the Omagh bomb need to be consulted by the British government after it announced plans for a probe into the 1998 atrocity.

An independent inquiry into the Real IRA bomb that killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, will determine if there were security failings in the lead-up to the atrocity.

The former US president told Bertie Aherns As I Remember It podcast that he will never forget visiting the town in the aftermath of the attack.

It was, ironically, the most violent single day in the history of the Troubles, he said.

Three weeks after the bomb, Mr Clinton stood on Market Street and laid a wreath having met those who were injured and relatives of the dead.

The devastation after the Omagh bomb in 1998 which killed 29 people   Paul McErlane

On High Street, he recalled seeing flowers laid in front of the shops where some of the victims had worked.

Mr Clinton remembered a long talk with the then taoiseach when you told me if we could just keep the thing on [the peace process] you thought it would be alright because the IRA itself warned these guys never to do anything like that again.

He appeared to suggest that life post-Good Friday Agreement was very hard for those IRA people, explaining that those members had a very tight-knit sort of separate cell set-up so that many of them never got caught.

They were often only called upon to take one violent action a year but they got a cheque every month. Now they were facing, maybe going to work every day in a job less thrilling, I understood it was going to be hard.

But he added: l confess I didnt know what to do when that bomb went off.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris told the Commons last month that the inquiry would focus on the four grounds which the court held as giving rise to plausible arguments that the bombing could have been prevented.

Asked if he supported the investigation, Mr Clinton told the podcast: I do because that was a mass murder that occurred after the agreement had been reached.

They [the Real IRA] cant say they were fighting for truth and justice and the Irish dream.

I think there has to be some system set up. There needs to be something just for Omagh, it may not be throwing 30 people in prison for 30 years.

I think the victims groups need to be consulted, I think the citizens need to be consulted. I think the process should not be unilateral, that is it cant just be what the British think needs to be done. People in the community have to be considered.
TWO men accused of trying to steal cash from an ATM were arrested after footprints in the snow led police to a home in Co Antrim, a court has heard.

Joseph Tomlinson (28) and Jordan Stewart (24) were detained after an alarm went off at a supermarket in Kells in the early hours of Friday.

Officers tracked the movements of a jeep said to have been used by the defendants, who allegedly tried to use cutting equipment and blow torches to break into the cash machine.

Ballymena Magistrates Court was told while a snow storm made a high-speed pursuit impossible, officers were led to a property on Fernisky Road, outside the village.

With the jeep allegedly used in the incident found crashed, police followed snow footprints for several hours through fields, hedges and over barbed-wire fences, eventually leading to a house.

Inside they found the defendants, Stewarts father and a pile of wet clothes.

A detective told the hearing both the accused said they had been walking a dog for around 10 minutes but added: This dog was dry, not wet, as would be expected if walking in snow.

When the crashed jeep was searched, police found cutting equipment, a blow torch and a gas canister in the boot.

The court was told that when arrested and interviewed, Stewart, from Wakehurst Court in Ballymena, and Tomlinson, from Ballysillan Avenue in Belfast, denied involvement but refused to answer the majority of police questions.

They are charged with attempting to steal the contents of the ATM and burglary of the ATM.

Police objected to bail because of the risk of offences and because there may be anger in the local community.

The detective told the court despite the pair having clear records, there was clearly organising and planning in the alleged theft.

Both were freed on 500 bail but ordered to observe a curfew. They are also barred from contacting each other and Stewarts father and are banned from entering Kells.
The first speaker of the Assembly is to accuse the British and Irish governments and the main political parties of failing to maintain the foundations of the Good Friday Agreement.

Lord Alderdice, who also sat on the Independent Monitoring Commission, which reported on republican and loyalist paramilitary activity, will also say it is a pity the former Civic Forum did not survive.

The ex-East Belfast MLA, who led the Alliance Party for six years, wants Stormont reformed to take into account the increasing number of representatives who no longer identify as unionist or nationalist.

Lord Alderdice, who now lives in England, is returning to Belfast on April 21 to give a lecture at the Linen Hall Library as part of a series of events marking the 25th anniversary of the peace deal.

He will say the foundations of the agreement recognised the three sets of disturbed historic relationships, not only within Northern Ireland but between north and south and between Britain and Ireland.

Lord Alderdice will add: As a result, the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement had three sets of interlocking institutions  the Assembly, North-South executive bodies and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.

Unfortunately, the two governments and the parties failed to nourish and maintain those relationships, so the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference did not meet at the top level for 10 years, despite all that was happening in the context of European relationships with Brexit, never mind in Northern Ireland.

The emergence of a significant cohort of people who do not identify as unionist or nationalist is positive but leaves the agreement increasingly out of line with political reality, he will continue.

Lord Alderdice will add that he is encouraged that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the EUs Ursula von der Leyen have so clearly engaged in relationship repair.

The DUP was asked to comment on the former Alliance leaders claims but did not reply.

Sunday Life also contacted the British and Irish governments for a response on his allegations.
Diplock at 50: The big names and the big cases down the dark years of the Troubles
A highly rated Thai restaurant is being taken to court over alleged hygiene breaches.

Siam Kitchen faces three charges of contravening food safety regulations in a case brought by Belfast City Council.

It is alleged the restaurant did not have adequate pest control measures at its Woodstock Road premises in east Belfast.

The business is also accused of inadequately pest-proofing the building to prevent contamination and failing to keep it clean and in good order.

All three charges are dated on the same day in February last year, according to court documents.

The case against the popular restaurant is due to be mentioned before Belfast Departmental Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Sunday Life contacted the operators of the eatery for comment.

Read more Butcher accused of selling turkeys unfit for humans

Siam Kitchen, which uses the former name for Thailand, has a four out of five in the Food Hygiene Rating system, commonly known as Scores on the Doors.

Following an inspection last August, its food handling was judged to be very good, its cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building were said to be good, while the management of food safety was put at generally satisfactory.

It is also highly rated by customers online, according to reviews on Trip Advisor and Google Reviews.

One person hailed it as the best Thai restaurant in Belfast, writing: If you want a Thai meal, dont waste your time or money going anywhere else.

Another happy customer went even further, saying it was the best Thai food they have had in the UK.

My partner and I ate here to try it out and loved it so much weve back at least once a month since, they wrote.

My boyfriend lived in Thailand for four months and has reported this is the best Thai food hes had in the UK.

Another heaped similar praise on the restaurant, saying it was the best vegan or vegetarian food in Ireland.

They wrote Unbelievably delicious food and service. Its a cute little shop with great staff.

The food was out of this world. One of the chiefs even made us a special coffee drink.
Thug previously jailed for posting naked pictures of his ex-girlfriend on Facebook

A man who plastered naked pictures of his ex on her Facebook account and battered a young woman at a Wolfe Tones concert has admitted laundering nearly 4,000.

Stephen Brunty (28), of Glencolin Heights in west Belfast, pleaded guilty to a single charge of converting 3,900 of criminal property on dates between August 31 and September 4, 2018.

Laganside Magistrates Court was told he had faced two further charges of laundering 1,500 and transferring 1,214.53 in dirty money, but these were withdrawn following his plea.

At a brief hearing on March 1 the matter was adjourned for pre-sentence reports and Brunty was freed on bail.

Last year the thug avoided jail after he was handed a suspended sentence for a cocaine and alcohol-fuelled attack on a woman during a concert.

In 2021, he was jailed for four months for disclosing private sexual photographs of his former partner after hacking her Facebook account and posting them online.

Reacting to the latest conviction, his ex and revenge porn victim Chloe Leigh McIlwaine said: If hed have been in jail, he wouldnt have been able to attack that wee girl at the concert.

Women dont feel safe with him around. I was disgusted when I found out about the conviction for money laundering. Yes, I got a bit of justice, but if I had went to the police sooner then justice might have been served better.

Ms McIlwaine waived her right to anonymity in 2021 to tell Sunday Life about the hell Brunty had put her through.

Brunty's ex Chloe Leigh McIlwaine   Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX

She said her family was still subjected to abuse by his associates, and recalled how he was uncharacteristically flush with cash around the time of the laundering offence.

Ms McIlwaine added: We were together at that time, but I had no idea he was up to anything like that.

I remember him having loads of money but had no idea where it came from. He used to gamble a lot so I thought hed had a winner. He never told me what he did half the time anyway.

Last November, Laganside Magistrates heard how Brunty launched an unprovoked attack on a young woman during a Wolfe Tones gig at Falls Park.

It was heard he had been drinking vodka and snorting cocaine before becoming aggressive, eventually dragging the victim to the ground by the hair and punching her in the face.

He pleaded guilty to charges of common assault and obstructing police and was handed a five-month prison sentence suspended for three years.

The year before, Ms McIlwaine told this newspaper how she became a recluse and tried to take her own life after Brunty posted images of her online.

He denied a single charge of disclosing a private sexual photograph but was convicted and jailed for four months, as well as being slapped with a two-year restraining order banning him from having any contact with Ms McIlwaine.
Consumers left waiting months for a response as firm admits to huge volume of calls

The Utility Regulator says it is considering options to address the problem

Desperate consumers facing huge gas bills have been struggling to contact Northern Irelands largest supplier for months, leading to an intervention from the Utility Regulator.

The volume of calls to SSE Airtricity Gas NI has left them floundering in the face of furious customers who report spending hours on hold waiting to get through only to be cut off, call-back requests being ignored and emails left unanswered.

Former director of the Northern Ireland Audit Office, Stephen McCormick, is one of the many SSE customers hitting out.

He took to Twitter to express his frustration after repeated fruitless attempts to contact SSE.

Sought to query uplift in gas DD (direct debit). Twice calls cut off, he said. Third time chose call-back but no call-back despite supposedly keeping place in queue.

New tariff ignored large credit balance, my last complaint ignored, dont fund them!

Called again & eventually disconnected (again) even by continuing to press the unnecessary option to wait!

Round & round in circles. Cant get through on phone. Twitter account doesnt deal with gas.

One fellow Twitter user replied, adding: Same problem for me. I think a lot of people are finding it impossible to get through to them. Am wondering if cancelling the direct debit would get us some attention.

Another frustrated customer who responded to Mr McCormick on Twitter, added: Have tried to call, on hold for hours at a time and eventually cut off, have requested call-back which have never been received.

SSE Airtricity Gas NI, part of the SSE Group headquartered in Scotland, hiked the price of their gas last winter with customers across Northern Ireland receiving hefty bills in the post since.

The only other competitor, Firmus Energy, announced on Wednesday they would be slashing prices by a fifth in April while SSE will not.

Read more NI's largest gas supplier announces second price cut this year

Many people have reported being unable to contact SSE on the phone or via email for months leading to the Utility Regulator stepping in and threatening action if services dont improve.

A spokesman said: We are aware of the problems that customers are experiencing when getting in touch with energy suppliers.

We have repeatedly made clear to suppliers our expectations regarding existing obligations and standards for responding to customer queries.

We are actively engaging with the companies on this issue to ensure that customers across Northern Ireland are protected by a robust and transparent framework regarding customer service.

We are actively considering a range of options to strengthen that framework and protect consumers.

Many have also contacted the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland over the debacle, including Mr McCormick, who added: Thanks to CCNI I was contacted by an SSE complaint manager.

I will receive full refund of my large credit balance. Apologised for not responding to my initial complaint last July. Receiving 100 for not responding to me.

I would have preferred SSE had listened to me in July, perhaps saving so many people increased hardship in an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis rather than receiving 100 compensation. The hardship to others is what really angers me.

A spokesman for SSE Airtricity Gas NI insisted customers are the companys priority.

He said: Our customer support teams are receiving an unprecedented volume of contacts as customers seek support with energy queries and the Governments Energy Bill Support Scheme.

We understand how this situation would be frustrating for our customers.

In response to the increased number of customer queries to our contact centre, we have taken steps to reduce call volumes and wait times for customers, including reassigning back office staff to support call volumes, recruiting more customer support agents and extra resources assigned to support online queries.

We are working hard to manage this increased demand and supporting our customers remains a priority.
Justin Suen, founder of Ossfila Technology, a Hong Kong startup company, holds up his bone filament products on Feb. 23, 2023 in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Jack Lau



Korean gov't urged to streamline regulations



By Jack Lau



Last year, Justin Suen Long-kiu's biotech company joined the K-Startup Grand Challenge (KSGC) accelerator program organized by the Korean government to explore markets outside his native Hong Kong.



The program lured him in with a $10,000 (13.2 million won) cash stipend to support his staff's living expenses as he tried to set up shop in Korea. Like most startups, his bone implant 3D printing company, Ossfila Technology, had little cash to spare to test the waters of potential markets. Being in the program would also raise his company's profile.



But he was surprised by the difficulties faced as a businessman not knowing the Korean language. He had to rely on the undergraduate Korean intern assigned to him by the KSGC program, who worked primarily as an interpreter. Government information and paperwork needed to maintain a Korean subsidiary are often only in the Korean language. And when they are available in English, the Korean versions are more detailed and accurate.



Korea has great hopes for its startup market, with its Ministry of SMEs and Startups saying that promoting the "openness of the domestic startup and venture ecosystem" is a policy goal for 2023.



Suen and other foreign startup founders from Hong Kong, which was Korea's 10th biggest trade partner last year, however, found the bureaucracy hard to navigate and the lack of English spoken in corporate environments alienating.



"Direct communication is the most sincere and honest," said Suen, the CEO and co-founder of Ossfila Technology. "Everyone would know what the other party is thinking, which makes it easier to make decisions."





Justin Suen says the lack of Korean language skills poses a barrier to entering the Korean market. Korea Times photo by Jack Lau



With the interns  some of whom are fresh graduates  it would be hard for the entrepreneur to know if they have grasped the full meaning of the jargon used in biotechnology, engineering or other fields related to the business, he said.



"That's a risk I have to take and accept. That's a big risk I have to bear. Success or failure, it's on the shoulders of the intern," Suen added.



That most information on government funding for startups and potential clients only exists in Korean also made it difficult for Suen to develop his business.



Much of the venture capital funding for startups in Korea comes from the government. To bolster the startup market, the state provides capital as a limited partner to venture firms that invest in startups without overseeing the everyday operations of startup companies.



"Many of the difficulties come back to the language barrier, but the barrier is exhausting in itself," he said.



Alex Wong, the CEO and co-founder of another Hong Kong startup, Mixup Solution Company, agreed that language was a problem. Without a Korean speaker in his company, Wong would not be able to work with Korean insurance companies, managers at Korean insurers had told him.



Wong's company, which trades as MixCare Health, runs a platform for corporate employees to select from a range of health and wellness services, often in addition to their medical insurance schemes.





Alex Wong, founder of MixCare Health, a Hong Kong startup company, poses for a photo on Feb. 23, 2023 in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Jack Lau



Wong's team had written business proposals and presentation slide decks in English for a Korean insurer, but the company wanted them to be translated into Korean.



He said he thought Korean firms were unwilling to hire translators merely to do business with his company.



"It's us approaching them," Wong said of what he believed to be the insurer's thinking. "If you can't even translate your materials into Korean  it's about sincerity. If you're trying to localize your business, that's a basic requirement."



He hired a general manager from Korea who can speak Korean and English to oversee MixCare Health's Korean operations. He also had to empower the manager to make decisions on his behalf and overcome what he said was Korea's hierarchical corporate culture, Wong said, which often rests decision-making power with senior executives.



Marta Allina, the founder of the startup community Seoul Startups, said Korean executives were very conscious of their English level and do not want to embarrass themselves in front of foreign counterparts.



"It's a very twisted logic but that's what goes through their minds," said Allina, who also runs an accelerator venture capital firm in Korea.



However, the younger generation of Koreans have a greater grasp of English, are more exposed globally and are more communicative, she said, which makes the language issue less concerning once younger entrepreneurs take over the startup ecosystem.





Marta Allina, founder of the startup community Seoul Startups, speaks at an event. Courtesy of Marta Allina.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, third from left, U.S. President Joe Biden, center, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, second from right, meet at a summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 13. Yonhap



US seeks to play bigger role in improving Seoul-Tokyo ties



By Nam Hyun-woo



The United States is taking on a bigger role in improving frayed Seoul-Tokyo ties, with the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) becoming the first organization to express an intent to donate money to a South Korean public foundation that will raise funds to compensate the victims of wartime forced labor by Japan.



Experts see AMCHAM's move as an attempt by the U.S. government to help restore ties between the two neighboring countries. Strengthening trilateral cooperation is a prerequisite to combined deterrence against North Korea's nuclear threats and to curb China's rising influence.



The third-party compensation, which was agreed upon by Seoul and Tokyo earlier this month, has sparked a backlash from South Koreans due to Japan's lukewarm stance to issuing an apology for forcing Koreans to labor at its factories during World War II. Given this, the U.S. is facilitating an atmosphere to encourage more entities to chip in, in order to strengthen the trilateral relations between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.



On March 8, AMCHAM, a lobby group for U.S. firms operating in Korea, said it will make a donation to the Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization by Imperial Japan, with its chairman James Kim saying, "The trilateral partnership between the U.S., Korea and Japan is key to the peace and prosperity of the region."



AMCHAM was the first organization to announce its intention to donate to the fund. The move came after the South Korean government announced, March 6, that domestic victims of Japan's forced labor during World War II will be compensated through the fund, without the direct involvement of responsible Japanese firms.



Both Korean and Japanese firms have yet to express their clear intention of participating in the fundraising.



South Korean firms that benefited from a 1965 treaty normalizing ties between Seoul and Tokyo are still contemplating whether to make donations to the fund. Japan claims that all reparations were settled under the treaty, which involved Japanese economic aid for South Korean firms including POSCO, KT&G and KEB Hana Bank.



Steelmaker POSCO said that it will "positively consider" making donations to the fund, while tobacco firm KT&G said it will "cooperate with the social agreement," and KEB Hana Bank said, it will "take a legal review of the case."





President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their summit in Madrid, Spain, June 29, 2022. Courtesy of presidential office
Tonight's rundown:

 Talking Points Memo: Joe Biden continues to decline with the world watching and remains out of the press reach

 Presidential Historian Larry Cook weighs in on how Bidens relationship with the press compares to past presidents

 US Special Forces have been confirmed to be in Ukraine

 OReilly describes Democrats hosting the DNC in Chicago as Crazy Arrogant

 The trial of Fox News gets underway

 58% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck even as inflation begins to cool off

 Smart Life: Utilizing Kelly Blue Book when searching for a new car

 This Day in History: FDR dies in office

 Final Thought: what to do when someone is disrespectful to you

In Case You Missed It:

 Read Bill's latest column, "Reason to Believe"

 Join 'Team Normal!' Order your gear now at BillOReilly.com!

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Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
The White House is asking Congress for a whopping $886.4 billion military budget for the fiscal year 2024, with $842 billion of it going to the Pentagon. The rest would go toward other federal agencies military spending, including the Energy Departments nuclear weapons program.

The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act will likely be much higher than the White House request as Congress added tens of billions to the previous two military budgets. For 2023, President Biden requested $813 billion, but Congress added $45 billion, bringing the finalized NDAA to $858 billion.

Congress could easily bring the 2024 NDAA to over $900 billion, closing in on the $1 trillion mark. The NDAAs dont include the funds authorized for the Ukraine war, which could add another $100 billion if the US keeps spending on the conflict at the same pace.

In a statement on the request, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the funds were needed to confront China, which the Pentagon has identified as its top priority.

The Presidents budget request provides the resources necessary to address the pacing challenge from the Peoples Republic of China, address advanced and persistent threats, accelerate innovation and modernization, and ensure operational resiliency amidst our changing climate, Austin, a former Raytheon board member, said in a statement.

According to Responsible Statecraft, more than half of the budget will likely go to defense contractors, with Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon getting the biggest chunk. The budget includes $170 billion for weapons procurement and $145 billion for the research and development of new arms.
As The Gateway Pundit reported on Friday, Silicon Valley Bank was closed by the FDIC due to the bank losing over 60% of its value after the company disclosed major losses from security sales.

Many political pundits and investors have called for lawmakers to bailout out the failed bank.

Those advocating for bailouts have shied away from telling the public that SVB employees and affiliates voted in the leaders responsible for the current economic crisis.

Open Secrets data reveals in the 2020 election cycle Silicon Valley Bank employees and affiliates donated over $188,000 dollars to political candidates.

The Republican Nationals Committee received the most notable donation which amounted to $5,271.

The Silicon Valley Bank PAC in 2020 was a bit more balanced when it came to donations between Republicans and Democrats.

Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina and Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters both received $2,5000.

Former Representative Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio who previously voted to impeach Trump received $1,000.

The 2022 election cycle showed the same story and employees of Silicon Valley Bank donated more to Democrats than Republicans

Heres who benefited the most in the 2022 primaries:
A U.S. judge on Thursday ordered JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) to hand over more documents concerning Chief Executive Jamie Dimon to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the territory's lawsuit accusing the bank of aiding in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said the bank must turn over requested documents from 2015 to 2019, a period after JPMorgan had dropped Epstein as a client. Rakoff did not explain his reasoning in his one-sentence order.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is seeking damages from JPMorgan for allegedly aiding in Epstein's sex trafficking by keeping him as a client, and missing red flags about his misconduct on Little St. James, a private island he owned.

Epstein had been a JPMorgan client from 2000 to 2013. He killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The U.S. Virgin Islands has called Dimon "a likely source of relevant and unique information" about why JPMorgan kept Epstein on, and discussions on Epstein's referrals of prominent and wealthy potential clients.

JPMorgan countered by accusing the U.S. Virgin Islands of going on a "fishing expedition" after having obtained a "massive trove" of information in litigation in which the territory recovered more than $105 million from Epstein's estate.


Maximize national interests with thorough preparations



President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a hectic diplomatic schedule.



Yoon will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Thursday. He will fly to Washington in late April to hold a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden. The president may also attend the G7 meeting in Hiroshima in May as a guest.



How Yoon fares at these meetings with his U.S., Japanese and other Western counterparts will chart Korea's diplomatic direction, at least until he leaves office four years and two months later.



Many Koreans have a bitter aftertaste, considering that Yoon's visits to Japan and the U.S. were announced right after Seoul made a big  almost humiliating  diplomatic concession to Tokyo. And the public will be watching closely what Korea will receive in the spirit of diplomatic reciprocity.



Last Saturday, thousands of citizens filled Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall.



The protestors denounced the government's plan to resolve the issue of Korean victims of wartime forced labor during Japan's occupation (1910-1945) of Korea. Under the plan, Seoul will compensate the claimants first with money donated by Korean companies that benefited from Japan's grants and loans according to the 1965 Basic Agreement. However, there have been no corresponding measures from Japan so far.



In their summit talks, Yoon must elicit a "clear" expression of remorse from Kishida for Japan's misdeeds during its colonial days and Japanese companies' "direct" participation in the compensation. Nothing less will calm the victims or their sympathetic compatriots. Japan also should lift its export ban on three core semiconductor materials to Korea. However, Tokyo has yet to make any positive signals on any of the three issues. The lack of corresponding steps will only amplify calls here to drop the plan.



Yoon must also act appropriately in Hiroshima. Media reports say Japan will use the occasion to draw international support for its planned discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima plant into the sea. And Japan might also try to justify Tokyo's move to have a gold mine linked to the wartime forced labor of Koreans listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Korean leader should make clear his opposition to both issues. Otherwise, he will not avoid criticism at home and he might instead be characterized as acting as a front man for Japan.



In Washington, Yoon should prioritize the economy over security.



Instead of focusing on extended nuclear deterrence  which the U.S. has already promised several times  he must try to minimize the effects of Biden's America-first industrial policies on Korean semiconductors and electric vehicle makers. Yoon must remind Biden of the massive investment by Korean companies in the U.S., which has created numerous jobs for Americans. And that these unsavory policies, if they continue, will estrange one of the U.S.' most loyal friends.



Meanwhile, Yoon must be cautious in committing to Korea's participation in Quad, a U.S.-led team also involving Australia, India and Japan. China regards it as being aimed at countering its influence in this part of the world. Beijing is quite wary of Seoul's unreserved attachment to Washington, as shown by its recent exclusion of Korea as a destination for group tours by Chinese travelers.



Caution and balance are two basic and essential elements in diplomacy. We keep our fingers crossed that Yoon's hasty, single-minded attitude toward domestic governance will not be repeated in his diplomatic approach abroad. As former President Kim Dae-jung said, a leader must carry both a telescope and a microscope.



Above all, Yoon and his diplomatic aides must drop their self-demeaning, colonial view of history. A future-oriented relationship is impossible without pride in South Korea's history and confidence in its potential.



Likewise, Seoul must make its appropriate demands to Washington. Trust is a must in bilateral ties. However, suppose one party erodes it with regard to the critical national concerns of the other. In that case, the other need not remain a diplomatic constant but become a variable.



We hope the upcoming diplomatic events will serve as opportunities to show foreign partners that there is no free lunch in diplomacy  instead of learning the lesson, once again, from them.


The Nord Stream pipelines connect Russia to Germany, and while the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline was never activated - prior to Russia's special operation in Ukraine - the Nord Stream 1 pipeline provided billions of cubic meters of natural gas to Europe. Both pipelines were destroyed on September 26, 2022.

The CIA reportedly warned its German counterpart, the Bundesnachrichtendienst, better known as BND, about a potential attack on the Nord Stream pipelines months before an attack was carried out in late 2022.

Citing anonymous intelligence officials, the Wall Street Journal, reported that the warnings were sent by the CIA in June and July of 2022, months before the pipeline exploded in an apparent sabotage in September.

News articles at the time stated Western intelligence agencies thought Russia was behind the attack but recent reports, also citing anonymous sources, say that an unidentified pro-Ukrainian group was behind the attack.

The warning reportedly stated three Ukrainian nationals were attempting to rent ships in countries that border the Baltic Sea, where the Nord Stream pipelines connect Russia and Germany.

The Journal reported that senior US officials, including CIA Chief William Burns and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, were considering the possibility that Ukraine was behind the attack as early as October, but did not say what that assessment was based on, or if it was related to the pro-Ukrainian group that allegedly attacked the pipelines.

Ukrainian senior officials denied its government had anything to do with the attack on the pipeline. Although I enjoy collecting amusing conspiracy theories about [Ukraine] government, Mykhailo Podolyak, the top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Twitter. I have to say: [Ukraine] has nothing to do with the Baltic Sea mishap and has no information about "pro-[Ukrainian] sabotage groups." Podolyak continues to blame Russia for the attack on Twitter, implying in a later tweet that Russia benefited from the attack.

Also in October, Germanys federal prosecutor general Peter Frank said he had no evidence Russia was involved. German media later claimed the incident was carried out by six people of unknown national origin who hired a yacht from a company registered in Poland and owned by two Ukrainian citizens.

Russia has blamed the attack on the UK and the US at different times. Xavier Moreau, an arms expert and geopolitical analyst from the French think tank Stratpol told Sputnik he finds reports that the attacks were carried out by a group of people unaffiliated with any government ridiculous.
Right at the same moment the New York Times publishes a shoddy 'officials say' story about alleged intelligence about the Nord Stream terror attack the Germany weekly Die Zeit, which has strong U.S. secret services ties, comes up with an equally unbelievable tale of a 'Ukrainian owned' sailing boat playing the major role in the attack:

Nord-Stream-Ermittlungen: Spuren fuhren in die Ukraine

Ermittler haben das Boot identifiziert, von dem aus die Anschlage auf Nord Stream ausgefuhrt wurden. Offenbar wurde es von einer Firma gemietet, die Ukrainern gehort.

My translations:

Nord Stream investigation: Traces lead to Ukraine

Investigators have identified the boat from which the attacks on Nord Stream were carried out. Apparently, it was rented by a company owned by Ukrainians.

No, it is not the USS Kearsarge, the U.S. amphibious assault ship which 'trained' 'mine removals' near Bornholm island next to the pipelines just days before they blew up, which the 'investigators' identified.

An expeditionary detachment of US Navy ships led by the universal amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge days ago was in the Baltic Sea

It was 30 km from the site of the alleged sabotage on the Nord Stream-1 gas pipeline and 50 km from the threads of Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline

The new claim is that some rather small yacht, which would not even be able to carry the necessary equipment to perform such a deed, was the main instrument in this:

Following joint research by [German main public TV news unit] (ARD's capital city studio), the ARD political magazine Kontraste, [German public TV] SWR and DIE ZEIT, it was possible to reconstruct to a large extent in the course of the investigation how and when the explosive attack was prepared. According to this, traces lead in the direction of Ukraine. However, investigators have so far found no evidence of who ordered the destruction.

...

Specifically, according to information from [these news sources], investigators have managed to identify the boat that was presumably used for the secret operation. It is said to be a yacht rented from a company based in Poland, apparently owned by two Ukrainians. The clandestine operation at sea is said to have been carried out by a team of six people, according to the investigation. It is said to have involved five men and one woman. According to the report, the group consisted of a captain, two divers, two diving assistants and a female doctor, who are said to have transported the explosives to the crime scenes and placed them there. The nationality of the perpetrators is apparently unclear. The assassins used professionally forged passports, which are said to have been used, among other things, to rent the boat. According to the investigation, the commando set off from Rostock on September 6, 2022. The equipment for the clandestine operation was previously transported to the port in a van, it is said. In the further course, the investigators succeeded in locating the boat the following day again in Wieck (Dar) and later at the Danish island Christians, northeast of Bornholm, according to the research. The yacht was subsequently returned to the owner in uncleaned condition. On the table in the cabin, the investigators were able to detect traces of explosives, according to the research. According to information from [the mentioned news sources], a Western intelligence service is said to have sent a tip to European partner services as early as in the fall, i.e. shortly after the destruction, according to which a Ukrainian commando was responsible for the destruction. Thereafter, there have allegedly been further intelligence indications suggesting that a pro-Ukrainian group could be responsible.

No. You do not dive down to 80+ meter for an industrial size job, involving the placement of hundreds of pounds of explosives in eight individual charges on very sturdy pipelines, from a sparsely manned boat. Such deep dives require special gases, special breathing equipment, special training, a decompression chamber for emergencies and lots of well trained people to maintain all that stuff.

This is just more chaff thrown up to divert the attention from Seymour Hersh's revelations that the U.S. military, under order from the White House, carried out the sabotage act.

Gonzalo Lira @GonzaloLira1968 - 18:54 UTC  Mar 7, 2023 Just now, the German news site Zeitung is ALSO blaming the Ukraine for the Nord Stream pipeline bombing!

Coupled with The NY Times piece earlier today, this is clearly a coordinated misinformation campaign.

Was this why Olaf Schultz and Biden met?

Nord-Stream-Ermittlungen: Spuren fuhren in die Ukraine

---

Gonzalo Lira @GonzaloLira1968 - 5:21 UTC  Mar 8, 2023 Zelenskys regime can deny its involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline terrorist attack all it wantsbut it wont matter. Clearly, a very strong faction of the Deep State wants to blame UA so the West can pull out of the Ukraine disaster. ft.com - Ukraine denies any involvement in Nordstream pipeline explosions

What we are seeing here is a disinformation campaign comparable to the Skripal 'poisoning' affair in Britain. Following that tens of 'officials say' news items were released that were each more illogical and unbelievable than the previous ones. The campaign was designed to flood the information space with so much nonsense that no one would be drawn back to the roots of the story (i.e. a UK turncoat asset getting violently silenced after he attempted to go back to Russia).

I am pretty sure that soon more will be released about the real perpetrators of the Nord Stream attack. This sudden throwing of 'officials say' chaff, a month after the Hersh story, is just an attempt to preemptively divert from it.
Hugh Auchincloss served as Anthony Fauci's right hand man for almost two decades, and he is currently the top bureaucrat at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). With the Biden Administration showing seemingly no interest in appointing a new NIAID chief, Auchincloss has inherited his post in semi-permanent fashion. His role now includes being the chief decision maker for directing billions of taxpayer dollars into the coffers of research institutes and pharmaceutical companies. And with all of the attention turned to the semi-retired Dr Fauci, Auchincloss has been able to operate as the NIAIDs new head honcho without even a hint of a vetting process.

Hugh Auchincloss was Anthony Faucis longtime deputy. Now hes taking his job as House Republicans probe the pandemic. https://t.co/HbX0udmYOz  Globe Politics (@GlobePolitical) February 13, 2023

If you thought Faucis infamous love letters to Hillary Clinton were bad, check out Hugh Auchinclosss partisan political record.

While Fauci did not directly donate to politicians in order to appear as politically neutral (he had relatives and friends act as proxies), FEC filings show Auchincloss hasnt followed this unwritten rule. The interim NIAID director has donated the vast majority of his 44 political contributions to democrat candidates for office. Most of these expenditures have gone to finance his son, Congressman Jake Auchincloss (who assumed office in 2021), and his successful congressional campaigns. FEC receipts show the NIAID bureaucrat has spent tens of thousands of dollars on his sons congressional campaigns. Auchincloss and his ex-wife are the top funders to a Super PAC that was established to successfully vault their son, Jake Auchincloss into Congress.

While serving as Faucis deputy, Auchincloss also donated to the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden (in 2020, while serving as a top NIAID director in the Trump Administration), Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. His most recent political donation went to the MA 4 Dems PAC.

Hugh Auchincloss is D.C. royalty. He is the progeny of generational wealth and privilege in Washington, tracing his lineage to ultra-rich and powerful American families, including the Kennedy family and the Putnam family. His grandfather was the chairman of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. One of his uncles was the president of the Ford Foundation, while another was a top security state official in the Johnson and Kennedy administrations.

As mentioned earlier, one of his sons is a woke democrat congressman in Massachusetts who won the seat previously held by his distant relative, Joe Kennedy III.

Weeks after a white supremacist mob tried to stage an insurrection, we're going to watch the first Latina Justice of the Supreme Court swear in the first African American woman to be Vice President. #Inauguration pic.twitter.com/CGc7h5CH7a  Jake Auchincloss (@JakeAuch) January 20, 2021

Another son is a surgeon at the prestigious Mass General, where the elder Auchincloss has significant influence. Dr Hugh Jr frequently goes to Twitter to express his leftwing political opinions.

We faculty arent supposed to talk to the residents about unionizing. I dont get it. I aint management and I dont have a dog in this fight except that I want surgery residents to be happy. If thats in a union great. Just make sure you guys have a seat at the table.  Hugh Auchincloss (@Awesomecloss) March 4, 2023

Kalah Auchincloss, his daughter, appears to work as something akin to a pay-to-play revolving door consultant. After a handful of years at the FDA, she now works for an FDA Consulting firm that consults pharmaceutical companies on how to obtain regulatory clearance. Igor Churdov has an entire Substack article dedicated to this:

In his previous role as Faucis right hand man, emails show that Auchincloss may have helped Dr Fauci to cover up the gain of function fiasco.

Emails disclose a detailed timeline over three critical days as Fauci and a small team scramble to react to an early story regarding "Gain-of-Function" experiments at Wuhan lab.



"It is essential that we speak this AM."



New from myself & @HansMahncke https://t.co/BAsfMi93Ys  Jeff Carlson (@themarketswork) June 3, 2021

ceived the infamous February 1, 2020 memo from Fauci that read:

"It is essential that we speak this AM. Read this paper as well as the e-mail that I will forward to you now. You will have tasks today that must be done."

Anthony Fauci may no longer be the top dog at the NIAID (despite continuing to take a salary there and receive taxpayer-funded security), but his successor in Hugh Auchincloss has demonstrated to be every bit as institutionally embedded in the D.C. uniparty  if not even more so  as his longtime mentor.


By Kim Sung-woo



South Korea pledged to reduce its emissions of 291 million tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) by 2030. Of the 291 reduction, 11.5 percent, or 33.5 million tons, must come from international mitigation projects, which include technical support, investment and procurements conducted to achieve GHG reduction targets as stipulated under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.



In Korea, the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality, which took effect in March 2022, sets forth a statutory basis for international mitigation projects and procedures for their implementation. An example is an arrangement under which Korean companies or Korean government agencies push for GHG reduction projects overseas and receive carbon credits transferred to Korea. Given the large size of the reduction target, the Korean government has been hustling.



In August, the Committee on 2050 Carbon-Neutral Green Growth held the first meeting of the International Mitigation Council (or the Council). The Committee reviewed various strategies to promote international GHG reductions and also established operation protocols of the Council. Empowered by the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality, the Council is to deliberate and coordinate matters related to international GHG mitigation projects.



Senior officials from nine government ministries including the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of Environment, are in charge of arranging and reviewing prior approval of international mitigation projects. They are also responsible for the registration of international mitigation outcomes and transfer of the relevant credits into Korea; the formation and operation of an international mitigation partnership with foreign governments; and strategies to promote international mitigation projects.



In particular, the strategies for promoting international mitigation projects include establishing criteria for providing government support, electronic registries for international mitigation projects, roadmaps for international mitigation through 2030 and annual government support plans by 2030. In September 2022, a meeting of public-private, called the Partnership for International Greenhouse Gas Reduction Projects in the Industrial and Energy Sectors was presided over by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. It was held to discuss the ministry's policy initiatives, including the budget for pilot projects in 2023, bilateral agreements with countries on priority, and support plans of the dedicated agencies (e.g., Korea Energy Agency and KOTRA). During the meeting, the Partnership also checked the current status of international mitigations by the private sector and discussed practical difficulties faced by companies.



In particular, the pilot projects include not only an investment that subsidizes part of the costs of companies operating under the bilateral agreement (Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement) but also the government's plan for purchasing carbon credits through competitive bidding or procurement contracts.



Around the same time, the Ministry of Environment also announced its plans to promote international mitigation projects in the sector of waste and water management. The main highlight is to support up to 80 percent of the cost of feasibility studies and the installation of GHG reduction facilities for eligible companies while securing carbon credits.



In addition, the Guidelines for Pre-approval of International Mitigation Projects and Acquisition of International Mitigation Outcome, empowered by Article 35 of the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality, took effect in January this year. The guidelines set forth the procedures for pre-approval of international mitigation projects; the reporting of international mitigation outcomes and their acquisition, transaction and extinguishment; the criteria and procedures for pre-approval of international mitigation outcome transfer; and partnerships with foreign governments in bilateral agreement for international mitigations.



This year, the Korean government embarked on promoting and supporting international mitigation projects via public-private partnerships at full speed. In January, the Ministry of Environment launched the Partnership for Promotion of International Mitigation in the Environment Sector with industry stakeholders to discuss various ways of identifying new projects, providing government support and easing the regulatory burden  all geared toward securing international mitigation outcomes.



The ministry has previously supported feasibility studies for Vietnam's international mitigation projects and Uzbekistan's power generation project based on landfill gas. In 2023, the ministry stepped up its budget, totaling 10 billion won ($7.57 million). The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a "Seminar on the 2023 International GHG Reduction Project" in late February. The ministry will select pilot projects for international mitigation in the industrial and energy sectors, with a total subsidy of 6 billion won (up to 3 billion won per project) this year.



Eligible projects include projects to invest in new and renewable, high-efficiency, and low-carbon facilities that can reduce GHG emissions, including design, purchase, installation and a pilot test of the facilities. The government plans to subsidize part of the investment costs of companies, focusing on priority countries including Vietnam, Mongolia, the UAE, and Indonesia, and secure corresponding international mitigation outcomes to achieve the Nationally Determined Contributions by 2030.



In Korea, the government has been in the driver's seat to reduce GHG emissions to conform to international standards. Collaboration across different government agencies and ministries as well as partnerships with private companies will be essential to secure key technologies and resources to achieve the emission reduction target.



The large reduction target is clearly a big challenge, but we should also think about how to turn that challenge into new business opportunities in this journey to a low-GHG society. Companies need to keep up with the government's efforts in getting ready for international mitigations and partnerships.





Kim Sung-woo is head of Environment & Energy Research Institute at Kim & Chang.






Switzer Media & Publishing has confirmed it will launch mens fashion magazine Esquire into the Australian market, following its successful revival of Harpers Bazaar in 2021.

It was the success of Harpers that led [Switzer founder] Alex Switzer to negotiate with our partner and publishing giant Hearst, to add the highly respected global title Esquire to our stable, said publisher Maureen Jordan, who will oversee both Harpers and Esquire.

Switzer Media and Publishings Maureen Jordan says the success of Harpers Bazaar led the decision to launch Esquire. Credit: Switzer

Switzer Media, which is better known for its financial titles will unveil Esquires digital channels in mid-April.

The first print edition will be on sale late May. There will be four print issues in 2023, Alex Switzer said.
Melbourne Fashion Festival has apologised and removed images and social media posts promoting a brand that used the Arabic text for Allah on its runway garments.

The festival published an apology on Sunday saying it had removed all designs from label NOT A MANS DREAM from its social channels while it investigated complaints about the designs.

A model showcases designs by NOT A MANS DREAM during the Closing Runway at Melbourne Fashion Festival. Credit: Getty

We apologise for any offence caused by some of the outfits created by NOT A MANS DREAM in Saturday evenings shows, the post said.

The festival did not intend to disrespect anyone in our community.
NSW Labors treasury spokesman Daniel Mookhey says families who need the most support stand to gain the least from a Coalition plan for grandparents to contribute to a new future fund for children.

Premier Dominic Perrottet promised to create a dedicated savings fund for each child in NSW to be used towards the cost of education or a home deposit as the cornerstone of his state election campaign yesterday. Labor has criticised the plan, arguing many working families wont have the disposable income to set aside cash in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.

NSW Labors treasury spokesman Daniel Mookhey. Credit: Kate Geraghty

Speaking on the ABCs Afternoon Briefing, Mookhey said there werent many parents who would have spare money lying around is to be able to put into this bank account

It is the case that families who need support the most benefit the least from this policy.

There is no doubt that this policy works best for children whose parents have the wealth to be able to make $1000 contribution per child each year every year for the next 18 years.

It certainly is the case that the families who are doing it tough, and interest rates are rising and rents are soaring, tolls are going up, certainly, they will not have the spare cash lying around in order to make a contribution, and those families will be worse off compared to those who are perhaps a little bit more affluent.

Labor has promised to crackdown on toll admin fees if it wins the state election on March 25. Mookhey described the initiative as a sensible policy directed at those who need help the most.

He said both sides of politics were required to hand down their budget costings next Monday.
But theres a huge price difference: Lab-grown diamonds can cost up to 70 per cent less than a mined diamond and can be developed in a matter of weeks. How is a lab-grown diamond made? There are two methods to grow lab-grown diamonds, beginning with a carbon seed. The first uses high-pressure and high temperature called HPHT. The second, more common, CVD method uses a mixture of gases, including methane, added at low pressure. Both cause carbon to grow around the seed, producing a diamond. Theyre marketed as socially responsible: Laboratory settings mean the diamonds are produced in a controlled environment with occupational health and safety regulations, while factories that use renewable energy produce diamonds with a smaller environmental footprint than natural stones. Its hard to know just how large the lab-grown diamond industry is due to individual deals between importers, wholesalers and jewellers, but Diamond Dealers Club of Australia president Rami Baron estimates as many as one in five engagement rings sold for under $10,000 in Australia features a grown stone, up from 5 per cent just three years earlier. But Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia Director Roy Cohen said provenance reports tracing a lab-grown diamonds production are still in their infancy.

Because theyre not linked to mining in any areas of potential conflict there hasnt been [a demand] for them, he said. What certifications are available? Grading reports: Examines the colour, clarity, carat weight, and cut of a diamond

Kimberley Process: Certifies natural diamonds have not been used to finance or perpetuate conflicts

Ethics and sustainability certifications: Assesses the carbon footprint, environmental impact and health and safety of employees during the production process, and are available through third-party auditors. Of the 10 jewellers contacted by The Sun-Herald across Melbourne and Sydney, just four were able to trace their entire diamond supply chain from start to finish. There is just one sustainability standard in the diamond and jewellery market, the SCS-007. Developed in 2021, it assesses a producers adherence to social responsibility and governance, environmental, and sustainable practices criteria, a stones traceability, occupational health and safety for workers, and truthfulness and transparency in public claims. Michael Hill Jewellers is the only company in Australia that provides this certification. Only six lab-grown diamond producers in the world have so far been accredited with SCS-007.

Global non-profit Responsible Jewellery Council also offers certification on traceability and responsibly sourced practices, though just 1573 companies have signed on across the globe. Companies such as Pandora and Sydney-based Moi Moi Fine Jewellery have turned to third-party audits to assess their suppliers labour, environment and ethics performance, with diamonds cut and polished in the same facilities they were manufactured in, often via automation. Director of the Jewellery Association of Australia Ronnie Bauer said while there were stringent checks and balances on natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds werent held to the same level of scrutiny. The same provisions should be applied to anything grown in a factory or polished in a polishing house, Bauer said. Why are mined diamonds falling out of favour? Natural diamonds have been illegally traded to finance war and conflict, mainly across west and central Africa. While the 2003 Kimberley Process seeks to prevent these diamonds from entering the mainstream rough diamond market, its an imperfect process. Diamond mines can devastate the environment, causing erosion and deforestation with toxic chemicals dumped or leaked into waterways and soil. Mines across Africa have been linked to forced labour, child labour and dangerous work practices. A 2018 Human Rights Watch report found human rights abuses are ongoing in the natural diamond industry.

Silicosis and suicide The bustling river-side city of Surat, in eastern India, is the global hub for cutting and polishing diamonds and gemstones. Over 90 per cent of the worlds diamonds are sent to India to have their exterior cut away and be shaped and polished. But shaving off a diamonds polycrystalline silicon casing can be deadly. If inhaled, this dust can cause cancer and silicosis, a deadly and untreatable lung disease.

Employees inspect and polish diamonds at a workshop in Surat, Gujarat. Credit: Dhiraj Singh Despite claims of being a more ethical choice for consumers, many lab-grown diamonds are also cut and polished in this same dangerous manner, highlighting the need to track the production process for each stone.

In India, diamond cutting and polishing factories have converted 20 per cent of their production into lab-grown diamonds in the past year. One study for risk management consultancy firm Sphera found this process presented a medium-high risk for silicate dust exposure directly linked to silicosis. The same risks are present in quartz-based semi-precious stones such as Amethyst and Citrine. Loading In 2018, a Reuters investigation found that 5000 suicides between 2010 and 2018 were in areas where diamond workers live, with six suicides in 2018 among diamond workers. Senior researcher at the University of Queenslands Sustainable Minerals Institute Dr Lynda Lawson travelled to gemstone cutting and polishing centres across eastern India in 2018 and found concerning practices.

She said particularly in Surat, there were a number of home-based workers cutting cheaper stones. Theyve got the mom and dad, with the baby hung in a hammock over the top, and theyre busy grinding away all day or night, she said. The damage that silicosis does to the lungs is horrifying. In 2019, the Indian government implemented a compensation scheme for silicosis sufferers and their widows, with over 41,586 people registering. Silicosis is preventable, Lawson said, using saws that cut with water, ventilation systems to draw dust away from the worker, and respiratory masks. She said more companies were adopting these measures as the risks became more known.

The World Jewellery Confederation Communications Director Steven Benson said silicosis in the diamond industry had been considered an issue across the past 30 years. These types of health threats are an issue with any mineral thats producing dust that can be drawn into somebodys lungs, he said. Spurious environmental claims The environmental sustainability of lab-grown diamonds isnt clear-cut and depends on mining and production techniques. One 2019 report found that mined diamonds produced 69 per cent less CO2 per carat than lab-grown diamonds. For companies that use renewable energy, lab-grown diamonds can have a fraction of the carbon footprint of mined diamonds. Benson said the issue of greenwashing in the lab-grown diamond industry was huge.

Individual companies should only make eco claims if they can back them up with verifiable third-party evidence, he said. For the industry to make a blanket claim that is environmentally friendly, it is problematic and spurious. Loading Benson also takes issue with companies calling lab-grown diamonds socially responsible, arguing if done with the proper checks and balances in place, mined diamonds can support large communities in developing countries. In a report released this month, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found 57 per cent of 247 assessed businesses across eight industries made concerning environmental claims. The ACCC did not examine the jewellery industry, though a spokesperson said the agency continues to look at [greenwashing] allegations across a range of sectors.
Knowledge [of egg survival and success] has improved significantly because ... people are telling their friends, and doctors are more comfortable offering the technology because the results are so good, Cattrall said. An early criticism of so-called social egg freezing was that because less than 40 per cent of women returned for their eggs, enormous waste was created. But it is now so mainstream that, especially in the US where some fertility clinics form partnerships with influencers, egg freezing is portrayed on social media as empowering self-care. In 2021-22, there was a 73 per cent jump in the transfer of fresh embryos created using thawed eggs compared to 2020-21, according to the fertility treatment regulator, VARTA. In the same period, egg storage jumped 30 per cent, and at the end of the 2022 financial year, there were 88,931 eggs in storage in Victoria. Ten years after egg freezing was deemed no longer experimental by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Melbourne IVF researchers are about to publish a paper that will show pregnancy success rates for thawed eggs are now about as good as IVF using fresh eggs.

Were seeing up to 95 per cent survival rate in the eggs [up from 70-75 per cent], Cattrall said. For every seven eggs stored, there is a one-in-two chance of having a baby if they were frozen before the age of 35. But she warned that egg freezing was still not a guaranteed insurance policy. This is not necessarily the message women receive when browsing TikTok or Instagram, where egg freezing is trending hard.

Some Australian researchers, such as Monash University public health researcher Dr Karin Hammarberg, say some clinic websites are not transparent enough in stating the cost, duration and odds. Loading They dont say you might need to have five stimulation cycles for an 80 per cent chance of having a baby, or mention the cost and number of cycles needed to have reasonable hopes of success, Hammarberg said. The total price can be in the tens of thousands of dollars. According to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, a 38 year-old with 25 frozen eggs  which would typically take at least two collection cycles, as not all retrieved eggs are of the required quality to freeze  has a 77 per cent chance of a live birth. University of NSW epidemiology professor Georgina Chambers, who oversees the Your IVF Success website, and the Australia and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database, said while egg freezing was a good tool and option for some, putting childbearing off reduces the likelihood of it happening.

The longer you delay your children, the less likely you are to have children, and to have a smaller family than the desired number of children, Chambers said. Loading Womens desire to understand fertility has grown so much that 3000 users a month visit the two year-old Your IVF website, 60 per cent of whom use its fertility estimator. We were surprised about that, it does point to people desperate to understand their chances of success  we did an evaluation, and most people over-estimate their chances of success, Chambers said. I think where youve got to be careful is so women dont freeze their eggs thinking, Now Im guaranteed to have a baby. Because that can be incredibly disappointing to them.

Cattrall advises women to consider freezing their eggs if they are around the age of 30 and intend to have children, but are not in a situation in which they can envisage this happening. It depends on the age of the eggs frozen and the number of eggs frozen, she said. But what we know now is that eggs are performing much better than they did in the past. Survival rates of frozen eggs have gone from 70-75 per cent to 90-95 per cent due to new technology. Credit: Getty I would say were providing a realistic possibility of having a baby later in life. Boyle has no doubt the procedure was the right choice. She realised what it meant to her when she was having the required counselling session.
The least lucky women also have family violence to contend with: the Sophies Choice dilemma of needing to flee to find safety, only to find themselves in a position of great financial and social insecurity. Loading The precarity picture is unsustainable, not just for women, but for the economy. The nations expenses are increasing, and appear to have no ceiling: defence spending, aged care, the NDIS and the aged pension are all the biggest contributors to a worsening structural deficit. We need more women to find secure full-time work, pay more tax and do the jobs we need for society to function. Even though women are over-represented in the care economy (without these workers society would grind to a halt), it is in what the prime minister calls jobs of the future where women can make a significant contribution, one that remains largely untapped. With apologies to Virginia Woolf: imagine a young girl, who is not Shakespeares sister, but a future engineer whose intelligence could solve the problem of renewable energy storage at scale. Unfortunately for us, she marries a man who is abusive and she is forced into the poverty cycle of single parenthood. Or maybe she just drops out of the workforce in her 30s when she has kids, and she never quite manages to get her career back on track. Maybe she is sexually harassed at work, or just overlooked and underpaid. Perhaps she is raised in a single-parent household where the financial stress of her parent spills into substance abuse or parental detachment. She doesnt have the domestic security she needs to excel at school. Her potential remains untapped, and we are all the poorer for it.

Mostyns taskforce is made up of 13 women with vastly different expertise. Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott is a member; so is Terese Edwards, the CEO of the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children. The Labor government has pledged to make womens equality a priority in its budget decisions. Mostyns taskforce will soon hand to Minister for Women Katy Gallagher a list of recommendations  the top things they believe Labor can do to improve womens economic standing. On Thursday Mostyn said the taskforce would recommend the government restore the single-parenting payment to parents of children over eight years old. Illustration: Reg Lynch Credit: In 2012, on the same day former prime minister Julia Gillard gave her famous misogyny speech, her government passed amendments pushing more than 80,000 single parents off this payment and onto the lower Newstart payment. In 2006, John Howard had already withdrawn the payment for new claimants once their youngest child turned eight, although families already on the payment were allowed to keep it until their youngest turned 16. The Gillard government ended that Howard-era grandfathering arrangement, defending it as a necessary budget cut. As anyone who has cared for an eight-year-old will know, their needs are still intense. But that cohort of mostly women (women head 80 per cent of single-parent households), most of whom had more than one child, were suddenly expected to survive on about $100 a week less. Peter Davidson, of the Australian Council of Social Service, called it an appalling policy  a cost-saving at the expense of families and children in the deepest poverty.
US congressman Joe Courtney has given the clearest signal yet that Australia could receive second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the United States under the landmark AUKUS deal.

But Courtney  widely regarded as one of the top experts in Congress on submarines and shipbuilding  has vowed Australia wont be receiving clunkers under the deal to be unveiled on Tuesday morning. He also dismissed suggestions the boats may have to be jointly crewed by US sailors, or that Australia wont have sovereign control over its submarines.

Australia is expected to announce it will buy up to five Virginia-class nuclear submarines from the US as a stopgap.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will formally unveil the terms of the AUKUS deal, which will see Australia become the seventh nation in the world to operate nuclear-powered submarines.

The deal is expected to see Australia acquire three to five of the United States Virginia-class nuclear submarines, with the first to arrive as soon as 2032. The deal will also see US and potentially UK submarines begin to be based out of Perths HMAS Stirling base from 2027 and on the east coast, likely at a new naval base at Port Kembla.
If there is one thing everyone in NSW knows about Dominic Perrottet, it is probably that he has lots of children (seven).

The Liberal Party leant into that family-man image as hard as it could at its campaign launch on Sunday, assembling no less than 36 children to sit behind the premier as he announced a raft of family-friendly policies.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and his family on stage at the launch. Credit: Dean Sewell

A familiar flock of blue-shirted party faithful poured into an amphitheatre inside the Liverpool Catholic Club, in the key electoral battleground of Sydneys south-west growth corridor.

The event began half an hour late and while waiting, the crowd was treated to an excruciatingly deafening playlist of AC/DCs Thunderstruck and Katy Perrys Roar, two tunes straight from campaign launch central casting.
A memorial event for SeAH Group's late Chairman Lee Woon-hyung is held at SeAH Tower Auditorium in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of SeAH Group





By Baek Byung-yeul







SeAH Group held a series of memorial events to remember its late Chairman Lee Woon-hyung on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his death, the steel products conglomerate said Sunday.







The group held a memorial event for the late chairman at SeAH Tower Auditorium in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on March 10, the day Lee passed away in 2013 during an overseas trip. Around 150 executives and employees of SeAH Group attended the event.







Under the chairman's leadership from 1974 to 2013, SeAH became the first Korean steel pipe maker to achieve the $100 million export milestone.







During the event, Lee's family and friends gave memorial speeches videos were shown featuring the achievements of the late chairman.







In addition, a photo exhibition remembering Lee will be held at SeAH Tower for a month starting from March 10.







"The photo exhibition, titled 'With an Iron Heart,' highlights the leadership and character of the late chairman, who devoted his life to the steel industry and the development of Korea's economy," the group said.







Visitors can see more than 100 photos of Lee in his daily life, as a businessman working for the group for around 40 years and as a renowned patron of opera music.







An opera concert to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Lee's death will also be held at the Seoul Arts Center on March 15 as Lee had served as the inaugural chairman of the board of directors of the Korea National Opera for 13 years. He was also referred to as a pioneer of Korea's opera for his efforts to expand and develop the genre of classical music.







Hosted by the SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation, the gala concert will play the late chairman's favorite numbers, such as "Cavalleria Rusticana and "Nimrod," in the first part of the concert and "Tristan und Isolde," "Tannhauser" and Beethoven's "Choral" Symphony No. 9 in the second part.










This story has rightly sparked outrage around the world. Imagine a news service even considering obfuscating, garnishing or downright misreporting the objective truth in order to please its audience. Imagine a country in which the media presents stories and perspectives their audiences wish were true instead of providing them with a window into the world as it actually is.

The network was sent into crisis mode when it was first to call the state of Arizona for the Democratic Party. Telling the truth early and accurately infuriated the networks Trump-supporting voters, who boycotted the station. So, in the days following, Fox executives considered whether they should use slower and less accurate election-projecting technology  or, even more shockingly, if they should base election projections on how viewers might react.

Its beginning to become clear that Australians cant handle the truth. When we hear it, we dont like it. So we make sure to avoid it. And were not alone.

Sadly, even in Australia, we dont have to imagine. The pressure from audiences overwhelms many news outlets. One of the favourite ways for audiences to express their outrage at news and views they dont like in commercial media is to threaten to cancel their subscription. Smaller media outlets trying to win market share encourage that tendency and feed off it by insisting that only they, who most slavishly mirror their audiences prejudices, are telling them the truth. In an era of commoditised content, it takes immense courage and a bit of fiscal recklessness to present facts in their unspun ugliness. Sometimes, like Fox, media outlets cave in and follow the money.

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This week, this masthead published the conclusions of an expert panel on China. Predictably, many people didnt like it. Nobody likes the idea that war could be imminent. But in a country that shies away from knowing too much about how global affairs are intersecting around us, it was an important piece of cut-through reporting. It was unmissable. More people are now aware of the potential for imminent conflict. It will significantly help achieve the psychological shift the assembled experts emphasised Australians will have to undergo to understand the world we now live in. The purpose of the experts warnings, and of the report, was to make Australia aware that we need to prioritise defence to prevent a hot conflict.

But its not fun to hear experts warn that our holiday from history is over, as this panel did in a joint statement. Whoever wants their holidays to end? Australians are used to peace and have enjoyed the safety of distance and irrelevance while other countries are constantly reminded of wars just past and tensions still simmering. One letter writer encapsulated our kumbaya complacency by suggesting that instead of a red alert Australia needs a peace alert.

And the relativists were out in force: China has a right to become more assertive. We are a settler nation anyway, what right have we to protect the land we live on? The experts are just making us the patsies of a warmongering America. In fact, its just the weapons manufacturers trying to turn a buck. And no doubt Xi Jinpings increasing penchant for military khaki is purely about fashion.
Thai Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya has been appointed as a specialist in the Royal Thai Army with the rank of major general, according to the royal gazette.

From left; Thailands King Maha Vajiralongkorn, former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Queen Suthida, and Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana at the Chaki Maha Prasat Throne Hall in Bangkok, Thailand. Credit: AP

King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Friday announced the appointment of his 36-year-old daughter in the latest round of military promotions that will be effective from April 1.

The princess graduated with a masters in design from Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la couture Parisienne in Paris and had become a fashion designer with her own brand Sirivannavari.

The princess is the younger daughter of the king. Her eldest sister, Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, has been hospitalised and has remained unconscious since December last year due to a heart condition.
One sunny morning in Tehran, Neda was about to leave her apartment when she decided to make an extraordinary change to a very ordinary day. She walked out of her front door without covering her hair.

Iranian women conduct their business without wearing their mandatory Islamic headscarves in a commercial district in northern Tehran, in November. Credit: AP

It was October, just weeks after the biggest protests since the Islamic Revolution erupted following the death in custody of Mahsa Zhina Amini, a young woman arrested by the religious police for allegedly violating the dress code. Neda had some errands to do.

I was ridiculously jumpy, self-conscious and paranoid, anticipating the worst, recalled Neda, who is in her 30s. I was super watchful of everyone around me, searching for traces of open animosity.

Neda is among the phalanx of women across urban Iran who are reclaiming autonomy over if, when and where they wear a hijab. As well as testing the legal boundaries, their quiet defiance is visibly transforming Tehran in a way thats become the most immediate legacy of the latest revolt against the regime. And its not gone unnoticed by the authorities.
Washington: Former US Vice President Mike Pence offered his most forceful rebuke to date of his one-time boss Donald Trump on Saturday, saying history will hold him accountable for his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

Rioters at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington. Credit: AP

Pence was in the Capitol when thousands of Trump supporters breached the building in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden.

As the vice president has the constitutional role of Senate president, Pence was presiding over what had always been the ceremonial task of approving the votes of the Electoral College to select the president and vice president.

Throughout the siege, Trump sent several tweets, one calling on Republicans to fight and others making false claims of voter fraud. He also criticised Pence for certifying the results.
THE COLLABORATORS: Three Stories of Deception and Survival in World War II Author: Ian Buruma : Three Stories of Deception and Survival in World War II

Publisher: Penguin Press Pages: 307 : Penguin Press

Price: $30

It sounds like a tasteless parlour game: What do a Dutch Jewish fixer, a gender-fluid Manchu princess and a lusty Nazi masseur have in common? At first glance, very little. Yet these three figures feature as the central characters in Ian Burumas new group biography, The Collaborators.



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The truth, Buruma says, lies somewhere in between. The full extent of their treachery (or heroism) has been obfuscated by generations of careless or gullible biographers, self-justifying memoirs and gaping holes in the historical record, he says. What connects this trio, as Buruma presents it, is their outsize, self-delusional fabulism. That, and the fact that each figure  motivated by the prospect of personal gain and pure survival  collaborated with German and Japanese forces during the Second World War. Furthermore, all three  Felix Kersten, Yoshiko Kawashima and Friedrich Weinreb  also publicly cast themselves as saviours, serving noble causes and saving lives.



In The Collaborators, some readers may find Burumas permissiveness toward his subjects conduct and moral barometers disturbing. The author painstakingly lays out the discrepant historical evidence surrounding their most egregious actions. Yet in some instances, the existing, court-admissable evidence against them appears damning. Weinreb sold thousands of desperate European Jews places on mythical lists and non-existent trains to safety; many of their names and hiding places were instead delivered to Nazi officials supposedly to save himself and his own family.

Buruma asserts that he was determined to treat his three subjects with fairness. An academic, prolific historian and author with an ongoing interest in wartime collaboration, Buruma has long demonstrated an ability to depict even horrific wartime events with remove.



Yoshiko Kawashimas treachery largely doomed strangers. Born the daughter of a Manchu prince displaced during the 1911 revolution and mythologised in Japan as the Mata Hari of the Orient, Yoshiko worked closely with Japanese authorities to undercut Chinese interests. At her 1945 trial in China, the list of allegations against her was long: She had formed her own army to conquer Chinese territories in Manchuria;  she plotted the invasion of China; she helped to start the Battle of Shanghai; she passed along Chinese military secrets; she spread Japanese propaganda; she sought to revive the Qing dynasty.

Insisting that applicants submit to medical exams ostensibly required for emigration, Weinreb also reportedly often pretended to be a doctor and administered to women thorough, often painful gynecological examinations, involving a lot of probing and useless injections. One Nazi officer later recalled that Weinreb told us everything, and really did his best. The cumulative testimonies about Weinrebs misdeeds make one wonder: Who is more deserving of Burumas patient consideration, Weinreb or his scores of victims?



Of the three profiled subjects, Kersten comes off the best, but only because he cannot be held responsible for mass murder, as Buruma puts it. The masseur regularly treated Himmlers crippling stomach pains and other ailments; he often travelled with the stressed Reichsfuhrer SS and gave him massages so Himmler could start his day refreshed. Kersten reaped the benefits of being the elite Nazis magic Buddha, as Himmler called him: Ample food at a time when others resorted to eating grass; pets; grand real estate holdings; and labour imported to one of his homes from the nearby Ravensbruck concentration camp.

Buruma explores her louche life  nightclubs, drugs and mistress duties  but her fraught childhood holds the key to her torn loyalties. Given as a young girl by her parents to a well-connected Japanese adoptive father, who most likely raped and abused her, Yoshiko decided to bid farewell to womanhood, famously cut her hair short, and began wearing mens clothing. Buruma details her early years, but fails to adequately underscore the trauma of being relegated to probable sexual slavery by ones own parents; nor does he sufficiently explore the full impact that this brutalization might have had on her actions throughout her brief life.



Buruma successfully uses the three narratives to warn us about reckless charlatans in power today, and against the ongoing peril of kakistocracies. Yet in drilling down on this central conceit, Buruma arrives at an odd, off-putting conclusion. The primary sin of his subjects was not that they had deceived (and contributed to the murder of) others, but rather that they conned themselves.

By his own account, Kersten maintained that he was actually an embedded resistance hero, claiming that he managed to influence Himmler into life saving acts, including saving the entire Dutch population from deportation to Poland in 1941 (not necessarily true, states Buruma) and persuading Himmler to call off a plan to starve millions of citizens of occupied France, Belgium and Holland (also less than plausible: There was never any such plan in the first place).



The reviewer is author of Fallout: The Hiroshima Cover-Up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the World This is the big takeaway from his raw, violent material? Perhaps a more pressing issue: The disproportion of justice delivered compared with the magnitude of the crimes detailed in the book. Weinreb was convicted of his alleged crimes but pardoned in 1948; Kersten was largely lauded and decorated; and Yoshiko was executed in China. Perhaps other issues worth emphasising: The depravity and grotesque opportunism that lie beneath the veneer of civility, the evaporation of even basic empathy during wartime and the relentless willingness of human beings to worship at the altars of madmen.

2023 The New York Times News Service


As the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in the US left the Indian startup ecosystem worried, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, on Sunday said he will hold a meeting with the startup Founders and CEOs next week to see how the government can help them during the crisis.

The bank's collapse is going to impact several startups in India which have exposure to its investments and have parked their funds in the bank.

"The @SVB_Financial closure is certainly disrupting startups across the world. Startups are an important part of #NewIndia Economy," Chandrasekhar said in a tweet.

The minister said he will meet with the Indian startups next week "to understand the impact on them and how the Narendra Modi government can help them "during this crisis."

According to recent data by global software-as-a-service (SaaS)-based market intelligence platform Tracxn, SVB had exposure in at least 21 startups in India although it did not reveal the size of the investment in these startups.

Top venture capitalist (VC) firms have also issued a joint statement on the collapse of SVB, one of the largest US banks serving the global startup community, saying they are "deeply disappointing and concerning".

Also Read SVB's stranded deposits spread the pain from tech to Napa Valley SVB depositors, investors tried to pull $42 bn on Thursday amid jitters Asia witnesses limited contagion risk from Silicon Valley Bank's woes Here's how Silicon Valley Bank served the tech industry and beyond SVB crisis sends jitters through startup world: Here's what we know Welspun India seeking opportunity in kids segment through pact with Disney Lenders to miss March-end deadline to resolve key insolvency cases Adani block deal helps FPIs investment into equities turn positive in March Godrej Locks and Architectural Fittings aim 24% growth in current fiscal SVB fiasco could hit the ability of startups to make payroll payments

According to reports, SVB was a bank to more than 2,500 venture capital firms, including Lightspeed, Bain Capital and Insight Partners.

On Friday, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) took control of the SVB's $175 billion in customer deposits.

US-based technology startup accelerator Y Combinator, which has invested in thousands of startups, including at least 200 from India, has written a petition to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and others, asking them to prevent further shockwaves that could lead to financial crisis and layoffs of more than 100,000 workers.

Over 1,200 CEOs and founders representing over 56,000 employees have already signed the petition, written by Garry Tan, CEO and President of Y Combinator, to save startups and hundreds of thousands of jobs.

--IANS

na/dpb
Till March 1993, Mumbai (Bombay) was one big 24x365 party destination, a city that never slept and where all seemed obsessed with minting money --from the poor pavement-dwellers to the wily politicians to the pompous tycoons, and even big bulls like Harshad Mehta and his cohorts, who had then shot into limelight.

The term 'terror' was considered hazy, distant, something that happened in remote borders, shrugging off the occasional blast here or there in the country, and the brash city remained aloof from such unpleasantries.

One warm afternoon of March 12, 1993, 'terror' abruptly knocked in -- and knocked out the city's mega-ego a dozen times with 12 coordinated mega-blasts -- starting at around 1.30 p.m.

Barely 100 minutes later, the country's commercial capital was on its knees, the police launched investigations, politicians gave speeches and the final (official) bloodied body count stood at 257, another 1,400 injured and some others 'missing'.

Soon, it came to light that the Mumbai terror blasts were out of 'vendetta' for the barbaric two-phased communal riots of December 1992 - January 1993 that shook the city as a fallout of the demolition of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.

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The perpetrators were the city's dreaded mafia baddies, along with help from a variety of cops and customs officials, unknown Pakistanis, and even a prominent film star - all of whom orchestrated the country's deadliest and biggest (in terms of casualties) terror strike ever.

The country then watched the longest legal trial unwinding with the Special Public Prosecutors like Ujjwal Nikam and Deepak Salvi, challenged by topnotch lawyers on the defence side, including Majeed Memon and others in the Special Courts, later Bombay High Court and even the Supreme Court for various accused.

As things appeared to normalise, Mumbai was again caught napping on a cool evening of November 26, 2008 -- when it became the theatre of a dastardly terror strike that killed 175 (including nine terrorists) -- which ended after over 60 hours.

Though separated by 15 years -- and even a 'century' on the calendar -- the ultra-hits on Mumbai had glaring differences and similarities -- as comparisons between them became inevitable over the years.

For instance, the two strikes came when the city seemed completely off-guard, one on a weekend-leading Friday afternoon and the other on a mid-week Wednesday evening, both saw the smuggling of explosives quietly and terrorists sneaking in unhindered from the unlikely and unguarded Arabian Sea route.

In 1993 bombs were placed by hired foot-soldiers at 12 strategic locations spanning the length of the city and partly into the suburbs, but in 2008, sophisticated automatic weapons were used by the 10 Pakistani fidayeens to spray bullets on the gullible people in a surgical manner covering a tiny area of south Mumbai.

The first one (1993) saw the perpetrators quietly planting the RDX bombs at 12 selected spots and scooting, with some lowly operatives later pressing the trigger in tandem with others, the second one (2008) witnessed the trigger-happy attackers coming headlong, randomly raining bullets or lobbing grenades at 12 targeted locations, often in direct 'encounters' with the Indian security personnel.

The ratty Mumbai mafia secretively, but allegedly supported by Pakistan, implemented the 100-minute-long 1993 blasts, but in 2008 10 heavily-armed Pakistani gunmen, knowingly or unknowingly helped by the Mumbai mafiosi holed up in that country, executed the 60-hour-long operation.

After 1993, several of the prime movers-and-shakers like Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and Ibrahim Mushtaq Abdul Razzaq Memon, alias 'Tiger Memon', and other fearsome ones still elude the Indian laws, and post-2008, baddies like Lashkar-e-Taiba's Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi is at large and remains among India's 'Most Wanted'.

Both terror hits case trials -- 1993 and 2008 -- have practically ended and may be revived as and when the other absconding accused can be brought here and tried.

Mumbai after 1993 remained vulnerable and faced another half-dozen strikes like -- two killed in a Ghatkopar BEST bus bomb blast (December 2002), one killed in a bicycle bomb explosion (January 2003), 10 killed in Mulund suburban train blast (March 2003), four blown up a bus bomb explosion in Ghatkopar (July 2003), 50 snuffed out in the twin bomb blasts at Zaveri Bazar and Gateway of India (August 2003), and the monstrous killer bombs planted in seven suburban trains killing 209 commuters (July 2006).

However, things seemed to have improved after 2008 terror strikes with only one major incident reported from Mumbai -- the killing of 26 people in the coordinated triple blasts one each at Opera House, Zaveri Bazar and Dadar (July 2011) in 10 minutes.

Other debates also continue -- on the demands to reveal the N.N. Vohra Committee Report after the 1993 explosions, certain investigations into the suspected role of political or bureaucratic elements, their alleged underworld links, which remain under the wraps... till date.

A silver lining is that after 1993, the government ruthlessly hounded the mafia, hundreds of gangsters were eliminated in 'encounter kills' -- which later became controversial as 'contract murders', the hold of the mafia slipped a lot, broad daylight gang-wars are history, though there are the occasional rumours of bigwigs getting extortion threats from the underworld, but they probably prefer to silently concur and endure.

After 2008, Mumbai has become a lot more vigilant, people alert and aware, the police and other agencies better equipped to deal with a similar onslaught in future, the coastal borders now more patrolled and secure with modern aircraft, boats, ships and ultra-sophisticated communication, etc.

Yet, a full 30 years after March 12, 1993, many who witnessed or survived the bomb attacks, still shudder and shiver, offering silent gratitude for their own 'escape' from certain death.

--IANS

qn/dpb
Ahead of assembly elections due this year end, all major communities in the state have started calling caste-based mass meetings to show their supremacy and increase their political representation.

After Jat community's mass meeting on March 5 in Jaipur where Jat leaders from ruling and opposition parties sought top political positions and representation, Brahmin community too has called its Mahapanchayat in Jaipur on March 19. Rajput community had organised meeting December last year in Jaipur.

The meeting of Brahmin community is also expected to be attended by political leaders cutting across the party line.

Vipra Sena Chief and organiser of Brahmin Mahapanchayat, Sunil Tiwari is all set for a show of strength.

Though he called the event a social programme, Tiwari made no bones about community's demand for increase in political representation.

"It is a social event where community people will gather. The community has its demands as well. Both the BJP and Congress should give tickets on 40 seats dominated by Brahmin community," Tiwari said.

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Among the other demands of the community were -- the formation of a Vipra Commission, that the incident of violence against priests be made non-bailable just as it is under SC/ST Act, declaring Parshuram Jayanti a national holiday, and that EWS perks be given on the lines of OBC reservation.

Besides a greater political representation in the centre and in Rajasthan, the Jat community is also asking for a caste survey.

"As Jats constitute around 21 per cent of the population of Rajasthan, Congress and BJP should give at least 40 tickets each to Jat candidates. This is what leaders expressed in the Mahapanchayat," Rajasthan Jat Mahasabha president Rajaram Meel said.

Congress MLA and a Jat leader Harish Choudhary demanded for a caste survey to get insights into how well-off Jat community is and what needs to be done for them.

To swing Jat community in its favour, the ruling Congress announced forming a Veer Tejaji Board ahead of its mass meeting. Tejaji is a deity of Jat community.

Another example of Congress government's social engineering is formation of three new boards Rajasthan Leather Craft Development Board, Rajasthan State Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Board (Mali community), and Rajasthan State Rajak (Dhobi) Welfare Board. Mali caste in Rajasthan comes under OBC, while Dhobhi (washerman) and those involved in leather trade come under SC community.

Earlier also, boards were constituted by various government based on the craft or community such as Vipra Welfare Board for Brahmin community, Mati Kala Board for potter community, Kesh Kala Board for Sains from barber community, and Devnarayan Board for Gujjar community.

Deputy leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said the people have lost their faith on the government and the CM is now trying to lure them with boards formed on caste lines.

Congress spokesperson RC Choudhary said that it is the government's responsibility to ensure their social, economic and political participation and the Boards have been formed to ensure participation of backward, poor and deprived communities.

Political commentators say that caste-based organisations are trying to put pressure on political parties for better representations through mass meetings and get maximum benefit ahead of assembly polls.

Jats, Brahmins are major vote banks and the way the government has fulfilled their demands, may provoke the other castes to come on streets, they said.
Cases of cough and cold here have increased by about 40 per cent in the last few months.

The Noida Health Department conducted a study involving 3,500 patients in the last three weeks wherein 660 patients showed Covid-like symptoms.

However, Covid-19 was not confirmed on antigen test in any of the patients.

Experts have linked it to the fast growing influenza H3N2. A person sick with influenza gets cured in around three days, but suffers from cold and cough till at least 3-4 weeks.

In a conversation with IANS, Senior Physician and Diabetologist Dr Amit Kumar apprised that there is a lot of difference between Influenza H3N2 and Covid.

He said that even though the symptoms of both the diseases are similar, Covid-19 spreads more easily than flu.

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He explained that the influenza comes under viral fever and many patients that come to see him suffer from fever, and the second common symptom seen in such patients is cough.

He apprised that 92 per cent of the patients suffer from fever, while 86 per cent suffer from cold and 16 per cent experience shortness of breath.

Kumar said that a person should consult the doctor if they observe the symptoms.

He added that the situation becomes fatal if the people get medicines directly from local chemist shops, since antibiotics end up doing more harm.

He said that taking doses of antibiotics should be avoided in this regard.

Kumar added that one should wear a mask in crowded places. While coughing and sneezing, the mouth and nose should be covered completely.

Along with this, touching the eyes and nose repeatedly should be avoided since the virus enters the body through hands.

He added that any medicine, even antibiotics should not be taken without consulting the doctor and special attention should be paid while consuming medicines.

According to physicians, viral infection can easily spread from one person to another. When a person infected with influenza coughs or sneezes, its droplets can spread up to one metre in the air and can infect a healthy person.

Doctors believe that the risk of its spread is the highest in crowded places.

--IANS

pkt/fs/dpb
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, right, shakes hands with Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban, left, as Wang Yi, China's most senior diplomat, looks on, center, for a photo during a closed meeting held in Beijing, Saturday, March 11. AP-Yonhap



News of the rapprochement between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran sent shock waves through the Middle East on Saturday and dealt a symbolic blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has made the threat posed by Tehran a public diplomacy priority and personal crusade.



The breakthrough  a culmination of more than a year of negotiations in Baghdad and more recent talks in China  also became ensnared in Israel's internal politics, reflecting the country's divisions at a moment of national turmoil.



The agreement, which gives Iran and Saudi Arabia two months to reopen their respective embassies and re-establish ties after seven years of rupture, more broadly represents one of the most striking shifts in Middle Eastern diplomacy over recent years. In countries like Yemen and Syria, long caught between the Sunni kingdom and the Shiite powerhouse, the announcement stirred cautious optimism.



In Israel, it caused disappointment  along with finger-pointing.



One of Netanyahu's greatest foreign policy triumphs remains Israel's U.S.-brokered normalization deals in 2020 with four Arab states, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. They were part of a wider push to isolate and oppose Iran in the region.



He has portrayed himself as the only politician capable of protecting Israel from Tehran's rapidly accelerating nuclear program and regional proxies, like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel and Iran have also waged a regional shadow war that has led to suspected Iranian drone strikes on Israeli-linked ships ferrying goods in the Persian Gulf, among other attacks.



A normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state, would fulfill Netanyahu's prized goal, reshaping the region and boosting Israel's standing in historic ways. Even as backdoor relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia have grown, the kingdom has said it won't officially recognize Israel before a resolution to the decadeslong Israeli-Palestinian conflict.



Since returning to office late last year, Netanyahu and his allies have hinted that a deal with the kingdom could be approaching. In a speech to American Jewish leaders last month, Netanyahu described a peace agreement as "a goal that we are working on in parallel with the goal of stopping Iran."



But experts say the Saudi-Iran deal that announced Friday has thrown cold water on those ambitions.



Saudi Arabia's decision to engage with its regional rival has left Israel largely alone as it leads the charge for diplomatic isolation of Iran and threats of a unilateral military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. The UAE also resumed formal relations with Iran last year.



"It's a blow to Israel's notion and efforts in recent years to try to form an anti-Iran bloc in the region," said Yoel Guzansky, an expert on the Persian Gulf at the Institute for National Security Studies, an Israeli think tank. "If you see the Middle East as a zero-sum game, which Israel and Iran do, a diplomatic win for Iran is very bad news for Israel."



Even Danny Danon, a Netanyahu ally and former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. who recently predicted a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia in 2023, seemed disconcerted.



"This is not supporting our efforts," he said, when asked about whether the rapprochement hurt chances for the kingdom's recognition of Israel.





Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March 11. AFP-Yonhap



In Yemen, where the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran has played out with the most destructive consequences, both warring parties were guarded, but hopeful.



A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen's conflict in 2015, months after the Iran-backed Houthi militias seized the capital of Sanaa in 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile in Saudi Arabia.



The Houthi rebels welcomed the agreement as a modest but positive step.



"The region needs the return of normal relations between its countries, through which the Islamic society can regain security lost from foreign interventions," said Houthi spokesman and chief negotiator Mohamed Abdulsalam.



The Saudi-backed Yemeni government expressed some optimism  and caveats.



"The Yemeni government's position depends on actions and practices not words and claims," it said, adding it would proceed cautiously "until observing a true change in (Iranian) behavior."



Analysts did not expect an immediate settlement to the conflict, but said direct talks and better relations could create momentum for a separate agreement that may offer both countries an exit from a disastrous war.



"The ball now is in the court of the Yemeni domestic warring parties to prioritize Yemen's national interest in reaching a peace deal and be inspired by this initial positive step," said Afrah Nasser, a non-resident fellow at the Washington-based Arab Center.



Anna Jacobs, senior Gulf analyst with the International Crisis Group, said she believed the deal was tied to a de-escalation in Yemen.



"It is difficult to imagine a Saudi-Iran agreement to resume diplomatic relations and re-open embassies within a two-month period without some assurances from Iran to more seriously support conflict resolution efforts in Yemen," she said.



War-scarred Syria similarly welcomed the agreement as a move toward easing tensions that have exacerbated the country's conflict. Iran has been a main backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, while Saudi Arabia has supported opposition fighters trying to remove him from power.



The Syrian Foreign Ministry called it an "important step that will lead to strengthening security and stability in the region."



In Israel, bitterly divided and gripped by mass protests over plans by Netanyahu's far-right government to overhaul the judiciary, politicians seized on the rapprochement between the kingdom and Israel's archenemy as an opportunity to criticize Netanyahu, accusing him of focusing on his personal agenda at the expense of Israel's international relations.



Yair Lapid, the former prime minister and head of Israel's opposition, denounced the agreement between Riyadh and Tehran as "a full and dangerous failure of the Israeli government's foreign policy."



"This is what happens when you deal with legal madness all day instead of doing the job with Iran and strengthening relations with the U.S.," he wrote on Twitter. Even Yuli Edelstein from Netanyahu's Likud party blamed Israel's "power struggles and head-butting" for distracting the country from its more pressing threats.





Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a joint press conference with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni at Chigi Palace government offices in Rome, Friday, March 10. AP-Yonhap
With influenza A subtype H3N2 virus claiming two lives in India, one each in Karnataka and Haryana, doctors in Lucknow have urged people to avoid self-medication.

Sheetal Verma, senior faculty department of microbiology at King George's Medical University (KGMU) said, "The influenza A virus sub-type H3N2 is nothing new but as people are experiencing longer spells of cough, self-medication should be strictly avoided. There is nothing to panic. This variant does not lead to a pandemic but taking precautions against it will certainly help."

She said that it is better for people experiencing fever, cough or respiratory distress to consult a doctor instead of buying a drug over-the-counter because this flu variant is different.

According to doctors, the precautions people should take include -- keeping body immunity adequate and avoiding close contact with unknown people, particularly avoiding crowded places.

Abhishek Shukla, Secretary General of the Association of International Doctors, said, "A majority of those experiencing a longer spell of cough these days have poor body immunity may be due to age (elderly) or due to some other pre-existing illness."

P.K. Gupta, former President, IMA, Lucknow, said, "Children and elderly are the most vulnerable. They are advised to avoid cold weather conditions during the morning and late evening. This will reduce the chance of getting infected. Everyone should avoid self-medication."

Also Read H3N2 influenza: Symptoms, spread, prevention, what do experts say? Centre raises alarm over increase in Covid positivity rate in some states China's zero covid policy fails badly as new cases found everyday: Report Flu vaccine that can protect against all 20 known influenza virus developed IMA advises against antibiotic use amid rising H3N2 flu cases in India JOA recruitment: 4 booked in HP for tampering with candidates' OMR sheets 25k EWS houses to be constructed across Punjab in phased manner: Minister 90% of fire at Brahmapuram waste plant extinguished, says Kerala govt Attitude of ignoring crimes against women must end, says Arvind Kejriwal Tamil Nadu govt will fulfill handloom, powerloom weavers' demand: CM Stalin

--IANS

amita/khz/
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Kerala's Thrissur on Sunday.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Shah said he will visit the palace of Kerala's Veer-Putra Sakthan Thampuran at Thrissur.

"Tomorrow, I will visit the palace of Kerala's Veer-Putra Sakthan Thampuran at Thrissur. He was the founder of modern Thrissur. His visionary leadership and knowledge transformed Thrissur into the cultural capital of Kerala. Eager to spend some time there," Shah tweeted.

Shah will reach Thrissur at 2 pm. He will land at the Cochin International Airpot airport and travel to Thrissur by helicopter.

According to the sources, the BJP leaders will receive Amit Shah in the helipad at Sobha city and later Shah will offer flowers at the Sakthan Tampuran memorial.

Shah is scheduled to address a public meeting at 4 PM at South Gopura Nada in Thrissur.

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Reportedly, Shah will also be attending a meeting of the BJP office beares in Kerala.

Shah's visit to the southern state is very significant as the BJP is trying to make a mark in Kerala in the upcoming General Elections of 2024.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Karnataka on March 12 where he will dedicate and lay the foundation stones of projects worth around Rs 16,000 crores, a release from the Prime Minister's Office said.

"At around 12 noon, Prime Minister will also dedicate and lay the foundation stone of key road projects in Mandya. Thereafter, at around 3:15 PM, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives in Hubbali-Dharwad, added the release.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday said that India and Australia have forged a deeper connection in education, culture, defence and trade.

"We've forged a deeper connection between Australia and India, from education and culture to defence and trade," Albanese tweeted on Sunday.

The Australian PM also shared a video showing highlights of his India visit.

Albanese on Wednesday arrived in Ahmedabad on a state visit to India.

The Australian PM was on an official visit to India from March 8-11.

During the visit, the Australian PM met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi to hold bilateral talks.

Also Read Relations with Indian diaspora bolstered due to Sushma Swaraj: Jaishankar India matters more in current polarised world, says EAM Jaishankar Jaishankar consults Ethiopian FM to reinforce ties in education, trade American businesses struck by India's rapid digitalisation: S Jaishankar EAM S Jaishankar to begin first New Zealand, Australia visit from today AAP plans mega rally in Bhopal on Tuesday; Kejriwal, Mann to attend WBSSC scam: More relatives of TMC leaders in list of terminated staff Oscars 2023: Where to watch, what to expect, who all will be present Single-day rise of 524 Covid cases in India: Union Health Ministry data RSS pays tributes to Mulayam, Sharad Yadav, Shanti Bhushan at its meet

The Australian PM also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The EAM said Albanese's visit and today's annual summit will take India-Australia ties to a higher level.

"Delighted to call on Prime Minister @AlboMP of Australia this morning. His visit and today's Annual Summit will take our ties to a higher level," Jaishankar tweeted on Friday.

Albanese on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the "extraordinary effort" to make his Australian delegation feel welcome in India.

He tweeted, "Thank you to Prime Minister @narendramodi for the extraordinary effort to make my Australian delegation feel welcome in India. Having the pleasure of hearing The Triffids and The Go-Betweens on the sitar was unexpected and extremely touching."

Albanese had while addressing a joint press conference with PM Modi said that Australia's relationship with India is multifaceted. He said that high-level contact between the two countries has further strengthened cooperation across many sectors.

"I look forward to hosting PM Modi in Australia for the Quad Leaders summit in May and then returning to India in September for the G20 Leaders summit. The frequent high-level content between Australia and India has further strengthened cooperation across a range of areas including trade & investment, climate and energy, defence and security, and between the people of our two countries," he had said.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has said that India has a robust participatory democracy along with a vibrant multi-party system where hopes and aspirations of the citizens find expression through the elected representatives.

"All members (MPs) enjoy the freedom to express their views and thoughts in Lok Sabha," Birla said during the General Debate at the 146th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) here in Bahrain capital.

The 146th Assembly of the IPU is being held in Manama from March 11-15.

Birla's remarks are being seen as a response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had alleged that mics were put off when Opposition members speak. The Lok Sabha Speaker, however, did not mention the former Congress president's name.

Reiterating India's long-standing view that all "global issues should be resolved peacefully through dialogue", he said "the Parliament of India has always held extensive and meaningful debates and deliberations on contemporary global challenges such as climate change, gender equality, sustainable development and the Covid-19 pandemic".

He emphasised that global institutions propagating peace, harmony and justice are crucial for peace, prosperity, sustainability and a just world order.

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Birla said that in global institutions like the UN Security Council, there is a broad consensus among many nations to bring about reforms to reflect the realities of a rapidly changing world order.

The Lok Sabha Speaker also stressed that "reform in the UN Security Council cannot be delayed any further".

He said that it is crucial that the subject is included in future global agendas so that "we could contribute more and more to addressing challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, poverty, gender equality and terrorism".

He said India is leading the world in the articulation of Global Climate Action Plan to combat the issue of climate change.

Observing that India has always given the message of peace and harmony to the entire world, Birla reiterated India's belief that "building an inclusive and tolerant society is only possible through peaceful coexistence, mutual discussions and dialogue".

He said "our Parliament have a decisive role to play in this regard".

Birla also exhorted the world community to come together to build a better future for humanity.

--IANS

miz/pgh
World Insights: China's peace efforts widely hailed as world welcomes Saudi-Iran deal

Xinhua) 13:19, March 12, 2023

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The announcement to restore diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, made on Friday in a joint statement with China, has been widely welcomed around the globe as a victory for peace and dialogue.

Analysts and media praised China for its role as a peace broker and efforts to facilitate dialogue.

VICTORY FOR PEACE

Tehran and Riyadh have expressed hopes of opening a new chapter in ties and appreciation for China's help.

"We value the agreement we reached and hope we will continue to maintain a constructive dialogue ... while expressing the value and appreciation we attach to the continuous, positive role played by the People's Republic of China in this regard," said Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, the Saudi representative and the country's national security advisor.

Likewise, his Iranian counterpart and Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said, "clearing misunderstandings and looking to the future in Tehran-Riyadh relations" will lead to the development of regional stability and security and the increase of cooperation between regional countries.

Shamkhani further appreciated China's "constructive role" in supporting the development of relations between countries, which is necessary to solve challenges, increase peace and stability, and promote international cooperation, Iranian media reported.

Various countries and parties in the Middle East, including Egypt, UAE, Jordan and Iraq, also welcomed the Beijing agreement. "We welcome the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations, and we hail the Chinese role in this regard," Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, tweeted.

"The UAE believes in the importance of positive communication and dialogue among the countries of the region towards consolidating the concepts of good neighborliness and starting from a common ground to build a more stable future for all," he said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations applauded the Saudi-Iranian agreement to re-establish diplomatic relations and praised China's role in the process.

"The secretary-general has expressed his appreciation to the People's Republic of China for hosting these recent talks and for promoting dialogue between the two countries," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said while praising efforts by other countries, such as Oman and Iraq.

WHY CHINA?

Analysts noted that China respects the stature of regional countries and opposes geopolitical competition in the Middle East. Such an approach has helped China gain credibility in the region.

China has put forward practical initiatives in global security that respect and consider the interests of all parties, Liu Lanyu, an Iran expert at the Institute for International and Area Studies of China's Tsinghua University, told Xinhua.

Liu said that China has no history of colonization or interference in the Middle East, adding that regional countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia now embrace China as a security solution provider when seeking peace.

"China's public role in today's announcement shows its interest in doing something that few other countries could have done: gaining the confidence of both sides," said Thomas S. Warrick, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Similarly, Jonathan Fulton, a nonresident senior fellow for Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council, said that Beijing has been able to intensify relations on both sides of the Gulf while building diplomatic capital in a way that other extra-regional powers cannot.

The International community needs to appreciate China for its role as a country that is working for peace and stability in the world, said Mohammad Reza Manafi, editor-in-chief for the Asia-Pacific news desk of Iran's official news agency IRNA.

"China has convinced the world that it believes that if there is peace and friendship among the countries in the world, it will be to the benefit of all people around the globe, and war and hostility would never serve humanity," Manafi said.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Kou Jie)
A woman with an umbrella stands in front of the Bank of England, at the financial district in London, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. From winemakers in California to startups across the Atlantic Ocean, companies are scrambling to figure out how to manage their finances after their bank, Silicon Valley Bank, suddenly shut down on Friday, March 10. AP-Yonhap



Britain's finance ministry and the Bank of England are working to minimize the disruption that could arise from a collapse of the U.K. arm of Silicon Valley Bank, which has been seized by U.S. regulators, the ministry said on Saturday.



Talks were scheduled for Saturday to discuss the issues faced by British tech companies affected by the collapse, the ministry said in a statement. The Bank of England on Friday said it was seeking a court order to place SVB UK into an insolvency procedure.



"The government recognizes that tech sector companies are often not cashflow-positive as they grow, and that they rely on cash on deposits to cover their day to day costs," the statement said.



Advisory firm Rothschild is exploring options for SVB U.K. as insolvency looms, two people familiar with the discussions told Reuters.



More than 250 U.K. tech firm chief executives signed a letter addressed to Jeremy Hunt, the British chancellor of the exchequer (finance minister), calling for government intervention, a copy seen by Reuters shows.



"The recent news about SVB going into insolvency represents an existential threat to the U.K. tech sector," the letter said. "This weekend the majority of us as tech founders are running numbers to see if we are potentially technically insolvent."






A key annual meeting of the RSS leadership will begin here Sunday, with the deliberations focusing on how to create an atmosphere of social harmony, motivating people to perform their duties and making them self-reliant.

The three-day meeting will also review the progress of the organisation's expansion plan for the centenary of its foundation in 2025, head of media relations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sunil Ambekar had said.

He had said that the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha will be attended by more than 1,400 office-bearers, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale.

From the BJP, president J P Nadda and general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh will attend the meeting, he said.

A select number of office-bearers of 34 RSS-linked organisations, including Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), will also attend it, he added.

The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha is the highest decision-making body of the RSS, the ideological fountainhead of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Ambekar had said, "RSS shakhas are actually centres for bringing change in society and they work for it in their respective jurisdictions based on the study of society conducted by swayamsevaks."



The meeting will discuss the studies done by the swayamsevaks (volunteers) over the past few years and the work done on the basis of such studies, he said.

It will also discuss a range of socio-economic issues, "especially how to create an atmosphere of social harmony, motivate citizens to perform their duties and make them self-reliant," Ambekar said.

It will also review the functioning of shakhas (local meeting units) and prepare a future road map, he added.

The Pratinidhi Sabha will adopt some resolutions before the conclusion of the meeting on March 14, he added.

"The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is going to complete 100 years of its establishment in 2025. The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha will review the work in 2022-23 under its centenary-year expansion plan and set targets for 2023-24," Ambekar said.
The central government has told the Supreme Court that living together as partners and having sexual relationship by same sex individuals, which is decriminalised now, is not comparable with the Indian family unit -- a husband, a wife, and children born out of the union -- while opposing pleas seeking recognition of same-sex marriage.

It stressed that same-sex marriage is not in conformity with societal morality and Indian ethos.

In an affidavit, the central government said the notion of marriage itself necessarily and inevitably presupposes a union between two persons of the opposite sex. This definition is socially, culturally, and legally ingrained into the very idea and concept of marriage and ought not to be disturbed or diluted by judicial interpretation, it added.

The affidavit said the institution of marriage and the family are important social institutions in India that provide for the security, support and companionship of the members of our society and bear an important role in the rearing of children and their mental and psychological upbringing also.

The Centre stressed that despite the decriminalization of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the petitioners cannot claim a fundamental right for same-sex marriage to be recognised under the laws of the country.

The affidavit said that considerations of societal morality are relevant in considering the validity of the legislature and further, that it is for the legislature to judge and enforce such societal morality and public acceptance based upon Indian ethos.

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The Centre said that marriage between a biological man and a biological woman takes place either under the personal laws or codified laws namely, the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Christian Marriage Act, 1872, the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 or the Special Marriage Act, 1954 or the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969.

"It is submitted that the legislative understanding of marriage in the Indian statutory and personal law regime is very specific viz. marriage between a biological man and a biological woman only," it said.

The parties entering into marriage creates an institution having its own public significance as it is a social institution from which several rights and liabilities flow, it added.

"Seeking declaration for solemnisation/registration of marriage has more ramifications than simple legal recognition. Family issues are far beyond mere recognition and registration of marriage between persons belonging to the same gender. Living together as partners and having sexual relationship by same sex individuals (which is decriminalised now) is not comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children which necessarily presuppose a biological man as a 'husband', a biological woman as a 'wife' and the children born out of the union between the two -- who are reared by the biological man as father and the biological woman as mother," said the affidavit.

The Centre's response came on a batch of petitions challenging certain provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, Foreign Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act and other marriage laws as unconstitutional on the ground that they deny same sex couples the right to marry or alternatively to read these provisions broadly so as to include same sex marriage.

The Centre said amongst Hindus, it is a sacrament, a holy union for performance of reciprocal duties between a man and a woman and in Muslims, it is a contract but again is envisaged only between a biological man and a biological woman. It will, therefore, not be permissible to pray for a writ of the apex court to change the entire legislative policy of the country deeply embedded in religious and societal norms, it added.

The Centre emphasized that in any society, conduct of the parties and their inter se relationship is always governed and circumscribed by personal laws, codified laws or in some cases even customary laws/religious laws. The jurisprudence of any nation, be it by way of codified law or otherwise, evolves based upon societal values, beliefs, cultural history and other factors and in case of issues concerned personal relationships like marriage, divorce, adoption, maintenance, etc., either the codified law or the personal law occupies the field, it added.

"It is submitted that registration of marriage of same sex persons also results in violation of existing personal as well as codified law provisions -- such as 'degrees of prohibited relationship'; 'conditions of marriage'; 'ceremonial and ritual requirements' under personal laws governing the individuals," it said.

The affidavit said that any recognition over and above the conventional relationship of marriage between a man and woman, would cause irreconcilable violence to the language of the statute.

"It is submitted that the question is not whether relationships in the nature of the ones pleaded by the petitioner can be fitted in the present legal framework. Rather the question is that when the Legislative intent, with regard to limiting the legal recognition of marriage and the benefits associated with such legal recognition, are limited to heterosexual couples, it is impermissible for the Hon'ble Court to override the same," it said.

--IANS

ss/dpb
In connection with the veteran actor Satish Kaushik's death, the owner of the farmhouse Vikas Balu's second wife has levelled serious accusations against her husband, claiming his role in the death of the actor.

Vikas Malu's second wife has also complained to the police in the matter, after which the Delhi Police has initiated an inquiry into the allegations.

Delhi Police told ANI in a statement, "In actor Satish Kaushik's death case, an inquiry has been initiated into allegations of foul play levelled by a woman (wife of one Vikas Malu). An inspector-level officer from the South West district has been asked to probe the entire matter. The woman will be called by police to record her statement."

Talking to ANI, Vikas Malu's wife said, "I have got a complaint registered in connection with Satish Ji's death. He had come to my husband's farmhouse for a party, where his health deteriorated. Some objectionable medicines have also been found from the farmhouse."

She alleged that Satish Kaushik and Vikas Malu had business links and there was a monetary dispute between the two.

"Satish Ji and my husband had business connections as well. In August 2022, an argument broke out between Satish Ji and my husband, where Satish ji demanded Rs 15 crores that he had earlier given to him. But, my husband said that he will give the money in India."

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She further alleged, "When I later asked from him about the money, my husband said that he borrowed the money from Satish ji, but the money went for loss during the Covid period. My husband was not in the mood to return the money, he even said that he will use blue pills and Russian girls to do away with Satish Kaushik. That's why I have brought this angle to the police for fair investigation".

On being asked about her earlier complaints against Vikas Balu, she alleged that Vikas as well as his son "raped" her after which she left his house.

"I have earlier registered a complaint against Vikas Balu. Firstly, Vikas raped me, and then forcefully got married to me. After marriage, even his son started raping me. This was completely unbearable for me, and I left his house in October 2022," she said.

It is pertinent to note that the minor son of Vikas Malu's first wife had also lodged an FIR against Vikas Malu's second wife under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act. The video is also with the police, the police said.

After receiving complaints from both sides, the police registered FIRs against both parties but did not arrest them.

Vikas Malu's second wife further alleged that her husband has connections to the underworld including the likes of Dawood Ibrahim.

"I have images of several people who used to visit our house regularly. Vikas himself told me that Anas, who used to come to our house, is Dawood Ibrahim's son. Mustafa, another person who regularly came to our house, is also Dawood Ibrahim's right-hand man," she further added.

The matter pertains to the death of veteran actor, Satish Kaushik who died on March 9 allegedly due to cardiac arrest

Satish Kaushik celebrated Holi with his friends, and danced, after which he went to sleep at around 9:30 pm and at around 12 am his health deteriorated. He called the manager and told him that he was having difficulty in breathing. His manager took him to Fortis Hospital in Gurugram where he died at 1.43 am despite being given Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

The Delhi Police said that it is examining seven hours of CCTV footage at the farmhouse in Delhi where the actor celebrated Holi.

The police also said that the detailed post-mortem report of Kaushik confirms that the death was a "natural" one and occurred due to 'cardiac arrest'.

According to the post-mortem report, the cause of death was cardiac arrest due to coronary artery blockage which is associated with coronary artery diseases. Death appears to be natural in manner. The viscera have been preserved and photography, videography has been done, the police said.

Satish Kaushik had a medical history of hypertension and sugar, the police said.

Days after the demise of the 66-year-old veteran actor, a crime team of Delhi's South-West district police visited the farmhouse, where the deceased actor was staying, sources said on Saturday.

As per sources, the probing team recovered some 'medicines' from the farmhouse. The medicines have been sent for examination and the report is yet to come. Although, no banned medicine has been found, however, it is being ascertained which salts were found in the medicine.

Further investigation is underway in the case.
Telangana Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao was admitted to a Hyderabad hospital on Sunday morning after experiencing abdominal discomfort, an official said adding that he has developed a small ulcer in his stomach, the treatment of which has been initiated.

The Chief Minister was admitted to AIG Hospitals where he was examined by the chairman of the hospital Dr D Nageshwar Reddy who is also the chief of Gastroenterology.

He was then shifted to the hospital where he underwent some medical tests.

"This is to inform that Hon'ble Chief Minister of Telangana, Sri K Chandrashekar Rao garu developed Abdominal Discomfort today morning, following which he was examined by Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman of AIG Hospitals. He was brought to AIG Hospitals following which CT and Endoscopy was performed," the statement by the hospital informed.

"A small ulcer in the stomach was found which is being managed medically. His all other parameters are normal. Appropriate medication has been started," it added.

Further details into the matter are awaited.
London Deputy Mayor for Business Rajesh Agrawal will lead a delegation to India starting March 13, in a first in-person trade mission run by the Mayor's International Business Programme to the country since 2019, to promote stronger trade and investment links.

On a four-day mission from March 13-16, India-born Agrawal will visit New Delhi and Bengaluru and will be joined by 10 London tech companies including Electric Miles, Guider, OneID and Softools, according to a statement.

Noting the longstanding cultural and economic links between the two countries, Agrawal said: "Indian cities rightly look to London as the perfect launchpad to grow their business internationally. London and cities such as Mumbai and Bengaluru share mutual strengths in sectors such as finance, life sciences and technology - creating huge opportunities for business partnerships."

Delegates will meet with representatives from Indian tech companies including Wipro and HCLTech and Tata in a bid to provide opportunities for companies in the UK to create business partnerships and explore investment and growth opportunities in India.

The Deputy Mayor will also meet Indian venture capitalists and investors with an interest in expanding to London.

"As one of the world's fastest growing economies, India is also a major market for ambitious London companies. Our trade mission will continue our work in helping London companies to maximise business and investment opportunities in India," Agrawal said in a statement.

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London is the number one European city for Indian foreign direct investment. According to figures published by London's business growth agency, London & Partners, the UK capital also ranked as the number two city globally for Indian companies looking to grow their footprint internationally.

The research revealed that in the past 10 years, London has attracted 174 investment projects from India - significantly more than any other European city and the likes of Singapore (150) and New York (53).

Over the past 10 years, investment from Indian companies has provided a major boost to London's economy, with the data showing that Indian foreign direct investment has led to the creation of 7,853 additional jobs in the UK capital.

"We continue to receive lots of enquiries from Indian companies looking to set up and expand in London. As India's digital economy continues to grow, there is particularly strong interest in London from high growth Indian companies in sectors such as fintech, ecommerce and climate tech," Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners, said.

A number of well-known Indian companies have expanded their operation in London in recent years, including Indian IT giants Wipro and Infosys, as well as Indian unicorns upGrad, Ola and Oyo. Between 2012-2022, Mumbai and Bengaluru were the top cities for business investment from India into London.
India, Australia eye early conclusion on comprehensive trade pact

After implementing the interim trade dealEconomic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)in December, India and Australia now aim to conclude negotiations for a comprehensive trade pact by the end of this year.



ECTA was the first stage of our economic engagement. We are now entering into phase two of our discussions where we are looking at a much wider ambit of subjects and taking this into a CECA, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said while addressing the media on 18th joint ministerial commission with his Australian counterpart Don Farrell. Read more Both countries are also looking at achieving $100 billion in bilateral trade.

FDIC, US Fed discuss fund to backstop deposits if more banks fail

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Federal Reserve are weighing creating a fund that would allow regulators to backstop more deposits at banks that run into trouble following Silicon Valley Banks collapse.

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Silicon Valley Bank jitters likely to be felt among Indian start-ups Regulators discussed the new special vehicle in conversations with banking executives, according to people familiar with the matter. The hope is that setting up such a vehicle would reassure depositors and help contain any panic, said the people. They asked not to be identified because the talks werent public. Read more



According to the Tracxn data, SVB has invested in close to 21 start-ups in the country. But the amount of investment could not be ascertained. The crisis at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), which is in talks on sale after efforts to raise capital failed, may have consequences for the Indian start-up world.



PhonePe reaches $1 trn annualised payment value run rate, gets licence One of its significant investments is in SaaS-unicorn Icertis. The company had secured $150 million in funding, consisting of a revolving credit facility and convertible financing from SVB. Read more



The company claims to have digitised over 35 million offline merchants spread across tier 2, 3, 4 cities and beyond, covering 99 per cent pin codes in the country. Digital payments platform PhonePe has achieved an annualised total payment value run rate of USD 1 trillion, or Rs 84 lakh crore, mainly on account of its lead in UPI transactions, the company said on Saturday.



MSCI ESG Research flags governance risks at Adani Group, changes assessment "We are delighted to reach the USD 1-trillion annualised TPV run rate. We look forward to turbo-charging the next wave of growth for UPI payments in India with offerings like 'UPI lite', 'UPI international' and 'credit on UPI' to enable greater financial inclusion for Indians," PhonePe head of consumer business Sonika Chandra said in a statement. Read more




More than 500 Russian troops were killed or wounded in a recent 24-hour period during the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a Ukrainian military spokesman said on Saturday.







Pro-Moscow forces have been fighting for months to take Bakhmut, in the eastern Donbas region. Both sides admit to significant losses and the exact numbers are difficult to verify.







Serhiy Cherevaty, a military spokesperson for forces in the east, said the Russians had launched 16 attacks over a 24-hour period, with 23 clashes taking place in Bakhmut.







"Over the course of the fighting, 221 enemies were killed and 314 sustained injuries of various degrees," he told the national parliament's television channel.







It was not clear from Cherevaty's comments whether he was referring to casualties sustained on Friday or over the most recent 24 hour period.







Reuters was not able to immediately verify the claim.







An aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that Kyiv had decided to fight on in Bakhmut because the battle is grinding down Russia's best units.







Moscow says capturing Bakhmut would punch a hole in Ukrainian defences and be a step towards seizing all of the Donbas industrial region, a major target.







Since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine began in February last year, tens of thousands have been killed, millions displaced and many Ukrainian cities and towns pulverised. (Reuters)






Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Sunday mocked Meta for planning to launch a dedicated Twitter-like social media application and called it "copy cat".

It all started when the music news website Daily Loud posted: "Mark Zuckerberg's Meta exploring plans to launch a rival to Twitter."

On this, a user asked: "Why tho? is he like people are mad at Elon musk, I'll make an alternative because everyone loves me and Facebook so much."

Commenting on this conversation, Musk said: "Copy cat."

Several users expressed their thoughts on Musk's post.

While one user said: "I'm sure people will by dying to join another Meta platform plagued with 'independent fact checkers' suppressing conversations and content moderators taking down memes. Sounds fun!"

Also Read How will Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter change the public square? Elon Musk demands ex-Twitter product chief testify in takeover fight Some Indians hail Elon Musk's Twitter takeover; others sound caution Elon Musk to speed up Twitter upload time, live video top priority Elon Musk suspends rapper Kanye West from Twitter for violating rules SVB bankruptcy created major crisis in tech industry: Israeli PM Netanyahu I am open to buying collapsed Silicon Valley Bank, says Elon Musk Microsoft's 3rd layoff round hits employees in supply chain, Cloud, IoT biz SVB's stranded deposits spread the pain from tech to Napa Valley Facebook parent Meta plans additional layoffs over several rounds: Report

Another commented: "Facebook should start making rockets and electric cars as well since they so 'good' at what they do."

Recently, it was reported that Meta is building a dedicated Twitter-like social media application for people to post text-based updates.

The product is still in its early stages, and no release date has been set, but legal and regulatory teams have already begun to investigate potential privacy concerns surrounding the app to address them before launch.

Several rival platforms have launched or gained traction in the months since Musk took over the micro-blogging platform - among them include Mastodon, Post.news, and T2.

Earlier this month, Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey came back into the social media game, with the launch of his Twitter alternative called 'Bluesky'.


Startup founders in Californias Bay Area are panicking about access to money and paying employees. Fears of contagion have reached Canada, India and China. In the UK, SVBs unit is set to be declared insolvent, has already ceased trading and is no longer taking new customers. On Saturday, the leaders of roughly 180 tech companies sent a letter calling on UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to intervene. The fallout from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank is beginning to spread around the world.



This is just the beginning. SVB had branches in China, Denmark, Germany, India, Israel and Sweden, too. Founders are warning that the banks failure could wipe out startups around the world without government intervention. SVBs joint venture in China, SPD Silicon Valley Bank Co., was seeking to calm local clients overnight by reminding them that operations have been independent and stable. The loss of deposits has the potential to cripple the sector and set the ecosystem back 20 years, they said in the letter seen by Bloomberg. Many businesses will be sent into involuntary liquidation overnight.



Hunt spoke with the governor of the Bank of England about the situation on Saturday morning, and the economic secretary to the Treasury was holding a roundtable with affected firms later in the day, the Treasury said. This crisis will start on Monday and so we call on you to prevent it now, UK startup founders and chief executive officers said in the letter to Hunt. The companies listed in the letter include Uncapped, Apian, Pockit and Pivotal Earth.

Also Read SVB's stranded deposits spread the pain from tech to Napa Valley SVB depositors, investors tried to pull $42 bn on Thursday amid jitters Asia witnesses limited contagion risk from Silicon Valley Bank's woes Here's how Silicon Valley Bank served the tech industry and beyond SVB crisis sends jitters through startup world: Here's what we know Dollar steady as volatile markets brace for payroll data, Swiss franc jumps Troubled Silicon Valley startup bank spooks share markets, bonds rally Gold trades in tight range as investors squared positions for US jobs data Wall Street drops, Treasury yields gyrate on Fed Chairman Powell's remarks Oil steady post 5 sessions of gains, as market juggles supply, demand fears



Founders were anxiously awaiting the outcome of the roundtable and any information about how their deposits at the bank would be handled. Toby Mather, CEO of UK-based education software startup Lingumi, has 85% of his companys cash in SVB. He tried to transfer some of his accounts, but as of Saturday evening, he wasnt sure whether that worked. This is life or death for us, he said. These things seemed so mundane before. Underscoring the challenge governments face in getting a handle of the full extent of the fallout: The UK Treasury has begun canvassing startups, asking how much they have on deposit, their approximate cash burn and their access to banking facilities at SVB and beyond, two people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified because the information isnt public. Treasury declined to comment on the survey.



As in the US, some SVB deposits in the UK are insured, but it was unclear when those funds would be available. A deeper concern among startup leaders is that the SVB collapse would throttle future funding from venture capital into the UK, where businesses are already hobbled by Brexit. Jack OMeara, founder of the London genomics startup Ochre Bio, spent the weekend trying, unsuccessfully, to move deposits out of SVB. If there is no intervention, he said, it could really wipe out a generation of entrepreneurial companies.



The impact of the SVB incident on the technology industry should not be underestimated, analysts led by Liu Zhengning at China International Capital Corp. said in a note. Deposits are crucial for tech startups because they generally require a lot of cash to pay for hefty expenditures including research and development costs and staff salaries, they said. Asias tech leaders are scrambling to assess the potential ramifications too. In Singapore, financiers and entrepreneurs at a Wharton alumni gathering in the the Shangri-La shared news about the fallout, while startup founders and investors at a conference in Mumbai talked about nothing else.



Back in Silicon Valley, US Congressman Ro Khanna from Santa Clara held a town hall late Friday that was attended by more than 600 people including startup founders, tech leaders and SVB employees. It went on for more than 2.5 hours with the primary focus on small businesses trying to make payroll across the nation come Monday. If these cash deposits finally have to be impaired in the process of bankruptcy or restructuring, some tech firms may face high cash flow tension, they said. The risks of bankruptcy should not be excluded.



A drones startup founder there said a withdrawal she made on Thursday hadnt gone through and that she was concerned about making payroll for her 12 full-time employees. She had tried calling the FDIC multiple times, but the number doesnt answer, she said. SVB customers in California, many of them startup founders, stood outside of the banks branch on Silicon Valleys famed Sand Hill Road in the cold and rain on Friday, knocking on the locked glass doors and trying to get representatives of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to answer their questions.



Some in the VC and startup world are trying to come up with temporary fixes. Uncapped, a UK financial tech startup that lends to other startups, said its launching an emergency funding program to help companies meet payroll and other obligations, as well as longer-term bridge loans to help with working capital. Another customer remarked that he should have brought a bottle of whiskey to pass around as they waited. In trying to get more information from an FDIC representative, he said, Put yourself in our shoes. The representative apologized before closing the glass door once again.



In Canada, SVB Financial Groups unit in the country reported C$435 ($314 million) in secured loans last year, double the C$212 million a year earlier, regulatory filings show. Its customers include e-commerce software provider Shopify Inc. and pharmaceutical company HLS Therapeutics Inc., according to a previous statement by the bank. Alexander Fitzgerald, founder of broadband startup Cuckoo and a former Treasury official, noted that the finances of British startups are already stretched due to a slowdown in venture capital funding market. British startups need the Treasury to step in fast, he said.

Toronto-based advertising-tech firm AcuityAds Holdings Inc. revealed on Saturday it had $55 million in deposits at SVB, amounting to more than 90% of its cash. The firm had halted trading of its stock Friday after a 14% slump, citing the unfolding situation with Silicon Valley Bank.
Former Finance Minister of Pakistan Miftah Ismail on Friday said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) doesn't trust Pakistan's Ministry of Finance, reported Geo News.

In an exclusive interview with Geo News, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader dissected the main issues which -- evolved during the last year-- conked out the critical deal with the IMF, steeping the country in a hydra-headed crisis of ginormous proportions and said, "There's lack of competence and shortage of credibility."

Pakistan is relying on funds from the multilateral lender to avoid defaulting on its international obligations and revive its USD 350 billion economy.

The funds will be crucial to ease widespread shortages, curb record prices and bolster foreign reserves that are now barely enough for over a month's worth of imports.

Commenting on the holdup in the IMF programme, Miftah said the finance minister had been saying the government would get the review done in one week for many weeks, but now "he doesn't even say one week".

"The issue I think is that the Pakistani government has done all it could and now we needed the friendly foreign countries to fund us so that our external accounts are not in deficit and our external requirement is fulfilled," he said explaining that the real issue, according to him, was that the "IMF doesn't trust the finance ministry," reported Geo News.

Also Read Miftah resigns as Pakistan FM, Ishaq Dar to return after 5-year exile Lack of tenable answers to IMF may delay release of funds to Pak: Report Pakistan set to bow to IMF's demands as forex reserves drop to $3.08 bn Malaysian PM Ismail Yaakob dissolves Parliament, calls for early elections Pakistan's saga of mismanagement: Floods, economic crisis, political chaos Lula promises public works in Brazil to create jobs, boost economy Inflation going in right direction, Joe Biden says after jobs data In European Union's inflation crisis, the humble egg takes the cake We see India as trusted technology partner: US Commerce Secy Gina Raimondo 89% companies hired foreign nationals laid off in US, finds survey

To win the lender's support, Pakistan has increased tax rates and energy prices, while it has jacked up the policy rate to 20 per cent, the highest in 25 years, as advised by the IMF. The nation also allowed its anaemic currency to massively depreciate to become one of the worst performers globally.

The trust gap between Pakistan and IMF widened unabated after previous authorities contravened the agreed terms.

Meanwhile, amid a dollar crunch, investors have also raised concerns about the nation's ability to make good on its international debt payment obligations, reported Geo News.

The nation needs to repay about USD 3 billion in dues in upcoming payments until June, while USD 4 billion is expected to be rolled over.

When asked to comment on Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir's statement "worst is behind us", which he gave in a recent meeting with the businessmen, Miftah said in his view the economy would remain deep in the woods for the next few months more without giving a clear time period.

"I think this is too long a delay in striking a staff-level agreement even after accepting and implementing every term the IMF has imposed on Pakistan," he said expressing concerns over the delay, reported Geo News.

The former finance minister said that this delay spoke volumes about the IMF's scanty confidence in our ability to manage the debt effectively, while our friendly countries dragging their feet on making the announcements were only following the international bailout master's suit.

"I mean obviously, not only there's a lack of competence, but also a shortage of credibility. Beyond this, Pakistan is in the grip of a political and economic crisis. It is going to be a tough few months for us -- but only a few," Miftah claimed.

The politicians in Pakistan are adept at misleading their own people as evident from last week's claim of Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar that the external financing assurance was not one of the IMF's conditions for clearance of the bailout funding.

Contrary to it, the fact is that "all IMF programme reviews require firm and credible assurance that there is sufficient financing to ensure that the borrowing member's balance of payments is fully financed over the remainder of the programme."

The next tranche of the IMF bailout package would depend on Pakistan's quick measures to arrange for full financing of its balance of payments deficit for the fiscal year 2022-23.
Circle reiterated its stablecoin, also known as USDC, is fully backed by $42.1 billion in cash and US Treasuries. The company said outbound transfers of the $3.3 billion at Silicon Valley Bank initiated as of Thursday had yet to settle but expressed confidence in US regulatory efforts to manage the overall situation.



Cryptos second-largest stablecoin rebounded toward its intended $1 dollar peg as issuer Circle Internet Financial. pledged to cover any shortfall in $3.3 billion of reverses held at collapsed Silicon Valley Bank. USD Coin (USDC), a key plank in crypto markets, rose as high as $1 and was trading at 98.2 cents as of 10:50 a.m. Sunday in Tokyo. The coin had earlier fetched less than 85 cents in a depeg that sent a shudder through digital assets.
Every day people with modest means are maimed or lose their lives in public places such as banks, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, malls, hospitals, h

In December 2021, D S Ranga Rao, a retired government officer, and his wife visited a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Thane, Maharashtra. He fell from a shaky, unstable ladder in the locker room, receiving major injuries that needed surgery. The bank refused to acknowledge any responsibility or offer compensation. Officials there would not even call an ambulance until he agreed to pay for it. Guided by the Moneylife Foundation, Mr Rao filed a complaint with the branch, escalating it to the nodal officer and then taking it up with the banking ombudsman (BO) office. At each stage, his claim was summarily rejected. To add insult to injury, the BO made its decision non-appealable. When we escalated the matter to the highest levels in the Reserve Bank of India, Mr Raos costs were partially reimbursed.
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that the BJP government has made agriculture an unprofitable proposition.

Slamming the central government for offering low prices to farmers for their agricultural produce, Akhilesh said in a statement, "Will farmers even think of sowing the next crop after suffering losses? Potatoes will topple the government this time. The BJP government that had enticed farmers by promising to double their income, will face defeat in 2024 because of potatoes."

He claimed farmers were being exploited because of the anti-farmer policies of the BJP government.

"Distressed potato farmers, on Holi, were seen struggling in queues outside cold storages, but the chief minister is oblivious to the situation. Potato farmers are getting lower prices for their produce even as the input cost has risen," he said.

Akhilesh said the SP had been demanding MSP for crops, but the BJP government, instead of protecting farmers, had turned patrons into capitalists.

"Instead of buying potatoes on MSP, the government has offered to buy them for Rs 650 per quintal (under the Market Intervention Scheme-MIS)," he stated.

Also Read Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav flays rise in milk prices, bus fares People being prevented from casting vote in Mainpuri, Rampur: Akhilesh Samajwadi Party begins collecting proof of voter deletion in UP polls Mulayam Singh Yadav quite critical today, on life-saving drugs: Hospital Samajwadi Party holds protest outside UP Assembly ahead of Budget Session J&K integral part of India: Abdullah demands restoration of statehood Budget roadmap for new, progressive, prosperous Punjab: Bhagwant Mann Akhilesh Yadav is Bhrashtachar Bhushan: UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak Akhilesh hits out at BJP, says what secret is govt hiding with encounter Inflation not bothering BJP as big industrialists belong to them: Akhilesh

He further said, "Considering the rent for hiring a tractor trolley to ferry potatoes, inputs costs that include irrigation, fertiliser, insecticide, pesticide, store charge and labour, the purchase price should be fixed for at least Rs 1500 per quintal."

"The government has wreaked havoc on potato farmers. Potato farmers are getting low prices for their crop while input cost is increasing. Farmers are living in despair," Yadav said.

"There is chaos at purchasing centres of paddy and wheat. Multinational companies are buying crops at low prices. Farmers are selling under compulsion," said the SP chief.

He said there was a bumper yield of potatoes in Barabanki but the farmer was neither getting reasonable price nor proper arrangement for storing potatoes.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Saturday accused the BJP of not being a well-wisher of Punjab, claiming the state did not find a mention in the Union budget and the Centre had imposed the rail-ship-rail route condition for transporting coal to power plant.

Punjabis still remembered that the BJP-led Union Government "disrespected" the sacrifices of the brave warriors of Punjab by pulling out the state's tableau from the Republic Day parade, he said.

"If the BJP really has some fondness for the state, then why was Punjab not even mentioned in the Union Budget," the chief minister asked.

"How can a party that imposed conditions like the rail-ship-rail route to bring coal via Sri Lanka, be a well-wisher of Punjab? Is this the kind of love the BJP has for Punjab?" he asked.

Punjab's ruling AAP had earlier slammed the Centre for asking the state government to lift coal using RSR mode, claiming that it would put an additional financial burden on the state power utility.

Last month, Chief Minister Mann had said the Centre has agreed to waive the rail-ship-rail condition for coal supply.

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Participating in the debate on the budget estimates in the Punjab Assembly here, Mann hailed the budget presented by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday.

Referring to a BJP MLA's statement that the AAP government criticizes the Centre and at the same time seeks funds from it, Mann said Punjab is not begging for funds rather it is its constitutional right.

"We are collecting GST for the Union government and demanding our rightful share from this," Mann said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made electricity free and was providing free education and health services, Mann said.

"Now 'Bade Sahab' says 'free ki revdi ki baante hain' (they are giving freebies). How can giving free electricity, education and free medical treatment with the tax money of people be 'free ki revdi'," he asked.

"If it is so, then I want to ask 'bade sahab' about Rs 15 lakh for each family and the promise of 2 crore jobs every year," Mann said.

He also accused the BJP of harassing political rivals.

The chief minister said that the former finance minister who presented the budget for nine years during the Akali-BJP and Congress governments brought the state on the "verge of disaster".

Without naming Manpreet Badal, he ridiculed the former finance minister for criticising the AAP government for the budget and called him a "chameleon" who switched parties frequently for his own vested interests.

About opposition members targeting the government over the Rs 164 crore allocation for Punjabi University, Mann assured the house that his government will not allow any university to suffer any financial loss.
After Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal last week announced a new platform, 'Insaaf', and a website, 'Insaaf Ke Sipahi', to fight the 'injustice prevailing in the country under the BJP-led government', the senior lawyer on Saturday held a meeting at Jantar Mantar to launch the initiative.

Sibal launched this platform in the presence of Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, which is intended to help people rise in the fight against injustice with lawyers at the forefront of the initiative.

Addressing the gathering, Sibal referred to the raids conducted at the premises of RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family members, and claimed that the operation was BJP's response to losing power in Bihar.

Sibal said: "You can see what is happening in Bihar. They felt Tejashwi Yadav and JD-U are coming together. It's been years since Lalu Prasad has been the Chief Minister of Bihar. They came to remember the case all of a sudden."

Talking about the recent raids by probe agencies, Sibal said: "The ED sees the Indian map in a different way. They see only the opposition ruled states, they don't go to BJP ruled states."

Focusing on his initiative, Sibal said: "Every political party has its own ideology, but when you read the preamble of the Constitution, the basis of it is justice."

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Sibal also pointed out the prevalence of defectors becoming ministers, and went on to accuse the BJP of buying MLAs, and destabilising opposition governments in different states.

"What kind of politics is this? Defectors are become ministers... Those who defect from their party should be banned from becoming ministers or fighting elections for five years," Sibal said.

Sibal also demanded for Rs 50,000 salary for school teachers, free education for women, and cheap healthcare, and more.

About Sibal's national-level platform, Tankha said: "Everyone wants justice, but there are very few who can fight for it. This will become the voice of 133 crore Indians. We hope that it will transform into a people's movement."

Those who want to combat injustice can register on the website insaafkesipahi.co.in, Sibal said.
People's Bank of China (PBOC) Governor Yi Gang attends a news conference in Beijing, China, March 3. Reuters-Yonhap



China kept its central bank governor and finance minister in their posts on Sunday, an unexpected move at the annual session of the rubber-stamp parliament prioritizing continuity as economic challenges loom at home and abroad.



President Xi Jinping, who has been installing allies in key roles amid a sweeping government reshuffle as he begins a third five-year term, broke with convention to retain Yi Gang, 65, as governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) and Liu Kun, 66, as finance minister, as both men have reached the official retirement age of 65.



"Opting for continuity in these critical economic roles suggests an emphasis on credibility and stability," said Mattie Bekink, China director at the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network.



"It is also perhaps a tacit acknowledgment of some of the challenges for Beijing at the moment," she said. "The real challenge for this third Xi administration is whether it will address structural imbalances in China's economy and undertake reforms necessary to ensure China's long-term competitiveness."



The government has set a 2023 economic growth target of around 5 percent, up from 3 percent last year, which was among the weakest performances in decades.



The biggest change at the parliament session was the promotion on Saturday of Li Qiang, 63, a longtime Xi confidant, to premier. The former Shanghai Communist Party boss takes a role charged with managing the economy, replacing Li Keqiang, 67, who stepped down after two five-year terms.



"The government sent a positive signal to the market by keeping these senior financial experts in the cabinet," said Zhang Zhiwei, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management.



The U.S.-educated central bank chief Yi, appointed PBOC governor in 2018, had widely been expected to retire after being left off the ruling Communist Party's Central Committee during the party's once-in-five-years congress in October. Analysts had anticipated that once Yi and Liu stepped aside, they would be replaced by people with far less international experience.



"The U.S. side will be much more comfortable with someone like Yi Gang in charge," said Alfred Wu, assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yu School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.



"It shows China wants to at least have a dialogue with the United States on monetary policy and financial cooperation," he said.



Sources had told Reuters last month that Zhu Hexin, chairman of state-run financial conglomerate CITIC Group, was likely to succeed Yi as head of the central bank.



The appointments "indicate that the government put professionalism, management and the art of fine-tuning on the front burner when it comes to picking the central bank governor and finance minister, as positions at the helm of core economic departments need tremendous professional skill," said Sun Fei, an economist.



As expected, Wang Wentao stays on as commerce minister.



Zheng Shanjie, governor and deputy party secretary of Zhejiang province, was approved to take over as head of the National Development and Reform Commission, the powerful state planner. (Reuters)




National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Saturday stressed again that Jammu and Kashmir is an intergral part of the india and reiterated the demand for restoration of its statehood.

Addresing a press conference at Jammu, former chief minster questioned why elections were not being held in Jammu and kashmir. "It is very strange"

"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The people of J & K belong to this nation. We want statehood to be restored & elections to be held," he said.

Farooq termed the decision of the centre to downgrade the state into a union territory a "tragedy".

"First time in the history of the nation, a proud state was reduced to a UT, it was a tragedy," Farooq Abdullah, NC chief said.

NC Patron said that India is a democratic country where the laws of constitution should be adhered by everyone.

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On being asked why elections were not being held in Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq said:" I do not have the magical wand to tell media why elections were not being held here.Donot ask me this question".

Former CM said that a delegation of opposition leaders is going to meet national leaders in the National Capital very soon. "We will decide weather the delegation will call on Prime Minister Modi and Home Minster Amit Shah".

Farooq slammed BJP-led Centre for failing to deliver 50,000 Jobs to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir as promised earlier. "How many jobs have you delivered".

From bulldozer politics to corruption to property tax being imposed in J & K, Farooq took a dig at BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "What is all this?"

"Youth in kashmir are being forced to move outside for job opportunities. Don't they have a right to employment here?"

Farooq alleged that Youth of kashmir were langushing in different jails across India."We do not know their whereabouts. "We are going to meet national leaders to apprise them about these issues. We will also raise such issues inside the Parliament".

"We want to seek a solution to solve the probelms of our people," he said.
In poll-bound Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday tore into the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, charging the opposition party and its allies with being "busy digging my grave," and lashed out at the Wayanad MP for his comments on democracy in the country as an affront to its people.

In his sixth visit to the southern state this year, Modi seemed to have given a fresh momentum to the ruling BJP's bid for a successive term, even as rival Congress has been mounting an aggressive attack over its saffron opponent on issues including corruption.

Assembly elections are due by May and Modi addressed two public meetings -- in Mandya in the Vokkaliga heartland of Old Mysuru region and Dharwad in north Karnataka, where politically-influential Lingayat community holds the key to electoral fortunes.

In all, the Prime Minister dedicated and laid the foundation stones of projects worth around Rs 16,000 crore, including the Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway.

The Rs 8,480 crore Expressway, which involved six laning of the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru section of NH-275, will reduce the travel time between the two cities from around three hours to about 75 minutes, according to officials.

Targeting Gandhi, albeit in a veiled attack, Modi asserted no power in this world can harm India's democratic traditions.

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In an apparent referrence to Gandhi's remarks made in London -- that structures of Indian democracy are under "brutal attack", he termed it an insult to 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara, the people of Karnataka, India's great traditions and its citizens.

The Prime Minister's statement is being seen with political significance as Basaveshwara is highly revered in the state, especially by the dominant Lingayat community, who form the major vote base of the ruling BJP.

"I have come to the land of Bhagwan Basaveshwar and I'm feeling blessed. Among the contributions of Basaveshwara most important is the establishment of Anubhava Mantapa; this democratic system is researched across the world, and there are several such things because of which we say India is not just the largest democracy, it is also the mother of democracy," Modi said.

Addressing a large gathering after inaugurating the permanent campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dharwad, he said, he has had the good fortune of unveiling the statue of Basaveshwara in London a few years ago.

"Statue of lord Basaveshwar is in London, but it is unfortunate that in the same London questions were raised on India's democracy. The roots of India's democracy have been nurtured by centuries of our history. No power in this world can harm India's democratic traditions. Despite this some are constantly making it stand in the dock," Modi said in an obvious swipe at Gandhi.

Such people are insulting Basaveshwara, the people of Karnataka, India's great traditions, the country's 130 crore aware citizens, he further said, adding "people of Karnataka should be cautious about such people."



Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath too, in a veiled attack on Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in London, said when India's dominance on global platforms is growing, some people are criticising the country on foreign land.

Modi also targeted Congress and its allies, saying they were "busy digging my grave," even as he was focussed in ensuring development.

Addressing a public meeting in Maddur in Mandya district, he accused the Congress and its allies of being busy in digging his grave, while he was busy working for the development of the country and the welfare of the poor, as he said that blessing of the people is his biggest protection shield.

Seeking to raise the pitch of BJP's poll campaign, he also asserted that the double engine government is a necessity for the fast paced development of the state.

"Amid the efforts of the double engine government for the development of the country and the progress of its people, what is Congress and its associates doing...Congress is dreaming about digging the 'kabr' (grave) of Modi," said the PM.

"Congress is busy digging the grave of Modi, while Modi is busy building Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. Congress is busy digging Modi's grave, while Modi is busy improving the lives of the poor '', he said. "Congress people who are dreaming about digging the grave of Modi, don't know that the blessings of crores of mothers, sisters, daughters, and people is the biggest protection shield for Modi," he added.

Pointing out that before 2014, the Congress government was ruling at the Centre, Modi said, "it was a coalition government running with the support of various types of people. It did not leave any stone unturned to destroy poor men and poor families. The money that was there for the development of the poor, thousands of crores of rupees of it was looted by the Congress government."



Earlier, Modi was accorded a rousing welcome during a massive road show where people showered flower petals at him. The PM threw the flower petals back at the cheering crowd at several places, during the road show in the district headquarters city of Mandya.

He enthusiastically waved at the big crowd, which had lined up on both sides of the route.

The Prime Minister picked up the shower petals which got piled up on the bonnet of his car and was seen hurling them back at the crowd. He also got down from his car and greeted folk artistes who staged a performance to welcome him.

The ruling BJP appears focused on winning a good number of seats in the Old Mysuru region, the party's key weak link.

Mandya in Old Mysuru region is a Vokkaliga community dominated district, largely seen as a bastion of JD(S), where the Congress too is strong, and the BJP is trying to make inroads.

According to senior party functionaries, BJP though has managed to emerge as the single largest party in the last couple of Assembly polls, it fell short of majority due to continued poor show in the Old Mysuru region.

Actress-turned-politician and independent MP from Mandya, Sumalatha Ambareesh announcing her support to BJP, just ahead of PM's visit to her constituency, is also likely to help the J P Nadda-led party in the upcoming polls. She shared the dais with the PM at the Maddur event. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Pralhad Joshi attended the different events.

The Old Mysuru region, where 89 seats--28 of them in Bengaluru, are up for grabs, is spread across 11 districts in south Karnataka including Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajnagar, Hassan and Kolar, and it is here the BJP has set sight for an improved performance.

In the 2018 polls, the BJP managed to win one seat in Hassan; later in the high-voltage 2019 bypolls, it netted K R Pet seat, registering its first victory in Mandya district and also won Chikkaballapur, another first. Creating a history of sorts, the party bagged the Sira Assembly segment in Tumakuru district for the first time in the 2020 bypolls.
Tech giant Google has announced that it will release its "Android 13 QPR3 Beta 1" update in the week of March 13.

This update will download automatically for Beta Program members, reports Android Authority.

With this update, the Beta Program users will get the QPR3 before the stable version is rolled out to the public.

The stable version of the update is expected to be released in June this year.

It seems that the users who are enrolled in the Beta Program will not receive the upcoming March QPR2 public stable release, the report said.

So, if they want the stable update, then they will have to opt out of the program.

Also Read Apple iPhones on iOS 16 beta to get 5G next week: How-to get beta software Apple releases iOS 16.2 developer beta with 5G network support for iPhones 5G on Pixel: How-to enrol for Android beta releases for Google smartphones WhatsApp to let users share up to 100 media on Android beta in new feature Google may face a third CCI fine in less than a month. Now for Android TV Apple's upcoming OLED iPad Pro may cost equal to MacBook Pro: Report Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5 may feature 6.2-inch outer screen Google to now let beta users reorder devices in Home application WhatsApp rolling out 'multi-selection' feature for messages on Windows beta Samsung to launch next-gen Galaxy SmartTag later this year: Report

Recently, the tech giant had highlighted its key initiatives for 2023 which is to make Android and Google Play more safe and secure.

"It's our top priority to keep Android and Google Play safe for developers to build successful businesses and provide quality apps and games to billions of users around the world," the tech giant said.

--IANS

aj/prw
Ukrainian self propelled howitzer 2s1 of 80 Air Assault brigade fires towards Russian forces at the frontline near Bakhmut, Ukraine, Friday. AP-Yonhap



Russia's advance seems to have stalled in Moscow's campaign to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a leading think tank said in an assessment of the longest ground battle of the war.



The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said there were no confirmed advances by Russian forces in Bakhmut. Russian forces and units from the Kremlin-controlled paramilitary Wagner Group continued to launch ground attacks in the city, but there was no evidence that they were able to make any progress, ISW said late Saturday.



The report cited the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Eastern Group, Serhii Cherevaty, who said that fighting in the Bakhmut area had been more intense this week than the previous one. According to Cherevaty, there were 23 clashes in the city over the previous 24 hours.



The ISW's report comes following claims of Russian progress earlier this week. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Saturday that paramilitary units from the Kremlin-controlled Wagner Group had seized most of eastern Bakhmut, with a river flowing through the city now marking the front line of the fighting. The assessment highlighted that Russia's assault will be difficult to sustain without more significant personnel losses.



The mining city of Bakhmut is located in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk province, one of four regions of Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed last year. Russia's military opened the campaign to take control of Bakhmut in August, and both sides have experienced staggering casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed not to retreat.



In its latest report Sunday, the U.K. Defense Ministry said Sunday that the impact of the heavy casualties Russia is continuing to suffer in Ukraine varies dramatically across the country. The ministry's intelligence update said that the major cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg remain "relatively unscathed," particularly among members of Russia's elite. In contrast, in many of Russia's eastern regions, the death rate as a percentage of the population is "30-40 times higher than in Moscow."



The report highlighted that ethnic minorities often take the biggest hit. In the southern Astrakhan region, for example, about "75 percent of casualties come from the minority Kazakh and Tartar populations."



Russia's mounting casualties are reflected in a loss of government control over the country's information sphere, ISW said. The think tank said that Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed "infighting in the Kremlin inner circle" and that the Kremlin has effectively ceded control over the country's information space, with Putin unable to readily regain control.



The ISW sees Zakharova's comments, made at a forum on the "practical and technological aspects of information and cognitive warfare in modern realities" in Moscow, as "noteworthy" and in line with the think tank's long standing assessments about the "deteriorating Kremlin regime and information space control dynamics."



Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russian attacks over the previous day killed at least five people and wounded another seven across Ukraine's Donetsk and Kherson regions, local Ukrainian authorities reported on Sunday morning.



Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said that two people were killed in the region, one in the city of Kostyantynivka and one in the village of Tonenke. Four further civilians were wounded.



Local officials in the southern Kherson province confirmed that Russian forces fired 29 times on Ukrainian-controlled territory in the region on Saturday, with residential areas of the regional capital, Kherson, coming under fire three times. Three people died in the province and a further three were wounded.



In Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv province, the Kharkiv, Chuhuiv and Kupiansk districts came under fire, but no civilian casualties were reported.



The head of Ukraine's southern Mykolaiv province Gov. Vitali Kim said Sunday morning that the town of Ochakiv, set at the mouth of the Dnieper River, came under artillery fire in the early hours of Sunday. Cars were set ablaze, while private houses and high-rise buildings sustained damage. No casualties were reported. (AP)


Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Well, it took Geely Philippines long enough. About two years after we said they needed a sub-compact crossover to penetrate the local market...
Looked Upon As A Lesser

Several of the people that Vilas-Boas spoke with felt that their work is considered as something less than whats being done in live action. Sergio Pablos, who developed the idea behind the Despicable Me franchise and founded Klaus production outfit The SPA Studios, explained:

Anybody who works in filmmaking, I feel theyre my peers. I dont think they look at me the same way We put as much hard work into our films as any live-action filmmaker, but unfortunately, thats not how its perceived. As long as people consider animation to be something that is not quite filmmaking, whatever system we put in place is not going to be fair.

Beauty and the Beast director Kirk Wise felt similar when his film earned a historic best picture nomination in 1992:

[T]here were those in the awards broadcast who had to be snarky and pooh-poohed the notion of a cartoon being included with real movies.

Its Disneys Award To Lose

Many working in animation feel that an animated feature nomination is the best that they can ever hope to achieve, as the award will just go to whatever Disneys best film of the year happens to be.

Minnow Mountain co-founder Craig Staggs, which produced Richard Linklaters Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood, said:

Your only question is, Am I going to get to lose to Disney this year? Disney wins, and nobody pays attention to your film. And Disney was going to get the attention anyway More people that have worked for Disney vote on these films through the Academy than any other company. And the second, I think, is Dreamworks, who have won the second most. So its a direct result of representation. It goes against the stated spirit of the awards.

Cartoon Saloon co-founder Tomm Moore concurred:

We felt we were in the running with Wolfwalkers, but its true  in most cases, the nomination is the prize.

A Medium For Kids

The response to last years disastrous animated feature presentation, when animated films were described as kids movies that parents are forced to endure, was immediate and overwhelming, and even elicited a sharp response from directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord.

Looking back, The Book of Life and Maya and the Three creator Jorge Gutierrez remembered:

That was a kick in the balls to the entire animation community. To be told, Hey, you guys are making movies for kids, and parents are falling asleep: Thank you for making babysitter movies.

#OscarsSoWhite

Becoming a voting member of the Academy is a career highlight for many filmmakers, but one that Gutierrez says is denied many talented artists due to a strict bar of entry. According to him:

You have to have done two supervisor positions on a theatrical movie. For women and minorities, that is almost impossible historically. They keep going, Hey, guys, can we invite more women and more minorities into the group? No one fulfills those requirements.

Veteran animator Nancy Beiman, who worked on numerous major Disney productions including A Goofy Movie, Hercules, and Fantasia 2000, is a rare voice of dissent to the notion that the Academys voter base is too homogenized:

Youre talking to an older animator, and I absolutely love independent films and the foreign films. I prefer them to most of the major-studio products. All of the older governors, I believe, are no longer on the board, so they have their younger people. You dont know how people think.

There are a load of other great quotes and insights in the Vulture piece that we can only hope will expand the discussion in the public sphere about how animation is treated by the Academy, as well as by Hollywood in general.
Cartoon Movie 2023 wrapped up on Thursday, with the Bordeaux-based event handing out its latest honors, which are called the Cartoon Tributes.

Winners for the three categories  European animation producer, director, and distributor/sales agent of the year  were picked by polling the 876 attendees at this years event.

Seven production companies split the producer of the year honor for their collaboration on Alain Ughettos European Film Award animated feature winner No Dogs or Italians Allowed. The stop-motion film was co-produced by Les Films du Tambour de Soie, Vivement Lundi!, and Foliascope in France; Graffiti Film in Italy; Nadasdy Film in Switzerland; Ocidental Filmes in Portugal; and Lux Fugit Film in Belgium.
The Iranian flag is seen flying over a street in Tehran, Iran, in this photo taken on Feb. 3. Reuters-Yonhap





Iran's supreme court has upheld the death sentence handed down to a Swedish Iranian dual national convicted of leading an Arab separatist group accused of attacks including one on a military parade in 2018 that killed 25 people, state media reported on Sunday.







Iran said in 2020 that its security forces arrested Habib Farajollah Chaab abroad, without saying where or how he was captured.







"Chaab was sentenced to death after several court sessions with the presence of his lawyer ... The Supreme Court confirmed the death sentence," Iran's judiciary's Mizan news agency reported.







Chaab was charged with leading the separatist Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz, which seeks a separate state in the oil-rich Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran, and plotting and carrying out "numerous bombings and terrorist operations" state media reported when his trial began that same year.







He was also charged with being "corrupt on Earth", a capital offence under Iran's strict form of Islamic law, Iranian state media said.







Iran has had tense relations with its ethnic minorities, which include Arabs, Kurds, Azeris and Baluch, and has accused them of aligning with neighboring countries rather than Tehran.







Arabs and other minorities have long said they face discrimination in Iran, a charge the Islamic Republic denies. (Reuters)


Disney animated characters are no strangers to the Academy Awards, sometimes even attending them in person to hand out prizes.

Their presence has, at times, added a welcome bit of levity to the proceedings. Other times, things felt almost nepotistic, like when Disney-Pixar characters Woody and Buzz Lightyear announced that Disney-Pixars Inside Out had won best animated feature in 2016.

And in 1988, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck engaged in a slapstick spat that felt awkward and incongruous when Mickey then announced that Frederic Backs The Man Who Planted Trees, an ethereal tale about a shepherd trying to reforest a barren valley, had won the award for best animated short.
Delhi police have arrested two Nigerian men for allegedly cheating a woman in the national capital on the pretext of clearing customs fees for valuable items, officials said on Sunday.

The accused have been identified as Alex (30), a resident of City Bein, Edo state, Nigeria, and Ibeh (45), a resident of Oduduwa street, Lagos, Nigeria. They were arrested from Greater Noida, officials said.

The Complaint

"On February 2, 2023, Delhi police received a complaint from a 24-year-old woman alleging that she met a person namely Aman Arora on a matrimonial site who introduced himself as a marine engineer in the UK. After that, they started chatting on WhatsApp," the police said.

The Modus Operandi

According to the police, the accused shared an airline ticket from London to Mumbai with the complainant. On 01.02.2023, the complainant received a call from a person claiming to be an officer from Mumbai airport who said that Aman Arora had been detained as he was carrying 40,000 pounds with him. The complainant paid Rs 8,500 for registration of valuable articles as requested by the officer, officials said.

The Scam

The complainant made several payments subsequently amounting to a total of Rs 4 lakh on different pretexts whenever asked by the alleged custom officer. After that, she became suspicious and filed a complaint. Accordingly, a case under sections 419/420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered, and the investigation was taken up.

The Investigation

To solve the case and nab the criminals involved, a special team was constituted. During the investigation, based on technical analysis of mobile numbers and IPs, it was learned that the gang was operating from Greater Noida. Local intelligence was also developed on the suspects, and it was discovered that the suspects were Nigerian nationals and resided in rented accommodations in Greater Noida.

The Arrests

"With the information gathered at the ground level and technical support, the location/address of the suspect was identified, and a raid was conducted in a society in Greater Noida. One accused person was apprehended who revealed his identity as Alex. The mobile phone used in the crime was recovered from his possession. He was arrested accordingly," said the police.

"On sustained interrogation, the accused Alex disclosed that he came to India on medical visa in 2020. With the help of his associates, he started cheating by making fake marriage proposals or sending expensive gifts. They created fake profiles on social media in the name of persons settled in the UK using fake pics of them. Then they contacted Indian ladies through social media apps. After proposing them for marriage and luring them in the name of expensive gifts, they asked for money under the pretext of custom clearances," the police added.

Further Arrests

According to police reports, the accused had created a profile in the name of Aman Arora at a matrimonial site in this particular case. After that, during chatting, they lured her for marriage and to settle in the USA. His other associate, Ibeh, used to manage bank accounts for siphoning off the cheated amount.

Accordingly, during police custody remand, another accused namely Ibeh was also arrested from Greater Noida. The mobile phone used in the crime, three ATM cards, and cash amounting to Rs 10,500 were recovered from his possession.

Both accused came to India on medical visas, the police said, adding that further investigation into the case is ongoing.
A woman told police she was walking towards her car after leaving Los 3 Amigos at 3536 Cummings Hwy. when a white male with long gray hair and no shirt yelled at her from inside a black GMC Yukon bearing Alabama tags. The woman said she spoke back to him and questioned the man about what he had said to her. He replied, If you don't come get your other kid in the back of my car, I will kill it." The woman said she was shocked at his comment, but then two other women got in the vehicle and then they all left. The woman wanted to file a police report documenting the mans comments towards her.

* * *

On scene for another call, an officer noticed severe damage to the corner of the overhang on the rear of a building at 7354 E. Brainerd Road. A bird's nest was seen inside the damaged section indicating the damage had been there for a while. The damage was consistent with a semi-trailer rounding the corner and colliding into the overhang. The estimated damage is approximately $10,000.

* * *

While patrolling the area of Central Avenue and Bailey Avenue, an officer was flagged down by a man parking in the Kankus parking lot. He noticed a group of homeless people on the side of the building acting suspicious and a white female lying on the ground, who he believed to be pushed down by another individual. The officer spoke with the three people, who were very uncooperative. They said she fell down on her own. The officer tried to speak with the woman who walked off and didnt want to speak with the officer.

* * *

An employee at Circle K at 4900 Brainerd Road told police a woman came in at 11:27 p.m. and attempted to buy cigarettes. The employee said she has a restraining order against the woman and needed the incident documented.

* * *

A woman called police and said she saw suspicious activity on the Ring camera at her fathers residence on Adams Road. Police spoke with the suspicious man, who was sitting in his truck in the driveway. He said he was visiting his friend at the residence. Police were unable to find the friend on the property. The officer spoke with the property owner inside the home and he said his son, the referred friend, lived in the shed in the back of the residence. The man said he wanted the man in the truck off his property, but he didnt want to permanently trespass him. The man in the truck left without issue.

* * *

A woman told police her wallet was stolen at Mapco at 1933 Hamill Road. She said she left it on the counter and security footage showed a black male wearing a camouflage jacket pick the wallet up and leave with it. While police were on scene, a passerby located the wallet in the parking lot. The wallet was returned to the woman and she said she didn't want to file charges on the suspect.

* * *

A woman at Pilgrims Pride at 1591 Broad St. told police a woman drove off with her purse while on lunch break. She said that she put her purse into the womans car during their orientation because there was nowhere to put it inside. She met the woman a few days ago and had been putting her bag into her car for the last few days with no issues. She went on break and the woman never returned afterward and is not answering her phone. She just wants her personal belongings back and wants a report made in case it was intentional. Police tried to contact the woman but there was no answer. The next day the woman with the purse called police and said she left early the previous day and forgot all about the purse. She spoke with the first woman and will be returning the purse.

* * *

Police responded to Carters Towing at 6320 Highway 58 where a firearm had been found in a repossessed Chevrolet Avalanche in the glove box. The firearm was a Glock 30 .45 automatic. The magazine had 13 rounds. The firearm was turned into property.

* * *

An employee at Dollar General at 2303 E. 23rd St. told police she was at the cash register and noticed two black females standing around talking near her. One went outside and then came back in. She said the suspects then started walking around the store. She doesn't know what was taken, but the suspects had two buggies full of items. The suspects went out the back emergency door and set off the alarm. The employee said the buggies were sitting outside the back door.

* * *

An office found a woman in a room behind Airport Inn at 7725 Lee Hwy. and asked her why she was there. She said she was homeless and the door was unlocked so she went inside. The officer told her she was trespassing and that she could be arrested. She said she would leave the area and not return. The officer found multiple rooms unlocked and secured them before leaving.
An Oscar statue is seen as preparations continue for the 95th Academy Awards, known as the Oscars, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, Mar. 11. Reuters-Yonhap



Hollywood is gearing up for the 95th Academy Awards, where "Everything Everywhere All at Once" comes in the lead nominee and the film industry will hope to move past "the slap" of last year's ceremony. Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 Oscars, including when they are, where to watch the live show and this year's controversies.



WHEN ARE THE OSCARS?

The Oscars will be held Sunday, March 12, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony is set to begin at 8 p.m. EDT and be broadcast live on ABC.



CAN YOU STREAM THE OSCARS?

The broadcast can be streamed with a subscription to Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, ATT TV and Fubo TV. Some of these services offer brief free trials. Here's what you need to know about how to watch or stream the show live.



WHO'S HOSTING?

Jimmy Kimmel will host for the third time and his first time since 2018. That was also the last Oscars to feature a solo host. The show went hostless for several years after Kimmel's last outing. Last year, Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes hosted as a trio. In an ad for this year's show styled after "Top Gun: Maverick," Kimmel made his humble case for being the right person for the job while noting that he can't get slapped because "I cry a lot."



WHAT'S NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE AT THE 2023 OSCARS?

The 10 movies competing for best picture are: "All Quiet on the Western Front," "Avatar: The Way of Water," "The Banshees of Inisherin," "Elvis," "Everything Everywhere All at Once," "The Fabelmans," "Tar," "Top Gun: Maverick," "Triangle of Sadness," "Women Talking." Here's a guide to how you can watch them.



WHO'S PRESENTING?

Presenters include: Halle Bailey, Antonio Banderas, Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Chastain, John Cho, Andrew Garfield, Hugh Grant, Danai Gurira, Salma Hayek Pinault, Nicole Kidman, Florence Pugh and Sigourney Weaver. They join a previously announced group including: Riz Ahmed, Emily Blunt, Glenn Close, Jennifer Connelly, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, Troy Kotsur, Jonathan Majors, Melissa McCarthy, Janelle Monae, Deepika Padukone, Questlove, Zoe Saldana and Donnie Yen. A third wave was announced Thursday: Halle Berry, Paul Dano, Cara Delevingne, Harrison Ford, Kate Hudson, Mindy Kaling, Eva Longoria, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Andie MacDowell, Elizabeth Olsen, Pedro Pascal and John Travolta.



WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE FOR THE SHOW?

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has said that winners to all categories will be announced live on the show. (Last year, some categories were taped in a pre-show, something that caused an uproar among academy members.) All signs point to a full slate of musical performances, with Rihanna performing "Lift Me Up" from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava singing Chandrabose and M.M. Keeravaani's "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR." Nominee Lady Gaga, on the other hand, will not sing "Hold My Hand," from "Top Gun: Maverick," during the show. On Monday, show producers announced that Lenny Kravitz will deliver the "In Memoriam" performance.





A sign promoting the Oscars hangs above pedestrians as preparations continue for the 95th Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on Saturday. Oscar winners will be announced during an ABC telecast on Mar. 12. UPI-Yonhap
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This 25-year-old man has spent close to 7 years with his 24-year-old fiancee after originally meeting her in college.

After graduating, they both started their careers, and they also moved in with one another. He truly thought they were creating an incredible life together, and he has to say that his relationship with her has been basically flawless.

He loves his fiancee and has never had a significant problem with her up until now.

Its honestly been a fairytale, and we got engaged last year in June, he explained. A couple of months before the engagement, I was screened for a genetic illness that my mother has.

It is a pretty devastating disease that means that the sufferer loses their motor control later in life and often in a wheelchair by around 40/50. They will also likely need late-life care. Unfortunately, my screening showed that I had the disease.

I know this would have a massive impact on my girlfriend, and I tried to give her an opportunity to consider whether this news changed how she felt about me and whether she would want to consider pursuing a life together despite the challenges that lay before us.

She really supported him as he came to terms with this news, and she also reassured him that she was in love with him and would not leave him.

He then decided to propose to her, and although he expressed an interest in picking a date for their wedding, his fiancee kept putting it off.

Eventually, he was able to get his fiancee to admit to him why she was stalling on the wedding planning, and she admitted that she never informed her parents of his diagnosis.

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Are you a lover of French culture? French people are known for living sophisticatedly, valuing meals, quality time with others, and taking it easy.

If youve ever been interested in channeling a French outlook on life, you might want to start by changing how you host gatherings and dinner parties.

You may know Manon Lagreve (@manonlagreve) from the ninth season of the famous British television series, The Great British Baking Show.

Today, shes a writer and content creator, letting her viewers in on her life as a mother, cook, and Frenchwoman living in London.

Manon created a series on her TikTok page, filled with delectable-looking recipes, called Host Like a French, where she teaches users about the traditions and recipes French people use when hosting guests.

Manons videos from this series perfectly capture French cultures most aesthetically pleasing aspects, using fresh and tasty-looking ingredients, explaining certain practices, and speaking in her lovely French accent.

One of Manons most recent videos in the series teaches viewers how to make a popular Sunday dinner in French homes  poulet frites, or chicken and fries!

Apparently, even Napolean always had roast chicken somewhere in his kitchen ready for a little munch, says Manon in her video. If you go to any boucherie (butcher) or market, youre often gonna see these roast chicken just waiting for anyone to buy them.

Manon preps her chicken for the oven by adding a lot of chopped onions, garlic, and herbs to the bottom of her roasting pan before slathering her chicken in a lot of butter and seasoning it with rosemary, salt, and pepper.

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Vicar of Dibley church votes to ban women pastors despite 4-year vacancy

While the laws of the Church of England allow female vicars, the council of a local church  which was once home to the star of BBCs television series The Vicar of Dibley about a female priest  has banned women from taking up the role at a time when the parish has been without a vicar for four years.

St. Fimbarrus Parish Church is situated in the Cornish town of Fowey, England, home to Dawn French, the 65-year-old actress and comedian best known for her role as Geraldine Granger in the BBC series for 15 years.

The parishs Parochial Church Council has passed a resolution not to have women vicars, and the Rev. Angela Berners-Wilson, the first woman to be ordained as a Church of England priest, described it as a shame, The Telegraph reported.

It seems a shame that they are still without a vicar as they dont want a woman as Priest in Charge  that is their right under Church-agreed legislation. However, at least they do accept womens priestly Ministry which is something! Berners-Wilson was quoted as saying.

The CofEs General Synod voted to ordain women as priests in 1992, and ordinations began two years later. In 2014, it voted to allow women to be ordained as bishops for the first time. However, it is up to each individual PCC to decide who will lead their congregation.

The church decided to ban women vicars after a few members said they would quit the church unless it was led by a man.

Church Warden Carol Carruthers was quoted as saying that while their Evangelical church looks to the Bible for guidance on all matters of faith and while the Bible is clear about equality, there is "debate about the roles women play in the church."

The Bible, written 2,000 years ago, was ahead of its time in its progressive attitude to women. There is, however, debate over the roles women play within the church. The church council has agreed a compromise position where we will both welcome women priests to teach the bible faithfully each Sunday and lead communion, but seek an overall male priest in charge."

She added: We appreciate this can be difficult to understand looking from the outside into the church, but would robustly defend that this position is not sexist, is widely established in the worldwide church, and accommodates all views in the membership of our church without exclusion.

The Fimbarrus churchs decision stands in sharp contrast to the appointment of Rev. Shona Hoad, who is now the vicar of the neighboring communities of Tywardreath and Golant, The Sunday Times noted.

A local business owner, Sinead Hanks, was quoted as saying that Hoad is an excellent example of what a vicar should be.

Hanks described her as young, dynamic and likeable.

Her appointment has made the situation in Fowey more frustrating, as many people there would also like a female vicar to revitalize their community, Hanks added, calling the decision nonsensical and untenable.

Wendy Jane, a parishioner, wrote a message for the Fimbarrus PCC on Facebook: Waiting ... as are a lot of Fowey residents, for your justification and explanation regarding this decision.  Have you ever considered that your unhealthy views on women and their contribution to faith may be a reason that the congregation at Fowey church now consists of a handful of people?

The role of women in church is also a subject of debate in the United States.

Saddleback Church, the California-based megachurch founded by Rick Warren in 1980, was recently expelled from the Southern Baptist Convention for having a woman fill the office of teaching pastor. The church plans to appeal the decision at the denomination's Annual Meeting in June. Since Warren's retirement last year, the church has been led by Andy and Stacie Wood.

In a podcast interview with former SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore, the bestselling author of The Purpose Driven Life laid out three Scripture passages that led him to conclude it was acceptable for women to become pastors.

Warren cited Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2 and John 20:17.

This is not a battle between liberals and conservatives. All the liberals left a long time ago. Everybody in the SBC believes in the inerrancy of Scripture, said Warren. Now we are talking about difference of interpretation.
Queer theology may sink the Church of England, British Monarchy and the Commonwealth

It was Lord Acton who noted in his essay Political Thoughts on the Church, that when a religion formerly dominating a nation is supplanted by another belief system, all that nations foundational institutions change to reflect the values of the new zealots.

Acton was writing in mid-19th century England. However, as prescient as he was, he scarcely could have foreseen the rise and influence of the gay liberation movement, the beliefs of which have been affecting both the government and the Church of England.

English clergy such as Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, have bowed to the pressure of queer theory advocates. The spearpoint that has wounded the Church of England, perhaps fatally, is the acceptance of blessing same-sex unions. If history tells us anything, the blessing of same-sex marriage will soon follow, with the revision of hateful and discriminatory liturgical language and references to God reflecting the new queer standards.

It would be tempting to regard the issue of same-sex blessing as an internal quarrel within just the Church of England. But the decision goes beyond the walls of the Church and the nation to shake the foundations of the British Commonwealth and the monarchy, which since the time of Henry VIII has been seen as the defender of the Christian faith, with the state as the supporter of the Christian religion as expressed in Anglicanism.

As Gavin Ashenden, former LGBT activist and onetime chaplain to the late Elizabeth II has indicated, until the death of the queen, England was part of Christendom. Christian principles were the spiritual and ethical glue holding the nations institutions and to a great extent, the British Commonwealth together.

In former centuries, Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant evangelical missionaries brought Christian mores and reforms to many of those nations, curbing or eliminating such practices as polygamy, ritual mutilation of the body, and shrine prostitution. Campaigns against child marriage, the practice of suttee, and the slave trade affected the laws of many nations now in the Commonwealth.

The implications of the Church of Englands capitulation to same-sex blessings are enormous, for the surrender invites further inroads of the tenets of a cult whose demands and practices are entirely antithetical to Christian orthodoxy. As the Anglican church embraces the new doctrines, rituals, and ceremonies promulgated by queer ideology, particularly if the influence of the trans movement continues apace, England and the Commonwealth countries will find the agenda goes far beyond the blessings now approved. The demands will inevitably progress from same-sex blessing to same-sex marriage, then to polygamy, then to pedophilia. The practices resisted by Christians past and present will now be resurrected in new forms if the Church of England continues on its present path while seeking to maintain its spiritual leadership.

It follows that what is left of the moral authority of England as head of the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth itself will now be jeopardized. It also means the monarchy itself is jeopardized. The charges of racism, combined with the charges of discrimination against gay and trans folk are ticking time bombs auguring a blowup of the monarchy, the Church of England, and the Commonwealth.

Consider: The most zealous leaders informed by the queer ideology approve of drugging and mutilation of the body as evidence of spiritual transformation necessary for a new identity as a member of the opposite sex. The cult infiltrating Anglicanism and Western Christianity in general openly endorses drugging, castration, mastectomies, hysterectomies, and extreme plastic surgery such as phalloplasty. Such a movement will not protest female genital mutilation. Leaders of an ideology endorsing same-sex unions and surrogacy in order to provide children for sterile couples will be speechless in protesting the callous rental of womens bodies in order to produce babies. They will have nothing to say about polyamory and polygamy. Those who believe in a quasi-religion endorsing abortion as an unassailable right will have nothing to say about infanticide; nor will they have much to say, as Ashenden points out, against adult/child sex; much less about human trafficking.

But there is hope. There is resistance to queer ideology among core Commonwealth nations.

In Africa, where the Christian faith in the form of Anglicanism has long shed itself of the control of English prelates in favor of a completely indigenous and largely conservative clergy, Africans by the countless millions have embraced orthodox Christianity and its tenets, including traditional Christian mores concerning sexuality.

The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches has protested the decision to endorse same-sex blessings in no uncertain terms. As Baptist News Global reports, Stephen Samuel Mugalu, archbishop of the Church of Uganda, has called the Church of Englands decision terrible. The archbishop states:

 from the first page of the Bible in the book of Genesis to the last page of the Bible in the book of Revelation, it is clear that Gods design for human flourishing is that we are part of a family  a family that is defined as one man and one woman united in holy matrimony for life and, God willing, a union that produces children  the Bible calls any other kind of sexual relationship a sin. Whether it is adultery, fornication, polygamy, or homosexual relationships. They are all sin, and they all separate us from God.

African Christians do not want the Wests queer liberation agenda foisted on them. They are resisting the message of the church of England suggesting African Christians are not on the right spiritual path.

Africans who closely observe the increasing degeneracy of the secularized West do not wish to hear sermons on the merits of same-sex blessing and marriage. They understand that the disintegration of the ideal of marriage between a man and a woman combined with reproductive choice code words for abortion  is aimed at reducing their numbers. They understand that African families are being attacked. Hence the cold reception given to Jill Biden.

As the Church of England further sinks into apostasy by embracing queer ideology, it will continue to hemorrhage members at home as well as influence abroad. A warning, then, to the English monarchy as titular head of the Church of England and of the Commonwealth, as well as a warning to the government of England: The promulgation of queer/woke theology augurs the departure of Africans who are orthodox Christians and the exit of the Commonwealth countries in which millions of traditional Anglicans reside. Countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda are not particularly inclined to accept the new religious/political paradigm accepted by the Church of England  as the recent uproar over the inroads of the LGBTQ movement in Kenya amply demonstrates.

Were he alive today, Lord Acton might point out that when a church established by the state becomes infiltrated by politics in open opposition to Christian foundations, no one should be astonished if the new ways are justly resisted or even repudiated both at home and abroad.

The growth of traditional Christianity in Africa may result in the transference of the Wests former authority and spiritual influence to Commonwealth countries in which Christianity is now dominant. After all, Africa is home to some 650 million Christians. Sheer numbers would indicate the future of Anglicanism, indeed Christendom itself lies in the hands of Africa.

As John Stonestreet and G. Shane Morris pointed out in a 2019 Christian Post article, African countries have already begun to send missionaries to a secularized West to reconvert America and Europe.

God works in mysterious ways.
3 pillars of biblical civil disobedience

Christians face increasingly radicalized opposition to the freedom of conscience. Secular governments continue to encroach upon freedom of conscience and religion, and as this becomes more frequent, Christians will have to choose whether to obey God or obey man.

If they hope to remain faithful against cultural and political pressure, Christians must be prepared to disobey civil law. To this end, Christians should carefully examine their situations in light of Scripture to approach the question of law-breaking with insight, integrity, and moral clarity. To do so, they need to understand the nature and scope of civil disobedience and when it is biblically justified.

Lets consider a basic framework.

Three pillars of biblical civil disobedience

Ethicists David Clark and Robert Rakestraw define civil disobedience as the non-violent, public violation of some law or policy, as an act of conscience, to protest the injustice of the law or policy and (in most cases) to effect or prevent change in the law or policy that seeks to rectify injustice through selective, socially potent forms of nonconformity. It entails at minimum the refusal to obey a law in conflict with ones moral convictions, but it can also mean breaking a law for the sake of addressing injustice.

Using a biblical worldview, we can see at least three pillars that support the use of civil disobedience.

The first pillar is submission to authority. The Bible explicitly says that the institution of government is ordained by God (Rom. 13:1) and those who resist governing authority resist Gods authority (Rom. 13:2). Everyone should obey earthly rulers and authorities (Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13-17) because obedience to civil authority is a reflection of ones obedience to God (1 Pet. 1:13, 15). Moreover, Christians should not associate with lawbreakers (Prov. 24:21) and should refrain from using physical violence to overthrow earthly governments in the name of the Kingdom of God (John 18:33-38).

The second pillar is the Christians dual citizenship. Christians are citizens of the Kingdom of God, in addition to their earthly nation. Because they are citizens of two kingdoms, they need to frame their allegiance to one in the context of the other (Mark 12:17; Luke 3:14). Jesuss command in Matthew 20:21, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesars; and unto God the things that are Gods, illuminates the difference between the Christians membership in these distinct realms. On the one hand, earthly governments hold some jurisdiction over the Christian. On the other hand, that jurisdiction is not exhaustive. It does not include all things in life, especially those things which belong to God alone.

The third pillar is the hierarchy of moral order. Gods Word is always above Caesars. At times, governments will attempt to usurp Gods authority. When this occurs, Christians should obey God rather than the government (Daniel 3, 6; Acts 4:19; 5:29). When the civil law demands that Christians violate biblical law, Christians must disregard the civil law in obedience to Christ (Eph. 5:24). Biblical civil disobedience, therefore, is a form of submission to Gods moral order in protest of the states usurpation of that order.

Applying civil disobedience

The Bible offers many examples of justified civil disobedience. The Hebrew midwives hid Moses from Pharaohs men (Ex. 1:15-21). Obadiah hid the prophets of God from Jezebel (1 Kings 18:4). Daniel refused to eat the kings meat (Daniel 1). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzars image (Daniel 3). Daniel disobeyed a prohibition against prayer (Daniel 6). The apostles refused to stop preaching the Gospel (Acts 4:18; 5:29). In Revelation, Christian saints will refuse to worship the antichrist or to receive the mark of the beast (Rev. 13:14).

These examples have at least one thing in common: They portray Gods people choosing to act righteously even if illegally. They choose to break the civil law in order to obey Gods law.

These examples also help us to evaluate contemporary applications of civil disobedience. In general, Christians should be people of the law, submitted to the law, and promoting the law. At times, however, civil disobedience may be necessary.

Space does not allow us to consider all possible scenarios in which disobedience may be justified, but whenever the choice is made not to comply with a law, Christians must be able to justify disobedience using the Word of God. They also need to consider how civil disobedience should be carried out so that they disobey in a righteous and explicitly Christian way.

To do so, we need a few principles to help us navigate these complex waters.

First, ground disobedience in the Bible, not emotion, self-interest, or prejudice. A clear articulation of moral conviction from the Bible will undergird ones confidence and conscience in the public square.

Second, do not deny the legitimacy of the entire civil law. Instead, affirm the governments legitimate claim to enforce law while challenging the governments moral authority in a specific area of the law.

Third, accept the penalty of law-breaking. By accepting the penalty for disobedience, Christians affirm Gods moral order and simultaneously resist injustice, allowing them to preserve their consciences before God in both respects.

Fourth, use every legal means at your disposal when resisting injustice, even if that means using the legal system as a means of overturning unjust laws. In fact, using the legal system to protect ones rights and resist injustice can be a morally legitimate way to affirm the rule of law, even if one has deliberately broken the law.

Fifth, be peaceful and respectful. Civil disobedience pressures the government to enforce an unjust law, which may shock the sensibilities of ordinary people and galvanize them into making reforms. Moral sympathy is only possible when civil disobedience is performed in a peaceful, orderly, and respectful manner.

Finally, act with prudence. Christians should determine in advance what can be accomplished by breaking the law and any negative side effects that are likely to result. Breaking the law ought never to be counter-productive to the cause of Christ, but should be done with grace, humility, patience, and, above all, wisdom.

Conclusion

In contemporary culture wars, the question of civil disobedience increasingly seems to be a question of when, not if, righteous resistance will be necessary. It seems the battlefields of the culture war are ever-widening as conflict between biblical morality and civil law expands into every aspect of life. And as the forces of secularism and progressivism politicize nearly all areas of life, the spaces that once seemed safe from politics no longer seem so.

We do not know where the next conflict will arise, but wise Christians should anticipate that every sphere of existence may ultimately present situations in which civil disobedience is the only legitimate choice for biblically-committed believers. In these moments, the Christian responsibility to remain faithful to Christ will not be easy, but it may be necessary. It is not a question of if, but when, we will be asked to deny Caesar for the sake of Christ. In these moments, in spite of the consequences that follow, may it be said of every Christian that they chose to obey God rather than man.

Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center.
3 temptations that successful parents must conquer

We are in a spiritual war for our childrens lives that translates as good versus evil. The enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy our children. But Jesus came to deliver us and heal the brokenhearted so that we can live a life of abundance (John 10:10). Prayer is the ultimate weapon.

The more we understand how much God is on our side, the easier it is to be prayer warriors for our children. The best pattern of a warfare prayer to combat the powers of darkness can be taken from Jesus Himself.

Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the desert by the devil (Matthew 4:111). Jesus was tired, weak, and hungry. The devil will always slither into our lives and present the greatest temptations when we are at our lowest.

First, Satan tempted Jesus with food. The devil said, If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread (verse 3).

In todays terms, the temptation was to do what felt right to the flesh. When the devil approached Jesus, it was all about appealing to His human, fleshly desires. But Jesus showed us the correct way to respond. He said, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (verse 4).

Jesus could have easily changed the stones to bread, but He knew how to trust God and He believed that the Word of God is living bread.

When we are fighting for our children and are at our lowest point, we always have Gods Word. As we feast on the words of God, we are protected and given provision.

Next, Satan chose to tempt Jesus with the pride of life. In other words, he wanted Jesus to act out of His own will and not Gods. Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down (verses 56).

There will be many times when we are tempted to execute shortcuts for our children. Those paths, however, may not be Gods best answer for them. If we intervene, we can shortcut the tests of life that God has orchestrated for our children. There are difficulties our children need to face that will determine His best outcomes for them.

Making life easier for our children is second nature. When they are small and helpless, we understand intuitively that we have to be their hands and feet. But if we continue in that vein, bringing them whatever they desire or need at their beck and call, they will never have a reason to learn to walk or run.

Jesus shows us how unwise it is. He answered Satan by saying, It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test (verse 7).

When we are tempted to bow down to what we want  or what our kids are crying for  in order to shorten a process, everyone loses. By laying ourselves and our children down at His throne where His will and power can be realized, we can feed positively into the destiny and future of our children.

The last temptation can be termed lust of the eyes. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. All this I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me (verses 89).

Satan wanted to alter Jesus allegiance to worship him and not God. Jesus could have chosen to fall into selfishness. He could have bypassed the pain of the cross and forgotten about all of us. But Jesus rebuked Satan, saying, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only (verse 10).

He defeated Satan by resisting the temptation to bow down to evil. We, too, must follow the vital step of bowing down at Gods feet and allowing Him control over everything.

When we are battle weary while fighting for the lives of our children, we can emulate Jesus by staying in Gods Word, which keeps us strong and full of hope. Then we act on Gods will for our lives and our childrens lives so that we do not test Gods plans. And we relinquish control and allow God to move both them and us through our brokenness.

Adapted from The Parents Battle Plan (Chosen Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2023) by Laine Lawson Craft. Used by permission.
Ukraine: What should be the end game?

Last week I discussed the extremely dangerous issues unleashed by Russias infamous invasion of Ukraine.

The United Nations Secretary-General and the U.N. General Assembly have both declared the Russian invasion to be a gross violation of basic international law. Furthermore, the International Community has identified the Russian invasion as a most heinous of international taboosethnic cleansing or genocide.

From Russias widespread actions and behavior in Ukraine, it is now clear for all who have eyes to see that the Russians are determined to wipe Ukraine (a nation of 40 million people) and its civilization off the map. Their goal is to obliterate Ukrainian culture and extinguish their civilization. Everywhere the Russians have been successful enough to occupy Ukrainian towns and villages, they have murdered, raped, and pillaged like Cossacks and Barbarians, establishing torture chambers and brutish prison camps, leaving behind crippled lives, shattered communities, and mass graves.

This barbaric behavior by the Russians in Ukraine is nothing new. Russian imperialism in Eastern Europe, masquerading as Communism, had been going on for more than a century and a half. Russian imperialism flew under the red flag from 1917-1991, but as the Soviet Union imploded, the Russian bear was unmasked.

As Oksana Zabuzhko, a Ukrainian novelist and poet described his long-time experience of living under Russian exploitation and imperialism:

I remember only too well how the specter of extinction was stalking Ukraine through the 1970s and the early 1980s, until the Chernobyl disaster finally broke our social paralysis and pushed Ukrainians to take our security into our own hands. In those years, those who dared to speak Ukrainian in public could be at any moment humiliated with the Russian colonialist phrase Govorite po-chelovecheski! (Speak human!)  The Problem with Russia is Russia, New York Times.

The Ukrainians courageous defense of their freedom and their so-far successful combat with the Red Army has inspired freedom-loving people around the world. Zabuzhko explained it this way, Ukrainians have all together, in a united effort of resistance, proved that non-Russian lives matter.It gives all those who speak human, with no quotation marks, hope for the future.

Unfortunately, Russias invasion and its war-crimes-worthy behavior in Ukraine have been coupled with increasingly harsh repression of dissent in Russia itself.

Almost all the strides made in the direction of greater freedom since Stalin have been, or are being, reversed. Much is at stake in Ukraine in addition to Ukrainian freedoms. The freedom of the Russian people and the peoples of the rest of Eastern Europethe near abroad are in peril as well, writes Joshua Rubenstein in The Wall Street Journal's "Putin Re-Stalinizes Russia."

In addition, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has destabilized the entire globe. Since Ukraine and Russia are both enormous exporters of wheat, the disruptions caused by the conflicts have produced major shortages in second and third-world countries and threats of famine are beginning to emerge.

The crisis in worldwide energy supplies has roiled international energy markets in dangerous and destabilizing ways.

More than 8 million Ukrainians have fled their war-ravaged country and now reside in neighboring countries like Poland and the Baltic States. Five million more Ukrainian citizens are displaced refugees in their own country. That adds up to 13 million displaced persons in a country of 40 million people. Long term, this is not sustainable!

Currently, the war is roughly a thinly balanced stalemate. The status quo will not remain long-term. Even though the Ukrainians are electrifying the world with their courage, they are badly outnumbered (Russia has a population of 147 million people, compared with Ukraines 40 million with 11 million being displaced persons). As Stalin once observed, numbers have a logic all their own. Even with serious military aid from the U.S. and other NATO allies, Ukraine will have a difficult time expanding its position beyond the current status quo.

So how does the international community work to stabilize and alleviate a very dangerous situation? America and other interested parties in the international community should be working toward a plan that would include at a minimum the following elements.

First, America and its allies should rally the international community to work for a cease-fire in place to stop the bloodshed. This should be done with the understanding that the West will continue to arm Ukraine with sufficient weaponry to defend itself.

The U.N. Charter provides ample support for such cease-fire advocacy. The classic success story of a cease-fire is the cease-fire that brought a halt to the combat of the Korean war (1950-1953). No one expected the Korean cease-fire enacted in 1953 to have held for 70 years, and while it is far from perfect, it has saved hundreds of thousands from being sacrificed on the altar of war.

And it must be remembered when a cease-fire is in place, things tend not to escalate as rapidly as when active combat is occurring. And when one of the direct combatants possesses nuclear weapons (Russia), escalation dangers have the potential to go nuclear and no one knows how to get that genie back in the bottle successfully.

How would this work in Ukraine? The West and the U.N. should work at all levels for a cease-fire in place followed by de-escalation with U.N. peacekeepers being interposed between the major combatants. The Russians should be assured by word and deed that America and the West will continue to supply the weaponry that will prevent the Russians from gaining a military advantage.

Why would Ukraine agree to this option? Those advocating a cease-fire and de-escalation should emphasize the ultimate value  self-determination. No concept is more sacrosanct in the modern world than self-determination. Any region has an absolute right to determine by whom they wish to be governed. My guess is that while the Donbas and the eastern Ukrainian provinces as well as Crimea have significant Russian populations. The vote for reunification with Russia would be probably a ringing endorsement against Russia and for staying as part of Ukraine.

Given the Russians horrible behavior in these provinces, including kidnapping and sending back to Russia thousands of Ukrainian children to be adopted by Russian parents, my guess is that a critical mass of Russian-speaking Ukrainians will vote for being self-governed by Ukraine rather than Mother Russia.

Remember, the longer the conflict continues, the greater the chance a tragic miscalculation could occur that could lead to a major loss of human life and/or a nuclear event driven by Russia feeling backed into a corner.

The off-ramp Putin may be willing to swallow is if a fair Plebiscite on self-determination, monitored and certified by international parties, resulted in a 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 vote for Ukraine over Russia.

It is certainly a goal and a strategy worth pursuing.
Saudi women participate in the celebrations of the Flag Day at The Boulevard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday. Reuters-Yonhap



Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman formally announced on Sunday the creation of a new national airline, Riyadh Air, with industry veteran Tony Douglas as its chief executive, as the kingdom moves to compete with regional transport and travel hubs.



Riyadh Air will will serve more than 100 destinations around the world by 2030, making use of the kingdom's location between Asia, Africa and Europe, state news agency SPA said.



The new airline is expected to add $20 billion to Saudi Arabia's non-oil GDP growth and create more than 200,000 jobs both directly and indirectly, it said.



The announcement may lead to a tougher battle for passengers, going head-to-head with regional giants Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines as the travel industry recovers from the pandemic.



Riyadh Air is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has more than $600 billion in assets and is the main driver of the kingdom's efforts to diversify its economy and wean itself off oil. (Reuters)


US to focus bison restoration on expanding tribal herds

DENVER  U.S. officials will work to restore more large bison herds to Native American lands under a March 3 order from Interior Secretary Deb Haaland that calls for the government to tap into Indigenous knowledge in its efforts to conserve the burly animals that are an icon of the American West.

Haaland also announced $25 million in federal spending for bison conservation. The money, from last year's climate bill, will build new herds, transfer more bison from federal to tribal lands and forge new bison management agreements with tribes, officials said.

American bison, also known as buffalo, have bounced back from their near extinction due to commercial hunting in the 1800s. But they remain absent from most of the grasslands they once occupied, and many tribes have struggled to restore their deep historical connections to the animals.

As many as 60 million bison once roamed North America, moving in vast herds that were central to the culture and survival of numerous Native American groups.

They were driven to the brink of extinction more than a century ago when hunters, U.S. troops and tourists shot them by the thousands to feed a growing commercial market that used bison parts in machinery, fertilizer and clothing. By 1889, only a few hundred bison remained.

The return of bison in some locations is considered a conservation success. But Haaland said they remain "functionally extinct" and more work is needed to return the animals to tribal lands and restore the grasslands they depend on.

The Interior Department currently oversees 11,000 bison in herds on public lands in 12 states.

UTAH

Governor says he plans to sign abortion clinic ban

SALT LAKE CITY  Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on March 3 that he plans to sign a measure that would effectively ban abortion clinics from operating in the state, meaning hospitals will soon be the only places where they can be provided in the state.

After passing through the state Senate a day earlier with minor amendments, it returned to the Utah House of Representatives on March 3, where it was approved and then sent to the governor for final approval. The move comes less than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision, returning the power to regulate abortions to states.

Cox told reporters that he will sign the legislation, which also clarifies the definition of abortion to address legal liability concerns providers voiced about the way exceptions are worded in state law  a provision that he and Republican lawmakers called a compromise.

The measure is one of several that members of Utah's Republican-supermajority statehouse has passed this year while abortion restrictions approved in years past are on hold because of a state court injunction. It has faced fierce opposition from business, civil liberties and abortion rights groups, including Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, which operates three of the four abortion clinics in the state.

The proposal from Rep. Karianne Lisonbee would require all abortions  via medication or surgery  be provided in hospitals by not allowing new clinics to be licensed after May 2 and not allowing any to operate once their licenses expire. It would affect the operations of the four clinics that provide abortions in Utah  three run by Planned Parenthood and the other by Wasatch Women's Center, an independent clinic in Salt Lake City.

ARIZONA

Governor won't proceed with execution set by court

PHOENIX  Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vowed on March 3 that her administration won't carry out an execution even though the state Supreme Court scheduled it over the objections of the state's new attorney general.

The Democratic governor's promise not to execute Aaron Gunches on April 6 for his murder conviction in a 2002 killing came a day after the state Supreme Court said it must grant an execution warrant if certain appellate proceedings have concluded  and that those requirements were met in Gunches' case.

The previous week, Hobbs appointed retired U.S. Magistrate Judge David Duncan to examine the state's procurement of lethal injection drugs and other death penalty protocols due to the state's history of mismanaging executions.

Attorney General Kris Mayes' office has said it won't seek court orders to carry out executions while Hobbs' review is underway.

Mayes, a Democrat who took office in January, tried to withdraw a request by her Republican predecessor, Mark Brnovich, for a warrant to Gunches. The court declined to withdraw the request on Thursday.

Hobbs maintains that while the court authorized Gunches' execution, its order doesn't require the state to carry it out.

Arizona, which has 110 prisoners on death row, carried out three executions last year after a nearly eight-year hiatus following criticism that a 2014 execution was botched and because of difficulties obtaining execution drugs.

Gunches is scheduled to be executed on April 6 for the 2002 killing of Ted Price, his girlfriend's ex-husband, in Maricopa County.

NEW MEXICO

19 wild cows killed in aerial shooting operation

ALBUQUERQUE  A specialized team of wildlife managers has killed 19 wild cows in the Gila Wilderness in southwestern New Mexico as part of a contested project to rid the area of the unauthorized animals.

The three-day operation used a helicopter and high powered rifles to take out the cows in a rugged area where federal officials and environmentalists say the animals have been trampling stream banks, damaging habitat for other species and ruining water quality.

The U.S. Forest Service had estimated there were as many as 150 of the unauthorized cows in an area along the Gila River.

The agency said on Feb. 28 that searches were conducted with the naked eye and through thermal imagery. The crew spotted significant numbers of elk, deer, javelina and even rabbits  but no additional cattle were found following the operation.

The carcasses will be left in the forest to decompose and the Forest Service plans to monitor the area.

Ranchers had opposed the project, saying rounding up the animals and removing them would have been a more humane way to clear them out of the wilderness. They accused the Forest Service of violating its own policies, but a federal judge denied their request to sideline the project, saying the cows were indeed feral and the Forest Service had the authority to kill them.

Gila Forest Supervisor Camille Howes said a combination of ground-based and aerial removal efforts since October 2021 have substantially reduced the feral cattle population.

Voters could decide if state lawmakers get a salary

ALBUQUERQUE  The state House has endorsed a plan to ask voters to end New Mexico's status as the only state without a salaried Legislature.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the plan won approval on March 4, largely along party lines with Democrats in favor. The newspaper said the plan would amend the New Mexico Constitution to establish a citizen commission that would set a salary for the state's 112 lawmakers.

The measure will go before voters next year if the Senate agrees to the plan in the final two weeks of this year's session that ends on March 18.

Members of the Legislature now draw per diem payments during legislative sessions and for meetings in the interim, receive mileage reimbursements and can participate in a retirement plan, but they don't get a year-round salary.

The legislation debated Saturday wouldn't set a particular salary, the Journal said, adding that a nine-member citizen commission would instead determine the salaries with the extra pay starting in mid-2026.
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From Women to Women  since 2012 Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com) marks International Women Day 2023 through 10-year journey of programs More Than a Mother, Educating Linda, Merck Foundation Capacity Advancement and STEM Program in Africa and beyond; from Women to Women, Merck Foundation empowers African Women through providing 650 medical scholarships to female doctors out of 1470 scholarships in many critical and underserved medical specialties. 10-year journey of empowering women in science to improving Womens health; Merck Foundation supports girl education through their Educating Linda program by providing scholarships and school items to 1000s of girls in African countries.

Girl education now for future women empowerment emphasized by Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej , CEO of Merck foundation; Merck Foundation annually announces MARS Awards to appreciate and to recognize Best African Women Researchers to empower women in STEM. MARS Awards 2023 have been announced 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 together with African First Ladies who are their Ambassadors, Ministries of Health, Education, Communication & Gender, mark International Womens Day 2023, through their 10-year journey of development programs and initiatives such as More Than a Mother, Educating Linda, Merck Foundation Capacity Advancement and STEM Program in Africa and beyond.

Senator, Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and Most Influential African (2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022) shared, Happy Womens Day to all the women in the world and to the men who support and empower women. Empowering women is the spirit of everything we do at Merck Foundation, and it is part of my DNA as an African woman who succeeded through the right support to be CEO of Merck Foundation, to be the most influential African woman in the world for four years in a row, and to be a senator in the Egyptian Senate. Therefore, I understand that women have tremendous potential to excel in any field they represent, but they are deprived of a favorable environment to explore their true potential in many societies, especially in underserved communities. I believe there is a need to redefine the status of women in society.

We at Merck Foundation, through all our key programs like More Than a Mother, Educating Linda, Merck Foundation Capacity Advancement and STEM Program, mark Womens Day every day by supporting girl education and empowering girls and women. It is our 10-year journey and we are proud of it.

Merck Foundation More Than a Mother is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile and childless women through access to information, education and change of mind-sets.

Together with our partners; African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information, Education & Gender, Media & Art, we have provided more than 650 out of 1470 scholarships to female doctors in 50 countries which is a great achievement for us. I am particularly proud that we have provided 435 scholarships to doctors from 50 countries with the aim to advance womens health by building reproductive & sexual health and fertility care capacity.

Moreover, we have trained over 2200 media representatives from over 35 countries, to raise awareness and address sensitive issues related to women and girls empowerment. We created the Merck Foundations unique TV program, Our Africa, to sensitize our communities about various social and health issues in an informative and entertaining way. Moreover, we also launched media, fashion, song, and film awards, created 30 local songs and 8 childrens storybooks, provided grants to hundreds for African schoolgirls to continue their education. We will continue our efforts to empower girls and women through our social media campaign with 5 million followers, Senator Rasha Kelej explained their impact.

Merck Foundation also empowers women in the areas of Science and Technology through their STEM Program.

Merck foundation annually conducts Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit- MARS and launch MARS Awards to appreciate and recognize Best African Women Researchers and Best Young African Researcher.

Our aim is to empower women and also young African researchers, advance their research capacity and promote their contribution to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

This years focus of MARS Awards is on scientific research in Women Health and Reproductive Care, emphasized Dr. Kelej.

Merck Foundation strongly believes that Education is one of the most critical areas of women empowerment.

Together with African First Ladies, they have contributed to the future of 100s of girls by providing grants to continue their education and providing essential school items, through Educating Linda program in many African countries such as Burundi, Malawi, Ghana, The Gambia, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and more.

Girl education today for women empowerment tomorrow, emphasized Senator Kelej.

Through their Our Africa TV program, Merck Foundation has sensitized communities about various social and health issues like Women Empowerment, Breaking Infertility Stigma, Ending Child Marriage, Stopping GBV, Ending FGM, and Supporting Girl Education in an informative and entertaining way. The pan African TV program is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation. The TV program has been broadcasted on National TV Stations of Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and soon to be also broadcast in The Gambia, Ghana Kenya, and Botswana.

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CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa says he has anchored his hope in God with his God is in it mantra as he bemoans the closure of the democratic space ahead of the polls.

In an interview with The Standard, Chamisa said the God is in it mantra perfectly fits his predicament after being shut out from campaigning.

We have done everything in our capacity, Chamisa said. No relevant body or individual is not aware of our situation in this country.

We have gone to the courts, but you are aware of the latest High Court judgment about the voters roll.

After having done all this, Zimbabwe is in the ultimate hands of the Lord. After having done that God is our saviour.

Police have banned several CCC rallies and also parliamentary feedback meetings for opposition party legislators on charges of failing to comply with the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Mopa).

The opposition party claims that over 60 of its planned rallies have been blocked since its inception in February last year.

Police have also arrested scores of opposition party supporters during party gatherings with CCC legislator Job Sikhala clocking almost a year in pre-trial detention.

Zec has also refused to release the voters' roll despite calls by CCC and other electoral stakeholders to have access to the document.

The High Court last week ruled against an application by CCC legislator Alan Markham, which sought to compel Zec to release the voters' roll.

Government has fast-tracked the Private Voluntary (PVO) Bill, which has been heavily criticised for shrinking the democratic space if it is signed into law.

Zanu PF has also reportedly resorted to violence, with scores of opposition supporters being assaulted.

Chamisa said they have resigned to fate despite claiming the party was busy behind the scenes canvassing for votes.

We are doing a lot of work behind the scenes and we will not stop, he said.

When I say God is in it, I know what I will be talking about.

His God is in it mantra has been a butt of jokes for his critics, but Chamisa said he wont dump it.

No matter what people say, I will not be swayed from putting my faith and trust in the Lord, he said.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi insisted that CCC was not being prevented from campaigning and claimed that Mopa was being applied fairly to all political players.

Last week we had a situation where both parties (Zanu PF and CCC) notified the police to hold a rally at the same venue, but police allowed CCC to hold the rally at the venue under the discretion that it had applied first for the venue, Nyathi said.

But when the politicians talk about these issues, they tend to exaggerate. Standard
US Dollar, Japanese Yen, USD/JPY  Technical Outlook:

USD/JPY s upward pressure is fading.

The rise in risk aversion could weigh on USD / JPY .

What are the signposts to watch?

Recommended by Manish Jaradi How to Trade USD/JPY Get My Guide

USD/JPY TECHNICAL OUTLOOK  BEARISH

The Japanese yen could gain further against the US dollar on the uptick in risk aversion amid uncertainty related to the fallout from the closing of the SVB Financial Group.

US Treasury yields tumbled and safe-haven currencies, including JPY and CHF, rallied after the largest bank failure since the Great Financial Crisis created ripples across the banking sector on concerns regarding the spreading of contagion within the sector and/or other sectors of the broader economy. The MSCI US Financials sector index is down 6.00% since Thursday, while the S&P 500 index is down 3.3%.

On technical charts, USD/JPYs fall below support on a horizontal trendline from mid-February at about 135.25 confirms that the upward pressure has eased. While the pair stays below Fridays high of 137.00, there is a risk of a drop toward 132.50-133.00 (including the 50% retracement of the rise from January and the early-February high).

USD/JPY 240-minute Chart

Chart Created Using TradingView

In recent weeks, USD/JPY has faced a stiff barrier around 137.00-138.20, including the 200-day moving average and the December high of 138.20, and Fridays slide raises the odds that the two-month-long rally may have run its course. For more discussion, see Japanese Yen Forecast: High Bar for USD/JPY to Crack Resistance, published February 26.

Worries regarding SVB overshadowed the closely watched US jobs data afterUS Fed Chair Powell in his semi-annual testimony to Congress stepped up hawkishness, saying the ultimate rate peak is likely to be higher than expected and the central bank is prepared to increase the pace of rate hikes, depending on incoming data. US non-farm payroll grew 315,000 in February, Vs 224,000 in February, slower from 443,000 in January, and unemployment rose a bit to 3.6% from near the five-decade low of 3.4%.

USD/JPY Daily Chart

Chart Created Using TradingView

Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan decided to leave its ultra-easy policy unchanged at the BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kurodas last meeting as the central bank chief. The move was widely expected given the Japanese central bank adjusted the yield band as recently as December. (See Japanese Yen Plunges Vs US Dollar As BOJ Keeps Policy Settings Unchanged, published Mar. 10).

Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter

--- Written by Manish Jaradi, Strategist for DailyFX.com

--- Contact and follow Jaradi on Twitter: @JaradiManish
South Australia police have launched an urgent search for two missing sisters in Adelaide.

The children, Daniella, 7, and Indiana, 5, were last seen at their Kidman Park address in the city's west about 11am Saturday.

It is understood the pair are in the company of their mother and authorities have concerns for their welfare.

Indiana has long blonde hair and was last seen wearing a Minnie Mouse t-shirt and multi-coloured pants.

Daniella has waist length dark hair and was last seen wearing a Minnie Mouse long sleeved dress.

Anyone who spots the girls or has information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the police assistance line immediately on 131 444.
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The past week has been spent in the twin departments of hell which are dentists and builders. Until now I hadn't realised how dealing with the two is very similar. I am at their complete mercy  without a shred of knowledge in either area.

At the dentist, I was confronted with what he calls some 'difficult decisions'. I stared at the X-rays, listened to issues about bone density and gum decay, lay supine and totally vulnerable as my mouth was probed and prodded.

And when I left, I was several hundred pounds poorer, with 'difficult' decisions to make but still none the wiser. Should I just trust my dentist?

It was the same with the builder who came to quote for some work we want done. I have no idea whether he is any good or not.

He seemed competent and understood the issues but I have no way of judging whether he'll do a good job or not, as I don't even know the questions to ask, let alone the right answers.

At the dentist, I was confronted with what he calls some 'difficult decisions'. I stared at the X-rays, listened to issues about bone density and gum decay, lay supine and totally vulnerable as my mouth was probed and prodded. Pictured: stock image of woman at dentist

It was the same with the builder who came to quote for some work we want done. I have no idea whether he is any good or not. Pictured: stock image of builder

If I let him loose on the shower room, will I live to regret it?

In most areas of life, I have a modicum of knowledge to dip into but when it comes to dentistry and plumbing I am a blank page. Are the repairs essential? Is the decay they have discovered catastrophic. Am I being ripped off?

These questions are giving me sleepless nights along with one more. Am I a control freak?

MEET A TRULY UNHINGED DATE

A friend has been banned from the online dating app Hinge. Having arranged to meet another user for a drink, he got a message from her which said: 'I only date unvaccinated men.'

My friend thought she must have been joking and cheerfully messaged back: 'I've had three jabs.' She shouted back 'NO' (or however you shout on Hinge), adding: 'I said, 'I only date unvaccinated men.' '

To which he, not surprisingly, replied 'You're f****** bonkers'  end of conversation. A few weeks later, Hinge sent him a message saying he was banned for life, with no specified reason. Really? Who's the dangerous one at large out there?

ENJOY LIFE'S LUXURIES BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

In her engrossing memoir Dancing With The Red Devil, journalist Sarah Standing writes of how going through cancer treatment made her stop saving things for best. Why not fling the expensive Floris Rose Geranium oil into the bath rather than eke it out in drops?

I would take this attitude a stage further. Why save things for best when, in truth, none of us know what is ahead? Yes, it means spending a bit more money but if we have lovely things, we should use them to make the best of every day, rather bring them out for high days and holidays. That's just wasting time.

SAVED: BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS

When I used to visit Paris for the fashion shows, my hotel, Le Lancaster, was just off the Champs-Elysees, where I often dashed for a packet of paracetamol or pair of tights. The hotel was an elegant haven, seconds away from the ugly, multi-lane highway that this once beautiful boulevard, had become. Cheap shops, interminable traffic and chain-store eateries had stripped the wide street of any of the glamour that used to be associated with the area.

So it's great news that the Champs-Elysees is to be revamped by diminishing traffic, planting 1,000 trees and giving the stores a uniform appearance before the Paris Olympics next year.

It seems a lot to achieve in a short time but if the French authorities are successful, perhaps we could try to do something about London's Oxford Street, once something special but now a similarly uninspiring tourist street.

MEN ARE CRYING OUT FOR HELP AT WORK, TOO

The appointment of Helen Tomlinson as the country's first Menopause Employment Champion sounds a good thing. As a leader in recruitment, she should be well suited to ensuring that companies help keep women in the workplace when they might be struggling with the menopause.

But don't men sometimes need help, too? I read about Helen's appointment just after a male friend had been sitting in our kitchen worrying about his prostate cancer diagnosis. More particularly, he was concerned about having to endure hormone therapy and radiotherapy. In recent months, many other friends have discovered they have this very common cancer and face dealing with the depressing and difficult side effects of the unpleasant treatment options. Will employers develop policies to help them if they feel like crying or suffer problems with incontinence?

Surely it would be better to train HR departments to help all men and women and everyone in between when they are going through difficult times.

DOES HAIR KNOW IT'S HEADING FOR A CHOP?

Is our hair a cognitive being? I only ask because after every visit to the hairdresser, it decides to look good, whereas for days before, it has been a total mess.

One minute you feel able only to face the world under a hat, and then suddenly it's decided to adopt a charming wave and frames the face nicely. Does hair have a kind of early-warning system when it knows it's for the chop?
San Diego may not be the most obvious location for an American president to meet two of his most stalwart allies  Rishi Sunak and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. But there is a very particular reason behind its choice.

For the Californian city on the Pacific seaboard plays host to a naval base called Point Loma, the home-port of the U.S. Navys Submarine Squadron 11, which is composed of four Los Angeles-class hunter-killer submarines. There is even talk of a photo opportunity involving the three men boarding one of the subs and walking the deck.

The symbolism of the meeting will not be lost on the Chinese because the submarine deal the leaders are expected to finalise is designed to beef up the Wests military presence in the eastern Pacific at a time when Beijings sabre-rattling over Taiwan is getting louder by the day.

Indeed, tensions between China and the U.S. are at their tautest in decades, a mutual suspicion epitomised by Americas decision last month to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon travelling through its airspace. China denied that the balloon had been used for espionage, but the Pentagon suspects that it was the latest in a series of Chinese high-altitude missions to survey U.S. defences.

Rhetoric grows ever more inflammatory. Only last week, President Xi Jinping  a man who has amassed personal power on a scale not seen in China since the days of Chairman Mao  made a bellicose speech to the countrys annual legislative meeting.

Warning of mounting challenges ahead, he urged private companies to fight alongside the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Only when all the people think in one place, work hard in one place . . . can we continue to win new battles, he declared. The incendiary tone was matched at the meeting by the outgoing premier Li Keqiang, who stressed the need to strengthen training in preparation of a war.

These are not hollow words.

In a startling development, China has just announced that it is to increase its defence spending by 7.2 per cent, taking its annual budget to a colossal 185 billion. This would lift spending on its armed forces to about 5 per cent of its gross domestic product, up from just 1.7 per cent, although this is almost certainly an underestimate as  given the opaque nature of the CCP  some military research projects will be billed to government departments other than defence.

In essence, the Chinese economy is being put on a war footing. As a spokesman for Chinas National Congress put it: The increase in the defence budget is not only needed to cope with complex security challenges but also to fulfil the responsibilities of a great power. Within the next four years, China aims to achieve military parity with the U.S., and to that end is developing new nuclear weapons, hypersonic missiles and anti-satellite lasers. Beijings new Sharp Sword combat drones are another deadly addition, with a range of 2,500 miles and the ability to carry two tons of precision-guided missiles.

Its navy is also undergoing a remorseless expansion, backed by the creation of a network of new port facilities across the Indian Ocean, as well as a base in Djibouti in East Africa, strategically placed on the approach to the Suez Canal.

Rishi Sunak met with his Australian counterpart in the American city of San Diego

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Rishi Sunak earlier this week

READ MORE: China and 'reckless' US are heading for 'catastrophic' conflict if America 'continues to speed down the wrong path', warns Beijing as President Xi accuses Washington of 'suppressing' his country Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (pictured) lashed out Tuesday at the US over deteriorating bilateral relations and Washington's support for Taiwan. He also insinuated that America was undermining efforts for peace in Ukraine in order to extend the conflict for its own benefit Advertisement

While China has been building a formidable arsenal, America, Britain and our Nato allies have let their stockpile of weapons dwindle, partly because of a misreading of global politics.

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, there was a mood in the West that a permanent new era of stability had begun.

Buttressed by talk of a peace dividend, this comforting narrative was heralded by the American political scientist Francis Fukuyama as the end of history.

Yet the story of modern China and its territorial ambitions was only just beginning.

The existence of an independent Taiwan has been a open sore for the CCP for longer than Ukraine has been for the Kremlin. The islands repatriation to China is Beijings foremost foreign-policy objective, but it puts it on a collision course with the U.S. which, despite decades of strategic ambiguity, will defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion.

China has rearmed energetically in preparation, and our only effective response in the West is to do the same and adopt an outlook of constant vigilance.

Rishi Sunaks government is making a start via todays submarine deal with the U.S. and Australia and last weeks announcement of an extra 5 billion for defence, but we and our Nato partners will have to go much further if China is to be deterred.

Some commentators soothingly try to tell us that fears of Chinas aggression are exaggerated, given that its economy is slowing down. But this is wishful thinking.

For a start, Chinas growth has only declined from a dazzling pre-Covid rate of 9 per cent to 5 per cent now, a figure beyond the dreams of most Western nations.

Moreover, President Xis massive boost to defence spending will fire up the cylinders of the wider Chinese economy, particularly because much of the military production is being carried out at home rather than outsourced abroad.

Xi believes that he has learnt from Putins experience in Ukraine, where Russias dependence on foreign technology made the regime vulnerable to Western sanctions and supply shortages.

Only last week, President Xi Jinping  a man who has amassed personal power on a scale not seen in China since the days of Chairman Mao  made a bellicose speech to the countrys annual legislative meeting

Other commentators delude that the botched nature of Putins invasion  for which Russia has paid a savage price in blood and treasure  will make China hesitate before going to war.

But the opposite may be true. Looking at the quagmire of Ukraine, President Xi might think Putin dithered too long before he launched his assault, and thereby enabled Britain and the U.S. to rush in anti-tank and anti- aircraft missiles.

Chinas leader might also feel he can use Ukraine to test the resolve of the West. He might supply weapons to Russia and pledge to stand by Putin in the event of a Nato attack on Russian territory.

Such a stance has other advantages. It would put Russia in debt to Beijing  a debt that they will happily see repaid in cheap Russian energy and minerals  while reinforcing Chinas standing as a global superpower and further draining the Wests military supplies.

Its designs on Taiwan go beyond the sentimental and patriotic: there is also a strong economic imperative for China to crush its independence.

Taiwan is a global pioneer in computing, a hub of high-tech industries and  as Andrew Neil pointed out in his column on Saturday  manufactures 90 per cent of the worlds advanced microchips. Chinas deepening attachment to economic imperialism  reflected in its control of large swathes of African mining, industry, trade and agriculture  also makes Taiwan an inviting target.

Other commentators delude that the botched nature of Putins invasion  for which Russia has paid a savage price in blood and treasure  will make China hesitate before going to war

READ MORE: China could invade Taiwan by 2026 sparking a war that would drag in Australia and see missile attacks on the country, experts say Advertisement

U.S. military intelligence thinks that the threat of Chinese intervention in Taiwan will become critical in the next six years, a claim underlined by the bombastic statement from Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe last summer: China will definitely realise its reunification. If anyone tries to stand in the way, we will not hesitate to fight. We will fight at all costs.

That was no idle warning. China may think that the ideal moment for a strike against Taiwan is fast approaching, given that the West has been weakened by the impact of its logistical and military support for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden, frail, inarticulate and 80 years old, is not the most inspiring candidate when it comes to galvanising an Allied coalition to fight for freedom. In any assault on the island nation, naval power will be crucial  which is why Beijing has put such emphasis on the expansion of its maritime forces.

Its navy will need to escort troop carriers across 100 miles of sea, which means knocking out any missile systems and coastal batteries, as well as the Taiwanese air force, so the landings can safely be made. To prevent the Allies shipping equipment and reinforcements into Taiwan, China could well mount a blockade of the island in advance of an invasion.

Even though any fight over Taiwan would be daunting, the U.S., Britain and the other Allies cannot abandon the struggle. That would make China the worlds dominant force, an outcome that would be calamitous for our liberties and prosperity.

We have to be prepared, and that means putting more money into our national defence budgets, rebuilding our military after years of neglect and facing up to our global duties.

A new and more dangerous Cold War is under way. It could easily turn hot in east Asia and the flames will soon spread westward. If Xi Jinping gambles on seizing Taiwan, Putins war in Ukraine will seem like a sideshow.

Mark Almond is director of the Crisis Research Institute, Oxford.
Renowned curator Jacques Sauniere staggered through the vaulted archway of the museums Grand Gallery. He lunged for the nearest painting he could see, a Caravaggio.

So begins Dan Browns thriller The Da Vinci Code, one of this centurys most remarkable publishing sensations, which was released 20 years ago this week, on March 18, 2003.

The story of a dashing Harvard symbologist caught up in a deadly plot to cover up the truth about Jesus Christ and the Holy Grail, Browns book sold a staggering 80 million copies and inspired a Hollywood film franchise starring Tom Hanks.

The film adaptation of the novel starred Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou

For what seemed like months on end, enthusiastic readers regaled their friends with stories of murderous albino monks, the historic rivalry between the Catholic Church and the Knights Templar, and the mysterious documents hidden in the church at Rennes-le-Chateau in France.

Even at the peak of Da Vinci Codemania, most people admitted that Browns book was abysmally written. The next sentence in the book  Grabbing the gilded frame, the 76year-old man heaved the masterpiece toward himself . . .  gives a flavour of his clumsy style, if thats quite the right word.

So begins Dan Browns thriller The Da Vinci Code, one of this centurys most remarkable publishing sensations, which was released 20 years ago this week, on March 18, 2003

But as Brown addicts insisted, the appeal lay in its page-turning story, as well as the murky history behind it.

For the supposed truth, which the Catholic Church has been covering up for centuries, is that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene  a woman of dubious morals who became one of his most devoted disciples  had a child. The childs descendants became the Merovingian dynasty of Frankish kings, who ruled over what is now France between the 5th and 8th centuries.

According to The Da Vinci Code, Christs bloodline survives to this day. The secret is guarded by a shadowy group called the Priory Of Sion, whose heads included household names such as Leonardo da Vinci, Victor Hugo and Sir Isaac Newton.

You might well think this utter tosh, but Dan Brown has always maintained that its absolutely true.

In an explanatory note, he writes all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this novel are accurate. The Priory Of Sion, he adds, is a real organisation, and there are documents in the Bibliotheque Nationale de France that prove it.

Yet the really extraordinary thing isnt Browns plot, which is, indeed, pure fantasy. Its the even more fantastical plot behind the plot  the true story of one of the strangest and most colourful hoaxes in history.

The first clue lies in The Da Vinci Code itself. The villains name, rather implausibly, is Sir Leigh Teabing. And as it happens, the plot is remarkably similar to the thesis of a non-fiction book, The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail, written by Henry Lincoln, Richard Leigh and Michael Baigent (the latter surname an anagram of Teabing), first published in 1982.

In 2005, Leigh Teabing (or rather, Leigh and Baigent) sued Brown for copyright infringement. Although they lost the case, Brown freely admitted that hed been inspired by their book.

In The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown (pictured) says that the Priory Of Sion dates from 1099. In reality, it was founded in 1956, the brainchild of a draughtsman with an over-developed imagination

It was from The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail, for example, that he got the idea that Mary Magdalene had borne Jesuss child. It was from this book, too, that he learned about the Merovingian dynasty and the Priory Of Sion. And this book was also the first to claim, perhaps a bit ungallantly, that the Holy Grail was actually Marys womb.

Bizarrely, The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail also claims that the Priory Of Sion is trying to turn the EU into a Holy European Empire, based on the formidable power of the European Parliament.

Even for Brown, this was a step too far. But where had these ideas come from? Now the plot really thickens.

Of the books three authors, the guiding spirit was Henry Lincoln, a sometime TV scriptwriter best known for a Doctor Who series in the 1960s in which the Abominable Snowmen rampage through the London Underground.

On holiday in France, Lincoln had read a book called LOr De Rennes (The Gold Of Rennes), which claimed that the medieval church in Rennes-le-Chateau, deep in the Languedoc, held a tranche of secret documents about the Priory Of Sion and the Merovingian kings.

Fascinated, Lincoln went to the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris to check the story. And what did he find? A hitherto unknown document called Les Dossiers Secrets, confirming that the Priory Of Sion had existed since the Middle Ages.

This was an amazing discovery. Or it would have been if it hadnt been a colossal hoax.

In The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown says that the Priory Of Sion dates from 1099. In reality, it was founded in 1956, the brainchild of a draughtsman with an over-developed imagination.

Born in 1920, the son of a butler and a cook, Pierre Plantard was a shameless fantasist. He offered his services to the Vichy government during World War II, keen to fight the Masonic and Jewish conspiracy he blamed for Frances woes.

Dan Browns net worth is currently estimated to be more than 100 million, while Pierre Plantard died in obscurity in 2000

Then Plantard founded his own secret society. But since it didnt attract any members, he gave up and joined his old antagonists, the Freemasons, instead.

In the late 1950s, he tried to set up a Committee Of Public Safety, offered his services (again!), this time to General de Gaulle, and claimed to have clairvoyant powers. None of this brought him the attention he craved. Finally, he decided to set up his own chivalric order, the Priory Of Sion.

At first, it was little more than a residents organisation in his home town of Annemasse, close to Lake Geneva. Sion, incidentally, is the name of a hill near the town, where Plantard hoped to build a New Age spa retreat. Alas, the plan came to nothing.

Still, in the early 1960s Plantard decided to make some money by flogging knighthoods to gullible history buffs. He invented a mythical pedigree for his secret society, dating back to the Crusades, and made up some stuff about them protecting the lost bloodline of the Merovingian kings.

And who, you may wonder, was the heir to the Merovingian dynasty, the true king of France? None other than Pierre Plantard! Quelle surprise!

With the help of a friend, Plantard made fake medieval documents proving that the Priory Of Sion was a real medieval organisation. Then he went to the Bibliotheque Nationale, pretending to be a researcher, and stuffed them into the archives. In the meantime, Plantard commissioned another friend to write LOr De Rennes, the book that would bring his secret society to the world.

The irony is that as a money-making scheme, Plantards hoax was a complete failure. The years passed, and the Priory Of Sion remained utterly obscure. There was no rush of people to buy his fake knighthoods. Nobody cared.

But then came the twist. Henry Lincoln read the book, went to the library, saw the documents and swallowed the whole thing. And Lincoln added a new element for British readers  the business about Jesus, Mary Magdalene and the Holy Grail.

This new element, incidentally, left Plantard appalled. How dare these Anglo-Saxons steal his hoax and add even madder ingredients of their own making!

He was so cross about it, in fact, that he went on French radio and announced he had made the whole thing up.

But still nobody listened. So, eventually, he changed his tune and invented a new story about ley lines and the Habsburg dynasty instead.

All of this might seem pure French farce, with Inspector Clouseau lurking in the background. But then Dan Brown discovered the story.

Browns signal quality, apart from his total lack of literary skill, was that he had absolutely no sense of the ridiculous. He read The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail and seems to have believed every word.

Perhaps that explains why Dan Browns net worth is currently estimated to be more than 100 million, while Pierre Plantard died in obscurity in 2000.

As the inventor of the story, Plantard always knew the whole thing was a bit absurd, and its easy to imagine his childish glee as he created his fake documents.

But when you open one of Dan Browns books, it is obvious that he takes them  and himself  immensely seriously. The seriousness, in fact, is the point. As fans of The Da Vinci Code know, the stakes literally couldnt be higher. And this breathless earnestness was perfectly pitched for a U.S. airport bookstore, or, indeed, a Mediterranean beach in the summer of 2003.

An extraordinary story, then. But the most extraordinary thing of all? The fact that even after all this time, Dan Brown has never, to my knowledge, admitted that the whole thing is nonsense.

How much of this is based on reality? an interviewer once asked. And without missing a beat, entirely straight-faced, Brown replied: Absolutely all of it.
Fashion's new mantra? It's chic to repeat. Of course, we all rewear our most-loved pieces over and over again  who can afford not to? But the idea of returning to favourites from our archives or reworking an old dress with a new accessory is now the most must-be-seen-to-be-doing way to dress in the celebrity world, particularly on the red carpet.

Years ago, actors would 'rather die, darling' than be photographed in the same dress twice.

It would have been considered a terrible faux pas. But fast forward to 2023 and, with a seismic shift towards sustainability, everyone who is anyone wants to be seen as a repeater. 'Oh, this old thing? I've worn it loads of times before' is now being shouted from the rooftops of Tinseltown.

In the forthcoming new season of And Just Like That Carrie, whose outfits always create debate, wears a redesigned old flight suit and a 80s wedding dress remade into a jumpsuit by the Converted Closet designer Kate McGuire.

Here are some of my other favourite chic-to-repeaters, who've been doing this since long before it was seen as good PR

Reworking my Anine Bing shirt with a vintage Hermes scarf and repeating my favourite cargos by Frame

Cate Blanchett, who in 2014 debuted a black lace Armani Prive gown at the Golden Globes, before rewearing it at Cannes four years later. In 2015 she wore a navy Esteban Cortazar gown at the London premiere of Carol and reworked it five years later for the opening gala of the Venice Film Festival.

Catherine, Princess of Wales has been a clever repeater ever since joining the royals. She reworks and rewears her wardrobe by adding new accessories or a tailor's tweak. It's terrific, too, how she mixes high and low brands and put a thrifty spin on regal chic at last month's Baftas by pairing an upcycled Alexander McQueen gown with earrings from  shock!  Zara. She'd previously worn the dress to the 2019 awards, but transformed the look with a new shoulder design and opera gloves. Smart!

Amal Clooney is also a keen repeater and has been snapped in her Dolce & Gabbana floral minidress to premieres and date nights with husband George. In fact a large portion of her red carpet dresses aren't new, they're vintage  as they were long before the trend took off. Back in 2016 she chose an Yves Saint Laurent number from 1981 to wow the Berlin International Film Festival. Respect!

GET A GRIP

Hair clip, 22, cos.com

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Earrings, 15.99, zara.com

Make a statement like the Princess of Wales did at the Baftas by hitting Zara for head-turning danglers. Its new earring range is suddenly to die for.

ZING THE BLUES

Cardigan 160, essentiel- antwerp.com/uk

Never known to shy away from colour or bold prints, Essentiel Antwerp's new collection will leave you feeling rejuvenated. This cobalt blue cardigan ticks all the spring trend boxes. Add a diamante brooch pin or wear with a maxi skirt for full effect.
Ever since the late Anthony Bourdain began exposing the passion, sex and grit behind the grills in his 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential, the idea of chefs as tortured, rock-star artists has grown in the public imagination.

And despite Gordon Ramsay claiming recently that kitchens are calmer, there remains a fascination with what happens behind the swing doors  see as evidence films The Menu and Boiling Point and the Disney+ TV series The Bear.

The curiosity is less about the food and more the lifestyle.

I am reminded of this one night in a West London members' club. The lighting is almost nonexistent, the decor is wicker and red velvet.

It presents as dystopian with a dash of colonialism  as if a horrific genocide is happening outside the black slate doors, but everyone inside is safe slurping Carlingford oysters by the dozen.

Alasdair Gill writes about the fascination with chefs and boisterous kitchens. He speaks about the changing nature of the industry and its mental wellbeing

Food is the by-product here: a gritty side salad or stale bread basket to the grand dish of gossip and picantes.

The tables are occupied by mobs of dolled-up, twitching meerkats, their eyes darting everywhere except at each other, inspecting who else has come to their exclusive burrow.

I can sense how much this gathering means to the skimpily dressed woman on my right. She attempts to fill my glass with house red before I inform her that I don't drink.

Irritation floods her foundation-caked face and she rolls her eyes to her boyfriend sitting opposite. I am the teetotally boring turd in her belvedere punchbowl of a night out.

'So, apart from drinking green tea at dinner parties, what do you do?'

It's jasmine tea, actually, but I doubt she cares about the subtle difference between blossoms and leaves. I tell her I work as a chef. Her head slowly turns to face me as she makes her first eye contact of the night.

'You're a chef? Really?'

I have triggered something of a reset in her low opinion of me.

Actor Jeremy Allen White (pictured) stars as frenetic chef Carmy Berzatto in Disney+ drama The Bear

'Kitchens are really hardcore, aren't they? Do you get abused?'

She edges her velvet chair closer. Her pupils are dilated, her jaw mildly gurning, whether from too many trips to the loo or the thought of me being beaten with an egg whisk I cannot tell.

We are an odd breed, chefs. for many of us, there wasn't any other option

The mere mention of 'chef' has garnered an intense and libidinous interest. What does it for her, I wonder. The unholy hours? The jaw-clenching stress? The blistering heat and lawless berating of co-workers?

A year ago I jumped back into the heated chaos of a restaurant kitchen, having taken time out to work in private catering, a section of the industry that leaves most chefs unimpressed. I understand why; to them, it is cheating. I was no longer on the battlefield, but continued to carry the title of soldier.

Upon my return, I dedicated my coarse hands and trusty knife to the Sloane Square French brasserie Colbert, forged by restaurateur royalty Jeremy King. I was taken aback at the well-oiled machine Colbert rapidly became. A kitchen still heated with passion, pace and energy, but proving Ramsay's point: it was now devoid of the cloud of fear following every slice, dice and chop.

One shift, I was butterflying chicken breasts as the blurry wobble of a commis chef took shape in my peripheral vision. He was attempting to shift a ten-gallon pot of veal stock off the counter but let it slip from his clammy chipolata fingers. A deep baritone thud echoed as it connected with the floor. It took just one blink for the dense gelatinous mass to begin swarming around my Crocs.

Ever since the late Anthony Bourdain (right) began exposing the passion, sex and grit behind the grills in his 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential, the idea of chefs as tortured, rock-star artists has grown in the public imagination. And despite Gordon Ramsay (left) claiming recently that kitchens are calmer, there remains a fascination with what happens behind the swing doors

I clenched my knife under white knuckles waiting for the tsunami of abuse. It never came. No cocaine-fuelled, deafening rage from the head chef, not a single profanity about what he intended to do to the boy's mother. Just a calm instruction to clean up and take a smoke break.

We are an odd breed, chefs. For many of us, there wasn't any other option. We are often pedigree nomads who could never compute the education system or embrace the stability of an office routine. Life bemused us. The kitchen took us in and installed a chaotic drive to create magic between a knife and fork. Although the struggle for perfection prevails externally, it sits more poignantly internally. A hurricane of slurs could have struck that commis chef for dropping the veal stock, but it wouldn't have begun to scale the shame he felt beneath his fat-soaked, buttoned chef whites.

There's something in kitchen life for the malcontent who failed to gel with school. I stumbled out of childhood with neither qualifications nor the faintest sense of direction. Restaurants showed me I was capable.

From Michelin hotspots to a farm cafe or a late-night Chelsea club, earning your stripes in this industry takes thick skin and drive. Stereotypes of pressure and fear in kitchens are not fiction. I've seen a bloke who looked like he belonged in a Guy Ritchie movie brought to hysterical tears over burnt garlic. A dissatisfied head chef once drenched all the cooking equipment in fryer oil and screamed 'Again!' after a late-night clean-down. I've witnessed countless walkouts by gifted chefs who've reached their boiling point.

Unsurprisingly, it's always been a problematic industry when it comes to wellbeing. More than 80 per cent of chefs experience poor mental health, and simply bearing the title puts you in a bracket of being more likely to die of lung cancer.

Yet it's also this stacking of the odds that seems to attract us. On some level we crave that gruelling, eroding pressure and neither do we need praise in order to function. Anonymously, we create dishes to be consumed by customers we will never meet, leaving us to be judged only by ourselves.

No matter how the industry changes, every kitchen keeps some essence of a lawless battlefield. The dawn of a more progressive attitude doesn't alter the lust for chaos encoded within our veins  pumped by ego, fury and solidarity. It is also the reason that the dolled-up meerkats in their exclusive members-only habitat will jitter to attention for the beautifully lonesome chef.
In Wilmslow, Cheshire, the queue is out of the door as a new branch of bougie bakery Gail's fires up its ovens for opening. Ready to snap up 3.50 flat whites and 4.15 loaves of bread, the crowd is buzzing. TikTok videos of the big reveal garner comments such as 'so sad I missed this' and 'can't wait!'

In the Southeast, middle-class Gail's fans watch on wistfully. 'I've just moved to Epsom and it's great, but it could really do with a Gail's,' says Megan Campbell, an art curator. 'That way I could persuade all my London friends to come and live here, too.' In Basingstoke, development director Edd Pickering is desperate for a Gail's because, as he puts it, 'it's the ultimate sign of gentrification'.

Welcome to the Gail's effect, a phenomenon that has seen the artisan bakery become the social hub of London neighbourhoods and well-heeled commuter towns. For many, Gail's is a sign you've made it. As Dominic Agace, CEO of Winkworth estate agents, says: 'Gail's marks an area as a prime property market.' And the move into Greater Manchester demonstrates that Gail's is expanding rapidly, with more areas set to bask in its cosmopolitan glow.

So how does the company decide where to set up shop? Gail's CEO Tom Molnar, 56, says it's 'half maths, half art'. There's an algorithm that shows how people in each postcode behave. Then, it's down to 'meeting local people, listening to the emails, finding the right site'. It's a huge compliment, he adds, that people constantly ask him for a Gail's in their locality.

The original Gail  Gail Mejia  started her wholesale business The Bread Factory with a team of bakers in the 1990s, supplying Michelin-star restaurants. Molnar joined Gail as the business brain in the early noughties. 'I thought what she was doing was fantastic,' he says. 'I started off trying to help her save the business but in the process fell in love with the bakers and the customers. I kind of got hooked.'

Pictured, Gail's bestselling cinnamon buns. The upmarket coffeeshop has become the staple of gentrification in an area

Aware that numbers of local bakeries were plummeting, they opened the first Gail's in Hampstead, Northwest London, in 2005. 'We thought, this bread is great, we're serving the best chefs in the world, let's see if people want it,' says Molnar.

Having grown up in Florida, savouring the loaves made by his Sicilian great-grandmother, he appreciated quality baking, as did the London-based French, Italian and German customers who 'really kept us alive'. It was a slower burn to convince Brits  who were less accustomed to strolling back from the local independent with a baguette under their arm  to become a nation of breadheads. But there has been a major shift.

'The public is much more aware of food,' Molnar says. 'We had been trained to think all food is the same, but it's really not. The ingredients you put in and the people who take care of it produce a completely different outcome. Coffee isn't just coffee any more, beer isn't just beer  and the same is true for bread.'

The selection of loaves lining the shelves at Gail's now ranges from old favourite San Francisco sourdough to relative newcomer waste-less sourdough, which uses offcuts from other bakes. Seeded sourdough is the most popular, while the sausage rolls and cinnamon buns clock in as bestsellers from the endlessly tempting food counter.

The bakery marks an area as a prime property market

A big pull for customers is the fact that so much of Gail's produce is baked instore ('the whole idea is to get it warm into everybody's mouths') and plenty of thought goes into the environment as well. In Southwest London hotspot Barnes, it took three years to find a suitable Gail's space  'I have to wait for a place that feels like us,' says Molnar  and it is now one of his best-loved sites, although his favourite is Hampstead because 'you always love your baby'.

There are more than 100 Gail's in the UK and its parent company, Bread Holdings, has major investors that came on board in 2021. However, Molnar has more in common with the 'innovative' artisan bakers who first drew him into the business. 'They're always making things better, absorbed by the mission of what they're doing,' he says, adding he visits at least one Gail's every day and orders a double espresso.

Oven fresh: The first Gail's bakery in Hampstead, London. The upmarket bakery has become increasingly popular

He insists they have no 'typical' customer in mind, although the casual observer may notice an abundance of Sweaty Betty leggings and Bugaboo strollers inside. While the well-to-do may be thrilled to see Gail's hit their high street, independent bakeries are not as pleased. Raluca Mica, an artisan baker who runs October 26 in West London, says sales of her baked goods have gone down by ten per cent since Gail's opened nearby. 'It is upsetting that the council has done nothing to prevent the opening of a chain on our street,' says Mica.

Are they a chain? The brand's PR says they are keen to be known as 'more of a neighbourhood bakery'. And what does Molnar say to small business owners? 'It's not a fixed pie. The biggest thing we all compete with is to get people out of their houses and to socialise. The more we have on the street, the more people will think, 'I want to go to my high street and instead of going somewhere else I will invite people to my neighbourhood.'

Gail's is having that effect in Wilmslow, and social media is abuzz about the two stores opening in Manchester this spring. Gail's fandom peaked when one customer FedExed loaves to his daughter in New York twice a week. 'I love that excitement, but the air miles scared me, and I wondered if his daughter could eat that much bread,' Molnar says. 'I suggested there might be decent bakeries in New York.'

Does NYC have a single cinnamon bun that can rival those at Gail's? We doubt it.
They're both highly ambitious women who married into the royal family under enormous pressure - before leaving to rebuild their lives in the US.

But it seems the obvious similarities between Sarah Ferguson and Meghan Markle haven't forged a firm friendship between the two women.

In fact, the Duchess of Sussex and Duchess of York have had a rather bumpy relationship since they were first introduced in October 2016.

After making things official with Meghan, Prince Harry claimed he wanted Fergie to be the first royal to meet her - and the group even enjoyed drinks at the Royal Lodge together.

However despite Meghan's close friendship with Fergie's daughter Eugenie, and the fact they have attended a number of weddings, as well as the Queen's funeral, together, Sarah this week claimed she 'doesn't really know' the Duchess of Sussex.

Relations between the Duchess of York and Meghan Markle appear to have been bumpy over the years - here FEMAIL reveals the ins and outs of their relationship (pictured together, at Princess Eugenie's wedding in 2018)

Earlier this week, despite Meghan's close friendship to Fergie's daughter Eugenie, and the fact they have attended a number of weddings, as well as the Queen's funeral, together, Sarah this week claimed she 'doesn't really know' the Duchess of Sussex

In the Oprah interview, which was broadcast in early 2021, the Duchess of Sussex said Fergie was the person who taught her to curtsey.

She claimed when she went to meet the Queen for the first time at The Royal Lodge in Windsor, she 'didn't even know how to curtsey' and was shocked when Harry explained it was expected of her.

Meghan said: 'I went into it naively because I didn't grow up knowing much about the royal family. I didn't fully understand what the job was.'

The mother-to-be said that was the moment 'the penny dropped' that her perception about the Firm was 'very different' to the reality, and she had to learn how to perform the royal custom 'very quickly'.

She said: 'I didn't know I was going to meet her until moments before. We were in the car and we were going to the Royal Lodge for lunch, and he [Harry] was like, 'Oh, my grandmother is here, she's gonna be there after church.'.

'Right in front of the house we practiced and ran in. Fergie ran out and said, 'Do you know how to curtsy?',' she recalled.

'Apparently I did a very deep curtsy, I don't remember it, and then we sat there and we chatted.

Meanwhile Harry also recounted a similar story in his book Spare, writing that he had actually hoped Fergie would be the first member of the family Meghan would meet as his girlfriend.

He wrote it was October 2016, explaining: 'First stop, Royal Lodge. To meet Fergie, because Meg already knew Fergie's daughter Euge, and Jack, so this seemed a logical baby step.'

In what many saw as an olive branch to Fergie after years of being snubbed from royal events, the Duchess of York was invited to Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018

In their explosive Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan claimed Fergie taught the Duchess how to curtsey

He added: 'Fergie came outside, somewhat aflutter, and said: 'Do you know how to curtsy?' Meg shook her head. Fergie demonstrated once. Meg imitated her.

'As we walked towards the door Fergie and I both leaned into Meg, whispering quick reminders. When you first meet the Queen it's Your Majesty. Thereafter it's just Ma'am. Rhymes with ham. Just, whatever you do, don't talk over her, we both said, talking over each other.'

After Meghan met the Queen, Harry writes that they stayed at Royal Lodge for drinks.

It is unknown what other occasions the two women might have crossed paths privately - however there were just a few occasions in which they were seen in public at the same events.

In what many saw as an olive branch to Fergie after years of being snubbed from royal events, the Duchess of York was invited to Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018.

Speaking about what was going through her head on Good Morning Britain, she explained: 'I felt like I was really happy for my friend Diana, who I love, and my mum and dad, and I felt honoured and grateful for Harry and Meghan to invite me.

'It was very kind of them and I think I can't thank them enough for doing that because it was nerve-wracking but I knew I was ready.'

However, according to National Post, she was left 'deeply upset' to be excluded from the 'inner sanctum' evening reception at Frogmore House.

Meanwhile Fergie claimed she had spoken to Meghan at the Queen's funeral, calling her 'beautiful'

The two women were sat on opposite sides of the aisle during the funeral service for the Queen (pictured)

The guest list was said to be controlled by Harry's father, Charles.

It's likely the Duchess' also crossed paths at Eugenie's wedding that October.

However Prince Harry and Meghan took the opportunity to announce their pregnancy at the event, something which royal reporters said left Fergie furious.

In their book Royals at War, investigative journalists Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett said: 'Meghan put her foot in it when she decided that it would be the ideal moment to announce that she and Harry were expecting their first child.

'This was a huge social gaffe, even if you were not a royal  stealing the limelight from Eugenie, who was furious, as was her mother, Sarah.'

Rumours of bad feeling went into overdrive when Princess Eugenie's mother tweeted a picture of her royal wedding outfit at the exact moment the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were having a baby on October 15 2018.

Kensington Palace officially revealed the pregnancy at 8.40am on what was the 59th birthday of Eugenie's mother Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.

Prince Harry and Meghan have claimed on a number of occasions that it was Fergie who taught the Duchess to curtsey to the Queen

And at the exact time of the announcement, Sarah posted a tweet thanking the designer of her dress for the outfit worn on her daughter's big day just days earlier.

She then posted three further messages saying how 'proud' she was of her daughter and new son-in-law Jack - but made no mention of Harry and Meghan.

However by July 2021, the air seemed to have cleared somewhat.

The Duchess of York said she is 'a great supporter of Oprah Winfrey' as she discussed Prince Harry and Meghan's 'truthbomb' interview about Megxit.

Fergie now revealed Oprah 'helped her greatly' when she was interviewed by her in the US, telling The Telegraph: 'I'm a great supporter of Oprah and everything that she does...I wouldn't presume to give advice to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex except to say to be happy.'

Elsewhere in the same interview, Fergie touched on the challenges that Harry and Meghan have faced, saying: 'I did have to make my own way in the world when I left the family, and it is not always easy.'

Despite her kind words for Meghan and Harry, Sarah wasn't one of the 40 stars to be chosen to take part in the Duchess' 40th birthday video and 40x40 initiative.

And in November 2021, Princess Eugenie held a christening for her son August in Windsor.

It's not believed Prince Harry and Meghan attended the family event, although it's not believed they travelled from the US for the occasion.

After Meghan revealed her pregnancy to family members at Princess Eugenie's wedding, Fergie was said to be 'furious'

And while Harry and Meghan did travel to the UK for the Queen's Jubilee events in June, Sarah has not attended the event in a number of years.

It's believed their next interaction came in September 2022, when they also both attended the Queen's funeral in September, and Fergie recalled speaking to Meghan at the event.

Fergie said she did speak to Meghan at the Queen's funeral in September, adding: 'She looked absolutely beautiful. I think she is beautiful.'

She has also said she wouldn't judge the Sussexes for their decision to quit as working royals - having a lot of experience in that department.

Earlier this month, she told the Daily Mail: 'I don't believe that any single person has the right to judge another person. I'm not in a position myself to make any judgments.

'I have been judged all my life, and I have no judgment on the Sussexes.'

However in March 2023, the Duchess of York, 63, the mother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, told The Telegraph she 'doesn't know' Meghan.

The mother-of-two said: 'I don't really know Meghan. I haven't really met her.'

Despite the two appearing to disagree on how much they have come into contact, Sarah has been complimentary of Meghan on multiple occasions.

In the same Telegraph interview, she praised the Duchess for 'making Harry happy', saying: 'She has made Harry very happy, and that is so nice. Honestly, he's so happy with her. She really loves him. And I think that's beautiful.'

Sarah's daughter Eugenie is a close friend of the Sussexes, and has visited them a number of times in the US (left). Fergie is extremely close with her daughter (right)

There are a number of other factors which could have impacted Fergie and Meghan's relationship.

Sarah's daughter Eugenie is a close friend of the Sussexes, and has visited them a number of times in the US.

However Harry has also been highly critical of Sarah's ex-husband Prince Andrew, with whom Fergie still enjoys a close relationship.

He became the first royal to publicly criticise Prince Andrew, 63, labelling the Jeffrey Epstein affair 'a shameful scandal'.

No one in 'The Firm' had spoken about claims the Duke of York twice sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein.

Andrew settled her lawsuit last year, accepting no liability, and has always denied any wrongdoing. But Harry brings up the affair in his book Spare.
Do certain items of clothing really bring good fortune?

Well, according to a new study around Oscars outfits, both the color and designer of the ensemble can have a big bearing on success.

The research, conducted by UK-based fabric experts Dalston Mill Fabrics, analyzed every dress worn by each winner of a 'Best Actress' and 'Best Supporting Actress' Academy Award in recorded history.

It revealed that black has been the luckiest color at the ceremony to date with Giorgio Armani and Valentino being the best fashion houses to wear for the nominated hopefuls.

LEFT: Cher's iconic sheer 1988 Bob Mackie gown. RIGHT: Winner of 'Best Actress' at the 92nd Academy Awards, Renee Zellweger wore an Armani Prive white one-shouldered gown

Ariana DeBose won her 'Best Supporting Actress' Oscar in 2022 for West Side Story while dressed in Valentino

Audrey Hepburn referred to the gown she wore to collect her first 'Best Actress' award in 1954 as her 'lucky dress' - a white Givenchy gown adapted from her Roman Holiday costume

The luckiest colors to wear at the Oscars Black - 32 per cent Gold - 13 per cent White - 12 per cent Blue - 11 per cent Green - nine per cent Pink - five per cent Multicolored - five per cent Advertisement

Wearing black could increase the chances of winning an Oscar by almost a third, analysts say, as 32 per cent of 'Best Actress' and 'Best Supporting Actress' category winners have dressed in black to accept their awards.

Noteworthy examples include Cher's iconic sheer 1988 Bob Mackie gown and Frances McDormand's 2021 black Valentino dress.

The study also revealed that 13 per cent of female winners in recorded history wore a variation of the color gold, making it the second luckiest color to wear in the history of the Academy Awards.

Recent success stories include Emma Stone, who took home the 'Best Actress' award for La La Land in 2017 while dressed in a gold Givenchy Haute Couture design.

The third luckiest color for nominees is white - with 12 per cent of winners opting for it.

Audrey Hepburn famously referred to the gown she wore to collect her first 'Best Actress' award in 1954 as her 'lucky dress' - a white Givenchy gown adapted from her Roman Holiday costume.

And, for any of this year's nominees still looking for inspiration, the fourth luckiest color to wear to the Oscars is blue, with 11 per cent of all past winners wearing the color, and green ranks fifth, with nine per cent.

Giorgio Armani and Valentino share the crown as the joint luckiest fashion houses. Pictured: Cate Blanchett won her first Academy Award in 2005 sporting the Italian fashion house

LEFT: Frances McDormand has won two 'Best Actress' Oscars while wearing Valentino in 2021. RIGHT: Emma Stone took home the 'Best Actress' award in 2017 while dressed in Givenchy

The new study also revealed the luckiest fashion designers for nominees to wear to the Oscars.

Giorgio Armani and Valentino share the accolade - with seven per cent of winners having worn one of their ensembles whilst collecting their statuettes.

The 92nd Academy Awards was an especially lucky year to wear Armani with both female winners in an acting category wearing Armani on the red carpet.

Winner of 'Best Actress' Renee Zellweger wore an Armani Prive white one-shouldered gown, while Laura Dern, winner of 'Best Supporting Actress,' wore a pink Armani satin dress with a tasseled black upper.

In recent years, Frances McDormand has won two 'Best Actress' Oscars while wearing Valentino, while Cate Blanchett also won her first Academy Award for The Aviator in 2005 in sporting the Italian fashion house.

Winner Zellweger wore an Armani Prive gown Laura Dern, winner of 'Best Supporting Actress,' wore a pink Armani satin dress with a tasseled black upper in 2020

The luckiest designers to wear at the Oscars Giorgio Armani - seven per cent Valentino - seven per cent Yves Saint Laurent - three per cent Chanel - three per cent Christian Dior - three per cent Gucci - three per cent Advertisement

The most recent example is last year's winner Ariana DeBose, who won her 'Best Supporting Actress' Oscar for West Side Story while dressed in Valentino.

Fashion designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Christian Dior and Gucci all also rank as lucky designers to wear to the Academy Awards, with three per cent of winning ladies wearing each of their dresses to collect Oscars.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for Dalston Mill Fabrics said: 'As the most anticipated event in the Hollywood calendar nears, the Oscars are the perfect night for A-Listers to showcase their most fashionable red carpet looks.

'This research highlights that almost a staggering third of all winners in a female acting category have dressed in black to accept their Academy Awards, since the Oscars first began in 1929.

'From extravagant ballgowns to little black dresses, wearing black is a fashion classic that has evidently stood the test of time.

'The study suggests that wearing a black Armani or Valentino dress is the perfect winning formula for hopeful nominees, which will not only increase their likelihood of winning an Academy Award but also offer a timeless and elegant look for the red carpet.'

But will this year's awards follow suit and prove this to be true?
Prince Harry is 'on the horns of a dilemma' when it comes to whether or not he should attend the Coronation of King Charles, according to a royal expert.

Nigel Cawthorne, author of Prince Andrew, Maxwell and the Palace, said that whether the Duke of Sussex, 38, attends the May 6 event or not, he will face scrutiny.

According to reports, Buckingham Palace is making plans for Harry and Meghan to attend the Kings Coronation, with staff organising logistics for the historic occasion instructed to include the Sussexes in their plans.

But tensions within the Firm, not only between Prince Harry and the rest of the royals, but also with Prince Andrew, have left the King in 'an impossible position', according to Nigel.

He said: 'There is a battle royal going on here. It's tit for tat. Certainly tat. With the flawless Queen gone, the monarchy is looking a bit threadbare.

Prince Harry (pictured while appearing on The Late Show earlier this year) is 'on the horns of a dilemma' over whether to attend his father's Coronation, according to a royal author

'Charles is in an impossible position. If either Andrew or Harry, or both, turn up, they are going to besmirch the coronation and take the spotlight away from him.

'Their absence will be equally headline-grabbing and will diminish the significance of the ceremony.'

He continued: 'The coronation is the key moment in the monarchy, but the top royals can't be bothered to turn up. Imagine a wedding or funeral where a brother or son is a no-show. It speaks volumes.'

Speaking specifically about the monarch's youngest son, Nigel said: 'Harry's on the horns of a dilemma too.

'How unpopular does he want to be? Every time he opens his mouth he plummets in the opinion polls. He's the royal family's Eddie the Eagle.

'If he turns up, he risks having rotten tomatoes throw at him. If he stays away, he's turning his back on [the Royal Family]. Only, by the way, my son and daughter are a prince and princess.'

His comments follow the news that Harry and Meghan have revealed they have started calling their children Archie and Lilibet prince and princess after secretly christening their daughter in California.

The Sussexes held an Anglican ceremony at their Montecito mansion for between 20 and 30 friends including her billionaire godfather Tyler Perry earlier this month.

Meanwhile, King Charles (pictured at a Buckingham Palace ceremony this week) is in 'an impossible position' according to royal author Nigel Cawthorne, thanks to family tensions

Harry and Meghan invited King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales to the California ceremony last Friday but they declined, a source close to the couple told People magazine. It is not known when the British royals were asked to attend - or how any invite was sent to the UK.

The Court Circular - Britain's official record of royal engagements - reveals that none of the senior royals apart from Princess Anne attended events on the day of the christening.

A statement by the Sussexes' referred to the 21-month-old as 'Princess Lilibet Diana' - revealing for the first time that the couple has decided to invoke their right to use 'Princess' for Lilibet, six months since the accession to the throne of King Charles last September. Archie will be called prince.

Harry and Meghan are said to not want to deny their children the chance to inherit royal titles from their father - seeing it as their birthright - but will allow Archie and Lili the chance to decide whether to drop or keep using the royal titles when they are older.

Meghan famously told Oprah Winfrey that Archie was not given the title of prince because of his race, but this was disputed by the palace and constitutional experts.

However, when Archie was born seventh in line to the throne to the then Queen in May 2019, he was too far down the line of succession.

Rules dictate that although he was a great-grandchild of the monarch, he was not a first-born son of a future king, so was not automatically a prince.

An insider claimed that 21-month-old Lili's title of princess and Archie's title as a prince will be used in formal settings - but not in everyday conversational use by the couple.

And the monarch will not stand in their way, Buckingham Palace has revealed, adding the Royal Family's official website has now been updated to call the children Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie. It previously referred to Lilibet as 'Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor' and her brother as 'Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor'.

The comments follow news that the Sussexes' daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor (pictured in June last year) was recently christened in Montecito

Title rules set out by King George V in 1917 mean Archie and Lili, as the children of a son of a sovereign, automatically became a prince and a princess when Charles became King.

They would also be entitled to an HRH style, but although Harry and Meghan retain their HRH styles, they no longer use them after quitting the working monarchy.

It was previously reported in 2021 that Charles, in a bid to limit the number of key royals, intended, when he became monarch, to prevent Archie becoming a prince.

To do so, he would have to issue a Letters Patent amending Archie's right to be a prince and Lili's right to be a princess.

Lili was baptised by the Anglican Bishop of Los Angeles, John Taylor. Afterwards guests and family including Doria Ragland danced to a playlist containing songs from Harry and Meghan's wedding reception at Windsor Castle. A gospel choir also reportedly performed Oh Happy Day and This Little Light of Mine.
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie have been spotted at St Andrews - where filming for The Crown is currently underway.

The royal saga's sixth and final series is being shot at the Scottish university, where Prince William, 40, famously met his now-wife Kate Middleton in the early 2000s.

And while pictures of the set and cast have been shared, very few appeared to spot Edward and Sophie - now the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - as they casually made their way around the grounds.

In a video taken by Adam Thomson, the royal couple can be seen casually walking near the set. Adam told FEMAIL that the pair were so low-key, that at first he didn't notice who he was looking at.

He explained: 'We saw them coming round the corner, and it was kind of a surprise because we've thought they were actors at first, but then realised it was actually [Edward and Sophie].'

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (pictured) cut casual figures as they made their way around St Andrews University

Adam added that despite seeing a number of what he thought were professional photographers, none appeared to spot the Edinburghs.

According to Adam, the royal couple was 'right next' to the film set was he saw them.

Members of the cast have also been snapped as they film the royal drama. Meg Bellamy was transformed into Kate Middleton while Ed McVey was seen portraying Prince William as the series recreated their time at St Andrews where they met and fell in love.

Theatrically trained Ed, 22, who will play Prince William throughout his late teens and early twenties, he was seen in a navy padded jacket for the scenes.

Meanwhile Meg, 19, was pictured wearing a brown fleece as she walked around the set, with her brunette hair styled in loose waves.

Prince William and Kate became friends in their first year before romance blossomed after William saw 'hot' Kate strut down a charity fashion show catwalk in a sheer dress.

He had relocated to the prestigious university in Fife after completing his studies at Eton College in 2001. They graduated in 2005 and William proposed five years later.

The sighting comes as the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are in Scotland for a visit.

The royal sighting comes as Netflix films its sixth and final instalment of the saga (pictured: actress Meg Bellamy, who plays Kate Middleton in the final series)

The film crew of The Crown sets up at St Andrews University, where Prince Edward and his wife Sophie were spotted

On Friday, the couple greeted crowds on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and visited the City Chambers to mark one year since the city's formal response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Edward, who was granted the title Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday on March 10, was speaking to a rousing audience when he seemed to lose his voice with excitement as he referred to his wife, now Duchess of Edinburgh.

As the new Duke celebrated his birthday, his eldest brother King Charles granted the new title in accordance with their late father Prince Philip's wishes.

He told crowds the day had been 'very special and slightly overwhelming' for himself and his wife, 'the duchess'.

Addressing the audience, he said: 'Thank you very much indeed for welcoming us to Edinburgh today on, indeed, a very special and slightly overwhelming day for - now - my wife, the duchess.'

As he addressed Sophie, 58, with her new title, his voice raised ever so slightly with excitement.

In response, the crowd laughed at his innocent, childlike glee and applauded as he beamed.

Sophie's previous rank as Countess of Wessex, meant she was of an equal rank with her husband Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex.

This raise in royal status for Sophie, 58, is a touching tribute to the late Queen's daughter-in-law who lovingly called her 'mama'.

Married to Prince Edward for 24 years, she is well known for her down-to-earth nature and was viewed by the late Queen as The Firm's safest pair of hands.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh pictured on March 10 at an event inside the City Chambers in Edinburgh to mark one year since the city's response to the invasion of Ukraine

However their new titles of Duke and Duchess are of a higher rank, elevating them in status to just below the monarch.

Duchesses are also referred to as Her Royal Highness. Meanwhile the title of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh is one of the most senior in the Royal Family.

The move is a touching and lasting connection between the late Queen and her much-loved daughter-in-law, Sophie.

She was noted as the late monarch's 'favourite' family member and closest confidante.

Experts previously noted the Countess being in the spotlight is what Prince Philip 'would have wanted' and helped to 'keep his memory alive.'
Pampered pooches have been snapped having their final preparations made for today's events at Crufts.

Sunday marks the fourth and final day of the dog show, which sees people bring their pets from around the world to compete in agility and obedience competitions.

As the climax of the four-day event, one pooch will be awarded Cruft's top honour, the Best In Show award.

Throughout the last few days, dogs have been snapped wearing top outfits including printed coats, bright leg warmers, and headwear.

And today's attendees have been just as smart, donning their cute accessories, and showing off their patience as they sit still during epic grooming sessions.

Crufts, which has been running since 1891, is considered the most prestigious canine competition in the world. Here, FEMAIL takes a look at some of the highlights from Day Four of the competition...

Day four of Crufts is Utility and Toy breeds. Here, a tiny Yorkshire Terrier is prepped for competition

Meanwhile, this Standard Poodle waits patiently as they have tiny tweaks made to their coat ahead of being judged

Blow dry: this Miniature Schnauzer will soon look as though they just stepped out of a salon, after having their beard blow dried

Despite having a luscious fur coat, this pampered pooch still required a stylish jumper to ward off the bracing wind as she arrived at Crufts today

In the pink: meanwhile, leg warmers were the order of the day for this well-groomed dog, who was snapped trotting to the arena this morning

Windy: despite bravely making their way through the adverse weather conditions, it was clear the powerful breeze was having an effect on these dogs' dos

Making less of a style statement (but only just), this pooch shows off their coordinating collar and hair accessory while making their way inside

Tiring work: a sleepy Maltese dog rests in their pen amid the action on day 4 of the world-famous event

Coiffed: this Yorkshire Terrier underwent some serious grooming ahead of competing in today's event

Preened: it took two people to hold this dog in place, as their long fur was styled using what appeared to be heated straighteners

A dog's life: this Yorkshire Terrier looked slightly fatigued, as they were tucked underneath a blanket before their competition

Many of the animals showed off their impeccable patience and character as they stood quietly while being primped

For one of the Yorkshire Terriers, preparation included having curlers wrapped in their fur, to create the desired look

It all seemed a little much for this small pooch, who took the opportunity for a bit of shut-eye and a snuggle into their fuzzy blanket

And this one, who also decided to take a load off and enjoy snuggling in their comfortable bed away from the activity

Meanwhile, this adorable pooch showed off plenty of personality, appearing to stick out their tongue while being groomed

Day four, known as utility and toy day, also saw poodles taking to the arena. This standard poodle has waterproof leg warmers put on following their competition

Gentle giant: this well-coiffed standard poodle showed off their playful side as they stood on their hind legs for a hug

Patient: it takes a lot of work to create this look, and this standard poodle appeared to be patient as the final touches were put to their 'do

Glam squad: it isn't easy to maintain this look - as this team shows, with a staggering three-person team prepping this Standard Poodle to compete

They say those who spend a lot of time with their dog start to look like them. That certainly seems to be the case for this Maltese and their human - they share a penchant for pink

This pooch has a range of styling tools and potions - not to mention a professional beauty carry case - for all their grooming accoutrements

Getting stage ready: for this Pomeranian, getting this fluffy requires some serious brushing at the grooming station

Yawn! Another sleepy pooch stands patiently as they are groomed and made ready for their big appearance - this time a Japanese Akita Inu

Meanwhile a Chinese Crested dog is prepared to take on the competition, with their human ensuring the animal looks their best

On stage: Yorkshire Terriers lined up to show off their best sides during today's competition at Crufts

Also taking to the stage today to compete against each other are Maltese dogs, who fall under the category of toy breeds

One of the Pomeranians on show receives a small pat on the back while being judged on day four of the show

Meanwhile, a Standard Poodle shows off their best strut as they take to the arena to be judged against their peers
Recently I walked out of a yoga class. From the plinky-plonky music to the sickly scent of lavender and the unbearably smug, soft-voiced teacher, I couldn't stand another second.

As a working parent of two young boys, I am in dire need of a dose of zen. But the prospect of doing yet another downward dog while being told to 'clear my mind' and 'exhale my worries'  the kind of woolly, infantilising mantras too often associated with yummy-mummy yoga  makes me want to scream.

So imagine my delight when I came across a radical new trend that's perfect for stressed-out mums like me  and actually involves screaming: rage yoga.

Instead of mellow music, there's heavy metal or rock blaring in the background. Instead of silence, there's shouting, screaming and  if you're so inclined  swearing. And, in place of gentle, flowing movements, there's fist-pumping, arm-slamming and plenty of vigorous high kicks.

Better still, as the creator  a yogi and contortionist called Lindsay Istace  is based in Canada, classes take place online so you can do it from the comfort of your living room.

The prospect of doing yet another downward dog while being told to 'clear my mind' and 'exhale my worries' makes me want to scream

It doesn't come cheap  a five-week subscription costs just over 60  but there are plenty of video sessions to choose from, with motivational names such as Ferocious Foundations and Unleash Your Inner Badass, as well as accompanying pep talks about the importance of channelling your anger.

After a boom in popularity during lockdown, there are now hundreds of UK regulars  part of a rage yoga community that spans the globe.

Lindsay, 26, says she came up with the concept after a painful relationship break-up. 'I was falling apart,' she explains. 'No matter how hard I tried to pretend to be OK, my sadness and anger came out in my practice.

'At first, I thought that meant I was doing it wrong, but I leaned into the discomfort anyway. I let myself be a mess. Then something happened: I was finally able to let it go.'

It sounds appealing and I could do with some therapeutic anger management, especially if it comes in the form of exercise. Lately, I've found myself getting angrier than I'd like at little things: rowing with my husband over household chores and getting frustrated with my two young children.

Instead of mellow music, there's heavy metal or rock blaring in the background. Instead of silence, there's shouting and screaming

I'm not alone: midlife anger is a common but under-recognised, phenomenon, especially among women. According to a recent BBC study, there is a 'widening gender rage gap', with today's women feeling significantly angrier than men (male and female anger levels were similar back in 2012).

Fluctuating hormones are often blamed but there are plenty of other triggers, including work stresses, social pressure and the never-ending juggle of modern life. Intrigued to find out if yoga could really change this for me, I log on to my first class after a particularly infuriating day. The heavy metal music in the background is off-putting at first but I soon find it strangely empowering. The vocal part takes more getting used to.

One of the moves involves lunging forward on one leg, reaching my arms overhead, then throwing my head back  and screaming.

I feel self-conscious and very aware of the noise I'm making. But I try it again, and again  and on the third attempt I find myself screwing my eyes tightly shut and yelling at the top of my lungs.

My husband comes running in to check nothing awful has happened and looks very confused to find me standing, calm and zen-like, on my yoga mat. I'm impressed by the impact it has after just a few minutes. Focusing on screaming helps me completely empty my mind, leaving me feeling liberated, full of energy and ready for more.

There's plenty of screaming still to come  you can also yell, wail or howl if you prefer  as well as back bending 'like an angry kitty', several 'majestic warrior' stances with accompanying punches, and high kicks that involve shouting out a cathartic 'hi-yah!'

I'm not alone: midlife anger is a common but under-recognised, phenomenon, especially among women

Of course, rage yoga isn't for everyone and it's provoked plenty of raised eyebrows among classic yoga devotees who say it goes against the practice's spiritual origins. Particularly controversial is Lindsay's suggestion that participants pour themselves a beer or glass of wine to drink throughout  a gimmick that she insists is designed to emphasise the relaxed nature of the class.

'Some people have water, some have a beer . . . but it's not like anyone's getting drunk,' she adds. Hampshire-based yoga teacher Jo Oliver (joarthur.com), who's been practising for 20 years, says elements of rage yoga are the 'antithesis' of the ancient discipline.

'For me, yoga is all about moving the body with the breath to calm the mind, and I'm not sure if drinking and swearing would achieve that,' she says. However, she adds: 'There is a market for it. I taught a gin and yin yoga class last year. Everyone has a G+T to sip beside their mat and that was very popular so there's certainly an appeal.

'Some people might be intimidated by a calm, zen studio with lots of lycra-clad yogis in it. If that puts them off, then maybe this is a way to make yoga more accessible for everyone.' Participants in Lindsay's classes agree. 'I thought it would be much more aggressive but it's actually very energising,' one tells me. Another says: 'This isn't for people who want to feel zen but I like the buzz. I'm feeling strong.'

What's more, there are proven scientific benefits to channelling all that anger, rather than suppressing it and keeping it inside.

A report by the Mental Health Foundation in 2018 found that harnessing our anger could help us 'achieve goals, solve problems and nurture social relationships', as well as improve our mental health.

Lindsay says laughter is important, too. 'It's a real workout but we're also silly,' she explains. 'When you create space to let loose, suddenly it's hard to take yourself and your problems so seriously.'

Sitting cross-legged in my living room, having howled myself hoarse, I certainly feel the urge to laugh. This is far more fun than trekking to a stuffy studio with a group of strangers and the workout itself is more cathartic than an hour of gentle stretches.

All I need next time is a glass of rose  and I think I've found my new favourite exercise regime. It's not hard to see why this refreshing take on yoga is, well, all the rage.
While the Academy Awards may be an opportunity for stars to show off their favourite fashion looks, it was the Vanity Fair Oscar Party which saw many celebs daring to bare it all in risque outfits and barely-there ensembles.

The main event, which took place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California, and was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, saw numerous fashion fails - including Lilly Singh's strange trench coat, Zoe Saldana's nightgown-like look, and Fan Bingbing's enormous, bright green scarf.

And later, Halle Berry lead the worst dressed stars who attended the Vanity Fair event at the Wallis Anneberg Center for the Performing Arts.

The star opted for a bizarre black tulle mini dress, which was covered in bows and revealed a black bodysuit beneath it.

Meanwhile other stars including Hunter Schafer and Ashley Graham also missed the mark at the Hollywood event.

While the Academy Awards may be an opportunity for stars to show off their favourite fashion looks, it was the Vanity Fair Oscar Party which saw many celebs daring to bare it all in risque outfits and barely-there ensembles (pictured, Halle Berry)

Other stars including Hunter Schafer (left) and Ashley Graham (right) also missed the mark at the Hollywood event

Orange is the New Black star Danielle Brooks also wore a skimpy ensemble, opting for a sheer polkadot bodysuit which revealed her underwear beneath it

Chrissy Teigen opted for an eye-catching gown that contained hues of vibrant yellow and green for the event (left) while Tessa Thompson wore an unusual red bra-let for the occasion (right)

Halle flaunted her incredible figure in a black netted dress as she arrived on the red carpet in Hollywood for the party.

The frock featured a sheer design which showed off her gorgeous legs and flashed her behind.

Adorned with detail, the netting was also embellished with an abundance of black sequinned bows pinned onto the dress.

She added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of silver strappy heels and stunned with a soft palette of makeup.

Her tresses were styled in soft vintage waves and she accessorized with shimmering gold jewelry.

Hunter posed up a storm at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, California.

The 24-year-old actress dared to bare in a feather bandeau top and a pearlescent silk skirt that left little to the imagination.

The actress, who is known for her avant-garde fashion sense, confidently posed for the cameras as guests at the star-studded event looked on in awe.

Iris Apatow - who is the daughter of Hollywood heavyweights Judd and Leslie Mann - opted for a glittering red gown covered in enormous colourful daisies for the event

Victorian chic...or scary! Emma Roberts and Andrea Riseborough both wore unusual monochrome gowns for the event in Hollywood

That's a big bow! Angela Bassett's red trouser suit missed the mark on the red carpet at the event

Too much! Yara Shahidi's over-the-top scarlet dress and gloves was more like an art sculpture than a dress (left), while even Karolina Kurkova struggled to pull off this ultra-shiny green mini dress (right)

Olivia Wilde was among the stars who opted for a racy ensemble for the event, donning a white gown which revealed her tiny black leather bra beneath it

The trans star boosted her height with strappy heels and wore her blonde tresses out and relaxed.

Hunter opted for a natural makeup look to show off her pretty features.

Hunter first made her mark as a fashion model, working for such high-profile brands as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Teen Vogue, who listed her in its '21 Under 21' list in 2017.

Schafer would strike lightning fast in her transition to acting, landing her very first role in the hit HBO series Euphoria in 2019.

Meanwhile Ashley sent temperatures soaring in a sheer red gown which teased a hint of her black lingerie beneath.

Halle flaunted her incredible figure in a black netted dress as she arrived on the red carpet in Hollywood for the party

The frock featured a sheer design which showed off her gorgeous legs and flashed her behind (left and right)

The flowing chiffon frock featured bishop sleeves and was gathered at her svelte waist as well as boasting a thigh-high split.

Ashley opted for a radiant make-up palette and swept her brunette tresses into a bun with strands framing her gorgeous face.

The stunner slipped her feet into statement black platform heels and oozed confidence as she took to red carpet.

Elsewhere, Orange is the New Black star Danielle Brooks also wore a skimpy ensemble, opting for a sheer polkadot bodysuit which revealed her underwear beneath it.

Hunter posed up a storm at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, California in a tiny feather top

The 24-year-old actress dared to bare in a feather bandeau top and a pearlescent silk skirt that left little to the imagination

Wow: Model Ashley sent temperatures soaring in a sheer red gown which teased a hint of her black lingerie beneath

Meanwhile Chrissy Teigen opted for an eye-catching gown that contained hues of vibrant yellow and green for the event

Upon arriving at the Wallis Anneberg Center in the heart of Beverly Hills, the media personality put on a leggy display wearing a patterned dress with sparkling sequin embellishments embroidered throughout the semi-sheer fabric

Lavish detail: Large feathery details were placed on the arm cuffs, and also contained colorful hues of yellow and also a hint of dark green

Meanwhile Chrissy Teigen opted for an eye-catching gown that contained hues of vibrant yellow and green for the event.

Upon arriving at the Wallis Anneberg Center in the heart of Beverly Hills, the media personality put on a leggy display wearing a patterned dress with sparkling sequin embellishments embroidered throughout the semi-sheer fabric.

Green-studded rhinestones as well as silver accents were also on the dress, which flowed down towards the ground.

A thigh-high slit was placed on the left side of the dazzling gown that allowed the star to flaunt her stunning post-partum body.

Large feathery details were placed on the arm cuffs, and also contained colorful hues of yellow and also a hint of dark green.

Florence Pugh (seen), Zoe Saldana, Rooney Mara, and Elizabeth Banks lead the list of worst dressed stars on the Oscars red carpet

What the frock? Actress Florence, 27, wore a white, flowing gown with gigantic sleeves and a huge slit down the middle - which showed a pair of black shorts underneath

While some wowed on the red carpet this evening - others completely missed the mark. 37-year-old actress Rooney is seen in an awkward white dress

Bizarre look: Popular YouTuber Lilly Singh, 35, wore a questionable outfit to the 2023 Oscars, donning a bright pink floor-length trench coat and clunky boots

Avatar star Zoe, 44, wore a lacy dress that seemed more like a nightgown than something for the Academy Awards red carpet

Yikes: Hunger Games star Elizabeth, 49, donned a black and white layered dress, and it got attention for all the wrong reasons

The puffy gown came with a huge train in the back and excessive ruffles

Actress Michelle Williams, 42, committed a crime against fashion in her strapless white dress with a sparkly, sheer piece of fabric hanging on top of it. Its boxy structure was unflattering

Too much: Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, 41, wore for a sparkly, silver, haltered gown - which she paired with a huge, bright green scarf that ensured all eyes would be on her

The dress was wrapped and secured with a yellow belt made of a soft fabric that fell down on her left side.

To coincide with the color scheme of the ensemble, the businesswoman slipped into a pair of neon green, open-toed heels that were secured with thin straps around her ankles.

As she posed for a strew of glamorous photos, Chrissy held a green, rhinestone-covered clutch bag to pull the look together.

The mother of three accessorized her dress by adding a pair of green and yellow earrings that sparkled under the bright lights. However, she chose to not add any other pieces of jewelry to allow the gown to be the main focal point for the evening.

Her new, short reddish-colored locks were parted to the side, and flowed down in light curls to brush her shoulders.

Meanwhile there wasn't a shortage of sartorial nightmares on the Oscars red carpet - from eye-popping colors and clashing patterns to over-the-top ruffles and weirdly-shaped frocks.

Fashion fail: Orange Is the New Black star Laverne Cox, 50, wore an unflattering turquoise and black dress, with strange, glove-like sleeves attached to it

Model Molly Sims, 49, paired her green gown with a tacky feather boa

Bridesmaids actress Melissa McCarthy, 52, wore a fluffy red gown with dramatic sleeves

Songwriter Tems, 27, wore a dramatic white dress with a long train and huge shoulder piece that wrapped around her head

Actresses Andrea Riseborough (left), 41, and Jessie Buckley (right), 33, both went a little overboard with the lace

Actor Idris Elba, 50, attended the event with his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, but her ensemble wasn't the best

Popular YouTuber Lilly, 35, wore a questionable outfit - donning a bright pink floor-length jacket and clunky boots.

Underneath, she opted for a matching-colored body suit and bell-bottom pants.

Chinese actress Fan, 41, donned for a sparkly, silver, haltered gown - which she paired with a huge scarf that ensured all eyes would be on her - while Orange Is the New Black star Laverne Cox, 50, opted for an unflattering turquoise and black dress, with strange, glove-like sleeves attached to it.

Avatar star Zoe, 44, was seen arriving in a lacy dress that seemed more like a nightgown than something for the Academy Awards red carpet.

Actress Florence Pugh, 27, wore a white, flowing gown with gigantic sleeves and a huge slit down the middle - which showed a pair of black shorts underneath.

Hunger Games star Elizabeth Banks, 49, donned a black and white layered dress, and it got attention for all the wrong reasons. The puffy gown came with a huge train in the back and excessive ruffles.

Glitter overload: Both Italian film director Alice Rohrwacher (left), 41, and actress Sigrid Husjord (right), 44, picked dresses that had a little too much sparkle on them

Production designer Florencia Martin, 37, wore a white frock on the Oscars red carpet - but it contained a slew of awkward ruffles that didn't quite compliment her

65-year-old director Euzhan Palcy's dress didn't work - thanks to its numerous ruffles and bedazzled embellishments, as well as a strange neck piece and gloves

Blinding: Producer Diane Becker (seen right with Dasha Navalnaya), 53, wore a neon green dress that was way too bright

Missed the mark: Actress Monica Barbaro, 32, paired her sky-blue gown with something that resembled a cape

Songwriter Diane Warren, 66, was seen in a bizarre look that contained a black suit with a leopard print design and metallic gold shoes

Clashing: Triathlete Lesley Paterson's bright yellow and pink gown didn't really match, but her Embellished Floral Egg Clutch bag from Aspinal Of London caught the eye

M3GAN alum Allison Williams, 34, had too much going on with her pink ensemble - she chose a flowery dress with a tacky white ruffle on the bottom, which she paired with a gigantic coat

What was she thinking? Journalist Zanna Roberts Rassi walked the Oscars red carpet in a white and black look with a huge feather-piece in the middle that raised eyebrows

Both Italian film director Alice Rohrwacher, 41, and actress Sigrid Husjord, 44, picked dresses that had a little too much glitter on them, while producer Diane Becker, 53, chose a neon green dress that was overly bright.

Production designer Florencia Martin, 37, donned a white frock at the event - but it contained a slew of awkward ruffles that didn't quite compliment her.

65-year-old director Euzhan Palcy's dress also wasn't the best - thanks to its numerous ruffles and bedazzled embellishments, as well as a strange neck piece and gloves - while songwriter Diane Warren, 66, was seen in a peculiar look that contained a black suit with leopard print on it, and metallic gold shoes.

Actress Monica Barbaro, 32, paired her sky-blue gown with something that resembled a cape.

And M3GAN alum Allison Williams, 34, had a little too much going on with her pink ensemble.

She chose a flowery dress with a tacky white ruffle on the bottom, which she paired with a gigantic coat.

Actress Michelle Williams, 42, also committed a crime against fashion in her strapless white dress with a sparkly, sheer piece of fabric hanging on top of it. It's boxy structure was unflattering.
Luxury fashion retailer Farfetch has listed a 'preloved' Chanel shopping basket online for an eye-watering $101,268.

The XXL Shopping Basket bag from the Autumn/Winter 2014 collection left many questioning the 'crazy' price of the secondhand item.

Several on social media pondered what they could buy for that amount of money - perhaps a new car, boat or even a house deposit - rather than one shopping basket.

Journalist Sophie Walsh shared images of the item on Twitter then wrote: 'And in today's edition of what the actual f***.'

Reporter Kate Creedon jokingly said: 'But you'll look so chic at Woolies.'

A 'preloved' Chanel shopping basket has been listed on Farfetch for $101,268 (pictured). The XXL Shopping Basket bag from the Autumn/Winter 2014 collection left many questioning the 'crazy' price of the secondhand item

The product is detailed with silver-plated hardware detailing, two metallic top handles, along with the Chanel logo on the front

The product is detailed with silver-plated hardware detailing, two metallic top handles, along with the Chanel logo on the front.

Chanel created the bag to pair with its supermarket showcase in 2014 that saw the likes of Cara Delevingne and Rihanna take to the runway.

According to the product description, the event was one of the brand's 'most memorable runways'.

Others on Twitter joined the conversation, many making joking remarks that they'd buy multiple.

'I'll take two. One for each arm. Or would four be better?' one wrote.

'Well that's farfetched lol,' another added.

Television presenter Michelle Stephenson even said: 'Can't wait till they do a Trolley version.'

Another suggested a DIY alternative.

'I reckon some spray paint and a few Bunnings baskets and were retiring early!' the man wrote.

Journalist Sophie Walsh shared images of the item on Twitter then wrote: 'And in today's edition of what the actual f***.' Reporter Kate Creedon joked: 'But you'll look so chic at Woolies'

Surprisingly the basket isn't the most expensive item listed on Farfetched.

The 2002 Hermes Kelly Doll mini bag costs a staggering $136,101 preowned - and looks to be rather small.

Some of the cheapest items on sale include an iPhone 12 Dolce & Gabbana case for $173, Jimmy Choo Dru flat espadrilles shoes for $442 and Polo Ralph Lauren shirt for $149.

Other brands sold include Balmain, Gucci, Prada, Off-White, Versace and more.
They're an eco-savvy solution to Earth's plastic pollution crisis.

That is, if you can stomach the grim army of bacteria lurking inside your reusable water bottle.

Stomach-churning studies have suggested the bottles, adored by gymgoers and Love Island stars alike, can harbour 40,000 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat.

For this reason, some experts have described them as being like a 'portable Petri dish'.

Researchers behind US-based waterfilterguru.com carried out one of the grimmest studies into the bugs lingering in our water bottles yet. The study examined how colony-forming units (CFUs) were inside four popular types of water bottle. This is a unit commonly used to estimate the concentration of bacteria in a test sample. On average, they contained 20.8million CFUs of gram-negative bacteria

Researchers also found two types of bacteria present in reusable water bottles: gram-negative rods and bacillus. Gram-negative bacteria including E. Coli and Klebsiella, can a number of serious infections such as pneumonia. While certain types of bacillus can also lead to gastrointestinal issues including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea

To prevent a build up of bacteria, experts instead recommend washing your bottle daily 'using hot soapy water'.

US-based waterfilterguru.com, a team of water treatment experts and member of the Water Quality Association, carried out one of the grimmest studies into the bugs lingering in our water bottles yet.

They found two types of bacteria present: gram-negative rods and bacillus.

Gram-negative bacteria including E. Coli and Klebsiella, can trigger a number of serious infections such as pneumonia.

While certain types of bacillus can also lead to gastrointestinal issues including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Read more: Dirtiest places in your work kitchen revealed by grim swabbing test Advertisement

The study examined how colony-forming units (CFUs) were inside four popular types of water bottle.

This is a unit commonly used to estimate the concentration of bacteria in a test sample.

On average, they contained 20.8million CFUs of gram-negative bacteria.

Spout and screw-top lid bottle appeared to harbour the most, at 30million CFUs.

For comparison, a toilet seat has 515.

With an average CFU count of 20.8million, reusable bottles can harbour up to five times the amount of bacteria found on a computer mouse (5million) researchers found.

It also accounts for a staggering 14 times the quantity recorded than a pet bowl, with an average of 1.48million CFUs.

Other studies have suggested similar values.

Researchers at US based indoor air quality laboratory, EmLab P&K, recently found more than 300,000 CFUs per square centimeter on each of the 12 water bottles they tested.

Yet despite the warnings, experts told MailOnline there was little evidence that the types of bacteria found in these water bottles are harmful to humans.

Dr Andrew Edwards, a molecular microbiologist at Imperial College London, said: 'The human mouth is home to a large number and range of different bacteria.

'So it's not surprising that drinking vessels are covered in microbes.'

However he also cautioned that household objects including water taps are already riddled with harmless bacteria.

Dr Edwards added: 'Whilst it's important to keep bottles clean, using hot soapy water, the simple presence of bacteria is not necessarily a problem.

'And there's no evidence from this study that the types of bacteria found are harmful to humans.

'Indeed, domestic water taps are often colonised with many bacteria which have no harmful effects on humans.'

Meanwhile, Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist from the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'It really depends on what the bacteria are as to whether it's a problem or not.

'Having high numbers of bacteria might be a flag something hasn't been cleaned in a while, but it's not necessarily dangerous.

'I've never heard of someone getting sick from a water bottle, similarly taps are clearly not a problem, when did you last hear of someone getting ill from pouring a glass of water from a tap?'

He added: 'Water bottles are likely to be contaminated with the bacteria that are already in people's mouths.'
Discounting Donald Trump is not a new game, but it's a popular one right now.

Trump, they say, stands no chance against the reassuringly slick Ron de Santis, governor of Florida and widely thought to be his main rival for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race.

De Santis is younger and more convincing, a manifestly better politician with greater reach  and helpfully without the posturing and crude misogyny.

We're told that Trump's egregious behaviour has all-but destroyed his chances, that millions of natural Republican sympathisers will never vote for him again.

He faces a tangles array of Federal investigations and lawsuits. Influential republicans dismiss him as a fantasist.

Trump has the recognition, he has the funds, he has fervent  and entrenched - supporters in both houses of Congress and he is a formidable campaigner

Even senior executives at the Trump-supporting Fox News believe the 45th president is deluded when he claims that he lost to Biden through electoral fraud.

This insight was delivered courtesy of the extraordinary $1.6bn libel case brought against the network by Dominion Voting Systems, which makes voting machines blamed by some (without evidence) for helping skew the result against Trump.

Yet however bad the case might seem against him, there are good reasons, for believing it is overstated, and that the doubters will be proved wrong.

We've been here before, after all. Trump was widely discounted in the 2016 race  treated as a joke candidate, in fact. But they weren't laughing when the polling stations closed.

The first thing to consider is the sheer size of the electoral advantage Trump currently holds.

We're a year and a half from polling day, yet his guaranteed support is estimated at 30 million.

With the likely total of Republican voters ranging from 75-80 million, this is a substantial head-start.

Other recent figures suggest that Trump commands the support of 43 per cent of registered Republicans, that de Santis has 31 per cent while Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, the only Republican rival to throw her hat into the ring so far, can only muster four per cent.

She's a woman and from the southern states, two important advantages in the current climate, but she's still a minnow. For the moment, at least.

Whatever the critics might prefer to believe, Trump is much, much further ahead than he was when he joined the race for 2016.

Trump has the recognition. (Nikki Haley, anyone?)

He has the funds. He has fervent  and entrenched - supporters in both houses of Congress.

As a former occupant of the Oval Office, he has access to the sort of networks and advice that were beyond him the first time round.

And he is a formidable campaigner.

The Fox News libel case has hardly been flattering to Trump. But it won't harm him, either.

Those who blame Trump for the Capitol riots have already made up their minds.

And the Fox libel suit serves to reinforce this very simple point that there is a vast and overwhelming appetite out there for Donald Trump, particularly in the struggling 'fly-over' states .

When Trump claimed the election had been 'stolen', million upon million of ordinary Americans wanted to believe him, however shaky the evidence (which is why, according to legal papers, Fox TV continued airing Trump's claims despite the concerns of its executives).

There is, in short, a huge Trump-shaped hole in American politics. However well de Santis might fill it  and the 44-year-old certainly is impressive  the person who fits that hole most perfectly is sitting at home in his Mare Lago mansion.

And if Trump wins the Republican nomination  as I believe he will  what then?

Again, his advantages are considerable, not least when it comes to the respective records of Trump and Jo Biden, the man likely to regain the Democrat nomination.

It's the record in office that truly cuts through. And Biden's has hardly been encouraging.

Whether it's the chaotic retreat from Afghanistan, or the NATO Madrid summit where American wishes were thwarted by a Turkish ultimatum over membership, or the president's failed visit to Saudi Arabia in a bid to attempt to get them to increase oil production (and reduce world prices)  this has been the lowest point ever for America as a superpower.

US voters are not used to humiliation.

They are well-aware that their country is in a mess, both at home and abroad, and more so than it was in 2016.

Americans won't forget that Trump was right about China and the threat it poses. They agreed with him back then that the Republic is best off steering clear of foreign wars - and they agree with him now, as the bill for Ukraine mounts steadily and without an end in view.

His record in office stacks up.

When he was president, he fought for stronger border security and fought against Opioid addiction. Two big ticks from me.

He backed lower taxes and more personal freedom, particularly from the bureaucrats who locked us down for far too long in the pandemic.

Yes, he's vulgar. Yes his antics have offended millions, including many Republicans. But he's still going to win.

Crucial swing voters might hold their noses in the polling booth. But they actually agree with him on many of these points, however privately.

And they will feel they have no choice but to put him back into the White House.

In these precarious times, when the presidency looks helpless in the face of endless conflict  perhaps even a third world war  the voters need reassurance.

Ron de Santis? Good but no cigar. Biden? Out of the question

When you are hungry, cold and homeless, you become a little less choosy about those who come offering food and shelter.

Many Americans are feeling this right now in a very personal way. Conditions at home and abroad will be just the same in 18 months' time, or worse.

And Donald Trump will look bigger, more credible and more reassuring than the rest.

Bet against him at your peril.

Erbil Gunasti's week-by-week analysis of Turkish and American foreign policy https://erdoganandtrump.com/erbil-writes/
On the far outskirts of Sydney behind a razor wire-topped 2.4m steel fence, a world first research experiment on the dead that could help police solve murders is taking place at a secret bushland experimental facility.

More than 70 bodies lie scattered under gum trees in various states of decomposition at the Body Farm.

Deep in the bush away from the fence, bodies lie in large cages on top of the ground, while others are deliberately buried beneath rubble as they decompose.

The fence, comprising 1.8m of steel topped with a 60cm barrel of concertinaed razor wire, surrounds the 4.8hectare site at a classified location at the base of the NSW Blue Mountains.

The bodies, donated to science before death, are referred to as 'donors' by the mostly female workers in white Tyvek coveralls, goggles, gloves, hats and industrial-grade boots - who dig them up to study their stages of decay.

When author Jackie Dent visited the fortress-like compound which is under constant CCTV surveillance, she observed the bodies placed in cages to prevent animal scavenging, and smelt the stages of their decomposition.

'Some are skeletons. Some wear worn cotton T-shirts. Some are naked, their soft tissue now their only cloak,' she writes in her new book, The Great Dead Body Teachers.

Dent, who says she has been 'interested in dead bodies' since she was a child, visited the Body Farm to research her book in pursuit of answering questions like 'How do scientists tackle the practicalities and ethics of cutting up the dead for research? And who are body donors generally?'

Professor Shari Forbes at Australia's only 'body farm', standing in bushland containing the remains of donors who have left their bodies to science; within the pink tape are 30 human corpses left on the surface to decompose

A 1.8 metre steel fence topped with a further 60 centimetres of concertina wire surrounds the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research, the only 'body farm' outside the six facilities operating in the United States

Norwegian scientist Dr Maiken Ueland is doing world first studies of the odours emanating from decomposing human remains and is trying to find the 'holy grail' of cadaver research, establishing the exact time of death

'Some jaws are ajar, if screaming. What is uncanny are their colours  red and brown skin blends in with fallen leaves while patches of vibrant green mould growing on their skulls and bones matches the grass and trees.

'The odour is... near sickening, back to sweet, near sickening.'

One man lying flat on his back in a very decayed state is 'an unusually beautiful horror. He's wearing a dark t-shirt and pants. Flies buzz everywhere.

'The smell is  sort of okay  but it slowly pushes me away 5, 6, 7 metres.'

Dent was visiting the only open-air centre outside the United States for the study of the decomposition of human remains from death until discovery - or taphonomy.

It is known as the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER), and run by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and in 2017, Daily Mail Australia was granted exclusive access to visit and photograph the body farm.

'The first body farm was in Tennessee in 1981... and these sites revolutionised the science of death,' Dent writes.

The top secret facility is surrounded by a security fence and CCTV cameras at its classified location at the base of the Blue Mountains and is the first open body decomposition research centre outside the US

The body farm's scientists at an area within the top secret facility where corpses left on the surface are contained with in large cages to prevent animal scavenging so that their rate of decay can be studied

Her onsite guide was AFTER's director Dr Jodie Ward, who also co-ordinates the Australian Federal Police's national DNA program to identify the 750 sets of unknown remains in mortuaries, labs and police stations around Australia, and hopefully match them up with the nation's 2500 long-term missing people.

'The body farm has hundreds of donors, but desperately needs more,' says Dent whose own research for her book centres on what happened to her grandparents' bodies - likely dissection by medical students - after they donated their bodies to science.

As the journalist turned author toured the body farm twice, she came across the running experiments, including a mass grave excavation of a terrorist bombing scenario with real bodies placed in a mocked-up building collapse.

In this mass grave simulation all eight bodies are 'slowly skeletonising either above or below ground' for research by the forensic scientists, biologists, pathologists, chemists, anthropologists, odontologists and police who regularly head for the body farm.

On her second trip, Dent speaks with Norwegian scientist Dr Maiken Ueland. AFTER's deputy director, who is conducting a novel study, the first of its kind in the world, on the odours coming off donors.

Underneath a pile of concrete, bricks, metal beams and pipes of a 'faux disaster' building collapse on the site lie four bodies taken from the UTS freezers and placed at the site 15 days earlier.

'Hanging over the disaster area are  four tubes which for the past two weeks have been collecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the odours coming off the donors as they decompose,' Dent writes.

Any part of the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research - better known as the 'body farm' - marked with pink tape holds human remains left exposed in bushland as part of studies into the decomposition of human remains

Jackie Dent visited the Body Farm during her research into human donation and dissection and her intrigue with her grandparents' decision to give their bodies to science

Dr Maiken and Alicia, a student studying mummification, use long needles ot take samples of muscle and fat from from the very decayed male donor lying flat on his back.

'The tissue is then dabbed into small plastic tubes and will be analysed (and) used on a second project, which looks into decomposition over a period of time  the holy grail of time of death.'

Maiken tells Dent her chemistry-based analysis of the make-up of the remains will provide a different method of assessing time of death (TOD) which is 'a major challenge in a lot of investigations because it is so hard'.

'There is a lot of work out there but there is still the misconception that time of death is easy,' Maiken says.

She explains to the author pathologists are 'really good' at determining time TOD if the remains are found early, and then within weeks, because entomology on insect invasion of bodies is 'also quite precise'.

But beyond that it becomes more difficult, and with skeletons, the TOD range can be large.

Part of Maiken's research on the odour coming from bodies is studying the VOCs emanating from human remains, such as her 'favourite molecule', dimethyl trisulfide 'one of the key volatile compounds released by humans'.

Hundreds of donors from at least four Australian states have signed up to have their remains used at the facility, and Dent reports that she would happily join them writing, 'I could totally donate my body to this place'.

The chapter of The Great Dead Body Teachers on the body farm is just a part of what some may call a macabre examination of anatomy and dissection.

But Dent's exploration - part adventure, part detective story - manages to be fascinating rather than sickening, as she charts her family's history and that of body donation and dismemberment of remains in the name of science.

What inspired her was that her gave their bodies to science when they died which coupled with a fascination with dead bodies from her childhood, sent her on a journey of discovery.

She spends a bit of her book writing about British philosopher Jeremy Bentham, inventor of the panopticon and on Dent's list of 'Willingly Dissected People', who co-wrote his country's 1832 Anatomy Act and called for medical advancement and the saving of lives through anatomical study.

The book is a journey of self discovery for Dent, as well as an investigation of people's attitudes to body parts and the like through the ages, into modern times of people having plastic surgery on their private parts.

As Dent discovered, get into a conversation of the topic of dissection and bodies, and you will be surprised what stories people have to tell.

The Great Dead Body Teachers by Jackie Dent, published by Ultimo Press, $36.99
Their families tell DailyMail.com it's time for Biden to finally take it seriously

But thousands more have died on his watch, including these seven victims

Biden laughed off two brothers' fentanyl deaths because they occurred in 2020

The grieving parents of children who died from fentanyl poisoning during Biden's presidency are sharing their anger with DailyMail.com after watching him laugh off another mother's loss of two sons to the same drug because it happened under Trump's watch.

The parents said Biden's nonchalant attitude towards the worsening fentanyl epidemic is not only insulting to them and their late children's memory - but that it will also lead to more deaths.

Their grief was whipped into a white-hot rage on March 1 when Biden, in an attempt to mock Marjorie Taylor Greene, invoked the deaths of two young brothers who died from fentanyl poisoning in 2020.

'The interesting thing is that fentanyl [the boys] took came during the last administration, haha,' laughed Biden to a room of chuckling peers.

The boys are the sons of Rebecca Kiessling, a pro-life Republican lawyer who had testified before Congress about the worsening fentanyl crisis in the desperate hope that Democrats would heed her call for action.

Scroll down for video

Sixteen-year-old Layton Ivins (L) from Georgetown, Texas, died in January this year after taking what he thought was a Percocet. Hannah Elise, also 16, died in Colorado in December 2021

She asked for an apology from the White House but never received one.

While Greene may have wrongly suggested that the Kiessling brothers died after Biden took office, hundreds of thousands of other youngsters have succumb to the drug on his watch.

Their parents now want tighter border control and harsher criminal consequences for the drug dealers who are caught peddling the fake pills that many kids take, completely unaware that they are laced with a fatal dose of the opioid.

Overdose deaths have skyrocketed over the last three years, rising by 50% from 52,000 in 2016 to 106,000 in 2021.

The White House attributes the majority to fentanyl poisoning or overdose, and say the drug comes almost entirely from China via Mexico, with a handful of cartels responsible for bringing them across the border.

Six out of 10 fake prescription pills tested by the DEA in 2022 contained fentanyl, and the 'vast majority' came from the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels.

For years, the synthetic drug had been used as a cheaper, more readily available substitute for heroin. Now though, it is being chopped up with cocaine, MDMA and packed into pills too.

Shannon Mulligan, 22, died in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in March 2021. She also thought she was taking a Percocet - but was instead sold a pill that had been pressed with fentanyl

Shannon's mother Heather with her four-year-old daughter, who she now helps care for. She told DailyMail.com: 'This is everywhere - it can happen to any kid, and the president should be ashamed of himself'

That is what killed 16-year-old Layton Ivins, a high school student from Georgetown, Texas, who died a month ago.

'He was not a drug user, it was the curiosity in high school. It was a one time thing for him and it took his life,' his father Cody told DailyMail.com.

Layton thought he was taking a Percocet but in fact ingested a black market pill.

He knew of the dangers of fentanyl, his father said, and asked repeatedly if the tablet he was taking was fake or genuine. Cody says he was told it was real.

'This is terrifying, what is happening to our children. And it's as if [the Biden administration] doesn't want people to know about it.'

'This should be treated with as much passion and force as they did COVID  this is wiping out the next generation thats supposed to be coming in and filling peoples shoes. This is an epidemic,' he said.

Heather Mulligan's daughter Shannon was 26 when she died from a fentanyl poisoning in March 2021.

She had become addicted to prescription Percocets and sought help to get off them - but died after taking a fake pill.

'She reached out for something  it was fake. And it killed her. I found her praying beside her bed,' Heather, who works in an orthodontist's office in Foxborough, Massachusetts, said.

Colin Kulberson, 26, had enough fentanyl in his system to kill 16 people when he died at home in Pennsylvania in June 2022

Colin's mother Sheila Kemmer says she still does not know if he took a pill or if the marijuana he had been smoking was laced with the lethal drug. They are shown together when he was a child

She too was outraged by Biden laughing off the Kiessling brothers' deaths.

'He of all people should be ashamed of himself. His son has substance abuse issues.

'It could have been his child. He has no right to laugh about any child in this country dying. He should be ashamed of himself.

'This is everywhere. We are a good family, we live in a beautiful home, you could say we're middle class. But this can happen to anyone.

Cody Ivins with his son, Layton. He said of the Biden administration: 'Is it going to take one of their kids to die before they get mad about it?'

'Kids will experiment with things and they dont even know what they are taking,' she said.

Sheila Kremmer's 26-year-old son Colin died at home in Pennsylvania in June. He had overcome a heroin addiction and was smoking marijuana when he died.

His autopsy revealed that he had 32 nanograms of fentanyl in his system when he died - enough to kill 16 people.

'I was scared about the heroin, I didnt know I had to be scared about this. When he died, he didn't have any heroin in his system.

'Did he take a pill thinking it was a Percocet or Xanax? Or was it in his weed? I dont know. I'll never know,' Sheila told DailyMail.com through tears.

Police are yet to trace where the fentanyl came from that killed him.

'They are still investigating who gave him this, so they say. I dont believe it  the stigma surrounding drugs is they deserve it, addiction is a choice and they chose the wrong thing. Its not the case.

'They dont understand. My son wasnt a loser, he wasnt a druggie. He was a good kid.

'He didnt deserve to die alone. He didnt deserve to die that way. It just breaks my heart. It was not an overdose  it was murder. 32 nanograms? Thats murder.'

DailyMail.com spoke with seven families whose children have all died from fentanyl poisoning in the last three years.

They all say the current administration is not doing nearly enough to tackle the crisis.

Ivins, who works as an appliance repairman in Georgetown, Texas, said he has no faith in the President when it comes to securing the border.

'Its a joke to them. He just wants to place the blame. Everythings Trump. I dont know if Id waste my breath sending a message to him.

Patrick Lee Crossno, 30, thought he was taking a Xanax when he died. He'd been to a doctor but was wrongly prescribed anti-depressants, and had no health insurance to keep returning. A friend gave him the pill that killed him. Jordan Bean (right) died aged 32 in May 2022

Jesse Byrd died in a so-called recovery house in Maryland in February 2022, less than a month before his 27th birthday. He was found dead in the top bunk of a shared room with 10 other recovering addicts

'Thats just how disconnected he is with what needs to happen. The whole administration should be ashamed of itself of the condition our country is in.'

The Biden administration has acknowledged that the majority of fentanyl in the US is produced in some part in China.

Ivins - and the other parents - are calling for sanctions to be placed against Beijing until the flow of the deadly drugs stop, but none are holding their breath.

'I dont know if Id waste my breath sending a message to [Biden]. Thats just how disconnected he is with what needs to happen. The whole administration should be ashamed of itself of the condition our country is in.

'Is it going to take one of their kids to die before they actually get mad about it? We dont have secret service guarding our families like he has his.

'The average American doesnt have someone to come through with drug dogs coming through everywhere they go.

'Hes safe, his family is safe and everyone is fending for themselves, while hes the only one who can do something about it.'

Rebecca Kiessling, a mother from Michigan who lost two sons to fentanyl poisoning, wipes away tears during her testimony on Tuesday

Kiessling testified before congress earlier this week about her sons' deaths. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said the Biden administration was doing 'nothing' to stop fentanyl deaths among young people

Kiessling's sons Caleb and Kyler died in 2020 when they were 18 and 20 after taking a pill that they did not know was laced with fentanyl

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden was expressing 'sympathy' when he spoke of a mom who lost her two sons to drugs laced with fentanyl and his words were 'mischaracterized'

The DEA has warned that the escalating fentanyl crisis is 'a new, deeper, more deadly threat than we have ever seen.'

Fentanyl poisoning is now the leading cause of death than young people in America.

Despite an increasingly unstable border and rampant cartel violence, the Biden administration does not appear to be concerned.

'Because of the work that this President has done, because of what weve done specifically on fentanyl at the border, its at historic lows  historic levels that we have been able to record a number of personnel working to secure the border because of what weve been able to do, seizing that fentanyl.

'Weve done it in a historic way. Thats because of what this President has done,' White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said this week.
Australia's tech industry is such a 'boy's club' that when a start-up included the word 'woman' in its name 'tech-bros' were so triggered that they pressured it into an expensive rebrand, sources with knowledge of the situation claimed.

Shivani Gopal relaunched her brainchild, a women's networking app called The Remarkable Woman, in 2023 - changing its name to Elladex, allegedly following concerns it excluded men.

Ms Gopal used the relaunch to add on new features but she had to replace her powerful concept of a women's community with what is now 'a digital social learning and mentoring platform'.

She confirmed to Daily Mail Australia she changed the name of the company to make the name 'more inclusive'.

After this story was published, Ms Gopal's representatives fired back, insisting she changed the name of the business to be more inclusive to all women, including trans people, and also as a strategic move as her enterprise was becoming a more tech-focused company.

One supporter of Ms Gopal's project, Sydney tech entrepreneur Candice Burningham, believes the case shows how men still make career-defining decisions for women.

Shivani Gopal used the relaunch to add on new features but she had to replace the powerful concept of a women's community with what is now 'a digital social learning and mentoring platform'

Sydney tech entrepreneur Candice Burningham, believes a change forced on The Remarkable Woman shows how men still make career-defining decisions for women

One of the few women to be a wild success in senior executive ranks in Australian tech is Canva's co-founde Melanie Perkins

Her comments comes as research by LinkedIn, released to coincide with International Women's Day last week, found that only a third of all high-ranking executive roles in Australia in 2022 belonged to women.

'When an announcement is made that a woman has been appointed to one of the most senior roles in an organisation it is still met with almost surprise,' Ms Burningham said.

'That's a real pity.'

While the tech industry is considered progressive partly because it relies on innovation and gives employees perks not seen in most companies, it was the third-worst offender.

In 2022 only 20 per cent of leaders in technology were women.

In construction just 17 per cent of leaders were women in 2022 making it the the worst performing Australian industry, with transport and logistics at 18 per cent.

Education is performing the best, with 42 per cent of senior executive positions held by women.

While the numbers of senior female leaders in some industries remains very low, overall the situation is slowly edging towards parity.

Women held 41 per cent of all new leadership jobs in Australia in 2022, an increase from 37 in 2018. Overall, women make up 45 per cent of the workforce.

Ms Burningham believes Ms Gopal's company didn't get the spotlight it deserved because its name was seen as only appealing to women.

The company is understood to have secured new sources of seed funding and its future looks far brighter.

'Do I think they would have got that with The Remarkable Woman name? No.'

Ms Burningham, who spent decades working in insurance, merchant banking and media here and in Britain, claims tech in Australia remains 'a boy's club'.

She said one of the worst examples she has witnessed involved an unnamed female founder of a tech-start-up being cut short by man at a convention who wanted to speak to a male about her company.

In the Australian construction industry just 17 per cent of leaders were women in 2022

'I frequently hear from other women that they have to deal with a bro culture which is quite common in companies in the tech sector, the boys saying to each other "hey bro, yeah bro".

She said the 'bro culture' in tech isn't 'hostile' towards women, but it regularly overlooks their achievements.

'The articles I read and what I hear about venture capital companies seem to be always backing male-led tech entrepreneurs.

'It's always about the boys from Afterpay or Atlassian.

Percentage of high-ranking female Aussie execs: by industry Across all industries in Australia women held a third (33 per cent) of senior leadership roles in 2022. The figures for broad industry groups are below: Accommodation: 25 per cent of senior leaders are women.

Administrative and Support Services: 29 per cent

Construction: 17 per cent

Education: 42 per cent

Financial services: 25 per cent

Technology, Information and Digital Media: 20 per cent

Real Estate and Equipment Rental Services: 25 per cent

Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage: 18 per cent. Source: LinkedIn Advertisement

'The only one with a female senior executive was Melanie Perkins at Canva'.

Perkins co-founded Canva with Cliff Obrecht in 2007 when she was 19 years old and still at The University of Western Australia.

In January 2022, Perkins and Obrecht were jointly estimated to have a net worth of $9.21billion according to Forbes.

Ms Burningham said media was probably worse than the tech sector for not providing pathways for women to reach senior management.

Ms Burningham, who mainly worked as an executive assistant before turning her experience into two businesses, said a woman's best chance to hold a senior role in tech is to start her own company.

'I did it myself... I don't believe people look at an EA and think they can be business leaders.

'So I went around and did it my own way instead of going through the ranks.'

LinkedIn's Prue Cox said traditionally male-dominated workforces are more resistant to high-ranking female executives.

'Whilst the data shows there has been some improvement when it comes Australian women representation in the workforce, there is no denying that we have a long way to go to achieving equity, particularly in industries that may have been traditionally viewed as 'male dominated' roles.'
Tables laid, fridges stocked and a Christmas tree bedecked in baubles.... but not a soul in sight.

An urban explorer has revealed eerie scenes from inside the sunken steamboat steakhouse at Lakeside shopping centre four months after it slipped into the waters.

Miller and Carter staff, in the midst of preparing for lunchtime opening, were forced to abandon ship when the converted paddle-steamer began to slip into the murky lake, two days before Christmas.

Stunned onlookers likened the disaster to the Titanic. But the aftermath is now more reminiscent of maritime mystery the Mary Celeste - the US merchant ship found adrift in the Atlantic in 1872 with no crew in sight.

The Mary Celeste or the Miller and Carter? Spooky scenes aboard sunken steakhouse

Tables set and ready for the diners who would never arrive. Inside the sunken steakhouse

The ship's bow was above the water in December, but has since slipped beneath the surface

The ship's kitchens are filled with piles of rotting food, crockery is stacked and ready to use, and the fridges remain rammed with bottles of beer and wine.

Elsewhere, substantial damage can be seen to the boat where objects broke or fell over as it began to dip into the water.

What was the Mary Celeste? The Mary Celeste, which was found abandoned off the coast of Portugal The Mary Celeste was an American ship travelling from New York to Genoa in Italy in 1872 The ship was found abandoned 400 miles off the coast of Portugal What happened to the 10 people onboard remains a mystery, leading to speculation about their fate There were no signs of violence or missing cargo, adding to the mystery and even giving rise to ghost stories about the ship Arthur Conan Doyle published a short story based on the Mary Celeste mystery in 1884 Advertisement

Footage also shows that most of the lower deck has been submerged up to at least the height of the tables, making reaching the rest of the ship treacherous.

Youtuber Urban Banana said it was a 'dangerous' trip wading through the submerged boat.

He tells viewers: 'I really wanted to get over to the bar but I realise I'm an idiot because it is actually quite dangerous being in here.

'What if it can go deeper and I get trapped down there?'

The Miller and Carter steakhouse remains closed to the public and it is not clear whether the sunken restaurant will be able to recover due to the extent of the damage caused.

When it first began sinking in December, the restaurant's ground floor was above the water line but it became entirely submerged after sinking further in January.

A sign pinned to the barriers that seal off the gangway is titled 'Please excuse our appearance' and adds: 'We are working hard to have this issue resolved and hope to have everything looking spic and span shortly.

'Thank you for your understanding.'

The restaurant was spotted sinking into the lake, which is about 50ft deep, at around 11am on December 23.

One onlooker who posted a video of the sinking venue told how it was 'going down like the Titanic.'

Footage taken by an urban explorer who made his way on to the ship shows food rotting in the kitchen after customers and staff were forced to make a quick exit

Festive tipples: The ubarn explorer discovered the ship's fridges still stocked with bottles of fizz, beer and wine after the disaster in December

A Christmas tree still stands on the upper floor of the restaurant that has been frozen in time since the December disaster

Going down nicely: The Lakeside steamboat restaurant where steaks were once on the menu

What lies beneath: Chairs float in the gloomy water on the lower deck of the Miller Carter boat

Out of steam: A view from the rear of the paddle-steamer that is submerged in the Essex lake

Lakeside shopping centre's director, Howard Oldstein, said after the restaurant started sinking that staff were waiting for the vessel to take its 'natural course' before they assessed what action needed to be taken.

A spokesman then told the Thurrock Gazette at the end of December: 'Our initial priority has been to update guests who had bookings to dine with us and an assessment of the structure will then follow in the new year.

'As you can imagine at this time of the year it is difficult to get the specialist help which may be required, so the picture will be clearer in the new year when normal business operations resume.'
But animal attacks are surprisingly rare - with just six deaths in 10 years

Falls and drowning are among the most common causes of deaths

More people died in the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and the Great Smoky Mountains than other national parks

Millions of people visit national parks every year, taking in the breathtaking beauty of the natural landscapes - but the great outdoors can also be deadly.

From falls to drowning to attacks by wild animals - even murder - there were 721 deaths at 10 of America's most popular national parks over the span of a decade.

So which parks are the most deadly - and what's the most common cause of death?

Data from the National Park Service, which shows deaths that occurred from 2010 to 2020, reveal that the three deadliest parks are the Grand Canyon with 134 fatalities, Yosemite with 126, and the Great Smoky Mountains with 92 deaths.

1. Grand Canyon  134 deaths

The Grand Canyon is one of the most visited national parks in America, with 5,974,411 people flocking to the vast site annually.

In the 10 years between 2010 and 2020, 27 people died from falling and 42 died from medical or natural causes.

There were 11 drownings and four motor vehicle crashes. Extreme heat in the Arizona park contributed to 14 deaths. There was even one poisoning reported.

Data from the National Park Service reveals the three deadliest parks are Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Great Smoky Mountains

In the 10 years between 2010 and 2020, 134 people died in the Grand Canyon

Extreme heat in the Arizona park contributed to 14 deaths. There was even one poisoning

2. Yosemite  126 deaths

Yosemite National Park has seen most of its deaths from falls - with 45 losing their lives in the past 10 years.

These fatal falls are often a result of climbers trying to take pictures at the stunning but dangerous Taft Point, Nevada Fall and Half Dome.

There were also 26 'medical conditions', 17 drownings and five motor vehicle crashes, according to the data.

A staggering 4,422,861 people visit the park annually.

In Yosemite National Park 45 people lost their lives after a fall

There were also 17 drownings and five motor vehicle crashes

3. Great Smoky Mountains  92 deaths

The Great Smoky Mountains, which cover part of North Carolina and Tennessee, has seen 92 death occur between 2010 and 2020. But unlike the top two, the main cause wasn't from falls or even wild animal attacks - but motor vehicle crashes.

There have been 37 collisions over the last 10 years in the park that straddles the mountainous ranges of both states.

Winding highways swoop up and down the mountain and are especially dangerous during extreme weather.

The Great Smoky Mountains, which cover part of North Carolina and Tennessee, saw 92 deaths between 2010 and 2020

But the leading cause of death wasn't from falling or animal attacks - but motor vehicle crashes

4. Sequoia & Kings Canyon  75 deaths

In this California park, there are huge mountains, vast caverns, deep canyons and the world's largest trees. But in the sometimes cold temperatures, icy and uneven ground pose a danger to the 1,878,163 people who visit the park annually.

Massive trees have toppled and rocks and boulders have rolled, leading to several falls in the park. There were 25 fatal falls between 2010-2020 and 13 drownings.

5. Yellowstone - 52 deaths

The popular Yellowstone National Park, which covers Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, has 4,020,288 annual visitors.

In the 10 years covered by the report, there were 52 deaths - most from motor vehicle crashes and medical conditions.

One poisoning death was also reported.

Yellowstone, which covers Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, saw 52 deaths - most from motor vehicle crashes and medical conditions

The Abyss geothermal pool in Yellowstone - 4,020,288 people visit annually

Tourists ride snowmobiles past the Electric Peak mountains at Yellowstone, which can become brutal in extreme winter weather

6. Denali - 51 deaths

Denali National Park is in Alaska, and its remote location means only about 601,152 people visit annually.

Most of Denali is trail-less and hikers usually make their own routes, making it more hazardous than some other, less wild parks.

It saw 51 deaths over 10 years, 18 of which are termed 'environmental', and 14 fatal falls.

Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America

7. Mt. Rainier - 51 deaths

Mt. Rainier National Park is located 76 miles outside of Seattle, Washington, and its glacier-capped mountains make for a beautiful, but dangerous climb.

At its highest point, it reaches 14,411-feet and some adventurous hikers have lost their lives to hypothermia here, even in the middle of summer.

The park - which has 1,501,621 visitors every year - reported 19 deaths as a result of falls, and five drownings.

Mt. Rainier National Park's glacier-capped mountains make for a beautiful but dangerous climb

Climbers and hikers have lost their lives to hypothermia, even in the middle of summer

8. Rocky Mountains - 49 deaths

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado reported 49 deaths over a 10-year span - and the most were a result of falling.

Officials warn its 4,670,063 annual visitors to stay back from the steep snow slopes and cornices, as the possibility of avalanches poses a significant threat.

Streams and lakes can also be deceptively dangerous, especially in the winter as ice is thinner over inlets.

One of the nation's highest national parks - with elevations from 7,860 feet to 14,259 feet - the height increases the risk of dehydration, sunburn, mountain sickness and even the chance of being struck by lightning.

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado reported 49 deaths - most from falling

The high elevation increases the risk of dehydration, sunburn, mountain sickness and even the chance of being struck by lightning

9. Grand Teton National Park - 48 deaths

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming made headlines in 2021 when Gabby Petito's slain body was found after she was strangled by her fiance Brian Laundrie.

Her homicide was not included in the deaths that were reported for 2010-2020.

There were 21 fatal falls at the park, and 10 deaths related to the environment. Thunderstorms and unstable rocks at the edge of cliffs are particular hazards at the park, for its 3,405,614 annual visitors.

Grand Teton made headlines in 2021 when Gabby Petito's slain body was found after she was strangled by her fiance Brian Laundrie

There were 21 fatal falls at the park and 10 deaths related to the environment. Thunderstorms and unstable rocks at the edge of cliffs are also hazards

10. Zion National Park - 43 deaths

In Utah's national park Zion, falls from the massive cliffs have resulted 22 deaths during the 10-year time span.

Rockfalls are common at the park, with boulders tumbling down on hikers, who are warned to quickly step away from the edge or seek shelter and cover their heads with a backpack to avoid injury.

Sudden storms and flash floods are also a concern, and some visitors have lost their lives in the famous stretch called The Narrows when storms have emerged and water rushed in without warning.

At the other extreme, the high temperatures can be severe, and the park warns its 4,488,268 annual visitors to drink a gallon of water every day to avoid heat stroke and dehydration.

In Utah's national park Zion, falls from the massive cliffs have resulted 22 deaths over 10 years

Rockfalls are also common at the park, with boulders tumbling down on visitors

Most common ways to die in a national park

While rugged terrain, wildlife and rushing river waters are all part of national parks' charm, these elements can also contribute to how people die in the great outdoors.

Data from 62 national parks obtained by Outforia revealed that falling is the number one cause of death - 245 in the last 10 years - followed by 192 medical/natural deaths, and 166 undetermined.

Despite the parks having an abundance of wildlife, animal attacks were low, with just six deaths in the last 10 years.

Data from 62 national parks obtained by Outforia revealed that falling is the number one cause of death

1. Falls  245 deaths

There were 245 deaths between 2010 and 2022 from falling in the parks - which often have rough terrain, high peaks and unstable areas, many of which visitors perch or balance on to try and capture a dramatic photo.

2. Medical/Natural Death  192 deaths

The second most common cause of death in national parks are what the researchers termed medical or natural death.

Being in a harsh environment adds to visitors' health conditions.

Also, some people are inclined to push themselves physically while hiking or doing other strenuous exercise in the extreme heat - or cold - which can be fatal.

3. Undetermined  166 deaths

There were 166 deaths reported between 2010 and 2020 in national parks went unexplained, with an undetermined cause of death.
Manager claims the closure is the 'price of progress'

A family-run hardware store is closing its doors after more than 30 years - with devastated locals blaming a nearby Bunnings.

The independent Mitre 10 store in Byron Bay announced it was closing towards the end of February in a Facebook post.

It told customers that it was having a 'liquidation sale' and that 'everything must go'.

Its closure makes it the latest victim of big box business - after a previous report predicted that more than 6000 independent retailers are set to close by 2024 because of bigger firms like Bunnings.

The GDC Advisory forecast said Bunnings, as well as Woolworths and Mitre 10, were intensifying competition and warned smaller businesses wouldn't be able to keep up.

Consumer experts have also warned that the expansion of so-called big box stores could spell trouble for small retailers.

Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation at the University of Sydney Business School, previously told Daily Mail Australia: 'When Bunnings comes to town, it's bad news for local businesses.'

Reacting to the news of Mitre 10's closure in Byron Bay, Richard Gibson, manager at the store, described its closure as 'the price of progress'.

Mitre 10 has been privately owned by James Mitchell and Lisa Mitchell since 2001, having first opened its doors in 1991

There is a Bunnings Warehouse less than a 10 minute drive away and customers said the Mitre 10 store's closure was inevitable

The store opened in 1991 and has been privately owned by James Mitchell and Lisa Mitchell since 2001.

Mr Gibson wrote: 'The price of progress, have really enjoyed being part of the crew. To our customers who have been Byronites all their lives, to the newest arrivals and those just passing through. What an amazing crowd. You will be missed. Thank you all.'

The news triggered dismay on social media, with loyal supporters sharing their shock.

Though the owners are yet to comment, there is a Bunnings Warehouse less than a 10 minute drive away and customers said the Mitre 10 store's closure was inevitable.

A customer responded: 'Honestly. I actually thought it had been there longer. Well, 22 years is a lifetime to some.

'I just thought it would always be there but I guess with a Bunnings nearby it was bound to happen.'

Another said: 'Apart from Bunnings sale items, Mitre 10 was always cheaper. Very disappointed to see them go.'

One added: 'So sorry to hear. We always go there instead of Bunnings. You will be missed.'

Mitre 10 told customers that it was having a 'liquidation sale' and that 'everything must go'

Its closure makes it the latest victim of big box business - after a previous report predicted that more than 6000 independent retailers are set to close by 2024

Richard Gibson, manager at the store, described its closure as 'the price of progress'.

Several customers took to Facebook to reveal their sadness at the closure of the store

The store is now set to be replaced by a branch of Harris Farm Markets.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mitre 10 for comment. Harris Farm has also been contacted for comment.

Deb Thompson, Bunnings Area Manager, said: 'Weve been privileged to be a part of the Byron Bay community for around eight years. The connection the store has with the community is really important to us  whether its helping raise funds for important local causes through our famous sausage sizzle, donating essential supplies following natural disasters or supporting local organisations special projects.

'Our teams live and work in the communities we operate, and we always strive to provide ongoing employment opportunities in local areas.

'Weve opened stores in many regions across Australia and New Zealand, and believe theres ample room for both larger retailers and speciality providers in all the markets we operate in. Retailers constantly need to adapt to ensure their offering is appealing to the local communities they serve.

'There are a number of successful smaller businesses located close to our stores that continue to thrive almost everywhere we operate, including businesses in the home, lifestyle and DIY space.'

On its website, Mitre 10 describes itself as 'proudly independent'.

'We're family owned and operated in a local historical building, cementing our commitment to the community we've been part of for more than 40 years.

Last week, Bunnings announced it will expand its pet merchandise range from a few hundred items, including dog beds and kennels, to 1,000 products

'We take pride in supporting local our community and customers by assisting schools, sporting associations and other charitable groups in the Byron Bay area.'

The news comes amid growing fear at the spread of Bunnings and other so-called big box stores.

Last week, Bunnings announced it will expand its pet merchandise range from a few hundred items, including dog beds and kennels, to 1,000 products across its national network by late March.

The move is likely to be a boon for Aussie pet owners, with the warehouse chain already popular for its convenience, affordable price and even for the $3.50 sausage sizzles.

However, business owners have accused Bunnings of ruining the industry, and experts have warned big box stores have an unfair legal advantage over small businesses in the 'war' for customers.

Consumer experts have also warned that the expansion of big box stores could spell trouble for small retailers.

Bunnings boss Mike Schneider (pictured) said the new direction is in line with ballooning pet ownership over the last three years

Professor Terry added: 'The local firms look to our laws to protect them but the reality is that they aren't there to protect small businesses. They are there to enhance consumer welfare and competition and this allows firms like Bunnings, Coles and Woolworths to thrive and get more customers.

'Bunnings has done very well with its sausages on Saturdays and they are very smart with their market research. They know what to do for their market and brand.

'It used to be that small businesses would be open longer and would have that personal relationship with customers. However, now you have extended shopping hours and special deals and promotions from the big brands.

'At the end of the day, the market is war. It is a war for customers and they want to win that war. It's all about competition and by introducing 1,000 new pet lines, Bunnings wants to win.'

His comments were echoed by several other experts, who called on the government to ensure there was more protection in place for small businesses against behemoths like Bunnings.

Sharon Latour, an international consumer and marketing consultant said the Australian market favours larger firms.

'The way that the Australian market is structured favours the large brands like Bunnings as the business expansions are paired with large real estate investments and it, unfortunately, means that smaller privately owned brands get pushed out of the market.

'The cost of doing business and the taxation scheme for smaller businesses is stifling for all industries in Australia, which is why our manufacturing is dying and our hospitality businesses are closing by the dozens every day.

'There needs to be a reform to allow smaller businesses to breathe a bit and be able to compete, otherwise, we will keep seeing the Bunnings of the world take entire sectors.

'Is the future of Australia large businesses and chains? The amount of 'for lease' signs in all major cities certainly points to that.'
The worst injured 7/7 survivor says Britain's security services must be held to a greater account - after an official review into the 2017 Manchester Arena attack exposed failings echoing 2005's mistakes.

Dan Biddle, 43, lost both his legs, an eye and spleen when a bomb went off on an Edgware Road Tube train 18 years ago.

But today Mr Biddle expressed shock after it appeared oversights highlighted in reviews into the 7/7 attacks had been made all over again in the run-up to Salman Abedi setting off his suicide vest amongst a crowd of pop fans.

Reports into both atrocities disclosed MI5 had not passed on information to relevant police forces - information that could have changed what happened.

Mr Biddle told MailOnline: 'The recent events have had an impact on me.

'I was part of a group that was campaigning for a public enquiry into 7/7.

Dan Biddle, 43, is the worst injured survivor of the devastating 7/7 terror attacks in 2005

'I have often wondered if there had been one, would it have exposed more failings  is that why one never happened?

'But with the work MI5 and the counter-terror police do, they have to be held to greater accountability. It's not like working in a shop and dropping some eggs  when these guys make a mistake people die. 52 people died in 7/7.

'The security services, how can they keep saying time and time "There are lessons to be learned?". Then there is another terror attack and they say again "lessons to be learned"

'Every time something like Manchester Arena or London Bridge happens, it takes another piece of me. Myself and others are living lives that have been impacted forever by these attacks and lessons not being learned.

'We all have to live with the mistakes others have made.'

Review into the 2017 Manchester Arena attack found chances to learn of the plot were missed

The wreck of the Number 30 double-decker bus is pictured in Tavistock Square in central London the day after 7/7

An inquiry by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee on 7/7 said chances to prevent the attacks were missed.

It also highlighted how MI5 acted on a need-to-know basis and urged more co-operation and dialogue between themselves and the police.

Last week, Sir John Saunders, the chair of the Manchester Arena inquiry, said MI5 failed to share two significant pieces of intelligence with counter-terrorism police in the run-up to that blast.

Sir John called it a 'communication breakdown' and said there was a 'material possibility' that if further investigation had arisen from the first piece of intelligence, this may have ultimately led to Abedi's plans being uncovered. Although the report added 'None of these problems is likely to have had any causative significance'.

Married Mr Biddle was beside ringleader Mohammed Siddique Khan, 30, when he detonated his rucksack full of explosives, killing himself and six commuters after their train left Edgware Road Tube station.

Sir John Saunders, Chairman of the Manchester Arena Inquiry, arrives at Manchester Hall, Manchester for the enquiry

Suicide bomber Salman Abedi carrying a rucksack in the lift at Victoria Station in Manchester

Three others also set off explosives in the capital, taking the death toll to 52. The blast threw Dan out of the train but South African ex-soldier Adrian Heili saved his life.

Mr Biddle's injuries left him in a wheelchair and suffering complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that once caused him to attempt to take his own life.

It means every time there is a terror attack the trauma takes him back to the day he nearly lost his life.

Mr Biddle added: 'I would like to know what lessons still need to be learned on this  it just seems like a stock answer they give when something goes wrong.

'If it's that the security services haven't got enough resources, well there need to be an examination of funding.

'If there is not enough money then there needs to be pressure put on the powers that be to increase what is coming in.

'The thing with 7/7 is from all the reports I have read, the security services knew who some of them were but they were still able to carry out the attacks.

'After 7/7 those four bomber were identified quicker than anyone identified me  they knew who they were.

'I think the resourcing of funding is definitely something that needs looking at more closely.

'The prevent programme needs scrutinising, is it really working? Is it really doing enough as a means of trying to change that extremist ideology?

'Terrorism is never going to go away, but I don't think anyone really knows what victory looks like.

'I have got friends that have served in the forces  and they all ask 'how do you stop someone that is willing to take their own life?'.

'These extremists believe when they die they are going somewhere great.

'I always think when I was on that train standing next to Khan, the things that chills my blood is how calm he was.

'I would do anything to sit opposite someone in power and get them to tell me what they had done wrong.

'How many people have to die before they rethink this 'lessons to be learned' mantra?

'Once you are involved in something like 7/7 it never goes away. To know you have been part of something that could have been stopped, save for whatever is in those 'lessons to be learned', it is absolutely heartbreaking.'

Director General of MI5 Ken McCallum said:

'We continually work to improve the counter-terrorism system; since the terrible events of 2017 we have made more than 100 improvements. But we are determined to do more.

'As the Chair now considers his recommendations, we will engage fully. Where there are opportunities to strengthen the UKs defences further, MI5 will act.

'We will continue to do everything in our power to keep our country safe from hidden threats.'

The 23 missed chances to stop the Manchester bomber: Salman Abedi appeared on the radar of MI5 and the police repeatedly before he killed 22 innocents at an Ariana Grande concert

By the time Salman Abedi detonated a bomb at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, killing 22 innocents, he had already been on the radar of the security services for seven years.

The Manchester bomber had first been flagged by MI5 in 2010 when he was just 15 years old, the first in a long line of brushes with anti-terror agencies.

These included his decision to travel to Libya and his subsequent evacuation by the Royal Navy, and spies intercepting his apparent connections with ISIS and Al Qaeda.

Below are all 23 times he appeared on the radar of Britain's security agencies from 2010 to 2017:

By the time Salman Abedi detonated a bomb at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, killing 22 innocents, he had already been on the radar of the security services for seven years

The Manchester bomber (pictured making his way to the arena) had first been flagged by MI5 in 2010 when he was just 15 years old, the first in a long line of brushes with anti-terror agencies

December 2010: Abedi first comes to MI5s attention seven years earlier, aged 15, when an address linked to him becomes relevant in an investigation.

2011: MI5 and counter-terror police are told Abedi may be going to Syria but conclude he had briefly gone to Europe.

November 2011: Ramadan Abedi, Salmans father, subject to ports checks at Manchester airport and Dover on return from Libya. Once, Salman was with him.

December 2013: Abedi mistakenly considered to be an individual seen alongside a subject of interest under investigation for planning to join Isis in Syria.

March 2014: Salman is made low-level MI5 subject of interest for four months after contacting a suspect by phone.

July 2014: Then 19, Salman and younger brother Hashem, 17, travel to Libya but are evacuated on August 4 by HMS Enterprise, without any security debrief.

August 2014: Suspected Isis recruiter Abdalraouf Abdallah exchanged 1,300 messages with person called Salman.

2015: Abedis phone is linked to an Al Qaeda suspect under investigation for arranging travel to Syria.

2015: MI5 told about Abedis contact with Libyan-linked subject of interest.

February 2015: Abedi visited Abdallah on remand in Londons Belmarsh prison, prompting MI5 and police probes.

May 2015: MI5 considered investigating Salman and another individual. He was treated as an informal subject of interest involved in funding terrorism.

September 2015: Salmans older brother, Ismail Abedi, is stopped at Heathrow on return from Malaysian honeymoon. Radical material is found on his phone.

September 2015: Salman and Hashem go on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, which friends call a turning point for Hashem, who became a bomb-maker.

October 2015: Abedis status as a subject of interest is reopened and closed within a day after MI5 found a link with senior Libyan Isis figure  later clarified as being via a third person.

November 2015: Salman travels to Germany via Paris  days before Isis-inspired terror attack killed 130 people in the French capital. MI5 initially believed he was attempting to reach Syria, later discounted as unlikely.

April 2016: Abedi revealed as contact of a contact of an MI5 subject suspected of funding an Isis fighter in Syria.

May 2016: Manchester airport informs police after Abedi is seen activating a boarding card for a flight to Istanbul  a well-known transit point to Syria  next to a suspicious individual.

Early 2017: Two pieces of intelligence received by MI5 about Abedi. He may have been thwarted if the intelligence was acted upon, inquiry concludes.

January 2017: Bomber appeared as a second-level contact of individual who was being investigated due to previous travel to Syria, and Isis links.

January 2017: He and two associates visit Abdallah in HMP Altcourse. MI5 are informed. That day, Abedi orders his first bomb-making chemicals.

March 2017: Abedi flagged as a potential terrorist by a security services computer programme, following intelligence received in 2016.

April 2017: Abedi is again flagged up as a second-level contact of a subject under investigation for links to a recruiter and facilitator for Isis in Libya.

May 2017: Salman Abedi is one of 26 individuals considered for further low-level investigations by MI5, with a meeting scheduled for May 31 to discuss his case. He detonates bomb on May 22.
The era of 11-year-old girls marrying much older men is in America's rearview mirror, but exclusive new data show that a worrying number of youths in their mid-teens are still getting hitched to adults.

DailyMail.com obtained figures from Unchained At Last, a non-profit that campaigns to end young marriages, showing how scores of kids  mostly girls aged 16 and 17  have wed adults from Maine to North Dakota these past two years.

That includes 30 teens in West Virginia, 39 in Michigan and another 15 in Wyoming in 2021, according to the latest figures gathered from state sources that can take years to trickle through the system.

Once all the figures from 2021 and 2022 are available, researchers expect to uncover hundreds and perhaps thousands of cases, which can condemn teens to young pregnancies and abusive 'groomer' husbands.

This revives horror stories of child brides, like Dawn Tyree, who at 13 was married and pregnant with a man 19 years her senior, or Sherry Johnson, who was raped as a child by a deacon who she was coerced into marrying.

As recently as 2017, marriage for under 18s was legal in all 50 states. Currently, only seven states ban all marriages for those aged under 18, and seven states still have no minimum age limit for tying the knot.

The new data revives horror stores of child brides from America's recent history, including Dawn Tyree, pictured here with her first child, who at 13 was married and pregnant with a man 19 years her senior

In another shocking story of America's child brides, Sherry Johnson was raped by a deacon who she was coerced into marrying. She ended up having six children in the seven years they were together

Though the number of child marriages has fallen this past decade, and incidents of prepubescent brides are rare nowadays  campaigners say state legislatures still have much work to do.

In a country with broad religious freedoms, many insular, cult-like groups and immigrant communities with their own traditions of marrying off girls, the practice is hard to stamp out, campaigners warn.

Becca Powell, the group's advocacy director, said it was 'inherently dangerous' for any youth under age 18 to wed because they lack the legal rights of an adult, which can leave them trapped in abusive unions.

Those fleeing a cruel spouse can be treated as runaways by police and returned to their homes, even against their will. Likewise, domestic violence shelters often turn away unaccompanied children.

'Even one minor being forced to marry before 18 is a tragedy,' Powell told DailyMail.com.

Poll Are 17-year-olds too young for marriage? Yes No Not sure Are 17-year-olds too young for marriage? Yes 1050 votes

No 226 votes

Not sure 49 votes Now share your opinion





Child USA and the UN's agency for children, Unicef, are working to end all marriages and informal unions involving those under the age of 18.

In the US, child marriages regularly end in divorce and see the younger partner, usually a girl, drop out of school or fall into poverty.

As recently as 2017, marriage for under 18s was legal in all 50 states. Currently, only seven states ban all marriages for those aged under 18, and seven states still have no minimum age limit for tying the knot.

State laws vary, but child marriages can require a parent's consent.

Politicians in Vermont, California, Washington, Texas, Maine, Kansas, Connecticut, and other states have proposed bills to raise their age limits this year.

West Virginia's Republican-run Senate Judiciary Committee this week rejected in a 9-8 vote a bill that would have prohibited minors from getting married.

Wyoming late last month upped its minimum age for marriage to 16, over objections from state Republicans.

Casey Swegman, a public policy director for the Tahirih Justice Center, an immigration non-profit, called Wyoming's shift a 'hard-fought win' but warned that it still allowed vulnerable 16-year-olds to get married.

'Our work will not be done until all states end child marriage completely,' Swegman said.

Conservatives and others have resisted introducing or raising age limits in some states  sometimes calling age limits 'arbitrary' or that they interfered with individuals' rights and religious liberty.

Others say simply that there is nothing wrong with a 16-year-old getting married, that children must grow up one day and make tough life decisions, and that many teen marriages lead to years of happiness.

But campaigners insist they're tantamount to abuse and too often tie teen girls to grown men.

A 2021 study found that 300,000 minors under the age of 18 were legally married in the US between 2000 and 2018. The vast majority were 16 and 17, but 20 of them were under the age of 13.

Nevada, a state known for Elvis Presley impersonators officiating quickie weddings, has the highest historical rate of teenage marriages in the US, followed by Idaho, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.

They point to a 2021 study found that 300,000 minors under the age of 18 were legally married in the US between 2000 and 2018. The vast majority were 16 and 17, but 20 of them were under the age of 13.

In five particularly troubling cases, the child was married at age 10.

Nevada, a state known for Elvis Presley impersonators officiating quickie weddings, has the highest historical rate of teenage marriages in the US, followed by Idaho, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.

Young marriages can lead to younger teen pregnancies, which raise the chances of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis and systemic infections, the UN's World Health Organization says.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has condemned child marriage, citing increased risk of sexually transmitted infections, early pregnancies and intimate partner violence.

The US and other global governments seek to end child marriage by 2030 as part of UN anti-poverty targets. In England and Wales this month, the legal age for marriage rose from 16 to 18.
Thousands of teachers will walk out of schools on Wednesday in a bitter row over pay, affecting some seven million pupils.

The strikes in England and Wales - the latest of seven days of action - have seen massive disruption across primary and secondary schools.

A series of strikes in Scotland have been halted following negotiations between Hollyrood and unions.

It is feared around 85 per cent of schools will be either fully or partially closed by this week's strike action.

Some 85 per cent of schools are expected to be affected by strike action on Wednesday

Unions have complained that the government has not been willing to negotiate over pay

Teacher strike dates Wednesday, February 1  England and Wales Tuesday, February 14  Wales Tuesday, February 28 Northern, North West, Yorkshire & The Humber Wednesday, March 1  East Midlands, West Midlands, Eastern Thursday, March 2  London, South East, South West Wednesday, March 15  England and Wales. Thursday, March 16  England and Wales Advertisement

Members of the National Education Union (NEU), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), NASUWT - The Teachers' Union and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

Education secretary Gillian Keegan has refused to meet with unions until they lift the threat of strike action.

Thousands of pupils in primary and secondary schools have seen their education disrupted as a result of the industrial action, with many being told to attend virtual classes during the protests.

The full impact of this latest strike will not be known until Wednesday morning, with local councils advising parents to monitor the individual school websites.

In earlier strikes, some schools only partially closed their services bringing in pupils in exam years or vulnerable children.

An attempt by education unions involved in the industrial action dispute over pay and funding to break the current deadlock and move forward with talks with the government has been ignored.

Talks between the unions and government have stalled due to the governments insistence that strike action by NEU must be cancelled before they will continue negotiations.

On Monday, March 6, NEU, NAHT, NASUWT and ASCL wrote to the Secretary of State to suggest that a day of conciliation talks could be convened by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

However, as the unions have yet to receive a formal reply to the letter, they can only conclude that the failure to reply to such a reasonable and urgent request means it has been declined.

The unions continue to appeal to the government to begin meaningful talks in order to move forward in resolving the dispute.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT, said: 'Using ACAS to create a safe environment between parties in order to begin movement is a well-trodden path in industrial relations.

'The success rate at ACAS is impressive. It is extraordinary for any party to a dispute to refuse such an offer. I am really worried that the government are not serious about finding ways through these difficulties.

'I hope for the sake of children the government can see beyond political posturing and join us all around a table.'

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'Unfortunately, the government appears to be more interested in playing political games than bringing forward a meaningful offer to improve pay and conditions and end the industrial dispute. The fact that the government has ignored our proposal to bring in ACAS reinforces that impression.'

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said: 'According to the Secretary of State, the Governments commitment to engage in proper negotiations has been agreed at the highest levels by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. So, we have to question why, after a number of weeks, progress has still not been made in convening the negotiations we have been promised. The patience of our members is running out. We have said that we are ready and willing to talk any time, any place, anywhere. Ministers now need to demonstrate that they are also ready to engage to resolve this dispute.'

Ofsted has advised schools that it will defer inspections on the days of the strike action if they are impacted by the industrial action.

Will YOUR child's school be affected by strike action? Check this list

Bedfordshire

The list of schools which are open and closed today is available here.

Buckinghamshire

The list of schools which are closed today is available here.

Cornwall

A full list of school closures has not been circulated for Cornwall.

A spokesman for the local authority told Cornwall Live: 'It's one for the individual schools to manage, who should be communicating with parents over any potential disruption.'

Among the schools confirmed to be affected are:

Penrice Academy in St Austell

Poltair School in St Austell

Redruth School

Cambridgeshire

Details on which schools are closed, partially open or open to vulnerable and critical worker children is available here.

County Durham

A full list of school closures in Durham can be found here.

Cumbria

A full list of school closures in Cumbria can be found here.

Derbyshire

A full list of school closures is available here.

Devon

A full list of school closures in Devon can be found here.

Dorset

A full list of school closures in Dorset can be found here.

East Sussex

A full list of the schools which are closed or partially open can be found here.

Essex

A full list of school closures in Essex can be found here.

Gloucestershire

A list of full and partial school closures in Gloucestershire can be found here.

Hampshire

A full list of closures in Hampshire can be found here.

Herefordshire

A full list of closures will be available here in the morning.

Kent

You can search to see if your child's school in Kent will be affected here.

Lancashire

A full list of school closures in Lancashire can be found here.

Lincolnshire

Grantham Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School has said it will be partially closed on February 1.

London

People living in London are advised to check the website of their local authority for school closures where they live.

These can be found here:

Barking and Dagenham

Barnet

Bexley

Brent

Bromley

Camden

City of London

Croydon

Ealing

Enfield

Greenwich

Hackney

Hammersmith & Fulham

Haringey

Harrow

Havering

Hillingdon

Hounslow

Islington

Kensington & Chelsea

Kingston upon Thames

Lambeth

Lewisham

Merton

Newham

Redbridge

Richmond upon Thames

Southwark

Sutton

Tower Hamlets

Waltham Forest

Wandsworth

Westminster

Merseyside

Archbishop Beck Catholic College - partially open to Year 11

Gateacre School - fully closed

Irby Primary School - fully closed

Kirkby High School - fully closed

Lawrence Community Primary School - only open o Nursery, Class 2M & Class 5B

The Liverpool Blue Coat School - fully closed

St Julie's Catholic High School - closed to students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10

West Derby School - fully closed

Norfolk

A number of schools in the county have already confirmed they will be closed, while some have said they will merge classes in a bid to beat the teacher shortage.

Others will go back to remote learning or hold 'activity days' instead of curriculum-focused teach, the Eastern Daily Press reports.

Northamptonshire

A full list of closures is not published by the two councils, but parents can search for individual schools in North Northamptonshire here and West Northamptonshire here.

Northumberland

A full list of closures in Northumberland can be found here.

Nottinghamshire

James Peacock Infant and Nursery school - fully closed but provision will be made for vulnerable children

Toot Hill School - intends to stay open but has warned parents it may have to partially close

Oxfordshire

Schools that are closed will appear on a list here.

Shropshire

A full list of primary and secondary school closures is available here.

Somerset

A full list of closures in Somerset is available here.

Staffordshire

A full list of closures in Staffordshire is available here.

Suffolk

A list of closures in Suffolk is not available and parents are asked to check directly with their child's school.

Surrey

A list of closures in Surrey is not available and parents are asked to check directly with their child's school.

Sussex

School closures in the West of the county can be checked here, and in the East here.

Warwickshire

A full list of closures is available here.

Wiltshire

Bishop Wordsworth's School (partially closed)

Nova Hreod Academy (partially closed)

The John of Gaunt School Trowbridge (partially closed)

Bradon Forest School (fully closed)

Worcestershire

A full list of closures is available here.

Yorkshire

Home Farm Primary School (Feb 1, partial closure)

The Calder Learning Trust (Feb 1)

Todmorden High School (Feb 1)

Newsome Academy (Feb 1, partial closure)

Shire Oak C of E Primary School

Broom Valley Community School (Feb 1, partial closure)

Minsthorpe Community College, A Specialist Science College (Feb 1, partial closure)

Kettlethorpe High School (Feb 1, partial closure)

Woodthorpe Primary School (Feb 1, partial closure)

Wales

Local authority websites for Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan and Wrexham feature details of school closures tomorrow.
Jessica Huggard cherishes a photo taken with her younger brother Luke in 2015 at Melbourne Airport because it would be the last time the siblings ever saw each other.

Two years later, Mr Huggard, then aged 32, is believed to have taken his own life at a notorious suicide spot in Sydney's eastern suburbs called The Gap in April, 2017.

His body has never been found and there has been no inquest into his death so he has not been declared legally dead and his family can't farewell him properly with a funeral.

Almost six years on from his death, his sister has started a petition to get an inquest date from the NSW Coroner's Court and a death certificate.

'He deserves better than this,' Ms Huggard said.

help me give luke a funeral . Good morning movers Groovers an shakers ., happy Mardi Gras  So., I need support in able to give Luke the funeral he deserves Please take the time to sign my petition an if youd like to go further forward a letter to your local mp as I have an ask them to help us get a an inquest date and death certificate . Gratitude in advance . Peace love an blessing to you all an thanks for your time . Jessica may  Posted by Jessica May on Saturday, February 25, 2023

Luke Huggard (left) and his sister Jessica are pictured in Melbourne Airport in 2015 before he flew to Sydney. She never saw him again

'My brother walked in and lit up a room. He could talk to anyone. He was full of life and full of laughter.

A beloved brother Luke Huggard grew up in Melbourne where he did an arts degree and then studied journalism as a post-graduate. 'He was amazing. My brother was a really charismatic, six-foot (183cm), very gay man and he grew up in a world that didn't accept that,' said his sister Jessica. In 2015, he moved to Sydney to study law and found a home in the city's gay scene. Luke Huggard is pictured as a young man But Mr Huggard, who had long battled mental illness, started using drugs. At the time of his disappearance, his sister said had been clean for a period, but was taking prescription medication. She believes he was in a withdrawal-induced psychosis when he took his life. 'Two weeks before he died, he had a job, he had bought animals again, he had his own apartment. He was functioning, he was clean and happy,' Ms Huggard said. Advertisement

'He had this laugh ... it was very loud and it was a big belly laugh,' she told 7News.

Three days before he was last seen alive, Mr Huggard was arrested by police while attempting to take his life at the same spot.

He was later taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick and admitted to an acute mental health unit as an involuntary patient.

A report by NSW Health and obtained by the family said Mr Huggard was suicidal, experiencing delusions and withdrawing from drug use.

'He was experiencing anxiety and agitation which was felt to be in the context of an amphetamine withdrawal,' the report said.

Mr Huggard was reviewed by a psychiatrist on April 4 and, as he was no longer experiencing delusional ideas and suicidal ideation, was discharged.

He was referred to see a GP but did not show. Staff at the hospital were the last people to see him alive.

That evening, CCTV captured someone matching Mr Huggard's description taking their life at The Gap.

He was reported missing by a friend the following day.

On April 17, almost two weeks after his disappearance, the police contacted the hospital to advise them of his suspected death, though they had no body.

Despite this, Mr Huggard still remains on the Australian Federal Police's missing person's list six years later.

After a police investigation which concluded he was probably dead, his case was referred to the coroner in 2018.

The family has heard very little since and wants answers about why he was discharged from the hospital on his own and why the family and were not told when he was admitted to the mental health unit.

'This isn't about blaming anyone for his death, it's about finding out what happened in those last two days,' Ms Huggard said.

She has had enough of waiting.

'You've got everything in writing to say he's dead. There's ample amounts of evidence there,' she said.

The family, whose trauma has been worsened by the uncertainty and the wait, wants an inquest and a death certificate, so they can hold a funeral.

'It feels like we are being punished for something that it is just a tragic situation all around,' Ms Huggard said.

'All I'm asking for is a coroner to take notice and stop telling me it's going to be another six months.'

If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to your doctor, a health professional or trusted friend.

Jessica Huggard (right) is pictured with a protective arm around her brother Luke when they were children
A huge development planned for one of Tasmania's most picturesque stretches of coastline is dividing neighbours and forcing the government to step in.

The DPZ Skylands development proposes to build 2,500 homes and amenities for eastern Tasmania, situated on a 240-hectare piece of land on the Droughty Peninsula, 15km southeast of Hobart's CBD.

The plan includes six suburbs, commercial spaces, as well as 100hectares of public park space and habitat reserve.

But developers hit a roadblock this week when the local council rejected a proposal to lift the urban growth boundary (UGB), which separates urban areas from the surrounding natural and agricultural lands.

The proposed Skylands development is on a 240 hectare parcel of land on the Droughty Peninsula - a 25-minute drive to Hobart CBD

Skylands developers hit a roadblock when the local council this week rejected a proposal to lift the urban growth boundary (stock image pictured)

The UGB puts a limit on how far out the city can expand, and are often voter-approved and set for a specified period of time.

The UGB needs to be lifted from 70 metres up the hillside to 110 metres, but Clarence City Council knocked back the proposal at a council meeting on Monday.

Local group Friends of Tranmere and Droughty Point Peninsula argued in a submission that housing should not be built that far up the hill because it's important to maintain the skyline as a reserve and protect the peninsula's pristine waterways.

A total of 800 people responded to the proposal with 64 percent opposed and 23 percent in favour.

Tasmanian Planning Minister Michael Ferguson (pictured right) has suggested the state government will be 'stepping in' override the council's block on the Skylands development

Meanwhile, the developers have said that they will not pursue a 'watered down' version of plans.

The land is owned by the Carr and Lilly families, who paired with urban design firm DPZ to create the development design.

Greg Carr said the decision was 'tragic' for the community.

'No longer will there be opportunities for vibrant neighbourhood centres, or safe and walkable streets, or pocket parks where children and adults gather,' he told the Mercury.

Tasmanian Planning Minister Michael Ferguson said he was taken back by the council's decision and on Friday revealed the state government would be 'stepping in'.

This means the state government would override the council's call on the Skylands development, instead having it assessed through the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

The Skylands development would feature 2,700 dwellings, 700 houses being built above the boundary line and a 57-hectare park running along the ridge

'I'm not prepared to sit idly by while a really exciting housing development is lost to our community,' he told reporters.

Friends of Tranmere and Droughty Point Peninsula said it was 'unfortunate the Minister is not interested in representing what the local community and Council would like to work towards'.

Clarence City Council Councillor Bree Hunter also hit back at the Planning Minister's decision.

'I don't think it's good leadership and I think it's disappointing to see that kind of attitude come from the minister,' she said on Friday.

The Skylands development would feature 2,700 dwellings, 700 houses being built above the boundary line and a 57-hectare park running along the ridge.

Skylands said Hobart was facing an housing affordability crisis and its masterplan 'ensures that beautiful architecture, public amenities and natural beauty are given equal consideration'.

'Without change to the Urban Growth boundary, there won't be a necessary masterplan and approval of amenities will fail to materialise and future housing needs won't be met in a timely manner,' as statement on its website read.

Clarence City Council is seeking public comment on the development by March 28.
Ex-NRL star Scott Dureau is calling for Dr Charlie Teo to operate on him for a fourth time after the divisive neurosurgeon was barred from operating in Australia.

The former Newcastle Knights halfback is living with a cluster of five small tumours in his brain that were found during a routine check-up in January.

It marks the fourth time he has been diagnosed with a brain tumour since his first diagnosis in 2012.

He has endured chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to remove them and also battled cancer in the liver, hip and other organs.

Dureau has relied on Dr Teo to operate on his brain tumours but he is no longer able to turn to his neurosurgeon after restrictions were placed on him in Australia.

Ex-NRL star Scott Dureau (pictured with his wife) is calling for Dr Charlie Teo to operate on his brain tumour after the neurosurgeon was barred from operating in Australia

Dr Teo was restrained by the NSW Medical Council in 2021 from operating without the approval of another doctor prompting him to work in South Africa and Spain

Dr Teo was restrained by the NSW Medical Council in 2021 from operating without the approval of another doctor prompting him to work in South Africa and Spain.

He is currently facing a Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) inquiry about two surgeries he performed that left two patients with catastrophic brain injuries.

Dureau said he felt robbed of his freedom of choice after Dr Teo was banned by the medical society from operating in Australia.

'If someone literally saves your life three times, then you stick with what you know, with who you trust,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

Dureau recalled the time he had met Dr Teo following his first diagnosis.

Dureau is hoping Dr Teo will be permitted to operate on him again

The 36-year-old was playing for the Catalan Dragon in the English Super League when he began to experience bad migraines in 2012.

He experienced some vision issues prompting him to visit an optometrist.

The optometrist noticed a shadow behind his eye and referred Dureau for a CT scan with the medical imaging device finding a tumour lodged in his brain.

Dureau heard about Dr Teo through a friend and the neurosurgeon agreed to meet with the NRL star on New Year's Day in 2013.

A day later he was operating on the tumour and fighting to save Dureau's life.

'It was an 11-hour surgery, with a pretty significant avocado size tumour at the time,' Dureau said.

The former Newcastle Knights halfback is living with a cluster of five small tumours in his brain that were found during a routine check-up in January

Dureau has been diagnosed with a hemangiopericytoma, a rare tumor involving blood vessels and soft tissues with a high recurrence rate.

He said he had come to rely on Dr Teo over the years and built up trust with the neurosurgeon to the point that he has become a friend.

'Even though I'm not his patient at the moment because his hands are tied, he takes my calls, he gives me advice, he's become my friend,' he said.

Dureau has also battled tumours in his liver, hip and other organs throughout the last 10 years.

He said he has been referred to another neurosurgeon by Dr Teo but wants his long-time friend to be the one who performs the surgery.

The neurosurgeon is waiting for the Health Care Complaints Commission hearing to resume this month so he can learn his fate.

The HCCC inquiry is investigating the circumstances surrounding two operations, including concerns patients were offered false hope regarding their chance of survival.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dr Charlie Teo for comment,.
The sister of one of Australia's best known bikies has been charged after police allegedly found ammunition stashed under her fridge.

Asmahan Zahed, 42, is the sister of Comanchero boss Tarek Zahed and was arrested at her Auburn home, in Sydney's west, on Friday after it was raided by heavily-armed police.

Police allege they found bullets stashed behind the fridge.

In a separate Friday raid on a home in Dulwich Hill, police arrested Zahed's partner Ihab Taoube, 45, after allegedly finding 23 vials of anabolic steroids and a loaded handgun.

He faces weapons, drugs and breach of bail charges.

Asmahan Zahed, sister of Comanchero boss Tarek Zahed, has been arrested after a police raid on Friday

Ms Zahed appeared at a court hearing via video from the cells of Surry Hills police station on Saturday.

During the Parramatta Bail Court hearing, police argued Zahed should be denied bail because she would 'endanger the community', the Daily Telegraph reported.

The court heard she was on a community corrections order for possessing a knife and had only recently finshing parole for possessing a shortened firearm.

Her lawyer Ikbal Khan told the court a homeless friend had recently stayed at the raided house.

The heavily-tattooed Zahed appearedin court with a partially shaved head and was granted bail on the condition she live in a housing commission property in Auburn.

Taoube had his bail hearing in the same court on Saturday.

Police allege that they found ammunition stashed behind the fridge in Zahed's house

Police asked that he be put in remand as he was already on bail for domestic violence charges.

Taoube's lawyer argued he had met all the reporting requirements of his current bail.

However, Taoube was denied bail and will face trial later this month.

Tarek Zahed and younger brother Abdul are in custody charged with the alleged kidnap and murder of Youssef Assoum in 2014.

Tarek miraculously survived a hail of bullets outside Auburn's Bodyfit Gym in May last year which killed the other brother in the family, Omar.

One bullet pierced Tarek straight through his eyeball, and he was rushed to hospital fighting for life.

He was taken into surgery suffering 10 bullet wounds to his head and body while Omar died at the scene.
The company behind the Christian message scrawled across the sky during WorldPride celebrations has revealed he pocketed $4,000 for the job.

Skywriting Australia boss Rob Vance confirmed a church in Sydney paid him the hefty fee to write 'Jesus Is Lord' followed by a huge cross in the sky at the same time more than 50,000 people marched across the Harbour Bridge to call for equality for LGBTQI+ people last Sunday.

Mr Vance would not tell Daily Mail Australia which church forked out for the message - which high winds immediately blurred - but was very emphatic on saying who it wasn't.

'It was nothing to do with Hillsong in any way, shape or form,' Mr Vance said.

His company has been doing such skywriting for decades and his bookings are often for messages reflecting the conservative side of politics - though the high winds meant this one didn't last long.

Skywriting Australia - which wrote 'Jesus Is Lord' (pictured) followed by a huge cross in the sky above Sydney's WorldPride equality march last Sunday - was paid $4,000 for the job

Owner Rob Vance would not say which church forked out for the message to the 50,000 people on the march - including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) - but was very emphatic on saying who it wasn't

In 2017, Skywriting Australia was enlisted to write 'TRUMP' in the sky during the Sydney Women's March, shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in as the US president.

In November 2020, just after the US election which Mr Trump lost to Joe Biden - a skywriter wrote 'Trump 2020' over Sydney harbour, which was visible up to 55km away.

History of skywriting Skywriting is said to have been first used more than a century ago, in 1922. In that year, Captain Cyril Turner wrote 'Daily Mail' over England and 'Hello USA' over New York. It is done by mixing paraffin oil into smoky plane exhaust and is environmentally safe. The best conditions are when there are few clouds, little or no wind, and cooler temperatures. Source: The Library of Congress Advertisement

Before Australia's marriage equality plebiscite in 2016, Mr Vance's plane wrote 'VOTE NO' in the sky above Sydney.

Skywriting Australia was criticised for that, but doubled down by refusing to take a follow-up booking from the Vote Yes campaign.

In 2019, during a NSW Parliament debate over abortion legislation, 'SAVE UNBORN' and 'CHOOSE LIFE' messages appeared above the city.

Last Sunday, though, God and Mother Nature were not on Mr Vance's side.

High winds soon turned the 'Jesus Is Lord' message into little more than a blur.

One of the earliest uses recorded for skywriting was an advertisement for the Daily Mail in England more than 100 years ago.

Skywriting is produced by mixing paraffin oil into the plane exhaust from a small plane and is environmentally safe.

The skilled pilots who do it at times have to manoeuvre upside down to get the letters and messages - such as a love heart for a marriage proposal - they want.

People are pictured taking part in Pride March over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on March 5, 2023
A much-loved upscale butcher is shutting shop after falling into voluntary administration.

Locals were shocked to discover on Monday that Farm Fresh Foods, located on Sydney's busy Oxford Street, had shut its doors.

The store, owned by high-profile New Zealand-born farmer and butcher Bill Wilson, entered voluntary administration owing 'significant debts', the largest of which is to the Australian Tax Office.

Farm Fresh Foods' 20 employees were told of the closure amid reportedly tearful scenes, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Mr Wilson, who owned the butcher and fresh food grocer since 1985, is the former husband of cookbook and food magazine doyen Donna Hay.

Fresh Foods, a much loved premium food store in the inner Sydney suburb of Paddington, left locals shocked after suddenly closing its doors

The store was owned by New Zealand-born Bill Wilson, who only six months ago was upbeat about the shop's prospects

The couple, who had two boys together, split in 2015.

Locals left in the lurch mourned the store - and it appeared to have even come as a shock to Mr Bilson.

He only recently told community magazine Local Paddo that his business had thrived even as other butchers and fresh food shops shut around him.

'There were lots of changes as we went along,' he said in September, 2022.

'The reason Farm Fresh expanded is because whatever businesses we lost in the community, we added it into our own.'

He said the key to the store's survival had been adapting to what customers needed.

Mr Wilson's former wife is the doyen of cookbooks and food magazines Donna Hay (pictured on the Gold Coast in 2017)

'As people got busier through the week, we started offering pre-prepared meals for them to pick up on their way home,' Mr Wilson said.

He believed that with the pandemic and rising prices seeing more people cooking at home his shop was set to cash in.

'I think we're going to see butcher shops coming back in a big way,' he said.

In its last Facebook and Instagram post, the store stressed the quality of its meal preparation.

'Its not hard to notice all the love and hard work that goes into our Farm Fresh meals,' the post said. 

'Every salad, every ready-made meal and every take-home lunch is prepared right here in our kitchen, by our chefs and butchers.' 

Mr Wilson, who owns farmland in NSW, has been contacted for comment.
A fearless woman who jumped into the path of an oncoming train to save the life of a stranger has been remembered by her partner as a 'beautiful soul' after she suddenly died at the age of 32.

Ashley Montabello was hailed a hero when she leapt onto the railway at Redfern Station, near Sydney's CBD, in April last year to save a 57-year-old man who fainted and fell off the platform.

Incredible footage showed the moment Ms Montabello, who was not publicly identified at the time, struggled to help the man as the train screeched towards her - coming to a grinding halt just millimetres from where she stood.

No one was injured during the ordeal and the fainting man was taken to hospital where he made a quick recovery.

However, a family friend of Ms Montabello revealed last month that she died unexpectedly in February - less than a year after her heroic act.

On Sunday, her long-term partner Tommy Cloos, 60, told Daily Mail Australia she was 'a beautiful person who helped everyone in the community'.

'She was too young to go,' he said, in a quavering voice.

Ashley Montabello's last words to her partner Tommy Cloos were 'I love you'. They are pictured together

The couple met 10 years ago, just after Ms Montabello moved from Cessnock, in NSW's Hunter Region, to Sydney at 23.

Her last words to him before she died in February were 'I love you'.

'She said she wanted to marry me,' Mr Cloos said.

Mr Cloos wasn't there the day Ms Montabello saved the 57-year-old's life at Redfern Station, but he wasn't surprised to hear about what she did.

'She was on the way to Wolli Creek with a friend when she saw him collapse,' he said.

'That was her instinct - she loved helping people, and she didn't worry about anything.

'She would give you her left arm if she thought you needed it.'

Mr Cloos said she should have been awarded for her bravery.

'She had more balls than grace, and she had more balls than a lot of blokes,' he said.

Ashley Montabello risked her life to save a man who collapsed on to train tracks in Redfern (pictured, the scenes from Redfern in Sydney)

Ms Montabello and Mr Cloos dreamed of starting a family. They are pictured with the child of a close family friend

He was increasingly concerned about Ms Montabello's battle with drug addiction - he says it began as a coping mechanism to deal with the fact that she was molested as a child.

Her family deny that she was molested, and said she had taken hard drugs in the past but was proud of the fact that she was only taking methadone to treat her addictions at the time of her death.

Ms Montabello's relationship with her family was rocky at times, but she expressed a want to leave Sydney in the months before she died - she was upset that she was missing her nephews grow up, and she missed her mother.

Mr Cloos said she would often disappear when she was in the midst of a relapse, but he knew something was amiss when she vanished in February this year.

'At that time she had wanted people to get her [drugs], and then I got worried when she went away for a few days,' he said.

'I made inquiries and then police found her in bed, dead.'

Her official cause of death is unknown and will be determined by the coroner, but Mr Cloos believes she died from a 'hotshot' - a potent mix of heroin and fentanyl.

Fentanyl is an opioid that's 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is sometimes used to cut other recreational drugs, like cocaine and MDMA, and responsible for thousands of drug-related deaths worldwide.

'It's hard to talk about,' Mr Cloos said. 'She was such a beautiful person.'

Ms Montabello (pictured) has been remembered as a 'beautiful soul' by her friends and partner

The couple's hairdresser, Brian, said Ms Montabello's death shocked everyone in their community.

'There are heroes who walk amongst us every day,' he said.

'You don't know if the person sitting next to you is the person who's going to save your life, but that was Ashley.

'She was such a beautiful, sweet, happy, friendly person and she welcomed everybody.'

Ms Montabello will be buried in Liverpool on Thursday.

Following the incident at Redfern last year, a Sydney commuter who filmed the incident told Daily Mail Australia at the time that he was thankful the injured man didn't die.

'It was a harrowing experience,' he said.

'I wasn't sure what to do myself...I didn't know what was going to happen.'

'People were screaming as the train was coming closer - I heard it over the speaker - so I feared the worst.

He said the victim was a 'large man' and recalled it took about six people to help him off the tracks, once the vehicle stopped.

'It was all very confronting, and it reminded me the importance of standing a safe distance back on the platform at all times,' he said.

Station staff tried desperately to signal the driver and urgently-waved red flags before the train slammed on its brakes.

Ms Montabello was the only person who remained on the tracks, beside the injured man. The train came to a halt just millimetres from where they stood.

Police and emergency services arrived soon after the man and woman's miracle escape and the elderly man was helped back on to the platform and taken away for treatment.
The black director of diversity, equity and inclusion at a California college was fired after being denied tenure when a board member accused her of disrespecting Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza.

Dr. Tabia Lee began working at De Anza College, located just outside of San Jose, in August 2021. Since then, she has objected being forced to join a 'socialist network' and had to fight to bring a 'Jewish inclusion' event to the school, according Inside Higher Ed.

In addition, Lee said that she earned the ire of the school's woke student body and management after asking for definitions of terms such as anti-racism, her refusal to use terms such as 'Latinx' and 'Filipinx' and wondering why the letter B in 'Black' was being capitalized but not the W in 'White.'

She argued that the use of gender pronouns was similar to 'toxic ideologies around race' and that the constant discussion around the issue was causing discomfort for those 'who identify as gender fluid or struggle with gender dysphoria.'

Lee, a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a doctorate from the University of California Irvine, was also branded a supporter of white supremacy and accused of 'whitesplaining' and 'white speaking.'

Dr. Tabia Lee began working at De Anza College, located just outside of San Jose, in August 2021

One of those who reviewed Lee's position at De Anza accused the educator of disrespecting Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza

The official reasons to Lee's firing saw her accuse of being unable to work with other members of staff, inability to accept constructive criticism. The school's board wrote in a report that they did not expect that Lee would be able to improve in either of those areas.

De Anza College, the alma mater of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and actress Teri Hatcher, has not made a public comment on Lee's firing, claiming that internal personnel issues are confidential.

Speaking to Inside Higher Ed, Lee said that she is considering filing a lawsuit against the school and is receiving support from the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism aka FAIR. A group which counts former Fox News host Megyn Kelly among its board members.

A lawyer for the group, Leigh Ann O'Neill, told the website that Lee's work in fostering open inquiry and diverse viewpoints and discussions was 'important work.'

'We are often asked to support lawsuits so if she chooses to pursue legal action, we will be very eager to support her,' O'Neill said.

Lee said that she received guidance that she was only supposed to support what she calls 'third-wave anti-racism ideology.'

The educator wrote about that term in a February 28 essay that was published on Substack titled Race Ideology in Practice.

'It is my hope that this article will help us to better understand and more critically examine the ideologies that are being used to advance racial equity into our schools, organizations, and civic life,' Lee wrote on her LinkedIn page explaining the essay.

De Anza College, located just outside of San Jose, is the alma mater of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and actress Terri Hatcher

"When I began to question [certain DEI initiatives in my workplace]...FAIR was instrumental in protecting me so that I could continue to...serve our California community colleges and keep them as safe spaces for academic freedom & freedom of expression."



- Tabia Lee pic.twitter.com/xmQNbZn7Je  Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR) (@fairforall_org) January 15, 2023

Lee went on to tell Inside Higher Education that among those who sat on a review board for her tenure review was a woman who had asked to become a member of a socialist group and who accused her of disrespecting Alicia Garza.

During that review, Lee said that she encountered 'some really ugly opposition from third-wave antiracist woke activists who dont care too much for me because I have not uncritically supported their narratives or ways of knowing/working.'

When talking about her refusal to use terms such as LatinX and FilipinX, Lee said that they did not reflect the 'working class communities' where she had worked for decades.

'I found these terms to be linguistic imperialism and an inappropriate attempt to make beautiful languages conform to English speaking social norms,' Lee said.

In another incident, Lee said that she railed against the school for acknowledging the wrong Native American tribe as being indigenous De Anza College land.'

That dispute saw her labeled as 'b****' and 'dictatorial.'

A supporter of Lee's, Sheena Mason, an assistant professor at the Oneonta campus State University of New York and the author of Theory of Racelessness: A Case for Antirace(ism), said that Lee was put in her role to be 'the token black woman.'

'So you're black, so you're supposed to think one way? How is that not dehumanizing?'

Lee also said that the 'wokeism' being promoted by her office slowed down the process of creating a more equal school

Lee also said that the 'wokeism' being promoted by her office slowed down the process of creating a more equal school.

She said that the 'woke' members of her office were using 'divisive' techniques without offering an solutions, merely accusing other members of staff of being 'racist or not woke enough.'

A month before being terminated by De Anza, Lee resigned her position from the Center Joint School District in Antelope, California, accusing the body of failing to do more to help the most vulnerable students in the district.

In her resignation letter, Lee also accused the board of ignoring Black History Month and accused a board member of making 'racist and homophobic' remarks.

During her time on the board, Lee successfully campaigned to remove reciting the Pledge of Allegiance from meeting.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been at the forefront of fighting 'woke' ideologies on college campuses across his state.

In February, his administration blocked a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies from being taught in high schools, saying it violates state law and is historically inaccurate.

So far, at least 25 states have considered legislation or other steps to limit how race and racism can be taught, according to an analysis from Education Week.

Eight states, all Republican-led, have banned or limited the teaching of critical race theory or similar concepts through laws or administrative actions. The bans largely address what can be taught inside the classroom.
Sir Keir Starmer is being urged by senior Labour figures to U-turn on appointing Partygate investigator Sue Gray as his Chief of Staff, the Mail on Sunday has been told.

The news of Ms Grays appointment caused a stir earlier this month, with supporters of Boris Johnson saying that it proved her probe into his behaviour in Downing Street during the pandemic was a cynical stitch-up by his political opponents.

It came against the backdrop of privately voiced concerns about Ms Gray, with officials speculating about whether she had been leaking information to Labour  something her friends categorically deny.

But last night a senior Labour source said that Sir Keir was being urged to perform an elegant withdrawal from the plan.

The source said: Keir is probably the only person left who still likes the idea.

The news of Ms Grays appointment caused a stir earlier this month, with supporters of Boris Johnson saying that it proved her probe into his behaviour in Downing Street during the pandemic was a cynical stitch-up

A senior Labour source said that Sir Keir was being urged to perform an elegant withdrawal from the plan

There is only one way out of this mess. She has to announce that she has decided to withdraw from consideration because of the time it will take for her appointment to receive official approval, and he then declares that she will instead be his Chief Ethical Adviser in Government. And he should time it to be buried under another big news event.

This newspaper reported last week that Ms Gray and Sir Keir have known each other for more than a decade, and Ms Grays son, Liam Conlon, has posed for pictures with him.

Mr Conlon, the Labour Party Irish Society chairman, was snapped with Sir Keir in April 2020. They were pictured together again in March 2022, two months before Ms Grays report was published in full.

Now a new picture has emerged of Mr Conlon at a Friends of Sinn Fein event in 2021, raising fresh questions about her political leanings.

The MoS understands Government sources deny claims Ms Gray tried to alert Cabinet Secretary Simon Case about her new job before the news was leaked, saying there is no record of any such attempt.

They are also frustrated that Ms Gray failed to attend a meeting with Mr Case on Monday.

It can also be revealed Ms Gray organised a secret meeting with one of Boris Johnsons senior allies shortly before the publication of her Partygate report, smuggling him in in order to send Mr Johnson a message.

Mr Conlon, the Labour Party Irish Society chairman, was snapped with Sir Keir in February 2020

Picture posted in 2018 of Sue Gray and her son with the Labour politicians Tessa Jowell and Baroness Lawrence

Supporters of Boris Johnson said the job offer proved her probe into his behaviour in Downing Street during the pandemic was a cynical stitch-up by his political opponents (file image)

A source said: Sue wanted Boris to know that he wasnt to regard her report as being primarily critical of him. She asked for it to be communicated that, to her mind, he had been badly let down by his officials.

Her main criticism was aimed at Simon Case and Martin Reynolds [the former Prime Ministers Principal Private Secretary].

Ms Gray declined to comment.

But a spokesperson for the Labour leader said: Nobody has asked Keir Starmer to do anything other than continue to support Sue Gray joining the team as chief of staff.

If her appointment is approved, then we will gain someone of great experience and integrity to deliver our missions for a better Britain.
The UK is set to test a frightening 'Armageddon alarm' within weeks which will see thousands of people's phones flash and set off alarms.

Millions will hear an alarm sound from their phone and will receive warning text messages as part of the government's new emergency alert system trial.

The system is designed to warn people if there is a 'danger to life' nearby, with the imminent testing to focus on flooding and extreme weather conditions.

The phone owner will then be given details of the emergency along with advice on what to do and how to seek help.

Labour has been pushing for the system for more than a decade and ministers have been promising to introduce it since 2013.

Millions will hear an alarm sound from their phone and will receive warning text messages as part of the government's new emergency alert system trial

Labour's Shadow Paymaster General Fleur Anderson said the trial was 'long overdue'

Emergency Alerts The government may send alerts about the following: severe flooding

fires

extreme weather

public health emergencies In an alert (which will last for about 10 seconds) your phone may: make a loud siren-like sound, even on silent

vibrate

read out the alert Emergency alerts will only be sent by the emergency services or government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies Source: www.gov.uk Advertisement

The government had also promised in August last year to launch it in October.

Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse revealed at the time that the new scheme would allow the government to 'warn people much more comprehensively' about imminent danger such as floods, storms, wildfires or terror attacks.

The National Resilience Framework published by the government in December then said the system would be launched in 'early 2023'. But up until now here have only been local tests in Reading.

Labour's Shadow Paymaster General Fleur Anderson said the trial was 'long overdue' and the government has been 'haphazard in preparing for emergencies'.

'This saga has dragged on far too long and left our country lagging far behind on keeping the public safe,' she said according to The Sunday Mirror.

She added: 'Labour has a plan for a more resilient Britain to ensure government is alert to the threats our country faces.

A Government spokesperson said: 'Emergency Alerts will be a vital tool in helping us better respond to emergencies, both nationally and locally.

'We have worked closely with the emergency services to develop this and carried out extensive trials ahead of its national rollout. We expect to update shortly.'

The government has been contacted for further comment by MailOnline.
A row erupted within the Tory Party last night over claims Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch was getting too big for her boots.

Party sources claimed that she had turned down the Prime Ministers request to accompany him and other senior Cabinet Ministers to Paris to attend the summit with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday.

Mrs Badenoch had been expected to stand in for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in a meeting with Emmanuel Moulin, director general of the French Treasury. However, it is understood she said that she had business to attend to in her Saffron Walden constituency instead.

The claim comes as the former Tory leadership contender is already said to be on a Tory whips blacklist for not turning up to some of her question sessions in the Commons.

Questions have also been raised in Whitehall over her judgment after it emerged that Mrs Badenoch considered hiring Sue Gray  the civil servant in charge of investigating Partygate and who is now controversially trying to become Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff  as her permanent secretary at the end of last year.

A row erupted within the Tory Party last night over claims Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch (pictured) was getting too big for her boots

Last night, a senior source hit out at Mrs Badenochs attitude, saying: It is impossible to get her to do anything we ask. She just says no.

But the claims  along with suggestions she is being manipulated by Michael Gove and was considered rude by former PM Liz Truss  sparked a blistering response from Mrs Badenochs camp.

It's impossible to get her to do anything we ask

Allies of the Business Secretary, who is also Minister for Women and Equalities, denounced any suggestions that Cabinet colleague Mr Gove, who backed her leadership bid last summer, was now manipulating her as plain Westminster sexism/racism that she cant be her own woman.

And a source close to Mrs Badenoch told The Mail on Sunday: Kemi is not just the most senior black woman in Government  she is the only black woman in Government and in the Tory Party.

What a shame that just after International Womens Day there are people trying to say the Business Secretary is getting too big for her boots, yet mysteriously at the same time doesnt know her own mind and is someone elses puppet.

Party sources claimed that Mrs Badenoch turned down the Prime Ministers request to accompany him and other senior Cabinet Ministers to Paris to attend the summit with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday

They said that Kemi is targeted because shes prepared to say what she thinks, after she defended SNP leadership contender Kate Forbess decision to say she would have voted against gay marriage. The row erupted following the French summit and after Mrs Badenoch was not present at Women and Equalities questions in the Commons on Wednesday.

Her allies said last night the reason she missed the event was that, until Wednesday, she had been in Israel for trade talks. They pointedly noted that this would help with one of the PMs priorities  to grow the UK economy.

They also insisted that as she was responsible for both trade and equalities, she had to do more Commons oral questions than other Secretaries of State but has only missed two since she joined the Cabinet.

As for her consideration of Sue Gray, the sources insisted that she was only one of a number of names suggested by Mrs Badenoch before she chose another candidate as the best person for the job.

An ally of former PM Ms Truss described Mrs Badenoch as rude, adding: When Liz was in No 10 she tried to avoid talking to Kemi. But friends of the Business Secretary asked whether it wasnt more rude for people close to Ms Truss to brief this out.
Junior doctors will be able to work part time if strikes lead to a large pay rise, a union ringleader told colleagues.

A lot of juniors are quite comfortably off, Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chair of the British Medical Association (BMA), also admitted in online chats with medics.

Her comments come as up to 40,000 junior doctors across England  who already earn 57,000 a year on average  are due to walk out for three days starting tomorrow.

Should they win their demand of a whopping 35 per cent rise, it would take the pay of a typical junior soaring past 75,000  well over twice the average UK pay packet.

In a worrying first, even junior doctors working in A&Es will be taking part in the strike, potentially leaving emergency departments critically undermanned.

Her comments come as up to 40,000 junior doctors across England  who already earn 57,000 a year on average  are due to walk out for three days

Publicly, the BMA claims emergency care this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be no different to any other day  while it has rubbished claims that strikes cost lives. Privately though, some of its key leaders have conceded patients may come to harm. Last night, the union issued a stinging letter rejecting a late offer of talks by Health Secretary Steve Barclay.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt responded with an olive branch, telling The Mail on Sunday: The Government is willing to talk.

The BMA argues the strike is necessary as junior doctors pay has dropped 35 per cent in real terms since 2008  a figure disputed by Ministers. It wants full pay restoration to 2008 levels.

But in a remarkable online conversation Dr Runswick, 27, admitted one of the reasons for the huge demand was it will enable some [junior doctors] to go less than full time instead of leaving the NHS.

She also told a doctors money podcast last summer: Quite a lot of us are still quite comfortable.

Should the BMA achieve its aims, even freshly-graduated Foundation Year 1 doctors would be on 50,000, up from 36,500.

But analysis shows the pay of the most junior [Foundation Year 1 & 2] doctors has stagnated more than middle-ranking medics since 2008  helping explain why the younger crew is leading the charge.

Dr Runswick told a podcast strikes would cause harm to patients as they would result in delayed elective care. One health boss said the next three days would be really, really dangerous but that the public doesnt realise the gravity of the situation.

Mr Hunt said: The vast majority of doctors would like to find a way to resolve these issues; the Government is willing to talk.

A BMA spokeswoman said: Junior doctors are not worth less than they were in 2008/9 and yet this Government continues to undervalue them.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer played a key role in overturning an attempt by Tony Blair 20 years ago to strip asylum seekers of the right to claim benefits.

The action  which can be revealed just days after Rishi Sunak announced plans to extinguish the right of small-boats migrants to claim asylum  was taken by Sir Keir after Labour introduced the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act in 2002.

The then Home Secretary, David Blunkett, tried to use the legislation to deal with visa over-stayers who suddenly claimed asylum and then spent years trying to establish their claim, during which time they were able to claim state benefits.

The law said that if claimants didnt apply for asylum as soon as reasonably practicable after arriving in the country, they would be ineligible for benefit payments. It was challenged by human rights lawyer Sir Keir in the High Court in 2003, acting on behalf of five asylum seekers on the grounds that it contravened the right to food and shelter enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer played a key role in overturning an attempt by Tony Blair 20 years ago to strip asylum seekers of the right to claim benefits

The action  which can be revealed just days after Rishi Sunak announced plans to extinguish the right of small-boats migrants to claim asylum  was taken by Sir Keir after Labour introduced the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act in 2002

After the High Court ruled in Sir Keirs favour, Mr Blunkett said: I am personally fed up with having to deal with the situation where Parliament debates issues and the judges overturn them.

Last week the Prime Minister called Sir Keir just another Lefty lawyer standing in our way.

Lord Blunkett, who has warned that the Governments plan to tackle illegal immigration is not doable, said last night that at the time Sir Keir was doing his job and I was doing mine. The Labour leader declined to comment.
Prince Harry and Meghan's children have not been invited to the Coronation but the Queen Consort's grandchildren are expected to be invited in an official role, a report has claimed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been invited and are expected to be at the event on May 6, but many family members are privately telling friends that they will give them the 'cold shoulder'.

In a fresh snub, members of the Royal Family are reportedly hoping that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be 'seated in Iceland' if they attend the Coronation of King Charles and Camilla as expected.

The Sussexes' children are considered by palace officials to be too young to attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, but the couple are likely to spend part of the day with Archie, who turns four on May 6, and Lilibet, now styled Prince and Princess, as they celebrate their son's birthday.

But whether or not they have the desire to bring their young children the Coronation a decision by the palace to exclude them is likely to inflame tensions.

Prince Harry and Meghan's children have not been invited to the Coronation, a report said

In a fresh snub, members of the Royal Family are reportedly hoping that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be 'seated in Iceland' if they attend the Coronation of King Charles (right) and Camilla (left) as expected

It is currently expected that Prince George (left), nine, and his sister Princess Charlotte (centre), who will turn eight shortly before the ceremony, will attend. The decision on whether or not to bring Prince Louis (bottom right), who will turn five in April, is reportedly being 'pondered' by the Prince (second-left) and Princess of Wales (right)

It is currently expected that Prince George, nine, and his sister Princess Charlotte, who will turn eight shortly before the ceremony, will attend - as the future King is anticipated to play an official role.

The decision on whether or not to bring Prince Louis, who will turn five in April, is reportedly being 'pondered' by the Prince and Princess of Wales. However, it is likely he will make an appearance, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

Camilla's grandchildren are reportedly expected to attend their grandmother and step-Grandfather's coronation and have an official role.

The Queen Consort's son Tom Parker Bowles has two children, 15 and 13, and her daughter Laura Lopes has 13-year-old twins. She has reportedly hoping that they would carry the canopy that is placed over her as she is annointed.

However a Buckingham Palace source told The Sunday Times that it would be 'wholly improper' for discussions over roles for the Queen Consort's grandchildren but not her husband's.

Harry and Meghan will not be invited to take part in the official balcony appearance and many members of the family have no wish to socialise with the couple.

A friend of the family said: 'They will be given the cold shoulder by very many relatives. One said to me, "I hope they'll be seated in Iceland."

'Many of the family just want nothing more to do with them. If they have to see them at the Coronation then so be it, but they do not want to socialise with them.'

Charles, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew, watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour for the Queen's annual birthday parade, on June 8, 2019

Camilla's grandchildren are reportedly expected to attend their grandmother and step-Grandfather's coronation and have an official role. Pictured: The Queen Consort with her children Tom Parker Bowles (left) and Laura Lopes (right) in 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have waged a campaign against their own family in a series of media interviews since quitting their Royal duties three years ago.

Last week, Prince Harry appeared in a televised interview with controversial 'trauma therapist' Gabor Mate in which he said he had 'learned a new language of therapy' but found that 'my family didn't speak that language'.

Many in the Royal Family are now bracing themselves for the arrival of the Sussexes in less than two months as the countdown to the Coronation continues.

The couple are expected to stay at Frogmore Cottage during their visit.

The lease on their home on the Windsor estate runs out at the end of March but they have been allowed to keep it going for a few months while they sort out their belongings and arrange for them to be shipped to California.

Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge pictured with the King and Queen Consort at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey last year

Harry and Meghan have been invited and are expected to be at the King's Coronation on May 6

Members of the Royal Family with the late Queen Elizabeth at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant last year

Last week Harry and Meghan revealed that their children would use the Prince and Princess titles when they announced that their daughter Lilibet had been baptised in Montecito. As the grandchildren of a reigning monarch, the young Sussexes are entitled to the rank. After hearing that this was the Sussexes' wish, the official Royal website updated their titles accordingly. It is thought that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will also be able to use their 'HRH' status in future.

While Harry has agreed not to use his HRH title on account of leaving Royal duties, his children could still adopt theirs. Similarly, Prince Andrew has said he will not use HRH but his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, are entitled to.

Palace sources say that while the Sussexes will not appear on the balcony as part of the Coronation there was a discussion as to whether they would take part in other events surrounding the celebrations.
The cost-of-living crisis may not be totally to blame for the gloomy feeling that descends when popping into shops these days.

Many supermarket chains, including Waitrose, Morrisons and Co-op, have been turning down their lights in an effort to bring down soaring energy bills.

And electrical retailer Currys is dimming the TV sets on display in stores to slash power use.

Supermarkets alone use three per cent of all electricity in the UK, so in the face of bills jumping by tens of millions of pounds they are speeding up efforts to go green with energy-efficiency measures.

While Iceland, which specialises in frozen food, has warned that its power bill would double, Waitrose is upgrading its fridges to make them 40 per cent more efficient.

Bigger supermarkets, where such doors on fridges often do not work, are using blinds that keep the cold air in overnight (file image)

Aldi is fitting see-through doors to fridges to maintain low temperatures with the minimum energy costs (file image)

Aldi is fitting see-through doors to fridges to maintain low temperatures with the minimum energy costs.

Bigger supermarkets, where such doors on fridges often do not work, are using blinds that keep the cold air in overnight.

Morrisons is already using this measure while Waitrose is considering it.

Some shops are achieving lower energy use by upgrading to LED lighting.

By using them instead of traditional fluorescent lightstrips and bulbs, electricity use can be cut by 80 per cent, lighting company Signify, the brand behind Philips, said.

Sainsburys has switched to LED lights in its stores, and also uses smart sensors to adjust their brightness depending on the level of natural light coming in.

They are also turned off at night when theyre not needed.

Most Halfords stores now have LED lights and Superdrug is moving that way, too.

Moreover, local councils are turning to LED street lights to economise.

Somerset County Council, for example, changed 20,000 lights to Philips LEDs, saving an estimated 160,000 a year in energy costs.
Oxford University has ditched plans to give a 'woke score' to job applicants following a backlash from academics.

Bosses at the university's race equality task force had recommended that a 'commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion work' should be 'essential criteria' for new recruits and 'in all reward and recognition processes' for existing staff.

It also said that a 'centrally funded pool of trained EDI observers' should be set up to 'support' recruitment panels.

The proposals came amid a growing trend across public bodies to require job applicants to display their woke credentials.

As revealed in The Mail on Sunday, application forms for posts as wide ranging as cleaners, administration staff and chefs - as well as academics - are increasingly questioning candidates about how they would 'promote equality and diversity' and challenge discrimination.

Oxford University has ditched plans to give a 'woke score' to job applicants after a backlash from academics

But moves to do the same at Oxford have been quietly dropped after the plans were described as 'megawoke' and 'crazy virtue signalling'.

Dons feared it would mean researchers were given a 'woke score' when they apply for a job.

'If we are supposed to pay attention to their EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) - their woke score - does this mean it doesn't matter if they are useless at teaching and research? Or do you now have to get a minimum woke score to get a job?', said one.

'Do you mark someone down because they haven't jumped on the woke bandwagon?' he added.

Another academic described the proposal as 'megawoke' and damaging and said academics' ability to 'spot a microaggression a mile off' had nothing to do with their performance in teaching and research.

In a university-wide consultation on the task force proposals, a quarter of staff objected to including the commitment to equality as essential criteria in recruitment, while one in five objected to the idea of equality and diversity observers.

The university's own analysis of the consultation responses said the proposal had generated a 'layer of tension'.

The opposition seems to have hit home. The university's new race equality strategy makes no mention of equality and diversity criteria in recruitment.

Instead it contains general objectives to 'engage all members of the University community to address racism wherever it is found at the University' and to increase the proportions of ethnic minority staff in senior roles.

Associate professor of sociology at Oxford, Michael Biggs, who opposed the plan, told the Mail On Sunday: 'Requiring all staff to demonstrate 'good citizenship and/or commitment to EDI work' would mean implementing a regressive system of political and religious discrimination.

'Before 1871 the University of Oxford required commitment to the Anglican Churchwe should not recreate the kind of discrimination that was abolished 150 years ago. The only requirement for recruiting academics should be the quality of their research and teaching.'

Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union, said: 'I'm delighted the university has scrapped the proposal. For Oxford to force all its staff to declare their fealty to equity, diversity and inclusion as a condition of employment would have worrying implications for their right to freedom of expression and of conscience. It might also have been a breach of the 1986 Education Act, as well as Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

'Article 9 protects the right to hold and manifest a belief, including the right not to be obliged to manifest a belief, and Article 10 protects the right to freedom of expression, as well as the right not to express a particular belief. I'm delighted the University has scrapped the plan.'

An Oxford University spokesman said: 'The University is committed to inclusive recruitment practices, embedding equality, diversity and inclusiveness in the entire recruitment process without mandating the inclusion of EDI criteria.

'The University's vision is to be a diverse and inclusive community that stands as a model for society. One of Oxford's key tools to deliver this is the Race Equality Strategy, which envisages a long-term programme to deliver lasting change for staff and students at Oxford, including increasing the proportions of Black and Minority Ethnic staff in senior academic, research and professional roles.'
The UK's energy regulator is being forced to pay consultants millions of pounds to help clear up the mess left by the collapse of gas and electricity suppliers.

Household customers were left to foot a bill of nearly 3 billion when 31 firms went bust during 2021 and 2022, through a levy added to all bills.

Since the start of the crisis, Ofgem has spent 32 million on consultants, according to Tussell, a firm which tracks Government contracts.

Baringa recently landed a six-month deal worth 330,000 to help out with Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) payments  costs incurred by suppliers who step in when another firm goes bust.

At least 13 other contracts have been given out by the regulator, including to KPMG, which earned almost 2.5 million for five contracts.

Since the start of the crisis, Ofgem has spent 32 million on consultants, according to Tussell, a firm which tracks Government contracts.

These SoLR claims will total around 2.7 billion, the National Audit Office said. The cost of Bulb failing  the biggest of the energy suppliers to go bust  is not yet clear and will be in addition to that.

An executive at a big energy firm told The Mail On Sunday: 'Clearly Ofgem don't have the staff to sort out the mess they have created.'

An Ofgem spokesman said: 'The scale of the gas crisis meant Ofgem [needed] to bring experts in quickly. Contracting external experts has let us add skills for a limited period.'
London Mayor Sadiq Khans cars crackdown could be blocked by a legal challenge after it emerged his officials secretly ordered hundreds of enforcement cameras before the public voted to reject the project.

Mr Khan was accused of a sham consultation and ignoring huge opposition to expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez).

Owners of non-compliant vehicles are charged 12.50 a day to drive in the clean air zone, which currently includes all areas within the North and South Circular roads.

Mr Khan plans to expand this to Greater London this year to encompass five million more people, some 200,000 of them owning non-compliant vehicles. They are generally pre-2005 petrol cars and pre- September 2015 diesel vehicles.

Transport for London (TfL) asked the public if they backed the plan in May 2022 during a ten-week consultation. Then in November, Labours Mr Khan said he was pressing ahead with the scheme  despite 59 per cent opposing it.

Now documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws reveal how TfL began ordering hundreds of number-plate-reading cameras required for the scheme in April 2022  a month before the public had been asked to have their say. This paper understands the order was worth up to 15 million.

Mr Khan was accused of a sham consultation and ignoring huge opposition to expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone

Shaun Bailey, a former Tory London mayoral candidate, said: It is categoric proof the Mayor pre-judged the outcome of the consultation. He had no intention of listening to Londoners. Mr Khan was accused earlier this year of manipulating the consultation after it emerged more than 5,200 votes from the FairFuelUK motoring campaign had been discounted.

Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, said: We now learn he purchased millions of pounds of vehicle registration cameras before the consultation even started. Its clear with this action alone, the Mayor had no genuine intention to adhere to the result of the consultation process. Shamefully, he has ridden roughshod over majority opinion.

Tory boroughs Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon, plus Surrey County Council, have asked the High Court to block the Ulez plan.

TfL sources do not believe details about when the cameras were ordered could be included in the councils case  but they could form the basis of a new legal challenge.

Mr Bailey said: Londoners would be stunned if there wasnt a judicial review of the project now.

TfL expects the total cost of Ulez expansion to be up to 140 million.

TfL said: As components had long lead times and with our duty to achieve value for money, we placed cancellable orders last April after the Mayor announced there would be a consultation on Ulez.

This did not predetermine the Mayors decision on the Ulez expansion as the orders would have been cancelled or the equipment used for other projects or sold on to other organisations.
Staff at fast-food chain McDonald's were subjected to more than 900 assaults last year, it has been reported.

A Freedom of Information request made by FreeBets.com revealed workers at 1,270 restaurants across the UK were throttled, punched, kicked and attacked with chemical sprays.

And it's not just staff that have been attacked. Customers have also been knifed, punched and bitten, with the majority of incidents being recorded at night.

Weapons to carry out these vicious attacks have included the likes of plastic knives, spoons and forks provided by McDonalds, and even condiments such as ketchup.

The figures suggest that there are 17 assaults on staff and customers per week across the country.

A Freedom of Information request revealed workers at the 1,270 restaurants across the UK were throttled, punched, kicked and attacked with chemical sprays

But the real figure is likely to be higher, as only just over half of police forces handed out the figures in the request.

According to the data, the most violent branch was in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, which was the site of 33 assaults in a year.

Cleveland Police confirmed a customer was stabbed in the arms and legs with a knife in Middlesbrough and in Torquay, Devon, one customer bit another on the face.

A spokesperson for McDonalds said: 'We are proud to serve over four million customers a day in our 1,450 restaurants across the UK & Ireland, and take a zero tolerance approach to violence towards our employees and customers.

'We work closely with the police and community leaders to ensure our restaurants are a welcoming and safe environment for all.'
Donald Trump toasted his future daughter-in-law, Kimberly Guilfoyle at her birthday party with a speech that turned into a rant about illegal immigration before hitting the dance floor.

Around 400 guests attended the event in Jupiter, Florida, but Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were nowhere to be seen.

A source told Page Six the former president's daughter and son-in-law were invited, but had a previous family commitment - their niece's bat mitzvah.

Few celebrities were present at the celebration, with most of the attendees potential donors and neighbors.

Trump's long-winded speech saw him praise Guilfoyle as he spoke of his excitement of welcoming her into the family when son, Don Jr., finally marries her.

He thanked her for help with his campaign describing her as a 'terrific addition' while calling her and Don Jr. a 'wonderful couple.'

Guilfoyle was seen smiling next to her future father-in-law as he took the spotlight in front of her party guests. He then made his way to the dance floor and busted out a few moves before leaving the party before 10 p.m.

Donald Trump attended his future daughter-in-law Kimberly Guilfoyle's 54th birthday celebration at a home in Jupiter, Florida, where he danced the night away. Few celebs were there and his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner were nowhere to be seen

Donald Trump attended future daughter-in-law Kimberly Guilfoyle's 54th birthday celebration at home in Jupiter, Florida

He managed to raise some laughs with some jokes at the expense of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and President Biden

Former President Trump was seen in Jupiter, Florida at his future daughter-in-law's birthday

The Trump's were seen chatting shortly after Donald Trump had made a speech at the party

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were invited to the bash, but had a previous family commitment - their niece's bat mitzvah, according to a source

'The crowd was not celeb-studded,' the source told Page Six of the party. 'Trump rarely leaves Mar-a-Lago, so it was unusual to see him out in Jupiter . . . He arrived at 8 p.m. and left before 10 p.m. The crowd looked like some neighbors and a lot of potential donors. There were no tickets, but it felt like Kimberly would be calling the guests later for contributions, LOL.'

The absence of celeb guests was noticed, as well as no shows: Ivanka and Jared.

'They were invited to Kimberly's birthday party and were so sad to miss it. Their niece's bat mitzvah was Thursday evening and it had been planned a long time ago,' the source said.

The source also said that Trump was dancing the night away and that he 'gave a big, long speech praising Kimberly and saying, 'I look forward to officially welcoming Kimberly into the family when Don [Jr.] marries her . . . we all love her.''

The source continued that Trump 'thanked her for helping with the campaign and said, 'She's a terrific addition to the campaign and she and Don are a wonderful couple.''

Trump then used the limelight to turn it 'into a mini-political stump speech and he was glad-handing everyone,' the source added.

'We're fighting very hard, we have a country that's in very bad shape we've millions and millions pouring in from mental institutions, jails and 128 countries,' Trump said in what was not typical birthday toasting material.

'At least 98 [countries] are releasing all their prisoners into the U.S. from insane asylums and metal institutions - and why wouldn't they? It's a disaster, including many many terrorists. We need to change it around. It's been an amazing campaign so far,' he rambled.

Trump then took some time to make a few political jabs at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and President Biden, which drew laughter, according to the New York Post.

Recent polls show Trump and DeSantis to be neck and neck in early GOP voting in Iowa. DeSantis has not officially announced himself as running for the White House in 2024.

Don Jr. also spoke describing Guilfoyle as the 'love of my life' and told of his excitement about walking her down the aisle when they get married.

Don Trump Jr. could be seen celebrating his fiancee's birthday, left, and made a speech, right

Kimberly Guilfoyle took some time to make a speech thanking guests

The 54-year-old posed next to lit up initials of her name at her birthday party

Kimberly Guilfoyle's birthday cake was almost wedding like in its exuberance

Kimberly Guilfoyle is pictured alongside Eric Trump's wife, Lara Trump, left

The Post say Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were invited to the event but did not join because of a prior family commitment. Donald Trump's other daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, was present at the birthday bash.

Trump is used to stealing the limelight during the celebrations of others.

There have been a number of occasions over the past few years when Trump has put in an appearance but all-too-often the talk turns to politics.

In 2021, Trump took to the dance floor of his Mar-a-Lago country club which was hosting a wedding reception which saw him go on to bemoan his election loss and rail against President Biden, China, Iran and the crisis at the southern border.

Trump appeared at the reception dressed in a tuxedo where it appeared as though he was going to toast the bride and groom.

But no sooner had he got behind one of the band's microphones, Trump suddenly shifted gear turned all political, as if he were back on the campaign trail.

The former president hogged the mic on the couple's big day for more than two-and-a-half minutes covering a range of topics including Biden's shortcomings, foreign policy, China, Iran and the border situation with Mexico.

Much like one of his rallies, he then asked the crowd to cheers, 'Do you miss me yet?' before eventually toasting the newlyweds.
Weekend activities for young surf lifesaving 'nippers' have been cancelled after outspoken sovereign citizen activist David Graham called on people to confront their organizations over support for the gay pride movement.

Graham, who goes by 'Guru' online, was outraged last weekend when clubs took part in the Pride Rainbow Beaches initiative, coinciding with WorldPride in Sydney, that saw the volunteer organisation fly rainbow flags at a number of clubs.

In a video seen by Daily Mail Australia, he told followers to 'hit (Illawarra) surf clubs this weekend' and wait until the 'four and five-year-old nippers are down the beach'.

'Then ... we see these people in the surf life saving facilities and ask them why they're pushing this woke s***  why they've got their rainbow flags everywhere,' Graham said.

Thirroul Surf Life Saving Club, 72km south of Sydney, took Graham's video so seriously it made the 'unfortunate decision to cancel nippers'.

Heartless conspiracy theorist David Graham (pictured) has ruined the weekend for young kids after his plan to storm NSW surf clubs caused a nippers session to be cancelled

The club said the protest 'may affect clubs across the Illawarra related to (the) support of Pride Week and inclusivity and diversity'.

'Whilst we in no way condone this type of behaviour, the safety of our volunteers and members is paramount,' the club wrote.

In his video, Graham called for 'freedom fighters' to go to surf clubs this weekend.

He and his partner Mel allegedly harassed volunteers at the North Wollongong branch last Sunday.

According to the Illawarra Mercury, footage, which has since been taken off Facebook, showed Graham arguing with volunteer lifeguards over rainbow flags at the beach.

'You're attacking the admin lady and that's unfair,' a bystander told Graham in the video, the Mercury reported.

'I'm passionate about our children, and these flogs are just trying to f****** turn them into gay little kids,' Graham replied.

Thirroul Surf Life Saving Club, 72km south of Sydney, took Graham's threat so seriously it made the 'unfortunate decision to cancel nippers' (Facebook post pictured)

Thirroul Surf Life Saving Club (training session pictured) said what the conspiracist called for 'may affect clubs across the Illawarra related to (the) support of Pride Week and inclusivity and diversity'

Surf Life Saving NSW spokeswoman Donna Wishart said it was told of Graham's video earlier this week and the police were notified.

'Just as a precaution we have informed the police to ensure they are aware of any activities down at the beaches,' she said.

Ms Wishart said they were 'not particularly worried' as 'volunteer lifesavers deal with a lot bigger issues than this and they are well placed to deal with anything that happens'.

What is the sovereign citizen movement? Sovereign citizens believe they are immune from government rules - such as drivers' licences and permits - and in some cases have violently confronted police. They use a variety of conspiracy theories and falsehoods to justify their beliefs and their activities, some of which are illegal and violent. In the US, the FBI has described the movement as 'domestic terrorism'. Source: Southern Poverty Law Center Advertisement

Clubs in the Illawarra were asked to look out for any strange behaviour on the beaches this weekend.

On a podcast after the nippers' cancellation, Graham defended his actions.

'We have just got to stop these guys somehow or other,' he said.

'I'm not a conspiracy theorist and I will be challenging that because because everything I have said has come through.'

Last month, Graham was arrested in Wollongong, 85km south of Sydney, after allegedly intimidating a radio worker.

He arrived at court surrounded by supporters after he allegedly stalked and harassed a 2GB worker over being refused an interview on Ben Fordham's breakfast show.

The concreter was arrested after police searched his boat, which is also his home, in Wollongong Harbour, with officers also allegedly finding drugs.

While he was refused a spot on Ben Fordham's show, Graham did get a brief stint on John Laws' show, who called him a 'conspiratorialist' and 'clown'.

Graham, who has also had an apprehended violence order taken out against him by police, is running for the NSW Parliament in the state election on March 25.

He has built an online following during the Covid-19 pandemic with posts and live streams opposing lockdowns.

After his arrest, Graham he lodged an application for police to return items seized from his boat.

'They took everything from inside the boat - every device,' he said in a livestream.

'They also took all the stuff they weren't supposed to take which is all our election gear, all my signatures that I came down to Canberra and got off you beautiful people.'

David Graham (pictured), is running for the NSW Parliament in the state election on March 25

2GB presenter Ben Fordham (pictured) refused to interview David Graham on his program

He said he used his time in custody to 'red pill' Wollongong police officers and that he uses the mainstream media to get his messages out.

'Red pill' is a reference to the 1999 film The Matrix, where taking the pill leads to learning a potentially unsettling or life-changing truth.

According to Graham's Podcast Facebook page, his aim is to 'stop the rot in our country and world and deliver the truth to the masses'.

Magistrate Melissa Humphreys adjourned Graham's case until March 16 so he could get legal advice.
WARNING: Graphic

Confronting video has revealed the gory level of realism that Australian soldiers are exposing Ukrainian troops to as they train for the horrors of the frontline against Russian invaders.

In one particularly graphic exercise, Ukrainian soldiers applied a tourniquet to a leg that appeared to be blown off as the 'injured' man yelled in agony clutching his wound.

A contingent of 70 Australian soldiers has been stationed in Britain since January, rigorously preparing 20,000 Ukrainian recruits to be battle ready on the killing fields on eastern Ukraine, where the war with Russia has become a bloody stalemate.

In February, Australian soldiers from the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, deployed on Operation Kudu trained Ukrainians in tactical survival skills by spending days out in the open of an unidentified southern England woodlands.

During the freezing days and nights, where temperatures dropped to 0C, Ukrainians practiced the deadly skirmishes that happen daily in their own wooded areas as soldiers confront each other at close quarters.

Australian trainers have been unsparing in exposing Ukrainian recruits to the brutal reality of war

In a particularly graphic drill, the soldiers spotted a comrade with his leg blown off and secured a position around him as they attempted to stem the flow of blood from the realistic-looking severed limb.

The Ukrainians also practiced manoeuvring in the dark, lying in wait to ambush an enemy patrol and dragging away a wounded or dead comrade from a combat area.

'The training they (the Ukrainians) have been conducting over the past three days is going over section battle drills,' an unnamed Australian section commander said.

'When they are on patrol and are contacted by the enemy it's the actions that they take.

'It is suppressing the enemy, regaining the initiative and fixing the enemy in place.

'The training we are providing is to increase the survivability of the trainees when they go back to Ukraine.'

The Ukrainians have been training in graphically realistic fashion in the woodlands of England for what they may face when they go back to fight the Russians

An unnamed Ukrainian recruit, who worked as a television producer before joining the defence forces to fight off the Russian invasion said the training was proving invaluable.

'I have learned a lot,' he said through an embedded interpreter.

'How to move in a group. How to help. This must be practised hundreds of times so that when the battle begins, I can use this knowledge.

'If many soldiers are trained according to NATO standards, it will help us all in combat.'

Although exhausted, the recruits were responding well, according to the Diggers.

A Ukrainian recruit waits in mock ambush for an enemy vehicle while training in southern England

'The recruits receive the information very well, and they have expressed how thankful they are for the training,' an Australian junior non-commissioned officers said.

'I 100 per cent believe the training we are providing will increase their survivability - as we have taught them how to work as a team.'

In March Ukrainian recruits were put through other realistic battlefield conditions as they trained in trench warfare, which mirrors what is happening in eastern Ukraine where fighting has begun to resemble the largely static carnage of WWI.

The Ukrainians were trained in developing a trench system while fatigued, conducting reconnaissance of enemy positions and offensive patrolling.

A Ukrainian practises his marksmanship while training under Australian troop in southern England

For the purposes of the exercise the Aussie soldiers played the enemy.

'We have been probing them sporadically through the night to further their fatigue levels and to simulate the kinds of situations they may see in the coming weeks,' an Australian platoon commander said.

'The training is realistic and demanding  it mimics the high-stress and high-stakes environment which the trainees will need to be able to operate effectively in.

'Some of the trainees have already got experience in trench warfare from the [Russo-Ukraine] war  so the learning has at times been mutual.

'There are a lot of soldiers who have come from the frontline, who are about to go straight back into it, so this training is the most realistic for them.'

The aim of the training is to be as realistic as possible for what the Ukrainians might face on the battlefield

Most recently the Ukrainians have been conducting live ammunition training in marksmanship and moving while firing.

The bulk of the training being provided to the Ukrainians in the UK is being provided by British soldiers but there are also contingents of military trainers from New Zealand, Canada, Sweden and Finland.

No Australian personnel will enter Ukraine as a part of the operation.
The Barefoot Investor has dished out a blunt message to a woman with millions of dollars in her super fund after receiving a tense letter from her daughter about changes to tax policy.

Scott Pape - better known as financial guru the Barefoot Investor - responded to a message from a woman seeking advice on behalf of her retired mother.

The woman, who identified herself as Linda, said her mother was 'distressed' about the upcoming changes to superannuation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced in February plans to double the tax rate on money going into super funds from 15 to 30 per cent for Australians with more than $3million in their account.

The changes won't come into effect until July 1, 2025 - after the next federal election.

A woman wrote to the Barefoot Investor criticising the federal government's proposed changes to superannuation tax (stock image pictured)

In the letter, published in Pape's weekly column, Linda said her mum was a widower who had 'worked hard all her life, saving like crazy to ensure she had a secure retirement...and to leave a tidy nest egg for her kids'.

She went on to say her mother was 'a smidge over the $3 million cap,' as pointed out by her accountant.

'But here is my question,' she continued.

'What the [expletive] is the Labor Government thinking about attacking the little nest eggs of ordinary Australians? And what the [expletive] is anyone doing about it?'

Linda said the changes were 'not fair' and thanked Pape for listening as 'no-one else seems to'.

Pape (pictured right) conceded the retiree was going to 'be absolutely fine', but pointed out than many other Australians should be worried about further changes to superannuation

Pape began his reply by appearing to be empathetic toward the woman's concerns.

'I'm sure your mum must feel like she's being unfairly targeted  and her only "crime" was that she worked hard, saved harder, and made savvy financial decisions,' he wrote.

'After all, she could have just peed all her money against the wall and retired on the full pension, right?'

Pape acknowledged that while the above was true, Linda's mother was far from being an 'ordinary Australian' with a 'little nest egg'.

'She's got more cheese stuffed in her super than 99.5 per cent of the population,' he said.

Last month , Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) announced plans to double the tax rate from 15 to 30 per cent for Australians with more than $3million in their super, from July 1, 2025

'And besides, as you've said, she has access to an accountant who will dutifully work out a way to siphon that "smidge" of the tax-affected part of her $3m balance into another low-tax environment'.

Pape conceded the retiree was going to 'be absolutely fine', but pointed out that many other Australians should be worried the government's move was the 'thin edge of the wedge'.

'So, is the media right? Is the Government really aiming to come after your super?' he asked.

'Bloody oath they are!'

Pape went on to say governments would continue to raise taxes because Australia has a rapidly ageing population.

Pape said governments will continue to raise taxes as the population ages

'Looking after old people is expensive. As are programs like the NDIS. Someone needs to pay for it, and the heavy lifting will come from the wealthiest people in our country,' he said.

Pape said the government wasn't 'attacking the little nest eggs of ordinary Australians' as Linda had suggested.

'It's just that the government isn't in the business of providing a tax haven for wealthy people,' he said.

'Or helping your mum provide a tax-effective inheritance for you'.

Pape pointed out the median super balance for Aussies aged 6064 was just $139,056 for women and $180,928 for men.

'And many of these people will have to use their super to pay off their home loan when they retire,' he wrote.

'Now that's tough.'

Labor this week struck out any speculation of further superannuation raids.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told the Senate on Wednesday the government has no plans to implement further changes to super policy.

'The government has made clear this is the only change to superannuation,' she said, noting the proposed policy will not take effect until after the next federal election.
Premier Dominic Perrottet has used a Liberal Party campaign launch to promise a major investment in the future of young people to help them buy a home.

If the Coalition wins the March 25 election, Mr Perrottet said the party would create a savings fund for all young people to spend on housing and education when they turn 18.

Mr Perrottet called it the most significant financial security investment in NSW history and said it would cost the government around $850 million.

'This investment will change the lives of millions of children across our state  This is a down payment to secure the future dreams of our children,' he said.

He was joined by Liberal party faithful and key candidates in Sydney's southwestern suburbs for the party's official campaign launch on Sunday.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has used a Liberal Party campaign launch to promise a major investment in the future of young people to help them buy a home

If it wins the next election, the Coalition will create savings funds for all young people to spend on housing and education when they turn 18

Under a Coalition government, every child currently aged 10 and under in 2023 in NSW, and every newborn thereafter, will receive a fund with a starting investment of $400, the father of seven announced.

Parents and carers can make additional payments of up to $1000 into the accounts which the government will match to the tune of up to $400 a year, resulting in savings of between $28,000 and $49,000, depending how additional savings are added.

Claiming to be the underdog in the the poll, the premier said it was his party's responsible financial and economic management that would 'keep NSW moving forward'.

'I know that every single parent here today and across the state shares one thing in common and that is that from the moment our children are born we worry about them and would do anything to ensure that they have a better opportunity than we have,' he said.

Mr Perrottet also announced a further $1.2 billion Investment in public schools, creating a $19 billion pipeline for new and upgraded schools.

The highest Liberal in the country, Peter Dutton, was notably absent from Sunday's launch, but former prime minister, John Howard, 83, attended and received an enthusiastic standing ovation from the crowd.

Under a coalition government, every child currently aged 10 and under in 2023 in NSW, and every newborn thereafter, will receive a fund with a starting investment of $400, the father of seven announced

Labor on Sunday announced a plan to ease the cost of rising electricity bills for small businesses and NSW families and households under a proposed $485 million Energy Relief Fund.

Under the plan eligible NSW small businesses will receive $315 off their energy bill and when matched by funding from the Commonwealth government's rebate scheme around 320,000 small businesses will get $630 off their bills.

The fund would also mean NSW households hit hard by energy price rises would receive $250 off their energy bill and when matched with $250 from the Commonwealth's Energy Bill Relief Fund, around 1.6 million eligible households will get $500 off their bills.

Recent polling suggest NSW Labor is set to return to power for the first time since 2011.

The Resolve Political Monitor indicated a seven per cent swing to Labor giving the party the 47 seats necessary for a majority government.
Former vice president Mike Pence tore into his former boss while perhaps giving the strongest indication yet that he is plotting a run for the White House in 2024.

Pence, 63, was speaking at the Gridiron Club's annual dinner in Washington DC on Saturday night along side New Jersey's Democratic Governor Phil Murphy and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

'I will wholeheartedly unreservedly support the Republican nominee for president in 2024. If it's me,' the former Indiana governor said.

Pence continued the lighthearted theme, making fun of President Joe Biden's age while adding that Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg was the 'only person in human history to have a child and all the rest of us get port partum depression.'

The mood turned somber when Pence began to speak about January 6th. Pence and Trump have been estranged since the violent storming of the Capitol by Trumps supporters in an attempt to stop the congressional certification of Bidens victory.

At the Gridiron Club's annual dinner in Washington DC on Saturday, former Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday harshly criticized former President Donald Trump

In the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, Trump pressured Pence to overturn President Joe Bidens election victory

Pence joked Saturday that the birth of Pete Buttigieg's twins gave the rest of the country post partum depression

'I was not afraid, I was angry. President Trump was wrong. I had no right to overturn the election and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day. And I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable.'

The dinner is a Washington tradition. The Gridiron Club was founded in 1885, just after the election of Grover Cleveland. He never attended a dinner, but every president since has been at least once.

Fifteen journalists formed the club and instituted the formal dinner, in modern times held every year at a downtown Washington hotel in a setting less glitzy and celebrity-studded than its more famous cousin, the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Pence continued speaking about January 6th, seemingly taking aim at Fox News host Tucker Carlson and others who have sought to portray the events that day as peaceful and overblown by the mainstream media.

'It was not as some would have us believe a matter of tourists peacefully entering the building,' the former VP said.

'Tourists don't injure 140 police officers... tourists don't break down doors to get to the Speaker of the House or threaten public officials.'

@Mike_Pence at the Gridiron dinner in Washington on Saturday pic.twitter.com/tQkGGGFd9j  Nandita Bose (@nanditab1) March 12, 2023

Pence talks on the phone from a secured loading dock at the U.S. Capitol as he looks at another phone with a recording of video statement President Donald Trump on Jan. 6

Pence looks at a mobile device from a secured loading dock at the U.S. Capitol

Pence described the events as a 'disgrace.'

'Together here, for as long as I live, I will never ever diminish the injuries sustained or the lives lost or the heroism of law enforcement on that tragic day,' he added.

Pence also took time to joke about Trump's fragile ego saying that the former Apprentice host wanted his vice president to sing 'Wind Beneath My Wings'  one of the lines is 'did you ever know that youre my hero?'  during their weekly lunches.

He took another shot at Trump over classified documents.

'I read that some of those classified documents they found at Mar-a-Lago were actually stuck in the presidents Bible,' Pence said. 'Which proves he had absolutely no idea they were there.'

The conservative then thanked members of the media for continuing to report on the events of January 6th.

'The American people now what happened that day. Because you never stopped before. Your work inspired our actions of all the elected officials who reconvened the very same day and turn the date of tragedy into a triumph of freedom,' he said.

Despite admitting that the media at times 'infuriates' him and that he 'infuriates' them, Pence said: 'I genuinely value what you do to keep us a democracy.'

'Thomas Jefferson said our liberty depends on the freedom of the press. And that cannot be limited without being lost. Without a free press and freedom,' the potential presidential candidate concluded.

Earlier this month, Pence declined to say Thursday whether he would back Donald Trump if his former boss were to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2024.

Pence suggested that Trumps leadership style isnt what the party needs in the upcoming White House race.

'I think well have better choices,' Pence told The Associated Press in an interview in South Carolina. 'Im persuaded that no one could have defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 except Donald Trump, but I think we live in a different time and it calls for different leadership.'

Pence suggested that Trumps leadership style isnt what the party needs in the upcoming White House race

At the time of those comments, Pence was his ninth trip to the early-voting state since leaving office, participated in a policing roundtable with officials in North Charleston.

Pence said he would make a decision about 2024 'by the spring.' Already in the race are Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Others who could join them include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

'The American people want us to return to the policies of the Trump-Pence administration, but I think they want to see leadership that reflects more of the character of the American people: namely the commitment to principle and the civility that Americans show each other every day,' Pence said.

'And so, if we enter the fray, we will offer that kind of leadership.'

Pence was asked whether he was making the case that he was the best choice for Republican voters who supported Trump administration policies but not Trump now. Pence didnt answer directly.

'I promise you, if I become a candidate for president of the United States, Ill be me,' Pence said. 'I will do it all in a way that Ive always aspired to do, and that is show the kind of respect to people, even of differing opinions, that I think the American people show each other every day.

'Weve just got to have government as good as our people again, and Im confident that, someday soon, we will,' he said.
Around 1,300 Aussies have bared all in the world's largest annual nude swim, which has returned after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The hundreds of swimmers plunged starkers into the water off Cobbler's Beach for the Sydney Skinny in the city's north on Sunday.

The event fell short of breaking the record for the all-time largest skinny dipping event, set in 2018 when 2,505 naked women participated in the Irish Strip and Dip.

However, that didn't put a dampener on it for Sunday's participants, who were revelling in the energetic atmosphere and 'gorgeous' water temperatures.

Organiser Tania Taylor said it was fantastic for the event to be back for the first time since 2019.

Around 1,300 Aussies have bared all in the world's largest annual nude swim (pictured), which has returned after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic

The hundreds of swimmers (including this man) plunged starkers into the water off Cobbler's Beach for the Sydney Skinny in the city's north on Sunday

'We tried (to break the record), but it's been three years away and people are slowly coming back to events,' Ms Taylor said.

'Everybody's had such a wonderful time and I'm sure that once they see what we've done today, they'll want to be in next year's one, so next year will be bigger and better.'

The event was designed to get people out of their comfort zones and encourage them to embrace their bodies, Ms Taylor said.

This year's swim was part of a collaboration with charity Skin Check Champions to help raise awareness of the importance of skin cancer checks.

Among the bare bathers was Casey Burgess, former member of children's musical group Hi-5.

Among the bare bathers was Casey Burgess (pictured), former member of children's musical group Hi-5

Organiser Tania Taylor said it was fantastic for the event to be back for the first time since 2019

She swam on behalf of her family members who have battled skin cancer and melanoma.

'Skin cancer has rocked my world countless times ... that's why I'm taking a dive,' she said.

Ms Burgess lauded the sense of community and togetherness at the event, saying she was still on a high from her swim on Sunday morning.

'When you're actually swimming with joy and you're with a bunch of people, it feels different to swimming laps in a pool,' she said.

'I didn't think I'd be able to do it and then, there I was.

'We were all laughing, everyone was through the whole swim saying, "how amazing is this?"'

Nude beachgoers at the Sydney Skinny could opt for either a 300-metre harbour swim or a 900-metre plunge.

Every year, about 2,000 swimmers brave Hobart's chilly River Derwent during the Dark Mofo nude solstice swim.

In November, Sydneysiders also stripped en masse and swam at Bondi Beach as part of a large-scale artwork for renowned photographer Spencer Tunick.

The event was designed to get people out of their comfort zones and encourage them to embrace their bodies. Pictured is a participant
The owner of a massive cattle station had a lucky escape when he trod on a deadly brown snake in a dark shed and was struck twice.

George Scott, who owns the historic 282,000ha property Thylungra in central south-west Queensland, shared his terrifying close encounter on Twitter along with a picture of the mangled reptile on Friday.

'Doesn't look very big now but when I stood on him in the dark in the feed shed I thought he was six foot,' Mr Scott commented on the image of the snake, which appeared to be about one-metre long.

'I knew even in the dark he was an Eastern (brown) the way he boiled.'

Mr Scott told Daily Mail Australia that his tread 'sadly' killed the snake.

The eastern brown snake that Thylungra cattle station owner stood on in the pitch dark of a feed shed

'I came down from a considerable height after my initial launch into space attempt failed due to an iron roof interfering,' he said about the experience.

'I was trying to check my legs but my son was yelling at me to get the snake so had to wait.

'He (the snake) hit me at least twice. Luckily I had boots and good jeans on.'

It is not the first unfortunate run-in the Scott family, which includes six children, has had with deadly brown snakes this year.

Mr Scott said that although the snake struck him twice it was unable to inject venom through his sturdy jeans and boots

In early January Mr Scott tweeted that three of the family's adored dachshunds, two of which were two-year-olds and one an older dog, were bitten and killed by a brown snake in a single day.

'Yes it is almost surreal,' he tweeted at the time.

'So still and silent here now. Kids kind of cant believe they are all gone.'

The snake was later found and killed.

The dangers of outback cattle farming also nearly claimed the life of Mr Scott's brother Bill, who survived a helicopter crash on the property.

In early January a single brown snake bit and killed three much-loved Scott family pets on the property



Mr Scott, whose family hails from Longreach in central Queensland, bought Thylungra in 2008 for a reported $10.5 million from Clyde Agriculture.

He turned what had at one time been considered the biggest sheep farm in the world into cattle country.

At the time, Mr Scott said he was looking forward to the challenge.

'This is a very big step for the Scott family,' he said.

'It's considerably bigger than anything we've been involved with in the past and it's a signature property.

'It's a great asset to have in the family name. We really look forward to a long association with it.

'We are cattle people and certainly we intend to run cattle on Thylungra.'
A man has been charged and a teen girl is fighting for her life after she was injured in a crash alongside her parents and two others.

Emergency services rushed to the busy Lygon Street, in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton on Saturday just after 12pm to reports of a crash after one car allegedly ran a red light.

The 40-year-old male driver of a Volkswagen Passat was detained by bystanders and people dining at nearby restaurants until the police arrived.

The man, from Essendon, was later charged by investigators with driving and drug offences, police said.

He will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Sunday facing charges of negligently causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury and possessing methylamphetamine.

A man has been charged and a 16-year-old girl remains in a critical condition after a crash in Melbourne (pictured) on Saturday that injured five people, including her parents

Police rushed to the scene after hearing the Volkswagen had allegedly collided with an Alfa Romeo, which then spun out of control and struck two pedestrians.

The teenager in the Alfa Romeo, who is from North Brunswick, was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with critical injuries to her head.

Her 53-year-old mother sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to The Alfred Hospital with shoulder and back pain and is in a stable condition.

The girl's father, 61, experienced chest pain and was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, but is also in a stable condition.

A 42-year-old male pedestrian was taken to hospital with serious injuries and another male pedestrian, 40, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The 40-year-old male driver of a Volkswagen Passat was detained by bystanders until the police arrived. Pictured is one of the crashed cars

Police allege the Volkswagen was seen driving erratically before crashing into the Alfa Romeo.

The pedestrian was described as a 'very lucky man' by police and is expected to recover from this injuries.

Several blocks around the popular Carlton restaurant district were blocked off after the crash on Saturday as evidence was collected and debris cleared.

Officers from the Major Collision Investigation Unit and Yarra Crime Investigation Unit have asked for anyone with dashcam footage to contact the authorities.
A review has been launched into mobile phone detection cameras after one snapped a compromising picture of a woman, sparking privacy concerns.

Cinzia Lee raised the matter after she was snapped using her phone while driving in Sydney, something she's owned up to and taken full responsibility for.

However, it was the photo accompanying her fine in the mail that started alarm bells ringing.

'Shock and distress was my initial reaction,' Ms Lee told 2GB's Ben Fordham.

'You could see up my skirt, between my legs, you could see my underwear.'

She got in touch with Service New South Wales to file a complaint.

The mobile phone cameras have been used in NSW since March 2020, and normally have a black bar placed over any sensitive content

Cinzia Lee was shocked to find a compromising mobile camera photo showing up her skirt

'I got a written letter back which basically ignored everything that I said, except to say that someone in the office does look at the photos, so I just felt that just wasn't an acceptable response,' said Ms Lee.

She spoke to a prosecutor, who suffered some embarrassment over the matter.

'He went totally red and flushed,' said Ms Lee.

'He said I'm sorry this has happened.'

Ms Lee raised the matter when her charge went before court, and while the magistrates acknowledged the sensitive content of the picture was out of his control, he did waive the fine.

A review has been launched into mobile phone detection cameras

'This is happening probably more than we understand,' Ms Lee added.

'You feel a bit like David versus Goliath, because you have no control over who has seen those photos ... that's just a really, really awful feeling.'

NSW Roads Minister Natalie Ward said in a statement: 'I understand the distress and I have asked Transport for NSW to review protocols for the handling of sensitive images.'

The mobile phone detection cameras have been used in NSW since March 2020, with testing underway since November 2022 to enable the cameras to also detect seatbelt infringements.
Severe storms pummeled California with hailstones the size of quarters and devastating floods which saw 10,000 people evacuated from their homes on Saturday - as a rare tornado warning was issued for Fresno County.

Funnel clouds were spotted in the heart of California's Gold Rush on Saturday afternoon and the weather service issued a tornado warning for the Sierra Nevada foothills as severe thunderstorms, hail and high winds blanketed the region.

A set of tornado warnings were briefly issued in Fresno County, nearly 100 miles south of Gold Country, as California continues to be drenched by storms.

Multiple people in the Fresno area posted photos of themselves holding hailstones the size of quarters, with a couple using the hashtag 'What the hail?!'.

Flash flooding warnings were in effect late Saturday in Tuolumne County, with roads submerged around Sonora and neighboring communities.

Severe storms pummeled California with hailstones the size of quarters and more devastating floods on Saturday - as a rare tornado warning was issued for Fresno County.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the hail or the tornado threats Saturday.

This week's storm marked the state's 10th atmospheric river of the winter, storms that have brought enormous amounts of rain and snow to the state and helped lessen the drought conditions that had dragged on for three years.

State reservoirs that had dipped to strikingly low levels are now well above the average for this time of year, prompting state officials to release water from dams to assist with flood control and make room for even more rain.

Across the state on Saturday, Californians contended with drenching rains and rising water levels in the atmospheric river's aftermath.

Across the Central Coast's Monterey County, more than 8,500 people were under evacuation orders and warnings Saturday, including roughly 1,700 residents - many of them Latino farmworkers - from the unincorporated community of Pajaro.

Officials said the Pajaro River's levee breach is about 100 feet wide. Crews had gone door to door Friday afternoon to urge residents to leave before the rains came but some stayed and had to be pulled from floodwaters early Saturday.

Multiple people in Fresno County posted photos of themselves holding hailstones the size of quarters

Snow is blown by strong winds as storm clouds pass, with snow continuing to fall in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the wake of an atmospheric river event Saturday

Both sides of Highway 99 closed due to flooding in Earlimart of Tulare County

A view of damaged road and Tule River along Highway 190 during heavy rain in Springville

First responders and the California National Guard rescued more than 50 people overnight. One video showed a member of the Guard helping a driver out of a car trapped by water up to their waists.

In Tulare County, the sheriff ordered residents who live near the Tule River to evacuate, while people near the Poso Creek in Kern County were under an evacuation warning.

The National Weather Service's meteorologists issued flood warnings and advisories, begging motorists to stay off deluged roadways.

In San Francisco, an 85-foot eucalyptus tree fell onto the Trocadero Clubhouse early Saturday morning. The 1892 clubhouse, a San Francisco historical landmark, was left severely damaged, with part of the roof crushed and the inside flooded.

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared emergencies in 34 counties in recent weeks, and the Biden administration approved a presidential disaster declaration for some on Friday morning, a move that will bring more federal assistance.

In Tulare County, the sheriff ordered residents who live near the Tule River to evacuate, while people near the Poso Creek in Kern County were under an evacuation warning

During a break in the rain farm workers drain lettuce fields of flood water as an atmospheric river storm slams California in Salinas

A road washed away during heavy rain in Springville

A view of landslide on Highway 190 during heavy rain in Springville

Cars detour on flooded Road 144 as both sides of Highway 99

President Biden spoke with Newsom on Saturday to pledge the federal government's support in California's response to the emergency, the White House said.

The atmospheric river, known as a 'Pineapple Express' because it brought warm subtropical moisture across the Pacific from near Hawaii, was melting lower parts of the huge snowpack built in Californias mountains.

Yet another atmospheric river is already in the forecast for early next week. State climatologist Michael Anderson said a third appeared to be taking shape over the Pacific and possibly a fourth.

California appeared to be 'well on its way to a fourth year of drought' before the early winter series of storms, Anderson said Friday.

'Were in a very different condition now,' he added.

A thunderstorm and tornado warming was given for this cloud formation in north eastern Stanislaus County

The Tuolumne River, in Modesto, California is creeping up to the edge of its banks and near a mobile home park

Highway 190 is closed after landslides during heavy rain

A view of Tule River as snow melted from the mountain during heavy rain in Springville

A thunderstorm and tornado warming was given for this cloud formation in north eastern Stanislaus County

The National Weather Service on Saturday forecasted an intensified bout of rain and snow Monday through Wednesday, with considerable flooding possible along the state's central coast, San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys and the southern Sierra Nevada foothills into midweek.

Another round of heavy, wet snow is expected to hit the Sierras and areas of high elevation mid-week, the weather service said.

Officials reported about 32 inches of snow had fallen by Saturday morning at the Mount Rose ski resort on the edge of Reno, Nevada.

Tornados happen occasionally but are still fairly rare in California, averaging about 11 per year.

There has never been a deadly tornado in the history of the Golden State. The most recent one happened last November, according to Redding.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has hit back against those wishing to see him prosecuted over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The now retired Fauci, 82, called his accusers 'insane,' during an interview with CNN's Jim Acosta Saturday.

He said he and his family are still receiving death threats due to his response to the 2020 pandemic - months after stepping down from his role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Acosta also asked Fauci about Elon Musk's December tweet which mocked transgender pronouns while calling for criminal charges. The message read: 'My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci.'

'What's your response to that?' the host asked.

'There's no response to that craziness, Jim. Prosecute me for what? What are they talking about? I wish I could figure out what the heck they're talking about. I think they're just going off the deep end,' the nations top infectious disease expert railed.

Dr. Anthony Fauci went off on his critics during an interview with Jim Acosta on CNN Saturday

'It just doesn't make any sense to say something like that, and it actually is irresponsible,' he blasted.

Speaking about how his family deals with the negative publicity around his stewardship of the pandemic, Fauci said it was 'difficult.'

'I mean, they don't like to have me getting death threats all the time. Every time someone gets up and spouts some nonsense that's misinformation, disinformation and outright lies, somebody somewhere decides they want to do harm to me and or my family,' he said.

'That's the part of it that is really unfortunate... The rest of it is just insanity, the things they're saying. But it does have a negative effect when people take it seriously and take it out on you and your family.'

The doctor described the view that it was 'unacceptable' to have a 'political view on a public health problem' as these issues create a 'common enemy.'

During his time in office between 1984 until 2022, Fauci dealt with the thorny questions around health crises from HIV/AIDS to avian flu and Ebola.

The veteran immunologist has served as an adviser to seven U.S. presidents beginning with Republican Ronald Reagan and has had over 50 years of public service.

At the time of the Musk tweet, the White House voiced full-throated support for Fauci.

'They are disgusting, and they are divorced from reality, and we will continue to call that out and be very clear about that,' Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters afterwards.

Speaking about how his family deals with the negative publicity around his stewardship of the pandemic, Fauci said it was 'difficult'

On Friday, the House voted unanimously to declassify U.S. intelligence information about the origins of COVID-19, a sweeping show of bipartisan support near the third anniversary of the start of the deadly pandemic.

The 419-0 vote was final congressional approval of the bill, sending it to President Joe Bidens desk. Its unclear whether the president will sign the measure into law, and the White House said the matter was under review.

'I havent made that decision yet,' Biden said late Friday when asked whether he would sign the bill.

Debate in the House was brief and to the point: Americans have questions about how the deadly virus started and what can be done to prevent future outbreaks.

The vote passed 419-0 on Friday, with all member of Congress backing the bid to make links to the Wuhan lab and documents on the beginning of the virus public

Dr Anthony Fauci, the Biden COVID advisor who retired from the government last year, has said he still believes it was likely a natural occurrence

'The American public deserves answers to every aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic,' said Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

That includes, he said, 'how this virus was created and, specifically, whether it was a natural occurrence or was the result of a lab-related event.'

Led by Republicans, the focus on the virus origins comes as the House launched a select committee with a hearing earlier in the week delving into theories about how the pandemic started.

It offers a rare moment of bipartisanship despite the often heated rhetoric about the origins of the coronavirus and the questions about the response to the virus by U.S. health officials including Fauci.

Pictured: The Wuhan Institute of Virology, where crucial data was wiped by Chinese scientists

House Republicans have been using their new majority power to investigate all aspects of the pandemic, including the origin, as well as what they contend were officials efforts to conceal the fact that it leaked from a lab in Wuhan.

Days earlier, the GOP released emails showing that Fauci commissioned a February 2020 paper to disprove the possibility that COVID originated in a lab  before publicizing the study at a White House news conference weeks later.

In February, Republicans sent letters to Fauci, National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, Health Secretary Xavier Beccera and others as part of their investigative efforts.

The letters do not require the cooperation of recipients. But in announcing the Republican staff report in December, Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, chair of the virus subcommittee, said that lawmakers would issue subpoenas if potential witnesses didnt cooperate.

Republicans have accused Fauci of lying to Congress when he denied in May that the National Institutes of Health funded 'gain of function' research  the practice of enhancing a virus in a lab to study its potential impact in the real world  at a virology lab in Wuhan.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, even urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Faucis statements.

At the time, Fauci called that criticism 'nonsense.'
A man has died at a popular Tasmanian music festival this weekend, authorities have confirmed.

In statement to NCA NewsWire, Tasmania Police said the man, understood to be in his 40s, was found dead on Saturday night at the Panama music festival, near Launceston.

The man was found by festival staff in the toilets.

Police are not treating the death of the man as suspicious.

According to reports by the ABC , the festival organiser told the crowd not to take any recreational drugs in an announcement after the death, which is understood to have occurred at about 5.30pm.

'We don't know whether drugs were involved but we want to put your safety first, so this announcement is just to say don't take any recreational drugs,' Panama organiser Tim Carroll is said.

'It's not safe to do so.

'If you have any concerns, we're available, we're on radio, also at the first aid hut.'

A man, believed to be in his 40s, has died at the popular Panama music festival in Tasmania

Panama is a three-day festival described by the event as a 'celebration of music and community.'

It's situated in the Lone Star Valley in the north east of the state.

'Each March, 1500 patrons join us in the fields, to camp under the stars and witness some of the best acts you never knew you loved,' the festival says on its website.

The sold-out festival returned in 2023 after missing multiple years due to the pandemic.

It was headlined by Zambian artist Sampa the Great.

Police said a report would be prepared for the Coroner.

'Our thoughts are with the man's family and loved one's at this difficult time.'

NCA NewsWire has reached out to Panama Festival for comment.

Panama is a three-day festival, which is described as a 'celebration of music and community'
Reports students want to vape not study

Annastacia Palaszczuk has sounded the alarm on the number of young people vaping amid concerns primary school students had taken up the habit.

The Premier on Sunday announced the state government would establish a parliamentary inquiry into the matter to seek to understand just how many Queenslanders were now vaping.

'I'm hearing accounts of children in primary schools vaping on their lunch hour,' she told reporters on Sunday.

'These young kids are vaping in schools and they're vaping at home so we've got to make sure everyone knows that vaping is not a good health outcome.'

Annastacia Palaszczuk sounded the alarm on the number of young people vaping amid concerns primary school students had taken up the habit

Ms Palaszczuk said the inquiry would also consider what is in the vape fluid. It is sometimes thought to contain nicotine, artificial flavours and even nail polish remover

Poll SHOULD AUSTRALIA BAN VAPING? YES NO SHOULD AUSTRALIA BAN VAPING? YES 187 votes

NO 264 votes Now share your opinion





Ms Palaszczuk said the inquiry would also consider what is in the vape fluid, known colloquially as 'e-juice', which can sometimes contain nicotine, artificial flavours and other potentially harmful chemicals  like nail polish remover.

The Queensland Parliament's Health and Environment Committee will be tasked at looking at current measures being undertaken in schools to discourage vapers.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said she had heard concerns from principals that kids have become 'so addicted' they can't concentrate in class because they wanted to go out and vape.

'That is very, very concerning, so we do need to shine a light on what is inside these e-cigarettes,' she said.

Recent research published by Cancer Council Australia suggested more than 80 per cent of people in Queensland want government to act on vaping.

The prevalence of daily smoking in Queensland continues to fall but research from the Australian National University suggests people who try vaping are three times more likely to take up smoking.

Queensland isn't the only state grappling with the rise of vaping.

The Premier on Sunday announced the state government would establish a parliamentary inquiry

New South Wales has long required any e-juice containing nicotine to be prescription-only, with Premier Dominic Perrottet revealing he occasionally vapes after giving up cigarettes.

Victoria controls e-cigarettes in the same way tobacco products are regulated.

Vapes and vape juice can't be sold in Western Australia, however, stores have been know to supply them under the counter, as is the case in other states.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration in October 2021 also made changes to regulations regarding the importation of vape products.
Indonesias Mount Merapi has erupted in spectacular fashion, spewing a giant ash cloud into the sky and closing down all mining and tourism.

The dramatic eruption on Saturday sent avalanches of lava and boiling gas clouds seven kilometres down the mountain's slopes leading to the urgent shut-down orders.

The eruption sent hot clouds 100 metres into the air and the ash spewed out blocked out the sun and blanketed villages with debris.

Merapi is Indonesia's most active volcano and is located on the heavily-populated island of Java.

With more than 151.6 million residents, Java is considered world's most populated island.

Indonesias Mount Merapi has erupted in spectacular fashion, spewing a giant ash cloud into the sky and closing down all mining and tourism

The eruption sent hot clouds 100 metres into the air and the ash spewed out blocked out the sun and blanketed villages with debris

Around 250,000 people live within 10 kilometres of the crater and they were told to keep at least 7km away from it

People living on Merapis slopes were told keep 7 kilometres away from the crater be aware of the huge dangers posed by lava flows.

Approximately a quarter of a million people live within 10 kilometres of the 2,968-metre mountain.

Merapi is the most active of Indonesia's 120 live volcanoes, repeatedly erupting recently with lava and dangerous gas clouds.

It's last big eruption in 2010 killed 347 people and made 20,000 villagers homeless.

The latest eruption is understood to be Merapi's biggest lava flow since the alert level for the peak were raised in November 2020.

No casualties have been reported yet.
Queensland's southeast is set for further storm activity

A golfer has been struck by lighting in Brisbane's north

A man is fighting for his life in hospital after he was struck by lighting while playing golf - as wild storms lashed the surrounding region.

The man was struck at Wantima Golf Course at Brendale in Brisbane's north about 2:30pm on Sunday in front of other players who rushed to try and help.

Queensland Ambulance were called to the course, where paramedics treated him before he was rushed to Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition.

Severe thunderstorms lashed southeast Queensland on Sunday with residents warned to avoid unnecessary travel due to lightning and flash flooding risks.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Harry Clark told Daily Mail Australia there were severe storms north of Noosa that were heading east.

'There are warnings still in place for areas such as Noosa into the Wide Bay as well as Gympie, Inskip, Rainbow Beach,' he said.

A man has been struck by lighting while playing golf in Brisbane's north as wild storms batter the region (pictured, lightning strikes outside Arana Hills home on Sunday)

Severe storm activity swept through Brisbane, Logan and Moreton Bay in southeast Queensland

Storms are expected to reach Lake Cooloola by 6pm and Rainbow Beach, Inskip and Inskip Point by 6:30pm.

Mr Clark said conditions in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast 'had now eased'.

The heaviest falls were recorded at northern Brisbane with 60mm of rain and Eumundi in the Sunshine Coast with 77mm.

There have been no reports of damaging winds.

Earlier in the day, the Bureau warned that 'extensive thunderstorm activity' was headed towards the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Brisbane's CBD, Beenleigh, Logan, Strathpine, Cleveland, Redcliffe and Kallangur were reported to be the most affected by the weather.

Storms swept through Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast.

These regions were battered by lightning strikes and heavy rain.

It comes as major flood warnings remain in place for Burketown in Queensland's northwest.

The heaviest falls were recorded at northern Brisbane with 60mm of rain and Eumundi in the Sunshine Coast with 77mm (stock image)

Major flood warnings remain in place for Burketown in the state's northwest

The outback town, which is about 800km west of Cairns, has experienced record-breaking inundation.

Just under 90 people were evacuated from the town over the weekend with 70 residents remaining behind.

At least 37 properties have been inundated by rising flood waters, leaving the small Burke Shire community isolated.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk believes the flood damage will run into the millions.

'We'll get an analysis, we'll get people in there as soon as we can, but I expect it to be in the millions,' she said on Sunday.

'Some of these homes have had a lot of inundation, so the recovery will kick in almost as soon as the flood waters subside.

The state government has announced further disaster relief funding for residents in and around Burketown.

The major floods are not expected to recede for the coming days.
A mother is furious after her three-year-old daughter was allegedly 'forgotten' about and left buckled in her daycare centre bus seat for five hours.

Skye Seadon is now demanding answers about how the dangerous alleged blunder could have happened, with little Alyza needing to be rushed to hospital in Shepparton on Friday.

The toddler was put on the bus to Lulla's Children and Family Centre at 9.15am as usual by her dad Braydon.

She was then driven to the centre, which is located only 3km from home.

But about 3.30pm Skye received a call to say that Alyza had been rushed to Goulburn Valley Hospital.

Victorian police are now investigating the incident.

Little Alyza (pictured) was put on the daycare bus to Lulla's Children and Family Centre at 9.15am as usual by her dad Braydon, but found still in the bus five hours later

Skye Seadon (pictured) is now demanding answers about how the dangerous alleged blunder could have happened, with little Alyza needing to be rushed to hospital in Shepparton on Friday

When her mum arrived at the hospital, Alyza had a fever and her temperature was 38.4 - dangerously elevated above the normal level of 37C.

She was also suffering severe dehydration after daycare centre staff 'discovered' Alyza in the bus.

Ms Seadon, who has three children, exploded at the daycare centre in an emotional social media post while Alyza was still in hospital.

'I promise you will see me first thing Monday morning!! You f***ing incapable c****s left my f***ing 3 year old daughter in the f***ing kindy bus all day from 9.15 til 3pm,' she said.

'She is in hospital and has to stay because she's not in a great way!!

'I'm so f***ing sad for my daughter. Imagine what she was feeling and screaming out for no one to come help her!! Feeling so f***ing helpless.'

Alyza was kept in hospital overnight and released on Saturday.

'How can you leave a kid in a kindy bus, like how do you forget that?' Ms Seadon told 9news.

While she has been contacted by the director of Lulla's Children and Family Centre, she said she hasn't received a full explanation about what happened.

Alyza was kept in with a high fever and suffering dehydration but released on Saturday

While Ms Seadon has been contacted by the director of Lulla's Children and Family Centre (pictured), she said she hasn't received a full explanation about what happened

Ms Seadon, who has three children, exploded at the daycare centre in an emotional post while Alyza was still in hospital

Ms Seadon said Alyza 'clams up' when talking about the experience and was having sleep disturbances since the incident.

The frightening mishap comes 10 months after another three year old was left on a bus several hours.

The little girl was found unresponsive in a minivan outside Le Smileys Early Learning Centre at Gracemere, near Rockhampton on May 9 last year.

She had been in the van for several hours while it was 29 degrees outside.

Maliq 'Meeky' Nicholas Floyd Namok-Malamoo, 3, died in similar circumstances in Cairns in February 2020.

Daily Mail Australia approached Lulla's Children and Family Centre for comment.
Rishi Sunak has hailed Britain's global alliances as its 'greatest source of strength and security' as he prepares to travel to America to meet Joe Biden.

The Prime Minister is flying to San Diego, California, today - after boarding a plane at Stansted Airport - to hold talks with the US President and flesh out a major defence deal.

Mr Sunak and Mr Biden will be joined by Australian PM Anthony Albanese to discuss the procurement of nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus pact between the UK, US and Australia.

As well as hopes that Mr Albanese will announce the purchase of a British-designed fleet, Mr Sunak's visit will also be used to unveil the new integrated review of defence and foreign policy.

This has been updated in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and is set to give an updated view of Britain's approach to threats from Moscow and China.

Rishi Sunak boarded a plan at Stansted Airport this morning ahead of his trip to San Diego, California, to meet US President Joe Biden

The PM is heading to America to flesh out a major defence deal with Britain's allies

Mr Sunak has been under pressure from Tory MPs to take a more assertive stance towards Beijing.

His predecessor, Liz Truss, was set to declare China a 'threat' to Britain's national security in the updated integrated review.

Since becoming PM, Mr Sunak has favoured a softer approach and only deemed Beijing a 'systemic challenge', which has angered some Conservative backbenchers.

But it has emerged that the updated integrated review to be unveiled by Mr Sunak tomorrow will include a reference to the threat China poses to Taiwan.

According to The Telegraph, the Government has responded to recent warnings by the House of Commons foreign affairs committee about the danger of China invading Taiwan by revising the document to include the island democracy.

Yet the move still might not be enough to assuage Tory MPs.

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith told the newspaper he wanted to see a 'reversal of Government policy on China'.

'I want to see the Government - of which Rishi is the prime minister and the leader - accept what he said when he was running for the leadership, that China is a systemic threat,' he said.

'The Government has got to make its mind up about China and stop sitting on the fence.

'They're threatening to invade Taiwan and we say nothing particularly important about that.'

Mr Sunak and Mr Biden will be joined by Australian PM Anthony Albanese to discuss the procurement of nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus pact

Mr Sunak's visit will also be used to unveil the new integrated review of defence and foreign policy, with the PM under pressure to take a more assertive stance towards Beijing

Ahead of his trip to the US, the PM said: 'In turbulent times, the UK's global alliances are our greatest source of strength and security.

'I am travelling to the United States today to launch the next stage of the Aukus nuclear submarine programme, a project which is binding ties to our closest allies and delivering security, new technology and economic advantage at home.

'As we launch the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh tomorrow, this is the future we want to deliver  a UK that is secure, prosperous and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners.'

Mr Sunak last week met with French President Emmanuel Macron, smoothing out relations after they hit a low point with the September 2021 signing of the Aukus deal, which saw Australia ditch France in favour of an agreement with the UK and US.

Negotiations over the last 18 months have presented the Canberra government with a choice between a British or US design.

Reports suggest Australia could opt for a modified version of the British Astute-class submarine, plugging the gap until it enters into service in the 2040s with up to five American Virginia boats.

The UK hopes that Aukus will result in work for British shipyards such as BAE Systems' facility in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
Police are investigating the suspected rape of an 'English' teenager near a Barcelona nightclub.

The 19-year-old is thought to have been hit over the head with a stone before being sexually attacked.

She was rushed to hospital after being discovered in a street near the nightspot, named as Input, in a state of shock with a wound to her head, cuts and bruises to her knees and her underwear pulled down.

The alarm is said to have been raised around 5am yesterday morning by security guards, around an hour after the woman left the nightclub.

The teenager told them she had been hit over the head with a stone.

The spot where she was targeted has been identified as being near to the Romanesque monastery of San Miguel at the eastern end of the Poble Espanyol attraction in Barcelona

The ongoing investigation is being led by the Catalan police force the Mossos d'Esquadra. They could not be reached for comment early this morning.

The victim has been described as 'English' by some local press and 'Anglo Saxon' by others who say police sources have described her as a student who had spent the last two months in Barcelona.

Catalan police have not made any official comment on her nationality and are not expected to do so as they usually do not confirm where crime victims are from.

They are understood to be hunting two men partially picked up on CCTV. No arrests have yet taken place although investigators are understood to have obtained DNA evidence from the teenager's underwear which could be crucial to identifying those responsible.

The spot where she was targeted has been identified as being near to the Romanesque monastery of San Miguel at the eastern end of the Poble Espanyol attraction in Barcelona.

The Poble Espanyol, built for the 1929 World Fair in Barcelona, is an open-air architectural museum close to the Fountains of Montjuic.

It consists of 117 full-scale buildings replicated from different places in Spain, and also contains a theatre, restaurants, artisan workshop and a contemporary art museum.

Input is one of Barcelona's techno hubs, with national and international DJs performing on Friday and Saturday nights.

Brazilian international Dani Alves is still being held in prison on remand on suspicion of sexually attacking a woman at Sutton nightclub in Barcelona late last year.

His bid to be released on bail ahead of trial, with strict conditions including wearing an electronic tag and handing in his passport, was turned down by judges last month.
The parents of Caroline Crouch's killer husband, who murdered her in front of their infant daughter, have lost their bid to win custody of their grandchild.

Babis Anagnostopoulos, 35, was jailed for life last year for smothering the British mother, 20, in front of the couple's then nine month old daughter Lydia, in May 2021.

The Greek pilot also killed Caroline's beloved dog before staging a fake break in at their home in an upmarket Athens suburb.

Nearly two years on, Anagnostopoulos' parents' bid for custody of the couple's daughter, Lydia, has been rejected by an Athens court, the Sun reports.

The little girl's Greek grandparents will now have just one hour of access to her 'via Skype or other electronic means' each week, the court order states.

Babis Anagnostopoulos (right), 34, was jailed for life for suffocating 20-year-old Caroline Crouch (left) to death in front of their daughter (centre) at their home in Athens on May 11 2021

Caroline Crouch's family lawyer Thanassis Haramanis said: 'It is what we wanted in every way.

'The little girl will now live in peace with Caroline's sister and mother, Susan, in the Philippines. Lydia could not be more happy there.'

The ruling ends Anagnostopoulos' family's attempts to have Lydia brought back to Greece.

It comes after Anagnostopoulos launched an appeal last month to get his 27-year sentence cut short.

Speaking as his appeal got underway in Athens, Caroline's father, David, slammed his son-in-law, saying: 'It is absolutely despicable that my daughter's killer is trying to get his prison sentence reduced because of his 'good behaviour.'

'The crime committed by the murderer, that of femicide, is a heinous crime that should deserve particularly severe punishment. In my opinion, men who kill their wives, for whatever reason, are the lowest of the low, ranking alongside paedophiles.

'I think it will be a sad day for women when the murderer of a defenceless woman who slept with her child will serve less than his full prison sentence. This man is beyond contempt.'

Anagnostopoulos legal team are arguing that no mitigating circumstances were taken into account at the original trial and that he had only reacted violently because 'Caroline had pushed Lydia away' and he was 'worried' for their daughter.

Georgia Gobaridou (L) the mother of Babis Anagnostopoulos with Susan Dela Cuesta (fourth from left), the mother of Caroline Crouch at her grave on the island of Alonissos

Caroline's father, David, slammed his son-in-law said: 'It is absolutely despicable that my daughter's killer is trying to get his prison sentence reduced because of his 'good behaviour'

Anagnostopoulos allegedly transported drugs in his helicopter for a local gang but tried to get out after confessing to Miss Crouch, who threatened to leave him

They also say that he carried on the false pretence of a break in for almost six weeks because he was worried Lydia would be taken away and left without anyone to look after her.

Anagnostopoulos was also given 11 years when he was sentenced last summer for killing the family's pet dog Roxy.

Caroline's father previously said that Babis' mother, Georgia Gobaridou, continues to believe that her son is innocent.

Anagnostopoulos' parents' bid for custody of the couple's daughter, Lydia, has been rejected by an Athens court. Pictured: His mother, Georgia, as she handed over her granddaughter to Caroline's mother Susan in 2021

Lydia now lives with Caroline's sister and mother, Susan, in the Philippines. Susan is picured at her daughter's grave on the island of Alonissos in Greece

Caroline's mother Susan Dela Cuesta is said to get 'comfort' from seeing her daughter in the eyes of her granddaughter Lydia, according to family lawyer Athanasios Harmanis (right)

He claimed in January that the pilot wrote an explosive confession letter to him admitting to the murder of his British wife to silence her over his drugs racket.

In it, he claims, Anagnostopoulos said he had murdered Caroline as he had confessed to her that he was involved in a drug smuggling operation.

Anagnostopoulos allegedly transported drugs in his helicopter for a local gang but tried to get out after confessing to Caroline, who threatened to leave him.

Greek pilot Babis Anagnostopoulos (pictured centre being escorted by police officers in Athens, May 2022) wrote an explosive confession letter admitting to the murder of his British wife to silence her over his drugs racket, the victim's father has claimed

The criminals are said to have then told the pilot he would have to silence his wife after he let slip that she knew  so he killed Caroline fearing if he didn't he too would be killed.

David has admitted that the typed letter was not signed and lawyers for Anagnostopoulos dismissed the claims as 'fake' and part of manoeuvres ahead of their client's appeal of his murder sentence.

Caroline's father, a retired engineer from Liverpool, said prior to the decision being made on Lydia's custody: 'I don't think it is right that Lydia should grow up with the parents of the man who murdered her mother.'

Anagnostopoulos legal team are arguing that no mitigating circumstances were taken into account at the original trial

Explaining how she is growing up in the Philippines, he said: 'Oh she is very, very happy there.

'My stepdaughter has three of her own children and she plays with them continuously.

'She calls my stepdaughter mummy and her husband daddy and she looks upon the children of my step daughter as brothers and sisters.

'So it would be ridiculous, in my opinion, to have her stay with the parents of a man that murdered her mother.

'But Lydia does not yet know what happened to her mother. At the moment she doesn't think her mother was murdered,' he said.

When asked what he would tell Lydia about her parents, David said: 'How will I introduce her to him? 'That's your father. He killed your mother by the way and that's why you don't see him much. He may look charming but he's actually a brazen weasel.

''Your mum was a professional kick boxer and he had to wait until she was asleep before attacking her. He is not the kind of man a little girl would be proud to call father.''
Statues of historical 'old white men' such as Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington could be removed from public view in Wales in order to 'set right the historical narrative' and prevent offence to a 'diverse modern public'.

Monuments have been subject to an audit in Wales since the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, when a statue of slave trader Thomas Picton was removed from Cardiff City Hall.

The audit's subsequent Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan is due to publish guidance this month and could name monuments to be moved in a bid to recognise 'historical injustices' such as the legacy of the slave trade, the Telegraph reports.

The plan is an effort to uplift the positive impacts of minority communities in Wales and change the 'alarming' lack of diversity within public commemorations.

Audit results published in 2021 named Welsh statues of white men 'linked to the slave trade and British Empire', including Welsh explorer Henry Morton Stanley, who the audit found committed crimes against black people.

The audit identified 209 objects depicting or roads named after historical figures with a direct involvement in the slave trade

The statue of Sir Thomas Picton was removed from Cardiff City Hall in 2020 due to his links to the slave trade

It also highlighted statues of historical figures such as Admiral Lord Nelson, Sir Francis Drake and the Duke of Wellington, who it said opposed the abolition of the slave trade.

It identified 209 statues, street names and other monuments which commemorate people who were 'directly involved' in the slave trade as heroes.

The audit, led by Gaynor Legall, found commemorations of people connected with the slave trade are often shown without any accompanying context.

Without this, the report read, the figures are presented solely as role models.

The research also found there were few Welsh people of black or Asian heritage commemorated across Wales.

The audit did, however, unearth commemorations to anti-slavery activists across Wales, such as Henry Richard in Tregaron, street names for Samuel Romilly and the Pantycelyn halls of residence at Aberystwyth University.

After the publication of the audit's results, the Welsh Government ordered the establishment of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan which seeks to tackle racism in Wales, 'eliminate' hate crime and support minority ethnic groups.

One of its listed goals is to 'work with public bodies to fully recognise their responsibility...for setting the right historic narrative, promoting and delivering a balanced, authentic and decolonised account of the past.'

Draft guidance issued by the Welsh government's Deputy Minister for Arts Dawn Bowden is currently under consultation with a final version to be released later this month.

She previously told the Welsh Parliament: 'There are many such commemorations in Wales, and past decisions about who or what to honourdecisions that were often taken by a small eliteremain highly visible in our public spaces.

'Many of them add character to our surroundings and, by offering a visible reminder of people and events in the past, they can prompt historical enquiry.

'But, as the audit of commemoration in Wales has shown, that enquiry can sometimes lead us to dark places in our past, especially where figures linked with the slave trade and colonial exploitation are literally put on a pedestal.'

The Duke of Wellington is one of the problematic historical figures highlighted by the Welsh audit

Admiral Lord Nelson is also said to have objected to the abolition of the slave trade

The final guidance issued is not legally binding, but merely intended as a best-practice guide.

Ms Bowden has stressed she does not wish to censor British history through any removal of statues, but to ensure they are appropriately placed and are given context to enable for people to learn about the past figures, while acknowledging their part in the horrific trans-Atlantic slave trade and atrocities committed for the British Empire.

But it could lead to further statue removals following the axing of a statue of a 19th-century slave trader in Cardiff City Hall in 2020.

The statue of Sir Thomas Picton was pictured being boxed up and screened from public view before its removal after councillors voted on the issue.

During the meeting, councillors said Picton's 'abhorrent' behaviour as Governor of Trinidad meant he was 'not deserving of a place in the Heroes of Wales collection', with 57 ruling in favour of the statue's removal, five voting against the move and nine abstaining.

Picton was a British Army officer killed during the Battle of Waterloo and his statue had stood in the building for 104 years.

But Picton was also known as the 'tyrant of Trinidad' who directly used the slave trade to build up his wealth and was even found guilty of ordering the torture of a 14-year-old girl of mixed-race heritage, Luisa Calderon, in 1806.

After the initial results of the audit were published, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said: 'While the tragic killing of George Floyd happened almost 4000 miles away, it sparked global action that shone a light on racial inequality in society today.

'That inequality exists in Welsh society too and we must work towards a Wales which is more equal.

'To help us do this, we need a clear understanding of the legacies of the slave trade and the British Empire.

'This audit provides important evidence which helps us establish an honest picture of our history.

'This is not about rewriting our past or naming and shaming. It is about learning from the events of the past.

'It is an opportunity for us to establish a mature relationship with our history and find a heritage which can be shared by us all.

'This is the first stage of a much bigger piece of work which will consider how we move forward with this information as we seek to honour and celebrate our diverse communities.'
The move, due to the end of 3G, leaves motorists at the whim of various apps

Pay-as-you-go parking machines are set to disappear from British city streets leaving motorists at the whim of up to 30 different smartphone apps to pay charges.

People will have to pay for parking through one of the many applications rather than paying on the spot using cash or card.

The move could make parking payments challenging for elderly or vulnerable motorists who may not have a smartphone, or struggle to use apps if they do, according to The Times.

Mobile phone operators are switching off the 3G data networks which power the parking meters, which has forced councils to scrap the machines.

A common complaint among motorist regarding the switch to parking payment apps is how many there are, which can slow people down and result in missed appointments as they have to download yet another app.

Pay-as-you-go parking machines are set to disappear from city streets leaving motorists at the whim of 30 different smartphone apps (Pictured: A parking meter in Newcastle upon Tyne)

People will have to pay for parking through one of the many apps rather than paying on the spot using cash or card - or they could incur a fine (Pictured: A parking attendant checking cars by a meter in Edinburgh)

Britian's biggest parking app RingGo has up to 515,000 users currently but there are many other apps including ParkMe, Parkopedia, Just Park and PayByPhone which are needed across the country.

Brighton and Hove city council will scrap all of its pay and display machines by May 31 citing that changing machines to 4G would require a large budget. It admitted the move could cause 'digital exclusion'.

And the London borough of Bromley will remove all machines by early April due to a total cost of 1million to reconfigure them all.

Nicholas Bennet, Bromley's executive councillor for transport, told The Times: 'As a pensioner myself, I appreciate that some people have a problem with modern technology.

'However, we are talking about people who drive a ton and a half of steel, which requires more skill than downloading an app.'

Harrow had all machines removed by January and Enfield plan to have all gone by early April. Other boroughs which have removed some machines are Richmond, Merton and Barking and Dagenham.

Music journalist Pete Paphides wrote about a distressing moment for his 84-year-old father regarding parking payment apps on Twitter in May.

He said his father had attended a memorial service for his friend at Greek Cathedral in Birmingham and the meter had gone app-only since the last time he was there.

Panicking at the prospect of using a credit card or app, Mr Paphides's father parked and hoped for the best. He called his son immediately asking if he could go online and sort the parking for him but everything was automated and there was no response.

His father died shortly after but was still issued a fine. UK Car Park Management 'did not believe' Mr Paphides when he said his father could not pay the fine as he had died and referred the case to debt collectors.

Mr Paphides wrote: 'It does rather break my heart how difficult weve made it for old people to go about their daily business and how we terrorise them for the crime of not knowing how to download a f****** app.'

Vodafone switched off its 3G network in Plymouth and Basingstoke on February 28 and is set to turn off the entire network by the end of 2023.

And EE's network will be turned off by the end of the year, while Three's will terminate in 2024.

Music journalist Pete Paphides wrote about a distressing moment for his 84-year-old father regarding parking payment apps on Twitter in May

RingGo's managing director Peter O'Driscoll blamed theft, vandalism and maintenance cost for the removal of machines, as well as the end of 3G.

He added that a new National Parking Platform from councils and the department for Transport could streamline apps meaning motorists can use the same one wherever they go.

Carolin Abrahams at Age UK claims the move is 'disastrous for anyone without a smartphone' and may make older people feel there is no point going out if they don't have a means of legally parking their car.

The British Parking Association said the change could 'alienate some people, including the elderly' and that there should also be a cash or card alternative.
A British Airways pilot suffered a heart attack and died shortly before he was due to fly a plane full of holidaymakers back to the UK.

The unnamed pilot was getting ready to captain the flight from Cairo to Heathrow when he collapsed in the crew's hotel.

The pilot managed to get from his room to the foyer, where colleagues performed CPR on him, but tragically they were unable to save him.

Airline bosses were forced to delay the scheduled Airbus A321 flight, with passengers unaware of the reasons behind their wait, The Sun reports.

A source told the newspaper: 'It has rocked BA. It doesn't bear imagining if he had suffered a heart attack at 30,000ft.'

The unnamed pilot was getting ready to captain the flight from Cairo to Heathrow when he collapsed in the crew's hotel (stock image)

The veteran pilot had reportedly suffered from ill health in the months before his death.

His body was brought back to the UK in a Boeing 787, which was flown to Egypt especially as there was no room for the coffin in the hold of the jet he had been scheduled to fly.

Bosses at BA had the task of informing the pilot's family of his sudden death.

BA said: 'Our thoughts are with our colleagues' friends and family at this very sad time.'

The company has been contacted for further comment.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt today risked further angering Tory MPs as he again dampened hopes of major tax cuts in his Budget on Wednesday.

There is pressure from Conservative backbenchers for Mr Hunt to reduce the tax burden on families and businesses - especially over the planned hike to corporation tax to 25 per cent.

But, while the Chancellor this morning insisted 'a Conservative government will always cut taxes when we can', he vowed to be 'responsible' with Britain's public finances.

Mr Hunt has signalled there will be new tax breaks for firms in his fiscal package on Wednesday, after pointing to how action could be taken to alter the 'effective rate' of corportation tax.

Yet he showed little appetite for reversing the planned rise in the headline rate of corporation tax from 19 to 25 per cent next month.

There is pressure from Conservative backbenchers for Jeremy Hunt to reduce the tax burden on families and businesses - especially over the planned hike to corporation tax to 25 per cent

Mr Hunt was challenged over his previous call - when he briefly ran for the Tory leadership last summer - for corporation tax to be cut to 15 per cent

In a Sky News interview this morning, the Chancellor was challenged over his previous call - when he briefly ran for the Tory leadership last summer - for corporation tax to be cut to 15 per cent.

'It's the same Jeremy Hunt that's with you now and I still want us to have the most competitive business taxes anywhere in the world,' he told the channel's Sophy Ridge on Sunday show. 'I am a Conservative who believes in a low-tax economy.'

But Mr Hunt added he also had to be 'be responsible with public finances'.

'We're not going to do what the last Labour government did and run out of money,' the Chancellor said. 'Businesses need the stability that comes from being responsible, so we will get there gradually, but get there we will.'

When it was put to him that he was running the economy like he was 'Jeremy from accounts', Mr Hunt replied: 'I think you have to wait and see what I say on Wednesday.

'But, you know, Jeremy the Chancellor will be responsible with public finances and I make absolutely no apology for that.'

Former chancellor Philip Hammond told the same programme that hiking corporation tax was 'the right decision for now' but warned that a 25 per cent level should not become a 'new normal'.

He also said he expected Mr Hunt to tinker with tax allowances and reliefs to reduce the 'effective' rate on firms.

'The thing that really matters to businesses is the effective rate of taxation and I expect we're going to hear the Chancellor making some moves on allowances and reliefs so that, for many businesses, particularly those who are investing heavily, the effective rate of corporation tax is lowered a bit,' Lord Hammond said.

The issue of tax cuts has become a long-running sore between the Government and Tory MPs, with the UK tax burden on course to reach a 70-year high.

Allies of former prime minister Liz Truss have formed the 'Conservative Growth Group' to put pressure on Mr Hunt to slash taxes and pursue growth-boosting policies.

Just days before the Budget, it has also emerged that senior Tories have written to Mr Hunt to demand he pull out of an international agreement that corporation tax should never be reduced below 15 per cent.

According to the Telegraph, a group led by Ms Truss and ex-home secretary Priti Patel called for the Chancellor not to 'rush ahead and surrender sovereign tax rights'.

'As a party elected to ensure Britain "Takes Back Control" from the EU, it is remarkable that we should be asked to rush ahead and surrender sovereign tax rights under the OECD initiative, especially while so many questions about the measure remain unaddressed,' they said.

'We are united in our belief that we risk doing damage to the UK's economic competitiveness by pressing ahead with the current implementation timeline.'
She gathered evidence that was overlooked by police

A devoted wife has revealed how she launched her own investigation to clear her husband's name after he was accused of historic child sex crimes.

Former NSW police officer Ben Smith was charged with sexually assaulting a child under the age of 16 in December 2016, over incidents alleged to have happened 20 years ago.

A woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, went to Frenchs Forest Police Station in Sydney three months prior to his arrest and accused him of assaulting her over a five-year period beginning when she was 14 and he was 16.

But Amy Smith stuck by her husband throughout the entire ordeal and always believed he was an innocent victim - with investigators potentially fearing a backlash if they didn't act on her unfounded evidence.

When asked if she ever doubted her husband, Mr Smith told 60 Minutes: 'No. There was times I asked him questions like "Were you ever in some sort of relationship?" to which he said "No".'

'I asked him certain questions, definitely. But did I ever doubt that? No.'

Former NSW cop Ben Smith (pictured with wife Amy) was charged with horrific child sex crimes back in December 2016. He was later found not guilty of all charges

Mrs Smith conducted her own investigation into her husband's case by cross-referencing a number of documents and gathering evidence that police had astonishingly overlooked.

Her husband in 1996 had moved to Sydney from the country aged 16 to play rugby league and lived with a local family.

The girl who made the accusations lived at that house.

She claimed she was groomed by Mr Smith and that on 11 occasions over a period of five years he sexually assaulted her.

But Mrs Smith's detective work presented several inconsistencies in the woman's claims.

The most notable breakthrough came when she uncovered evidence that disproved allegations her husband had indecently assaulted the woman three times at the house in 1999.

She proved Mr Smith was not living at the property at the time and didn't visit at any point during that year as he was nursing a broken leg. This evidence was also backed up by the woman's brother.

'What they (the police) said happened couldn't have happened cause he wasn't there, that's kind of how we broke it all apart,' Mrs Smith said.

She said her work 'discredited' the timeline of allegations that had been mapped out by police.

'To be able to provide all of this factual, actual hard evidence, for me, it was empowering,' Mrs Smith added.

Mr Smith's wife Amy (pictured with Ben) stuck by her husband throughout the entire ordeal and always believed he was innocent victim

Mrs Smith conducted her own investigative work and discovered several inconsistencies and evidence that disproved a number of the allegations made against her husband

However, it appeared that evidence put forward was ignored as Mr Smith's case went to trial and he faced decades behind bars.

He fronted two court trials. The first ended with a hung jury.

In the second, he was unanimously found not guilty of all charges.

Further flaws in the investigation were also revealed when it came to light that star witness Aaron Taggart was not interviewed by police for six months after charges were laid.

'I was the star witness and I knew the truth,' Mr Taggart said.

He explained to detectives that he was happy to make a statement, but was told it would not be required.

One of the investigators later told the court that Mr Taggart 'did not want to provide a statement'.

While Mr Smith was eventually proven to be innocent of the charges, the former police officer says the allegations have completely tarnished his reputation and career.

The couple have now taken the fight to police and demanded accountability for the bungled investigation that cost them $500,000 in legal fees.

While Mr Smith (pictured) was eventually has proven to be innocent of the charges, the former police officer says the allegations have completely tarnished his reputation and career

The couple have taken the fight to police and demanded accountability for the bungled investigation that cost them $500,000 in legal fees

Former homicide detective, Gary Jubelin, told 60 minutes that police had failed to follow up leads and simply accepted the unsubstantiated allegations.

'Police need to understand this is a responsibility they've got. People's lives are affected,' Jubelin said.

'I'm saying let's not dissuade people from reporting these crimes but as police we've got to make sure that we investigate them thoroughly. We can't lose sight of the fact these allegations are very serious allegations.'

While both Jubelin and the Smiths say they support the MeToo movement empowering genuine victims of sexual assault to come forward, they believe it may have put pressure on investigators to blindly pursue the accusations.

'We don't want to come across as people that are anti people making complaints,' Mr Smith said.

'There are victims out there, and they should not be afraid to make their complaints,' Amy added.

'But when you have people that don't do their job properly, that's a hard pill to swallow.'
The dog will now go onto compete in this evening's Best in Show at 8:30pm

Soul singer Chris Amoo's Irish Wolfhound won Best in Group at Crufts day three

The Real Thing vocalist Chris Amoo's dog was among the winners at day three of Crufts yesterday.

The hound, named Paris, won its Best in Group competition and now has a spot in the Best in Show finale, which takes place at 8:30pm tonight.

Paris is a five-year-old Irish Wolfhound - the biggest of all breeds of dog - and was described by Mr Amoo as 'very special' and 'one in a million'.

Mr Amoo told BirminghamLive: 'We are so proud of him. When the judge points to you, you can't really believe it and it only starts to sink in when you are doing your lap of honour.'

Proud owners have now arrived for the competition's fourth and final day.

Among the winners of day three of Crufts was The Real Thing vocalist Chris Amoo's Irish Wolfhound named Paris

A dog dressed in a pink jumper and hair bobble arrive for the final day of this year's Crufts

Wearing a pink and purple collar, a stylish pup arrives with its owner to get groomed for the final day of the dog competition

Mr Amoo last won Best in Show at Crufts 36 years ago and said he doesn't take holidays as showing dogs is his pleasure.

Paris, from Warrington, Cheshire, snatched one of just seven places in the finale this evening after winning Best in Group.

Vanessa McAlpine, Crufts show manager, gave her congratulations to Mr Amoo and Paris, describing earning a spot in the Best in Show finale as an 'incredible achievement.'

'The pair should be extremely proud of the hard work and wonderful bond they demonstrated this evening,' she added.

Also announced for the finale taking place this evening was Wire Fox Terrier Blanca, who was bred in Germany and has the registered name is Ch Blanca Vd Schoenen Bergen.

READ MORE: Slush puppies! Pampered pooches get all wrapped up to brave the cold weather at Crufts Advertisement

Blanca won the Terrier category yesterday with her handler Juraj Sokolic from Croatia.

As the final day of the dog show kicked off, pups and their owners arrived at the NEC Birmingham.

Dogs in jackets, jumpers and booties were seen arriving outside the venue, wrapped up to protect them from the cold.

From an angry-looking blow-dried Miniature Schnauzer to a stylish Standard Poodle, owners were pictured getting their dogs ready for the day four extravaganza.

A fluffy Japanese Spitz was also pictured getting ready for the final day, gazing into the camera, while a Japanese Akita Inu was caught letting out a yawn as owners prepped it.

Mr Amoo's dog Paris won a spot in the Crufts Best in Show finale, which takes place today at 8:30pm

Mr Amoo, from Cheshire, with Paris yesterday before they won Best of Breed and snatched a spot in the Best in Show final

Mr Amoo, who is now in this year's final, last won Best in Show 36 years ago with his Afghan Hound (pictured)

Paris and Mr Amoo before being crowned Best of Breed. The pair will be in today's finale

A fluffy Japanese Spitz was also pictured getting ready for the final day, gazing into the camera

Two small pups were seen arriving for the final day of competition, one of which was wearing an orange jumper

An angry looking blow-dried Miniature Schnauzer as it gets groomed for day four of Crufts

A stylish Standard Poodle wears a gold necklace as it is prepared for day four of Crufts

Other dogs spotted being groomed for the day ahead were a Miniature and Toy Poodle.

And even love was in the air, as a man yesterday dressed as a dog to propose to his girlfriend in front of a sold-out Saturday crowd.

Alasdair Newport appeared dressed in a dog costume on day three of the competition before getting down on one knee for Stacey Irwin-Burns.

Ms Irwin-Burns has competed at Crufts for nearly a decade, being awarded several honours in that time - YKC Small Agility category in 2014, YKC Dog of the Year in 2015 and then competing for Great Britain in 2022

Her partner Mr Newport thought the puppy extravaganza was the perfect place to pop the question  to which the dog agility handler said yes.

A Lhasa Apso with green hairbands in ready to be judged on Crufts' final day of 2023

A a fluffy dog and its owner arrived looking excited to compete for a final day

Many pups arrived in jackets and booties to keep them warm in the cold temperatures

A Miniature Poodle being prepared for competition and getting its hair brushed

Juraj Sokolic and Blanca the Fox Terrier after winning Best in Group and securing a spot in the Best in Show finale

Mr Sokolic, from Croatia, and Blanca seen during their competition yesterday

A Japanese Akita Inu was caught letting out a yawn as owners prepped it for the day of competition

A Miniature Schnauzer begrudgingly getting blow dried as its owner prepares it

A Standard Poodle is readied for the day, complete with blue hair bobbles

Mr Newport told Wales Online: 'Stacey competes here, her world is dog agility.

'It's not mine but I met her at her own dog agility show, so it seemed that Crufts would be the best place that would mean so much for her when we look back on it.'

The pair live in Pyecombe, Sussex, and met in 2018 at Ms Irwin-Burns's own dog show.

Crufts, which is currently run by The Kennel Club and was first held in 1891, opened on Thursday and will conclude today - and, of course, it will all be broadcast on TV for fans to watch.

The show is also split into four main categories: gundog, working and pastoral, terrier and hound, and utility and toy.

Hosted by Clare Balding, Crufts will also take a look at the serious side of dog breeding and ownership, with an emphasis on health and welfare.

When the competition began in 1891 it was founded by Charles Cruft, a dog biscuit salesman.
Putin lost more than 1,000 troops in the deadliest day on the battlefield since he invaded Ukraine as the war continues to take an enormous toll on his forces.

The Ukrainian army claimed that 1,090 soldiers were killed in 24 hours on Saturday - 60 more than the previous record which they said was reached on February 7.

As Russian troops continue to suffer heavy losses in the bitter fight for Bakhmut, forces also lost eight tanks, seven armoured vehicles, four artillery guns and four air defence systems yesterday.

It comes as a horrifying video shows the moment flesh-melting 'thermite rain' bombs descended on a town in eastern Ukraine, as Vladimir Putin's forces continue to employ brutal tactics to cling on to meagre gains.

Russia has been accused of employing thermite bombs in the past, the use of which on civilians is considered a war crime.

Footage emerged yesterday of Putin's forces raining incendiary projectiles on Vuhledar, Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine in what the video suggests is a residential area.

Thermite is a mixture made up of metal such as aluminium and iron oxide and can be used as an incendiary weapon, in the same way as napalm.

Read more: Ukraine's embattled military conducts intense drills near border with Belarus as they prepare for Spring pushback against invaders Ukrainian soldiers from various brigades take part in a military drill on psychological combat training at an undisclosed location close to the border with Belarus Advertisement

The incendiary projectiles create mass fires that are extremely hard to extinguish.

They are incredibly hot and can destroy military equipment, as well as burn through flesh.

Three civilians were killed in Russian shelling of Kherson in southern Ukraine on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

He denounced what he called 'brutal terrorist attacks' by pro-Moscow units.

At least five were killed in total with another seven wounded across Ukraine's Donetsk and Kherson regions, local Ukrainian authorities reported today.

Among Russia's military losses yesterday, according to Ukrainian army's General Staff, there were also eight tanks, seven armoured vehicles, four artillery guns and four air defence systems.

Ukraine and Russia both claimed yesterday that hundreds of enemy troops were killed over the previous 24 hours in the fight for Bakhmut.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, said 221 pro-Moscow troops were killed and more than 300 wounded in Bakhmut.

Russia's defence ministry said that up to 210 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the broader Donetsk part of the frontline.

Kyiv has continued to fend off unabating attacks and a small river that bisects the town is said to now mark the front line.

Horrifying footage shows the moment flesh-melting thermite rain descends on a town in eastern Ukraine

The incendiary projectiles create mass fires that are extremely hard to extinguish. They are incredibly hot and can destroy military equipment, as well as burn through flesh

What appears to be a fire caused by the raining down thermite, filmed in Vuhledar, Donetsk

Russia's advance seems to have stalled in Moscow's campaign to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a leading think tank said in an assessment of the longest ground battle of the war.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said there were no confirmed advances by Russian forces in Bakhmut.

Russian forces and units from the Kremlin-controlled paramilitary Wagner Group continued to launch ground attacks in the city, but there was no evidence that they were able to make any progress, ISW said last night.

It is thought that paramilitary units from the Kremlin-controlled Wagner Group have seized most of the east of it of Bakhmut, as fighting rages on in the nine month-long battle over the disputed city.

A destroyed field hospital is seen in Zvanivka nearby Bakhmut frontline as fighting continues between Ukrainian forces and Russian troops for control of the city

An elderly woman walks along a village outside of Soledar as fighting continues in the Donetsk Oblast region of Ukraine

But, the UK Defense Ministry highlighted yesterday that Russia's assault will be difficult to sustain without more significant personnel losses.

The centre of Bakhmut has become a 'killing zone' as Ukraine's forces stave off the Wagner Group's efforts to cross the front line, the MoD said today yesterday.

It said in the Defence Intelligence update: 'Over the last four days, Wagner Group forces have taken control of most of eastern part of the Donbas town of Bakhmut. In the town centre, the Bakhmutka River now marks the front line.'

Ukrainian servicemen from the 10th Brigade fire a D-30 Howitzer towards Russian infantry along the frontline outside of Soledar, Ukraine

The MoD added that Ukrainian forces hold the west of the town and have demolished key bridges over the river, which runs through north-south through a strip of open ground 200m to 800m wide, between built-up areas.

The post continued: 'With Ukrainian units able to fire from fortified buildings to the west, this area has become a killing zone, likely making it highly challenging for Wagner forces attempting to continue their frontal assault westwards.

'However, the Ukrainian force and their supply lines to the west remain vulnerable to the continued Russian attempts to outflank the defenders from the north and south.'

On the battlefield on Friday, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said the fighting in Bakhmut had 'escalated,' with another push by Russian forces to break through Ukrainian defense lines that have largely held firm for the past six months.

Just west of Bakhmut, shelling and missile strikes hit the Ukrainian-held city of Kostiantynivka, damaging multiple homes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed not to retreat from Bakhmut, and his forces are planning a major Spring advance to reclaim more annexed territory.
A Texas man has been charged with kidnapping after allegedly holding a woman captive inside a trailer with bars on the windows and a padlock so strong rescuers had to use power tools to break through.

Abraham Bravo Segura, 42, was arrested on Wednesday and charged for restraining the woman by 'secreting and holding' her in a place where she was 'not likely to be found,' according to the criminal complaint.

The 32-year-old victim, whose identity has not been released, called for help from a phone inside the mobile home on West Greens Road in Houston while Segura was at work, KTRK reported.

She reportedly told Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies that Segura held her at gunpoint and threatened to kill her.

Segura is in custody at the Harris County Jail on a $150,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.

Abraham Bravo Segura, 42, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with felony kidnapping for allegedly keeping a woman, 32, in a Houston trailer with bars on the windows for four years

The 32-year-old victim, whose identity has not been released, called for help from a phone inside the mobile home on West Greens Road in Houston while Segura was at work

According to a criminal complaint obtained by ABC News, there were burglar bars on the windows, and a padlock that firefighters attempted to open with a bolt cutter but were unable to do so.

The fire department eventually had to use power tools to cut through the bars in order to enter the trailer and rescue the woman.

Three handguns were found inside the trailer, the court documents claim.

At Segura's first court appearance on Thursday, a prosecutor laid out the allegations against him, arguing that he had kidnapped the woman and kept her locked in the trailer for four years.

'The defendant had kept the complainant inside a trailer for approximately four years,' the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor added that all the exits to the trailer were blocked.

Segura tried to defend himself and said that the 'story is one-sided.'

There were burglar bars were on the windows, and a padlock that firefighters attempted to open with a bolt cutter but were unable to do so

Segura is at the Harris County Jail on a $150,000 bond. He is set to be arraigned Monday

But the hearing officer told the court: 'We're not going to argue the facts of the case today.'

Segura's friend, Auseilsaul Contreras, told KTRK that his friend was innocent, Fox News reported.

'I (saw) them together,' Contreras said. 'They came to our house sometime when we had parties and everything. They were good. I don't know what they're saying.'

Segura, who the public defender described as a barber and tattoo artist, has one prior conviction for misdemeanor marijuana possession in 2006.
SNP leadership candidate Ash Regan today reiterated her fears of a 'conflict of interest' in the contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon.

The former Scottish Government minister took a swipe at the role of Ms Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, as the SNP's chief executive.

'Effectively he's running the contest to replace his wife,' Ms Regan said, as she repeated her demand for an 'independent third party company' to oversee the leadership battle.

Ms Regan is up against Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes in the race to succeed Ms Sturgeon as SNP leader and first minister.

The contest has become increasingly bitter with the rivals having made vicious attacks on each other in live TV debates over the past week.

Ash Regan took a swipe at the role of Nicola Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, as the SNP's chief executive

Mr Murrell, the husband of outgoing SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, has been accused of 'effectively running the contest to replace his wife'

Ms Regan is widely viewed as the outsider in the contest, while Mr Yousaf - a close ally of Ms Sturgeon - has been branded the 'continuity candidate'.

He is also accused of having the SNP's 'party machine' behind him after a string of senior figures pledged their support to his campaign.

Speaking to Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Ms Regan compared Mr Murrell's role as SNP chief executive to a situation where Carrie Johnson might have counted the votes in last summer's Tory leadership contest to replace Boris Johnson.

'Well effectively he's running the contest to replace his wife and, if you think about it in a different way, you know that would be like Carrie counting the votes for Boris's successor,' she said.

'I think many people would think that would be fairly unusual. I think there is a conflict of interest here.

'My campaign team we've set out that we think it should be an independent third party company that should be running the contest and we've also asked for there to a neutral observer as well, just to make sure everything is above board.

'We need to be careful in this too. We're the largest party in Scotland and the person that wins this contest will not just be leader of the SNP but they'll also actually become the first minister of the country. This is very significant.

'It's very important and it's important for both the members of the SNP but also the wider country that there's trust in this process, that it's all above board and it's transparent.'

Despite being the outsider in the SNP leadership contest, Ms Regan insisted she was 'in this competition to win it'.

'At the moment we understand that a large amount of the membership are still undecided, it is a very short contest,' she added.

'But I have had many people get in touch with me recently to say that they think I am the only hope for the SNP.'

Last month, all three of Ms Forbes, Ms Regan and Mr Yousaf were confirmed to have met the threshold to formally enter the leadership race.

About 100,000 SNP members will be able to begin voting for their preferred candidate on March 13.

Voting will then close at noon on March 27 and the result is expected later that day.
Donald Trump continues to see a drop-off in support from allies and a refusal from members of his former inner-circle to support his 2024 run.

Of the nine former Trump campaign officials reached by CNN, only three said that they publicly plan to support the former president's third consecutive White House bid.

Once Trump's top trusted campaign manager, Corey Lewsandowski is reportedly privately pitching potential Republican candidates to go up against the former president in the primary elections  including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.

Lewandowski, who is a New Hampshire resident, was not with Trump during his visit to the Granite State in January. The former Trump aide, however, insists that he has not 'courted any other GOP candidates for president.'

Former senior Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli launched a super PAC on Thursday aimed at getting DeSantis elected president in 2024, even though the governor has not yet announced his bid.

Donald Trump is losing support from his once-inner circle as former aides and advisers refuse to weigh-in or full get on-board with other GOP candidates for 2024

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, once Trump's White House press secretary, told Trump in a recent phone call that she wasn't ready to levy an endorsement after he asked for it, according to a New York Times report

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as Trump's White House press secretary and was one of his most staunch supporters throughout his tenure, has refused to take a side in the upcoming presidential election.

Trump called Sanders recently to ask for her support, the New York Times reported earlier this month, but she wasn't ready to wade into the waters of an endorsement for 2024.

'I love the president, have a great relationship with him,' Sanders told Fox News in January. 'I know our country would be infinitely better off if he was in office right now instead of Joe Biden, but right now my focus isn't 2024, it's focusing here in Arkansas.'

Alexa Henning, a spokeswoman for Sanders, told CNN that her comment still stands two months later.

The distancing from Trump comes as the 2024 primary race heats up and reports emerge that DeSantis will announce his candidacy as early as May. The Sunshine State's leader has started touring the country and visiting key states  like Iowa and New Hampshire  that indicate an announcement is impending.

Two former aides reached by CNN say that they want to remain neutral in the 2024 race, while three others refused to weigh-in publicly.

Trump's former 2016 campaign spokesperson Katrina Pierson was noncommittal about an endorsement.

Once Trump's top trusted campaign manager, Corey Lewsandowski is privately pitching potential Republican candidates to go up against the former president in the primary elections  including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, according to CNN

Former senior Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli launched a super PAC Thursday to get Governor Ron DeSantis elected president in 2024

Lewandowski has been by the former president's side for many of his trips to New Hampshire, but opted out of Trump's first visit there in his 2024 bid for president despite being invited to attend.

While many see this as his continual drifting from Trump, Lewandowski says it was just bad timing.

'I was over 1,500 miles away, and Mr. Trump was well aware of that,' Lewandowski told CNN.

He added that his relationship with Trump has 'never changed for the last eight years'  even though more than a dozen people in Trump's orbit noted a change.

Another stab-in-the-back is Cuccinelli starting a PAC directly aimed at getting Trump's biggest rival elected the GOP nominee in 2024.

NEVER BACK DOWN PAC filed paperwork in late February with the Federal Election Commission and is now the fourth political committee created to encourage DeSantis to run.

'I have been speaking to many grassroots conservative activists around the country who are very enthusiastic for Governor DeSantis to run for president in 2024,' Cuccinelli said in a statement on the PAC's formation.

'The energy is there, grassroots conservatives see the governor as a leader and a fighter with a winning conservative track record who will lead the Republican Party to victory in 2024. Based on those conversations, I am most confident that we will build an unmatched grassroots political army for Governor DeSantis to help carry him to the White House.'

Trump is still holding onto some tried-and-true supporters within his inner-circle, including Jason Miller, who worked on his 2016 and 2020 campaigns; social media guru Dan Scavino; and Steve Bannon
Jane Fonda has dismissed outrage over her quip that pro-life supporters should be murdered and said it was clear her comments were made 'in jest' 'to make a point.'

The Grace and Frankie actress, 85, appeared on The View with her co-star Lily Tomlin during a debate about the contentious Roe vs Wade overturn, which took away women's rights to an abortion in several states.

When asked by The View co-host Joy Behar what she suggested for people who disagree with the right to an abortion, Fonda joked 'murder.'

The comments shocked the talk show hosts before Behar stepped in to clarify 'she's just kidding' - prompting a big laugh.

Despite this, Fonda faced a major backlash from members of the GOP, including Florida Rep. Anna Luna, who claimed she had notified Capital Police about the actresses' call to 'murder pro-life politicians.'

The Grace and Frankie actress, 85, appeared on the view with her co-star Lily Tomlin during a debate about the contentious Roe vs Wade overturn

When asked by The View co-host Joy Behar what she suggests for people who disagree with the right to an abortion, Fonda answered, 'murder'

Fonda, who is known as an activist, has since brushed off her comments as a 'hyperbole' after pro-life politicians took her 'threat seriously.'

'While women's reproductive rights are a very serious issue and extremely important to me, my comment on The View was obviously made in jest,' Fonda told Newsweek.

'My body language and tone made it clear to those in the roomand to anyone watchingthat I was using hyperbole to make a point.'

Fonda also echoed her statements on the show that women are 'not going back' to losing autonomy over their bodies despite the law.

'Women across the country are facing real threats when it comes to our bodies, and people lose faith in our mission to protect women when others choose to focus on tangential issues and passing jokes instead of the actual problem at hand,' she continued.

The View co-hosts suggested Fonda deserved the Nobel Prize for her stance on protecting women's rights.

Despite Fonda's claims that she was joking about harming pro-life supporters, Congresswoman Luna claimed officials are monitoring the threat closely.

'Calling for the murder of a pro-life politician is not only dangerous but incredibly sick,' Luna wrote on Twitter. 'This leads to targeting and can result in someone being hurt.'

She further urged The View to issue a statement retracting Fonda's 'unacceptable behavior.'

'The View should be ashamed that it condones violence,' Luna wrote.

Marjorie Taylor Greene added, 'Sounds like they want us dead.'

Fonda received backlash for her comments from members of the GOP, including from Florida Rep. Anna Luna, who claimed she notified Capital Police about the actresses' call to 'murder pro-life politicians'

Despite Fonda's claims that she was joking about harming pro-life supporters, Congresswoman Luna claimed officials are monitoring the threat closely

Marjorie Taylor Greene added, 'Sounds like they want us dead'

While Fonda didn't specify whether the threat was only to politicians, Florida Congressman Bryon Donalds issued his support for pro-life Americans under attack

'Jane Fonda (and many Democrats) want you and me murdered for fighting to protect the most innocent in the womb,' Greene wrote.

While Fonda didn't specify whether the threat was only to politicians, Florida Congressman Bryon Donalds issued his support for pro-life Americans under attack.

'To the pro-life Americans all across our great country, stay strong & know I will always have your back on Capitol Hill,' Donalds wrote on Twitter.

Twitter commenters were also outraged at Fonda's comments and questioned why authorities haven't taken action.

'Isnt this a threat of violence? Shes pro murder. Something should be done immediately,' one person wrote.

'That's a threat she needs investigated,' another chimed in.

Another condemned Fonda's comments and called for an end to hate on both political lines.

'Its sad when people call for the death of others,' one person wrote. 'I dont agree with this, as I dont believe in the call to eradicate transgenders. We need to stop ALL of this hateful rhetoric, not just on your own side.

However, many others supported Fonda's comments.

'Jane is absolutely right as the anti-abortion laws are a death sentence to innocent women,' one person wrote.

'Jane Fonda has never just paid lip service. Shes always been about it. Her willingness to be a real allywithout conditionsis what we wish we could have from everyone who claims to be on our side,' another added.
Ukrainian armed forces conducted intense drills near the Belarusian border on Saturday, as they prepare for a Spring pushback against Vladimir Putin's army.

The exercises focused on training servicemen for offensive actions and improving their mental fortitude by imitating real combat conditions.

The servicemen trained to clear the buildings, overcome obstacles and storm enemy positions.

In a video of their training exercises, Head of support forces group, Maksym Volivetskyi said: 'We are doing a full imitation of combat action.

'During combat there are explosions, shots fired, wounds or torn bodies as well, a lot of blood, a lot of smoke. We must make it look like combat as best we can.'

For Viktor Khamet, a 27 year old servicemen who fought in 2014, the training conditions remind him of real combat.

'Explosions, shots fired everywhere  you don't understand what is going on. But you have to pull yourself together and complete the mission.'

The action is all-too-familiar for some seasoned soldiers, with 27-year-old Viktor Khamet reflecting on his time fighting the Russians as a teenager.

'I fought in 2014. Yes, with the explosions it looks like real fighting conditions.

'Explosions, shots fired everywhere  you don't understand what is going on. But you have to pull yourself together and complete the mission.'

Meanwhile, Chief Sergeant of Ukraine's Joint forces, Viktor Lukyanok, explains in the clip: 'The most important goal is to work on psychological firmness of the servicemen ahead of any challenges they may face in combat.'

'We are focusing and training our units for attack, for offensive actions.'

Ukrainian soldiers from various brigades take part in a military drill on psychological combat training at an undisclosed location close to the border with Belarus

Soldiers were seen taking cover as they practiced war games ahead of a planned spring advance

Heavy armored vehicles featured in the battle scenes, which were played out by training servicement

In the footage, soldiers are seen supporting each other as they practice going into trenches and defending their dugouts.

More shots show them taking cover and evacuating the injured in the realistic war simulation.

The training videos have emerged as Russia continues to suffer heavy losses at the hands of Kviv's forces.

There were ultra-realistic conditions at the training sites, which journalists were invited to see first-hand

In the footage, soldiers are seen supporting each other as they practice going into trenches and defending their dugouts

Chief Sergeant of Ukraine's Joint forces, Viktor Lukyanok, says that the most important goal is to work on psychological firmness of the servicemen

The Ukrainian army claimed that 1,090 soldiers were killed in 24 hours yesterday - 60 more than the previous record which they said was reached on February 7.

Ukraine and Russia both claimed yesterday that hundreds of enemy troops were killed over the previous 24 hours in the fight for Bakhmut.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed not to retreat from Bakhmut, and his forces are planning a major Spring advance to reclaim more annexed territory.
There has been yet more airport chaos as a number of British Airways flights took off last night without any passengers' bags on them, with angry customers saying they will avoid flying with the carrier again.

Customers travelling to and from London Heathrow expressed their frustration at being separated from their luggage as delays plagued journeys yesterday.

Flights from London to locations such as Lisbon, Belfast, Kuwait and Johannesburg went with only some or no bags on board, customers have said.

BA has blamed French Air Traffic Control strikes and poor weather, which it said has caused knock-on delays which have continued into today.

BA customer Sophia Ashe, who was travelling to Bologna yesterday, told MailOnline that she will 'never fly with them again'.

The farmer from Tetbury said her flight's takeoff was delayed by over an hour last night.

When she eventually reached Bologna, she said, 'everyone sat waiting at luggage reclaim and it wasn't until half an hour later, a customer on the same flight told us about the luggage [not being loaded]'.

'No one at the airport made an announcement,' she said, adding that she didn't leave until almost 2am having filled out lost luggage forms.

'This is not the first bad experience I've had with BA. I will never fly with them again,' she said.

Sophia was not the only holidaymaker who faced delays and ended up travelling without her luggage.

Others have reported waiting over an hour to collect their luggage before discovering that it had not actually been on the plane with them.

Dave Brett, a London-based travel blogger, was journeying from Berlin to Heathrow yesterday when he found out that the carrier 'didn't know' where his luggage was.

He said that the status of his bag is still 'missing', meaning he has had to buy new clothes, and explained how he thinks it failed to travel with him.

Dave Brett, a London-based travel blogger, was journeying from Berlin to Heathrow yesterday when he found out that the carrier 'didn't know' where his luggage was

'When boarding the flight, the pilot announced that we must quickly board to avoid missing our flight take off slot.

'For this reason, I believe my bag never made it onto the flight as it was a quick turn around from the arrival landing.

'I wasn't the only one waiting for my bag, other British Airway flights arriving at Terminal 5 also had massive bag delays of up to and over 90 minutes.'

Dave claims that 'hundreds of passengers had issues' yesterday, and shared a picture of the busy Terminal 5, adding that the baggage support desk was 'swamped with forms being filled in.'

Dave said he has had other bad experiences while travelling with the carrier and described his latest experience as 'a real frustrating nightmare'.

'I choose to fly with British Airways for business reasons as I expect efficient service and I end up wasting my valuable time that could be used elsewhere.'

Passengers have had to fill out forms to get their bags back, with BA's policy to get luggage out to travellers on the next available flight or to return it to their home address.

Will Grimm, from London tweeted: '@British_Airways Flight BA55 from Heathrow to ORT, delayed by 3 hours and no baggage was loaded. ORT BA baggage enquiry desk in chaos. Unacceptable that people are mistreated like this.'

One woman, who travelled to Innsbruck yesterday, tweeted that she is 'still waiting on info about my bag', which she had been informed is being sent to her home, leaving her 'with no clothes for a week'.

The carrier says that other European airlines have had similar issues.

It comes after Banshees of Inisherin star, Barry Keoghan, criticised BA for 'bad customer service' after losing his suitcase on the way to Los Angeles for the Oscars.

The Irish actor, 30, said he was taking 'tons of sentimental stuff' for the show on Sunday and that the airline could not 'seem to be helpful'.

BA said in a statement to MailOnline: 'As a result of French Air Traffic Control industrial action and the continued adverse winter weather conditions around the UK and Europe, some of our customers' baggage was delayed last night.

'We're really sorry for the inconvenience caused and our teams are working hard to get their luggage to them as quickly as possible.'
At least eight people are dead and seven are still missing after two boats carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Black's Beach in California late Saturday night.

A woman on a panga boat with 15 people that made it to shore called 911 to report that another boat had capsized in the waves, and there were people were in the water, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

When crews arrived, they found two overturned panga boats and bodies floating in the water across 400 yards. Lifejackets and fuel barrels were also found.

Seven bodies were pulled to shore by lifeguards at the scene and Border Patrol located the eighth body, SDFD spokesperson Monica Munoz told Dailymail.com.

The bodies were turned over to the San Diego County Medical Examiner. Crews continued recovery efforts Sunday as storms continue to batter the California coast.

At least eight people are dead after two panga boats capsized near Blacks Beach in San Diego County, California, late Saturday night, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed

Surfers pass two boats sitting on Black's Beach early Sunday after the boats capsized last night and eight bodies were pulled to shore by lifeguards and Border Patrol

When crews arrived, they found two overturned panga boats and bodies floating in the water across 400 yards. Lifejackets and fuel barrels were also found

Officials with SDFD, San Diego police, Customs Border Protection, US Coast Guard, State Lifeguards, UCSD Police and SDFD Lifeguards responded to the scene after the woman called 911.

'The woman who called stated that the boat that overturned had 15 people on it, but that was just an estimate,' U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Richard Brahm said.

A lifeguard dispatcher used GPS coordinates from the woman who called 911 to find the crash location, SDFD said. The location was about 800 yards north of the base of Black Gold Road.

Crews could not reach the beach due to high tide, so they were forced to wade out in waist-high water to reach the bodies and the boats. A panga boat is a style of fishing boat commonly used in the Caribbean and Central America.

Two helicopters were sent up to search for victims last night, but SDFD said conditions were too foggy.

Coast Guard and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews pulled eight bodies from the water, but thick fog hampered the search for additional victims.

Boat salvager Robert Butler picks up a canister in one of one of two boats sitting on Blacks Beach after eight people died when the boat capsized last night

Two tanks of fuel and a life preservers were found in the boats that capsized

A Coast Guard cutter combed the area early Sunday, and officials hoped to get helicopters in the air when weather improves, Brahm said.

Daniel Eddy, San Diego Fire-Rescues deputy chief of operations, said there was a long debris field on Blacks Beach.

Blacks Beach is jointly owned by the city of San Diego and the state. The stretch of sand is also known as Torrey Pines City Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Eddie Berrios confirmed eight people died and teams were searching for at least seven more.

He didnt know what kind of boats they were, but said pangas - small open boats with outboard engines used in smuggling operations - often come ashore there.

Brahm didnt know if anyone on the second boat was injured or whether they were apprehended by Border Patrol.

Boat salvager KC Ivers places items into one of two boats sitting on Blacks Beach

Coast Guard and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews pulled eight bodies from the water, but thick fog hampered the search for additional victims

It was unclear if any arrests were made and the nationalities of the passengers was unknown

Surfers pass an overturned boat sitting on Blacks Beach on Sunday after multiple people died when the panga boats overturned off the coast late last night

It was unclear if any arrests were made and the nationalities of the passengers was unknown. Illegal crossings have soared under President Joe Biden, with many migrants turning themselves in to Border Patrol agents and being released in the United States to pursue their cases in immigration court.

A pandemic rule scheduled to end May 11 denies migrants a chance to seek asylum on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19 but enforcement has fallen disproportionately on Mexicans, Hondurans, Guatemalans and El Salvadorans because those have been the only nationalities that Mexico agreed to take back.

As a result, people of those four countries have been more likely to try to elude capture, knowing they are likely to be expelled under the public health rule, known as Title 42 authority.

Mexico recently began taking back Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans under Title 42.
US rules out full federal bailout of collapsed lender - but Elon Musk could buy it

Bosses of nearly 300 British technology firms have warned the sector could be set back 20 years if their money remains trapped in failed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB).

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed that there was no 'systemic contagion risk' to Britain's financial system despite fears over the shock failure of a major US bank.

Possible buyers of the UK arm of failed US lender Silicon Valley Bank emerged on Sunday as the Prime Minister said the British government was working to find a solution to limit the potential hit to companies resulting from the demise.

Bank of London has tabled an offer to Silicon Valley Bank UK, SVB's subsidiary, the company said, adding that it had sent the proposals to British authorities, including the Treasury and the Bank of England (BoE).

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has been the largest failure of a US bank since the 2008 financial crisis and sparked concerns about the impact on businesses worldwide.

Rishi Sunak sought to ease fears about the impact of SVB's collapse as he headed to America for talks with US President Joe Biden.

The PM, speaking to reporters on board his plane to San Diego, California, said he was looking at a 'solution that secures people's operational liquidity and cashflow needs'

Nearly 300 UK tech businesses signed a letter addressed to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt over the weekend warning that losing their deposits would 'cripple the sector.'

'Many businesses will be sent into involuntary liquidation overnight,' the letter argued, according to The Times. It also called for government intervention and warned of an 'existential threat' to the UK tech sector.

The executives -who have collectively employ more than 14,000 and have raised over 5billion of investment - claim the bank failure will also cause a 'knock-on effect' to customers and suppliers.

The letter, from Fintech Founders, said many financial technology firms did all of their banking with SVB 'and will therefore go into receivership imminently unless preventative action is taken'.

'The firms affected by the collapse of SVB serve millions of people in the UK along with businesses that are critical to our economy,' the letter said.

'The cost of inaction here means that these firms could fail in the short-term and your technology growth ambitions will fail in the long-term.'

The BoE announced on Friday that the UK arm of SVB was to go into insolvency on Sunday night after authorities took control of the business this week.

The Prime Minister, Chancellor Hunt and the Governor of the BoE, Andrew Bailey, held crisis talks until late Saturday night amid concerns over the UK's tech and life science sectors.

The reliance of these industries on SVB has prompted fears about an 'extinction event' for start-ups, while it has been warned that British fintech firms would be feeling 'very, very nervous' about their futures.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on Sunday warned of a 'serious risk' to top British firms following the shock failure of Silicon Valley Bank

It was announced on Friday that Californian regulators had taken over SVB (Pictured: Headquarters in California on Friday)

Mr Sunak sought to ease fears about the impact of SVB's collapse as he headed to America for talks with US President Joe Biden.

The PM said he understood 'the anxiety and the concerns customers of the bank have', in comments made to reporters flying with him to the United States. He and the government were 'making sure we can work to find a solution that secures people's operational liquidity and cash-flow needs.'

US officials are holding their own crisis summit amid fears of a market meltdown, although a full federal government bailout of the bank has been ruled out.

Yet Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Twitter, has emerged as a possible saviour after posting on his social media site that he is 'open' to the idea to rescuing SVB.

Bank of London, a clearing bank, is leading a consortium of investors including private equity funds, which has submitted what it described as formal proposals.

"Silicon Valley Bank cannot be allowed to fail given the vital community it serves," Bank of London co-founder and CEO Anthony Watson said in a statement. "This is a unique opportunity to ensure the UK has a more diversified banking sector, whilst allowing continuity of service to SVB's UK client base.'

Unlike other financial institutions, Bank of London does not lend and holds all of its deposits with the BoE.

Advisory firm Rothschild & Co is exploring options for the subsidiary, as insolvency looms, two people familiar with the discussions said on Saturday. The BoE has said it is seeking a court order to place the UK arm into insolvency.

Also among those weighing a bid to buy the firm are SoftBank-owned lender OakNorth Bank, the Royal Group, Abu Dhabi state-backed investment vehicle ADQ, and Barclays, according to reports.

The government is weighing involving the British Business Bank to help SVB's customers, said one person, to help address firms' cash needs. The BBB is government-owned but independently managed, specialising in supporting start-up firms. During the pandemic it ran the state-backed loans programmes.

The Financial Times reported earlier that the 'lead white knight' was a United Arab Emirates-based company, as of last night.

Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group are among parties that have been approached by the board of SVB UK over the weekend to see if an emergency takeover deal can be reached. NatWest Group has also been approached, a person familiar with the matter has claimed.

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Twitter, has emerged as a possible saviour after posting on his social media site that he is 'open' to the idea to rescuing SVB

Speaking to reporters on board his plane to San Diego, California, on Sunday Mr Suank said: 'We have been working through over the weekend. We don't believe there is a systemic contagion risk.

'We're working to recognise the anxiety and the concerns customers of the bank have and making sure we can work to find a solution that secures people's operational liquidity and cashflow needs. And that's what the Treasury is working on.'

Asked if the Treasury will come up a solution by the time financial markets open on Monday morning, the PM replied: 'The Treasury is working at pace.'

But Mr Sunak gave few details over what the Treasury's action might end up looking like.

Which UK firms could be affected by SVB's collapse? Silicon Valley Bank's UK arm is said to have 3,300 clients in Britain. Among those reported to be UK clients of SVB include: Molten Ventures, the tech fund that includes banking app Revolut, online car retailer Cazoo, review platform Trustpilot and crowdfunding platform Crowdcube among its investments Redcentric, an IT services provider Venture Life, which develops, manufactures and distributes products for the self-care market Eagle Eye, a digital promotions and loyalty technology developer eEnergy Group, which helps organisations achieve net zero Advertisement

In America, officials are also working on a package to help the collapsed bank's customers.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Sunday this would not stretch to a full federal bailout of the collapsed bank, as had been a feature of the 2008 crisis.

'We're not going to do that again,' she said. 'But we are concerned about depositors, and we're focused on trying to meet their needs.'

Mr Musk has prompted speculation he could mount a rescue bid, replying to a Twitter user that he was 'open to the idea' of Twitter buying SVB and turning it into a 'digital bank'.

Earlier, Mr Hunt had warned of a 'serious risk' to top British firms following the shock failure of the major US bank.

He also refused to rule out a taxpayer-funded bailout to protect affected businesses.

'The first thing to say is the Governor of the Bank of England has made it very clear there is no systemic risk to our financial system - so people should be reassured on that basis,' Mr Hunt told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday show.

'But there is a serious risk to our technology and life sciences sectors, many of whom bank with this bank that many people won't have heard of - Silicon Valley Bank - but it happens to look after the money of some of our most promising and exciting businesses and so I want to reassure people.

'I've been in discussions over the weekend, until late last night, with the Prime Minister, the Governor of the Bank of England, many other people.

'We are working at pace on a solution. We will bring forward very soon plans to make sure people are able to meet their cashflow requirements, pay their staff.

'But obviously what we want to do is to find a longer-term solution that minimises or even avoids completely losses to some of our most promising companies.'

Pressed on whether the Treasury could step in with taxpayers' money following SVB's collapse, Mr Hunt added: 'I don't want to go in with what the solution is.

'But I will say, because people are worried about paying their staff next week, is we will come forward with a solution that helps those very, very, important companies with things like payroll and their cash flow requirements.

'But we also want to put in place a longer-term solution so their future is secure.'

Following SVB's collapse, tech companies in Britain have had their accounts frozen, meaning they have no access to their money and are unable to pay staff.

Major firms such as online retail giant Shopify and Pinterest are also directly affected by the failure.

UK business leaders have raised concerns that the failure could create further problems in Britain, warning they face going bust if they cannot get their funds from the bank - which could cause thousands of job losses.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the British start-up industry must not 'pay the price' for the failure of Silicon Valley Bank UK.

The Labour MP told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'We need tomorrow morning to hear from the Government how they are going to protect them.

'Whether that is guaranteed, whether that is working with the US government on a rescue for Silicon Valley Bank, there are different answers to this problem.

'But we cannot let the British start-up community pay the price for this bank failure, because it will be the British economy then that ultimately pays the price.'

The value of SVB on the market was dramatically dropping this week as rumours swirled about its imminent collapse

The collapse of SVB is the largest threat to the banking industry since the 2008 crisis

There are also fears the crash of the bank will spread around the world, with bases in countries including China, India and across Europe.

The BoE has sought to reassure the financial markets by stressing the UK's SVB branch is not a major part of the country's financial infrastructure.

It has also said SVB UK's assets will be sold to pay creditors. The bank employs around 650 people in Britain.

These fears were echoed by non-profit Coalition for a Digital Economy, which campaigns for better support for start-ups.

Its executive director, Dom Hallas, said it had been engaging with the Treasury and Downing Street about the 'significant impact' the bank's collapse could have.

He said: 'In light of the concern and panic, I wanted to share an update on what we know and where we are.

'We know that there are a large number of start-ups and investors in the ecosystem who have significant exposure to SVBUK and will be very concerned.

'We have been engaging with the UK Government, including Treasury and No 10, about the potential impact and I know that work has been going on overnight on policy options.'

He added: 'The ticking clock is a huge problem for companies.

'Right now, the key concerns remain immediate liquidity for companies and functional access to banking services on Monday.'

UK fintech firms 'will be very, very nervous today', warns ex-chancellor Ex-Chancellor Philip Hammond on Sunday warned that British fintech firms will be feeling 'very, very nervous' following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Speaking to Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Lord Hammond said: 'It's not going to affect many individuals in the UK because not many people bank with Silicon Valley Bank. 'But it is going to affect the very important fintech sector in our economy, where there's a huge concentration around Silicon Valley Bank UK. 'There's a lot of small, early-stage businesses that are quite important to this economy, quite important to keeping our financial services sector at the cutting edge, that will be very, very nervous today.' Advertisement

Responding to concerns, Mr Hunt released a statement on Sunday morning - ahead of his TV interview - acknowledging that the collapse 'could have a significant impact on the liquidity of the tech ecosystem.'

The statement read: 'Silicon Valley Bank has a limited presence in the UK and does not perform functions critical to the financial system.

'The Government and the Bank understand the level of concern that this raises for customers of Silicon Valley Bank UK, and especially how it may impact on cashflow positions in the short term.

'The UK has a world leading tech sector, with a dynamic start-up and scale-up ecosystem.

'The Government recognises that, given the importance of Silicon Valley Bank to its customers, its failure could have a significant impact on the liquidity of the tech ecosystem.

'The Government is treating this issue as a high priority, with discussions between the Governor of the Bank of England, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor taking place over the weekend.

'The Government is working at pace on a solution to avoid or minimise damage to some of our most promising companies in the UK and we will bring forward immediate plans to ensure the short term operational and cashflow needs of Silicon Valley Bank UK customers are able to be met.'

The Treasury insisted that the UK's banking industry remains strong and financially stable.

Under insolvency proceedings for banks in Britain, some depositors are eligible for up to 85,000 ($102,000) of compensation for cash held at lenders, or 170,000 for joint accounts. Customers may not be able to recover deposits in excess of those sums, which are small relative to the deposits some startups had with the bank.

The pledge to find emergency support was welcomed by tech firms and lobby groups, including the startup industry body Codec, calling it 'an acknowledgement of the scale of the challenge'.

OakNorth Chief Executive Rishi Khosla said earlier this month - before SVB's implosion - the bank could make a 'nine figure' acquisition in cash given its reserves, and that it was looking at potentially buying another bank in Britain.

The opposition Labour shadow finance minister Rachel Reeves urged Hunt to offer more than 'warm words' to companies, saying the government had to come up with a plan by the time financial markets open on Monday morning.

Mr Sunak has said he wants to turn Britain into the 'next Silicon Valley'. Britain is behind only the US and China in terms of the level of venture capital funding for the sector, according to the government.

In the US, authorities are preparing 'material action' on to shore up deposits in Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and try to stem any broader financial fallout from its sudden collapse.

Some financial industry executives and investors are growing increasingly concerned that the collapse of the bank could have a domino effect on other US regional banks if regulators do not find a buyer over the weekend to protect uninsured deposits.

By late Saturday more than 3,500 CEOs and founders representing some 220,000 workers had signed a petition started by US firm Y Combinator appealing directly to Ms Yellen and others to backstop depositors, many of them small businesses who are at risk of failing to pay staff in the next 30 days.

The petition advocated 'stronger regulatory oversight and capital requirements for regional banks' and an investigation into any 'malfeasance or mismanagement' by SVB executives. More than 100,000 jobs could be at risk, the petition warned.

SVB did not reply to a request for comment, and Y Combinator did not elaborate on the petition.

Venture investors have advised startups to seek alternatives to gain short-term liquidity. Some, including Lowercarbon Capital, have offered loans to portfolio companies that have funds stuck at SVB.

Its partner Clay Dumas said Lowercarbon would provide payroll support for the next two weeks and was wiring funds out Monday.

Khosla Ventures told Reuters: 'Given the rapidly evolving situation, we are talking to 100+ portfolio companies assessing their critical needs and plan to bridge where we are a lead or major investor.'
The United States on Sunday quashed claims by Iran that a prisoner swap agreement was close to fruition

The United States State Department has shot down claims by Iranian foreign officials that the two countries have reached a prisoner exchange agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian claimed during a Sunday appearance on state television that such an arrangement had been reached.

But soon after, US State Department spokesman Ned Price countered: 'Statements from Iranian officials that a deal regarding the exchange of prisoners has been reached are another especially cruel lie that only adds to the suffering of their families'.

'We are working relentlessly to secure the release of the three wrongfully detained Americans in Iran. We will not stop until they are reunited with their loved ones,' he added.

Iranian officials had claimed the deal was essentially done, and was just waiting for 'technical coordination' from the US.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Sunday there was no truth to the Iranian Foreign Minister's claim that a prisoner swap was near execution

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Sunday on state television that a deal had been arranged and the governments merely had to work out logistics before going forward with a prisoner swap

Earlier on Sunday, Amirabdollahian said: 'Regarding the issue of prisoner swaps between Iran and the U.S. we have reached an agreement in the recent days and if everything goes well on the U.S. side, I think we will witness a prisoner exchange in a short period.'

'On our part everything is ready, while the U.S. is currently working on the final technical coordination,' he added.

Several United States citizens are currently being held in Iranian custody, with charges against them including spying.

The prisoners include Iranian-American businessmen Siamak Namazi and Emad Shargi, as well as Morad Tahbaz - an environmentalist, with British, American and Iranian citizenship.

Namazi was sentenced, in 2016, to a decade in Iranian prison for spying on behalf of the US government.

Shargi was arrested in 2018 while working for a tech investment company.

For many years Iran has sought to broker the release of more than a dozen Iranians being held in the US, including several who possess dual citizenship between the two countries, as well as two Iranians with permanent US residency and four Iranian citizens without legal US status.

The Iranian official did not elaborate on details of the arrangement, and US officials said no such deal had been made - adding, however, that they are determined to secure the release of the Americans being held in Iran.

Any such exchange between the two countries would be the first high-profile prisoner swap since the US traded a top global arms dealer back to Russia in exchange for WNBA star Brittney Griner last December.

Reuters reported that two regional countries were involved in a handful of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington concerning the release of these prisoners.

Some Iranian media claimed last week that the country had reached a prisoner swap deal in exchange for the release of $7billion in frozen Iranian oil funds currently under US sanctions in South Korea.

British-Iranian environmentalist Morad Tahbaz poses with daughter Roxanne Tahbaz prior to his imprisonment

Iranian-American businessman Emad Shargi was originally arrested in 2018 and has been detained in Iran ever since

Iranian-American consultant Siamak Namazi (right) is pictured with his father Baquer Namazi (left). Siamak was originally arrested by Iranian forces in 2016

In 2018, then-President Donald Trump walked away from the Obama era Iranian nuclear deal and reimposed a series of crippling sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

The 2015 nuclear agreement imposed restrictions on Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.

In reaction to the Trump-era sanctions, Iran has gradually built up its nuclear program, violating the agreement that involved four other nations.

Talks between Joe Biden's administration and the Iranian government on reviving the nuclear agreement have been ongoing since the beginning of his term in the Oval Office, but stalled most recently in September.
A Florida woman crashed a city planning meeting to call for March 10 to be 'Sugar Daddy and Mommy Appreciation Day' to 'honor those who have given us so much.'

The woman, identified as Ashley Cream, took to the public speaker podium during a Boca Raton city planning meeting about flammable liquid storage.

Cream, who wore ski-like sunglasses and styled platinum blonde hair, wheeled her elderly sugar daddy to the mic and told officials the sunny state, especially Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Miami, had the most sugar daddies in the nation.

'Sugar daddies both gay and straight, and yes, even sugar mommies, are responsible for college educations, cars, homes, rents, jets, Birkins and the occasional body enhancement,' Cream said.

She then paused while placing her hands on her breasts and added: 'But not me though, I'm all natural.'

Ashley Cream, crashed a Boca Raton city planning meeting about flammable liquid storage to propose designating March 10 for sugar daddies

Cream spoke to the nearly empty room and claimed sugar daddies and mommies support the local economy as 'giving/generous samaritans.'

Planning members appeared stunned by her comments, as one responded, 'Thank you for - thats a City Council issue.'

Cream wasn't discouraged and continued to push for her request.

'I really - really just wanted to address this issue here today because I think it's a very important issue,' Cream said.

She then added, 'You guys look amazing,' before wheeling her sugar daddy out of the meeting with an ear to ear smile.

Meanwhile, the confused city planning member said, 'Anybody else wishing to speak on the issue of flammable liquids?'

Cream said sugar daddies are essential to the economy and support education, homes and 'occasional body enhancements'

Cream appeared at the meeting alongside her very own sugar daddy. She wheeled him in and out of the meeting

Cream wore ski-like sunglasses and styled platinum blonde hair. She appeared to have confused officials, who were talking about flammable liquid storage

While March 10 has not yet been dedicated to 'sugar daddies and mommies,' several people on social media appreciated Cream and her request.

'Put this on your calendar,' one person wrote on TikTok.

'What an icon,' another added.

Others supported Cream and her sugar daddy as a united couple.

'I'm honestly obsessed, one person wrote.

'What an absolute unit,' another added.
Ron DeSantis is not giving any glimpses into a timeline for when he could announce a presidential run  and is still dodging questions on whether he will make a bid despite recent visits to key states of Iowa and Nevada.

The Florida governor wouldn't tell Fox's Sunday Morning Futures if his trip to Iowa on Friday was an indication that he's about to make a bid.

Recent reports speculate that DeSantis is considering announcing a bid in mid-to-late May, which is when Florida's legislative session ends. The session with Florida's supermajority Republican legislature is likely to yield the governor a flurry of wins when it comes to his 'anti-woke' agenda.

'Governor, you made a stop in Iowa this weekend. How was it? Was this the first indication that you are running for president?' Fox host Maria Bartiromo asked.

'It's a first indication that we've got a great book that people are buying, we had a lot of interest,' DeSantis chuckled.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said his visit to Iowa was 'a first indication that we've got a great book that people are buying' when asked if the trip could be seen as an inkling he's going to run for president

DeSantis' trip to the first-in-the-nation primary contest state is fueling speculation that he will launch a 2024 presidential bid soon. Pictured: DeSantis signs books at his tour stop in Des Moines, Iowa on Friday, March 10

When reports have asked DeSantis if he plans to announce his run, he has responded in jest with: 'Wouldn't you like to know?'

DeSantis' book tour over the last few weeks has been largely viewed as a pre-announcement campaign swing  with events mirroring political rallies rather than discussions about his memoir.

In remarks about The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival, DeSantis talks about how the U.S. should mirror what he has implemented in the Sunshine State over the last several years to gain more economic and educational success.

His book, which was an instant best seller, is viewed as what most can expect from a presidential campaign platform from DeSantis in 2024.

After the release of his memoir late last month, DeSantis launched a book tour with stops in deep blue southern California, the first-in-the-nation primary contest state of Iowa and key swing state of Nevada. He also held an event in his home state in Tampa, Florida on Thursday.

All events were heavily attended with crowds enthusiastic for DeSantis to make a White House bid.

Many feel the book tour is filled with events more indicative of pre-announcement political rallies. Pictured: An attendee on Friday holds a copy of DeSantis' new best-selling book The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival

'Governor Kim Reynolds is a friend of mine and I often tell people when they ask me in Florida who else has done a good job, I always say look at what Iowa's done,' DeSantis told Fox News. 'They've done a lot of things that Florida has done, they've got a great legislature.'

Four different PACs have emerged encouraging the governor to run for president, including one led by former senior Trump official Ken Cuccinelli.

Florida was once seen as a key swing state for presidential elections, but has gone deep red since DeSantis first took office in 2018 with the help of former President Donald Trump's coattails.

Trump has said that DeSantis announcing a bid would be very 'disloyal', and noted that he wouldn't have been successful if it weren't for his backing in 2018.
The lesson advises introducing four-year-olds to ideas about the difference between gender and sex, and that by six kids should have private consultations

The lesson says gender is a construct , and sex is a 'mostly biological' construct

Indiana University School of Medicine added the gender-inclusive education lessons to 'Human Structure' course all first-year students are required to take

Indiana University School of Medicine's mandatory 'Human Structure' course for first year students has been overhauled to include 'sex and gender primer' teaching them to use gender-inclusive language and avoid words like male and female.

The lessons advise students that medical procedures such as cervical cancer screenings should be offered to 'people' not 'women' to avoid offending patients.

Students are also taught that gender is a 'social construct' separate from biological sex, and as doctors they should use 'gender-inclusive and language' to promote 'affirmation of identity.'

The power point presentation also includes a diagram titled the 'Genderbread Person,' which uses a gingerbread man cookie to illustrate the differences between identity, sexual attraction, biological sex, and self expression.

A 'Goals' section from a lesson plan says the class strived to instill 'reduced gendered language' and direct students use 'anatomy specific language' throughout their future medical practice.

It comes as the latest example of troubling medical practices that seem to be putting social ideologies before sound the practicing of safe medicine, which includes a prominent St. Louis medical center being accused of bullying parents into giving children irreversible hormonal treatment.

The lesson's 'Genderbread Person' slide, which uses a gingerbread man cookie to illustrate the differences between identity, sexual attraction, biological sex, and self expression

Indiana University School of Medicine added the gender-inclusive education lessons to 'Human Structure' course all first-year students are required to take

The power point lesson includes a slide asserting that sex and gender are not equivalent.

It is stated that sex is a 'mostly biological construct,' while defining it as 'patterns of chromosomes, genes, and hormones produce common phenotypes but variations exist.'

'Some societies established binarized sex as male/female even though not everyone fits into those categories,' the slide notes.

It then goes on to assert gender is a 'mostly social construct,' but that 'most identify with their sex assigned at birth.'

The lesson then explains that just one to three percent of high school students identify as non-binary or trans gender, and that between one and four percent of the population 'have intersex variations or differences in sexual differentiation.'

Despite those minute numbers, the school advises its students that in their future practice they should focus on using language that avoids any reference to gender in the name of inclusivity, which instruction to 'default to they/them' pronouns.

The school advises using 'person-first language' which 'places the person before a trait, condition, or diagnosis.' As an example students are told to refer to 'people' - not women - 'with cervices need to undergo yearly cervical cancer screening.'

When doctors are forced to discuss the human body in their line of work, the University directs its students to focus on 'anatomy-based language' that eschews any mention of gender.

The lesson advises that this 'focuses on the organs, tissues, and structures themselves and in relation to each other, and not as 'typical' person of any one sex assigned at birth.'

As an example, it says students should not say things like 'the male gonad produces sperm,' but instead say 'the testes produce sperm.'

Students are taught that 'not everyone fits' into the 'established binarized sex as male/female,' which it describes merely as 'common gender types.'

'These are oversimplifications and BOTH exist on a continuum,' the lesson adds.

It also includes a timeline for how to treat a patient with "a difference of sex development," which begins at four years of age and reaches into adulthood.

That time line advises introducing four-year-olds to ideas about the difference between gender and sex.

By six-years-old, the lesson says kids should begin talking about puberty, and that doctors should consider having those discussions children in private.

Come early puberty doctors are advised to hold meetings with patients in private and to begin discussing transitions.

At late puberty the school says doctors should begin organizing transitions with patients.

Indiana University School of Medicine did not respond to DailyMail.com requests for comment.

Jamie Reed worked at The Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital between 2018 and November 2022

Jamie Reed (pictured) said she took the job with the intention of 'saving' trans kids, but that she believes what is happening amounts to 'permanent harm' on young, vulnerable children

Last month, a St. Louis transgender treatment clinic is under investigation for allegedly harming up to 600 children after a whistleblower claimed parents were bullied into allowing kids to take irreversible hormone drugs and undergo gender-transitioning surgeries.

Jamie Reed, a former employee at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital, told The Free Press that the clinic administered a litany of irreparable treatments to minors, often times without parental consent.

Reed claimed that doctors would ask questions like 'do you want a dead daughter or an alive son?' to 'bully' children's parents into going ahead with gender transitions - under the pretense that not doing so would make them suicidal.

The whistleblower told The Free Press that working at the center, which medically transitioned 600 children within two years, was 'like I was in a cult, and I had to de-program my way out of it.'

Reed alleged, in a sworn affidavit, that the hospital openly lied about not performing sex-transitioning surgeries on minors - claiming one doctor, Dr. Allison Snyder-Warwick, performed one at the hospital in the last few years.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey confirmed his office was launching an major probe into the clinic following Reed's allegations, which he characterized as 'disturbing.'
It is not clear exactly when in April Dole Whips will make their supermarket debut

Dole has announced that it will finally make their famed Whip treat available in the freezer section of grocery stores this spring.

The treat once exclusively available at Disney parks, will soon be available for customers to enjoy in their very own homes as the warm season arrives.

Consumers will be able to purchase pineapple, mango and strawberry flavors of the dairy-free dessert.

Dole Whip is currently considered to be a Disney parks staple, with some travelers even planning trips to Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida specifically to get a taste of the frozen treat.

In April, Dole will release a grocery store line of Dole Whips in pineapple, strawberry and mango flavors

The iconic Disney Parks Dole Whip, which was initially introduced in Aloha Isle at the Magic Kingdom and has since gained significant mainstream popularity

Poll What's your favorite flavor of Dole Whip? Pineapple Strawberry Mango What's your favorite flavor of Dole Whip? Pineapple 239 votes

Strawberry 64 votes

Mango 55 votes Now share your opinion





Over the years, the conglomerate has introduced several innovations to the popular icy treat including new flavors like watermelon, lemon, lime, orange, raspberry-lemon swirl, chocolate and vanilla.

Part of the appeal of the popular snack is the customer's ability to personalize the treat in a waffle cone, cup, or as a drinkable float - with the option to add alcohol.

The shelf version of the snack will allow fans, and those who have never before had the pleasure, to customize the whips any way they choose from the comfort of their own kitchens.

Some of the famous options worth trying a DIY version of include the Pineapple Upside Down Cake - which, you guessed it, is a dole whip sitting atop a mini upside down cake.

There's also a Sparkling Sunshine float, served with orange cream soft-serve and apple cider, the Barq's Root Bear Float, Simba's Sunset pineapple-and-strawberry swirl, the Frozen Margarita with Dole Whip Lime, and the Habanero Lime Galley Shack Swirl served with tequila.

At Aloha Isle in the Magic Kingdom, where Dole Whips were first served, employees add a splash of coconut rum to the soft serve upon request, a poolside option fit for any temperature this summer.

The option may be especially helpful this summer as Disney parks tickets skyrocket to all-time highs.

Each package will include four cups of the fruity summer-time snack and the brand is planning on announcing more details laying out precisely where the cups will be available for purchase closer to the launch date.

In addition to its famous whipped dessert, Dole also announced other new grocery store products including smoothie bowls, pineapple juice drinks and more.

During COVID-19 lockdowns, Disney released the recipe for the beloved frozen treat so that those missing theme park visits could make the creamy dessert in their own kitchens

Over the years, many add ons and flares have been created to give consumers the ability to customize their Dole Whips - like the one shown here, which appears to be a classic Dole Whip served atop orange or pineapple juice

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, which closed all the Disney parks in April of 2020, the House of Mouse made the decision to share the recipe for the iconic treat.

In July of 2022, the company released an updated recipe in honor of National Dole Whip Day.

The basic recipe is relatively simple to recreate and involves just three ingredients - about half a cup of pineapple juice, two cups of frozen pineapple chunks, and one cup of dairy-free vanilla ice cream.

Once those ingredients are all blended together, you have a DIY dole whip. But come April, even that simple recipe won't be necessary in order to obtain a Disneyland-esque dole whip of your own.
Nancy Mace will not be joining some of her GOP colleagues planning to make a prison visit to those serving jail time for their role in the January 6 Capitol attack.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer confirmed Thursday that his office is working with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene to organize a trip to speak with those persecuted for rioting at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Comer, Greene and Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins wrote a letter to Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested information and documentation on 'January 6 detainees', as well as demanding steps toward allowing a congressional delegation to visit the jail and speak with inmates and employees.

'I'm not joining them,' said Mace, who serves on the Oversight panel, in an interview with CNN's State of the Union on Sunday morning.

She said that 'members of Antifa and Black Lives Matter' should be treated the same as the rioters who were involved in the Capitol attack.

South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, a member of the Oversight panel, said she will not be joining her GOP colleagues in visiting prisoners held at a D.C. jail for their involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (left) is leading efforts with Oversight Chairman James Comer (right) to lead a delegation to interview prisoners and employees

CNN's @kaitlancollins asks Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) if she plans to join fellow lawmakers Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and James Comer (R-KY) in visiting January 6 defendants in jail. @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/bEZuFmx86y  CNN (@CNN) March 12, 2023

Rioters from the attack more than two years ago are still being held at a jail in D.C.

Greene has already previously toured the jail where those charged with crimes relating to the attack are being held and is now leading the effort for a full congressional delegation to visit.

Mace pushed back against Fox News host Tucker Carlson framing the more than 40,000 hours of footage from that day as mostly people peacefully 'touring' the Capitol.

'There was violence on that day  you cannot deny that,' Mace said, adding that she wishes House Speaker Kevin McCarthy would have turned over the footage to multiple media outlets, and not just Fox.

She did, however, also point out the hypocrisy in the handling of rioters on the January 6 attack versus those with other more left-leaning groups.

'It was a dark day in our history. But so too was the summer of 2020,' Mace continued and lamented: 'We saw very few arrests when there were attacks by an organization, members of Antifa and Black Lives Matter.'

'I had my house spray-painted two summers ago, and no one's been held to account for that,' she said.

'And so we have got to make sure  if there's going to be political violence in this country, no matter your political affiliation, everybody is treated and should be treated the same way.'

Mace said that those in groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter should be treated the same as January 6 rioters. Pictured: Tucker Carlson aired new footage from Jan. 6, 2021 after receiving more than 40,000 hours of surveillance video from that day

Mace said that she wants to make sure that anyone in jail receives help from Congress if they claim that their civil rights have been violated.

'I have done a lot of civil rights work over the years as a state lawmaker and as a member of Congress. In fact, the very first bill I ever filed or helped work on in my freshman year was with Hakeem Jeffries on a civil rights piece of legislation,' she explained.

'I would tell you, anyone who's sitting in solitary confinement or sitting in jail, regardless of their political affiliation, if they feel like their civil rights have been violated, then we, as members of Congress, should help them,' she said. 'And this is something that I have worked on a lot over the years and something that I respect.'

'I was the ranking member on the Civil Rights Committee on oversight with Jamie Raskin last year. That's something that we should all care about, the constitutional rights of citizens of this country.'
A mother has been left 'terrified' her three-year-old might die after claiming a council hasn't done anything about mould covering her daughter's mattress and the rest of her home.

Terri Harrigan, 31, of Hackney, London, said her daughter Ariella has been 'sick most of her life' and is 'terrified' she might die suddenly because of mould covering her mattress.

She claimed doctors have told Hackney Council the mould is causing Ariella's breathing problems but all the authority has done is 'paint over' the walls.

Miss Harrigan first found the mould after peeling back her wallpaper shortly after moving into her council home in December 2019.

Since then, she explained it has spread to her daughter's mattress, walls in her living room, kitchen, bedrooms, toilet, windows and ceilings, as well as clothes.

Terri Harrigan (pictured, left), 31, of Hackney, London, said her daughter Ariella has been 'sick most of her life' and is 'terrified' she might die suddenly because of mould covering her mattress

Since then, she explained it has spread to her daughter's mattress, walls in her living room, kitchen, bedrooms, toilet, windows and ceilings, as well as clothes

She added: 'Ariella's mattress is covered in mould. I'm just terrified she's going to die.

'She gets sick at least every two to three weeks now. She really struggles with her breathing and doctors have even written a letter to the council to say the mould is causing her health issues.'

'All I want is for her to be healthy and happy. My main concern as a new mum shouldn't be that my three-year-old is going to die suddenly.'

Miss Harrigan claimed that she has tried to wash the mould away two to three times a week it keeps growing back.

But despite her efforts, Miss Harrigan said all the council has done is 'paint over' the mould three times since September 2020.

The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Manchester last year after he was exposed to black mould has left her scared the same thing will happen to Ariella.

She said: 'I'm just constantly anxious about my children. Don't get me wrong, they're all very happy but I need them to be healthy as well.

'We don't have any money to move house. We don't even have enough to get a new bed.'

Miss Harrigan claimed that despite her best efforts to wash the mould away two to three times a week it keeps growing back

But despite her efforts, Miss Harrigan said all the council has done is 'paint over' the mould three times since September 2020

Her daughter's health deteriorated in September 2022 when an ambulance was called because of breathing difficulties.

She said: 'Her breathing became really rapid. It just wasn't slowing down. I called 111 and they sent an ambulance out to us straight away.

'She was only two years old at the time and I was worried we were about to lose her.

'Doctors sent a letter to the Mayor of Hackney but he just said he'd let us know when other social housing became available. Seven months later and we're still waiting.'

A letter from her GP asked if the mould issues could be addressed to 'ensure safe living conditions'.

A Hackney Council spokesman said: 'We wholeheartedly apologise for the delay to repairs that Ms Harrigan has experienced following our survey on November 2022.

'The Council carried out repair work relating to recurring damp in 2019, 2020, and again in January 2022.'

Her daughter's health deteriorated in September 2022 when an ambulance was called because of breathing difficulties

The spokesman added: 'The most recent issue in November 2022 was surveyed but this work was delayed as a result of problems with the supply chain and a breakdown of communication at our end.

'We have now made contact with Ms Harrigan to begin work to resolve all the issues at her earliest convenience.

'As part of this, we will look at stronger measures to prevent future recurrence.

'Hackney Council is one of the largest social landlords in the country, and we want to assure everyone living in one of our homes that tackling damp and mould is a priority for us.

'We launched a housing repairs action plan backed by an extra 1millon investment last year.

'This includes inspecting all reports of damp and mould within five working days; reassessing all outstanding damp and mould complaints and ensuring they are prioritised based on the severity of the case, and the age and health of the people living in the home.'
An envelope that was sent from America has finally arrived in the UK 80 years after it was posted - but the letter inside of it is missing.

The envelope, which is dated October 5, 1942, was discovered by manager Kevin Beattie, 39, when it arrived at The Sands Meadows care home in Hest Bank, Lancashire.

He said he immediately realised that 'it wasn't your average letter' and launched an appeal on social media to try and find out who the envelope belonged to.

Kevin then discovered it was from Phillip Tattersall, who was living in Florida at the time while training for the British Flying Training School, but he sadly died in 1996.

It is believed Phillip tried to send the letter from Florida to his parents Cornelius and Ethel Tattersall, who lived at the property which is now the care home.

The envelope is dated October 5, 1942, and has only just been delivered - 80 years later

Phillip Tattersall, pictured with his daughter Phillipa in 1988, had sent the letter in 1942 to his parents

Although the actual letter was missing, Kevin said when he opened it and 'saw the age of the envelope', he realised it was something he has 'never seen' before.

He said: 'If letters have come damaged to the home, then its come in a clear plastic bag and just mentioned that if there's anything of value, to contact Royal Mail.

'But once we opened it and saw the age of the envelope and the stamp, it dawned on us that it wasn't your average letter that we would have got.

'We've never seen anything like this locally but I've seen something before how someone received a letter from over a hundreds years ago.

'But we'd never seen one before.'

After seeing Kevin's appeal, Phillip's daughter Phillipa and granddaughter Tessa reached out to him to provide more information about the envelope.

They revealed that when he returned from Florida, Phillip became a RAF Flight Lieutenant and later served in northern Germany in WW2 and flew a fighter bomber.

Phillip went on to marry his wife Ruth and live in Morecambe, Lancshire, before emigrating to Canada and having four children.

Their daughter Phillipa, who lives in an island near Vancouver, Canada, said: 'I have been thinking about the power of social media and how quickly information gets passed to all of us.

'Certainly much quicker than that envelope delivered to The Sands Meadow.

'I recognised my father's handwriting as soon as I saw the envelope.'

She added: 'The envelope probably contained a letter to update his parents on his life during training in Florida.

'He always stayed in close contact with them throughout their lives and would visit them.

'My father, Philip was a great story teller and would be thrilled that this information be shared.'

Although the actual letter was missing, Kevin said when he opened it and 'saw the age of the envelope', he realised it was something he has 'never seen' before

It is believed Phillip tried to send the letter from Florida to his parents Cornelius (pictured here when he was younger) and Ethel Tattersall, who lived at the property which is now the care home

Kevin has contacted Royal Mail to find out why the envelope has only been delivered now but said he thinks it has 'fallen through the gaps.'

He said: 'They were unaware of where it had actually been so whether it has been found behind a desk while cleaning or whether it has just been on a shelf somewhere.

'It has just fallen through the gaps really.

'They couldn't tell us which depot it had come from either unfortunately.

'But you can by the age of the envelope as well that it looks like it's been somewhere where the sun had been on the envelope.

'It wasn't white paper, there was some yellowing in the paper so it looked aged.'
Two teenagers died in a 'tragic' car smash in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police were called to a report of a collision on the A196 near Coopies Way, in Morpeth, Northumberland shortly after 12.40am.

Emergency services rushed to the crash but despite the best efforts of medics, two teens, aged 17 and 16, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Northumbria Police have said both families are currently being supported by specialist officers.

Officers have launched an investigation and are appealing for any witnesses, especially anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

Two teenagers died after a crash near Morpeth in Northumberland early on Sunday morning. Flowers have been left where they died

Police rushed to the crash on the A196 after receiving reports of the smash at approximately 12.40 on Sunday morning

Sergeant Craig Bartle, of Northumbria Police's Motor Patrols department, said:

'This is an incredibly tragic incident involving two young men who had their whole lives ahead of them.

'Our thoughts go out to both the young men's families and close ones as they attempt to come to terms with today's devastating news.

Flowers have been left at the site and the victims' families are being supported by specialist officers

'We will support them in every way we can and ask that the family's privacy is respected.

'An investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision and we're asking for anyone who has not yet spoken to us to get in touch, especially if you were travelling in the area and may have some information or dashcam footage that could help our enquiries.'

On Sunday afternoon, dozens of bunches of flowers had been left on a tree near the scene. One of the floral tributes, left for one of the boys, said 'Fly High'.

Another bunch of flowers, left for the other boy, said: 'Always a smile on your face' and 'Rip sweetheart gone to soo
Crews at the 95th Academy Awards struggled on Sunday to clean up water leaking from the ceiling at the Dolby Theater before celebrities arrived on the new champagne-colored carpet after weeks of devastating storms.

Water could be seen Sunday afternoon dripping down through the red drapes that serve as the ceiling for the glitzy event and onto the carpet where actors, directors and producers will soon pose for photos.

Members of the Academy's drip control team tried to alleviate the puddles forming on the red drapes with giant poles, ABC 7 reports, before placing buckets to catch the drip. Fortunately, the champagne carpet was covered ahead of the event.

But scattered storms may continue through 8pm, when the star-studded event begins after parts of California already received up to 13 inches of rain, leaving roads flooded and two people dead.

It is now expected to see even more wild weather in the coming days, with flood and high wind watches in effect for the entire San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast beginning Monday night and lasting through Wednesday. Another storm will then likely follow in its wake.

The no-longer red carpet was flooded ahead of the 95th annual Academy Awards

People are seen here carrying umbrellas along the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a worker made final preparations for the Oscars

Ongoing storms have caused major flooding throughout California. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is seen here on Saturday drenched in floodwaters

Scattered storms continued on Sunday, and are expected to worsen Monday night

Rain and snow pounded large portions of California on Friday in the 10th atmospheric river storm of the winter, forcing highway closures across the state, and one of its major dams to open its spillway for the first time in nearly four years.

More than 9,000 California residents were under evacuation orders, California Office of Emergency Services Director Nancy Ward confirmed.

She also stated that two other deaths from previous weeks were confirmed to be caused by this disastrous weather, bringing the confirmed death toll from the weeks of persistent storms to 16.

More than 50 others had to be rescued by first responders and the California National Guard in recent days.

Monterey County was the worst-hit area in the state as it was pummeled with as much as 13 inches of rain on Friday.

Rain topped the 10-inch mark in Santa Cruz County, where a creek bloated by rain destroyed a portion of Main Street in Soquel - a town of 10,000 people - isolating several neighborhoods.

Crews were working to remove trees and other debris and find a way for people to cross the creek, county officials said.

There were also flash floods in Kernville, another foothill town in Kern County. Officials said there were no injuries reported or calls for rescue by Friday afternoon but that the river, known to locals as 'Killer Kern,' continued to rise.

The flood was captured in a stunning video that showed it overtaking homes, as officials warned people in Springville that they were facing 'catastrophic life threatening' floods.

Evacuations were ordered in nearby Watsonville where creek water spilled over and filled roadways with several feet of water, threatening dozens of homes with flooding. At one home, chickens inside a backyard coop perched on a bar near the roof to avoid the water.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rain started to fall on Friday as preparations were getting underway for the Academy Awards

STRATHMORE, CALIFORNIA: Parts of Northern California received over a foot of rain on Friday. A flooded farm is seen here

KERNILLE, CALIFORNIA: Playground equipment was submerged in the overflowing Kern River on Friday

In central California, the Tule River overflowed its banks and flooded several homes. Videos posted on social media showed a handful of homes and cars under a few feet of water and at least one road washed out by the rushing river in Springville, a Tulare County town of about 1,000 people in the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada.

Evacuation orders were ordered for other areas of the county, including parts of the small community of Cutler because of a levee break and areas of Exeter because a creek overflowed its banks.

Floodwaters that got into the region's wells may be contaminated with chemicals, and officials urged residents not to cook or drink with tap water, CBS News reports.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, flooding blocked portions of several major highways, including Interstate 580 in Oakland, disrupting travel.

And in Fresno County, first responders had to rescue three women  two of whom were in their 80s while the third was 104 years old. All of the victims were trapped in their homes amid the ravaging storms.

Eventually, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom declared emergencies in 34 counties in recent weeks, and the Biden administration approved a presidential disaster declaration for some on Friday morning, triggering federal assistance to state 'tribal and local response efforts' caused by ongoing 'severe weather storms, flooding landslides and mudslides.'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A student with an umbrella is seen here walking through the storm on Friday

SPRINGVILLE, CALIFORNIA: Vehicles were left submerged in the flood waters on Saturday as the storm started to subside

STRATHMORE, CALIFORNIA: Residents were ordered to evacuate in Northern California after a river nearby overflowed

POTTERVILLE, CALIFORNIA: In an aerial view, people look at the flood waters of Deer Creek on Friday

The rains started to subside on Saturday but continued with scattered storms around the Los Angeles area on Sunday.

It is expected to get worse Monday night, when another round of severe weather moves in from an atmospheric river, known as a 'Pineapple Express' because it brings warm subtropical moisture across the Pacific from near Hawaii.

That storm could bring even more snow in the already inundated higher-elevated mountains, and more flooding at lower elevations.

'We will see additional rounds of both rain and heavy mountain snow redevelop across much of Northern and Central California as we go through the week,' National Weather Service meteorologist David Lawrence said.

'And we're also likely to see this weather pattern continuing as we go into at last the first half of next week.'

One to three inches of rain is forecast for the coastal areas and valleys, KTLA reports, while mountain and foothill communities may see three to six inches.

A flood warning, meanwhile, has been issued for the entire San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast that goes into effect Monday night and will last through Wednesday morning.

And a high wind watch will be in effect for the entire region, with wind speeds of 25 to 45mph, though gusts could reach up to 50mph in the valleys and up to 70mph at the coast and elevations over 1,000 feet.

There will then be a short break in the wild weather from Wednesday evening until Friday morning, when another storm system is expected to move in.

National Weather Service officials are also warning that 'considerable flooding' could occur, especially in the lower elevations.

The California Transportation Department is now warning drivers to be 'prepared for delays and carry extra food, water, blankets and other essentials, and pack cellphone chargers' as roads may be closed due to the widespread flooding.
Energy firms will be blocked from charging their customers more if they use prepayment meters in reforms to be announced Jeremy Hunt's Budget.

The Chancellor will end the so-called 'prepayment premium' which has impacted more than four million households with pay-as-you-go meters, from July.

Millions of households will save 45 a year on their energy bills as a result, according to the Treasury. Households using the meters currently pay more on average than direct debit customers because firms managing the meters pass the cost onto users.

The Treasury estimates the change will cost the taxpayer 200 million.

Mr Hunt described the system as 'clearly unfair', adding: 'We are going to put an end to that.

The Chancellor will end the so-called 'prepayment premium' which has impacted more than four million households with pay-as-you-go meters, from July

Households using the meters currently pay more on average than direct debit customers because firms managing the meters pass the cost onto users

'From July, four million households won't pay more than those on direct debits. We've already cut energy bills by almost half this winter, and this latest reform is proof again that we're always on the side of families.'

Prepayment meters came under scrutiny earlier this year when it was revealed that energy giant British Gas sent debt collectors to 'break into homes' and force-fit pay-as-you-go meters on 'vulnerable' customers.

Energy companies can obtain court warrants which give them legal rights to enter people's homes and fit prepayment meters if customers have not paid their bills. The customers must then top up to continue receiving gas supplies, and if they fail to do so they risk their heating being cut off.

Firms were subsequently temporarily banned from installing meters under warrant, but the order will expire at the end of this month.

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'While actions I've pushed for have meant forced installations are on pause, warrants aren't being waved through and Ofgem is toughening up its reviews, our changes will make sure families aren't penalised simply for how they heat their home.'

Elsewhere in the Budget, the Chancellor is expected to scrap a planned 500 hike in energy bills, which was due to come into force next month,

For the average household, bills could now stay at around 2,500, instead of increasing to 3,000 as was previously announced.
BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Despite the impact of the pandemic, Bitzer, a German compressor technology company, decided to invest another 300 million yuan (about 43 million U.S. dollars) in its Beijing factory this year. Part of the investment will be spent on a 4,800-square-meter building for the research and development (R&D) department, and the foundation-laying ceremony is scheduled in April. "We have brought in some equipment, so we desperately need the building as soon as possible," said Karl Heinz Meister, vice president of the Bitzer Asia Pacific Area. It is the fifth time the company invested in its Beijing subsidiary over the past three years, with a total of 84 million yuan poured for the previous four times. Meister said the Chinese government has emphasized high-quality development and environmental protection, so the company needs to design and put forward new products in the Chinese market. The country's "no food waste" campaign has also benefitted the refrigeration business, he added. Bitzer started investing in Beijing in 1994, with a joint venture established in Tongzhou District. In 2006, the company founded its wholly-owned subsidiary -- Bitzer Refrigeration Technology (China) Co., Ltd. -- in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. The compressor is the heart of any refrigeration or air conditioning system. Bitzer's products are applied in central air-conditioning systems in buildings, freezers in supermarkets, as well as air conditioners in automobiles and trains. Apart from the market, the increasingly complete supply chain in China is another reason for them to keep investing in the Beijing factory. "In the past, the company could only assemble compressors using imported parts, with almost no R&D staff, but now, with some 100 suppliers across China, the factory has become more and more independent in both production and the development of new products," said Fang Yuyan, financial director of the factory. To encourage foreign investors to continue to expand their investment, China has issued a deferring tax policy, which would exempt the withholding tax temporarily if foreign investors' profits from Chinese domestic enterprises were directly invested in China, said Cong Lin, an official in charge of the international sector with the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area Tax Service, State Taxation Administration. To simplify the related procedures, an e-channel taxation service has been set up where companies can apply for different kinds of services online, without having to send staff to the taxation service hall. "We have also conducted English training for our team for easier communication with international companies and foreign taxpayers," Cong said. Despite the epidemic, the sales revenue of the Bitzer Beijing factory has been stable over the past three years, with a record of 1.6 billion yuan set in 2021. Bill Feng has worked in the company for 16 years. He said China has been through multiple difficulties over the years, like the SARS and financial crisis, but the long-term uptrend of the country's development remains unchanged all these years. "The impact of COVID-19 is only short-term, and we are confident about the business prospects in China in the long run," said Feng, now vice president of Bitzer Greater China. Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Weather chaos in California has wreaked havoc across the state over the weekend.

Heavy rains in Fresno County saw 10,000 people evacuated from their homes on Saturday, flash flooding struck Monterey and Tuolumne County Counties, hail the size of quarters fell and a spate of rare Tornado warnings were issued.

The flooding left roads and highways submerged beneath patches of water so deep one man in Watsonville was filmed pulling a nearly two-foot long fish out of the water between stalled up traffic. A family of ducks were even spotted floating along the washed out Interstate 580 in Oakland.

Along the Salinas River near Monterey County, a man in his car was swept away by the raging waters and left trapped on a patch of land amidst the deluge. Dramatic footage showed him stranded and isolated before being rescued by helicopter.

To the north heavy snows continued to bury the state, with scores of communities let without power and forced to dig themselves out of feet of accumulation.

A man stranded on a patch of land in the flooded Salinas River. He was rescued by helicopter

Dangerously rushing floodwaters on the Tule River in California on March 10

Record snowfall continued across the state. Above, cloud of snow blow on March 11

The storms marked the state's 10th atmospheric river to ravage the state this winter.

Though Sunday brought a respite of light showers across parts of the state, forecasts call for more calamity as another atmospheric river was forecast to strike this week.

'It's hard to say that we have another one on the way,' FOX Weather's Jane Minar said. 'We will see a brief break as we go through your day on Sunday, as scattered showers do continue to pivot across the northern tier of [California].'

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned that rain will be heavy on Monday leading to flooding risks from San Francisco to Sacramento.

By Tuesday the rains are due to head south, leading to flood dangers across swaths of central California.

'Rainfall is expected to bring another considerable flooding threat to elevations below 5,000 feet to Northern and Central California,' FOX Weather predicted. 'Forecast models show between one and three inches of rain for many communities, with a few spots, especially along the coast and the foothills possibly receiving more.'

That storm is expected to last till Wednesday.

Helicopter crews hoist up a man who was swept away by floodwaters on the Salinas River

California's Interstate 580 in Oakland was flooded by rainwaters on Friday morning

Ducks can be seen swimming in the floodwaters on Interstate 580 in Oakland

A flooded out parking lot in Springville, California, on March 11

A playground submerged in water on March 10 in Kernville, California

That storm could bring even more snow in the already inundated higher-elevated mountains, and more flooding at lower elevations.

'We will see additional rounds of both rain and heavy mountain snow redevelop across much of Northern and Central California as we go through the week,' National Weather Service meteorologist David Lawrence said.

'This is the craziest storm I know of,' Blake Heauser of the mountainside community of Grass Valley told The Guardian. 'It was relentless  it just kept snowing and snowing and snowing.'

'And we're also likely to see this weather pattern continuing as we go into at last the first half of next week.'

One to three inches of rain is forecast for the coastal areas and valleys, KTLA reports, while mountain and foothill communities may see three to six inches.

Crews at the 95th Academy Awards struggled on Sunday to clean up water leaking from the ceiling at the Dolby Theater before celebrities arrived on the new champagne-colored carpet after weeks of devastating storms.

Water could be seen Sunday afternoon dripping down through the red drapes that serve as the ceiling for the glitzy event and onto the carpet where actors, directors and producers will soon pose for photos.

Members of the Academy's drip control team tried to alleviate the puddles forming on the red drapes with giant poles, ABC 7 reports, before placing buckets to catch the drip. Fortunately, the champagne carpet was covered ahead of the event.

A home along the Tule River covered in flood waters and mud brought on by a flash flood

Cars lost to flood waters in California. The state was ravaged by rains last week

Handfulls of quarter-sized hail that fell across parts of California over the weekend

Giant hailstones that fell across California during the weekend's severe storms

First responders and the California National Guard rescued more than 50 people over the weekend. One video showed a member of the Guard helping a driver out of a car trapped by water up to their waists.

In Tulare County, the sheriff ordered residents who live near the Tule River to evacuate, while people near the Poso Creek in Kern County were under an evacuation warning.

The National Weather Service's meteorologists issued flood warnings and advisories, begging motorists to stay off deluged roadways.

In San Francisco, an 85-foot eucalyptus tree fell onto the Trocadero Clubhouse early Saturday morning. The 1892 clubhouse, a San Francisco historical landmark, was left severely damaged, with part of the roof crushed and the inside flooded.

Governor Gavin Newsom has declared emergencies in 34 counties in recent weeks, and the Biden administration approved a presidential disaster declaration for some on Friday morning, a move that will bring more federal assistance.

In higher elevations of California, massive amounts of snow continued to fall

People dwarfed by snowdrifts in California after record snowfall in recent days

A window obscured by snowfall in California on March 11 after record snowfalls
Rishi Sunak is facing increasing calls to impose a ban on MPs using TikTok after government officials were recommended to delete the Chinese-owned app for security purposes.

Experts at GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre recommended civil servants stop using the platform after identifying risks to sensitive information.

It follows similar moves by the White House, European Union and Canada in recent months to clamp down on TikTok, which is owned by Bytedance.

Under the new proposals government employees will be allowed to keep the video-sharing app on their personal phones, but 'discouraged' from doing so, according to the Mail on Sunday.

However, a number of British lawmakers are prominent users of the app, including Energy Secretary Grant Shapps and former Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Rishi Sunak is facing increasing calls to impose a ban on MPs using TikTok after government officials were recommended to delete the Chinese-owned app for security purposes

A number of British lawmakers are prominent users of the app, including former Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured)

Last night former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, one of a handful of MPs sanctioned by the Chinese government, said: 'Downing Street should immediately implement a ban on ministers using TikTok, just as a start.

'Grant Shapps should take note.'

Luke de Pulfordm Executive Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, added: 'This app isn't just problematic for government officials and MPs - nobody who cares about data privacy should be using it.

'Quite apart from having to own up to censoring Uyghur content, TikTok's executives have failed to offer a guarantee that user data won't be accessed from China, and by extension, by the Chinese Communist Party.

'Those who have reverse engineered the app have described it as 'essentially Chinese Government Spyware'. It's time to get rid.'

Last week TikTok pledged to strengthen controls on personal information on the app in Europe amid concerns they could share user data with Beijing. [File image]

Government employees will be allowed to keep the video-sharing app on their personal phones, but 'discouraged' from doing so

No 10 had initially resisted banning officials from using TikTok, suggesting it was a decision for individual departments and ministers to make.

Last week TikTok pledged to strengthen controls on personal information on the app in Europe amid concerns they could share user data with Beijing.

At least nine MPs are still using the increasingly popular social media platform, including Levelling Up minister Dehenna Davison and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Last month Tory backbencher Dr Luke Evans raised eyebrows after posting a video of his route into Downing Street, including shots of security, to his 41,000 followers.

A Government spokesperson said: 'All departments have robust processes in place to ensure government IT devices are secure, including managing risks from third party applications.'

A TikTok spokesperson said: 'TikTok is enjoyed by millions of people in the UK safely and securely and depriving users of access to their representatives would be a self-defeating step, especially in our shared fight against misinformation.

'While we await details of any specific concerns the UK government may have, we would be disappointed by such a move. Similar decisions elsewhere have been based on misplaced fears and seemingly driven by wider geopolitics, but we remain committed to working with the government to address any concerns.

'We have begun implementing a comprehensive plan to further protect our European user data, which includes storing UK user data in our European data centres and tightening data access controls, including third-party independent oversight of our approach.'
Police were quizzing an alleged terrorist yesterday accused of stabbing a woman in a car just three miles from the spy headquarters of GCHQ.

In a mysterious attack, the knifeman is said to have lashed out in the car park of a leisure centre before the victim managed to stagger out of the vehicle for help.

Seriously wounded, she managed to raise staff at the leisure centre in Cheltenham which was open to the public at the time of the attack on Thursday at 9.15pm.

The victim was then rushed to hospital where she remained in a stable condition yesterday.

Initially the apparently targeted assault was treated as attempted murder, but the suspect was re-arrested on suspicion of preparing and instigating a terrorist act just 24 hours later.

In a mysterious attack, the knifeman is said to have lashed out in the car park of a leisure centre. Pictured: Police at the scene on Friday morning

Police tape at Leisure At Cheltenham following the incident at around 9.15pm on Thursday night in Tommy Taylors Lane in Cheltenham

Yesterday police were searching a property in Cheltenham connected to the alleged offender.

The incident took place just three miles from the headquarters of the intelligence and security agency whose staff work to identify and disrupt terror plots across the UK.

Yesterday local residents suggested the victim was known to the suspect and the pair had been arguing in the car beforehand.

They were either parked or had pulled into the car park when she was stabbed and then she managed to get out of the car and get to the leisure centre, one neighbour said.

There were two ambulances and then the police arrested the bloke in the car.

A woman who lives nearby said residents were wondering how the stabbing could be connected to a terror incident.

Its pretty scary because its so quiet round here normally, the police never came to talk to anyone at the houses nearby so maybe they knew something about this before he was arrested. The leisure centre in the St Pauls district of Cheltenham serves both members and pay-as-you-go visitors.

Staff were seen at the venue yesterday, which remained closed to the public.

A number of cars belonging to leisure centre users and staff members who were there when the attack took place remained yesterday in the car park, which had its entry and exit barriers down.

Local Councillor Stephan Fifield said: People are really curious about what happened. I was informed when it happened from the borough council but there has not been any further information, police have really locked it down.

It is quite a large car park between the leisure centre and the main road.

At that time of night there would be little reason to be there as the leisure centre was closed to the public.

I cannot remember there ever being anything to do with terrorism in this area. Yesterday Counter Terrorism Policing South East said the stabbing had developed into a terrorism probe due to some specific details but refused to go into further details.

Pictured is GCHQ, the headquarters of the intelligence and security agency whose staff work to identify and disrupt terror plots across the UK

Pictured is the leisure centre, Leisure At Cheltenham

A 29-year-old man from Cheltenham has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences.

He is currently being held on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism contrary to Section 41 of the Terrorism Act (2000), as well as on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act (2006).

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone of Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: I would like to reassure those living locally or visiting the county that we believe this was an isolated incident and we are not aware of any wider threat to members of the public. We are working closely with our partners in Counter Terrorism Policing.

We appreciate that an incident of this nature may be concerning and we would encourage people to contact us via 101 with any additional information they may have about the incident.
A Fox correspondent has been slammed by Philadelphia lawmakers and local journalists for his coverage of the city's violence that 'broadcasts fear and trauma.'

Reporter Steve Keeley with Fox 29 is known for his extensive coverage of crimes, including homicides and thefts, in the city.

But despite Philadelphia recording 15,227 cases of violent crimes in 2022, he has now been criticized by some who claim his reporting is harming 'Black and brown people.'

Cherri Gregg, WHYY reporter, wrote on Facebook, said: 'I rarely speak badly of news outlets - BUT Steve Keeley FOX 29's coverage of crime- definitely makes me cringe. Crime coverage can be very harmful and scares people.

'Our crime coverage must be community centered  otherwise it can be harmful, sensationalized and disproportionate to what is really happening. AND who gets harmed?? Black and brown people Black communities and Black men.'

Steve Keeley with Fox 29 was criticized for his extensive coverage of crime in Philadelphia that 'broadcasts fear and trauma'

Keeley covers various topics on homicides, thefts and safety, but his reporting has been criticized by others who argue he is harming the 'Black and brown people'

Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Jenice Armstrong also called out Keeley's disturbing Twitter feed, according to Philadelphia Magazine.

Jamie Gauthier, Philadelphia councilwoman, called Keeley's coverage 'inhumane'

Keeley's Twitter features videos of crime, press releases and photos of various incidents.

His latest tweet on Sunday revealed the identity of a man shot and killed in Deptford last week.

Jamie Gauthier, Philadelphia councilwoman, also criticized Keeley's coverage of crime calling it 'inhumane' and not 'helpful.'

'It feels like a dog whistle to me. His coverage can be inhumane. His flavor isnt helpful. In fact, its harmful,' Gauthier told Philadelphia Magazine.

Insiders at Fox29 told the news outlet Keeley's reporting has been an issue in the past.

'Its embarrassing,' the insider said.

Cherri Gregg, WHYY reporter, wrote on Facebook that Keeley's crime coverage was 'harmful'

Crime in the city is slightly down as of March 5 compared to the same time last year in the areas of homicides, robbery at gunpoint and aggravated assault with a gun, according to the Philadelphia Police Department

Researchers examined data from 2020 and 2021 in four major US cities, focusing on shootings involving nearly 130,000 men aged between 18 and 29 and compared them with combat-related deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan

Despite Keeley's critics, there is no denying the crime wave that has rocked Philadelphia in the recent years.

Last year, Brandon del Pozo, a former New York City cop and now Brown University scholar, released a study declaring young men in Chicago and Philadelphia's worst neighborhoods are more likely to be shot and killed than those who fought on the bloodiest front-lines in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The study released in December 2022 says gun deaths among young men in those city's ghettos are worse than seen by troops deployed in America's war on terror.

Del Pozo, who started out in law enforcement patrolling streets in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, called his research an 'urgent wake-up call' for tackling gun crime and murder rates in the grittiest cities.

Crime in the city is slightly down as of March 5 compared to the same time last year in the areas of homicides, robbery at gunpoint and aggravated assault with a gun, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.

About 523 shooting incidents have been reported so far in 2023, with 695 recorded during the same time last year.

The number of shooting victims is also down, with 268 reported compared to 359 last year.
A former justice secretary called last night for swift action after freed paedophile Gary Glitter was filmed apparently discussing the sinister Dark Web.

Robert Buckland KC spoke out after a video showed the disgraced pop star, 78, in his secluded bail hostel, staring at a smartphone while saying he is trying to find the Onion.

This is a term for the infamous online realm the Dark Web, used by paedophiles as it is hard to monitor or trace users.

Leading Tory MP Mr Buckland, who was also Lord Chancellor, told the Daily Mail: I would have thought there would be licence conditions prohibiting this sort of activity and I hope the Ministry of Justice takes swift action to deal with this.

A former justice secretary called last night for swift action after freed paedophile Gary Glitter (pictured) was filmed apparently discussing the sinister Dark Web'

Glitter (pictured in a 2007 mugshot taken in Vietnam) was freed from prison in Dorset and is at the hostel in the south of England

Former home secretary Priti Patel said if Glitter was breaching conditions imposed when he was freed last month, he should be sent straight back to jail.

This is very shocking and makes you feel sick, she added.

The Ministry of Justice said: Sex offenders are closely monitored by the police and Probation Service and face some of the strictest licence conditions including restrictions on internet use. If an offender breaches these conditions, they can be recalled to prison.

But human rights laws protect the web use of even prolific paedophiles such as Glitter. Appeal Court judges ruled more than a decade ago that it was generally wrong to impose blanket bans.

That means it is hard to police Glitters activities. He was freed from prison in Dorset and is at the hostel in the south of England set in leafy grounds behind security gates.

Glitter (pictured in 1972) was freed after serving half a 16-year term imposed in 2015 for sexually abusing girls aged under 13 during his glam rock heyday in the 1970s and 80s

The footage obtained by the Sun on Sunday apparently from a fellow inmate shows him looking gaunt and with a hearing aid.

He says: Shall I get rid of this DuckDuck? and a companion replies: Yeah, I wouldnt bother using that. Glitter responds: So what do I do next? Lets try and find this Onion.

DuckDuck is likely to be a reference to a search engine with high levels of privacy.

Glitter was freed after serving half a 16-year term imposed in 2015 for sexually abusing girls aged under 13 during his glam rock heyday in the 1970s and 80s.

He was previously jailed for four months in 1999 over a vile cache of 4,000 child abuse images found on his computer. Glitter went abroad and was jailed again in 2006 for sexually abusing two girls in Vietnam.
Stanford University has apologized to a Trump-appointed judge who faced an embarrassing protest by a woke student mob - joined by the school's dean of 'equity' - after he was invited to speak at the college's Law School.

Judge Kyle Duncan, from the fifth circuit of appeals, was ambushed by associate dean of equity, diversity and inclusion Tirien Steinbach during a discussion Thursday night.

Steinbach - a former ACLU lawyer who previously defended free speech - initially claimed Duncan had a right to express his views. But she then launched into an impassioned six minute speech - which she had written down - condemning his life's work.

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne and dean of Stanford Law Jenny Martinez wrote an apology letter to Duncan, dated Saturday. Martinez had written a similar letter to students on Friday.

'We write to apologize for the disruption of your recent speech at Stanford Law School. As has already been communicated to our community, what happened was inconsistent with our policies on free speech, and we are very sorry about the experience you had while visiting our campus.'

The letter goes on to say that students had a right to 'protest but not disrupt' and that staff members like Steinbach 'failed' to enforce university policy.

Stanford University has apologized to Judge Kyle Duncan (pictured right) - a Trump-appointed jurist - who faced an embarrassing woke student mob - joined by the school's dean of 'equity' Tirien Steinbach (pictured left) - protesting his campus speaking engagement

The letter closes with Tessier-Lavigne and Martinez promising they 'are taking steps to ensure that something like this does not happen again. Freedom of speech is a bedrock principle for the law school, the university, and a democratic society, and we can and must do better to ensure that it continues even in polarized times.'

There was no mention made of any potential sanctions against Steinbach, other staffers or discipline toward the students.

Duncan looked on bemused as Steinbach stood at the lectern and told the law students she 'had to write something down because I am so uncomfortable up here.'

She continued: 'For many people at the law school who work here, who study here, and who live here, your advocacy - your opinions from the bench - land as absolute disenfranchisement of their rights.'

Woke students clicked their fingers in support - after progressive colleges warned handclapping can cause offense - and cried 'Yes' in agreement.

'They feel harmed not just by your speech - because if it was just words that would be one thing. You have authority and power to make decisions that impact the lives of millions,' Steinbach continued.

Her voice could be heard trembling at certain points, although it's unclear whether she was upset at Duncan, or just excited at having the chance to perform.

Duncan said he was unable to deliver his prepared remarks because he was immediately ambushed by students, and then the dean

Judge Kyle Duncan (left) was challenged by the associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at Stanford Law School, Tirien Steinbach (right)

She said she hoped Duncan could 'listen through your partisan lens.'

Steinbach added: 'It's uncomfortable to say this to you as a person. It's uncomfortable to say that for many people here, your work has caused harm  and I know that must be uncomfortable to hear. It must be.

'I'm also uncomfortable because many of the people in the room here I have come to care for.'

Duncan stood and shook his head in amazement. Steinbach also voiced her support for free speech.

But she did an apparent volte face just seconds later, when she suggested hate speech should be banned, and that her students could advocate for those very laws after graduating.

Duncan, a 51-year-old Louisiana-born lawyer, known for challenging LGBTQ+ rights, was appointed a federal judge in 2018 by then-President Trump.

Prior to that he represented Christian company Hobby Lobby in their case against providing contraception on health insurance plans to their staff - a case that Duncan successfully argued before the Supreme Court.

The LGBTQ+ advocacy group Lambda Legal said Duncan had 'spent his whole career working to annihilate civil rights progress.'

Duncan was invited to Thursday's on-campus event by the Stanford chapter of conservative group The Federalist Society.

He was tasked with discussing laws related to guns, COVID mandates, guns and Twitter.

'So, you've invited me to speak here, and I've been heckled non-stop,' said Duncan.

Steinbach then took the lectern, and, her voice quavering, said Duncan's remarks were 'tearing at the fabric of this community that I am here to support.'

Duncan was invited by the Stanford chapter of the Federalist Society to speak at the university

The 51-year-old Louisiana-born lawyer found himself laughing at the absurdity of the situation

She asked him: 'Is the juice worth the squeeze?'

When Duncan tried to reply, students screamed: 'Let her finish!' They remained hushed and polite while the woke dean espoused her beliefs, but offered Duncan no such courtesy.

'For many people here, your work has caused harm,' Steinbach told Duncan.

'In my role at this university, my job is to create a sense of belonging for all students.

'And that is hard and messy and not easy, and the answers are not black or white, or right or wrong. This is part of the creation of belonging.

'And it doesn't feel comfortable and it doesn't always feel safe, but there are always places of safety and there is always an intention to make sure you all feel in a space where you can feel fully.'

Steinbach said that Duncan was 'absolutely welcome' - leading him to raise an eyebrow.

She said she wanted 'more speech, not less' - but appeared happy to let students heckle someone whose views were different to hers.

She accused Duncan of fostering 'division' that upset the students.

'I hope you can look through the spectacle and noise, to the people holding these signs,' she said, pointing out one person holding aloft a 'Trans Lives Matter' placard.

She then invited any students who felt threatened to leave, telling them 'many who go before Judge Duncan do not have a choice. You have a choice.'

Dozens stood and filed out, as Duncan looked on in shock and distain.

Steinbach, who worked as an attorney for the NAACP before joining Stanford, condemned Duncan for his work

Duncan on Friday told Reuters he felt ambushed.

'In my view, this was a setup, she was working with students on this,' he said.

Prior to the event, Steinbach sent out an email parroting the same woke points, sparking speculation she'd been circling the wagons prior to the ambush.

He said he was 'offended' and 'disturbed' by the 'deeply uncivil behavior' of the students and Steinbach.

'It would be nice if they reached out to me and said, 'Gee, we're sorry,' he said.

In an message to students on Friday, Martinez said preventing a speaker from presenting through heckling or other means violates the school's policies.

'However well-intentioned, attempts at managing the room in this instance went awry,' she wrote.

'The way this event unfolded was not aligned with our institutional commitment to freedom of speech.'

Duncan compared the protest to incidents at other law schools, including Yale and Georgetown, where student-led protests of conservative speakers prompted discussion about whether law schools are living up to their ideals as bastions of open debate and free speech.

Some federal court judges have said they'll no longer hire clerks from Yale, over fears they'll end up with a woke social justice warrior unable to represent someone whose views they find offensive.

Stanford law students could now find themselves shunned too. The school is one of the most woke - and most prestigious - colleges in the United States.

Last year, it sparked uproar after publishing a 'harmful language guide,' which claimed words including 'American' and 'brave' were offensive - and that the phrase 'give it a go' glorified violent imagery.

'I told [students] this is not going to work in a courtroom, this way of disagreement,' Duncan said of the tussle.

'Maybe that's where we are going as a society, but that doesn't work in my courtroom.'

Law student Tessa Silverman, who attended the protest, told Reuters that Duncan himself appeared angry and called some students 'idiots.'

Duncan confirmed it.

'They are idiots,' he said. 'They are hypocrites and they are bullies.'
The Federal Reserve on Sunday night announced that all those with money in collapsed Silicon Valley Bank will get their money back, as a second bank was revealed to have closed.

On Sunday morning Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary, said there would be no government bail-out, and the Federal Reserve statement said no taxpayer money would be involved.

'Any losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund to support uninsured depositors will be recovered by a special assessment on banks, as required by law,' the statement said.

They added that 'the Federal Reserve Board on Sunday announced it will make available additional funding to eligible depository institutions to help assure banks have the ability to meet the needs of all their depositors.'

The Federal Reserve is not funded by taxpayers. Instead, it is funded directly from its own financial operations, via interest.

Joe Biden on Sunday evening reassured those who bank with SVB, but saying those 'responsible for this mess' must be brought to justice.

The American people and American businesses can have confidence that their bank deposits will be there when they need them,' he said.

'I am firmly committed to holding those responsible for this mess fully accountable and to continuing our efforts to strengthen oversight and regulation of larger banks so that we are not in this position again.'

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced Sunday the Federal Reserve will protect deposits in Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank

People line up outside of the shuttered Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) headquarters on Friday in Santa Clara, California

The Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation (FDIC) on Sunday held an auction of Silicon Valley Bank's assets, hoping to secure the bank before the market opened on Monday. CNN reported that no buyer was found.

'After receiving a recommendation from the boards of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve, and consulting with the President, Secretary Yellen approved actions enabling the FDIC to complete its resolution of Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, California, in a manner that fully protects all depositors,' the Federal Reserve's statement said.

'Depositors will have access to all of their money starting Monday, March 13. No losses associated with the resolution of Silicon Valley Bank will be borne by the taxpayer.'

The statement - which was jointly issued by Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary; Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve; and Martin Gruenberg, chair of the FDIC - revealed for the first time that Signature Bank was also teetering.

Signature Bank had 38 private client offices throughout New York, Connecticut, California, and North Carolina.

It was founded in 2001 for wealthy clients, with more than $250,000 in assets.

'We are going after the guy who started his business in Brooklyn and is now worth $20 million,' said founder and chief executive Joseph DePaolo in an interview with Crain's New York Business.

Sunday's statement continued: 'We are also announcing a similar systemic risk exception for Signature Bank, New York, New York, which was closed today by its state chartering authority. All depositors of this institution will be made whole.

'As with the resolution of Silicon Valley Bank, no losses will be borne by the taxpayer.'

Silicon Valley - the 14th largest in the United States - was taken under government control on Friday in a move which sent shockwaves.

Set up to serve tech companies and start-ups, its collapse has left frantic small business owners who have relied on the bank to run their companies.

The Silicon Valley Bank New York office sits empty in New York on Friday. But following the shutdown, the FDIC said SVB depositors will have full access to their insured deposits no later than Monday morning

People walk through the parking lot at the Silicon Valley Bank headquarters in Santa Clara on Friday after the bank was shut down by financial regulators

Sunday's sale, which concluded at 5pm ET, was intended to protect all those whose deposits exceed the $250,000 insured by the government, and prevent panic.

'They're trying to get things shored up before markets open,' a source told The San Francisco Chronicle.

Sheila Bair, a former chair of the FDIC, said there was a scramble to sell the assets.

'That's the smoothest way to handle these,' Bair said in an appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press.

'In almost all of our bank failures during the great financial crisis, we had about 400 of them, we did purchase an assumption, we sold a failed bank to a healthy bank.

'And usually the healthy acquirer would also cover the uninsured because they wanted the franchise value of these large depositors, so optimally, that's the best outcome.

'The problem is this was a rush, this was a liquidity failure. It was a bank run, so they didn't have time to prepare to market,' Bair added.

'The banks are having to do that now and playing catch up.'

Yellen told CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday morning that they had ruled out bailing out the bank, but she said that the federal government is trying to figure out a way to help depositors.

Representative Maxine Waters, a Democrat for California who sits on the financial services committee, told CNN: 'We are concerned about contagion.

She added: 'I want you to know the FDIC definitely has a plan. We are concerned about the jobs that are at stake, and we are going to do everything to make sure that not only are the depositors looked after, but jobs are not lost.'

Waters said they were less concerned about the bank itself, and instead were 'focusing on the depositors, and insuring those who are not insured.'

Waters concluded: 'People are going to get their money back; jobs will be maintained; payroll will be ready to go.

'People should be calm.'
A multi-million-pound deal to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines could be signed by the Prime Minister today.

At a landmark summit in San Diego, Rishi Sunak will join Joe Biden and Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese to agree a pact designed to help Australia help the West counter the threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific.

The deal, which is set to create thousands of jobs in the UK in the coming years, is the centrepiece of a defence pact agreed by the countries in 2021.

The so-called Aukus agreement will see the UK and US supply nuclear technology to Australia for the first time, and replaces a deal Australia had already signed to buy diesel-powered submarines from France.

The pact enraged Emmanuel Macron and sparked warnings from China. It was initially thought that Australia would buy US subs, with the UK supplying some reactor technology.

Rishi Sunak will join Joe Biden and Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese to agree a pact designed to help Australia help the West counter the threat posed by China

HMS Anson, the fifth Astute class submarine, which BAE Systems has designed and built for the Royal Navy. The Australian navy will initially buy five Virginia-class subs from the US

But the UK now looks set to supply submarines directly to Australia following an agreement said to have left Mr Sunak buzzing.

The Australian navy will initially buy five Virginia-class subs from the US. But Britain is then expected to work with Canberra on an updated design of the Astute Class submarine.

All three countries will use the same missile and defence systems.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese at a G20 summit in November 2022. Australia is a key ally against China in the Indo-Pacific

Australia is already a key ally in the Indo-Pacific, and the supply of nuclear-powered subs, which can stay underwater for longer, will give it vital new capabilities.

The three-way alliance with the US leaves Britain as a leading player in a region where Europe has sometimes struggled for influence.

A Downing Street spokesman said the Aukus deal was the most significant multilateral defence capability endeavour the world has seen in generations.
They may be in park, shopping centre: Queensland Police

The search for a mother who disappeared with her young son on Saturday afternoon is intensifying, with police issuing a desperate call for information.

Jessica Mostyn, 32, was last seen leaving a home in Labrador, on the Gold Coast in Queensland, just before 5pm on Saturday with her four-year-old son.

The pair left on foot, and have not been seen or heard from since.

Police are concerned for their welfare, and have asked anyone who has seen them, or with knowledge of their location, to contact police.

Investigators are continuing to seek public assistance to locate Jessica Mostyn and her 4-year-old son who are missing from Labrador

'Their current whereabouts are unknown however they are believed to still be in the Labrador and Southport areas, possibly in a park, shopping centre or other public area,' a spokesman for Queensland Police said.

'Jessica may seek assistance from members of the public.'

Ms Mostyn is described as caucasian, 164cm tall with a shaved head and medium build.

She was last seen wearing a blue hoodie with maroon trackpants.

Her son is described as caucasian with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and quote reference number QP2300180308.
Jeremy Hunt is to unveil a 200million fund to tackle the potholes plaguing Britain's roads in this week's Budget in a major victory for the Daily Mail's campaign.

The Chancellor's pledge means around four million more holes will be filled in.

The cash represents a boost of almost a fifth to annual funds for fixing crumbling rural and local routes, and will be released to councils in England in the coming weeks.

As the money is earmarked for town halls it means residential streets, country lanes and smaller B and C roads will benefit.

The Mail has highlighted how a growing number of potholes on such routes are costing drivers millions of pounds in repairs to their vehicles while putting cyclists and motorcyclists at risk of injury or death.

It is a major victory for the Daily Mail's campaign, which has been highlighting how a growing number of potholes on such routes are costing drivers millions of pounds in repairs

Jeremy Hunt is to unveil a 200million fund to tackle the potholes plaguing Britain's roads in this week's Budget

Department for Transport figures show up to half of smaller, unclassified residential roads are in need of resurfacing in some areas of the country. Meanwhile, up to a quarter of B and C roads are in need of fixing.

Overall, 15 per cent of unclassified roads in England are in the 'red' category for their condition, the worst ranking.

Mr Hunt told the Mail last night: 'Potholes cause misery for motorists. The Mail's campaign has put the issue under the spotlight and I agree it's time for action.

'This cash will fix up to four million potholes, keeping the country moving and putting growth in the fast lane.'

Transport Secretary Mark Harper added: 'Potholes are a blight on Britain's roads.

'This latest round of funding shows we are committed to supporting all road users  from motorists to cyclists and bus passengers  and making journeys smoother and safer for all.'

The money will be in addition to the 1.125billion being spent annually between 2020 and 2025 on resurfacing and repairing local highways.

Council chiefs said it was a welcome boost following a particularly wet and cold winter, which has caused more cracks to emerge on Britain's roads.

In addition, the price of asphalt and concrete has soared amid the energy crisis, pushing up the cost of fixing potholes by 16 per cent. The average pothole costs around 50 to fill in.

Town hall bosses have long argued they need a greater share of the cash that goes towards roads  with National Highways receiving 7billion to manage motorways and major A roads despite local roads covering many more miles.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: 'This 200million pothole bonus is a welcome contribution in the short term to help fill the plague of potholes which is blighting drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.

'Ultimately, we need longer-term, concerted investment to start addressing the backlog. But we are delighted that the AA's campaigning with the Daily Mail is paying dividends.'

The RAC's roads policy chief, Nicholas Lyes, added: 'While welcome, another 200million is unlikely to make a big difference to the overall quality of our dilapidated local roads.

Department for Transport figures show up to half of smaller, unclassified residential roads are in need of resurfacing in some areas of the country

'We need to significantly increase funding for local road maintenance and improvement so councils can resurface roads properly rather than patching them up and hoping for the best.'

Town halls have been accused of using a temporary 'throw and go' method to fix roads  where damaged ground is not removed or repaired before being filled, meaning potholes reappear soon after being repaired.

A poll last week found two-thirds of drivers believe roads have got worse over the past year, with one in five saying they had incurred costly repair bills of more than 100.

A spokesman for the Local Government Association, which represents councils, said: 'We look forward to seeing the details of how this money will be allocated.

'Despite the best efforts of councils, which repair a pothole every 19 seconds, our local roads repair backlog is rising and would take more than 12billion and nine years to clear.'
Rishi Sunak boasted the army is getting 'everything they need' today as he confirmed a 5billion boost to defence spending.

The PM unveiled the extra cash as he visits San Diego for talks with Joe Biden and Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.

However, the funding bump is only around half what Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was asking for - and Mr Sunak has only set a vague goal of increasing spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, rather than the 3 per cent many are demanding.

Former British Army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt accused Mr Sunak of behaving like 'an ostrich' with his head in the sand over the dangers the country faces.

Meanwhile, the premier is struggling to contain Tory unrest over a new Integrated Review of security being released today, which will feature relatively limited criticism of China.

Mr Sunak said the military was now enjoying the largest sustained increase in funding since the Cold War

Mr Sunak met Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese after arriving in San Diego overnight

Unveiling a 5billion cash injection for the Ministry of Defence, the Prime Minister said the UK must prepare to 'stand our ground' in an increasingly hostile world

Unveiling a 5billion cash injection for the Ministry of Defence, the PM said the UK must prepare to 'stand our ground' in an increasingly hostile world.

Mr Sunak said the military was now enjoying the largest sustained increase in funding since the Cold War.

He set a target of raising Britain's military spending to 2.5 per cent of national income, with sources saying he hoped to meet it by the end of the decade.

Both Liz Truss and Jeremy Hunt promised a 3 per cent level during last summer's Tory leadership campaign.

Ministers will today publish a new Integrated Review of Britain's foreign and defence policy to counter the growing threat posed by Russia, China and other hostile states.

Speaking to reporters en route to a US-hosted defence summit in San Diego, Mr Sunak said the scale of the extra cash, at a time of tight budgets, was a 'very strong and positive statement about our ambitions'.

He added: 'As the world becomes more volatile and competition between states becomes more intense, the UK must be ready to stand our ground.

'We have seen all too clearly in the last year how global crises impact us at home, with Russia's appalling invasion of Ukraine driving up energy and food sources.

'We will fortify our national defences, from economic security to technology supply chains and intelligence expertise, to ensure we are never again vulnerable to the actions of a hostile power.'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said in October that meeting a 3 per cent spending level by the end of the decade was 'necessary'. At the time, he was reported to be ready to resign over the issue.

But the move would have cost a staggering 157billion and was ruled too expensive. He has also warned that the military has been 'hollowed out' by years of spending cuts.

General Dannatt told the Sun: 'This Government is beginning to look like an ostrich over defence spending.

'The parallels to the 1930s grow stronger - a threat from a dictator in Europe and a refusal to reinvest or rearm.'

The Ministry of Defence insisted Mr Wallace was 'delighted with the settlement, especially in these economically challenging times'.

The cash will be delivered over two years. Almost 2billion will be spent on replenishing missiles and ammunition depleted by gifts to Ukraine.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said in October that meeting a 3 per cent spending level by the end of the decade was 'necessary'

However, there appears to be little, if any, cash for shoring up troop numbers.

The defence review identifies Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the 'first and foremost' risk to national security.

It also sets out measures to combat the 'epoch-defining challenge presented by the Chinese Communist Party's increasingly concerning military, financial and diplomatic activity'.

Alongside this, ministers will publish a 'critical minerals strategy' to shore up supply chains for rare elements needed in high-tech applications.

Mr Sunak said the the funding would 'make sure that our Armed Forces have everything they need in the short term', as well as boosting long-term capabilities.
Australians should be wary of the 'intrusive and dangerous' viral video app TikTok, Barnaby Joyce has warned.

The former deputy prime minister said he held concerns the Chinese-owned app had the ability to watch you as you use it.

'I don't have TikTok on mine and, as it's a Chinese platform, undoubtedly, as you're watching it, someone's watching you or at least taking into account the data that you use and how you use it,' he told Seven.

'That gives it immense power, especially around election time, especially around issues of knowing even with the GPS on your phone, if they can do it, they can work out where you are.

Barnaby Joyce attacked TikTok during a TV interview amid mounting calls from senior politicians for the Chinese-backed app to be banned in Australia

'We've also heard in the past that they can have the capacity to actually watch you through your own camera.

'Now, that's not for everybody, but for the ones that they think they're very interested in, and this is incredibly intrusive and incredibly dangerous.'

An investigation by the Home Affairs department into social media platforms is expected to be handed back to Minister Clare O'Neil in the coming weeks.

It's understood the review will not be considering a broad ban of any social media apps for the everyday Australian and follows months of debate on whether the app should be allowed on government-issued devices.

A growing number of government departments have banned TikTok amid concerns about its owner ByteDance's ties with the Chinese government.

The former deputy prime minister said he held concerns the Chinese-owned app had the ability to watch you as you use it

Last week, FBI director Christopher Wray warned a US senate hearing that the Chinese government could use the viral video app to control software on millions of devices.

Belgium is the latest country to ban the app from government phones over cybersecurity concerns following action from Europe and the US.

TikTok is the first social media hit to come out of China and boasts more than one billion active users globally.

In Australia, it was the third most-downloaded app in 2021 with an estimated reach of more than seven million people.

ByteDance was last year issued a please explain after reports uncovered evidence company engineers in China repeatedly accessed US consumer data.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said it was important that people knew what they were signing up for when they downloaded apps like TikTok.

'With most of these apps, if it's for free and it seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. You don't get anything for nothing these days,' she said.
The schoolgirl drew a Ukrainian flag with 'Glory to Ukraine' written on it

Masha Moskaleva, 13, has been put in an orphanage away from her family

A Russian schoolgirl who drew an anti-Ukrainian invasion picture in a lesson at school was taken away from her family.

Masha Moskaleva, 13, was removed from her father, Alexei Moskalev, 53, after officials decided the single father was raising his child 'incorrectly'.

Alexei was 'violently' questioned by security officers after Masha made the piece of art at school.

The Russian state banned any statement that 'discredits the military' after the invasion of Ukraine just over a year ago.

ODV-Info says 544 children have been incarcerated in some way by the Russian state over anti-war protests and that at least 19 teachers have been fired for questioning Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion.

Masha Moskaleva, 13, was removed from her father, Alexei Moskalev, 53, after she made a piece of anti-war artwork in school

Alexei Moskalev, 53, has been placed under house arrest by the Russian regime and is not allowed to contact anyone or go out, even for food

The 13-year-old depicted a courageous woman defying Putin's bombs and shielding her child from harm.

A Ukrainian flag was also featured in the image, which had the slogans 'Glory to Ukraine' and 'No to war' written on it.

A teacher at Masha's school reported her picture to the principal, who alerted the police in Yefremov, south of Moscow.

The Federal Security Service visited the school following the reports, according to The Mirror.

Alexei said his daughter had run home from school after drawing the pictures, as officers were waiting for her outside the gates.

He shared a photo of his teenage daughter and said she had given officers a fake name to escape them.

'She was scared and I promised I would come to her school and wait for her until classes were over.'

But the next day the devoted father was 'violently interrogated' and Masha was sent to an orphanage.

The Russian state banned any statement that 'discredits the military' after the invasion of Ukraine just over a year ago (Putin pictured in March)

READ MORE HERE: Putin orders his FSB agents to crack down on 'scum' who oppose him and raise their game in tackling Western spies and saboteurs Advertisement

Alexei is now under house arrest and faces a prison term for speaking out against the Russian regime.

A volunteer who has been trying to help the family said he is not allowed to communicate with anyone and can't even go shopping for food.

'No one knows what happened to the girl. She was last seen on March 1,' Alyona Agafonova said.

She added that she hasn't been able to make contact with Masha, despite going to the orphanage.

'On March 6, I passed a phone to her to have her call me. But I have not heard from her.'

Last month Putin ordered his FSB counterintelligence service to crackdown on 'scum' who oppose him.

In an address at the agency's security college in Moscow, he said it was 'necessary to identify and stop the illegal activities of those who are trying to divide and weaken our society; to use separatism, nationalism, neo-Nazism and xenophobia as weapons'.

Putin said Russia had always experienced such activity. 'And now the attempts, of course, are at their most active. Attempts to activate all this scum on our land.'

Putin also called for the domestic security service to step up its activity to counter what he said was increasing espionage against Russia by Ukraine and the West.
Sporting bright yellow and blue paint and carrying an ironic name, The Fawlty Towers hotel in Great Yarmouth is only a short walk from the sea front.

But when Environmental Health Officers from the local council visited the venue, they found improvement was needed with the cleanliness and condition of facilities. This included having 'appropriate layout, ventilation, handwashing facilities and pest control' to enable good food hygiene'.

On Trip advisor, guests visiting the hotel - which was named after John Cleese's iconic 1970s BBC sitcom - were scathing about their experiences.

The sitcom, which aired between 1975 and 1979, is likely to return to the small screen after the former Monty Python star announced he was writing new episodes with his daughter, Camilla, 39.

As of March 8, there were 189 hotels in England and Wales listed by the Food Standards Agency as having the three lowest rankings, Improvement Necessary, Major Improvement Necessary and the most serious zero rating, Urgent Improvement Necessary.

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The Fawlty Towers hotel in Great Yarmouth is among the 189 hotels in England which requires improvement

Among those requiring Urgent Improvement Necessary, was the Mandeville Hotel in Westminster. Food inspectors visited the premises on August 25, 2022.

The Westminster City Council inspectors found the hotel needed major improvements with its hygienic food handling, cleanliness and conditions of facilities and building and the management of food safety.

It costs around 240 a night to stay at the Mandeville Hotel, which is just off Wigmore Street and a short distance from Oxford Street.

Overlooking Hyde Park is the Baglioni Hotel which officers luxury 5* Italian accommodation in the heart of London for 500-a-night.

When inspectors from Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council visited the hotel on January 3, they found improvement was needed with the hygienic handling of food and the cleanliness of facilities and the building.

The Baglioni Hotel overlooking Hyde Park was found in need of immediate improvement

L'Ocar in Bloomsbury was visited by environmental health officers in November 2022 who found it needed to improve its standards

The ratings on the Food Standards Agency website are only concerned with the safe handing, storage and preparation of food. They do not consider areas such as value for money or taste.

CLICK TO READ MORE: 800 pubs and restaurants have ZERO food rating Each of the firms on the list have received a zero food rating and have been warned that urgent improvement is necessary otherwise they could face possible enforcement action Advertisement

In Bloomsbury, L'Oscar hotel was visited by inspectors from the London Borough of Camden on November 12, 2022 where they gave the 420-a-night hotel a rating of 1.

The inspectors praised the hotel's cleanliness, but found issues with the handling and storage of food. They also said major improvement was needed in the management of food safety.

The Food Standards Agency was established in 2000 following a string of high-profile food poisoning outbreaks.

The body is independent of government and protects consumers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from adverse unsafe food products.

The FSA also protects the consumer from food crime.

In 2013, the National Food Crime Unit, which is part of the FSA uncovered the horsemeat scandal where investigators discovered substantial horse DNA in meet labeled beef.

More recently the NFCU discovered a major retailer wrongly labelling south American beef has being UK produce.

Businesses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are scored out of five and firms must be marked at least a three to pass muster. In January, a report by the Food Standards Agency found one in five UK takeaways failed basic food handling and cleanliness checks.

In Scotland, there is a different rating system where businesses either pass or need improvement.

A spokesperson for the FSA said: 'The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) gives people information about the hygiene standards in food businesses, and they can use the rating to help decide where to eat out or shop for food.

The Mandeville Hotel in London was also found to be in breach of food standards regulations

'Ratings are a snapshot of the standards of food hygiene found at the time of inspection by food safety officers from local authorities.

'The scheme gives business ratings from 5 (very good) to 0 (urgent improvement required). Ratings can be found online and on the green and black stickers displayed at business premises.'

The spokesperson added: 'The FSA advice to people when choosing where to shop, eat out or order food is to check that the business has a food hygiene rating and choose only those with a higher rating.'

Firms who are prosecuted for breaching food safety regulations faced a maximum fine of 5,000 if found guilty at Magistrates' Court. However, this ceiling was lifted in 2015 which led to Tesco receiving a record-breaking fine of 7.56million in April 2021, when the supermarket giant admitted 22 counts of selling out of date food.

MailOnline has approached the hotels named in the article for comment.
The 95th Academy Awards are set to take place on Sunday after three months of build up with various other awards shows.

Since their launch in 1929, the Oscars has been deemed the most prestigious award to win, with millions tuning in around the world to watch the ceremony.

Last year, Will Smith left the word reeling after dramatically storming on stage and slapping host Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada's bald head.

Yet from surprise smooches to streakers and of course THAT slap, the Academy Awards never fails to raise eyebrows.

Ahead of Sunday night's ceremony MailOnline takes a look back at the most iconic moments in Oscars history.

The most iconic Oscars moments ever: The audience were shocked into silence at the 2017 ceremony when the wrong film was named for Best Picture

A Moonlight mix up - 2017

The audience were shocked into silence at the 2017 ceremony when the wrong film was named for Best Picture.

Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway had been handed the wrong results card and incorrectly announced La La Land as the winner rather than Moonlight.

In incredibly awkward scenes, the cast and crew of La La Land were halfway through their speech when they realised the mistake and they were forced to hand over their statuettes and leave the stage.

Glenn Close gets into the groove - 2021

The 2021 ceremony was a more scaled back affair due to the pandemic, with the awards show taking place later in the year and in another venue.

Yet Glenn Close made the most of the new space when she twerked for the cameras.

As DJ Questlove played the track Da Butt she was quick to jump to her feet and declare her love for the song before showing off her moves.

2021: She failed to win an Academy Award but Glenn Close ended up owning the Oscars anyway when she began twerking

The slap that was heard around the world - 2022

Perhaps the most shocking moment in Oscars history came last year when Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock.

It happened after Chris had poked fun at Will's wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, referring to her as GI Jane due to her buzzcut, seemingly not knowing she suffered from alopecia.

While Will was allowed to stay at the ceremony, and later in the evening picked up a Best Actor Oscar for King Richard, he was subsequently banned from attending any Academy events for 10 years.

Chris opted not to press charges with the police but joked in his Netflix comedy special that he could 'still feel' the pain a year on.

2022: Perhaps the most shocking moment in Oscars history came last year when Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock

Adrien Brody gets overexcited - 2003

A controversial moment in Oscars history came in 2003 when Adrien Brody puckered up to an unsuspecting Halle Berry.

Adrien had been awarded Best Actor for The Pianist and pulled presenter Halle in for an embrace before bending her backwards and planting a big kiss on her.

The moment had been unplanned and prompted Adrien to quip: 'I bet they didn't tell you that was in the gift bag.'

A stunned Halle was seen wiping her lips on stage and later revealed that the kiss itself was 'wet'.

2003: A controversial moment in Oscars history came when Adrien Brody puckered up to an unsuspecting Halle Berry

Jack Palance does a workout - 1992

While many stars are hit with a rush of nervous energy at the Oscars, Jack Palance put his to good use in 1992.

The veteran performer won Best Supporting Actor for City Slickers and despite being 73 years old he leapt to the floor and performed a series of one-armed push-ups on the stage.

Jack had begun his speech by explaining that the film's producers had been worried about casting him due to his age.

Talking about how he convinced him that he was fit enough to work he ran away from the podium and showed off his party trick.

1992: While many stars are hit with a rush of nervous energy at the Oscars, Jack Palance put his to good use in 2002 as he performed one-handed press ups

Jennifer Lawrence falls with grace - 2013

Jennifer Lawrence was left with her head in her hands when she tripped over while accepting Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook in 2013.

It was her first Oscar and in her rush to get onto the stage she ended up falling on the stairs, prompting a shocked Bradley Cooper and Hugh Jackman to run to her aide.

During her acceptance speech, Jennifer admitted she felt embarrassed by the mishap and later said her brain went blank after she fell.

2013: Jennifer Lawrence was left with her head in her hands when she tripped over while accepting Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook in 2013

A streaker storms the stage - 1974

In 1974, gay rights activist Robert Opel shocked the world by storming the Oscars stage completely naked.

He was able to sneak backstage by pretending to be a journalist before stripping off and running nude past a stunned David Niven, who was introducing Elizabeth Taylor.

The presenter burst into laughter as he watched the chaos unfurl, quipping: 'Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was almost bound to happen.'

He added that it was probably the only laugh that the streaker would get in life and it was by showing off his 'shortcomings.'

1974: American photographer and gay rights activist Robert Opel shocked the world by storming the Oscars stage completely naked

Marlon Brando makes a statement - 1973

Marlon Brando caused Academy outrage in 1973 when he refused to attend the ceremony and sent Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather to decline the award on his behalf.

After Marlon won Best Actor for The Godfather, Littlefeather took to the stage in full Apache dress and read out a letter from Marlon in which he said he would not accept the award in protest against Hollywood's depiction of Native Americans.

Her brief speech - which was limited to just 60 seconds - was booed by the audience and the Academy later apologised to her for the abuse she endured.

Littlefeather passed away in 2022 and in a bizarre twist her siblings came forward after to state that she had been lying about being of Native American heritage and her biological father was in fact Mexican.

1973: Marlon Brando caused Academy outrage when he sent Californian Apache Sacheen Littlefeather to decline the Best Actor award he'd just won for his iconic role in The Godfather

John Travolta confuses the audience - 2014

John Travolta left fans cringing when he made an epic blunder introducing musical theatre star Idina Menzel in 2014.

As Idina took to the stage to perform, a flustered John described her as the 'one and only Adele Dazeem', prompting a few strange glances from the audience.

Broadway icon Idina later admitted she was devastated by the mix up, convinced the moment had messed up her 'big break.'

Yet she's since been able to see the funny side and revealed John was so devastated by his error that he sent flowers and several apologetic emails.

2014: John Travolta left fans cringing after a spectacular name fail while introducing musical theatre star Idina Menzel - calling her 'Adele Dazeem'

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper get intimate - 2019

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's electrifying chemistry sent viewers into a frenzy during the 2019 ceremony.

The A Star Is Born co-stars took to the stage to perform a duet of their hit song Shallow and gazed intensely into each other's eyes throughout.

While Lady Gaga was newly single at the time, Bradley's then girlfriend Irina Shayk - who he split from later that year - watched on in the audience.

Shocked viewers tweeted that the pair should 'get a room' but Gaga later admitted she was confused by all the attention saying 'as performers of course we wanted people to believe we were in love'.

2019: Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's electrifying chemistry sent viewers into a frenzy when they performed

Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn make Oscars history - 1969

For the first time in Oscars history the Best Actress award was given to two winners in 1969.

Both Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn received exactly 3,030 votes and were each awarded an Oscar.

Barbra won for her film debut in Funny Girl and quoted the film by saying 'hello gorgeous' to her Oscar before saying she was 'honoured' to be in such magnificent company as Katharine Hepburn.

Katharine won her Oscar for The Lion in Winter but didn't attend the ceremony, leaving Barbra to enjoy her moment in the spotlight.

1969: Barbra Streisand (pictured) and Katharine Hepburn both received exactly 3,030 votes, meaning they tied for Best Actress

Ellen DeGeneres breaks the internet - 2014

Ellen DeGeneres took the mother of all selfies when she hosted the awards in 2014, strolling into the audience mid-show and asking stars such as Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Meryl Streep to pose for a pic.

The moment was partially improvised, with the host originally planning on just taking a snap with Meryl before Bradley grabbed the camera.

Ellen tweeted the picture shortly afterwards and it received more than a million retweets within the hour causing Twitter to temporarily crash.

It broke records at the time as being the most retweeted post ever and eight years on stands in fifth place with more than 2.8 million retweets.

2014: Ellen DeGeneres took the mother of all selfies when she hosted the awards, strolling into the audience mid-show and asking stars to pose for a pic

Stacey Dash ruffles feathers - 2016

The audience at the 2016 Oscars were left horrified when outspoken Republican Stacey Dash appeared in a skit about race relations.

The ceremony had been overshadowed by the Oscars So White movement - a reference to the fact that for the second year in a row, all 20 actors nominated in the lead and supporting categories had been white.

Oscars host Chris Rock poked fun at the scandal joking that the Academy had launched a minority outreach program run by Stacey, who then appeared on stage and said she couldn't wait to help her people out and wished everyone a happy Black History Month.

The audience were not impressed by the joke, as Stacey has been outspokenly critical of Black History Month and previously called the #OscarsSoWhite boycott 'ludicrous.'

2016: The audience were left horrified when outspoken Republican Stacey Dash appeared in a skit about race relations

This year's Oscars will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday night with Jimmy Kimmel returning to host the show for a third time.

Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Banshees of Inisherin lead this year's nominations while Top Gun: Maverick has also managed to score several nods.

Viewers in the US can catch the show on ABC at at 8 p.m. ET or 5.p.m PT.

In the UK it will be aired on Sky Cinema Oscars at 1am on Monday and will also be available on NOW TV.
Photos have surfaced of Married At First Sight star Tayla Winter partying at Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon's wild Australia Day house party.

The Hobart nurse was one of hundreds of scantily clad women invited to celebrate January 26 with the polyamorous tobacco tycoon at his Gold Coast mansion.

The images emerged after Tayla, 27, sensationally vowed to quit the Nine show this week because she couldn't stand her husband Hugo Armstrong - only to surprise everyone by returning at Wednesday's dinner party.

The pictures, taken by a Daily Mail Australia reporter who attended the party, show Tayla flirting with a mystery man by the pool before exchanging numbers with him.

The pair was seen dancing and hugging as they made plans to meet up privately after the party.

Photos have surfaced of MAFS star Tayla Winter partying at Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon's wild Australia Day house party back in January. The pictures show the Tasmanian nurse, 27, flirting with a mystery man by the pool before exchanging numbers with him

Tayla was later pictured kissing another shirtless man on the cheek, and also posed for a snap with party host Travers, who owns the Freechoice chain of tobacconists.

She looked stylish for the occasion in a red and pink floral skirt and matching crop top, and wore her long blonde hair loosely over her shoulders.

The photos will no doubt rock Tayla's MAFS husband Hugo to the core, as she has steadfastly refused any form of physical contact with him during the experiment.

The pair was seen dancing and hugging as they made plans to meet up privately after the party

Tayla and her new friend danced by the swimming pool

Tayla couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she performed a twirl for the male party guest

The man, who wore a black shirt and white shorts, seemed smitten with Tayla

Days ago, Hugo opened up about his tumultuous marriage to Tayla, who abandoned the experiment after the couples' retreat and fled to Hobart.

The IT account executive, 32, told Today Extra on Thursday his wife came across as 'disingenuous' and may not have been on the show for the right reasons.

'I have zero clue why Tayla did half the things she did during our time in the experiment. It was all quite a lot and quite confusing for me,' he told co-hosts David Campbell and Sylvia Jeffreys.

She posed for a snap with party host Travers, who owns the Freechoice chain of tobacconists

Tayla is seen here with other revellers at the Australia Day party at the Candy Shop Mansion

Hugo added: 'It was largely mixed messaging. If you say someone isn't your type and you put in zero effort from day one, and then you flee back to Tasmania and return to say you wish to give the experiment a go!'

He said Tayla's constant toing and froing about whether she should stay on the show 'came across as disingenuous and perhaps she wanted to remain in the spotlight as opposed to find a meaningful connection'.

He spoke out after Tayla made a surprise entrance at the MAFS dinner party on Wednesday - despite having days earlier said she was done with the experiment and wanted to return to Tassie.

She looked stylish for the occasion in a red and pink floral skirt and matching crop top, and wore her long blonde hair loosely over her shoulders

The man typed his number in Tayla's phone as they arranged to meet up privately later

Things certainly got wild at the party with Tayla and a male guest displaying lewd gestures

Tayla was joined at the Candyman's party by Samantha Moitzi from last year's season of MAFS

Upon her arrival, she pulled Hugo aside and told him she wanted to give their relationship another go.

This floored her husband because she had spent their entire marriage insulting him, rejecting him and complaining about him to the other brides.

In a stunningly arrogant tirade, she blamed Hugo for the problems in their relationship, accusing him of 'shutting me out' and 'letting me down'.

'[But] I will give this a go. I believe everyone deserves second chances if their heart is in the right place,' she added.

A dumbfounded Hugo couldn't believe what he was hearing.

The photos will no doubt rock Tayla's MAFS husband Hugo Armstrong (pictured) to the core, as she has steadfastly refused any form of physical contact with him during the experiment

Tayla made a surprise entrance at the MAFS dinner party on Wednesday - despite having days earlier said she was done with the experiment and wanted to return to Tassie

Upon her arrival, she told Hugo she wanted to give their relationship another go. This floored her husband because she had spent their entire marriage insulting him and rejecting him

'I don't understand. My wheels are spinning on so much of what she just said. I honestly don't know how to feel,' he told producers.

Tayla slammed her husband for how he treated her during the couples' retreat, but he was was having absolutely none of it.

He didn't want to give things another go, having already accepted Tayla had left the experiment, and tried to let her down gently.

Hugo opened up about his tumultuous marriage to Tayla on Today Extra last Thursday, saying she came across as 'disingenuous' and may not have been on the show for the right reasons

'Individually, we are both great people. You are one of the strongest, fiercest people I have ever met,' he said.

'You are going to be awesome when you find the person you connect with, but we both know that isn't me,' he added.

Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine and 9Now
Here, FEMAIL has laid bare the extent of his very colorful relationship history

The star has dated famous faces such as Vanessa Hudgens and Olivia DeJonge

Austin Butler has been caught up in the Oscars buzz this year due to his show-stopping performance in Elvis.

He won Best Actor at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs so the odds to also take home the trophy at the Academy Awards on Sunday are certainly in his favor.

And it seems he's just as successful with the ladies.

Butler started dating High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens early on in his acting career but they split up after almost nine years.

Victorious: Butler won Best Actor at the Golden Globes (pictured) and BAFTAs so the odds to also take home the trophy at the Academy Awards on Sunday are certainly in his favor

The star would go on to have brief flings with Olivia DeLonge and Lily-Rose Depp.

He has since started dating Cindy Crawford's model daughter, Kaia Gerber, and the couple still seem to be going strong.

Here, FEMAIL takes a look back at Butler's very colorful relationship history.

Butler found long-term love with Vanessa Hudgens but the pair split after nearly nine years

Butler and Vanessa Hudgens made their red carpet debut in 2012 (pictured left) and supported each other throughout their career, including Butler's red carpet for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (pictured right in 2019)

Butler and Vanessa Hudgens met through their connections to High School Musical.

DailyMail.com reported that the two were introduced on the set of the renowned franchise back in 2005.

It is possible that he was filming as a background actor, which is not always credited, but alternatively could have been recording Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide on a nearby set.

His best friend and Hudgens' co-star Ashley Tisdale also may have brought him around.

Regardless, Hudgens was still dating Zac Efron at the time so nothing happened between the two then.

But, fast forward to 2010, when she and Efron split due to conflicting work schedules.

Just a short time later Butler and Tisdale worked on HSM spinoff Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure and in September, he and Hudgens were spotted sharing a kiss.

Butler and Hudgens (pictured in 2013) met on the set of High School Musical and started dating six years later

The high-profile duo (pictured in 2014) went Instagram official when Vanessa penned a sweet post for his birthday

Butler spoke publicly about their relationship for the first time in 2015 (pictured together that year) when he said it was 'important to put that other person first'

In the following year, they would share another public peck in Miami, attend a Lakers game together and make their red carpet debut as a couple.

They went Instagram official in 2014 when she penned a sweet post for his birthday.

'Yesterday was the love of my life's birthday. Happy birthday to the man with the kindest heart, beautiful soul, crazy talent and best looks I've ever seen,' she wrote.

She added: 'He never stops inspiring me in every aspect of life and always lifts those around him up higher. I thank god so greatly for blessing the world 23 years ago by creating Austin Butler.'

A year later, he spoke publicly about their relationship for the first time in 2015.

'It's important to put that other person first,' he said to ET.

'If you're constantly looking for ways that you can make them happy, and they're constantly looking for ways that they can make you happy, then you kind of lift each other up as much as possible and you can't go wrong,' he added.

As the two continued to work on their own projects, they had to contend with the distance and strict scheduling but seemed to overcome the struggles.

'Just communication, communication is key,' Hudgens said to People when speaking about how they make long distance work.

'I think that if anything's bothering you, don't hold it in. Always bring it up and just talk about it. Un-censor yourself and just be open,' she continued.

In fact, fans thought they were doing so well that engagement rumors started circulating in 2017 when she posted a selfie with a ring on her left finger.

'Guysssss. I'm not engaged!' she tweeted at the time. 'I posted a pic. Not to show off my ring that I happened to throw on that finger after a long day of filming but to show off my haircut lol.'

They continued to support each other with Hudgens appearing on the red carpet with Butler for his film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2019.

'Just communication, communication is key,' Hudgens said to People of how the couple (pictured in 2016) made long distance work

Fans thought they were doing so well that engagement rumors started circulating in 2017 when she posted a selfie with a ring on her left finger

Heartbreak: But by January 2020, things had taken a turn for the worst - and the pair parted ways

But by January 2020, things had taken a turn for the worst - and the pair parted ways.

Neither has spoken publicly about their split, a source spoke to People saying that their busy work and travel schedules put a strain on their relationship.

'They really loved each other and have been through some of their toughest life moments together,' the source said.

'Busy work schedules and travel definitely put a strain on the relationship. They were a wonderful couple and it's really sad that it didn't work out,' they added.

However, that doesn't mean the drama between the two stopped there. While co-hosting Live With Kelly and Ryan, Hudgens explained that she brought the idea of him playing Elvis into the universe.

'It's so crazy because last December, we were driving along and we were listening to Christmas music, and then an Elvis Presley Christmas song came on,' she recalled.

'He had just dyed his hair dark  he's a natural blonde  and I was looking at him and he was singing along and I was like, "Babe, you need to play Elvis,"' she went on. '"I don't know how, but I'm serious. You need to play him."'

She continued: 'Then in January, he was sitting at the piano  he's a musician  and he's playing and he's singing and I'm like, I don't know how, but you need to figure out how you can play Elvis. Like, I don't know how we get rights or what we do, but you need to play him.'

However, when Butler told the story, he said it was just a friend who had told him he should play Elvis as opposed to his girlfriend of nearly nine years.

After some fan outrage, he did admit that 'friend' was indeed his former flame.

'That's right. I was with my partner at the time,' Butler replied after the LA Times questioned him on the matter.

'[Hudgens and I had] been together for so long, she had this sort of clairvoyant moment and so I really, I owe her a lot for believing in me,' he said.

He and Olivia DeJonge played on-screen lovers in Elvis... but the chemistry was not all scripted

Butler and Olivia DeJonge appeared to be enjoying more than just a scripted romance, having played Elvis and Priscilla Presley in the biographical drama

Butler and Olivia DeJonge had undeniable on-screen chemistry when they played Elvis and Priscilla Presley in the biographical drama.

But, for a few months, it appeared to be more than just a scripted romance.

'For us, we wanted to hone in on the simplicity of the relationship and the beginnings of it just being very pure, and the sort of like, Bonnie and Clyde aspect of it,' DeJonge told Lifehacker.

'You know, it was sort of them against the world for a little while there and we really wanted to play with that idea and play with the chemistry,' she added.

She also said she had great admiration for how he played the role.

'He really threw himself into that role like nothing that I'd ever seen before,' DeJonge said.

'It was incredible. He sort of transcended in front of our eyes, and it was electric.'

Beach date: DeJonge had wet hair as she was wrapped in a towel while he went shirtless with a pair of board shorts before the two laid beside each other

'It was incredible. He sort of transcended in front of our eyes, and it was electric,' DeJonge said of how her on-screen partner (pictured together in the film)

However, the two never publicly commented on their relationship and it seemed to fizzle out once filming for Elvis wrapped

Rumors that Butler and DeJonge were dating first emerged in January 2020 when they were spotted looking cozy at a Melbourne movie theatre.

Then, DailyMail.com took photos of the pair sitting side-by-side on a beach in November of that year.

DeJonge had wet hair as she was wrapped in a towel while he went shirtless with a pair of board shorts.

In another snap, the two laid beside each other. Butler had one hand on his own leg and another that seemed to be resting on DeJonge.

However, the two never publicly commented on their relationship and it seemed to fizzle out once filming for Elvis wrapped.

Butler wasted little time in finding a new love - but DeJonge appears to still be single.

Butler shared a steamy date with Lily-Rose Depp 'filled with make-out sessions'

Butler and Lily-Rose Depp appeared to enjoy a very steamy fling after a two-hour dinner date in London

Butler and Lily-Rose Depp were first introduced at a Sundance Film Festival event in 2016 when he was still with Hudgens.

But the pair would reconnect five years later for a brief fling.

In July 2021, DailyMail.com exclusively obtained pictures of the Butler and Depp on a steamy date night.

The pair arrived to a swanky restaurant in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes alongside a male friend.

They enjoyed a two-hour dinner before they were later seen hugging and kissing after being left alone.

Depp cut a casual figure for the outing, donning a black jacket which she paired with dark jeans.

Butler also opted for a laid back look as he sported a khaki bomber jacket with a pair of light blue jeans.

The pair went for a stroll near the river late in the evening before they were seen departing in a taxi just after midnight.

In spite of their one steamy night, the two were not spotted together again.

Since then, both of them have moved on. Depp started dating French rapper Yassine Stein in November 2021 and Butler soon went public with his next romance.

Butler and Kaia Gerber have not been shy about PDAs since going public

Butler and current girlfriend Kaia Gerber have been together for a little over a year and are still going strong

Butler and Kaia Gerber have been together for a little over a year and are still going strong.

They seemingly started dating in December 2021 when they were spotted attending a yoga class together.

DailyMail.com exclusively obtained photos of the pair leaving the class in Los Angeles.

The two kept it casual and held boxed waters as they headed towards Gerber's car with Butler beaming from ear to ear.

The next time they were seen together was on Valentine's Day in 2022. In photos snapped by Just Jared, the duo were taking a stroll through London holding coffee and snacks.

They made their first official public appearance together at the W Magazine party in March 2022 and their red carpet debut came two months later at the Met Gala.

They made their first official public appearance together at the W Magazine party in March 2022 and their red carpet debut came two months later at the Met Gala (pictured above)

They went all out with a PDA later that month as they shared a smooch on the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Elvis

They went all out with a PDA later that month as they shared a smooch on the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Elvis.

Their love has seemingly only been going from strength to strength and the duo have since appeared on a magazine cover.

For V Magazine's VMAN shoot, Butler posed as Elvis. While Gerber was not fully visible, her arms - along with her 'I know' tattoo - were wrapped around his neck in the shot.

She has been extremely supportive of Butler amid his success with Elvis and, after he gave his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, she was seen giving him a celebratory smooch.

The model also stood by his side at Lisa Marie Presley's memorial.

She recently said that Butler had helped her realize the importance of prioritizing her personal life in addition to her career.

She told People: 'I think, it's so important people are realizing how important their happiness is outside of work, when you don't have all these outside resources to gain happiness from, where that internal happiness comes from.'
Married At First Sight's tenth season is one of the most dramatic in the show's history.

But among the drama and fighting, a true friendship has blossomed between brides Bronte Schofield and Lyndall Grace.

The pair were recently joined by Bronte's sister Kirra for a fun day at the beach in Perth.

Bronte, 28, and Lyndall, 27, weren't shy about showcasing their fabulous physiques in skimpy G-sting bikinis.

Lyndall even had a Baywatch moment as she exited the ocean in her revealing swimwear.

Married At First Sight's Bronte Schofield and Lyndall Grace hit the beach in Perth recently

The bikini-clad brides relaxes in the sun and enjoyed a gossip session together

Both Bronte and Lyndall were noticeably without their TV husbands, Harrison Boon and Cameron Woods.

At one point, they seemed to get quite close as they frolicked and cuddled in the water together.

The brides were later spotted sunning their backsides on the beach as they indulged in some sunbathing with Kirra.

As they enjoyed the sunshine, the trio started to gossip and chat amongst themselves.

Lyndall, 27, put on a cheeky display in a skimpy patterned bikini as she entered the water

Lyndall and Bronte dared to bare as they waded into the ocean

The 27-year-old looked sensational as she waded into the salty shore

The blonde bride channelled Pamela Anderson as she exited the ocean

The sighting comes after Lyndall revealed several brides from this year's season got matching Roman numeral tattoos.

'When we went to the hens' night we all got along really well, most of us are really progressive and everyone was like, we should all get little 'X' tattoos for season 10, we're 10 women, we're all 10s,' she told Yahoo Lifestyle.

'I know not all of the women were comfortable getting a tattoo but that's the story behind it, just that we all want to be our best selves.'

'It's something that we'll have together forever and hopefully it empowered a few of them as well.'

Bronte Lyndall shared an intimate moment together in the middle of the ocean

The pair giggled and horsed around in the water together

Bronte couldn't stop smiling as she giggled and played with her best friend

Meanwhile, Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding recently called out the 'fake' contestants on this year's Married At First Sight.

The former reality stars, who appeared on last year's season of the hit show, brutally roasted controversial participants like Bronte, Harrison, and Adam Seed.

Speaking on their podcast Sit With Us, the pair critiqued the 'cold' relationship between Bronte and Harrison.

'I've given up on Bronte and Harrison,' Dom, 29, began.

The bombshell brides were joined by Bronte's sister Kirra

Kirra put a towel down on the sand so that Bronte could sit down

Bronte pulled her long brunette locks out as she let them dry in the wind

'I don't see any physical affection. Like, they walk in holding hands and then it's like, the Red Sea f**king parts and you don't see both of them together until they're sitting down next to each other because their names are there.'

Ella, 28, agreed as Dom continued, saying their relationship is as fake as 'Adam's Dior bag'.

'It's as fake as my f**king hair extensions,' she added.

'Well, as fake as my tits and they're pretty fake,' Ella chimed before they both burst out laughing.
From the outside looking in glamorous Booby Tape co-founder Bianca Roccisano seemingly has it all - a successful career, a multimillion dollar company, a lavish lifestyle and A-list friends.

But the entrepreneur, 37, says there are two things missing in her life, a life partner and a baby.

Earlier this week, Bianca bravely revealed she wants to try motherhood solo because her incredible success has made it hard for her to find a husband.

She said she is exploring her options and considering both IVF and surrogacy to achieve her dreams of becoming a mother.

Speaking candidly to Daily Mail Australia, Bianca admitted she has mixed emotions about her decision to become a single mother - and that comes with a lot of 'sadness'.

From the outside looking in glamorous Booby Tape co-founder Bianca Roccisano seemingly has it all - a successful career, a multimillion dollar company, a lavish lifestyle and A-list friends, but the entrepreneur says there are two things missing in her life, a life partner and a baby

Bianca admitted she never thought she would have to do it on her own.

'Everyone is congratulating me, don't get me wrong I'm excited but I'm really sad as well, it's not how I wanted to do things,' she said.

'But at the same time, I don't want to miss out on the opportunity, so it's a mixed array of emotions, but ultimately if I don't meet that person I'm going to be a mum and that's exciting.'

Earlier this week, Bianca bravely revealed she wants to try motherhood solo because her incredible success has made it hard for her to find a husband

Bianca has had her eggs frozen as 'back up' and is giving herself approximately one year to find the man of her dreams and start a family. If not, she will bravely go it alone.

'I have done everything alone my entire life. Been incredibly independent as I moved out of home when I was 15 years of age and went to boarding school. This is the one thing in my life I didn't ever dream I would have to do alone,' she explained.

'It's a mixed array of emotions at the moment, it's a lot you know, it's not how I thought I would have a family but what do I do.

'When you're a kid you think I'm going to get married at 26, have a baby by 30 and three babies by 35 and live happily ever after, but that's not the destiny for me.'

From the outside looking in glamorous Booby Tape co-founder Bianca Roccisano seemingly has it all - a successful career, a multimillion dollar company, a lavish lifestyle and A-list friends. Pictured with sister Bridgett, far right, and supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio, middle

The brunette beauty would love to find a man with 'good values and morals' and has been on numerous dates, but finds even the most successful businessmen are often emasculated by successful women like herself.

'I want to make it clear I would make time if I had the opportunity to, but I have been going on dates and I get this reoccurring message, they're like, ''you're such a cool chic, I love hanging out with you but I would never feel comfortable as a man that you make more money than me,'' she said.

'The problem is, I'm an alpha woman and I'm attracted to alpha men and they're feeling emasculated and then my feminism kicks in. I'm like, ''why are we're talking about money on one of our first dates?''

Bianca, who is based between her hometown in Melbourne and Los Angeles, has also dated some men who try to use her for her money, but she refuses to be a 'sugar mumma'.

'Then I find the other extreme and they love it, one younger guy was like, ''my credit card isn't working can you pay?'' I've had people ask to pay for trips,' she said.

Bianca thinks there is a lot of pressure placed on women to have a child and the time restraints on fertility.

The brunette beauty would love to find a man with 'good values and morals' and has been on numerous dates, but finds even the most successful businessmen are often emasculated by successful women like herself

'I have been wanting a family for so long and I've been pushing it until the final hours,' Bianca admitted.

'If I was a male I would have more time. My eggs have been frozen and I have to find a sperm donor.

Bianca said she was at first scared to tell her father about her decision to become a single mother, but her family have been nothing but supportive.

'My family can't wait for the family to grow. They really wanted me to have a partner but in saying that, they support my decision,' she said.

'I come from a really traditional country family but they've been supportive. I was really scared to tell my dad.'

But she said her sister Bridgett is her 'number one supporter'.

The Roccisano sisters are co-founders of the eponymous clothing label Bianca and Bridgett and beauty brand Booby Tape, which has been described as a 'breast lift in a box'

The Roccisano sisters are co-founders of the eponymous clothing label Bianca and Bridgett and beauty brand Booby Tape, which has been described as a 'breast lift in a box'.

Worn by the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Booby Tape products are sold in more than 35 countries.

Bianca, who describes herself as very 'maternal,' said her career has taken a toll on her and she works 'from 6am to 11pm every single day without a day off. I look like I'm out and social, but I'm working constantly'.

Bianca, who describes herself as very 'maternal,' said her career has taken a toll on her and she works 'from 6am to 11pm every single day without a day off'

Bianca wants to encourage women to freeze their eggs as soon as they can as a 'back up' for motherhood.

'I would advise women to do it earlier. I've done research and the optimal time to take your eggs out is between early 25 and early thirties,' she said.

'I actually thought I'd meet someone and didn't think I'd be in the situation. I'm trying to work but I'm turning 38 in August. Get your eggs out, it's the best investment ever,' she said.

'I've been raised as well, never rely on a man for anything. So this is a backup.'

Bianca said she wants to encourage women to freeze their eggs as soon as they can as a 'back up' for motherhood

According to IVF Australia, an Elective Egg Freezing Cycle costs $6,000.

Success rates 'for a woman aged 35 or under, one stimulated cycle would result in the collection of 10  12 eggs of which 7  9 would be suitable for vitrification and storage.'

The website states: 'Success rates are lower for women over 35, which is why we recommend preserving your fertility sooner rather than later.'

'If you're over the age of 38, egg freezing may not be a suitable avenue. However, there are more immediate options that can be explored such as the use of donor sperm.'
Dancing On Ice's Nile Wilson is set to make history as the first male contestant to perform the headbanger.

The Olympic gymnast, 27, will go head-to-head with Joey Essex, 32, and The Vivienne, 30, in Sunday's grand final.

And the sportsman is certainly pulling out all the stops in a bid to win the glittering trophy - however, he admits he's 'petrified' about taking on the daring move.

The grand final will see the finalists and their pro partners perform three routines - a showcase routine, a battle skate and for the final two, a Bolero.

Head judges and ice legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean will choreograph the showcase routines, with the pair no doubt having high expectations of Nile as he takes on the showstopping move.

Going for gold: Dancing On Ice's Nile Wilson is set to make history as the first male contestant to perform the headbanger

Scary: The sportsman is certainly pulling out all the stops in a bid to win the glittering trophy - however, he admits he's 'petrified' about taking on the daring move

Speaking to MailOnline, Nile said: 'Jayne and Chris have put the Headbanger into the routine.

'I will be the first male contestant to be lifted in a Headbanger and I am petrified.'

Nile and skate partner Olivia Smart are no stranger to performing daring routines on the show, so it will remain to be seen whether they can pull off the headbanger.

It comes as Nile is the online bookmakers favourite to win this year's competition by landslide, with an 80% probability.

After scoring a perfect 10 from each judge and bagging a full 40/40 mark for his performance last week, the Olympian has provided a number of breath-taking routines throughout the series.

According to Betvictor, Nile's odds to win are 1/4 - putting him in the top spot for a win.

With 2-time Scottish champion skater Daniel King sharing: 'Nile certainly seems to be the favourite for the judges.

'Although all three of the finalists performances are at a similar level. There aren't many points between 38, 39 and 40. So I think it will all depend on the public vote.'

The battle is on: The Olympic gymnast, 27, will go head-to-head with Joey Essex, 32, and The Vivienne, 30, in Sunday's grand final

Big night: The grand final will see the finalists and their pro partners perform three routines - a showcase routine, a battle skate and for the final two, a Bolero

Let's do this! 'Jayne and Chris have put the Headbanger into the routine. I will be the first male contestant to be lifted in a Headbanger and I am petrified'

Showstopping: Nile and skate partner Olivia Smart are no stranger to performing daring routines on the show, so it will remain to be seen whether they can pull off the headbanger

The three finalists are all set to perform a bolero routine, with Nile sharing this week: 'We've got some exciting stuff in store this week. It's a huge production.'

Earlier this week, Nile revealed he was inundated with support from fans after discussing his mental health and addiction troubles on the show.

The former gymnast, 27, performed to the Shawn Mendes hit, In My Blood, last week - explaining how he sunk into a deep depression when he was forced into retirement after suffering an injury.

He subsequently needed neck surgery in February 2019, and went on to deal with his resulting depression by partying, drinking and gambling.

Nile impressed the judges with his dance, with Ashley Banjo, Oti Mabuse, Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean all awarding him a maximum 10 points each.

Winner? Olympian Nile could be headed for a landslide victory as the odds appear to be firmly in his favour

Majority: According to Betvictor, Nile's odds to win are 1/4 with an 80% probability - putting him in the top spot for a win

Brave: Earlier this week, Nile revealed he was inundated with support from fans after discussing his mental health and addiction troubles on the show (pictured on Sunday)

Having turned his life around, the sportsman told The Mirror how he's received an influx of messaged from fans, who were touched by the performance.

He said: 'I've had thousands of messages which is special.

'Messages saying how incredible it is and how it's touched people and made them think differently, made them sort of realise that maybe they weren't quite right, without them knowing.

'Above any of the things I've achieved, winning medals, that's one of the proudest things I've done.'
Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez joined a cavalcade of stars posing for portraits at the South By Southwest film festival Saturday.

Both of them are in the new movie Dungeons And Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which premiered at SXSW the previous night.

A dazzling array of showbiz luminaries flocked to Austin, Texas, for the film festival and headed to the IMDb Portrait Studio for a photo-shoot.

In his pictures Chris, 42, was every inch the smoldering sex symbol he was when he shot to global stardom over a decade ago in the Star Trek film reboot.

He hinted at his toned torso in a clinging white undershirt, which he wore under a 1950s chic top with all the buttons undone.

Dynamic duo: Chris Pine (left) and Michelle Rodriguez (right) joined a cavalcade of stars posing for portraits at the South By Southwest film festival Saturday

Sizzling sensation: In his pictures Chris, 42, was every inch the smoldering sex symbol he was when he shot to global stardom over a decade ago in the Star Trek film reboot

Hunk-tastic: He hinted at his toned torso in a clinging white undershirt, which he wore under a 1950s chic top with all the buttons undone

The Don't Worry Darling heartthrob, who has allowed a distinguished touch of grey to creep into his hair, flashed a mischievous grin for the cameras.

Michelle meanwhile was a ray of sunshine in a summery orange V-neck top, worn over a casual set of white leggings.

In an on-theme touch, the studio was decorated with a potted cactus, which Michelle jokily mimed kissing for one of her snaps.

Celebs galore made their way into the portrait studio, including Rege-Jean Page, who set heartbeats racing all over the world on the Netflix show Bridgerton.

Rege-Jean, who happens to also be part of the Dungeons And Dragons movie, bared his musclebound arms in a trendily asymmetrical short-sleeved shirt.

He left a couple of his top buttons beguilingly open over his chest and shot the camera his best smoldering supermodel stare.

Sophia Lillis, also of Dungeons Of Dragons, was Old West chic in a set of suspenders she playfully snapped while rising up to tiptoe for one of her pictures.

Sophia, Chris, Michelle and Rege-Jean gathered together for a group shot to remember with their Dungeons Dragons costars Daisy Head and Justice Smith.

Hello, gorgeous: The Don't Worry Darling heartthrob, who has allowed a distinguished touch of grey to creep into his hair, flashed a mischievous grin for the cameras

The look: Michelle meanwhile was a ray of sunshine in a summery orange V-neck top, worn over a casual set of white leggings

Mwah: In an on-theme touch, the studio was decorated with a potted cactus, which Michelle jokily mimed kissing for one of her snaps

Electrifying: Celebs galore made their way into the portrait studio, including Rege-Jean Page, who set heartbeats racing all over the world on the Netflix show Bridgerton

Looking fab: Rege-Jean, who happens to also be part of the Dungeons And Dragons movie, bared his musclebound arms in a trendily asymmetrical short-sleeved shirt

Swanking about: Sophia Lillis, also of Dungeons Of Dragons, was Old West chic in a set of suspenders she playfully snapped while rising up to tiptoe for one of her pictures

Sextet: Sophia, Chris, Michelle and Rege-Jean gathered together for a group shot to remember with their Dungeons Dragons co-stars Daisy Head and Justice Smith

All together now: The sextet were joined for another picture by the dashing duo of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who wrote their movie's screenplay

Dashing: Anthony Mackie Jr., who is at SXSW with his sci-fi romance If You Were The Last, showcased his musclebound physique in a skintight scarlet polo shirt

Such fun: Gabrielle Dennis, Chris O'Dowd and Djouliet Amara pulled goofy faces while getting photographed together in aid of their show The Big Door Prize

There he is: Chris, a noted comedy star, put on an exaggeratedly stern face as he posed with the potted cactus, which just so happened to match his corduroy top

Red hot: Elizabeth Olsen looked ravishing in red

The actress posed up in black boots

She wrapped an arm around co-star Patrick Fugit

Jesse Plemons and Lily Rabe also got in on the photo fun

Chic: Eva Longoria looked very chic in a white suit

Annie Gonzalez, DeVon Franklin, Eva Longoria and Jesse Garcia of Flamin' Hot

Bob Odenkirk smoldered for the camera

Bottoms cast Miles Fowler, Rachel Sennott, Ruby Cruz, Emma Seligman, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber and Ayo Edebiri posed for a group portrait

The sextet were joined for another picture by the dashing duo of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who wrote their movie's screenplay.

Anthony Mackie Jr., who is at SXSW with his sci-fi romance If You Were The Last, showcased his musclebound physique in a skintight scarlet polo shirt.

Gabrielle Dennis, Chris O'Dowd and Djouliet Amara pulled goofy faces while getting photographed together in aid of their show The Big Door Prize.

Chris, a noted comedy star, put on an exaggeratedly stern face as he posed with the potted cactus, which just so happened to match his corduroy top.
Teddi Mellencamp put her equestrian skills to the test on Friday when she competed at a horse show in Thermal, California.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alumna, 41  who recently did yoga with her svelte best friend Kyle Richards  looked like a pro in her elegant riding attire as she mounted up to prove her riding chops.

Sweeping her blonde locks into a stately helmet, Teddi was dressed in a regal black blazer, leather knee-high boots and beige breeches.

The daughter of rockstar John Mellencamp rode her gorgeous bay gelding named Pete, who carried her to victory with a score of 87.

'WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER,' Teddi wrote on her Instagram Story, captioning video of her stellar run that showed her and Pete conquering a show-jumping course.

Going for gold: Teddi Mellencamp, 41, put her equestrian skills to the test on Friday when she competed at a horse show in Thermal, California

Not her first time: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum looked like a pro in her elegant riding attire as she mounted up to prove her riding chops

The Two Ts In A Pod host also revealed that it was her and Pete's first time showing as a team.

'Our first time together,' Teddi wrote on her Instagram Story. 'Tomorrow I will take a breath and relax for 'Peter's' sake. Love this little Pete so much already.'

The former reality star went on to share a sweet picture of her holding a blue ribbon alongside her 10-year-old daughter Slate, who is an avid rider as well.

The mother of four  in addition to Slate, she has son Cruz, eight, daughter Dove, three, and stepdaughter Isabella, 14  has been battling melanoma.

In January, Teddi revealed that she had three more spots biopsied after having 12 melanomas removed in mid-December and announcing that she was cancer-free.

Mellencamp shared via social media that she is trying to remain positive despite her latest checkup and wants to remain transparent about her journey in order to spread melanoma awareness.

In an Instagram carousel post, the television personality shared images of the scars on her shoulder, the bump on her neck wrapped up in a bandage and clips talking about the checkup.

One video showed Teddi at the doctor's office before getting the needle biopsy of the lymph node in her neck.

Looking the part: Sweeping her blonde locks into a stately helmet, Teddi was dressed in a regal black blazer, leather knee-high boots and beige breeches

Ready to ride: The Two Ts In A Pod host carried a black riding crop and her competitor number as she prepared for her big moment

Mounting up: The daughter of rockstar John Mellencamp rode her gorgeous bay gelding named Pete. She noted that it was their first time working together

Dynamic duo: Teddi and Pete made for a show-stopping pair as they cantered around the arena

Proving her skills: Mellencamp exhibited excellent form as she conquered her show-jumping course

Impressive: The Bravolebrity cleared a large brick jump on her dependable blaze-faced mount

Sweet reward: After her stellar run, Teddi let Pete stop and smell the roses

Outstanding: The pair earned a great score of 87

Victory! 'WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER,' Teddi wrote on her Instagram Story, captioning video of her stellar run that showed her and Pete conquering a show-jumping course. She planned to 'take a breath and relax' the following day for '"Peter's" sake'

Horse lovers: The former reality star went on to share a sweet picture of her holding a blue ribbon alongside her 10-year-old daughter Slate, who is an avid rider as well

'The lymph node came back suspicious in the ultrasound, so they're about to do a needle biopsy,' she said in the video. 'I'm going to tell you I'm not looking forward to it. I'm very grateful that I came in when I did.'

Last March, Teddi revealed that she was diagnosed with skin cancer after her former Real Housewives co-star Kyle Richards noticed the spots on her back and immediately took her to the doctor.

'As someone who is a controlled person, I'm dealing as best I can with something out of my control,' Mellencamp said at the time. 'Things I can control: staying on top of my appointments, self-checks, and asking my doctors questions.

'I'm trying my best to stay positive and will fill you in when I get the results. If this saves even one person from going through what I'm going through, it's worth it.'
They recently announced they were expecting their first child.

And Janette Manrara teased a glimpse of her growing bump as she joined husband Aljaz Skorjanec at a theatre premiere in Manchester on Saturday.

The Strictly couple smiled at they arrived at The Bridgewater Hall to support former colleagues Gorka Marquez and Karen Hauer's Firedance tour.

Janette, 39, looked gorgeous in a black crop top which she layered with a sheer polkadot blouse.

She completed the look with black high-waisted trousers and slipped her feet into chunky dark boots.

The stunner opted for a radiant make-up palette and wore her brunette locks in a stylish bob.

Loved up: Janette Manrara, 39, teased a glimpse of her growing bump as she joined husband Aljaz Skorjanec, 33, at a star-studded theatre premiere in Manchester on Saturday

Gorgeous: Janette looked gorgeous in a black crop top which she layered with a sheer polkadot blouse

Meanwhile Aljaz, 33, cut a dapper figure in a black sweater which he teamed with matching trousers.

The loved up pair, who wed in 2017, beamed as they posed for cameras ahead of taking their seats ready to enjoy the show.

The dance show sees Karen and Gorka take part in a captivating dance offs inspired by Romeo & Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Carmen and West Side Story.

It comes after Janette broke into tears on Tuesday as she opened up a congratulatory gift - which had a sentimental meaning behind it.

The dancer took to Instagram to share the story behind the gift from dressmaker DSI London, who had sent her one of their gowns.

Explaining the significance of the dress, Janette shared that she wore it during the couple's dance tour, A Christmas To Remember, which is also around the time that she and Aljaz found out their pregnancy news.

While donning the garment, the dancer recalled having 'tears in my eyes dancing that dance because Aljaz and I shared a moment right before we performed celebrating the 3 of us, on stage'.

Dubbing the moment 'one of the most special in my life', she later told the story to the brand, who this week then sent her the dress to keep.

Passion: The dance show sees Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez take part in a captivating dance offs inspired by Romeo & Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Carmen and West Side Story (pictured)

Support: Gemma Atkinson, who is also pregnant, supported beau Gorka in his show alongside their daughter Mia, three

Beaming with pride: She covered her growing belly beneath a white sweater and oversized denim shirt

Chic: Gorka's former Strictly partner Helen Skelton looked chic in a denim jumpsuit

Blondie: Accentuating her features with make-up she wore her blonde locks loose

Pals: Helen (left) was joined by Olympic Skateboarder Aimee Fuller (right)

Aljaz recorded his wife as she reacted to the gift, overcome with emotion and rubbing both eyes.

'That's what a dress can do,' quipped the Slovenian dancer while Janette let out a giggle.

Telling the full story in the caption, the mother-to-be wrote: 'I look a little rough in the video but I had to share this special moment, so who cares! I received a lovely package from @dsilondon congratulating us on the baby news. I remember sharing the story with them of how much I loved dancing in one of their dresses for a specific moment of our @rememberingtour.

'It was my favourite moment in the show! If you came and watched, it was the opening of our second act. The music was magical, and I always felt like I was taken away to a dreamworld dancing it w/ @aljazskorjanec.

'We found out we were pregnant during our Christmas tour, and on the last show, I head tears in my eyes dancing that dance because Aljaz and I shared a moment right before we performed celebrating the 3 of us, on stage, dancing together before anyone else in the world found out our very special little secret. To say it was one of the most special moments of my life, is an understatement.

'Now, @dsilondon have given me as a gift the dress I wore for that number as they recalled the story and how much I loved dancing in it.. such a thoughtful thing to do!'.

'I will cherish it forever': It comes after J anette broke into tears on Tuesday as she opened up a congratulatory gift - which had a sentimental meaning behind it

Gift: The dancer had been given a dress that she wore during her recent Christmas tour, during which she found out the pregnancy news (pictured wearing the dress)

Concluding that the dress meant even more because of how far away she is from family, the Cuban-American star added: 'I am so far away from my family but its gestures like these and all of your kind messages of love that have made me so emotional and feel so much love around Aljaz and I and our little baby. Thank you @dsilondon for this very special gift. I will cherish it forever'.

Janette and Aljaz's pregnancy news came after they had spent over two years struggling to conceive.

Speaking in a recent interview with HELLO!, she detailed: 'For the past couple of years we hadnt been using protection but nothing was happening, so we thought IVF was the next best thing for us to do.'

'I turn 40 later this year and the NHS offers really good services to women under 40. The doctor said that as soon as I got my period we would start injections, but my period never came.'

'I know that IVF can be really strenuous on a womans body and there is no guarantee it will work, so to know that this little miracle just came from a wonderful night we had together is amazing. I think the baby decided to make Mum and Dad panic a bit before saying, "ok, fine, Im coming up now."'

Janette explained how she told Aljaz she was pregnant by handing him the positive pregnancy test and that they 'cried and hugged; it was quite a moment'.

Aljaz added that he was 'beside myself' and hoped the baby would look more like Janette than him.
Hailey Bieber put her flawless bikini body on display for her 49.4M Instagram followers on Saturday.

The 26-year-old beauty  who was recently blasted by hecklers when her husband Justin Bieber made a surprise appearance at Rolling Loud  was kneeling on a long see-through paddleboard amid a tropical backdrop of cloudy-blue skies and crystal-clear water.

The Rhode entrepreneur sat on a long black paddle as she put on a bright orange sun hat and captioned the post, 'Im ready for summer.'

Fans rushed to the comments section amid Hailey's ongoing drama with her husband's ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez.

One fan commented, 'Obsesessed Selenators incoming hate comments in 3,2,1.'

Fun in the sun: Hailey Bieber, 26, showed off her flawless bikini body in a lime-green two-piece as she kneeled on a long see-through paddleboard on Saturday

Plugging her brand: The Rhode entrepreneur wore a bright orange sun hat and a Harris Reed x Missoma necklace. She captioned the post, 'Im ready for summer'

Another wrote, 'Not that miserable fandom still crying in the comment section while youre out there living your best life.'

And another added, 'Imagine being roasted for something you didnt even post and directly did anything. Love you Hailey.'

The model has received substantial backlash after footage resurfaced of her mocking Taylor Swift when she co-hosted the show Drop The Mic.

In the old clip, Method Man, who used to co-host the show Drop The Mic with Bieber, teased a 'rap battle full of the meanest lyrics about a celebrity since Taylor Swift's last album,' prompting Hailey to mime making herself vomit.

Selena announced she would take a break from social media to defend her 'best friend' Taylor, when the footage was unearthed.

The most followed woman on Instagram took to TikTok Live to say 'I'm gonna be taking a second from social media cause this is a little silly and Im 30. Im too old for this.'

Following her Live, Selena deactivated her TikTok account. However, her Instagram account remains active.

At one point, Kylie Jenner was even dragged into the conversation, as fans accused her of mocking Selena.

Haters: The model has been receiving substantial backlash after footage resurfaced of her mocking Taylor Swift during the time she cohosted the show Drop The Mic

Recent drama: Selena Gomez announced she would take a break from social media to defend her 'best friend' Taylor when the old footage was unearthed

Selena fans troll her: Hailey has received blowback from diehard Selena fans throughout her relationship with Justin

It came after Gomez appeared online to share that she had over-laminated her eyebrows.

Kylie uploaded a selfie later in the day and wrote, 'This was an accident???' with the placement of the text set over her eyebrows.

The Kylie Cosmetics mogul denied being shady towards Gomez and went as far as to shoot down any talk of a feud in a post, writing, 'u guys are making something out of nothing.'

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians alum ended the comment by declaring 'this is silly.'

Selena had an on-off romance with Justin, who married Hailey in 2018.

Hailey has received blowback from diehard Selena fans throughout her relationship with Justin.

Although Selena fans have relentlessly trolled Hailey on social media, the two women have denied any bad blood between them.

Last October, Hailey and Selena cuddled up for photos snapped by Tyrell Hampton at the Academy Museum gala in Los Angeles to show fans they get along.

Hailey had already indicated on the Call Her Daddy podcast that her equation with Selena was 'all respect' - and during the same interview, she staunchly denied that Justin had cheated on Selena with her.

Online drama: The internet is not letting the Hailey versus Selena discourse rest as fans continue to pit them against each other; seen January 10

October 2022: Selena and Hailey sent the internet into overdrive by posing for a photo together at the Academy Museum's second annual gala; photo by Tyrell Hampton

Before Hailey: Selena had an on-off romance with Justin, who went on to marry Hailey in 2018; Justin and Selena seen in 2012

Her health scare last year: Hailey reposted a video detailing her condition called patent foramen ovale, a hole in the heart that didn't close after birth. The supermodel was rushed to hospital last year, where doctors confirmed that she suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), more commonly referred to as a mini-stroke

Frightening: Hailey explained that the small blood clot passed on its own, allowing her to fully recover within a few hours (she shared a few candid pictures of her X-ray and heart monitor last year on Instagram)

On Friday, Hailey marked the one-year milestone of surviving her mini stroke by reposting a video of the terrifying incident that led to her being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.

In her candid video, Haley recalled feeling a 'weird sensation' in her right arm and numbness in her fingertips before she was admitted to the hospital.

Ultimately, she was kept overnight at the hospital to be tested for the cause of a blood clot in her brain.

The hospital confirmed that she suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), more commonly referred to as a mini-stroke.
Nicky Hilton Rothschild shed some light on her big sister Paris Hilton's baby joy after the arrival of her firstborn son Phoenix.

Paris and her dashing businessman husband Carter Reum welcomed their little bundle of joy via surrogate near the end of January.

'She is on cloud nine,' said Nicky, 39, who has two daughters called Lily-Grace, six, and Teddy, five, and an infant son with her own husband James Rothschild.

'In a new interview with People, Nicky hailed Paris as 'such an incredible mother. She was born to do this, and I'm just so happy for her.'

However she also revealed that, since Paris lives in Los Angeles and Nicky in New York, baby Phoenix has yet to meet his Rothschild cousins.

Sister act: Nicky Hilton Rothschild shed some light on her big sister Paris Hilton's baby joy after the arrival of her firstborn son Phoenix

Warm words: In a new interview with People, Nicky hailed Paris as 'such an incredible mother,' adding: 'She was born to do this, and I'm just so happy for her'

'I'm just so excited for all the cousins and babies to be together. They haven't all met yet. When my kids have spring break in a few weeks, they're going to come here and meet their new cousin,' Nicky explained.

Recently she divulged that she and Carter hid the baby's birth from even their immediate families until right before she broke the news on social media.

'My entire life has been so public,' she told Harper's Bazaar. 'Ive never had anything for myself. We decided that we wanted to have this whole experience to ourselves.'

She said of her son: 'I want to protect him and to be with him every second. You have this mother instinct that kicks in, which I've never had before.'

While the surrogate was in labor, Paris was so determined to protect her privacy that she even went to the trouble of disguising herself with a brunette wig and checking into the hospital under an alias.

Her decision was especially notable considering how close she is to her family, particularly Nicky and their mother Kathy Hilton.

However tension flared up between mother and daughter in November when Kathy let slip to E! News that IVF had been a 'struggle' for Paris.

'I don't know where she got that,' Paris shot back in a TMZ interview the following day. 'Its never been a struggle at all.'

When Paris announced the arrival of her firstborn child, all she said was 'You are already loved beyond words,' on a photo of the babys hand holding Pariss finger.

Parents: During the coronavirus lockdowns she underwent in vitro fertilization seven times so she and Carter could expand their family; the pair are pictured at the Grammys last month

Resemblance: Her decision was notable considering how close she is to her family, particularly Nicky (right) and their mother Kathy Hilton (center); seen in 2021

On a recent episode of her podcast This Is Paris, she spilled that Phoenix was 'like over a week old' before she told Kathy and Nicky about his birth.

'When I introduced my mom to our baby boy, it was amazing to see the look on her face, she was so surprised,' said Paris. 'Just the look on her face, it was just priceless.'

Paris married Carter in late 2021 over the course of an eye-watering three-day extravaganza that included a star-studded carnival on the Santa Monica Pier.

Meanwhile Nicky married James, a grandson of the third Baron Rothschild, in 2015 in a ceremony in the Orangery at Kensington Palace with Paris as maid of honor.
Lana Jenkins' mum had a message for her Love Island partner Ron Hall on Saturday as she said he must treat her daughter 'like a princess.'

Rachel admitted she would not shy away from telling the financial advisor to 'look after Lana' and defended the couple's 'boring relationship' in a new interview.

Lana, 25, and Ron, also 25, were recently voted the couple with the least sexual chemistry with viewers saying they 'had no spark.'

The comments came after the couple had a rocky start to their time in the South African villa with Ron's head being turned by a number of new arrivals.

Speaking to The Mirror, Lana's mum Rachel said: 'I'm going to tell him to look after my daughter. Every mum wants their daughter to be treated like a princess.'

Warning: Lana Jenkins' mum had a message for her Love Island partner Ron Hall on Saturday as she said he must treat her daughter 'like a princess'

In the villa: Rachel admitted she would not shy away from telling the financial advisor to 'look after Lana' and defended the couple's 'boring relationship' in a new interview

Adding of their relationship she continued: 'If people think being chilled, peaceful and kind is boring, thats up to them. Its so lovely to see them together.

'Theyre taking their time with their relationship. Theyre not forcing anything. Its natural and organic. Its beautiful.'

It remains to be seen if Rachel will get to meet Ron before Monday's final, with the famous 'meet the parents' episode yet to be confirmed.

Previously, Love Island viewers thought that Ron had more sexual chemistry with his dumped pal Tanyel Revan than girlfriend Lana following a viewer poll.

Two weeks ago, the ITV2 show saw the couples have to rank each other on various topics based on answers given by viewers, with Ron and Lana voted the couple with the least sexual chemistry.

The pair were quick to protest the vote, noting that they don't always have to pack on the PDA to prove they're attracted to each other, with Ron later insisting that they know how they feel about each other.

However, fans watching at home were quick to agree with the vote, noting that the couple had little spark between them and one quipping that there was 'more sexual chemistry between my big toe and my last toe.'

Meanwhile several pointed out that there was more attraction between Ron and former islander Tanyel - who fans had long suspected had a crush on the boxer - with the duo sharing several highly-charged moments during challenges.

Oh no: Lana, 25, and Ron, also 25, were recently voted the couple with the least sexual chemistry with viewers saying they 'had no spark'

Support: Lana's mum said: 'If people think being chilled, peaceful and kind is boring, thats up to them. Its so lovely to see them together'

As the contestants enjoyed their final dates on Friday, their bliss was short-lived as it was revealed that they had to vote for their least compatible couple.

One of three couples will be given their marching orders- Jessie Wynter, Will Young, Lana and Ron or Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan.

In the vote, Ron and Lana got two votes alongside Will and Jessie, while Kai and Sanam got one.

The couple leaving the villa will be the one that the public votes as the least compatible.

Love Island continues on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm on Sunday.
Whatever would Downton Abbeys imperious Dowager Countess of Grantham say about this!

The real chatelaine of Highclere Castle, where the hit period drama was filmed, has posted a hilarious video of herself descending the stairs at her Hampshire stately home in various unstately ways, including sliding backwards down the banister and bouncing down in a sleeping bag  to the tune of Abbas Dancing Queen.

Fiona, 8th Countess of Carnarvon, wrote on Instagram: There are many ways to go down stairs  do you have a favourite?

The 59-year-olds labradors, who had a close-up view of the spectacle, must have thought she was barking.

Fiona, 8th Countess of Carnarvon, wrote on Instagram: There are many ways to go down stairs  do you have a favourite?

The Countess' dogs looked bemused at their mistresses antics on the stairs

The real chatelaine of Highclere Castle, where the hit period drama was filmed, has posted a hilarious video of herself descending the stairs at her Hampshire stately home in various unstately ways, including sliding backwards down the banister and bouncing down in a sleeping bag  to the tune of Abbas Dancing Queen

Glastonbury is facing a backlash after revealing Cat Stevens will perform at the coveted Legends slot this June.

Stevens, also known as Yusuf Islam, is said to have supported a fatwa against author Salman Rushdie for writing The Satanic Verses. He will perform less than a year after an assassination attempt on Rushdie in New York.

Author Margaret Drabble, who gave Rushdie refuge after the 1989 fatwa, tells me: Cat should be ashamed, and should say so. Stevens denies backing the fatwa.
If Normal People star Paul Mescal wins a Best Actor Oscar tonight, I hope he thanks restaurateur Thomasina Miers in his acceptance speech.

Paul  nominated for his role in Aftersun  is a big fan of her Mexican restaurant chain Wahaca and ate the same meal at one of the London branches every day during his theatre stint in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Hes got that superstitious thing, said Miers at Wahaca Shoreditch during an International Womans Day event.

He had the same food for about 50 days in a row!

His meal included chicken quesadilla, two chicken tacos, patatas bravas and a Coke, so I hope the Oscars suit still fits!

Normal People's Paul Mescal, pictured, ate the same dish at a Mexican restaurant for 50 days in a row

The Oscar-nominated actor visited Wahaca 50 days in a row while appearing in Tennessee Williams' A Street Car Named Desire

Marco Pierre Whites son Luciano doesnt seem to have inherited his fathers good luck when it comes to restaurants. I hear the young chef has had to close his eponymous Italian venue in Exeter, which featured a menu full of family favourites, just a year after it opened.

Gino cooks up some tunes

He's best known for cooking on This Morning and his Road Trip TV series alongside Gordon Ramsay and maitre d Fred Sirieix.

But it seems Gino DAcampo has now turned his talents to songwriting. Gino, 46, has penned two albums, called First Five Ingredients and Me And My Guitar, for former X Factor contestant Scott Wilkes who, Gino says, has the perfect voice for his songs.

Although Italian-born Gino has resisted the urge to sing, he does play guitar on the tracks, and holds out the prospect of fiery Scot Ramsay joining them in the future. He could play the bagpipes, jokes Gino. I guess Gordon does blow a lot of hot air
Cara Delevingne has been gushing about her relationship with musician Minke, so maybe its time that she deleted her online dating profile.

I hear Cara still appears as a singleton on the private dating app Raya, which is used by the likes of Harry Styles and Channing Tatum.

Its clearly an honest mistake as Cara started dating Minke  real name Leah Mason  last year.

And the pair go way back  they met as students at Hampshire boarding school Bedales. Its the first time I feel like Im in a relationship, not trying to rescue someone, Cara has said.

Cara Delevingne has been gushing about her relationship with musician Minke, so maybe its time that she deleted her online dating profile.

Cara started dating Minke  real name Leah Mason  last year. The pair met at boarding school

Plot thickens for Tamaras dad

The father and stepmother of former It Girl Tamara Beckwith are embroiled in a dispute with exclusive estate agent Sothebys International Realty.

Property tycoon Peter Beckwith, right with Tamara, and his wife Vivien allege they were cheated when they bought a 130,000 plot of land in Puglia, Italy, in 2020.

Vivien, 75, tells me it was sold on the understanding they could build a holiday home there, but they couldnt get planning permission, rendering it useless and unsellable  claims that Sothebys denies.

The father and stepmother of former It Girl Tamara Beckwith are embroiled in a dispute with exclusive estate agent Sothebys International Realty

If you think a pint at your local is on the pricey side these days, stay away from the Fitzdares Club.

The Belgravia venue, financed by Tory Minister Zac Goldsmith, will launch the worlds most expensive pint on Tuesday.

The cost of a glass of Irish stout, blended with English Champagne? A mere 20!
Chrishell Stause let off some steam about goings on behind the scenes at Selling Sunset in a couple of angry posts on social media Saturday.

'The way reality tv producers twist and manipulate things to create a narrative,' wrote the 41-year-old who has been spending time in Cabo with Emma Hernan, adding a series of snakes and garbage baskets.

'Sucks to not be able to be proud of what you're working on,' she continued, before tagging Done and Done Productions, the company behind the reality show.

It's unclear what the issue for her was, but she added another photo of a man in a glass box trying to catch dozens of papers.

The A Rose For Her Grave actress captioned: 'Me collecting receipts for when the time comes @done_and_done_productions.'

Letting off steam: Chrishell Stause let off some steam about goings on behind the scenes at Selling Sunset in a couple of angry posts on social media Saturday

Manipipulate: Chrishell accused producers at Done and Done productions of twisting and manipulating the narrative of the Netflix reality show

Scrap: The reality star indicated she was collecting evidence about the plot point twists, but encouraged the producers to 'scrap this fake narrative'

She then offered an alternative, declaring, 'Or scrap this fake narrative bc don't forget we have voices too.'

Chrishell concluded the missive with, 'Viewers do NOT want manufactured drama,' and then tagged executive producer Skyler Wakil, company founder Adam Divello and Sundee M, believed to be producer Sundee Manusakis.

None of those tagged has responded to the accusations on social media.

Season six of the popular Netflix show is currently in production.

A lot has changed for Chrishell after season five of the real estate show.

She and her fellow realtor and boss, Jason Oppenheim, 45, broke up in December 2021, after Jason decided he did not want to have children. Both have since moved on.

Chrishell fell in love with Australian rocker G Flip, who wrote a loving tribute to their girlfriend on International Women's Day, calling the Under Construction: Because Living My Best Life Took a Little Work author 'Such a boss, so caring and loving.'

The drummer said their lady love 'has the highest pain tolerance known to the human kind.

Chrishell did not go into detail as to what has upset her regarding the storylines of the latest season of Selling Sunset

New love: A lot has changed for Chrisell since season five of Selling Sunset. She broke up with Jason Oppenheim in December 2021, and found love again with Australian rocker G Flip

Next step: Jason has moved on as well, with Parisian Marie-Lou Nurk. The couple announced in February that they had taken the next step in their relationship and had moved in together

They also gushed that Chrishell has loved them 'proudly and unconditionally even though she knew it would bring a lot of noise and opinions to her life.'

'Always down for a good time and you could dress her in a plastic bag and she'd make it look hot. YEAH BABY,' the musician concluded.

G Flip has hinted they might make a cameo in season six of Selling Sunset.

Chrishell's ex Jason has found love with Parisian beauty Marie-Lou Nurk. The couple announced in February that they had taken the next step in their relationship and had moved in together.
Former Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil has hit back at a troll for criticising her for posting photos herself in skimpy attire on Instagram.

In a column for Stellar Magazine, the 30-year-old revealed she received a comment from a man who said he was tired of her 'bikini content' after she posted images of herself during her recent birthday getaway in Bali.

He also critiqued her for 'acting like an intellectual but actively showing her body'.

Maria said his comment 'reflected objectification, error and entitlement'.

'Naturally, I blocked him. I won't bite the bait with a bigot, but if sharing this here will inspire another to not internalise sexist and harmful rhetoric, I'll sure as hell use him to do it.'

Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil, 30, has slammed a 'sexist' troll who questioned why she 'acts like intellectual while showing off her body' - after she posted gratuitous bikini photos in Bali. (Pictured during her Bali getaway)

Maria said his comment 'reflected objectification, error and entitlement'.

It comes after Maria claimed her brother Dom was spat at and abused by a group of men in a shocking homophobic attack after Mardi Gras.

Thattil, who is bisexual, revealed in a TikTok video that she and her brother were attending their first Mardi Gras together earlier this month along with her girlfriend Jorgia O'Hare and his boyfriend Ben.

Maria said his comment 'reflected objectification, error and entitlement'

She said she had a sick feeling in her stomach when Dom and his boyfriend Ben left the event to get some food, fearing something could go wrong.

'Something in my gut was like, 'Hey, can you just give me a call if you get into trouble',' Thattil said.

'I distinctly remember saying that to them, and just kept my phone on me.'

'Naturally, I blocked him. I won't bite the bait with a bigot, but if sharing this here will inspire another to not internalise sexist and harmful rhetoric, I'll sure as hell use him to do it,' she said

Less than 10 minutes later she got a WhatsApp message from her brother saying he was 'not feeling safe'.

Maria said she called her brother and he told her 'a group of guys' had taken turns to approach the couple to spit at them before running away, only to return and start making 'gagging' sounds towards them.

She said, disturbingly, no one stood up for her brother and his partner despite there being a large crowd around.

'There were so many people around with their rainbow flags and their rainbow merch and not one person said something,' she said.

Maria said the lone exception was a woman who used it as an opportunity for a selfie.

'[The woman] walked up to them and said 'Don't worry about them, you guys look awesome. Can I get a photo of you and your outfits?',' she said.
Davina McCall has revealed a very strange insight into her sex life during the latest episode of her podcast alongside beau Michael Douglas.

The 55-year-old confessed to having 'several' orgasms in her sleep, describing the practice as 'great'.

Speaking on Making The Cut she praised The Happy Vagina Book by Mika Simmons before going on to discuss many different types of climax.

She said: 'I've had an orgasm in my sleep, several. It's great!'

'[The Happy Vagina] is about everything about women and their vaginas and fertility  everything from sex, there's quite a lot about sex, types of orgasm.'

Saucy: Davina McCall, 55, has revealed a very strange insight into her sex life during the latest episode of her podcast alongside beau Michael Douglas

NFSW: She confessed to having 'several' orgasms in her sleep, describing the practice as 'great' (pictured in JD Williams lingerie)

Lovebirds: Speaking on Making The Cut she praised The Happy Vagina Book by Mika Simmons before describing many different types of climax (pictured with beau Michael Douglas)

'There's a core-gasm where an orgasm occurs while performing physical activity like abs exercises! Gym anyone?'.

Before cheekily adding to her beau: 'Shut up  can you imagine? If you think about it properly, I can totally see that!'.

In January Davina revealed she had moved in with Michael, 48, after dating the hairdresser for four years of dating.

It comes after it emerged she is set to be signed up by ITV as host of a new dating show dubbed 'Love Island for the middle-aged'.

Davina confirmed the end of her 17-year marriage to Matthew Robertson in November 2017, when she told MailOnline: 'I am very sad to say that Matthew and I have separated.

'Our amazing children are our number one priority, above everything else so therefore we ask for as much space and respect from the media as possible while our family goes through this difficult time.'

The former couple, share three children, Holly, 21, Tilly 19, and 16-year-old son Chester.

Sources at the network say she is on the verge of agreeing to present the programme, The Romance Retreat, in which single parents will live in a villa.

Exes: She split from her ex-husband Matthew Robertson five years ago after 17 years of marriage {Pictured in May 2013)

They told The Mail on Sunday that Davina  who pitched the idea, and has become an unofficial spokesperson for middle-aged women  was their number one choice.

'Davina is the perfect fit, she is a bubbly, fun and has also endured her own relationship problems,' said one insider. 'Until she met her boyfriend she was a single mother too.'

Davina outlined her idea last month on Steven Bartlett's podcast, The Diary of a CEO, saying: 'I could fill a villa in Love Island with middle-aged people with the best backstories you have ever heard in your life.

'They've lived a life  they're widows, they're people who have been through horrific divorces. They are people who have split up with somebody and decided they want to try going out with somebody the same sex as them. They're like interesting people. I'd watch that show.'

Beach babe: It comes after it emerged Davina is set to be signed up by ITV as host of a new dating show dubbed 'Love Island for the middle-aged' (pictured in August 2022)

'Young buck': Sources told The Mail on Sunday Davina  who pitched the idea, and has become an unofficial spokesperson for middle-aged women  was their number one choice (2022's summer cast)

The ITV website recently promoted a search for contestants for the series, saying: 'ITV1 are looking for vibrant single parents from across the UK who are in search of love, for a brand new dating show!

'This is the ONLY dating show where single parents can search for love, by spending time in a luxury retreat, where all the parents have been nominated by their grown up children.'

In an official call out, the network is looking to cast 'vibrant single parents from across the UK who are in search of love'.

The Romance Retreat and will see contestants stay at a luxurious villa in a bid to find love.

It seems the show is very similar to its Love Island concept, however it remains unclear if winners of The Romance Retreat will win a cash prize at the end of the series.

Mother-of-three Davina was first married to Andrew Leggett but they split after only a few months.

She divorced her second husband, presenter Matthew Robertson, in 2017, and is now with hairdresser Michael Douglas, 48. They moved in together before Christmas.

One of Davina's first television roles was on Channel 4 dating series Streetmate.

The show saw her scour the country in search of singles, and then try to find them their perfect partner by grabbing passers-by in the hope they would find love.
Rebel Wilson is already teaching her newborn daughter Royce the importance of saving her coins.

The Australian actress, 43, who welcomed her first child via surrogate in November, revealed on Sunday that she'd snapped up an elephant-shaped piggy bank from luxury brand Tiffany & Co. worth around $500.

'Roycie's going to LOVE this new @Tiffany&Co Gift [present emoji]', the Pitch Perfect star captioned an Instagram photo of herself posing inside a Tiffany & Co. store.

The blonde smiled as she held the designer money box up to the camera, with a blue gift bag sitting on a desk behind her.

Tiffany & Co. is a brand close to Rebel's heart, as it was also the design house that crafted the engagement ring she gave to fiancee Ramona Agruma during their recent proposal at Disneyland.

Rebel Wilson, 43, revealed on Sunday that she'd snapped up an elephant-shaped piggy bank from luxury brand Tiffany & Co. worth around $500, to give to her daughter Royce, four months

'We said YES! Thank you @tiffanyandco for the stunning ring and to Bob Iger and the incredible team at Disneyland @disneyweddings for pulling off this magical surprise!' Rebel captioned an Instagram post at the time.

The image showed the couple wearing matching pink-and-white jumpers, while Ramona showed off her 2.55 carat diamond sparkler.

The ring is reported worth around $263,000, featuring six prongs around a central diamond.

Tiffany & Co. is a brand close to Rebel's heart, as it was also the design house that crafted the engagement ring she gave to fiancee Ramona Agruma during their recent proposal at Disneyland

After announcing her engagement, Rebel shared a video to give her 11.3 million followers a better look at the ring, which she described as 'just stunning'

Rebel shocked fans when she announced that she had become a mother to a daughter named Royce Lillian, who was welcomed via surrogate, on November 7.

She called her bundle of joy a 'beautiful miracle' when sharing a photo of the baby on Instagram.

In June 2022, Rebel came out as a lesbian, introducing Ramona as the stunning lucky lady who stole her heart.
Married At First Sight brides-turned-colleagues Melinda Willis and Caitlin McConville looked ready for business on Thursday while on a lunch break in Newstead, Brisbane.

Melinda, 33, who hired Caitlin to work at her beauty parlour after filming MAFS, was dressed to impress in a black leather skirt, black top and a checked grey-and-white blazer.

The beauty CEO let her blonde hair hang freely around her shoulders in natural waves and completed her look with gold necklaces and a Louis Vuitton handbag.

Caitlin, 27, also wore an all-black ensemble consisting of a racer crop top and slinky trousers.

Her luscious blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail and a light palette of makeup brought out her naturally radiant features.

Married At First Sight brides-turned-colleagues Melinda Willis, 33, (left) and Caitlin McConville, 27, (right) looked ready for business on Thursday while on a lunch break in Newstead, Brisbane

Melinda, 33, who hired Caitlin to work at her beauty parlour after filming MAFS , was dressed to impress in a black leather skirt, black top and a checked grey-and-white blazer

The beauty CEO let her blonde hair hang freely around her shoulders in natural waves and completed her look with gold necklaces and a Louis Vuitton handbag

The two beauties were all smiles as they chatted while heading back to work after a well-deserved lunch break.

While Caitlin may have left MAFS heartbroken in February there was a silver lining - she managed to score herself a brand new job working for Melinda.

The makeup artist wanted to leave her old makeup role after participating in the series for something more 'financially stable'.

Caitlin, 27, also wore an all-black ensemble consisting of a racer crop top and slinky trousers

Her luscious blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail and a light palette of makeup brought out her naturally radiant features

Caitlin looked focused as she checked her mobile phone

Upon leaving the show, fellow bride Melinda offered her a position at her Brisbane-based salon.

Caitlin is now a senior technician at Melly's Beauty Parlour where she specialises in lashes and brows, and she's revealed what Melinda is really like as a boss.

'I was working a different job and I was saying how I needed another job, something I can enjoy a little bit more and a bit more financially stable,' she told Yahoo Lifestyle.

'And Melinda was like, "Babe, get your qualifications and come work for me!" and I was like, "I already have them!". So we just thought why not?,' she said.

The two beauties were all smiles as they chatted while heading back to work from a well-deserved lunch break

While Caitlin may have left MAFS heartbroken in February there was a silver lining - she managed to score herself a brand new job alongside her co-star Melinda

The makeup artist wanted to leave her old job after participating in the series for something more 'financially stable'

Caitlin, who was recently photographed training for her new job on the salon's Instagram page, said her new boss Melinda is 'amazing' to work with.

'She's so understanding, she's really patient and she's a great boss and friend. It's a pleasure to work with her,' she said.

The beautician made a shock exit at the MAFS commitment ceremony after saying she would no longer be disrespected by her 'husband' Shannon Adams.

Upon leaving the show, fellow bride Melinda offered Caitlin a position at her Brisbane-based salon

Caitlin recently revealed she loves working with Melinda
Kim Kardashian uploaded adorable Instagram photos on Saturday that showed her daughter, Chicago, and niece, True, stylishly dressed up for the weekend.

The TV personality, 42, added the simple caption of, 'Saturday sweetness!' as she shared the snaps with her 348 million fans and followers.

In the first photo five-year-old Chicago donned a short-sleeved Barbie T-shirt along with velvet pants. She added shiny, silver cowboy boots and threw on a pair of blue shades.

Khloe Kardashian's daughter, four-year-old True, also had a blast and wore pink pants along with a cheetah-print tank top and pink cowboy boots that were similar to Chicago's shoes.

It comes after Kim recently partied with family members including sister Kylie Jenner, and mother Kris Jenner, at twin gal pals Malika and Khadijah's 40th birthday bash earlier Friday night.

Weekend fun: Kim Kardashian, 42, uploaded adorable Instagram snaps on Saturday that showed her daughter Chicago, 5, and niece, True, 4, stylishly dressed up for the weekend

True also threw on a pair of white-rimmed, rectangular-shaped sunglasses and held a large, pink bag in her hand.

Kim's daughter also held a purse with a gold-chained handle in her hand as she striked a pose next to her cousin for the photo session.

The SKIMS founder shares Chicago and her other daughter, North 9, as well as sons, Saint, 7, and three-year-old Psalm, with ex-husband, Kanye West.

The Flashing Lights rapper has most recently been linked to 'new wife' Bianca Censori, 28, whom he had a wedding ceremony with earlier this year in January, although the nuptials haven't been legalized since the couple have yet to file for a marriage license.

According to Us Weekly, a source informed the outlet on Friday that, 'Kim is actually glad that Kanye has found someone that makes him so happy.'

The insider further added, 'She knows they have both completely moved on from their relationship and she wants nothing but the best for him.'

Earlier this week on Thursday, West and Censori took North to enjoy an outing at Universal Studios in Hollywood. The nine-year-old previously met the Australian-native back in January during a dinner in Malibu.

The source explained that North has 'a particularly strong bond' with her father, Kanye, and added that Kim expected that her oldest daughter 'was bound to spend time' with West and new wife, Bianca.

Stylish duo: The TV personality added the caption of, 'Saturday sweetness!' to her 348 million fans and followers. The SKIMS founder shares a total of four kids with ex-husband, Kanye West

Update: According to Us Weekly, a source informed the outlet on Friday that, 'Kim is actually glad that Kanye has found someone that makes him so happy'

Recent marriage: In January, Kanye tied the knot with Bianca Censori but has yet to legalize the nuptials, and the insider told Us Weekly Kim, 'knows they have both completely moved on from their relationship and she wants nothing but the best for him'; the two seen in 2019

Close bond: The couple's eldest daughter North, nine, was recently seen spending time with Ye and his wife, and Kim reportedly doesn't mind. 'As long as North is happy with it and Bianca treats her well, then Kim is totally fine with it'

'As long as North is happy with it and Bianca treats her well, then Kim is totally fine with it,' the source explained.

'Kim thinks its great that Kanye has somebody that cares about him because in the end, thats truly all she wants for him.'

After saying 'I do' in 2014, Kim filed for divorce from the rapper in February 2021, which was officially finalized late last year in November.

The businesswoman enjoyed a night out earlier Friday evening in celebration of close friends and twins, Malika and Khadijah Haqq, as they rung in their 40th birthday in West Hollywood.

Kim joined her younger sister Kylie and mother Kris as the trio spent quality time together at the star-studded celebration.

Khloe Kardashian was also at the birthday party, but did not make an appearance in Kim or Kylie's social media content.

In a video uploaded onto her Instagram stories, the mother of four posed with her fashionable sister and mother as they glanced towards the camera.

Khloe was spotted later leaving the bash with her ex, Tristan Thompson, whom she shares daughter True with, as well as a son welcomed in July 2022 via surrogacy.

Party time! The businesswoman enjoyed a night out earlier Friday evening in celebration of close friends and twins, Malika and Khadijah Haqq, as they rung in their 40th birthday

Having a blast! Kylie also shared content on her Instagram page, and posed for a selfie with her older sister, Kim, at the party

The Good American founder penned a sweet birthday tribute to Malika and Khadijah on her main Instagram page before the party.

'I want to thank you for choosing me over and over again to be your bestie. For allowing me to be apart of your life, your journey on this planet,' she had written in the lengthy caption.

'Thank you for trusting me with all that you do. Thank you for holding my hand while we go through life,' and later gushed, 'Thank you for never judging me when I made mistakes, for laughing until we cried, for the sleepless nights of fun and for always being there.'

Khloe also uploaded her own reels and snaps on Instagram that had captured memorable moments from the special night.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were seen meeting with a team of contractors at their incredible new home on Saturday.

The power couple's exhaustive home search appears to have finally ended, as they have reportedly purchased the Pacific Palisades compound for a staggering $64 million.

Lopez, 53, went without her usual glam, wearing baggy blue cargo pants and a white sweater while Affleck, 50, kept it casual in an orange flannel jacket, black pullover, and black jeans.

The A-list pair appeared to be deep in thought as they toured the massive property with their phones clutched in their hands.

Lopez and Affleck's recent purchase comes after they allegedly pulled out of escrow on a neighboring $34.5 million mansion.

Settling in: Jennifer Lopez, 53, and Ben Affleck, 50, were seen meeting with a team of contractors at their incredible new home on Saturday

The Grammy-winning pop star appeared to be the driving force behind the visit, as she seemed to be the most involved, holding court with the contractor and inspecting the palatial grounds.

The new home is nearly double the cost of the first property they were planning to purchase but has more amenities, including eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.

The home sits on 1.13 acres and includes a gym, professional media room, game room, an elevator, and a massive backyard with a pool and fire pit area.

With eight bedrooms and nearly a dozen bathrooms, the home is perfect to accommodate the couple's blended family.

The couple have five children, with Lopez sharing her 15-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex-husband Marc Anthony, and Affleck sharing his three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner  Seraphina, 17, Violet, 14, and Samuel, 11.

Each child will have more than enough space to stretch out in the new home and invite plenty of friends over to enjoy the amenities it has to offer.

Equipped with a movie theater, a pool, multiple recreation and gathering spots, and a huge kitchen, there's no doubt the family will be entertaining company.

The home is also located on a hill and faces toward a canyon, allowing for plenty of natural light to seep into all rooms throughout the day.

Keeping it casual: Lopez went without her usual glam, wearing baggy blue cargo pants and a white sweater while Affleck kept it casual in an orange flannel jacket, black pullover, and black jeans

End of a journey: The power couple's exhaustive home search appears to have finally ended, as they have reportedly purchased the Pacific Palisades compound for a staggering $64 million

Multitasking: Lopez appeared to be deep in thought as she toured the massive property with her phone clutched in her hand, in addition to a white binder

Taking the lead: The Grammy-winning pop star seemed to be the driving force behind the visit, holding court with the contractor and inspecting the palatial grounds

Making it her home: Lopez wore her lustrous locks in a casual updo and sported a pair of thick beige boots as she toured her new estate

Home sweet home: Lopez and Affleck's recent purchase comes after they allegedly pulled out of escrow on a neighboring $34.5 million mansion

And in case they want to let friends or family members stay with them but from a distance, the estate looks to include a guest house located just off the driveway.

The main house comes with space for three cars in the garage but plenty of additional driveway area for cars.

Another perk of the new home is that it's just down the street from the Pacific Palisades residence Affleck shared with Garner for nine years while they were married.

The megastars have been hunkering down in a lavish $60 million rental in Beverly Hills owned by Australian billionaire James Packer.
One of Jersey Shore's favorite original stars is making a comeback.

Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola, 35, is set to star on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, 10 years after her last onscreen Jersey Shore appearance.

Giancola - who previously said she wouldn't appear on the reboot - was part of the original Jersey Shore cast, with the show airing from 2009 until 2012, before MTV rebooted it with Jersey Shore: Family Vacation in 2018.

The network teased her appearance on the popular reality TV series with a photo in front of a green screen that appeared to be part of a confessional interview.

'She's still the sweetest b***h you'll ever meet,' the caption under the photo read - a nod to her original tagline from the show.

'Still the sweetest b***h you'll ever meet': Sammi 'Sweetheart' Giancola, 35, is set to appear on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, 10 years after starring on the original Jersey Shore reality show

The OG: Giancola was part of the original Jersey Shore cast, from 2009-2012, before MTV rebooted it with Jersey Shore: Family Vacation in 2018; Pictured in 2009 promo shot

Sammi also took to her Instagram stories to share a clip of herself in front of the green screen, and tagged Jersey Shore.

The New Jersey native looked lovely as ever, wearing a stylish navy button-up dress.

Sammy wore her long brunette tresses in a straight style, cascading down her shoulders, and wore delicate glam for the occasion.

Fans were thrilled about the news, with one writing: 'This is so f***** iconic.' Another added, 'This is gonna break the internet.'

Jersey Shore premiered in 2009 and followed housemates Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, Jenni 'JWoww' Farley, Pauly DelVecchio Angelina Pivarnick, Vinny Guadagnino, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Giancola.

Her fellow co-stars were also happy with the news, with Farley commenting a series of clapping hands emojis.

Meanwhile Pauly D retweeted the post from Jersey Shore's account and wrote 'Back like she never left.'

The Situation did so as well, adding, 'GYM TAN SAMS BACK.'

The show was on air for six seasons before ending in 2012. MTV rebooted the series with Jersey Shore: Family Vacation in 2018, which up until this point starred the original cast without Giancola.

Exciting: MTV teased her appearance on the popular reality TV series with a photo in front of a green screen that appeared to be part of a confessional interview

Comeback queen: Sammi also took to her Instagram stories to share a clip of herself in front of the green screen, and tagged Jersey Shore

Changed her mind: In 2018 the star shared that she wouldnt take part in the Jersey Shore: Family Vacation reboot saying she wanted to 'avoid potentially toxic situations'; Pictured 2011

Ronnie's gone, Sam's back: At the time fans speculated that her decision was due to the fact that her on/off again boyfriend Ronnie Ortiz-Magro would be appearing. The couple split for the final time in 2016; Pictured 2012

Stepping away: Ronnie stepped away from the show last year, citing mental health as the reason; The former couple pictured in 2010 in Miami Beach, Florida

Her former on-again-off-again boyfriend Ronnie stepped away from the show last year, citing mental health as the reason.

In 2018 the star shared on Instagram that she wouldnt take part in the Jersey Shore: Family Vacation reboot.

'I am at a completely different place in my life right now focusing on my businesses and relationship. I am currently extremely happy in every aspect of my life and want to avoid potentially toxic situations.'

At the time fans speculated that her decision was in part due to the fact that Ronnie, whom she split from two years prior, would be appearing.

The two notably began dating after they met while working on the first season of the hit MTV reality series.

They maintained an on-again-off-again relationship for several years before they went their separate ways for a final time in 2016.

According to InTouch, the star admitted during an episode of the reboot that he had 'cheated' on her. 'I got cold feet. I ended up cheating. She found out. I blew it. Its over.'

Snooki previously shared that other cast members had asked Sammi to come onto Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, only to have her adamantly refuse. Snooki discussed whether it was Sammi's decision to not return to the show due to past drama with Ronnie.

'It's been 10 years,' Nicole expressed. 'At some point, you're both moved on. Just come have fun. Come back to the show that was our life. I mean, we're still doing it.

Throwback: Jersey Shore followed housemates (l-r) Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, Giancola, Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, Vinny Guadagnino, Jenni 'JWoww' Farley, and Pauly DelVecchio, as well as (not pictured) Angelina Pivarnick and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro
Ana de Armas brought her A-list star power on Saturday night as she arrived at the Netflix Oscar Nominee Celebration at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles.

The actress, 34 - who earned a Best Actress nomination for her Marilyn Monroe portrayal in Blonde - sparkled in a chic beige corset dress covered in clear sequins, a clear nod to the Hollywood starlet.

She channeled one of Marilyn's most recognizable looks, the nude dress she wore to serenade President John F. Kennedy for his 45th birthday.

The Cuban beauty stunned onlookers with a glossy mulberry pout and just a swipe of glittery eyeshadow across her lids, and she accessorized with some elegant bracelets, including a diamond piece from Logan Hollowell.

The invite-only soiree was hosted by Netflix Films chairman Scott Stuber and celebrates the streamer's 16 nominations, including a Best Picture contender with the historical drama All Quiet On The Western Front.

Arrivals: Ana de Armas brought her A-list star power on Saturday night as she arrived at the Netflix Oscar Nominee Celebration at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles

Iconic: The actress, 34 - who earned a Best Actress nomination for her Marilyn Monroe portrayal in Blonde - sparkled in a chic beige corset dress covered in clear sequins, a clear nod to the Hollywood starlet

The stars will be out in full force on Sunday evening at the 95th Academy Awards, which are being hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Ana's silky brown hair was worn in a loose curls that were swept over one shoulder for her time in front of the cameras.

She carried a green and gold trunk clutch that coordinated with the sparkly gold Cartier bracelets on her left wrist.

The Knock Knock actress sported maroon toned polish on her fingernails and a pair of diamond drops earrings stood out against her brunette hair.

Ana mingled with Stuber as well as Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who looked dapper in a classic black suit and tie.

Also in attendance was Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery star Jessica Henwick, who made jaws drop in a plunging black dress.

The English star, 30, rocked smoked out warm brown eyeshadow paired with a glossy lip and a radiant complexion.

Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro was spotted chatting with cinematographer Darius Khondji.

Guillermo's Pinocchio remake, which premiered on Netflix in December 2022, is up for Best Animated Film at this year's ceremony.

Meanwhile, Darius Khondji earned a nod for his 'breathtaking 65mm cinematography' in the Netflix dramedy Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths.

Nominations were unveiled on January 24th and it is Ana's first-ever Academy Award nod.

Ana spoke about portraying iconic Hollywood bombshell, Marilyn Monroe, in a February interview with Vanity Fair.

'If you put Marilyn Monroe "the movie star" aside, she's just an actress trying to navigate the life and this system, which is so hard to navigate for anybody,' she told the magazine.

'On top of that, you add this point of view of [director and screenwriter] Andrew [Dominik's] which was to see that through her trauma,' she added.

Host: The invite-only soiree was hosted by Netflix Films chairman Scott Stuber and is in celebration of the streamer's 16 nominations, including a Best Picture contender with the historical drama All Quiet On The Western Front

Bigwig: Ana mingled with Stuber as well as Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who looked dapper in a classic black suit and tie

Wow: Also in attendance was Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery star Jessica Henwick, who made jaws drop in a plunging black dress

Legends: Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro was spotted chatting with cinematographer Darius Khondji

Nominee: Ana earned a Best Actress nomination for her Marilyn Monroe portrayal in Blonde (pictured)

'I truly thought it was going to do justice to a more dimensional human being, because I wouldn't want to be remembered just for one thing. I am more than just an actress on the cover of a magazine.'

Her film Blonde was released in 2022, produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tracey Landon and Scott Robertson.

The film was based on the book Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates; it was released on Netflix on September 28.

The film also stars Adrien Brody, Xaxier Samuel, Julianne Nicholson and Bobby Cannavale.
The Bachelors' Jed McIntosh has been spotted getting up close and personal with a mystery blonde at a club in Melbourne over the weekend.

Jed, 25, was photographed packing on the PDA with a busty beauty at Ms Collins just days after his real estate girlfriend Alesia Delaney announced they had split.

McIntosh and the yet to be identified mystery woman were also seen holding hands in front of photographers, not caring who saw them.

The inked rocker flaunted his tattooed torso, opting to go shirtless while posing for photos.

At one point, he was joined by his co-star Thomas Malucelli who was also in town attending PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival.

The Bachelors' Jed McIntosh was spotted getting up close and personal with a mystery blonde at a club in Melbourne over the weekend

Jed, 25, was photographed packing on the PDA with a busty beauty at Ms Collins just days after his real estate girlfriend Alesia Delaney announced the pair had split

The pair looked friendly as they posed for photos alongside Bachelor rejects Angela Ferdinands and Natasha 'Tash' Zuanetti.

Jed and Thomas were regular fixtures at the fashion event, both showing off their edgy outfits while sitting front row.

It comes days after Jed's chosen winner, Alesia, took to Instagram to announce the pair were no longer dating.

McIntosh and the yet to be identified mystery woman were seen holding hands and packing on the PDA in front of photographers, not caring who saw them

At one point he was joined by his co-star Thomas Malucelli, who was also in town attending PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival

Uploading a selfie alongside Jed, she wrote: 'There have been lots of ups and downs, but we are no longer together.'

Alesia explained though the couple went their separate ways they remain friendly with each other.

'We are still friends and in a good place,' she added.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Jed for comment.

The pair looked friendly as they posed for photos alongside Bachelor rejects Angela Ferdinands and Natasha 'Tash' Zuanetti
Pip Edwards was doing things the true blue Aussie way on Saturday.

The P.E Nation founder walked home through the Sydney streets barefoot as she headed to her house.

The 42-year-old looked chic in activewear, including a fitted purple tank top that showed off some bust.

She added a loose pair of pants in a parachute fabric with snap button details down the side.

Pip ensured that her casual look was punctuated with some glamour as she carried a designer Burberry tote bag.

Pip Edwards (pictured) was doing things the true blue Aussie way on Saturday. The P.E Nation founder walked home barefoot through the Sydney streets

The fitness fanatic appeared to go makeup free for the outing and had on a pair of sunglasses with blue frames.

She appeared to have just returned from a swim as her hair was matted and wet in beachy waves.

The glamorous businesswoman was recently dragged into a public stoush between her ex Michael Clarke and his girlfriend Jade, which also involved Karl Stefanovic and his wife Jasmine.

Extraordinary footage emerged of a heated exchange between the couple while they were on holiday in Noosa, Queensland.

The 42-year-old looked chic in activewear, including a fitted purple tank top that showed off some bust. She added a loose pair of pants in a parachute fabric with snap button details

In the video, which was filmed by an onlooker on January 10 and sold to The Daily Telegraph for a reported $10,000, Jade accused the former Test captain of cheating on her with his former flame Pip on December 17.

Others in the group, including Karl, his wife Jasmine - Jade's older sister - and celebrity accountant Anthony Bell, tried to defuse the fracas.

The dramatic footage showed a shirtless Michael being screamed at and slapped by his hysterical girlfriend.
Married At First Sight's Alyssa Barmonde has had enough of the drama and has stormed out of the experiment.

Photos taken by Daily Mail Australia on October 22 show the fiery bride clashed with producers and her husband Duncan James, leaving the show in turmoil.

According to a production spy, Alyssa became increasingly frustrated with the way the show was being run and felt like her concerns were not being taken seriously.

The dramatic moment unfolded just moments after Barmonde returned to her apartment with husband James after the couple swap challenge.

'Alyssa needed to pick up her three-year-old son at 12pm, but filming kept going past 4pm,' said the source.

Married At First Sight's Alyssa Barmonde, 36, (pictured) has had enough of the drama and has stormed out of the experiment

'It was a Saturday and filming never happens on the weekends, but producers wouldn't let any of the cast leave the hotel because they didn't have enough drama from the partner swapping task.' they continued.

This led to heated arguments with the production team and her husband, resulting in her dramatic storm out of the hotel.

'Alyssa kept telling both Duncan and producers that she needed to leave to go pick up her son for the weekend.' they added.

Photos taken by Daily Mail Australia on October 22 show the fiery bride clashed with producers and her husband Duncan James, leaving the show in turmoil

'Alyssa needed to pick up her three-year-old son at 12pm, but filming kept going past 4pm,' said the source

According to the production spy, producers wanted Alyssa to say that she 'needed space' and make a dramatic 'storm out' but she wasn't willing to play ball.

'I wouldn't be surprised if they try and spin it to make it look like she did or said something wrong, but really she just needed to get to her son.'

The mother-of-one was seen looking downcast as she made a swift exit from the Skye Suites at 4.45pm with a suitcase full of her belongings.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Alyssa and Channel Nine for comment.

'It was a Saturday and filming never happens on the weekends, but producers wouldn't let any of the cast leave the hotel because they didn't have enough drama from the partner swapping task,' said the source
Idris Elba and wife Sabrina looked cosier than ever as they attended the pre-Oscars Awards Dinner hosted by Chanel and Charles Finch in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The 50-year-old British actor put on a dapper display in a navy windbreaker and black trousers.

He added a stylish pair of black boots to his ensemble.

Idris was joined by his glamorous wife Sabrina, 33, for the big event.

Idris put his arm around Sabrina as they posed in front of a backdrop ornate with green foliage at the star-studded event held at the Beverly Hills Hotel ahead of the highly-anticipated awards ceremony.

Good match: Idris Elba and wife Sabrina looked cosier than ever as they attended the pre-Oscars Awards Dinner hosted by Chanel and Charles Finch in Los Angeles on Saturday

Showing off her incredible physique, Sabrina opted for a figure-hugging brown dress.

The beauty looked sensational as she slicked her brown tresses back into a low bun.

She sported a stunning palette of make up including a brown smokey eye.

The married couple met at a party in 2017 and wed in an extravagant ceremony two years later.

The Wire star admitted he fell in love 'at first sight' when he saw Sabrina and often talks about how the pair are inseparable.

Despite famously claiming he would never marry again, Idris made a public proposal to Sabrina at a film screening, before tying the knot in Marrakesh in 2019.

The pair share a hugely successful podcast, titled Coupledom and have launched their own lifestyle brand, Sable Labs, which is Elba's spelt backwards.

The couple aim to make Sable Labs a 'global community that celebrates partnerships of all kinds - romantic couples, business partners, creative duos, long standing friends, family ties and much more.'

Stylish: The 50-year-old British actor put on a dapper display in a navy windbreaker and black trousers

Star-studded: Idris put his arm around Sabrina as they posed in front of a backdrop ornate with green foliage at the star-studded event held at the Beverly Hills Hotel ahead of the highly-anticipated awards ceremony

Wow: Showing off her incredible physique, Sabrina opted for a figure-hugging brown dress

Back: Idris returns as DCI John Luther in a new Netflix adaptation. The film has received mixed reviews but many fans are calling for more Luther to appear on the streaming service

Idris' appearance comes after the recent release of Netflix's 'Luther: The Fallen Sun'.

The highly-anticipated action flick, adapted from the hit BBC series, sees Elba step back into character as DCI John Luther.

The latest film has been met with a number of two-star reviews, with critics claiming the 'preposterous' picture is 'jumbled', 'farfetched' and 'ridiculous'.

However, fans of the British heartthrob didn't seem to mind, with some fans calling out to Netflix to make more of the gritty series.

The Wire star, who has long been touted as Daniel Craig's replacement for James Bond, teased to Capital Radio that there could be more Luther works in the future.

Asked if there would be a spin-off following Alice Morgan  the dysfunctional psychopath who appeared in the BBC series, Idris evealed: 'This is a question for Neil Krause, who writes Luther and I think he's definitely thought about that.

'And I think we've all imagined an Alice show because it would just be amazing. But also, I think Alison in the Luther universe is not dead.'
Married At First Sight's Janelle Han and Jesse Burford have been caught in a steamy date swap months after their partners cheated on them.

The pair were spotted looking flirty while out at lunch in Perth, sparking rumours that they've recoupled - after their ex's Claire Nomarhas and Adam Seed infamously hooked up with each other behind their backs.

Recent photos taken by Daily Mail Australia show Janelle, who was paired with Adam Seed, enjoying Jesse's company.

Janelle was seen giggling at Jesse's jokes as they enjoyed a brunch at Northbridge Brewing Company.

Sources close to the pair claim that Janelle and Jesse have been texting and calling each other constantly since filming wrapped in December, and that their chemistry was undeniable during their date.

Married At First Sight's Janelle Han and Jesse Burford have been caught in a steamy date swap months after their partners cheated on them

The pair were spotted looking flirty while out at lunch in Perth, sparking rumours that they've recoupled - after their ex's Claire Nomarhas and Adam Seed infamously hooked up

The duo were later joined by Sydney-based Tahnee Cook, who was in town visiting her partner Ollie Skelton.

Burford was paired with Melbourne-based teacher Claire Nomarhas, but things went downhill for the pair after Claire kissed Janelle's husband during a drunken night out while filming.

Her infidelity was played out on screens, but reportedly downplayed by producers.

Recent photos taken by Daily Mail Australia show Janelle, who was paired with Adam Seed, enjoying Jesse's company

Janelle was seen giggling at Jesse's jokes as they enjoyed a brunch

According to the insider, Nomarhas only decided to tell her husband after learning that fellow groom Harrison Boon knew about it.

'Claire didn't tell Jesse about the cheating scandal because she felt guilty. She told him because Bronte knew, and was going to tell Harrison,' they claimed.

'Claire knew Harrison would tell Jesse. Claire got in first and acted out that she was guilty.'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Janelle and Jesse for comment.

Sources close to the pair claim that Janelle and Jesse have been texting and calling each other constantly since filming wrapped in December, and that their chemistry was undeniable during their date

Burford was paired with Melbourne-based teacher Claire Nomarhas, but things went downhill for the pair after Claire kissed Janelle's husband during a drunken night out while filming
Ewan McGregor and his daughter Clara put on a fashionable display as they attended the You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder premiere at the SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas on Saturday.

The 51-year-old Scottish actor cut a dapper figure in a khaki t-shirt, navy striped blazer and matching navy trousers.

Meanwhile, Clara looked incredible in a silver metallic dress.

Ewan and his eldest daughter Clara have had a rocky relationship, since she famously branded her dad's second wife a 'piece of trash' and her dad an 'a***hole'.

Close: Ewan McGregor and his daughter Clara attended the You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder premiere at the SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas on Saturday

The father and daughter have repaired their relationship over the past five years and recently completed work on their first joint project.

You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder, is a film conceived by Clara, with Ewan explaining of his daughter's pitch to him: 'She tells me that she'd come up with an idea about writing about us.

'At first I was a bit nervous. I didn't know what that meant.'

The film focuses on a father daughter road trip, with Ewan's character driving his daughter, played by Clara, to rehab.

While the drive is fictional, the premise of a dad trying to help his daughter is based on Clara's own experience.

'I sat down to read it and I was blown away. It was a beautiful story about us. There's things that aren't accurate, or are bent, but they still reflect our estrangement for a while,' explained the actor.

'The drive is fictional. But for a couple of years, we sort of lost her. So the storyline is about her realising that she needs the help her father's trying to give.

'Along the way, their relationship is healed somewhat.'

Stylish: The 51-year-old Scottish actor cut a dapper figure in a khaki t-shirt, navy blazer and matching trousers

Dapper: Putting on a stylish display, his white socks poked through from his slightly cropped bottoms

Family ties: Ewan and his eldest daughter Clara have had a rocky relationship, since she famously branded her dad's second wife a 'piece of trash' and her dad an 'a***hole'

'I was so impressed by the story, by the humour. There's a sort of recognition in it that made me very proud and at the same time very close to her.

'I felt like she understood more than I'd thought.'

When asked by GQ what he felt his daughter had understood, Ewan elaborated: 'My position, but also stuff about parenting somebody who's in trouble.

'It's a f**king horribly difficult situation to be in. You're so scared of what can happen. You will do anything in the world to stop losing them.'

He later mused in a rare comment about his messy split from Clara's mother: 'A divorce in a family is a bomb going off in everyone's life  my children's lives. The sort of healing of that is ongoing.'

Ewan recently revealed his changing perspective on parenting, after welcoming a baby with his new wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Wow! Meanwhile, Clara looked incredible in a silver metallic dress

Joint project: The father and daughter have repaired their relationship over the past five years and recently completed work on their first joint project

Group shot: The pair appeared in good spirits as they posed on the red carpet together outside the screening. (Pictured L-R: Vera Bulder, Christine Vachon, Clara, Ewan and Emma Westenberg)

Focus: The film focuses on a father daughter road trip, with Ewan's character driving his daughter, played by Clara, to rehab

Ewan was married to his first wife Eve Mavrakis, 56, for 22 years, and the couple share four daughters together. But in 2017 he was pictured kissing his Fargo co-star Mary Elizabeth, 37, leading to his 2020 divorce and his second marriage last year.

Ewan and Mary share a son Laurie and the actor reflected on twenty years of parenting in a candid interview with British GQ, including his 'difficult' period of estrangement from eldest daughter Clara.

The Scottish star explained how lockdown changed his perspective on his career/ family balance as he realised it had been decades since he's stayed put in one place for longer than a few months.

'I just want to be present. I don't want to be away for four months in Romania,' he told GQ. 'If it has to happen, maybe it has to happen, but I'm trying really hard not to do that'.

Referring to his years parenting his four daughters, Clara, 26, Jamyan, 20, Esther, 19, and 10-year-old Anouk, which coincided with his heady post-Trainspotting career high, Ewan mused: 'Before, I just felt like a gypsy. I was always a dad first, but I was away a lot.'

Ewan and Mary first met on the set of their TV series Fargo in 2016, before the actress split from her husband of seven years Riley Stearns in May 2017. Ewan then separated from Eve in January 2017 and filed for divorce.
Married at First Sight has always been known for its controversial experiments, but the latest challenge has left viewers outraged.

The show's experts have introduced a 'twisted' couple swap task which will play out during Monday's episode, where participants will exchange partners and share a bed together for a whole weekend.

Fans have taken to social media to express their disgust with the latest experiment.

One user wrote, 'This is taking it too far. It's one thing to marry a stranger, but to swap partners and sleep together? That's just sick.'

'The producers of this show deserve a fate worse than hell for putting Melinda through this,' wrote a second.

Married At First Sight has always been known for its controversial experiments, but the latest challenge has left viewers outraged. Pictured: Harrison Boon and Melinda Willis

'The next episode is going to be disgustingly entertaining,' laughed another before writing that 'the producers are evil this season'.

The show's experts have defended the task, saying that it's an opportunity for the couples to experience different perspectives and deepen their relationships.

However, many fans remain unconvinced, with some even threatening to boycott the show.

The show's experts have introduced a 'twisted' couple swap task which will play out during Monday's episode, where participants will exchange partners and share a bed together for a whole weekend

'This serves no purpose but to get views, the premise of the show is lost,' wrote another.

'Great to accelerate the nuking of your own show,' commented another.

'The producers just love drama! Must want more viewers.'

One user wrote, 'This is taking it too far. It's one thing to marry a stranger, but to swap partners and sleep together? That's just sick'

As revealed by Daily Mail Australia, Monday's episode will see Channel Nine shake up the experiment by encouraging the cast to swap partners and share the same bed for three days.

Couples will be encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and forced to live with another partner in the tiny apartment, which will see some participants straight out refuse and storm out of the experiment.

The relationships 'will be tested like never before when a partner-swapping task is introduced'.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, relationship expert John Aiken explained: 'We're constantly trying to throw challenges at the couples that they may experience in the real world, but in a very condensed short period of time - eight weeks.

As revealed by Daily Mail Australia, Monday's episode will see Channel Nine shake up the experiment by encouraging the cast to swap partners and share the same bed for three days. Pictured: Melinda Willis and Rupert Bugden pictured at the retreat together

The relationships 'will be tested like never before when a partner-swapping task is introduced'. Pictured: John Aiken

'Some of them strengthen their bond as a result of these challenges, but other couples start to really come apart, and so how do they navigate that?

'This series, we've got a couple of key challenges of which I think really test the couples, and really take 'em out of the comfort zone.

'That's good because it's the tenth year and we need our participants to be constantly present and being aware of what's going on in the experiment - they can't be complacent.'

MAFS executive producers Tara McWilliams and John Walsh said that while the challenge may have came as a surprise to the participants, the idea is nothing new.

'I don't think it's a big a twist,' McWilliams explained. 'I won't go into too much detail, but there's new elements in the experiment this year.

'We've always done a partner swap, it's been a lunch or dinner, where we've got different partners to give feedback to each other,' Walsh explained.

It comes after a source told Daily Mail Australia that the partner swap challenge was 'hell for all involved', and not all participants were willing to participate. (Alyssa Barmonde pictured storming out of the hotel the week of the task)

Melinda pictured looking unhappy while having a break on her balcony while filming the partner swap task

It comes after a source told Daily Mail Australia the partner swap challenge was 'hell for all involved', and not all participants were willing to participate.

'Not everyone was keen to participate. Layton refused to do it. They didn't see the point of it and was like, "No way this would happen on the outside world."'

Layton was said to be livid when he was told that he would be paired with Bronte Schofield and refused to participate.

Despite being reluctant, Melinda eventually agreed to move in with rival Harrison Boon (right)

Layton (left) was said to be livid when he was told that he would be paired with Bronte Schofield (right) and refused to participate

Despite being reluctant, Melinda eventually agreed to move in with rival Harrison Boon.

Duncan James will meanwhile be paired with Evelyn Ellis - while his 'wife' Alyssa Barmonde was matched with Cameron Woods.

'I don't know if it was because there were too many couples in the end and they just wanted to test who was genuine or not, or they just wanted to shake things up,' another source added.

Participants had to live with another partner at Skye Suites, the Sydney apartment building where MAFS is filmed, for three days to 'get feedback' on their relationships.

Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine
Lily James turned heads in a chic ensemble as she attended Chanel and Charles Finch's 14th Annual Pre-Oscar Awards dinner on Saturday night.

Lily, 33, looked like sheer perfection in a ruffly see-through camisole and a gray satin skirt with a gorgeous black lace floral overlay.

The Pam and Tommy star kept it elegant as she teamed her look with simple black heels.

The British actress added a soft touch of glam with a pair of dainty pendant earrings.

Lily had a sun-kissed glow and her makeup artist kept her look minimal and natural, with just a hint of brown eyeshadow on her lids.

Entrance: Lily James turned heads in a chic ensemble as she attended Chanel and Charles Finch's 14th Annual Pre-Oscar Awards dinner on Saturday night

Racy: Lily, 33, looked like sheer perfection in a ruffly see-through camisole and a gray satin skirt with a gorgeous black lace floral overlay

The Rebecca star styled her brunette tresses in an up-do bun and two locks down framed her beautiful face.

The 14th annual soiree was held at the Polo Lounge at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel and brings Hollywood's top talent and fashion's elite together for one glamorous night.

The celebration returned last year following a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The star-studded dinner was filled with the industry's brightest talents, many of whom were dressed head to toe in Chanel, including Kristen Stewart, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman and Camila Morrone.

Also in attendance were Rita Ora, Tessa Thompson, Brie Larson, Ariana DeBose, Phoebe Tonkin, Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan, Andrew Garfield and Daniel Kaluuya.

It comes after both Lily and Pamela Anderson attended the Versace Fall/Winter show on Thursday - after the Baywatch star berated the actress' portrayal of her in the controversial Hulu series Pam & Tommy.

Anderson slammed James' portrayal of her in Pam & Tommy, and refused to watch the show, saying that seeing Lily and Sebastian Stan dressed as her and ex Tommy Lee, 60, felt like a 'Halloween costume.'

The series dramatizes the creation and subsequent theft of her infamous sex tape with her rocker ex-husband created during their honeymoon.

Ensemble: The Pam and Tommy star kept it elegant as she teamed her look with simple black heels

Accessorising: The British actress added a soft touch of glam with a pair of dainty pendant earrings

Glowing: Lily had a sun-kissed glow and her makeup artist kept her look minimal and natural, with just a hint of brown eyeshadow on her lids

Updo: The Rebecca star styled her brunette tresses in an up-do bun and two locks down framed her beautiful face

Anderson delved into her distaste for the Pam & Tommy miniseries - which also starred Sebastian Stan as Tommy Lee - a number of times, including in a January interview with Howard Stern.

James and Stan star in Pam & Tommy as the eponymous couple at the height of their romance, when Pamela was a Baywatch star and Tommy was the drummer for Motley Crue.

Pamela admitted that she felt 'run over' after she allegedly learned of the show - which chronicles her three-year marriage and heavily focuses on the sex tape - via an ad.

The star claimed to Stern that she had never been contacted about the series. Even worse, she told Stern that  based on what friends told her  she didn't belief the performances from James or Stan were particularly accurate.

She said: 'I remember seeing this advert for Pam & Tommy and was like, what? No one called me, I'm still alive, no one asked me, it's nothing to do with me.'

'I felt kinda run over by that one. I don't think they portrayed Tommy or I very accurately. I haven't seen it but I've heard from people that it's a very shallow representation of us. I wish they would've called.'

And though she happily shared her distaste for the show, Pamela stressed that she has no issue with Lily for playing her, during an interview with Variety.

'I think it's hard to play somebody when you dont know the whole picture. Ive got nothing against Lily James. I think that she's a beautiful girl and she was just doing the job,' Pamela said.

'But the idea of the whole thing happening was just really crushing for me,' she added. Pamela also called the creators of the show as 'a**holes.'

Meanwhile Lily shared that she tried to reach out to Anderson and wanted her to be involved in the process.

'I was really hopeful that she would be involved. I wish it had been different,' she said in an interview with Net-a-Porter last year.

'I was very hopeful that we would be in touch right up until we started filming... My sole intention was to take care of the story and to play Pamela authentically.'

After the final episode of the show aired in March 2022, the series received critical acclaim, along with garnering a total of ten Primetime Emmy nominations and four Golden Globe nominations.
Kate Ritchie is set to make a triumphant return to the small screen.

The former Home and Away actor will star in the Channel Seven miniseries The Claremont Murders, and a new trailer dropped on Sunday.

The 44-year-old's role was kept under wraps with filming taking place secretly in Perth in August and September last year.

In the clip, Kate pleads, 'Just tell us where Sarah is please,' as she performs alongside Erik Thomson.

She is referring to Sarah Spiers, who went missing from Perth, Western Australia in 1996.

Kate Ritchie is set to make a triumphant return to the small screen. The former Home and Away actor will star in the Channel Seven miniseries The Claremont Murders, and a new trailer dropped on Sunday. Pictured

Ritchie and Erik Thomson (left) are playing the parents of Sarah Spiers, Carol Spiers and Don Spiers. Sarah Spiers missing from Perth, Western Australia in 1996

It appears that Ritchie and Thomson are playing the missing woman's parents, Carol Spiers and Don Spiers.

The miniseries covers the Claremont murders, one of the most high profile mysteries to grip the nation.

When three young women went missing in Claremont in the late nineties it set off the biggest unsolved murder case in West Australian history.

It took 25 years to solve the crime, and the miniseries will tell the story of how the Claremont Killer was caught.

The Claremont Murders follows the police investigation and twists and turns that brought a serial killer to justice.

It focuses on the police who never let the case go and the journalist who followed the case from the day the first woman went missing, all the way through to the end of the trial.

Don and Carol Spiers are pictured in 2019

In the clip, an emotional Kate pleads, 'Just tell us where Sarah is please'

Sarah's body was never found. She was just 18 when she vanished. Sarah Spiers is pictured

The two-part drama event stars Ryan Johnson, Catherine Van-Davies, Aaron Glenane, Laura Gordon, Andrea Demetriades, Craig Hall, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Tasma Walton, Joel Jackson, Tom O'Sullivan, Erik Thomson and Kate Ritchie.

No release date has yet been announced but the series is coming soon to Channel 7 and 7plus.

Kate has not taken on an acting role since leaving Home and Away in 2013, after playing beloved Sally Fletcher from 1988.

She also appeared in Underbelly as Judy Kane in 2009 and in Cops LAC as Samantha Cooper in 2010, as well as roles in Mr & Mrs Murder and It's a Date in 2013.

Kate has since turned her attentions to a successful radio career.

The miniseries covers the Claremont murders. Three young women went missing in Claremont in the late nineties, setting off the biggest unsolved murder case in West Australian history

The Claremont Murders follows the police investigation and twists and turns that brought a serial killer to justice

It comes after the actress reflected on her decision to get professional help after her shock drink driving charge in August.

In December, Daily Mail Australia broke the news Ritchie had entered an exclusive private mental health facility in Sydney to help treat her alcohol dependency.

She told The Sunday Telegraph that after struggling with several personal challenges last year she decided it was time to seek help.

'It was a long time coming. I sought professional help, the help that I needed. Sometimes enough is enough,' she said.

'Life has thrown me its challenges over the last few years, but I am not alone in that. I was fortunate to be able to take time.

'I gained clarity and that is why I feel so good about coming back now,' she added.

It comes after the actress reflected on her decision to get professional help after her shock drink driving charge in August. 'It was a long time coming. I sought professional help, the help that I needed. Sometimes enough is enough,' she said

Kate's new lease on life comes ahead of her new radio hosting gig starting last week on Nova's new Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie breakfast show.

'I just wanted to be a better version of myself for me and my family. I am coming back clear and refreshed.'

In October, Kate announced she was stepping away from the Kate, Tim and Joel show in October, before it was revealed she was seeking treatment at an exclusive rehab clinic in Sydney.

In December, she said in a statement that the last year had been challenging and stressful which led to an 'unhealthy reliance on alcohol'.

Ritchie returned a reading of 0.06 - just over the legal limit - when she was stopped by police for a random breath test in her station wagon at Pagewood at 2.45pm on August 22.

She was fined $600, suspended from driving for three months, and apologised on Instagram.
Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez sent temperatures soaring during their Firedance tour at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Saturday.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers are performing nationwide until early April in a captivating dance-off inspired by famous theatre productions including Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge, West Side Story and more.

Karen, 40, looked stunning in a fuchsia pink two-piece set that showed off her toned body while Gorka, 32, showed off his muscled physique as he went shirtless in matching trousers.

Later on the pair donned a midnight blue ensemble, accentuating Karen's enviable pins as the dress shimmered throughout the dance routine.

The dancer also turned heads in a bold red figure-hugging dress, with a large slit down one side, as Gorka dressed in a smart black suit for the sexy performance.

Hotting up: Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez sent temperatures soaring at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Saturday

Outfit change: The pair later changed into a midnight blue ensemble which shimmered throughout the dances

Their passion and chemistry was obvious throughout the sensational choreography as sweat glistened off their chiselled bodies.

The enchanting dances, which Karen has described as 'fresh' and 'sexy', are paired with high-tempo music from Camilla Cabello and Jason Derulo among others.

The shows, which are running for the third consecutive year, will continue until early April and are still to come in London, Nottingham, Birmingham and more.

Meanwhile the audience was filled with star-studded names, including Strictly co-stars Janette Manrara, who teased a glimpse of her growing bump as she joined husband Alijaz Skorjanec at the theatre premiere.

Gorka joined the show in 2016 as a professional dancer and has been partnered with Alexandra Burke, Katie Piper, Maisie Smith and Helen Skelton.

He has been engaged to actress Gemma Atkinson since 2021. In January, the actress, 38, revealed she was pregnant with her second child after they welcomed their first child, Mia, in 2019.

On last year's Strictly, Karen was paired with comedian Jayde Adams in one of two same-sex couples. They were the fourth to be eliminated.

In June Karen married her partner Jordan Wyn-Jones in an intimate ceremony in Hampshire.

Bold: Another set of outfits saw Karen change into a figure-hugging scarlet dress with a large slit down the side

Amazing figure: The 40-year-old dancer showed off her toned body in a matching fuchsia pink two-piece set

Hard work: Their bodies glistened with sweat after they performed the routines, inspired by Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge, West Side Story and more

Burning red: Karen showed her stunning dancing ability as she flawlessly moved in a pair of strappy heels and skin-tight dress

Chemistry: The pair displayed their enviable connection as they danced together through the shows

Hugging it out! The co-stars embraced as the crowds cheered following their performance

Look at those moves: Karen danced to music by Camilla Cabello, Jason Derullo and more

The Strictly Come Dancing star, 40, described the ceremony as a 'fairytale' and gushed about how special it was to bring their families together.

Karen and Jordan got hitched at the five-star Chewton Glen hotel, an 18th century country house bordering the New Forest.

Among those in attendance at the ceremony were Strictly professionals Luba Mushtuk and Janette Manrara.

Karen was previously married to her former dance partner Matthew Hauer and later to ex Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin Clifton from 2015 to 2018.

Although they parted ways that year, they continued to work together until Kevin left Strictly in 2020.

After she and Kevin split, Karen - who is originally from Venezuela - insisted she would never date a dancer again.
PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival has issued an apology after some attendees at a catwalk show took offence over a number of garments being displayed by models on the runway.

Melbourne label NOT A MAN'S DREAM, founded by Samantha Saint James in 2022, printed the Arabic text for 'Allah' on outfits worn by models on Saturday night, some of which were sheer.

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival said in a statement on Sunday: 'We understand certain pieces shown as part of last night's Closing Runway have caused offence to some members of our community.

'The Festival did not intend to disrespect anyone and we apologise for any offence caused.

'We have been in contact with the designer of NOT A MAN'S DREAM and together we have agreed to remove certain content from our channels.'

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival has issued an apology after some attendees took offense over some of the garments being displayed by the brand NOT A MAN'S DREAM (pictured)

Melbourne label NOT A MAN'S DREAM, founded by Samantha Saint James in 2022, printed the Arabic text for 'Allah' on outfits worn on the runway on Saturday night, some of which were sheer (pictured)

In an additional statement obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald, designer Saint James said: 'I apologise for any offence or disrespect caused by certain pieces I showed in Saturday evening's MFF runway.

'I've come to understand how some garments have caused offence. It was the opposite of my intention and for that, I'm truly sorry.'

Melbourne model Mona Khalifa was among those raising concerns after attending the show, calling the display 'vile'.

She pointed out that one of the models was wearing a sheer version of the garment and appeared to go without a bra underneath.

'I could not contain my anger, I could not put this off any further,' she began in a series of Instagram Stories posts.

'This designer Not A Man's Dream had this down the runway, it has got the word Allah on it, look how she is dressed, she is literally naked and it's got the word Allah all over the body.'

PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival said in a statement: 'We understand certain pieces shown as part of last night's Closing Runway have caused offence to some members of our community. The Festival did not intend to disrespect anyone and we apologise for any offence caused'

In an additional statement designer Saint James said: 'I apologise for any offence or disrespect caused by certain pieces I showed in Saturday evening's MFF runway. I've come to understand how some garments have caused offence. It was the opposite of my intention and for that, I'm truly sorry'

'Honestly there is a fine line between art and disrespect, this falls way way over disrespect,' Mona continued.

'There is no reason for someone to put the word Allah or anything Islamic on something like this, literally no reason, you could have put any other Arabic phrase.'

'I honestly don't care if they stop inviting me to these events. Disrespecting my religion is where I draw the line, this is vile. Shout out to the models who refused to walk for that designer,' she added.

Australian National Imams Council spokesman Bilal Rauf told The Age slammed the label for 'discourtesy and disrespect'.

'The use of certain words and symbols which carry a religious significance ought to be used with respect,' he said.
Dancing On Ice fans have predicted that Ekin-Su Culculoglu will recreate her sexy Toxic routine on Sunday as she returns for the grand final.

The Love Island star, 28, certainly made an impression with her sultry debut performance.

She stepped out in a nude mesh jumpsuit with a dramatically embellished detail.

The ensemble was a recreation of the one Britney Spears wore in her Toxic music video - which the reality star was dancing to.

The actress crawled across the ice during the performance, an ode to the famous Love Island scene in which she crawled around the villa's terrace to kiss fellow islander Jay Younger behind partner Davide Sanclimenti's back.

Back again: Dancing On Ice fans have predicted that Ekin-Su Culculoglu will recreate her sexy Toxic routine on Sunday as she returns for the grand final

Raunchy: The Love Island star recreated a memorable scene from the reality show where she crawled on the ground and prompted over 100 Ofcom complaints from viewers

Sexy: The Love Island star, 28, certainly made an impression with her sultry debut performance

The sultry routine also saw her lie on her back and be swept up into partner Brendyn's arms, with a slew of animated facial expressions.

Ekin-Su and professional skater Brendyn were marked middle of the leaderboard by the judges, who gave a score of 21.5 for the sexy performance.

But while they agreed that the star certainly had sex appeal, they were hoping for a little more from the performance.

'It was very sexy. But what I want more of is the skating,' said judge Jayne Torvill. Ashley was in agreement as he said: 'Skate on your own without holding on to Brendyn, show us what you can do.'

Many viewers also took to social media to brand the routine 'not appropriate' for the family show, which airs before the watershed.

But the performance was a hit with Ekin-Su's boyfriend Davide, who sat in the audience and teased that he 'couldn't wait' to take her home.

And it appears like Ekin-Su will recreate the performance on Sunday night, if her fans are to be believed.

One tweeted: 'Sources say she will be performing toxic by Britney Spears once again'.

Dancing On Ice is set to come to a glittering close on Sunday evening as the final three celebrities get their skates on for one last hurrah.

Tensions heat up in the skating competition as Joey Essex will perform with partner Vanessa Bauer, Nile Wilson will dance with Olivia Smart and The Vivienne is teamed with Colin Grafton.

Kicking off at 6:30pm and running for an hour and a half on Sunday 12 March, the live final will see judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse return to the panel to cast their votes once more.

Leading the pack, Nile is the online bookmakers favourite to win this years competition by landslide, with an 80% probability.

Speculating: And it appears like Ekin-Su will recreate the performance on Sunday night, if her fans are to be believed

THAT crawl: The actress crawled across the ice during the performance, an ode to the famous Love Island scene (right)

Who will win Dancing On Ice 2023? Joey Essex, The Vivienne and Nile Wilson are all set to battle it out during this week's final

Winner? Olympian Nile could be headed for a landslide victory as the odds appear to be firmly in his favour

After scoring a perfect 10 from each judge and bagging a full 40/40 mark for his performance last week, the Olympian has provided a number of breath-taking routines throughout the series.

According to Betvictor, Nile's odds to win are 1/4 - putting him in the top spot for a win.

With 2-time Scottish champion skater Daniel King sharing: 'Nile certainly seems to be the favourite for the judges.

'Although all three of the finalists performances are at a similar level. There aren't many points between 38, 39 and 40. So I think it will all depend on the public vote.'
Jenna Ortega has revealed she nearly passed on her breakthrough role of Wednesday Addams in the hit Netflix series Wednesday.

The actress, 20, shot to global stardom with the hugely popular show and made the character her own.

But Jenna has now divulged that she turned the project down several times before going onto to star in it.

Speaking to The Times, she revealed: 'I got the email, passed on it. I had done so much TV in my life, all Ive ever wanted to do is film.

'I was scared that by signing on to another television show it could prevent me from doing other jobs I really wanted and cared about.'

Almost missed out: Jenna Ortega has revealed she nearly passed on her breakthrough role of Wednesday Addams in the hit Netflix series Wednesday

Breakthrough: The actress, 20, shot to global stardom with the hugely popular show and made the character her own

Convincing: Jenna went on to explain that is was the lure of director Tim Burton that persuaded her to give the job a second chance

Jenna went on to explain that is was the lure of director Tim Burton that persuaded her to give the job a second chance.

'Tim is such a legend, and we just happened to get along very well. But even then I said, Ah, no  I think Im OK, a couple [more] times.'

Jenna started acting professionally from the age of nine and scored a lead role on the Disney Channel series, Stuck in the Middle.

She then went on to star in several horrors, Insidious: Chapter 2, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, American Carnage and season two of Netflixs serial-killer series You.

This coupled with her current film Scream VI, has led many to call Jenna as the newest 'scream queen'.

She said: 'For some reason people see my face and want to throw blood on it  I dont know what it is. Ive had a horror director tell me once my eyes looked like they could be very innocent. It was never intentional, but its really fun.'

It comes after it was reported that Jenna is eyeing a reunion with director Tim in his long-awaited sequel Beetlejuice 2.

The movie star is reportedly 'circling' a role in Burton's sequel, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

If a deal comes together, Jenna will be portraying the daughter of Lydia Deetz, portrayed by Winona Ryder in the original 1988 classic.

Michael Keaton is expected to return as the title character, though it's unclear if other original stars such as Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones will also be back.

The Warner Bros. sequel is eyeing a May or June production start in London, though the budget is still not set quite yet so there has still been a 'back and forth' with the production and the studio.

Reps for both Warner Bros. and Jenna have not yet responded for comment, with Jenna about to open her new film Scream VI, which is eyeing a possible $35 million opening, which would be the best in Scream franchise history.

The original Beetlejuice was director Tim Burton's second feature film, following his 1985 debut Pee-Wee's Big Adventure.

Scary roles: This coupled with her current film Scream VI (pictured), has led many to call Jenna as the newest 'scream queen'

Circling: The actress is reportedly 'circling' a role in Burton's sequel, according to The Hollywood Reporter

Daughter: If a deal comes together, Jenna will be portraying the daughter of Lydia Deetz, portrayed by Winona Ryder in the original 1988 classic

The story follows a married couple Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara (Geena Davis) who are recently deceased and learn that a new family (Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara and Winona Ryder) have moved into their house.

They consult the Handbook for the Recently Deceased and summon the spirit known as Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to scare off this new family.

The original classic earned $80 million worldwide from a $15 million budget, winning an Oscar for Best Makeup.

While the film was quite beloved by fans... a sequel hasn't come together over the past 30-plus years.
Tom Schwartz, 40, enjoyed a karaoke night with friends in Los Angeles Wednesday, but missing from the group was his pal and business partner Tom Sandoval.

The restaurateur, 39, has been keeping a low profile since his affair with fellow Vanderpump Rules star Raquel Leviss, 28, was revealed March 1, rocking his fellow cast mates and ending his nine year relationship with longtime girlfriend Ariana Madix, 37.

TMZ reported that Schwartz, who has denied trying to hide the affair by kissing Leviss, tried to tackle Green Day's Brain Stew when it was his turn at the mic at The Oaks Tavern in the Sherman Oaks area.

The reality star was later seen picking up the tab for his group.

Schwartz received harsh criticism from former cast member, Kristen Doute, 40, for not speaking up about the affair on Dear Media's Shenanigans podcast.

Karaoke: Tom Schwartz,40, was seen enjoying Karaoke night last Wednesday in Los Angeles, but absent from the group was his friend and business partner Tom Sandoval, 39

'Tom Schwartz is a f*****g p***y, and he needs to man up,' Doute said as she was joined by host Scheana Shay and Lala Kent.

On her own Sex, Love and What Else Matters podcast Friday, Kristen, who will be returning to Vanderpump Rules, she alleged Schwartz had known about the affair for about a month.

'Schwartz and I were texting yesterday and he said he told him he needed to tell Ariana before it blew up in his face and humiliated the hell out of her.'

Doute claimed Madix discovered the affair after she found snaps from an intimate FaceTime with Leviss on Sandoval's phone.

When TMZ caught up with the Tom Tom co-founder at the airport Saturday, Schwartz kept his cards close to the vest.

When referring to his business partner's infidelity he said, 'I think he feels like a piece of s**t, and to some extent, maybe he is, but he knows he f**ked up.'

He expressed relief that Ariana Madix, Sandoval's now former girlfriend, was getting support from her Vanderpump Rules friends and others.

'I'm not sure where she is,' he said, 'But I hope she's living the really good life, just indulging. I hope she goes on a living spree.'

Split: Sandoval and his longtime girlfriend and Vanderpump Rules co-star, Ariana Madix, 37, have broken up after nine years together, after she discovered he was cheating on her

Knowledge: On her Sex, Love and What Else Matters podcast, Vanderpump Rules alum Kristen Doute, 40, who is returning to the show, alleged Schwartz had known about the affair between Sandoval and Raquel Leviss for a month before the news broke

He also revealed that the scandal was affecting the bottom line at his various ventures. 'I'm just sad about the negative impact it's having on our business,' he admitted, 'But I think cooler heads will prevail and I'm gonna keep on keepin' on.'

Meanwhile, Kristen Doute has accused Sandoval of continuing to behave badly.

'He wasn't even apologetic and that shocked me,' she claimed.

'He was blaming her, gaslighting her,' explaining that Tom alleged they couple hadn't been happy and that Ariana wasn't supportive of his endeavors.

Criticized: Schwartz has been criticized for not speaking out about the affair. 'Tom Schwartz is a f*****g p***y, and he needs to man up,' Doute said on Dear Media's Sheananigans podcast, with Vanderpump stars Scheana Shay and Lala Kent.(Pictured in Los Angeles in December 2019)

Bottom line: Schwartz expressed concern about how the scandal would affect his bottom line. 'I'm just sad about the negative impact it's having on our business,' he admitted, 'But I think cooler heads will prevail' (Pictured in Santa Monica in November 2019)

Doute claimed that at one point, Tom returned to the home he shared with Ariana, and found her by members of the cast offering her solace.

'And he was like, "Yeah, I know everyone hates me."'

When Kristen said she suggested Tom give Ariana some space, he allegedly said, '"She can leave if she's not comfortable."' adding, 'The ego of it all!'
Glenn Close will be watching the Oscars from the comfort of her home, instead of attending the ceremonies Sunday.

Producers are having to scramble to find a substitute to present in her place after the 75-year-old actress, who has been nominated several times but never won, was diagnosed with Covid, according to the Associated Press.

The outlet reported a representative for the Fatal Attraction star said she is 'is isolating and resting.'

The Damages star was one of some 40 A-list celebrities who had signed to to take part in the 95th Academy Awards Ceremonies at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

Lin-Manuel Miranda had to skip last year's show after his wife tested positive for Covid-19.

Bowing out: Glenn Close, 75, has bowed out as a presenter at the 95th Academy Awards Sunday due to a positive Covid diagnosis (Pictured in February 2019 in Los Angeles)

Resting: The eight-time Oscar nominee is reported to be 'isolating and resting' according to the Associated Press (Pictured in May 2022 in New York)

The virus has taken its toll on other awards shows, with Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jamie Lee Curtis having to bow out of the Critics Choice awards in January following their participation in the Golden Globes the week before.

Variety reported that press covering the Academy Awards were required to test but did not need to provide proof of vaccination.

Those seated for the show inside the Dolby in the orchestra or first balcony also had to test.

Glenn has been nominated for an Oscar eight times, most recently in 2021 for her performance Hillbilly Elegy, based on the book written by JD Vance.

The story was based on the Senator from Ohio's childhood.

The accomplished actress was first nominated in for her portrayal as Robin Williams' mother in 1983's The World According to Garp.

The casting was interesting because Glenn was only five years older than the comedian.

A succession of nominations quickly followed for her supporting roles in ensemble piece The Big Chill and as Robert Redford's love interest in The Natural.

First nomination: Glenn received her first nomination for her portrayal as Robin Williams' mother in 1983's The World According to Garp. The casting was interesting because Glenn was only five years older than the comedian

Her big hit: Glenn received her first Best Actress nomination for her role as a woman scorned in 1987's Fatal Attraction

Dangerous Liaisons: Glenn was nominated again the following year for her role The following year, she was nominated again, this time as a scheming aristocrat in the period piece Dangerous Liaisons, opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and John Malkovich

The Wife: The versatile actress was nomination again in 2019 for her celebrated portrayal of a woman who let her husband take the credit for her Nobel Prize winning literature in The Wife

Hillbilly Elegy: The Emmy and Tony winner's most recent Oscar nomination was in 2021 for her performance Hillbilly Elegy, based on the book written by JD Vance. The story was based on the Senator from Ohio's childhood

The versatile star received her first Leading Actress nod for her portrayal of a woman scorned in the thriller Fatal Attraction in 1989.

The following year, she was nominated again, this time as a scheming aristocrat in the period piece Dangerous Liaisons, opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and John Malkovich.

Her gender bending performance as a woman masquerading as a man so she can work as a butler as a posh Dublin hotel earned her a Best Actress nomination in 2012.

That was followed by another nomination in 2019 around her celebrated portrayal of a woman who let her husband take the credit for her Nobel Prize winning literature in The Wife.

More to come: Glenn continues to be an in-demand actress well into her eighth decade. She has five projects listed in various stages of production (Pictured in April 2021 in Los Angeles)

Glenn continues to be an in-demand actress well into her eighth decade. She has five projects listed in various stages of production, including Back in Action, an action/comedy with Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx.

She has also been cast in the horror film The Deliverance with Omar Epps and Rob Morgan about a family who discovers a portal to Hell in their house.

The film was directed and co-written by Lee Daniels.

Glenn will also appear in Brothers with The Whale's Brendan Fraser, Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage. The plot for the comedy has been kept under wraps.
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Chelsea Lazkani flaunted her bikini body poolside while filming for Selling Sunset in Cabo, Mexico, on Sunday.

The Selling Sunset star showed off her sculpted abs in a skimpy bright pink two-piece as she enjoyed the sun in-between filming breaks.

The mother-of-two - who recently celebrated her 30th birthday - styled her dark tresses in a long braid with bangs parted to the right side of her face.

She added a pair of oversized earrings and opted for silver eyeshadow, sculpted brows, and a nude lip.

After her time in the pool, the beauty changed into a multicolored short dress with a matching top that displayed her tummy.

Golden hour: Chelsea Lazkani, 30, flaunted her bikini body while filming for Selling Sunset poolside in Cabo, Mexico on Sunday

Beach ready: The reality star wore large earrings paired with silver eyeshadow and styled her dark tresses in a long braid

Season five's breakout star has become a force to be reckoned with after entering the show as Christine Quinn's sidekick.

It was announced that Quinn would not return to the show for seasons six and seven.

There was drama surrounding Quinn when Emma Hernan claimed she bribed one of her clients not to work with her.

The ladies began filming the newest season in early January after Netflix renewed it for a sixth and seventh season in June 2022.

In the upcoming episodes, fans expect many unanswered questions to be addressed from the previous season. A premiere date for the newest season has not been announced, but production and filming are underway.

Since joining the show, Lazkani quickly won over her fellow cast members with her directness and established herself as a strong presence on the show.

'It was an extremely nerve-wracking experience,' Chelsea told Vogue of coming onto the show. 'People may not see that, but I was scared when the cameras were on.'

After the London-born realtor gained her footing in front of the cameras, she went to work bringing in significant business to the brokerage firm and impressed fans with her ostentatious fashion.

Gaining her confidence: Season five's breakout star has flourished after entering the show as Christine Quinn's sidekick

Beauty and brains: After graduating from university, she worked as a business strategist, before acquiring her real estate license

New episodes: The ladies began filming the newest season in early January after Netflix renewed it for a sixth and seventh season in June 2022

A force to be reckoned with: The London-born realtor quickly won over her fellow cast members with her directness and established herself as an outspoken personality on the show

Despite landing a coveted role on season six of the Netflix hit series, Chelsea wasn't always living a glamorous high life in the Hollywood hills.

Lazkani graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Birmingham before gaining a masters in gas and oil economics in Dundee.

For years she worked as a business strategist and solar analyst with companies in the oil and gas industry before she visited Los Angeles and fell in love with her husband Jeff, with whom she now has two children: son Maddox Ali Levon, 3, and daughter Melia Man, 2.

After the pair married in 2017, Chelsea gained her real estate license and joined the famous Oppenheim Group in 2021.

Lazkani didn't take long to make a splash as she was introduced as 'Black Barbie' before telling the group: 'I always get what I want.'

Her second look: After a quick dip in the pool, Chelsea changed into a multicolored short dress with a matching top and carried a yellow handbag
Her incredibly curvaceous figure is unmissable when she poses up a storm to her 20million Instagram followers on a regular basis.

And Sunday afternoon was no different for Demi Rose who showcased every inch of her physique in a skimpy orange bikini.

The model, 27, took the opportunity to display her curves after stumbling across a full-length mirror which was perfectly placed in a terrace area by the pool at her luxurious home.

Her bikini top barely contained her ample assets and had a sheer material which left her modesty only covered by an applique flower detail embroidered on the front.

The bottoms were a high-waisted fit which complimented her svelte waist and figure-eight shape.

Stunning: Her incredibly curvaceous figure is unmissable when she poses up a storm to her 20million Instagram followers on a regular basis. And Sunday afternoon was no different for Demi Rose who showcased every inch of her physique in a skimpy orange bikini

Barely there: The model, 27, took the opportunity to display her curves after stumbling across a full-length mirror which was perfectly placed in a terrace area by the pool at her luxurious home

She appeared to go makeup free for the occasion as she enjoyed taking in some rays of sunshine to top up her already glowing tan.

Her brunette tresses were swept up into an up-do which put her photogenic features to the forefront.

Instagram star Demi captioned the video taken on Sunday: 'Been in hermit mode working out 5 times a week. With my two trainers sometimes twice a day.'

She also took to her Instagram stories to share a snap of her dog Ted looking up at her lovingly, and she joked: 'Girls if he doesn't look at you the way Ted looks at me he isn't the one.'

The palm trees behind her as well as the blue skies really set the scene for the relaxing holiday she has been on in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, Demi looked sensational in a slew of sexy snaps from Ibiza to her Instagram on Wednesday.

The model flaunted her gorgeous curves in a very revealing purple maxi dress that showcased her naked figure with no back.

The drape had a halterneck design with thigh splits and gave a glimpse of her ample assets and pert posterior and was teamed with purple heels to boost her height.

She added a touch of glamour with a statement green necklace and dangly earrings and wore her brunette tresses swept up.

She captioned the post on International Women's Day: 'I love being a woman' and was flooded with adoring comments.

It comes after Demi was happy to arrive back home in Ibiza earlier this month after an extended trip to Egypt.

After touching down, the social media model couldn't resist a welcome home shoot, stripping down to black lace lingerie.

Sharing selfies in the mirror, Demi flaunted her curves in a strapless bra, playfully pouting for the camera.

Pose: Her bikini top barely contained her ample assets and had a sheer material which left her modesty only covered by an applique flower detail embroidered on the front

Skimpy: The bottoms were a high-waisted fit which complimented her svelte waist and figure-eight shape. She appeared to go makeup free for the occasion as she enjoyed taking in some rays of sunshine to top up her already glowing tan

Sweet: She also took to her Instagram stories to share a snap of her dog Ted looking up at her lovingly, and she joked: 'Girls if he doesn't look at you the way Ted looks at me he isn't the one'

Wow! The palm trees behind her as well as the blue skies really set the scene for the relaxing holiday she has been on in recent weeks. Earlier this week, Demi looked sensational in a slew of sexy snaps from Ibiza to her Instagram on Wednesday

'There's no place like home' Demi gushed as she also shared a look at the incredible landscape near her Ibiza home.

Demi, who was once romantically linked to rapper Tyga, recently opened up about her sexuality and her troubled childhood in a candid Instagram Q&A.

The model has not previously discussed her sexuality but admitted to her followers that she is open to dating women.

Asked 'Boys, girls or both?' by a follower, she responded: 'I went through a phase of liking girls more than guys.
Holly Willoughby took to Instagram on Sunday as she shared a fun bommerang ahead of Dancing On Ice's grand final.

The host, 42, looked sensational as she beamed for the camera and excitedly threw her arms in the air.

For the final show Holly opted for a gorgeous strapless silver frock that boasted a plunging neckline and princess skirt.

The Sophie Couture gown was adorned with mirrored embellishments that sparkled beneath her dressing room's lights.

Holly accentuated her dainty features with a radiant palette of make-up and wore her blonde tresses in loose waves.

Stunner: Holly Willoughby, 42, took to Instagram on Sunday as she shared a fun bommerang ahead of Dancing On Ice's grand final

Style: The host looked sensational as she beamed for the camera and excitedly threw her arms in the air

Can't wait! Completing the look with diamond earrings she wrote: 'It the @dancingonice final!!!! Let do this!!!! Soooo excited #hwstyle dress by @sophiecouture jewellery by @mappinandwebb'

She completed the look with gorgeous Maplin & Webb white gold and diamond stud earrings retailing for 5,500.

Writing: 'It the @dancingonice final!!!! Let do this!!!! Soooo excited #hwstyle dress by @sophiecouture jewellery by @mappinandwebb'.

Fans and famous friends rushed to the comments section with GMB's Susanna Reid writing: 'STUNNER'.

Sunday's final saw Nile Wilson crowned the winner of Dancing On Ice 2023, beating out Joey Essex and The Vivienne in the grand final.

The Olympian broke down in tears as he joined his professional partner Olivia Smart lifting the glittering trophy, after wowing viewers with his jaw-dropping version of the iconic Bolero skate.

Getting emotional, Nile said: 'I just want to say, 11 human beings proved we could do anything if you put your mind to something and work hard, you can achieve anything.'

Runner-up Joey added: 'I missed a few steps but it was the best time of my life, well done to Nile and Olivia'

The Vivienne and Colin came in third place during the final - leaving Nile and Joey skating the iconic Bolero.

Wow: The gown made the beauty looked like a princess as she hosted the glittering final show

Gorgeous: Hosting duties: Holly accentuated her dainty features with a radiant palette of make-up and wore her blonde tresses in loose waves

On the ice: She started the show next to the contest's trophy (pictured with co-host Phillip Schofield)

Nile was up first with an elegant performance and said at the end: 'I can't believe I got emotional'.

Joey then took to the ice and gave an emotional performance, with judge Chris saying: 'You have come so far' but pointed out a few missteps.

While Nile made history as the first male contestant to perform the headbanger during the grand final.

He was given the maximum amount of points for the show-stopping routine with judges, Ashley Banjo, Oti Mabuse, Jayne Torvill and Chris Dean all scoring him 10.

The headbanger, or the bounce spin, sees a skater picked up their ankle and spun round by their partner.

Due to the potential danger, the move is actually banned by the International Skating Union (ISU), which governs competitive skating.

Performing the move at an ISU event will see points deducted by the judges, but it can be used in routines for exhibition or show skating.

Winner! The final saw Nile Wilson crowned the winner of Dancing On Ice 2023, beating out Joey Essex and The Vivienne in the grand final

Well deserved: The Olympian broke down in tears as he joined his professional partner Olivia Smart lifting the glittering trophy, after wowing viewers with his jaw-dropping version of the iconic Bolero skate

Speaking ahead of his routine Nile said: 'There's going to be eight other professionals on the ice and it very very intimidating. I need to blend in with them and not stand out.'

'A hell of a lot can go wrong in this routine, it's the biggest challenge I have ever attempted on this show!'

Commenting on the routine, Ashley said: 'After the week I know you'v e had, to pull that routine off cleanly with no mistakes is incredible'

Oti said: 'The passion, the thrill, the way you push yourself every week, this performance was worthy of a 10'

The Vivienne was up next with a jam-packed routine, which they skated to Katy Perry's Dark Horse, and scored a massive 40 points with partner Colin.

After smashing the performance, the Drag Queen said: 'I will remember this for the rest of my life!'

Oti said: 'For me, I've always thought you are a great performer but there's something so special about you, thank you for showing us power and control.'

Chris added: 'It was so nice to see it come together tonight, it was so strong, well done'.
Sandra Bullock does not hit events that often - her last red carpet appearance was in March 2022 for her film The Lost City.

The 58-year-old Oscar-winning actress usually likes to stay at home with her two children Louis and Laila and her hunky boyfriend Bryan Randall.

But this weekend The Heat actress was seen hitting a star-studded pre-Oscar bash at the Sunset Tower hotel in West Hollywood.

The brunette bombshell flashed her cleavage in a blouse that was barely close as she added a blazer.

The star was seen chatting up Demi Moore and Brendan Fraser as well as CAA agent Kevin Huvane, who reps Jennifer Lopez.

Still a stunner! Sandra Bullock looked radiant at a pre-Oscar CAA party at the Sunset Tower in West Hollywood this weekend

Pretty ladies: The star was seen chatting up Demi Moore as well as CAA agent Kevin Huvane, who reps Jennifer Lopez

They were all at the CAA Pre-Oscar Party at Sunset Tower Hotel on March 10.

This comes after news that she may work with Brad Pitt again.

In September, Pitt revealed he and Sandra came up with an idea for a film that never saw the light of day.

The Hollywood pair - who have appeared alongside each other in The Lost City and Bullet Train this year - had another motion picture in mind in which they would play quibbling QVC sales people, who argue on-air amid their divorce.

The Fight Club star was asked to share his beauty secrets with British Vogue, but didn't wish to, and so the journalist asked how his regimen has changed over time without being 'too QVC'.

He said: 'I wouldn't know how to do that unless it was a comedy.'

Then Brad, 58, said: 'Actually, Sandy [Sandra Bullock] and I did once try to develop a whole idea of a husband and wife team, who were QVC's most successful salespeople, but we're getting a divorce, we hate each other, and we're taking it out on air as we sell things  That's as far as we got.'

Brad recently said he wishes to continue working with 'old friend' Sandra.

Another snapshot: Bullock with Brian Tyree Henry and Brendan Fraser

He said: 'Sandy is an old friend. She's a diehard person I could call for favours over the years and I have done many many times and she's always there.

'Her timing was great, she was a great person to have in my ear in a situation like what which is actually kind of intimate. It just worked out really well and she had her film and I got to do a little bit of hers. I think we'll continue to do the same.'

Meanwhile, Moore said she is 'so proud' of her life these days.

The 60-year-old actress was previously married to late musician Freddy Moore, then to fellow Hollywood star Bruce Willis and has Rumer, 34, Scout 31, and Tallulah, 29, with him and later went on to tie the knot with Ashton Kutcher but been single for most of the time since their split in 2013 and a source has claimed that she is 'so grateful' for the support network she has around her.

She took a break it seems! Bullock's last big splashy event was the UK Special Screening of The Lost Cityon March 31, 2022 in London

The source told this week's edition of UsWeekly magazine: 'Demi is very proud of the life she's created for herself. She's very grateful to have such a warm and loving group of friends and family members surrounding her and supporting her.'

In the run up to her milestone birthday late last year, the 'Ghost' star insisted that she was not going to be defined by a number and instead was using her life experience to define herself as reflected on being called an 'icon' for achieving 40 years in showbusiness.

She said: 'Not being defined by a number and instead being defined by my experience. You hit 59 and you're already thinking, 'Well, I'm going to be 60.' It feels very liberating. When I think of my grandmother at 60, she in a way seemed to be already resigned to being old. But I feel, in so many ways, more alive and present than ever!

'To hear that in relation to yourself seems a bit out-of-body.

'I feel flattered and a bit like, that doesn't feel like me, but I like it. To me, what an icon has always signified is somebody who's paved a way and marked something that has moved people or had impact that has been positive. And in that regard, I feel really proud to be put in a category that would be related to that.'
Shannen Doherty had a cosmetic procedure done to her face and is 'thrilled' with the results.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 actress went to a professional to have the work done, and the person who did the job posted before and after snaps to show his followers what his magical powers did to the Hollywood favorite.

The 51-year-old Charmed star also said that it felt great to have the work done as she battles cancer.

Doherty confirmed the procedure and added a lengthy note to Instagram about how much she loved the change.

She added, 'Since chemo, I have struggled with my eyebrows. As you can see, they were sparse and i am not the person that enjoys waking up and filling them in every morning.

'I am beyond thrilled with @eyebrowking_ and the boost of confidence this gave me is priceless. You are the king Tiago. Much appreciation and love sent your way.'

Before/after: Shannen Doherty went to a professional to have her eyebrows filled in, and the doctor posted before and after snaps to show his followers what his magical powers did to the Hollywood favorite

She had her eyebrows filled in by Tiago Sampaio who does Micropigmentation on brows.

The Medical esthetician is called the 'Eyebrow King.'

'Today I had the pleasure to meet @theshando and I was able to enhance her eyebrows shape ! Thank you for trusting us ,' he wrote on Instagram.

The procedure is called 'Eyebrow Micropigmentation.'

According to Vargas Face And Skin, 'Micropigmentation uses small dots of pigments, similar to the technique used in traditional tattooing. The doctor uses either a standard tattoo gun or a pen-like instrument to inject the pigment into the middle layer of the skin.

'The pigment dots are buildable, which means that some parts of your brows can appear a bit darker. This allows you to achieve ombre brows where the tails are darker than the head part.

'Also, you can have this procedure done on other parts of the body. Micropigmentation of the scalp, eyeliner, and brows is popular amongst people with congenital hair growth problems.'

Brenda Walsh: Shannen played the iconic role of Brenda Walsh in Aaron Spelling's 90210 in 1981; also pictured are Jennie Garth, Luke Perry, Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, among others

On the website it explains what is done.

'The procedure is called Eyebrow Micropigmentation; it only reaches the superficial layers of the skin. Customers report little to no pain, though a topical anesthetic is used. It lasts about 12 to 18 months depending on the care, customer habits and skin types. The drawing is done in accordance to the person's natural eyebrow shape and color of skin and hair and the procedure takes approximately an hour and a half to complete.

'Investment: $1500 (Los Angeles/ Boston), $1000 (Miami) including the one month touchup which is scheduled after the first visit. Touchups go from 450$ to 750$ depending on how long ago the previous procedure was done (Investment varies depending on the city). Touchups after 2 years will be charged full price.'

This come after Shannen accused SAG-AFTRA of canceling her union health insurance amid her battle with stage four metastatic breast cancer.

The organization's website reveals: 'You must earn $26,470 in your Base Earnings Period to receive Earned Eligibility for Active Plan health coverage.'

In a scathing new Instagram post Shannen took aim at both SAG-AFTRA in general and its president Fran Drescher, who is herself a cancer survivor and has described herself as an 'anti-capitalist.'

Tagging Fran, Shannen wrote: 'im curious for people like me who have worked since they were 10 and paid dues to @sagaftra how when we arent able to work for health reasons why our union abandons us.'

Shannon, who shot to international fame on Beverly Hills, 90210, added: 'I think we can do better for all our members and I think youre person to do it.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to SAG-AFTRA and representatives for Fran Drescher for comment.

'Not ok': Doherty has accused SAG-AFTRA of canceling her union health insurance amid her battle with stage four metastatic breast cancer

Top brass: In a scathing new Instagram post Shannen, 51, took aim at both SAG-AFTRA in general and its president Fran Drescher, who is pictured at the SAG Awards last month

She argued: 'Health insurance shouldnt be based on annual income. Its a lifetime contribution. And for me and many others, we have paid a lifetime of dues to only be canceled because we dont meet your current criteria. Not ok.'

The message was accompanied by a selfie of Shannen wearing a stern expression while hooked up to an intravenous drip.

Fran was elected president of SAG-AFTRA in 2021 after telling Deadline she would ameliorate the 'dysfunctional division in this union.'

Since her heyday in the 1990s on The Nanny, she has taken up the cudgel for a variety of causes including early detection of cancer.

She herself suffered from uterine cancer in 2000s but was able to beat her illness into remission, where it has remained ever since.

Following her recovery, she published a memoir called Cancer Schmancer and then founded a nonprofit of the same name.

The Cancer Schmancer Movement was launched with the goal of seeing to it that as many women as possible could get their cancers detected in stage one.

Shannen was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and has candidly let her fans in on the grueling experience of treatment.

Frankness: Shannen was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and has candidly let her fans in on the grueling experience of treatment

Support system: Shannen, who is married to photographer Kurt Iswarienko, beat the cancer into 2017 only for it to return in 2020, having advanced to stage four

After undergoing a single mastectomy, she went through radiation and chemotherapy, and eventually in 2017 the cancer went into remission.

While she wrote that the development was 'good news,' she reminded her public: 'The next five years is crucial. Reoccurrences happen all the time.'

She announced in February 2020 that the cancer was back and - in 'a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways' - had advanced to stage four.

'I don't think I've processed it,' Shannen confessed on Good Morning America. 'I definitely have days where I say: "Why me?"'

The Charmed star shared: 'And then I go: "Well, why not me? Who else? Who else beside me deserves this?" None of us do.'

Shannen, who is married to photographer Kurt Iswarienko, said her 'first reaction is always concern about how - how am I going to tell my mom, my husband.'
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Drew Barrymore's ex-husband Will Kopelman was seen out with his wife Alexandra Michler for the first time since announcing she is expecting their first child while stepping out for a walk in New York City on Sunday morning.

While walking their new puppy Archie, a Bernese Mountain Dog, the New York native, 44, and mother-to-be, 33, looked blissful as they enjoyed the fresh air and picked up some pastries at Eli Zabar's Upper East Side Market.

For their outing, the fashionista kept a low profile in a padded black coat, leggings, tan UGG boots, a pair of oversized shades and her blonde locks in a low ponytail.

Her man, who held onto their dog's red leash, looked handsome in a navy jacket, dark-wash jeans and short boots.

Their sighting comes after the father-of-two revealed Michler is pregnant with a baby boy last month to his 15,200 Instagram.

Parents-to-be: Drew Barrymore's ex-husband Will Kopelman was seen out with his wife Alexandra Michler for the first time since announcing she is expecting their first child while stepping out for a walk in New York City on Sunday morning

Mom-to-be: For their outing, the fashionista kept a low profile in a padded black coat, leggings, tan UGG boots, a pair of oversized shades and her blonde locks in a low ponytail

The actor shared the baby news on his Instagram page last month with a sweet Instagram post of a snap of Michler smiling as his little girls have their faces pressed up to her growing midsection.

The trio are all beaming in the snap - which was taken mid-meal at Pastis in New York City.

He revealed in the caption the photo was taken a minute after they told his daughters they were going to have a baby brother.

A second snap showed his wife's growing baby bump as she rocked a fitted red sweater.

'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,' he captioned the slideshow.

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.

While Kopelman already shares two daughters Olive, 10, and eight-year-old Frankie with his former spouse, this is Michler's first child.

Doting dog dad: Kopelman walked Archie as his spouse walked dutifully by his side down the street

Looking good! Michler held onto a fashion magazine and red bag from Eli Zabar's Upper East Side Market

Sweet: Kopelman walked protectively in front of Michler on their latest outing

Natural: Michler showed off her natural beauty while rocking minimal makeup

New chapter: The parents-to-be smiled as they conversed down the street

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.'

Happy news: Their sighting comes after the father-of-two revealed Michler is pregnant with a baby boy over Instagram last month

Baby boy: The baby boy will be his third child - but his first with Alexandra, whom he married in August 2021

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.'

Growing family: 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

Couple: Will and Alexandra tied the knot in August 2021, seven months after he proposed

'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!'
Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick rocked leather pants while posing for the IMDb Portrait Studio at Texas' South by Southwest Festival in Austin on Sunday.

The Maine-born 37-year-old - last seen wearing a strapless LBD at the world premiere of Self Reliance - kicked up her brown pumps while posing on a block beside a potted cactus plant.

Anna paired a cut-out black midi-sleeved blouse with her heels and pants, which were all selected by stylist Jordan Johnson Chung.

Hairstylist Craig Gangi coiffed Kendrick's half-updo in waves for the shoot.

The Alice, Darling producer-star also wore mascara, brown eyeshadow, peachy blush, and a bit of lip gloss.

Sitting pretty: Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick rocked leather pants while posing for the IMDb Portrait Studio at Texas' South by Southwest Festival in Austin on Sunday

Anna was joined by her Self Reliance castmate - New Girl alum Jake Johnson - who made his feature directorial debut helming the 85-minute comedy shot in just 19 days.

In it, Kendrick and the 44-year-old Minx actor play game show contestants Maddy and Tommy, who must stick together in order to avoid hunters and win a $1M grand prize.

'I've known Jake for 10 years now,' the Pitch Perfect alum said at the premiere on Saturday - according to Variety.

'I just really trust him and I knew that the tone was gonna be nuts and really hard to balance. I think I texted him the day before it started filming, that if I show up and I'm in the wrong movie, just like drag me kicking and screaming into the right tone.'

Speaking of game shows, Anna wrapped her own feature directorial debut The Dating Game about real-life serial killer Rodney Alcala in December.

Kendrick pulled double duty playing the role of Cheryl Bradshaw, The Dating Show contestant who was 'creeped out' by Alcala after choosing him out of three eligible bachelors in 1978.

The Hot Ones champ - who boasts 33.2M social media followers - gushed on December 13: '[Directing is] my new happy place. God I love talented people. Grateful doesnt even begin to cover it.'

Tony Hale, Daniel Zovatto, Nicolette Robinson, Kathryn Gallagher, Kelley Jakle, and Autumn Best will also appear in The Dating Game.

Anna will next reprise her voiceover role as Queen Poppy in DreamWorks Animation's Trolls 3, which hits UK theaters October 20 and US theaters November 17.

Southern set: The Maine-born 37-year-old kicked up her brown pumps while posing on a block beside a potted cactus plant

Ensemble: Anna paired a cut-out black midi-sleeved blouse with her heels and pants, which were all selected by stylist Jordan Johnson Chung

Angles: Hairstylist Craig Gangi coiffed Kendrick's half-updo in waves for the shoot

Minimally made up: The Alice, Darling producer-star also wore mascara, brown eyeshadow, peachy blush, and a bit of lip gloss

New Girl alum: Anna was joined by her Self Reliance castmate Jake Johnson (R), who made his feature directorial debut helming the 85-minute comedy shot in just 19 days

Cannot be alone: In it, Kendrick (not pictured) and the 44-year-old Minx actor (R) play game show contestants Maddy and Tommy, who must stick together in order to avoid hunters and win a $1M grand prize

The Pitch Perfect alum (3-L) said at the premiere on Saturday: 'I've known Jake for 10 years now. I just really trust him and I knew that the tone was gonna be nuts and really hard to balance. I think I texted him the day before it started filming, that if I show up and I'm in the wrong movie, just like drag me kicking and screaming into the right tone'
This season's Married at First Sight participants are set to be thrown into chaos as the couples are face with the most challenging task yet.

The show's experts introduce a 'twisted' couple swap experiment on Monday night, where participants will exchange partners and share a bed together for a whole weekend.

In a trailer for the shock task, most of the couples weren't keen on swapping.

However, sparks fly between Duncan James, who was originally paired with Alyssa Barmonde, and Rupert Burden's bride Evelyn Ellis during the three-day couple swap.

According to New Idea, the duo's chemistry is on full display during this week's episodes.

Sparks fly between Duncan James and Evelyn Ellis during Married At First Sight's couple-swap experiment this week after they share a bed together: 'A new match is emerging'

'Duncan had the best time with Evelyn. The fun part of him came out again,' an insider told the publication.

'He wondered what it would have been like if they were matched together from the start. He is definitely attracted to her.'

Duncan and Evelyn's attraction was so obvious that even producers began talking about it behind the scenes with the hopes of a 'new couple emerging'.

Duncan's partner Alyssa, 35, stormed out of the experiment after clashing with him and producers

'Everyone noticed Duncan was smiling again  even Alyssa. That was hard for her to see,' the source added.

It comes after Alyssa, 35, stormed out of the experiment after clashing with producers and her 36-year-old husband.

According to a production spy, Alyssa became increasingly frustrated with the way the show was being run and felt like her concerns were not being taken seriously.

The dramatic moment unfolded just moments after Alyssa returned to her apartment with husband Duncan after the couple swap challenge.

It comes after a source told Daily Mail Australia that the partner swap challenge was 'hell for all involved', and not all participants were willing to participate. (Alyssa Barmonde pictured storming out of the hotel the week of the task)

'Alyssa needed to pick up her three-year-old son at 12pm, but filming kept going past 4pm,' said the source.

'It was a Saturday and filming never happens on the weekends, but producers wouldn't let any of the cast leave the hotel because they didn't have enough drama from the partner swapping task.' they continued.

This led to heated arguments with the production team and her husband, resulting in her dramatic storm out of the hotel.

'Alyssa kept telling both Duncan and producers that she needed to leave to go pick up her son for the weekend.' they added.

The relationships 'will be tested like never before when a partner-swapping task is introduced'. Pictured: John Aiken

'I wouldn't be surprised if they try and spin it to make it look like she did or said something wrong, but really she just needed to get to her son.'

As revealed by Daily Mail Australia, Monday's episode will see Channel Nine shake up the experiment by encouraging the cast to swap partners and share the same bed for three days.

Couples will be encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and forced to live with another partner in the tiny apartment, which will see some participants straight out refuse and storm out of the experiment.

The relationships 'will be tested like never before when a partner-swapping task is introduced'.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, relationship expert John Aiken explained: 'We're constantly trying to throw challenges at the couples that they may experience in the real world, but in a very condensed short period of time - eight weeks.

'Some of them strengthen their bond as a result of these challenges, but other couples start to really come apart, and so how do they navigate that?

The show's experts have introduced a 'twisted' couple swap task which will play out during Monday's episode, where participants will exchange partners and share a bed together for a whole weekend

'This series, we've got a couple of key challenges of which I think really test the couples, and really take 'em out of the comfort zone.

'That's good because it's the tenth year and we need our participants to be constantly present and being aware of what's going on in the experiment - they can't be complacent.'

MAFS executive producers Tara McWilliams and John Walsh said that while the challenge may have came as a surprise to the participants, the idea is nothing new.

'I don't think it's a big a twist,' McWilliams explained. 'I won't go into too much detail, but there's new elements in the experiment this year.

Married At First Sight has always been known for its controversial experiments, but the latest challenge has left viewers outraged. Pictured: Harrison Boon and Melinda Willis

'We've always done a partner swap, it's been a lunch or dinner, where we've got different partners to give feedback to each other,' Walsh explained.

It comes after a source told Daily Mail Australia the partner swap challenge was 'hell for all involved', and not all participants were willing to participate.

'Not everyone was keen to participate. Layton refused to do it. They didn't see the point of it and was like, "No way this would happen on the outside world."'

Layton was said to be livid when he was told that he would be paired with Bronte Schofield and refused to participate.

Despite being reluctant, Melinda eventually agreed to move in with rival Harrison Boon (right)

Layton (left) was said to be livid when he was told that he would be paired with Bronte Schofield (right) and refused to participate

Despite being reluctant, Melinda eventually agreed to move in with rival Harrison Boon.

Duncan will meanwhile be paired with Evelyn - while his 'wife' Alyssa was matched with Cameron Woods.

'I don't know if it was because there were too many couples in the end and they just wanted to test who was genuine or not, or they just wanted to shake things up,' another source added.

Participants had to live with another partner at Skye Suites, the Sydney apartment building where MAFS is filmed, for three days to 'get feedback' on their relationships.

Married At First Sight continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now
Cara Delevingne enjoyed a dinner with her girlfriend Minke and A-list friends in Los Angeles on Saturday evening.

The model, 30, was spotted dining at Madeo with Minke, Sienna Miller, 41, and Matt Smith, 40.

Cara looked in good spirits chatting with her pals outside of the restaurant before they all eventually departed for the Hollywood hotspot Chateau Marmont.

Outside of Madeo, Cara beamed with happiness as she shared a laugh with her pals.

She wore a leather jacket, black slacks, edgy boots and a taupe beanie over her light brunette locks.

Let's do dinner! Cara Delevingne enjoyed a dinner with her girlfriend Minke and A-list friends in Los Angeles on Saturday evening

Her girlfriend sported a smart black-and-white blazer, black trousers, and a leather purse slung over her shoulder.

Sienna looked splendid in a black sweater, loose white trousers, and her blonde hair cascading down in beach waves.

She had her bag slung across her chest and carried her jacket in hand once they arrived to the Chateau Marmont.

Cara and Minke, whose real name is Leah Mason, confirmed their relationship in June of last year after they were spotted sharing a kiss in Portofino, Italy.

Minke is a musician who started performing under her stage name after being signed to a label in Nashville, playing mostly blues.

Since the start of their relationship, the pair have kept their budding romance mostly out of the spotlight.

The outing comes after Cara reflected on her mental health struggles and addiction battle in a new interview with Vogue, released on Wednesday, after revealing she had checked herself into rehab and committed to a 12-step recovery program.

Cara revealed she checked herself into rehab after 'heartbreaking' images published by DailyMail.com last year gave her a wakeup call.

Hollywood hotspot! After dinner, the group headed to the legendary Chateau Marmont

Loads of fun! The group shared a laugh outside of the high-end eatery

Speaking to Vogue magazine as their April cover star, she confessed that she hadn't been 'ready' to tackle her demons before, but after finding herself in a 'bad place' she realized she needed to prioritize her recovery.

She added that the 'heartbreaking' images had provided her with an urgent wake-up call and given her the motivation to finally get help.

She told the publication: 'It's heartbreaking because I thought I was having fun, but at some point it was like, "Okay, I don't look well."

'You know, sometimes you need a reality check, so in a way those pictures were something to be grateful for.'

Look who's here! The Crown star Matt Smith was among those in attendance
Jenna Coleman looked effortlessly stylish as she was spotted leaving her West End Show on Saturday.

The actress is currently starring in the two-man show Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London alongside co-star Aidan Turner.

Jenna, 36, stunned in a leather brown trench coat as she stepped out of the theatre's stage door after her latest performance.

The Serpent star toted her essentials in a burgundy bag which she clutched as she made her way out of work.

The actress appeared to opt for a natural make up look and wore her blonde tresses in a sleek side parting.

Gorgeous: Jenna Coleman looked effortlessly stylish as she was spotted leaving her West End Show on Saturday

Ensemble: Jenna, 36, stunned in a leather brown trench coat as she stepped out of the theatre's stage door

Jenna grinned as she made her way home after another night treading the boards.

The stars' play will be on-stage for a nine-week run and sees Jenna play rule-abiding lawyer Bernadette while Aidan Turner portrays free-spirited musician Oliver.

The official synopsis reads: '"Let's just talk until it goes". You're going to speak more than 123 million words in your lifetime. What will you do when they run out?

'Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons is a tender and funny rom-com about what we say, how we say it, and what happens when we can't say anything anymore'.

The play explores a young couples response to a dystopian world in which words are rationed by 'hush laws.'

The production is nearing the end of its nine-week run, with the final performances due to take place on Saturday, March 18.

Jenna and Aidan take starring roles in this two-hander, which is a West End revival of Sam Steiners debut play of the same name - a huge success following its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015.

However, despite the talent of the actors, critics have been left with a slightly sour taste in their mouth since the press night earlier this month.

The Serpent star toted her essentials in a burgundy bag which she clutched as she made her way out of work

The actress appeared to opt for a natural make up look and wore her blonde tresses in a sleek side parting

The stars' play will be on-stage for a nine-week run and sees Jenna play rule-abiding lawyer Bernadette while Aidan portrays free-spirited musician Oliver

MailOnline's Patrick Marmion gave the play two out of five stars and described the script as 'gimmicky'.

He said: 'Give [anyone] a gimmicky script like this one by Sam Steiner and they will inevitably wind up sounding like Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, waffling to kill time on This Morning.'

Offering the play three out of five stars, Time Out magazine described it as 'a disarmingly bleak affair, or certainly in comparison to eight years ago' - with Brexit blamed for its 'dour' tone.

However the 'lovely' set design was praised, while Steiner's words - of which some have been rewritten since its debut - were applauded for standing the test the time.

Elsewhere The Times also offered three out of five stars, while claiming the play soon runs out of steam.

'Can two good actors and a gifted director, Josie Rourke, make this cocktail of cute ideas add up to more than the sum of its parts? Not quite,' they write.

'Worse, a singsong of Total Eclipse of the Heart trails off when he runs out of words before she does. Every now and then they fall apart.'

Meanwhile The Telegraph claimed it was 'tantalising, but limited' despite strong performances from its two stars, writing: 'Plenty for fans to admire, then, but a few syllables short of a humdinger.'
The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) again failed to get substantial grant-in-aid funds even as most other cantonments received them.

Hyderabad: The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) again failed to get substantial grant-in-aid funds even as most other cantonments received them. The SCB received Rs 10 crore from the defence ministry a month ago, was to meet expenditures for the 2022-23 financial year. Funds for 2023-24 have been received.

"We are missing out on these funds for a while now. We had sought Rs 100 crore but got only a tenth of it," said Jagannadha Rao, a ward member.

Ravinder, another member, pointed out that of the Rs 210 crore distributed among 61 cantonments, SCB had got nothing. "We are the largest cantonment in India, population wise, and yet received the least assistance. We are always in deficit," he said.

SCB residents have held the board fully responsible for failing to secure enough funds.

"The SCB failed to send proper development plans to the defence ministry. That is why we continue to have a deficit budget. They use the excuse of not having enough funds to ignore development or infrastructure work. The roads here are pathetic and in addition there are water problems and other issues," said Amarnath Gundla, a resident of Rasoolpura.

Asked about the funds, an SCB official said that despite the deficit budget, the board had plans to take up development works. "After the April 30 election, all plans will be executed and we will be able to work on them in a full-fledged manner," he said.

Many residents said if board members continue to be lackadaisical, merger with the GHMC would be the only way.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah attending the 54th Raising Day Parade of CISF in Hyderabad (DC)

Hyderabad: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the governments zero tolerance to terrorism and left-wing extremism would continue in the future, at the CISFs 54th Raising Day event held at the National Industrial Security Academy campus at Hakimpet.

Shah said that as a result of the governments stringent action in the past nine years, many are laying down arms and joining the mainstream.

The Union home minister said that over the past 53 years, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has played a key role in the nations financial growth by securing airports, seaports, vital installations and industries.

Lauding CISFs contribution to preventing the use of fake currency, narcotics and also infiltration, he encouraged them to be prepared to face new challenges with the same spirit and thwart all attempts that might derail the economy.

"Only when these areas are safe and secure, can any nation progress and compete with the world in the international area and I, on behalf of the Union home ministry, thank every member of the CISF for these great services to the nation," he said.

Shah also said he was elated that the Raising Day, for the first time, was taking place outside the national capital in the "gauravmay shahar (glorious city)."

Reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modis aim to make India a USD 5 Trillion economy, Shah said that he hopes CISF will continue to play a key role. "As the nation prepares to celebrate the centenary of Independence, Im sure you will deliver the same service that you have been delivering during the past 53 years," he said.

Shah also paid tributes to CISF personnel who died in the line of duty, highlighting its role as the first responder during the Covid-19 pandemic. "With their humane approach, they have served the nation while putting themselves at risk. In this effort, some of them have even sacrificed their lives," he said.

The Union minister also highlighted how the CISF has been keeping up with technological advancements by using robotics, AI, drones and other advanced improvements.

Shah also said that the CISF was the only one among all CAPFs to have a state-of-the-art firefighting facility, referring to the Fire Service Training Institute.

Earlier in the day, Amit Shah, accompanied by CISF DG Sheel Vardhan Singh, inspected the parade and awarded medals to achievers. The event concluded with a gripping demonstration of Kalaripayattu, a traditional martial art form, by 172 women personnel, along with demonstrations of special tactics training wing countering a Naxal attack on a mineral plant and firefighting in a chemical industry.
Returning officer Priyanka Ala reviewed arrangements, inspected the distribution centre set up at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal headquarters on Sunday. (Photo: Twitter)

Hyderabad: The stage is set for the biennial elections to the Telangana Legislative Council from Mahbubnagar-Ranga Reddy-Hyderabad teachers constituency on Monday. Polling will be held at 137 stations from 8 am to 4 pm with 22 centres in Hyderabad. A total of 29,720 voters are expected to cast their votes.

Returning officer Priyanka Ala reviewed arrangements, inspected the distribution centre set up at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal headquarters on Sunday as well as issued necessary instructions to the polling staff ahead of the polls. She asked the election staff to examine the statutory and non-statutory documents as well as the ballot paper, ballot box and voter list in advance. The polling staff have moved to their respective stations with their polling equipment.

Ala said that 12 sectoral officers and 29 observers have been appointed to ensure a smooth poll. Police presence and facilities for voters including drinking water, tents and ramps for the specially abled have been arranged at the polling stations. A reception centre has been set up at the Saroornagar Indoor Stadium. Candidates and political parties are requesting voters to cast at least 'second preference vote' ahead of polling as they had decided the fate of candidates in the previous MLC elections.

As many as 21 candidates are in the fray. While the ruling BRS stayed from contesting the election and supporting Gurram Chenna Keshav Reddy, who is backed by the Progressive Recognised Teachers Union-TS (PRTU-TS), the BJP has declared support to A. Venkata Narayan Reddy, while the Congress has extended support to Gali Harshavardhan Reddy.

The "second preference vote" assumed significance as none of the three major candidates are expected to get 50 per cent of votes as "first preference vote". In the election held for this seat in 2017, the second preference vote decided the winning candidate.

There were 19,338 voters in 2017. While Katepally Janardhan Reddy backed by TRS (now BRS) secured 7,640 first preference votes, the other two candidates A.V.N. Reddy and Manik Reddy got 3,091 and 3,048 votes respectively. As none secured 50 per cent "first preference votes", the "second preference votes" were counted. Manik Reddy climbed up to second place after the "second preference vote". After the elimination of A.V.N. Reddy, the votes polled for Janardhan Reddy were 9,734 and Manik Reddy were 5,095 and Janardhan Reddy was declared elected.

But now Janardhan Reddy is contesting as rebel candidate from PRTU as independent and Manik Reddy is in the fray as independent with the support of United Teachers' Federation. It is believed that the vote split in PRTU will decide the fate of candidates and it is for this reason all the parties are requesting voters to cast their candidates at least "second preference vote".
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav speaks to the media (PTI)

Patna: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has dubbed as "rumours" the claim of the Enforcement Directorate that proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 600 crore were detected during searches on premises owned by him and close family members.

The RJD leader, who is currently away in Delhi, also said the BJP will be left embarrassed if he made public the "panchnama" (seizure list) signed after the raids.

"Just recall, in 2007, transactions worth Rs 8,000 crore, including a mall and hundreds of land plots, were alleged," tweeted Yadav, in an obvious reference to the land-for-hotels 'scam' pertaining to his father Lalu Prasad's tenure as the railway minister.

Now facing the heat in the land-for-jobs 'scam' pertaining to, roughly, the same period, Yadav also recalled his name being linked to a mall seized in Gurugram, which turned out to be owned by a private company.

The RJD had threatened legal action against media outlets for "wrongly" reporting that Yadav, the party supremo's son and heir apparent, owned the commercial establishment. "The BJP government (at the Centre) spreading rumours again, quoting sources. It should have asked its spin doctors to first settle the account on the previous operations, before coming up with the new tale of Rs 600 crore," Yadav said.

The ED had on Saturday said it seized "unaccounted cash" of Rs 1 crore and "detected proceeds of crime worth Rs 600 crore" after it raided RJD chief Lalu Prasad's family in connection with a money laundering case linked to the railways land-for-jobs 'scam'.

"Let them make public the 'panchnama' (seizure list) signed after the raids. If we do so on our own, think of the embarrassment that these BJP leaders will have to face," added Yadav. The ED had launched raids on Friday at multiple locations linked to Prasad's family members, including that of his son Tejashwi in Delhi.

The CBI had also recently questioned Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi -- former chief ministers of Bihar -- in the case.
According to party insiders, Kavitha's 45th birthday will be a low-key affair due to the ongoing investigation. (File Photo)

Hyderabad: A day after facing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) inquiry for gruelling eight hours in the national capital in connection with the Delhi liquor scam, BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha met her father and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at Pragathi Bhavan on Sunday along with minister T. Harish Rao. This is the first meeting with her father after arriving in Hyderabad from Delhi at midnight on Saturday by a special flight.

The partys legal team was also present in the meeting. They wanted to know what queries the ED made and what responses she provided throughout the inquiry.

Since Kavitha has been called for questioning again by the ED on March 16, legal experts are learnt to have made certain suggestions to Kavitha on how to deal with the EDs probe.

Legal experts reportedly obtained information from Kavitha regarding each inquiry posed by the ED and her responses, sources said. They reportedly used this information to determine the questions she may be asked by the ED on March 16 and informed her of the responses she must provide. Legal experts are expected to hold a few more sessions with Kavitha until March 15 to enable her to face the ED probe effectively on March 16.

According to party insiders, Kavitha's 45th birthday will be a low-key affair due to the ongoing investigation, and that she wants to confine to her residence on Monday and expected to meet only a few party leaders.
Telangana High Court (Image: DC)

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court dismissed a revision petition filed by V.D. Rajagopal, then director of mines and geology department in undivided Andhra Pradesh, who had challenged the CBI court orders which had refused to discharge him from CBI cases related to the illegal mining case involving former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddys Obulapuram Mining Company.

The single judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was not inclined to give any relief to Rajagopal, who pointed out that the High Court had allowed the revision petition of Y. Sri Lakshmi, senior IAS officer, and discharged her name in the case. She was secretary, mining, when iron ore mining contracts were allotted to OMC.

The High Court considered the contentions of CBI counsel Nagendra, who had submitted that Rajagopal was hand-in-glove with Janardhan Reddy and had played a key role in allotting lease in Anantapur district. He had also informed the court that 20 days before Rajagopal took over as mines director, his brother-in-law had joined Janardhan Reddys firm.

Rajagopal had not considered 23 applications filed by other companies for the contract and unilaterally recommended OMC, the CBI said. The court had reserved the orders on February 10 and pronounced it on Saturday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (PTI Photo)

HYDERABAD: Union home minister Amit Shah will take part in an interaction with professionals at Sangareddy during his visit to the city on March 12, party sources said.

The venue was finalised at Sangareddy as the model code of conduct is in force in the city for the Mahbubnagar-Ranga Reddy-Hyderabad teachers constituency Legislative Council polls. He will attend the interaction after participating in an event at the Central Industrial Security Force campus.

BJP state leaders said professionals, including doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, advocates and lecturers, among others, will be invited to the meeting Shah. The party leadership will reportedly seek inputs from the attendees on ways to strengthen the BJP in the state.

The visit comes about 10 days after Shah conducted a meeting with Telangana BJP leaders on February 28 in New Delhi. Following the conclusion of 18-day street corner meetings, Shah discussed various issues, including the Praja Gosa-BJP Bharosa programme, with the core committee.

Shah reportedly told the leaders that he would concentrate on Telangana to ensure a win for the BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior BJP leader said, "Amit Shah, who is attending the CISF programme, gave time to the state party to conduct an interaction with professionals. We will be conducting the meeting on March 12, a day before the teachers MLC election," the leader said.

BJP state general secretary G. Premender Reddy , said that he visited the venue of Shahs meeting in Sangareddy on Saturday. "Based on available seating capacity, we will invite the professional to interact with Amit Shah," he said.

After the interaction, Amit will move to Bidar in neighbouring Karnataka, which is also poll-bound this year.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar decided to conduct a one-day deeksha over atrocities against women on March 6. He will observe the deeksha at the BJP state party office in Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Bhavan, along with other leaders.
TD chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu. (DC FIle Photo)

VIJAYAWADA: Telugu Desam chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday made it clear that the TD is in alliance with the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) in the ongoing MLC polls from teachers and graduates constituencies.

"We want to avoid division of anti-incumbency votes, so that the outrageous YSR Congress does not win," he declared.

In an open letter to voters, the TD chief underlined that democracy has been under an onslaught ever since YSRC came to power in the state. Continuing his onslaught, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is attempting to turn the ongoing elections into a farce.

"I am writing this open letter to tell the public, particularly those who are going to exercise their franchise in these polls, that ongoing developments in the state pose a serious threat to democracy," Naidu warned.

He claimed that when TD came to power in 2014, his government had created 10 lakh jobs both in public and private sector. It paid 2,000 each as unemployment allowance to over six lakh youth, thereby standing by them.

The former chief minister alleged that companies are now running away from AP due to Jagan Mohan Reddy governments "official terrorism". As a result, unemployment is growing enormously, throwing the future of youth to winds.

Naidu appealed: "I want people and voters to act sensibly and with awareness, and teach a fitting lesson to YSRC."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is welcomed by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy on his arrival in Hyderabad. (Photo: PTI)

Hyderabad: Telangana will have a BJP chief minister with a robust chance of victory in the Assembly if party leaders focus on strengthening the cadre base in the states rural hinterlands, Union home minister Amit Shah is believed to have told the party leaders on Sunday.

Shah, who was in the city to attend the 54th Raising Day event of the CISF at the National Industrial Security Academy in Hakimpet, reportedly exuded confidence that the party will triumph in the elections as it has the support from the people.

Shah's flight was delayed by a technical issue on Sunday afternoon when he was supposed to depart the city for Kochi. Meanwhile, Shah held closed-door meetings with Union minister for tourism and culture, G.Kishan Reddy, BJP state president and Karimnagar MP, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and national president of the BJP's OBC cell K.Laxman on matters of importance to the party.

In order for the BJP to succeed in Telangana, party leaders must seize the opportunity and use all of their energy and force to forward the party's agenda in the Assembly elections of 2023, he reportedly told the key leaders. Over 21 core committee members, including leaders from Jagtial and Tandur, were invited to the CISF Raising Day event where Shah engaged with them on Sunday.

Shah last held a crucial meeting with the party leaders in New Delhi on February 28. According to sources, he expressed appreciation of the Telangana BJP leadership's peoples outreach initiatives. He assured the party leaders that he would frequently meet them.

BJP national vice president D.K.Aruna, Tamil Nadu co-incharge P.Sudhakar Reddy, national executive committee members Vijayashanthi, Garikapti Mohan Rao, A.P.Jitender Reddy, N.Indrasena Reddy, Etala Rajendar and other leaders also met Shah.
Ghanpur MLA Thatikonda Rajaiah. (Photo: Facebook)

Warangal: Having faced public humiliation, Station Ghanpur MLA Thatikonda Rajaiah went to the house of Janakipuram sarpanch K. Navya and sought a public apology from her on Sunday for her tarnishing of his image.

The woman sarpanch had alleged last week that the MLA was harassing women public representatives both sexually and mentally. The MLA spoke to the sarpanch and her husband Praveen in the presence of the media at Janakipuram village in Dharmasagar mandal of Hanamkonda district.

Navya however reiterated her charges against the MLA. She said the allegations she made against him were correct. "I see nothing wrong in speaking about the injustice being meted out to women by Rajaiah," she said.

"Since many cases of sexual abuse and harassment of women and girls were taking place in the society. To give them courage and urge them that they should not tolerate such harassment, I came out and spoke about women identity and rights," she explained.

She said she had respect for MLA Rajaiah as he had given her the ticket to contest and also helped her become the village sarpanch. "The BRS party is like a family to me. I am ready to forget whatever has happened if MLA Rajaiah assures me that such actions will not recur. I am ready to accept his apology," she added.

The MLA told the media that he was deeply upset over the ruckus between him and Navya. "If I did any wrong, knowingly or unknowingly, and made Navya suffer mentally, I am sorry and urge her to excuse me," he said.

Rajaiah said he could understand the stress Navya suffered, as "I too have four sisters." He said that it was out of a respect towards Navyas husband Praveen that he gave a ticket to her. He said he would strive hard for the development of Janakipuram village and immediately sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for its developmental works.

The BRS village sarpanch had alleged that MLA Rajaiah was harassing her sexually and mentally and creating hurdles in the implementation of developmental works in her village. She had also alleged he was making frequent phone calls to her and talking for hours together on the phone, urging her to fulfill his wishes. She also said he had promised to give her money, land and works if she obliged him. She also said all other women sarpanches were also facing the same problems from MLA Rajaiah.

On Saturday, the BJP leaders along with the former minister Vijaya Ramarao and district party president Rao Padma consoled the village sarpanch by visiting her house and extending their support to her. They alleged that Rajaiah faced several such allegations in the past too and went to jail for sexually harassing a woman. Navya belonged to a dalit community.

Meanwhile, the Telangana state women commission took up the case on suo moto basis. Its chairperson Sunitha Laksham Reddy issued an advisory to the state DGP to hold an inquiry into the allegations against the MLA.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge. (PTI)

New Delhi: The Opposition members will meet the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, in his Parliament office to strategise their move for the second part of the Budget Session that resumes on Monday. In addition, the Lok Sabha Congress MPs will gather at Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi's office to deliberate on the party's strategy.

The second part of the Budget Session of Parliament, which begins on Monday and will continue till April 6, will have 17 sittings. The Budget Session will resume after a month-long recess during which the department-related parliamentary standing committees examined the demands for grants of various ministries and departments.

"We are working on a strategy for the Parliament session. We will raise this issue of alleged misuse of Central agencies against the Opposition leaders in the Parliament," said Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP K. Keshava Rao. BRS leader K. Kavitha has been facing the Enforcement Directorate's heat in the alleged Delhi liquor scam case.

Several other Opposition leaders too are facing questioning by the ED or the CBI in different cases. Nine leaders of eight political parties in the Opposition recently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing his government of unleashing Central investigating agencies on them as part of a "political witch hunt." Besides, the Opposition parties are also planning to corner the government on allegations against the Adani Group, the border standoff with China, price rise and unemployment.

The Congress continues to demand a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the allegations related to the Adani Group. Congress MP K. Suresh maintained that his party will continue to raise the Adani-Hindenburg issue as the government is yet to provide a reply on the controversy.

Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore has asserted that the Congress will strongly raise the issue of "misuse" of Central probe agencies.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of making "sinister attempts to kill democracy" by misusing probe agencies against the Opposition leaders, as he slammed the Centre over the ED searches on the premises of former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's family.

The Trinamul Congress is set to raise issues such as LIC and SBI's risk exposure in the wake of the Adani-Hindenburg row, the price rise of essential commodities, unemployment and the "misuse" of Central agencies during the second phase of the session, its Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O'Brien had said recently.

He had said LIC's risk exposure and price rise affect the lives of the common people and their savings and should be highlighted.

The TMC will also raise the issue of "political vendetta" against the non-BJP-ruled states in Parliament and also question the Union government on "holding back funds for schemes such as MNREGA", Mr O'Brien said.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

New York: Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto referred to India as a "friend" for a brief moment and immediately rephrased his remarks and called India a "neighbouring" country while addressing a press conference on the outcome of the Women in Islam Conference and Commemoration of the First Islamophobia Day, on the sidelines of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

While speaking to journalists regarding the Kashmir issue, he said it is an "uphill task" that Pakistan faces to try and get Kashmir to the centre of the agenda at the United Nations.

"Whenever the issue of Kashmir is brought up, our friends....... (imperceptible stuttering )...... within neighbouring countries strongly object, vociferously object," he seemed to be correcting himself.

Bilawal Bhutto addressed India as a "friend" and seemed to rectify his mistake the next moment after a brief smile and unanimously called India a "neighbouring country".

He further alleged, "They (India) perpetuate a post-fact narrative where they try to claim that this is not a dispute for the United Nations, that this is not a disputed territory recognized by the international community."

He blamed India for insisting "counter to the facts, counter to the reality that their usurpation of Kashmir should be endorsed."

"We do find it difficult to get the truth across, we are persistent in our efforts. And at every opportunity, be it at the UN Security Council or at various events that I attend or address or chair, I do make an effort not only to mention the hypocrisy when it comes to applying to the people of Palestine but also to focus on the difficulties faced by the people of Kashmir," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday shared an anecdote that was narrated to him by Australian trade minister Don Farrell about how one of his teachers had migrated from Goa, and said that it underlines the rich cultural connect between India and Australia.

Farrell had accompanied Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who was in India last week on an official visit.

In a series of tweets, Modi said, "During the lunch in honour of my friend PM Albanese, the Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell shared something interesting he was taught by one Mrs. Ebert in Grade 1 who left a deep impact on his life and credits her for his educational grounding."

I was happy to hear this anecdote, which underlines the rich cultural connect between India and Australia. It is equally heartening to hear when someone refers to his or her teacher fondly.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2023

"Mrs. Ebert, her husband and her daughter Leonie migrated from Goa in India to Adelaide in the 1950s and started teaching at a school in Adelaide, Australia," Modi said.

Ebert's daughter Leonie went on to be the president of the South Australian Institute of Teachers, he said.

"I was happy to hear this anecdote, which underlines the rich cultural connect between India and Australia. It is equally heartening to hear when someone refers to his or her teacher fondly," Modi said.
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The U.S. government is the largest customer for many defense companies, providing a significant portion of their revenue. This stability and predictability can be beneficial for both the companies and investors. However, the revenue... More of this article 
Suncor Energy Inc. was formed in 1979 but its history is much deeper than that. The company was first formed in 1919 as a subsidiary of Sun Oil and was later merged with another of Sun Oils (now Sunocos) subsidiaries to form the entity traded today. The merger combined Sunocos refinery, oil sands, and refinery businesses into a single unit as part of its exit from Canada and repositioning as a pure play on fuel distribution.

Today, Suncor Energy operates as an integrated energy company in Canada and the U.S. After several major acquisitions and mergers, it is also the 2nd largest energy company in Canada and the 11th largest publicly traded company. Suncor Energy went public in 1992 and has seen its shares rise meteorically in that time.

The companys primary focus is developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands. Notably, Suncor Energy Inc.s predecessor was the 1st company to extract oil from the Athabasca oil sands where it is the largest operator. The company is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta where the bulk of its operations lay. The company has diversified into International and Offshore production of natural gas, liquids, and crude oil but the oil sands make up 7.37 billion barrels of the companys 7.79 billion barrels of proveable reserves (as of November 2022).

Suncor Energys downstream operations include more than 1800 retail locations that market petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name. The company owns 4 refineries as well, with a daily capacity of 460,000 barrels, and Canadas largest ethanol plant as well. That plant, located in St. Clair, is capable of producing 400 million liters of ethanol annually.

The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen which is a combination of clay, sand, and crude by mining and other operations. The company upgrades the bitumen into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel or prepares it for direct sale to the market. The company has 3 surface mining operations but 80% of the oil sands are too deep to reach so are mined using other methods including Steam-Assisted-Gravity-Drainage.

The company is also focused on reducing its impact on the environment by investing in wind farms and cogeneration technology. The companys wind farms are capable of generating 111 megawatts of electricity which is enough to sustain about 53,000 homes. The cogeneration technology uses natural gas to generate steam and electricity and is the most efficient use of carbon-sourced energy for industrial purposes. The company is also working toward building out a solar power generation system.
Over 1300 students turned out last week, for the first of two careers fairs being held by Derry City and Strabane District Councils Labour Market Partnership.

24 exhibitors from a range of occupational areas attended the careers event, which provided a very useful platform for students to explore potential career opportunities and pathways.

At the event students were given the opportunity to interact with the various career sector exhibitors, ask questions and even had the opportunity to take part in a range of hands-on activities.

The event proved to be a real success and sparked some healthy competition between students taking part in various mini competitions held on the day.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Sandra Duffy, said the event had been a great success. We have some wonderful companies based here in Derry and a fantastic talent base of young students keen to study and work in the North West.

"Events such as this provide the perfect opportunity for employers to connect with young people before they begin making their career choices to ensure they have all the information they need to make informed decisions, taking into account all the opportunities available locally.

Labour Market Partnerships have been set up in each local Council area with action plans tailored to meet the needs of each individual area, combining resources, and delivering a joined-up and flexible approach to employability support. The wider programme is being delivered by Councils, supported by the Department for Communities.

Speaking on behalf of the Derry and Strabane Labour Market Partnership, Council Skills Manager Tina Gillespie, said there had been a really positive response from both employers and students. The LMP aims to bring employers, education and skills providers, and the local community and voluntary sector together, to maximise opportunities and engage more effectively with job seekers.

The Mayor Councillor Sandra Duffy pictured with Rebecca Wilson and Annie Gibson from Seagate as Derry City and Strabane District Council hosted a schools careers fair in the Foyle Arena where pupils met with employers and training and third level education providers. Photos: Martin McKeown.

"Careers Fairs provide a great opportunity for companies and skills providers to get their information out there and tap into the great pool of up-and-coming talent coming through our schools and colleges.

"Weve had great feedback from all the schools and companies who participated in the event, and Im confident that it will help some of the students identify new career pathways for the future.
-- "China's path to modernization reflects Chinese wisdom, Chinese civilization and history," said Keith Bennett, a long-term China specialist and vice chair of Britain's 48 Group Club. -- China always keeps the world's development and peace in mind in its modernization process. That is because Beijing fully understands that it will do well only if the world does well, and vice versa. -- The Chinese path to modernization serves as an "example" for developing countries, especially African countries, when they have been confronted with multiple crises that hinder their development in recent years, General Secretary of the Congolese Labor Party Pierre Moussa has said. BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- For a long time in history, the world was shrouded in the myth that modernization equals Westernization. The emergence of Chinese modernization dispels it, making modernization no longer a single-choice question, but a multiple-choice one. For the world, China's task to modernize a country of 1.4 billion people, or nearly one-fifth of the global population, is unprecedented. The Herculean pursuit not only captures global attention, but also has global ramifications. Among a series of concepts and initiatives that China promotes in both state governance and global interactions, the Chinese path to modernization is the most popular keyword that people would like to know more about, according to an overseas survey conducted by Xinhua News Agency recently. WHAT ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHINESE AND WESTERN MODERNIZATION? China's path to modernization is one of peace and development, win-win cooperation, and harmony between humanity and nature, rather than external expansion and plundering. "China's path to modernization reflects Chinese wisdom, Chinese civilization and history," said Keith Bennett, a long-term China specialist and vice chair of Britain's 48 Group Club. "The modernization of a small number of Western countries was based on the exploitation, oppression and colonization of almost the entire world. China is not developing by exploiting any other country; China is developing itself and modernizing itself, and at the same time helping other countries to develop and modernize," he said. China does not seek to exploit or control other nations, and it plays no role in inciting conflicts, said Mokhtar Gobashy, deputy chairman of the Cairo-based Arab Center for Political and Strategic Studies, adding that's why China has gained respect and popularity in the Arab world. Meanwhile, Chinese modernization emphasizes both material and cultural-ethical advancement, which distinguishes it from Western modernization, said Chen Gang, assistant director of the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore. The coordination of material and cultural-ethical advancement leads the way to realize all-around material abundance as well as people's well-rounded development, Chen said. WHAT CHINESE MODERNIZATION CAN OFFER FOR THE WORLD? China stands in the world as the second-largest economy and a responsible major country. It always keeps the world's development and peace in mind in its modernization process. That is because Beijing fully understands that it will do well only if the world does well, and vice versa. Firstly, China is committed to making the world less poor and more equitable. By the end of 2020, China had lifted out of poverty all rural residents living below the current poverty line and met the poverty eradication target set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. Commenting on China's poverty reduction drive, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said those achievements are "the biggest contribution for dramatical reduction of poverty." More than eradicating absolute poverty, Chinese modernization promotes common prosperity, thereby shrinking the enormous wealth gap and inequality that have risen in tandem with Western modernization. British scholar and political commentator Martin Jacques highlighted China's pursuit of common prosperity, lamenting how Western countries have never taken it seriously. "For China to embrace common prosperity, to establish a society of greater fairness, greater equity, that is a very important message not only to China, Chinese people but to the world as well," he said. China, on its way toward modernization, has also been sharing its development dividends with the rest of the world. Take the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). According to a World Bank forecast, if all Belt and Road transport infrastructure projects are carried out, the initiative would generate 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars of global revenues annually to 2030. Up to 90 percent of the revenues would go to partner countries. "The most important thing about the BRI is that developing nations could benefit from the great experience in the development of China. BRI gives them the opportunity to create an industrial society and join the modern age. This is something that in the long run would bode well for the future of humanity," said Khairy Tourk, professor of economics with the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Secondly, China is committed to making the world greener and more biodiverse. China ranks first globally in the area of planted forests and forest coverage growth, contributing a quarter of the world's new forest area in the past decade. From 2012 to 2021, China's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP declined by 34.4 percent, and energy consumption per unit of GDP decreased by 26.4 percent, equivalent to saving of 1.4 billion tons of standard coal. So far, China has also emerged as a major proponent of renewable energy, and it is working hard to capitalize on the potential of a green BRI. UNFCCC (the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell spoke highly of China's firm and consistent stance on actively addressing climate change, as well as its efforts to translate climate commitments into concrete actions. At a time when the world is facing an energy crisis, China continues to make solid progress in dealing with climate change and plays an important role in advancing the global response to climate change, Stiell said. Meanwhile, under China's presidency, the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity has adopted the global biodiversity framework ahead of schedule. China has shown leadership in global biodiversity protection, Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, has said. Thirdly, China is committed to making the world more peaceful. For more than 70 years, China has never started a war, never occupied a single square mile of foreign territory, never engaged in proxy wars, and never been a member of or organized any military bloc. It is the only country that has incorporated peaceful development in its Constitution, and the only country among the five nuclear-weapon states to pledge no first use of nuclear weapons. China's track record on peace can stand the scrutiny of history, and its peaceful rise is an unprecedented miracle in human history. Since China's restoration of its lawful seat at the United Nations in 1971, China has actively participated in the political settlement of major regional hot issues, including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iran nuclear issue, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and the Palestine-Israel issue. In response to mounting conflicts and security challenges in today's world, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI) at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022. And in the GSI Concept Paper released last month, China further expounded the core ideas and principles of the initiative, identified the priorities, platforms and mechanisms of cooperation and demonstrated China's sense of responsibility for safeguarding world peace and firm resolve to defend global security. "China's idea of being a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of the international order and provider of public goods are consistent with the ideals of the UN Charter," former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said. People visit Jianchang ancient city during the Spring Festival holiday in Xichang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Jan. 27, 2023. (Photo by Li Jieyi/Xinhua) AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH? Chinese modernization is a new model for human advancement, and it dispels the myth that "modernization is equal to Westernization," presents another picture of modernization, expands the channels for developing countries to achieve modernization, and provides a Chinese solution to aid the exploration of a better social system for humanity, Xi once said. China's rise as a global economic power shattered the long-held notion that modernization means Westernization, said David Monyae, director of the Center for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg. The Chinese path to modernization serves as an "example" for developing countries, especially African countries, when they have been confronted with multiple crises that hinder their development in recent years, General Secretary of the Congolese Labor Party Pierre Moussa has said. "They could find in this model elements for the construction of a development path that can enable them to handle present and future challenges," he said. "Modernization has never been simply Westernization," Chen said, adding that "Chinese modernization is a new development model, which can be used as a reference for other countries with similar national conditions or at a similar stage of development."
SpaceXs Crew-5 mission safely returns to Earth after five months in space It was a trip for the history books.

SpaceXs Crew-5 mission has safely returned to Earth. On Saturday evening, the companys Endurance Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of Florida following a five-month stay at the International Space Station. The capsule was carrying NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, Japans Koichi Wakata and Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina.

The four spent 157 days in orbit during an ISS rotation that was one for the history books. As Space.com points out , the Crew-5 mission saw Mann, a member of the Wailaki people, become the first Native American woman to fly in space . It was also the first time a Russian cosmonaut flew aboard a private American spacecraft, a milestone made possible after NASA and Roscosmos signed a seat-sharing agreement last year amid increasing US and Russian tensions due to the war in Ukraine.

Splashdown!#Crew5 is back on Earth, completing a science mission of nearly six months on the @Space_Station. Their @SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft touched down at 9:02pm ET (0202 UTC March 12) near Tampa off the coast of Florida. pic.twitter.com/nLMC0hbKY4  NASA (@NASA) March 12, 2023

For Wakata, the flight was his fifth return from space, a Japanese record. The mission also marked the second orbital trip for Endurance after the capsule successfully carried the Crew-3 crew back to Earth last fall. The spacecraft will now return to SpaceXs Dragon Lair facility in Florida for safety checks and refurbishment ahead of its next flight.
They'll be watching you

"Americans' ability to navigate our communities without constant tracking and surveillance is being chipped away at an alarming pace," Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) told the Post. "We cannot stand by as the tentacles of the surveillance state dig deeper into our private lives, treating every one of us like suspects in an unbridled investigation that undermines our rights and freedom."

While some cities and states have taken action, there is currently no federal law restricting the use of facial recognition tools. However, Markey pledged to reintroduce his proposed ban on government use of the technologywhich he did, alongside Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and other Democrats, within hours of the reporting.

"The year is 2023, but we are living through 1984. The continued proliferation of surveillance tools like facial recognition technologies in our society is deeply disturbing," declared Markey, reintroducing the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, which is backed by various groups including the ACLU.

"Biometric data collection poses serious risks of privacy invasion and discrimination, and Americans know they should not have to forgo personal privacy for safety," the senator said. "As we work to make our country more equitable, we cannot ignore the technologies that stand in the way of progress and perpetuate injustice."

Despite concerns about accuracy and biasbolstered by examples of misidentified Black men being arrested for crimes they did not committhe U.S. Defense Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were more closely involved in work on facial recognition software to identify people from drone and street camera footage than was previously known, according to the documents revealed as a result of the ACLU's public records lawsuit filed in late 2019.

The Post reported that documents including internal emails and presentations expose how intimately officials at the FBIwhich is part of the Justice Departmentand Pentagon "worked with academic researchers to refine artificial intelligence techniques that could help in the identification or tracking of Americans without their awareness or consent."

Many of the records pertain to the Janus program, which was funded by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency (IARPA) and ultimately folded into a search tool used by multiple federal agencies called Horus. As the newspaper detailed:

Program leaders worked with FBI scientists and some of the nation's leading computer vision experts to design and test software that would quickly and accurately process the "truly unconstrained face imagery" recorded by surveillance cameras in public places, including subway stations and street corners, according to the documents, which the ACLU shared with The Washington Post.



In a 2019 presentation, an IARPA program manager said the goal had been to "dramatically improve" the power and performance of facial recognition systems, with "scaling to support millions of subjects" and the ability to quickly identify faces from partially obstructed angles. One version of the system was trained for "Face ID... at target distances" of more than a half-mile.



To refine the system's capabilities, researchers staged a data-gathering test in 2017, paying dozens of volunteers to simulate real-world scenarios at a Defense Department training facility made to resemble a hospital, a subway station, an outdoor marketplace, and a school, the documents show. The test yielded thousands of surveillance videos and images, some of which were captured by a drone.

"IARPA said in public filings that the Janus program had helped advance 'virtually every aspect of fundamental face recognition research' and led to algorithms that were 'twice as accurate as the most widely used government-off-the-shelf systems,'" the Post noted.

\u201cThe FBI + DOD were actively involved in the R&D of facial recognition software they hoped to use to ID people from street camera + drone footage. \u201cWe\u2019re essentially beta-testing technology on real people with real-world consequences.\u201d https://t.co/ed2FaNZPQi via @drewharwell\u201d

 Rachael Myrow (@Rachael Myrow) 1678210234

Nathan Freed Wessler, deputy director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, told the newspaper that the tool's use in U.S. mass surveillance would be a "nightmare scenario."

"It could give the government the ability to pervasively track as many people as they want for as long as they want," he said. "There's no good outcome for that in a democratic society."
Los Angeles, CAAbout 20 years ago a former investigator gave Vonda Pelto, a Clinical Psychologist who has sessions with many serial killers at LA Men's Central Jail, over 40 boxes of documents related to the famous Bill Bonin Freeway Killer cases. Within those boxes were copies of Bonin's jailhouse diaries and murder confession stories, a storehouse of new information about Bonin's activities, murder accomplices and the crucial months after his arrest.

Those diaries, along with thousands of official documents, formed the basis for one of the most detailed serial killer historical biographies ever written, Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Who Escaped Justice.

All the assumptions about Bonin the son, brother, friend and murderer have been altered with the publication of Without Redemption, co-written by Pelto and Michael B. Butler. A number of long held beliefs, about all the Freeway Killer cases, were corrected or have been revealed for the first time. For example, the new info provided by Bonin solved two 40-year homicide mysteries and identified how one day during the murder spree, March 24, 1980, changed everything to follow.

During the many months after his arrest, while various bureaucratic machinations were grinding out behind the scenes, Bonin's writing showed him to be a keen observer of human nature with a cunning intellect, a man with deeply conflicted feelings and an interesting sense of humor. His ability to analyze situations involving multiple players, while reading and telegraphing their reactions, reveals Bonin to be smart, clever and devious.

Get the full story in Without Redemption Kindle, currently on Sale for 99 cents till March 31, 2023

Watch a Radio Show Video of Vonda Pelto on the Gary Nolan Show at http://bit.ly/41yfUWc





Watch a Radio Show Video of Vonda Pelto on James Lowe Radio Show at http://bit.ly/3IRx3BE





Watch Radio Show Video of Vonda Pelto on Thunderstruck Radio at https://bit.ly/3EGzK85





What is Without Redemption:



The book was written on a number of parallel tracks that constantly intersect:

First, it is the most detailed historical biography ever written about Bill Bonin, the notorious Freeway Killer responsible for murdering 22 teenage boys over ten-months in 1979-80.



Second, it is a psychological roadmap which charts the evolution of Bonin's personality from abused child to sexual predator to serial killer. This is accomplished using documents from his childhood, war service, multiple California government mental health and penal institutions, witness testimony and the expertise of Clinical Psychologist Vonda Pelto, Ph.D., who had many sessions with Bonin and two of his accomplices while working in Los Angeles Men's Central Jail.



Third, it is a narrative which, using long hidden documents, reveals the inner workings of Bonin's mind, showing how he thought, felt, planned and viewed the world. The narrative displays Bonin, an abused high school dropout, cleverly manipulating lawyers, judges, doctors, social workers, friends, family, probation officers, government bureaucrats, detectives, journalists and, most tragically, the innocent victims of his rage.



Fourth, Without Redemption reveals the complex story of what happened after Bonin's final arrest, when so much was in flux and so many moving parts were swirling about. Archived investigative documents, collected from a variety of sources, brings to light a number of surprising, shocking, sad and even funny events from those ten tumultuous months from June 1980 to March 1981.

Finally, it is a book which solves two 40-year-old murder mysteries and unlocks how one day of crossroads and coincidences, in the midst of the murder spree, profoundly impacted many lives and future events.

Watch the Without Redemption Book Trailer http://bit.ly/3Y7gebu





The most detailed bio of serial killer Bill Bonin ever written using previously hidden documents.

How childhood abuse & Vietnam War service helped create what followed.

How Bonin manipulated California judicial, mental health & prison systems for nine years before the killings.

Interviews of Bonin, Miley & Munro with Vonda Pelto, Ph.D. before, during & after his Los Angeles trial.

Bonin's jailhouse writings offer new perspective on his brutality, methods, thoughts and personality.

How & Why Bonin covered for accomplice Eric Wijnaendts, who helped him with two murders.

How & Why March 24, 1980 is a key date in the Bill Bonin story.

Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Escaped Justice, Paperback ISBN: 979-8841931249, Hard Cover ISBN: 979-8844477775. For more info go to www.WithoutRedemption.com and purchase copies at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Media Contact: For interviews or to request review copies contact Flotsam PR at 319-504-3788 or flotsampr@pm.me.

About the Authors: Vonda Pelto, Ph.D., author of Without Remorse and co-author of Without Redemption, was born and raised in the small town of Needles, California, in the barren desert. Brought up in a strict Southern Baptist household, her sheltered childhood and family life meant Vonda was in for a rude awakening when she was hired for a unique job. After the unexpected January 1981 jailhouse suicide of Freeway Killer Vernon Butts, the Los Angeles County Mental Health & Sheriff's Departments needed a new strategy to prevent this from happening with any other high-profile inmates awaiting or standing trial.

Michael B. Butler, author of A World Flight Over Russia, is a professional photographer who has worked extensively in book, travel and corporate PR. His assignments documenting the 50th Anniversaries of Pearl Harbor and D-Day, flying around the world across Russia on the World Flight in July 1992, documenting a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with 700 Christians in 2013 and multiple PR junkets to Ireland and Tahiti added ample materials to his media library.
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Timing:

Next Story : Bookmark These Restaurants For Your Next Kolkata Trip

Image: Instagram Alila Diwa Goa's Edge, tropical bar and kitchen - welcomes you to experience their all-new ambience. The restaurant offers a refreshing menu in a newly renovated setting. With views of the infinity pool, the natural Goan landscape of lush green paddy fields, the restaurant is an ideal venue for lunches by the pool.Image: Instagram The tropical bar is designed to be an all-day dining space that seamlessly transitions into a lovely sundowner spot to enjoy a drink or two while grooving to some edgy music.Image: Instagram The menu is extensive, with both healthy and indulgent options to choose from. The cuisine is a celebration of Indian specialties with an international twist. It is a perfect blend of aroma and flavour that will make your meal memorable. A healthy way to begin is with the stay fit salad, which consists of Quinoa salad, mixed beans, sunflower seed broccoli, carrot, basil vinaigrette or Pesto, arugula, sea salt, 18-year-aged balsamic Tomato Burrata Salad. Mushroom varuval tart with goat cheese cream, curry leaves, garlic crisps, Steamed idli, tamarind chutney, fried curry leaves, onion, sev served as button idli chaat can be a good choice for starters. Then comes their stuffed and wrapped delicacies such as Dimsums, wraps, and Poee Sliders, which gives you a taste of Goa and they use breads that are being sourced from a local Poder. Choose from charcoal-grilled sticks and skewers or fresh-from-the-oven flatbreads.Image: Instagram For the main course, the foods that are served in a shiny porcelain bowl is a wholesome meal in a bowl. Malaysian laska, Ramen bowl, Nasi lemak served in vegetarian, sea food and chicken options will easily suffice for one. The traditional Thai green curry served with jasmine rice is sure a comfort food. Finally, leave some room in the stomach for some sweet endings, as the options are quite exciting. A Mango Panacotta, Classic Tiramisu, or Feni Creme Brulee is worth every calorie.Image: Instagram When dining with children, don't forget to ask for the children's menu, which is provided on a separate sheet. On one side, there is a menu, and on the other, there are puzzles and activities to keep them entertained. Although Edge inside a five-star property, it has its own identity and is priced like a stand-alone restaurant where guests can unwind over drinks, food, music and of course the beautiful view overlooking the paddy fields and a splendid sunset.Alila Diwa, 48/10 Village, Majorda, GoaRs 2000 for two + taxes (without alcohol)11 am to 8 pm
BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Noah Holdings Limited (NOAH) said it believes its exposure to any liquidity concern as a result of Silicon Valley Bank's Receivership is immaterial to its business operations or financial condition. Noah said it currently has cash and cash equivalents of less than US$1 million with Silicon Valley Bank, representing less than 0.2% of its total cash and cash equivalents. In addition, Noah, under its asset management business, serves as the general partner or fund manager for certain investment funds with accounts at the SVB, and has taken necessary measures to protect against or minimize the potential impact of the SVB's Receivership on these funds. Noah informed its investors that it is aware of the closure of Silicon Valley Bank and appointment of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as receiver. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Young's Team of Fellow Entrepreneurs, Operators, and M&A Professionals Offer a Unique Approach to Business Exit Planning, with Over $500M in Deal Experience and Real-Life Business Buying and Selling Experience.

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Media Contact

Reggie Young

contact@reggieyoung.com

ExitAdvisor.io

https://reggieyoung.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/reggieyoung/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/156908
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
You can be sure that when the top administrator at a city or school district starts throwing out a sentence like, Without a course correction, organizational failure is not a matter of if, but a matter of when, a big ask is on the horizon.

That big ask may be to beef up revenues or a call for collective belt-tightening. Either way, hard choices are on the horizon.

That very phrase above was penned by Corvallis City Manager Mark Shepard in a call for solidarity with the City Council  which ultimately controls the purse strings  as they seek to solve what he describes as systemic neglect:

(U)nlike most public agencies, Corvallis suffers from decades of a lack of investment in the organization.

Were going to set aside what seems obvious to Mid-Valley Media journalists who attend myriad meetings of city councils, school boards and county commissions. But for the record, no agency is sitting pretty financially, especially in down economies.

Were also going to set aside a debate about our so-called down economy, even though it feels different from the very real conditions of the Great Recession of the late aughts and early teens.

What we are going to do is take Corvallis to task for a couple of recent decisions.

After meeting Thursday night, March 9, it appears City Hall staff is prepping the council for priority-setting, maybe some horse-trading. Department heads shared how they struggle to do the job with all the shortcomings they face.

But if their needs are to be met, that probably means some belt-tightening in other areas. However many notches they decide to cinch, it probably didn't have to be that much. Here's why.

First, theres the curious timing of the woe-is-us lament. Shepard writes the city is on a metaphorical precipice, a tipping point, in a memo released to the public March 1, for discussion Thursday.

But just eight days earlier, staff had recommended the City Council not raise the levy rate when the city asks voters to renew it in November.

The levy was first approved by voters in 2011. The tax property owners pay climbed from 45 cents for every $1,000 in assessed value to $1.07 by its third renewal in 2019.

Scheduled to expire in June 2024, in the levys current incarnation, the spoils are specifically divided among library, parks and recreation and the Majestic Theatre, as well as setting aside $360,000 a year for social services. That latter number would climb to $480,000 if voters give the nod again in November.

The levy is expected to bring in $6.1 million in fiscal year 2022-2023 and $34.6 million for the city over the next five-year period.

Imagine how much more it would have generated had the city suggested a slight bump. Yes, any increment would have to be funneled specifically to the library, parks and Majestic. But those are city services residents love dearly and add to the overall quality of life. They are the proverbial sugar to whatever medicine the city is planning.

A shrewd person might suggest the city forewent a levy hike because the May election will see a $110 million bond proposal from Benton County (to build the facilities for a suite of justice services), and that's a tough act to follow, timing-wise. The thinking might be, by November, voters may have property tax fatigue.

But No. 1, were not sure Benton Countys bond measure is going to pass; and No. 2, we believe the increasing popularity of the Corvallis levies throughout the years proves Corvallis residents are willing to step up and pay for services they appreciate. And because the rule of threes compels us, No. 3, shouldnt Corvallis put Corvallis first?

Perhaps even more perplexing is the debacle that was the citys new franchise agreement with NW Natural. Because the City Council couldnt rubber-stamp the end-product of a years worth of negotiations between the utilitys representatives and City Hall staff, councilors instead extended the current agreement three years, leaving a proposed $90,000 increase  a year  on the table.

Thats $270,000 the city could have banked. And those fees flow straight into the general fund, giving the city total flexibility in how it spends them.

Perhaps, just perhaps, that could have leveled the city just a bit as it's poised on its precarious perch. Nearly $300,000 could pay for several new employees, salary raises, technology  the people, processes, technology, systems, and performance management in which Shepard said the city failed to invest.

So remember all this when you start to hear of belt-tightening in some areas, and know we all couldve breathed a little bit easier with some better leadership.

Both from staff and the citys electeds.
TEL AVIV, Israel, March 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Golda , the largest Israeli ice-cream franchise chain with over 130 branches in the country, launches its own delivery service using the platform of an Israeli startup DelivApp .

Today, delivery has evolved from a nice-to-have to one of our core offerings, explains Yaron Golan, CEO of Anita Group & Golda Ice Cream. Wolt and other third-party platforms did a great job educating consumers, but we could no longer ignore the economics. Golda chain operates at the forefront of innovation, and the launch of our new delivery app is our way to improve our service and allow millions of our customers enjoy exclusive benefits, for example, collecting bonus points in the digital wallet. The new app will also allow us to reach additional customers and continue growing our market share. While selecting a technology vendor, we conducted an in-depth due diligence in Israel and abroad. We chose DelivApp, their stellar platform and the team made the decision simple for us.

Users of the new Golda app , enjoy an online ordering experience similar to the one Golda stores provide. The digital menu features a wide variety of flavors, toppings, yogurt and more. Digital customers benefit from special offers and promos, collect, and spend loyalty program bonus points. Those who prefer to order by phone can also do so easily via a call-center. Once an order is placed, it goes to a selected branch, from which it is automatically dispatched to Goldas own courier fleet or to one of its partners such as Yango Delivery, Wolt Drive or a local provider. The entire process from ordering to delivery is powered by the DelivApp platform.

Our mission is to allow businesses like Golda to establish themselves as digital brands and run online operations that are both delightful for customers and profitable for businesses, says DelivApps co-founder and CEO Yan Zagatsky. Today, this is critical more than ever: if you only rely on delivery aggregators, you compromise on your profit margins. Our product helps our customers to build a solution that is tailored to their unique needs, sell directly to their consumers, serve them well and win their loyalty.

About DelivApp

DelivApp is a SaaS platform for managing and orchestrating on-demand food delivery. Headquartered in Israel, DelivApp serves restaurants and delivery fleets globally and provides them with a white-label marketplace ordering experience, loyalty program, merchant portal and app, dispatchers dashboard, courier app, consumer tracking functionality, access to external fulfillment options, and more.

About Golda

Golda, the largest Israeli ice-cream franchise chain, established in 2010 by the Avital family, who led the ice cream revolution in Israel, starting with the Anita Gelato chain in Tel-Aviv, which has become an international brand. Today, Golda operates more than 130 branches in Israel.

Contacts

Katya Rozenoer

Mobile: +972545439934

Email: katya-r@delivapp.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3b7fcac6-cd61-4f89-8208-fa0eff9ca56e
NEW YORK, March 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE: CS) between December 1, 2022 and February 17, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period). If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 8, 2023.



SO WHAT: If you purchased Credit Suisse securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Credit Suisse class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12359 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 8, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) contrary to Defendant Lehmanns representations in December 2022, the sharp increase in customer outflows Credit Suisse began experiencing in October 2022 remained ongoing; (2) accordingly, Credit Suisse had downplayed the impact of the Companys recent series of quarterly losses and risk and compliance failures on liquidity and its ability to retain client funds; (3) as a result, Credit Suisse had overstated the Companys financial position and/or prospects; and (4) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

To join the Credit Suisse class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12359 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

lrosen@rosenlegal.com

pkim@rosenlegal.com

cases@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
All eyes will be on Hollywood later to see whether Everything Everywhere All At Once can cap its extraordinary awards season by sweeping the Oscars.

The eccentric multiverse adventure is the favourite to win best picture after success at a host of precursor events.
Doha: President Akufo-Addo holds talks with Amir of Qatar

Kweku Zurek Mar - 12 - 2023 , 13:11

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has held talks with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met at Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Majlis at the Amiri Diwan (the official workplace and office of the Amir) in Doha today (Sunday, March 12, 2023).

The talks took place on the occasion of President Akufo-Addo's visit to the country to attend the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), a statement issued by the Amir's office said.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to enhance and support them in various fields, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.

The President was among 5,000 participants that attended LDC5, including 47 Heads of State or government and 130 Ministers and Vice-Ministers.

They called for developed countries to urgently provide the most vulnerable countries with the assistance they need to drive socio-economic and environmental development.

Corporate leaders together with civil society, youth and other partners shared plans, innovations, and recommendations in several areas: from enhancing the participation of LDCs in international trade and regional integration to addressing climate change, strengthening global partnerships, supporting graduation, and leveraging the power of science, technology, and innovation.

United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries ends

The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha, Qatar ended on March 9, 2023. with member states committing to measures to deliver on the Doha Programme of Action, a ten-year plan to put the worlds 46 most vulnerable countries back on track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Bold commitments at the conference marked a transformative turning point for the worlds poorest countries, whose development has been hindered by crises including COVID-19, climate change and deepening inequalities.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the Least Developed Countries is a litmus test for achieving the 2030 Agenda writ large, including by ensuring that no one  and no LDC  is left behind said UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. That is why the Doha Programme of Action must be seen as a vehicle for SDG Acceleration.

Under the theme From Potential to Prosperity the conference aimed to drive transformational change to positively affect the 1.2 billion people who live in the LDCs.

The commitments made this week are a true embodiment of global solidarity and partnership and will pave the way for a new era of international cooperation, said Rabab Fatima, Secretary General of the Conference and UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.

This will result in more of the Least Developed Countries achieving the goal of graduation and a more prosperous and sustainable future, she continued.

Doha Programme of Action

Discussions at LDC5 centered around delivery of the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2022-2031, which aims to manifest a new generation of renewed and strengthened commitments between the least developed countries and their partners, including the private sector, civil society, and governments.

The Programme, agreed in 2022 after LDC5 was postponed due to the Omicron outbreak, outlines a transformative agenda to tap into the potential of the LDCs. Measures include the development of a food stockholding mechanism for LDCs; an online university focusing on STEM education, especially for women and girls; an international investment support centre; a sustainable graduation support facility; and comprehensive multi-hazard crisis mitigation and resilience-building measures for least developed countries.

Agreements reached this week will help the LDCs to address the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, to return to a pathway to achieve the SDGs, address climate change, and make strides towards sustainable and irreversible graduation.

The Doha Declaration

The Doha Political Declaration, adopted at the end of the conference reinforces the international communitys commitment to the Doha Programme of Action.

Commitments

The Conference presented a unique opportunity to translate the vision of the Doha Programme into tangible results with countries and stakeholders showcasing a host of commitments. These commitments range from improving biodiversity and tackling malnutrition to resilience building in the LDCs.
For attempting to influence a judge, 2 people have been convicted for contempt

Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Mar - 12 - 2023 , 11:33

There was drama at the High Court in Bolgatanga last Friday (March 10, 2023) when two persons who attempted to influence the acting Supervising High Court Judge, Justice Alexander Graham, were convicted by the court.

The drama unfolded at the High Court Two in Bolgatanga.

The two who are influential people in Bolgatanga had gone into the chambers of the judge in an attempt to influence him.

The judge handed them over to the court warrant officer for arrest, and in the open court moments later, Justice Alexander Graham asked the two to repeat exactly what they had told him in chambers.

The two, Chief of Baare, Naab Nyakora Mantii and Richard Sunday Yinbil, were convicted after they pleaded guilty to contempt.

The court found them guilty of contempt and accordingly made them sign a six-months bond to be of good behaviour at the Upper East Regional Police Command before they were released.

This was after about 12 lawyers who were in court for various cases at the same court pleaded with the court to pardon them and not hand them a custodial sentence.

Events leading to conviction

The events leading to their conviction as narrated in court were that on Friday before the commencement of proceedings at the court, the two persons sought permission from the court clerks to see the judge in chamber for a private conversation which was duly granted.

The court heard that after entering the judge's chamber and being granted audience, they duly identified themselves that they had been sent to deliver a message to him.

They then informed Justice Graham that they were sent by a chief in the area, to invite him [judge] to his palace for him to properly explain to his understanding a number of mining related cases from the area which are currently pending before the court.

Action contemptuous

The Presiding Judge realised that the action by the two persons was contemptuous since many mining cases were before the court he was presiding for determination.

While considering the action of the accused persons as entrapment to tilt his judgement towards a certain direction, he quickly walked out and ordered their arrest.

After that, they were charged with contempt and hauled before the court to tell the court what transpired between them and Justice Graham privately.

The two did not utter a word about what they had told the judge in chamber in the fully packed court room.

As a result, Justice Graham told the open court what the two persons had told him in his chamber.

Lawyers plead for clemency

Knowing the implications of the action by the two persons, the lawyers, in turns, pleaded with the judge not give them a custodial sentence.

The lawyers took turns to acknowledge that the action by the two was contempt of court, which offenders can be given a prison sentence, they however pleaded that they should be forgiven and not be handed custodial sentence they openly admitted their wrong in court.

According to them, the open rebuke of the accused persons in court was enough and that they were first time offenders as well.

After listening to the lawyers, Justice Graham, while delivering his judgement warned the public to desist from visiting judges in an attempt to get favourable outcomes.

"You are hereby convicted of contempt and directed to sign a six-months bond to be of good behaviour," Justice Graham said.
Honest drivers explain why they returned GH200,000 to owner

Kweku Zurek Mar - 12 - 2023 , 10:27

Two drivers who returned an amount of GH200,000 they found to its rightful owner in Kumasi have been explaining their decision to the media.

In a television interview with UTV, the two drivers whose names were not disclosed said they chanced upon the money wrapped in a polythene bag late at night in their vehicle and only counted it when they closed their duties at a lorry station in Oforikrom in Kumasi.

They said they kept the bag and after counting it, it amounted to GH200,000 and they contemplated handing it over to the Police.

They said they handed it over to a trusted Police officer, which one of them knew personally and later reported it to Kumasi-based radio station Hello FM to make an announcement about the money.

Meet the kind-hearted drivers who returned missing GH200,000 1/2#UTVGhana pic.twitter.com/vFjouC0ouq  UTV Ghana (@utvghana) March 10, 2023

Reasons

In an interview, one of the drivers said it was better to return the money to its owner than to keep it and attract curses for their future generations.

He said they had no regrets and were grateful to God that they returned the money to its owner.

In another interview, the owner of the money told Hello FM that he contemplated suicide after losing the money and had not had a proper meal in days.

There has been a mixed reaction to their decision to return the money with some social media users praising them for their honesty while others have criticised them for rejecting a blessing from God. Read some of the tweets below;
I will finish the NPP if they try to collapse my businesses - Kennedy Agyapong (AUDIO)

GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 12 - 2023 , 13:33

A contender for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership race, Kennedy Agyapong has threatened to reveal secrets that will lead to the end of the party if attempts are made to collapse his businesses.

In an interview with Sompa FM in Kumasi, Mr Agyapong said if attempts were made to collapse his businesses, he will "finish the party" with his disclosures.

"I am being nice and charitable to NPP (members), they shouldn't dare me, they shouldn't dare me," Mr Agyapong said in the Sompa FM with Yaw Adu Boakye.

"...I will finish the party, the things I will say. The things I know that I have kept quiet".

Witch-hunt

According to the Assin Central Member of Parliament, he has been the victim of a witch-hunt by members of his party since the beginning of the year, alleging that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) was being used as a vehicle to intimidate and frustrate his business operations.

He alleged that the GRA wanted to station its personnel at his cold chain stores to police how much fish he sells daily, warning "Let me say this, I have gone past intimidation. They cannot use the system to intimidate me, I have to say this, I have opened businesses across the last five presidents. I never went through any of this harassment."

"Ghana Revenue Authority can never collapse my business because I will fight. I will fight for the youth because that steel plant alone will take 1000 workers," he said.

"And you are going there because Kwame Agyapong is loudmouthed because he wants to contest [for president] so you will destroy my business".

He also threatened to expose alleged corrupt dealing at the GRA.

"Whether they are auditing, whether they are collapsing the business, I swear to God, Ghana Revenue Authority can never collapse my business because I will fight..."
ACC (Automotive Cells Company), a joint venture of Stellantis and TotalEnergies (together with its subsidiary Saft), joined by Mercedes-Benz, and strongly supported by France, Germany, and the European Union, said that its planned 2B gigafactory in Termoli, Italy was expected to start operations in 2026. (Earlier post.)

The Termoli plant will be ACCs third. Its first gigafactory is being built in Billy-Berclau Douvrin, Hauts-de-France; a second Lithium-ion gigafactory is planned in Germany for 2025. The ACC partners have committed to increase ACCs industrial capacity to at least 120 GWh by 2030more than 2 million cells per year.

ACCs objective is to develop and produce battery cells and modules for electric vehicles with a focus on safety, performance, and competitiveness, while ensuring the highest level of quality and the lowest carbon footprint.

For ACC, the investment in Italy is not only essential to help protect the industrial and employment base of the Biferno Valley, but also has the ambition of affirming the countrys role in the European battery industry.

ACCs new R&D Expertise Center is up and running in Bruges (Bordeaux), along with a Pilot Plant in Nersac, France (Nouvelle Aquitaine).
Flashback: LG G5 tried to wow the crowd with its Magic Slot, but failed

A couple of years ago we looked at the best LG phones and called the LG G5 the most ambitious LG phone ever. We stand by that  the phone brought some features that had a marked impact on the market and some that did not, not even on LGs own lineup.

The G5 was the first phone with a proper dual camera, at least the way we understand it today  not a 3D camera like the Optimus 3D, no depth sensor, but two camera modules with different focal lengths.



The LG G5 was a bold, innovative phone that failed to resonate with the markte

You might argue that the LG V10 featured a combo of wide and ultrawide cameras the year before and it. However, they were on the front, which made them less useful  more on the V10 in its own Flashback.

The LG G5 had a 16MP main camera with a 26mm lens (1/2.6 sensor). This module featured Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and was helped by the Laser autofocus system, something that LG was pushing heavily back then.

The ultrawide was stunning  its 9mm lens is wider than most smartphone ultrawide cameras you will find even today. The 8MP resolution (1/3.6 sensor) was not much to cover the 135 field of view (FoV), but this was definitely one of the standout cameras of 2016. Even today some phones go only as wide as 105 and its noticeable.

Heres a comparison of the FoV of the main and the ultra wide cameras.

As for the front-facing camera, it was a single 8MP unit on the upper bezel  LG didnt repeat the crazy dual-camera, second-screen design of the V10 from a few months earlier.

The company also dropped its characteristic design quirk of putting the volume rocker on the back, something it had been doing since the G2. However, LG still tried to shake up the world of smartphone design, which was settling into a boring routine.

The LG G5 was actually a modular phone. It didnt have the kooky patchwork design of Googles Project Ara, instead it took a more practical approach. The bottom was removable (which also pulled out the battery, making it easy to replace). This was the so-called Magic Slot.

The idea was that this bottom segment could be replaced with various modules. At launch time these included the LG Cam Plus, a camera grip with an extra 1,200mAh battery and hardware camera controls (shutter key, camcorder button, a zoom dial and an on/off toggle).



LG Cam Plus module for the LG G5

Another module augmented the phones already good audio capabilities. The LG Hi-Fi Plus was branded B&O Play as it had a Bang & Olufsen DAC, plus a more powerful speaker. The cool thing about it is that it could also operate as a standard USB DAC and AMP for PCs and other Android phones.



LG Hi-Fi Plus for the LG G5 (and other phones too)

For more details, check out our LG G5 Friends article from back then. LG was also experimenting with 360 cameras and VR headsets, it was a fun period in smartphone history.

The Magic Slot design meant that the G5 was not water resistant like other flagships of the day and the relatively small 2,800mAh battery offered only average endurance. On the plus side, it supported 18W fast charging and, of course, you could carry a spare battery. Or there could have been a battery module, something with a bit more juice than the Cam Plus accessory (no such module was ever released, however).

Modularity aside, the LG G5 represented a course change for the company. The G5 ditched the large 5.5 display of the G3 and G4 and went with a smaller 5.3 panel. The phones body was made out of an aluminum alloy, though the so-called microdizing process left the exterior with an odd finish that didnt feel like metal.

LG G5 flanked by the Galaxy S7 and the LG G4

A few months after unveiling its flagship at the MWC, LG launched a cheaper version for South America and China dubbed the LG G5 SE.

The original G5 was powered by the Snapdragon 820, Qualcomms flagship chip of the day. The SE switched over to the Snapdragon 652, an old 28mm part. LG also trimmed a gig of RAM, leaving the SE with 3GB, plus the 32GB UFS 2.0 storage was swapped for an eMMC 5.1 drive of the same capacity.

The cameras were changed as well, the 16MP main module got an even narrower lens (29mm vs. 26mm), the ultrawide became narrower as well (at 12mm it was still quite wide even by todays standards but still).

For what its worth, the G5 SE also featured the Magic Slot design, LG was trying to build a modular ecosystem around it. Well, it didnt try too hard, there was no Magic Slot on the V20 that launched later that same year and none on the LG G6 either. Also, the company gave up on launching new modules.

As innovative as the LG G5 was, its legacy is not bright. If you have been following the smartphone market over the last few years, you know of the companys struggles. In the quarter after the G5 launched LG had to drop its shipping target from 16.5 to 15 million phones and the underperforming G5 got blamed for it. Estimates for the flagship were initially 3-3.5 million units, that was revised down to 2.5 million.

LG was already on a downwards trajectory, the LG G4 from the year before underperformed as well, so it didn't live up to the ambitions 12 million sales target. LG posted a loss in Q2 2015 as well, with blame falling on the G4.

The company spend years and millions of dollars trying to return to popularity, but despite bold and innovative designs its sales kept declining and losses kept mounting. Eventually it left the smartphone market it 2021.
According to Korea Herald, Samsung has just hired a high-ranking top TSMC employee, namely Lin Jun-cheng. He worked for the Taiwanese company for about 19 years and before that, he was at Micron Technology. That's some serious background.

Lin Jun-cheng will head Samsung's Advanced Packaging Team, part of the Device Solutions division, which is an essential part of developing chips. He worked on the development of 3D packaging technology for TSMC, so this might be a big hit for the Korean tech giant.

Although quite capable, Samsung's Exynos chipsets for smartphones have often been criticized. Qualcomm's chips are often more powerful overall, thanks to the Adreno GPU, while TSMC's manufacturing process is arguably more efficient. So this year's Galaxy S series coming in one Snapdragon variant was a long time coming.

The latest hire suggests that Samsung is restructuring and will soon give it another go. If Lin Jun-cheng manages to turn things around, this would potentially draw some much-needed customers, such as Apple and Qualcomm, which are now sticking with TSMC for the most part.

Source
Weekly poll: are you ready to buy your first foldable? And which way will it fold?

Many makers entered the foldables market so it finally feels like there are a lot of options available. Foldables are not cheap yet, were still some years away from that, but there is competition, which will help lower prices and polish the rough edges of early models.

Honor announced the beginning of the global rollout of the Magic Vs at the MWC, the Oppo Find N2 Flip went global in February, Tecno unveiled its first foldable, the Phantom V Fold, OnePlus confirmed that its working on a foldable, Realme is teasing its own project, Google will eventually stop delaying the release of the Pixel Fold and so on. Of course, there are the perpetual rumors of an Apple foldable too.



Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4  Tecno Phantom V Fold  Oppo Find N2  Xiaomi Mix Fold 2



Honor Magic Vs  Huawei Mate Xs 2  vivo X Fold+

Even though Samsung still dominates the market, things are starting to change. There is competition even now and it will heat up significantly before 2023 ends.

Has any phone hit the right features at the right price to get you to try out the new form factor? And if you already bought a foldable, how did it go? Vote below or using this page.

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In the previous poll we lumped all foldables together, but we suspect most of you are interested in only one form factor - horizontal or vertical? Most makers focused on the larger horizontal phones, the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, Honor Magic Vs, Oppo Find N2, Tecno Phantom V Fold, vivo X Fold+ and Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 (and Huaweis phones too).

Flip foldables are still quite rare, though the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Motorola Razr 2022 are no longer alone. Theres the Find N2 Flip, plus vivo and OnePlus are allegedly working on vertical foldables alongside the horizontal ones. Its not clear which way Realme will go, but Samsung will certainly release one of each.



Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4  Motorola Razr 2022  Oppo Find N2 Flip  Huawei Pocket S

Note that Apples first foldable is said to be a tablet rather than a phone. That market is relatively unexplored, unless you count foldable laptops like the ThinkPad and Zenbook (but even then such devices are rare).

So, which form factor do you prefer? Assuming you gave a positive vote in the poll above, of course. Vote below or using this page.
United Airlines is launching a 55th anniversary fare sale on direct routes to Japan from Guam and Saipan.
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Residents and tourists started coming back to the scenic Inalahan natural tide pools park before the $373,000 completion of safety repairs, but no formal opening ceremony has been set yet  or a date when the public restrooms in the area will reopen.

The projects completion was held up by several months, from the initial target of summer 2022 to the third week of February 2023.

Delays were associated with the delivery of materials, a longer release of permit clearances by federal partners because of teleworking during the pandemic and damage to the safety railings caused by people accessing the site without permission, according to Guam State Clearinghouse Administrator Stephanie Flores.

The work on the pools is now complete and the formal ribbon-cutting is being scheduled, Flores said.

The Inalahan natural tide pools are among the most visited tourist attractions in the south.

The government awarded a $297,000 contract to Triple K Construction Co. Inc. for the repairs that started in December 2021, but change orders increased the final contract price to $373,000, Flores said.

The final completion for the pools was the week of Feb. 24 when the final inspections took place, she said.

Safer site

The repairs made the Inalahan natural tide pools safer and more enjoyable for children and adults, including repairs to the popular diving platform and the concrete staircase and platform at the scenic overlook.

Yellow-painted railings for the blue concrete staircase make it safer and easier to climb the platform, which offers great views of the ocean waves, the small and large natural tide pools, the greenery and the diving platform.

Another critical component of the repair work included reinforcing some 564 feet of riprap walls surrounding the natural tide pools, as well as repair of a bridge for safer and easier access.

There are now also white safety railings around the tide pools.

Closed restrooms

Inalahan Mayor Anthony Chargualaf on Sunday said hes thankful for the improvements done to the tide pools area, making them much safer for everyone, and is looking forward to the reopening of the public restrooms as well.

Yellow caution tapes are placed by the walkway leading to the restrooms.

The restroom closure, Chargualaf said, had to do with a pending water bill and there is no running water there yet.

The mayor said there is still ongoing discussion about the outstanding water bill between the Department of Parks and Recreation, which operates the park, and the Guam Waterworks Authority.

I am not made aware of the specifics of the billing issue like how much is outstanding but were looking forward to having those restrooms open again. Its been a while. Parks and Rec, and GWA are still talking, he said, adding that the public restrooms at the park may have been closed since March 2021.

More work needed

Besides the reopening of the restrooms, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done in the area.

Flores said the government is planning to improve the entire park, including the pavilions, barbecue pits, parking lot area and trash receptacles.

There are orange barrier fences in parts of the park. There are also still some safety hazards left on the ground.

This is a longer-term project, but is one of our priorities for park improvements across the island, Flores told Pacific Daily News. Its important to note that our island parks have been neglected for decades and while we have been making improvements, there was a significant delay during the pandemic.

Flores said cost estimates from the Department of Parks and Recreation for the park rehabilitation is anticipated by mid-April at the latest to move the project to the next phase.

We thank the public for their patience with this process and invite people to enjoy the natural pools. That particular park has always been very popular. We just ask that everyone be aware that the pavilions are not in the best condition because they were not adequately maintained in the past, Flores said.

Additionally, we need everyones help to keep not just this park but every public park clean by cleaning up after ourselves when we use the parks.

Chargualaf said the tide pools safety and accessibility were a priority, and now that those are done, all the other pending issues like fixing up the pavilions will be next.

The mayor also said hes continuing to request Parks & Recreation to transfer jurisdiction or authority of the Inalahan tide pools public park over the Inalahan mayors office, which he said would maintain and operate the park the best way they can.

Give it to us and we are going to take good care of it, the mayor said.
A growing list of health care professionals, government officials, and community groups are looking to block the revival of Guams long unenforced ban on abortion.

The Guam Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the head of the Guam Memorial Hospital have both filed their opposition to the enforcement of the islands 1990 abortion ban in court this week, joining Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero.

At the same time, Hawaii-based doctors who have been providing abortions to Guam patients, and local pro-abortion and reproductive health care group Famalaoan Rights are seeking to join in the abortion access lawsuit against the government of Guam.

The 1990 ban makes the performance of an abortion a felony, and a woman who undergoes the procedure would be guilty of a misdemeanor.

It was deemed unconstitutional shortly after it was enacted and permanently enjoined by the District Court of Guam. But with the constitutional right to an abortion reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court last summer, Attorney General Doug Moylan has motioned for the District Court of Guam to allow the law to take effect again.

Representing the Guam Society of OBGYNs in the case is attorney Anita Arriola, who led the lawsuit that saw the ban, Public Law 20-134, enjoined back in 1990.

Local Attorney Vanessa Williams and the lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation have also become involved.

Plaintiffs want the injunction to remain, or failing that, for sections of the law they believe are unconstitutional to be struck down, according to court documents.

Counsel for the plaintiffs makes similar arguments against the bans revival as what has already been argued by the governor, a defendant in the case, and former attorney general Levin Camacho.

They assert that the Legislature did not have the authority to pass unconstitutional laws in 1990, and that local laws passed since 1990 have essentially recognized the legality of the procedure, and reversed the ban.

Additionally, they argue that a section of the ban criminalizing the solicitation of people for an abortion violates constitutional free speech protections.

The ban doesnt just criminalize the plaintiffs speech, but the speech of all individuals who might refer pregnant people in Guam to seek abortion in jurisdictions where it is legal  speech about a legal act, which is subject to First Amendment protection, court documents state.

Besides that, they argue parts of the law are unconstitutional because they criminalize a patient for obtaining an abortion anywhere, including in places where abortion is legal.

GMH opposed

GMH administrator Lilian Posadas, a defendant in the lawsuit over the ban, is likewise opposed to it being revived.

The hospital does not provide elective abortions but is prepared to administer an abortion in an emergency situation, legal counsel for Posadas stated in court filings. Abortion is permitted under the ban, if the life of the mother is endangered.

Any of the physicians working in the Emergency Department or the OB-GYN unit at GMH may encounter a woman who needs medical advice regarding an abortion, Posadas opposition stated.

However, a section of the ban criminalizing the solicitation of women for an abortion may apply to those doctors.

Posadas in her capacity as administrator of Guams only, public acute care hospital has an interest in opposing aspects of a statute that would criminalize the distribution of expert medical advice, by physicians and medical staff employed by GMHA, if such speech may be typified as soliciting a patient to seek an abortion outside the territory, according to the court filings.

Doctor, advocates intervene

Hawaii-based abortion providers Dr. Shandhini Raidoo and Bliss Kaneshiro, who have already successfully sued GovGuam so that they can provide medication abortions to Guam patients via telemedicine, also want to join in the lawsuit.

If the ban is allowed to go into effect, it would be devastating for pregnant people in Guam seeking abortions, Raidoo wrote to the court.

The ban would also put at risk our ability to counsel people in Guam seeking abortions, refer them to Hawaii for care, and even provide abortion care for them in Hawaiiif they are able to make the trip.

Raidoo stated that she has been providing abortions to patients from Guam more frequently, since the islands last abortion provider closed in 2018. Prior to being allowed to legally receive medication abortions via telemedicine, patients had to fly to Hawaii and complained of the costliness and difficulty, the doctor states.

Stephanie Lorenzo, co-founder of Famalaoan Rights, also wrote to the court to allow her nonprofit to be allowed on as a plaintiff in the case.

If the ban is allowed to go into effect, it would undermine Famalaoan Rights mission to improve access to reproductive health carewhich must include abortionon Guam, by subjecting our members to the risk of criminal prosecution just for engaging in our core education, outreach, and advocacy efforts, Lorenzo stated.

Attorneys Arriola and Williams, and the ACLU have also represented the interested parties to the case.

Governor asks for pause

In addition to asking the court to let the injunction stand, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has asked that the lawsuit be paused while the Supreme Court of Guam sorts out its position on the validity of Public Law 20-135.

Leon Guerrero asked the Supreme Court of Guam about the validity of the ban in January. Though the decision in the local court would not bind the federal District Court, the Supreme Courts opinion could be used as precedent in the federal court, Attorney General Moylan has said.

The Office of the Attorney General has moved to block the governors request for a pause.
CHamoru music and school pride filled the hallways of Micronesia Mall.

On Sunday, people gathered to watch an assortment of CHamoru performances by the Guma Rasan Acho Latte group and Liguan Elementary School students at the center court of Micronesia Mall.

Its wonderful to take my kids out here to promote the Mes CHamoru month on the island of Guam to support the community and their talents in song services and the cultural dances, said Melvin Duenas, CHamoru teacher at Liguan Elementary School.

Duenas explained that its been a while since a school performance like this has happened.

We missed a whole year with the pandemic for our kids again this is the first time out in the public here and so we get better and the kids will get more excited and motivated to come out and do this more often, said Duenas.

Besides the fun performances and singing, Duenas showed off what the students have been learning within their CHamoru classes by asking the students to repeat words and phrases in CHamoru.

Its nice to see them express themselves in their local language and so you can ask them different questions and they can answer it in the local language, said Duenas.

Were not full immersion, but we are trying to  we make sure they understand what theyre saying, what theyre singing, so it is not just memorization, but they use the practical sentencing, added Duenas.

According to Duenas, performances like this are important to keep the CHamoru tradition alive.

Besides all the performances, there was also a weaving demonstration done by a few high school students.

We were weaving a bunch of grasshoppers, fish  people started asking us if we can make them hats and headbands so they can wear it and showcase their spirit, said Rachael Cho, student from John F. Kennedy High School.

Cho has been weaving ever since she was in the third grade.

Maiya Hernandez, a student from Tiyan High School, was another one of the weavers conducting demonstrations to the public. She started weaving when she was in the sixth grade.

I really love that the elementary school students are embracing the culture, and I love to see the youth be a part of Mes CHamoru and the culture, said Cho.
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Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen AFB Environmental Flight and the National Park Service.
Barring employers from testing for cannabis use through Bill 6 would jeopardize workplace safety, make it harder to get federal dollars, and open companies up to liability, said Catherine Denight Gayle of The Employment Council, foreground, left, during a hearing on March 2, 2023. Vincent Herrera and Monica Marquez, foreground, center and right, testified drug screening keeps residents from using cannabis for medicinal relief.
[M]assive job losses, business closures, and the reluctance of foreign investors to engage in the [countrys] economy have had catastrophic impacts on the lives of millions of Afghans, the report said.

An estimated 700,000 people have lost their jobs in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, with the agriculture, civil service, and construction sectors the most severely affected, according to the latest report by the UN special rapporteur to Afghanistan.

The report, which covers developments in the country between July and December 2022, stated that around two-thirds of households in Afghanistan have acknowledged difficulties in meeting basic food and non-food needs.

Afghan nationals walk along a fenced corridor after crossing into Pakistan through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman on August 28, 2021 following the Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan. [Photo: AFP]

[M]assive job losses, business closures, and the reluctance of foreign investors to engage in the [countrys] economy have had catastrophic impacts on the lives of millions of Afghans, the report said.

Afghanistans worsening economic declinewhich stood at around 30 to 35 percent in 2021-2022has further worsened the humanitarian crisis. This crisis has been exacerbated by the unintended consequences of political cautiousness and overcompliance with [U.S.-imposed] sanctions, despite the humanitarian exemptions afforded by the Security Council, the 19-page report that was submitted to the UN said.

The report further stated that an estimated 18.9 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity, a number which is expected to rise to 20 million, and over 90 percent of Afghans are suffering from some form of food insecurity, with single-parent female-headed households and children being disproportionately affected.

The report also raised concerns about targeted killings of members of the former Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, allegedly by the Taliban. Similar apprehensions have been raised in another report that claims that the Taliban has gained access to biometric data, which they are utilizing in tracking down Afghans who formerly worked with the U.S. government.

Credit Line: from the Peoples Dispatch / Globetrotter News Service
A recent survey conducted by Kantar Public Oy on behalf of Suomen Yrittajat (Finnish Entrepreneurs) has found strong support for universal income security and social security reform in the Finnish workforce. The survey, called the Tyoelamagallup, was conducted among 1,511 respondents, including employees, entrepreneurs, furloughed workers, and the unemployed.

The results of the survey indicate that 42% of those surveyed view a universal income security model favorably.

This model would provide an income support system for those who are not members of unemployment funds. The remaining 34% view this model unfavorably. According to Mikael Pentikainen, CEO of Suomen Yrittajat, a universal income security system is a matter of fairness. "It is wrong that income security is not available to all who fund it, but only to those who are members of the funds," he said.

The survey also found that a large majority of respondents, 71%, support social security reform that would encourage more people to work. Pentikainen further noted that the current model disproportionately affects the most vulnerable segments of the labor market, particularly young people. Many young workers mistakenly believe that joining a labor union provides them with income security, and labor unions do not seem to be interested in correcting this misconception.

The survey also found that the majority of those surveyed, 59%, believe that unemployment benefits should be staggered to encourage more people to accept work. Many respondents feel that the current system discourages people from seeking employment due to the financial disincentives associated with taking a job. Respondents believe that the current system is counterproductive, as it encourages people to stay out of the workforce, which harms the overall economic foundations of the welfare state.

Pentikainen believes that these results demonstrate the need for reform. "We have hundreds of thousands of working-age people outside the workforce. For many of them, it is not worth it to work. We cannot afford it as a nation. Finnish workplaces are in dire need of labor," he said.

Overall, the Tyoelamagallup survey reveals a strong desire for income security and social security reform among Finnish workers. These reforms would provide a more equitable system for all those who fund it, encouraging more people to enter the workforce and bolstering the overall economic health of the country.

HT
During her visit to Kyiv on March 10th, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin suggested that Finland could consider providing Ukraine with its ageing Hornet fighter jets. The statement has caused controversy in Finland, with some government officials denying any discussion of such an action.

Various countries are weighing their own abilities to deliver this kind of military support. I think this could also be discussed in Finland. We know that we have made a decision about new fighter jets. We know the timetable for when we will receive new jets in Finland, and I think we can also have discussions in regard to the Hornets, whether it would be possible to hand [jets] over to Ukrainebut no decisions have been made. The discussions are in the very early stages."

However, President Sauli Niinisto denied any knowledge of such a discussion, stating that there "has been no discussion with anyone" about handing over Hornets to Ukraine. Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen also commented that Finland would still need its Hornets for the next few years to protect itself.

The Finnish Defense Forces have not discussed the possible delivery of Hornets to Ukraine, and the Air Force Commander, Major General Juha-Pekka Keranen, ruled out the delivery of Hornets until the FDF receives US-made F-35 fighters in return. Additionally, Juha-Matti Ylitalo, the Deputy Manager of Finnish Defense Forces Logistics Command, stated that the Hornets would no longer be competitive in the 2030s due to their structural life.

Mika Aaltola, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, criticized Marin's statement, saying, "It was unfortunate that the statement was made and it came as a surprise to some other national leaders. A phone call or text message could be useful before suggesting such things. That would be basic cooperation so that Finland's policy line would be clear."

This is not the first time statements from the inexperienced prime minister have caused headaches for the Finnish president, other ministers and even NATO.

Last October, on the Finnish TV morning show (Ykkosaamu), answering an audience question about Finland's NATO entry, asking why the country has not ruled out accepting nuclear weapons or permanent bases on its territory. Marin said: "I've considered it very important that we don't set these kinds of preconditions or limit our own room for manoeuvring when it comes to permanent bases or nuclear weapons,''

Her statement was refuted both by NATO and president Niinisto who is the commander-in-chief of Finnish Armed Forces. Finland has no intention of allowing nuclear weapons to be located on its territory. There are no indicators that any NATO-nation is offering nuclear arms to Finland, Niinisto said.

Mika Aaltola, Director of the Helsinki-based Finnish Institute of International Affairs (Ulkopoliittinen Instituutti) also called Marins statement nonsense.

No nuclear weapons will be brought to Finland. Neither NATO nor Finland have such aspirations. The doctrines of the United States and other member countries do not include any offer of nuclear weapons to Finland. Moreover, Finland has no desire to place nuclear weapons on its soil, said Aaltola.

Marin who is the youngest prime minister in the history of the country is a recent graduate with no leadership or work experience before entering politics. She was not elected by popular vote but was put forward within the Social Democratic Party when her predecessor, Antti Rinne had to resign suddenly for mishandling a postal strike.

HT
City invites residents to apply for advisory board seats

The city of Hendersonville is inviting community members to participate in local government by serving on a board, committee or commission.

Serving on local government boards is one of the leading ways residents can make a positive impact on the future of Hendersonville. City Council is accepting applications for a variety of board appointments. Applications received by May 5 will be considered at the City Councils regular June meeting.



Hendersonville strives for diverse representation on boards and commissions. Residents of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Members are encouraged to bring their unique perspectives to advise the mayor and City Council on a variety of issues. Volunteering to serve is a constructive way to use ones knowledge and experience to have an active voice in local government.



Some boards consist of seats filled by people who live within the Hendersonville city limits, or residents of the citys extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and unincorporated areas of Henderson County. For residency requirements and information on each boards purpose and meeting schedule, visit the citys website.



Board meetings are open to the public, and anyone interested in seeing how an advisory board operates is welcome to attend a meeting. Locations and meeting schedules are listed on the website calendar at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/events-calendar

Application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, May 5, for the council to consider vacancies at its June 1 meeting. A limited number of seats are available. Visit https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/boards-and-commissions to apply and learn more about residency and appointment requirements.



Those interested are invited to submit applications for:

 Animal Services Advisory Committee

 Board of Adjustment

 Business Advisory Committee

 Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee

 Downtown Advisory Board

 Environmental Sustainability Board

 Historic Preservation Commission

 Planning Board

 Tree Board

 Walk of Fame Steering Committee
by Anna Malindog-Uy After its opening up in the 1970s, China's rapid growth into the second largest economy in the world, with growing global economic and political influence today, makes China not only one of the most influential countries in today's international politics and economics but an inspiration to the developing world. Tourists visit the Bund in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 6, 2020.(Photo by Wang Xiang/Xinhua) In a world dominated by the Western economic paradigm of capitalism, and political ideology of liberal democracy, which in many ways have been imposed on the Global South, and are prized as the path toward modernization and economic development for many countries across continents, China is marching towards modernization and economic development on a different path, deviating from the Western-centric prototype and concept of development. China has been pursuing a development and modernization trajectory based on its own historical grounding and experience, unique internal conditions and realities, as well as cultural and civilizational foundations. In many ways, China's rapid economic growth and prosperity is not only an inspiration for countries in the developing world, but offers an alternative economic and political model for the Global South versus the Western-centric model of development that is exemplified by the "dependence trap," where the Global South is the development aid recipients, while the North, composed of a few affluent countries (former colonial masters), is the provider of development aid with prescribed structural conditionalities and packages intended to underwrite structural reforms, continuing inequalities and inequities, fortified by asymmetries in wealth, power, and resources, which fundamentally reflect the unequal divide between the North and South. This aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2022 shows a train passing by the Yellow River in Zhongwei City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.(Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) In many ways, China's experience of development and modernization is somewhat unique to itself and was never an attempt to copy and imitate the West. Nevertheless, like many developing countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa, China experienced and lived through the bitter pill of imperialism and colonization. It suffered a "century of humiliation," which refers to the period of intervention with and subjugation by Western powers. Obviously, the Global South and China have a shared and common experience of colonialism and imperialism, bringing them closer as partners in pursuing a development and modernization path more reflective of the Global South's respective conditions, realities, and historical experience. Although China's economic development and modernization experience can not be copied because each country has its unique conditions and situation, China serves as a guide and inspires countries in the developing world to pursue development and modernization based on their distinct and unique historical experience and their indigenous, local and respective conditions and realities, preserving their independence as a sovereign nation-state beyond the dictates of a superpower or a few affluent countries. For me, this makes China a noteworthy example of a country in the developing world that is pursuing a destiny relying on its own strength and internal capabilities while relating to the world in a responsible, peaceful, friendly, and cooperative manner. COMMON AND SHARED DEVELOPMENT As far as China's modernization and development is concerned, some of the noteworthy characteristics, which are based on President Xi Jinping's economic thought, are the pursuit of modernization and development that is inclusive, which means shared prosperity for all by exerting efforts to narrow the gap between the poor and the wealthy, and between rural and urban communities in China. Aerial photo taken on Feb. 23, 2017 shows farmers picking tea leaves at Buyang Village of Bajiang Township in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.(Xinhua/Lu Boan) Another goal of China's quest toward development which is worth mentioning is the concept of comprehensive and balanced development. This fundamentally means pursuing development but not at the expense of the environment, thereby pursuing sustainable development. Likewise, comprehensive and balanced development means pursuing modernization without neglecting or disregarding Chinese traditions, culture, and values but preserving them against the backdrop of modernity and modernization. Another critical aspect of China's modernization and development that is quite important not only for China but for the rest of the world is the fact that China pursues a trajectory toward development based on harmony and peace, which are core values rooted in Confucian philosophy that the Chinese people adhere to since time immemorial. But I think the level of development and modernization that China and the Chinese people are experiencing now will not be possible and could not be possibly achieved in such a short period of over only four decades if not because of some key and decisive factors, which include the following: First, the decisiveness and strong political will of the Communist Party of China, the party discipline, and most of all, its decisive leadership in governance, which is most important. Second is China's unified and cohesive coordination between the central government, provinces, cities, and counties as the country pursues a modern socialist society with Chinese characteristics. Third, the cohesiveness of Chinese society and unity in spirit and vision for China among and between the people and its government. This is crucial for any country pursuing a more developed and prosperous society. Most importantly, the philosophical underpinnings of China's culture and way of life which based on Confucianism, Taoism, and other famous Chinese philosophy, which basically emphasize unity, harmony, cohesion and respect for tradition and culture, compassion for fellow human beings, and the emphasis on community as against to too much emphasis on individualism. CHINA'S GROWING GLOBAL NICHE Moreover, to be more specific in terms of China's modernization and development strategies, it is worth mentioning that China's pursuit of high-quality development of innovation and entrepreneurship as an adopted approach by the central and regional government of China targeted at strengthening innovative entrepreneurship is no doubt a phenomenal success, which led to the rapid transition of China to a new economic development phase based on high-tech production and national breakthrough technologies. It also led to the extensive and comprehensive inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises in research and development activities and the development of new innovative structures. Likewise, the Chinese economy has transitioned to a more technologically driven one. Also, aside from the fact that China undeniably is a very important global manufacturer, the real drivers of its economic performance over the last decade or so have been rapid growth in its huge purchasing power and fixed-asset investments -- including the country's thriving technology sector; its abundant and very competent or competitive labor force is also undeniably one of its competitive edges. All these make China economically resilient to external shocks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the imposed U.S. trade war against China. On the other hand, China's goal to modernize its agriculture and make the countryside a more beautiful and prosperous place for all is another noble and principled program. Agricultural modernization is one of the critical factors toward national development, which facilitates a more sustainable, healthy, and extended period of stability and development for the country that will, in many ways, change the backwardness in rural areas and improve the plight of the farmers. In this regard, China's rural revitalization strategy that aims to achieve basic modernization of agriculture and rural areas by 2035 has somewhat surpassed the expectations of many countries. The domestic production of agricultural produce in China can fulfill the growing food demands of China's more than 1.4 billion population. Black-necked cranes are pictured at Yunnan Dashanbao National Nature Reserve for Black-necked Cranes in Zhaotong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 11, 2022.(Xinhua/Wang Guansen) Furthermore, China has increased physical infrastructure and logistics investment by over 20 percent annually over the last 15 years. Also, the Chinese authorities have consistently supported the construction of large-scale information and communication infrastructure networks and encouraged private enterprises to innovate in cutting-edge sectors such as mobile payments, e-commerce, the Internet of Things, and smart manufacturing. This has helped foster the emergence of many locally based international technology firms, including Alibaba, Tencent, and JD.com. CONCLUSION In retrospect, indeed, the "Chinese-style modernization and development" are distinct and a deviation from the Western style. I think China's path to development and modernization is an inspiration and a guide for the developing world. China's path to modernization is not in a whatsoever way, an imposition or a copycat of that of the West. It has been based and anchored on the internal realities and historical underpinnings of China as a civilizational state. At the same time, it preserves its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence as a country. At the same time, it relies on its internal capacity and strength as a country, relating to the world in a friendly, peaceful, responsible, and amicable manner. I believe the characteristics of the Chinese style of modernization and development are worth emulating and serve as an inspiration to the Global South. Also, I think that developing countries can learn the lessons, best practices and China's experience of balanced modernization and development. On this note, the countries in the Global South, like my country, the Philippines, can be inspired by the Chinese experience of development and modernization rooted in one's country's historical experience, and without losing one's country's independence, its identity, culture, distinct values, and traditions, while avoiding the so-called dependence trap. Editor's note: Anna Malindog-Uy is vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.
Former EOE Systems Supervisor Violates Conflict of Interest Law

BOSTON  Radhika Uppaluri, a former programmer and systems supervisor for the state Executive Office of Education (EOE), has paid a $70,000 civil penalty for violating the conflict of interest law by, as an EOE employee, hiring and supervising information technology (IT) consultants recruited by her family's company.

Uppaluri signed a Disposition Agreement in which she admitted to the violations and waived her right to a hearing.

While at EOE, Uppaluri also held positions in her family's company, Shri Radhe Krishna Corporation (SRK). During 2017-2019, Uppaluri, as an EOE employee, hired four IT consultants recruited through SRK, which resulted in the company receiving $124,832 in recruiting fees. When hiring the consultants, Uppaluri failed to follow EOE's standard procedure of posting the positions on the Commonwealth's official Commbuys procurement system and hiring through an approved vendor. Uppaluri instead hired the four consultants through SRK, which was not an approved vendor. Uppaluri resigned from EOE after the agency learned of her private involvement with SRK.

The conflict of interest law prohibits state employees from participating in their official capacity in matters in which they know they, their immediate family, or their business organization have a financial interest. Both Uppaluri's hiring for EOE of IT consultants recruited by her family's company, resulting in the company being paid $124,832 in fees, and her supervising the consultants' work for EOE, violated this prohibition.

The conflict of interest law also prohibits public employees from using their official positions to obtain substantially valuable privileges for themselves or others that are not properly available to them. Uppaluri violated this prohibition when she departed from standard EOE hiring procedures to secure for her family's company, which was not an approved vendor, the lucrative business opportunity of providing IT consultants to EOE.

In addition, as an officer or employee of SRK, Uppaluri directly or indirectly received fees SRK was paid for recruiting IT consultants for the team she supervised at EOE. In doing so, she violated the conflict of interest law's prohibition against state employees receiving compensation from anyone other than the Commonwealth in relation to a matter of direct and substantial interest to the Commonwealth. Finally, Uppaluri violated the conflict of interest law's prohibition against a state employee having a financial interest in a state contract in addition to their state job.

The Commission encourages public employees to contact the Commission's Legal Division at 617-371-9500 for free advice if they have any questions regarding how the conflict of interest law may apply to them.
CHP's Rania Markham, left, and Fairview Hospital Vice President Doreen Hutchinson hold their awards with chamber co-President Dawn Stanyon at Wednesday's first Women in Leadership event. Markham and Hutchinson were recognized for their personal and community efforts.

Southern Berkshire Chamber Honors Women in the Workforce



Berkshire Edge Publisher Marcie Setlow, Berkshire Camino founder Mindy Miraglia, Berkshire Center for Justice Executive Director Eve Schatz, and Fairview Hospital Vice President Doreen Hutchinson discuss mentorship. GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  Business and community leaders recognized two women for their personal and community efforts and heard from a panel of women about mentorship on Wednesday.

The event was the inaugural Women in Leadership Luncheon and Award Ceremony hosted by the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce at Crissey Farm. There were 160 individuals and organization leaders attending the event.

"The whole mission of the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce is to support our business members, but also bring awareness of our business members and 50 percent of our membership is women. And so we saw a niche that women needed to be recognized on International Women's Day," chamber co-President Dawn Stanyon said.

The Berkshire Edge Publisher Marcie Setlow, Berkshire Camino founder Mindy Miraglia, Berkshire Center for Justice Executive Director Eve Schatz, and Fairview Hospital Vice President of Operations and Patient Care Doreen Hutchinson spoke on the importance of mentorship in the workforce and techniques to consider to succeed.

"[Mentorship] is so important because we can't have a vibrant economy in the Berkshire unless we have young people coming in and taking the place and creating new opportunities and creating new kinds of businesses and all this requires support," said Setlow. "It's for all of us that we need to support a younger female."

The panelists answered questions and offered advice based on their personal experiences to both aspiring career women and to business leadership.

The chamber also awarded two outstanding community members whose personal achievements, and community achievements, and panoply of skills in the workforce deserved to be recognized, Stanyon said.

Fifty-seven women were named in 111 nominations, with some women being nominated up to 10 times.

"It was a privilege to get to read all of [the nominations] not only to see how impressive the women in this region are, but also to see the level of appreciation for them. They were equally moving," board Treasurer Janis Martinson said.

Martinson read out the names of all 57 nominees to honor their work in the community.

The winner of the Rising Star Award was Rania Markham, a human resources care coordinator for family services at Community Health Programs.

"I feel honored, I feel empowered. And I'm, I feel fortunate to be a part of a community that celebrates women and their hard work," Markham said.

She has been with CHP for the past decade and hopes to continue to advocate for homelessness, food insecurity and the special needs community.

Markham is eight weeks from earning her master's degree in social work from Simmons University, overcoming personal struggles including adjusting to her son's autism diagnosis.

"Four years ago, her son Zachary was diagnosed with autism. It didn't take long to realize this was a family diagnosis for it affected all of them in many ways," Stanyon said. "Having a child with autism can bring on a lot of emotions, one being isolation. She felt empowered to bring other parents just like her together. She says, 'together we are not alone.'"

Event panelist Hutchinson was presented with the Mentor Leader Award.

Hutchinson has published numerous articles, abstracts, and presentations in her field but she is most prideful of the accomplishments of her staff, Stanyon said.

Hutchinson said this award is very meaningful to her because she feels very passionate about developing people through mentorship.

"I also want to make sure that the recognition for this award is pretty much given to all the people that I have mentored because frankly, it has been a privilege and they have allowed me the opportunity to be able to pay it forward from the mentor that I had," she said.

"And so it really truly has been a gift. And I'm grateful that you were all here to share in it. I thank you very much.
Governor Announces Creation of Director of Rural Affairs

DEERFIELD  Governor Maura T. Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll visited Franklin County today to announce the creation of a Director of Rural Affairs to ensure that Massachusetts' rural communities are better represented in state government.

Housed in the Executive Office of Economic Development, the Director of Rural Affairs will serve as a dedicated advocate and ombudsman for rural communities. They will be responsible for cultivating rural economic development and coordinating with secretariats and state agencies to ensure that state government is attuned to the unique needs of rural communities.

"Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and I want to lead an administration for all of Massachusetts, including our rural communities that contribute so much to our state. For the first time in state history, we will have a dedicated staff member committed to coordinating across state government to support economic development in rural communities," said Governor Healey. "We want to send a clear message to every single person who calls rural Massachusetts home  we see you, we value you, and we're going to work every day to ensure you have the representation and support you deserve."

The Director of Rural Affairs will be tasked with conducting a review of all state grant opportunities to ensure that barriers for rural and small towns are mitigated. They will also be instructed to host dedicated office hours for rural towns to receive technical assistance to identify and explore grant opportunities. The Healey-Driscoll Administration also commits to maintaining and updating the Community Compact Connector Calendar so that small municipalities can find all state grants in one place and better coordinate their application efforts.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration's FY24 proposal also includes a number of provisions to support rural communities, including:

$25 M for Food Security Infrastructure Grants (FSIG) to aid farmers, fisherman, schools, nonprofits, and local producers and construct infrastructure to bolster the local food system. This creates a permanent funding source for these grants for the first time.

$7.5 million for rural school aid, a $2 million (36%) increase over FY23. This program provides rural districts with additional funding for the fixed costs of running a school district and exploring strategies to improve longer-term operational efficiencies.

Increased payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land to ensure full and equitable reimbursement. PILOT reflects property tax revenue forgone by cities and towns due to state ownership of certain land. H.1 funds PILOT at $51.5 million, a $6.5 million (14%) increase over FY23. This funding level reflects the most up-to-date property valuations while ensuring all municipalities will receive the same or higher payments in FY24.

Expanding the dairy tax credit cap from $6 million to $8 million to better protect dairy farmers from fluctuations in wholesale milk prices.

Expanding base funding for RTAs by nearly $9 million. H.1 also adds $19 million for new grant opportunities for transit providers, including RTAs, to enable providers to explore new service models that better meet the needs of their communities, expand service to additional hours and days, and improve paratransit infrastructure. At least 25 Percent would go towards providers serving rural communities.

Increasing by $570,000 the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resource's MassGrown and Fresher branding campaign, agricultural fairs, farmers markets, and agricultural education initiatives.

Funding three new staff positions to support and bolster the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program, facilitating farmland acquisition and protection.

Expanding support for the Community One Stop for Growth by investing $1 million into technical assistance to help municipalities identify ways to breathe life into underutilized parcels and committing $600,000 for the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative to help further community development efforts in town centers and downtowns with planning support. These programs are included in an operating budget for the first time.

The administration's budget also proposes funding for MassDOT to continue to advance the exploration of next steps for West-East Passenger Rail. This includes $650,000 for five full time employees, including the position of a West-East Rail Director. These individuals will collaborate on advancing a strategy to fund and implement service and infrastructure components needed for West-East Rail. The budget also recommends $12.5 million for components of a future West-East Rail, including track improvements at the Pittsfield Station and the study and design of Palmer Station.

"I'm grateful to Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll for their foresight in creating a position within our office dedicated to the unique challenges rural communities face," said Secretary Yvonne Hao of the Office of Housing and Economic Development. "Our economy needs to work for everyone, including the 181 rural communities and small towns across our state. Through this role, rural and small towns will have an advocate in state government committed to helping their economies thrive."
Veteran Spotlight: Airman 1st Class Tim Flynn

FALMOUTH, Mass.  Tim Flynn served his country in the Air Force as an airman first class from 1963 to 1967 and is a Vietnam veteran.

Born in Newport, Ky., he enlisted at the age of 17 with his dad co-signing for him.

"Had a couple friends that were going in so I decided I wanted to as well," he remembered. His basic training took him to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. "It was hot as hell as it was in the summer and they gave us salt pills  guys were dropping like flies from heat exhaustion.

"I wanted to be a pilot, but they gave me a test and found out I was color blind. That killed any desire I had."

Airman Flynn was then offered the job of Air Police or working in a supply depot. He chose Air Police and did an eight-week training course at Lackland. His first assignment was to Otis AFB on Cape Cod. While on base, he became interested in being a sentry dog officer. He volunteered for Sentry Dog School and was sent back to Lackland AFB for another eight weeks of training. At the time, the only Sentry Dog Schools were located at Lackland and in Germany and Japan.

He talked about the training that goes into being a sentry dog officer.

"You learn obedience training with your dog, how to keep your dog under control, keep him or her away from other dogs. Other handlers would come by their cage and yell at them to get a reaction. It all comes down to you and your dog's relationship," he said. "When you have a new dog, you sit outside his cage and talk to him, let him get used to you. After a few days you give him light commands and, if he lets you, stroke him/her. Then you tell the kennel master you want to go in and put a collar on the dog and you take them out."

The toughest part, he recalled, "is getting them to go back into their cage."

Flynn came out of Otis AFB in September/October of 1965 with his new dog, Rommel, for weeks of training that included Rommel getting used to machine gunfire and explosions. He then left for Vietnam out of Kelly AFB on a C-130 cargo plane with a group of about 50 handlers and their dogs. They flew to Hamilton AFB in California, then to Hickham in Hawaii. They left

Hawaii but had to stop on Wake Island in the Pacific because of plane trouble.

While they waited for the plane to be fixed, they took the dogs for a walk on the beach.

"Wake Island is in the middle of nowhere," he said. "We had the dogs out of the beach to let them run. I remember seeing the Japanese pill boxes on the beach from World War II."

Then it was off to Saigon.

In Vietnam, one of his duties was to patrol the outer perimeter of airstrips and airports where there were highly explosive materials of gas and oil. Was he ever afraid?

"I was afraid every [expletive] night," Flynn said. "When your dog alerts, he's not playing games  something's out there, human or animal. That's when it gets tricky. We would call in an alert and the Jeeps with guns mounted on them would arrive."

He shared a story about the fog rolling in one night "so thick I could barely see Rommel at the end of his 6-foot leash."

"The report came in that there was a tiger on the prowl! I'm thinking, 'Jesus Christ!' I was patrolling a bomb dump. Thankfully, we never ran into the tiger," he said, adding, "sundown still affects me to this day. I still get very anxious."

When asked him what it was like to leave Rommel behind, he said, "it was tough. You never want to leave your dog. We went through a lot together and I didn't want to leave him. It was tough to do, you say goodbye and leave them."

Flynn said he did some research and found out he had another dog handler who worked with him for about a year and then lost track after that. "I don't know what happened to him," he said.

Thoughts on serving his country? "Had a bit of satisfaction that I served my country, glad I served," he said. "I saw a lot of corruption ... anyone that served in Vietnam, I support 100 percent."

He is the proud father of two girls, Shannon and Tieraney.

Airman 1 st Class Tim Flynn, thank you for your service to our great country and welcome home.
Ballykissangel

Colin Farrell has frequently spoken about how getting the part on the Wicklow-shot drama Ballykissangel was one of the best experiences for his early career. The show  in which he starred for one year in the late 1990s  gave him regular work and allowed him to hone his acting skills on camera. The actor played the colourful Danny Byrne and got to work with his trusty horse Razor. It also gave him the opportunity to work with established Irish stars like Victoria Smurfit and the late Tony Doyle.

Tigerland (2000, Joel Schumacher)

Colin Farrell in Tigerland

The young Farrell was already landing roles in local projects like romantic drama Falling For a Dancer and BBC series Ballykissangel when an agent put him on the radar of Schumacher. The top filmmaker was looking for cast for Tigerland, his indie movie about a group of soldiers training at a US camp before heading to Vietnam. A delayed Farrell made a frantic last-minute dash across London to read for the director, who was so impressed he cast him in the lead role. Farrells early star quality is evident as Bozz, a mischievous yet kind-hearted maverick who refuses to bow to army will. Im here because Joel Schumacher has balls big enough to give an Irish kid a chance to play a Texan in the lead role, he would later tell this writer. I did so well out of Tigerland and Ive got the other parts because of that.

Minority Report (2002, Steven Spielberg)

Colin Farrell in Minority Report

One of those who saw Tigerland was legendary filmmaker Spielberg, who promptly cast Farrell in his sci-fi thriller, Minority Report, adapted from Philip K Dicks acclaimed novella. The tale set in a future where killers are arrested before they commit their crimes saw the Dubliner go toe to toe with Tom Cruise, then the biggest movie star in the world. The high-concept movie was both a critical and commercial smash, and Farrell was singled out for his scene-stealing work in a supporting role. But the actor played down growing buzz in an interview in his hometown, joking: I havent yet had a big film released in America. Maybe when I do, theyll tell me to f*** off back home! No chance of that happening  the actor was rapidly becoming one of Hollywoods most in-demand young stars.

Phone Booth (2002, Joel Schumacher)

Colin Farrell in Film Phone Booth

Farrell re-teamed with the filmmaker who gave him his first international break for this lean thriller, shot in just 12 days and with the actor in every scene. He plays a devious media consultant who randomly answers a public phone booth, only to be told hes being watched by a sniper who will shoot him if he hangs up. Cue a moral reawakening for the character, which gives Farrell the opportunity to show his range in a real-time thriller.

The New World (2005, Terrence Malick)

The New World starring Colin Farrell

By now, the Irishman was choosing to work with some of the filmmakers he most respected, and was cast in this visually striking tale from Malick (Badlands, The Thin Red Line). It also gave him the opportunity to work with the great Christopher Plummer, an actor he greatly admired. Based on the story of Pocahontas, he plays Captain John Smith, an explorer captured by Native Americans. The soulful performance in a deliberately slow-paced drama showed he was as comfortable in arthouse films as commercial ones.

In Bruges (2008, Martin McDonagh)

Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell star in Martin McDonagh's In Bruges

Writer-director McDonagh had the foresight to cast Farrell opposite Brendan Gleeson for his offbeat crime thriller, giving us one of the most-beloved Irish actor pairings. Set in the Belgian city, it centred on two bungling hitmen lying low and a lot more besides. Farrell won a Golden Globe for his performance as guilt-stricken Ray in the movie, a commercial and critical hit. Interviewing Farrell and Gleeson together in advance of the films Irish premiere, it was clear their dynamic in person was as fresh and funny as on screen. He was the one who brought the two of us together and brought life to the whole thing, said Farrell of McDonaghs casting. It seemed perfectly natural to be in that bogey marriage that the two characters have.

Ondine (2009, Neil Jordan)

Alicja Bachleda and Colin Farrell star in Ondine, which was filmed in Castletownbere, West Cork

Neil Jordans modern-day fairytale about a struggling fisherman who finds a mysterious woman trapped in his nets was shot on the Beara Peninsula, where the young Farrell had made Falling for a Dancer years earlier. It gave him the opportunity to work with Jordan and return to a place he loves. Hes often cited it as one of the most precious experiences of his career, leading to the birth of his son Henry who he parents with co-star Alicja Bachleda. The South West of Ireland, particularly the Beara Peninsula, has quite a significant bearing on my life. I did Falling For a Dancer there when I was only 20. I did Ondine and thereby had my youngest son.

Crazy Heart (2009, Scott Cooper)

Colin Farrell in Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges

Some of Farrells best work has included strong supporting roles, and he is great opposite the legendary Jeff Bridges in this tender story of a man seeking redemption. Farrell also shows his ability to hold a tune as Tommy Sweet, a successful country star who lends his support to Bridges Bad Blake. The once-great Blake has worn down too many miles on the clock with touring days and boozy nights, and has lost his way. Farrell is the next-generation star who believes he stands on the shoulders of his predecessor, and encourages him to sing again in Scott Coopers simple and affecting film.

The Lobster (2015, Yorgos Lantimos)

Colin Farrell in The Lobster

Farrell shines in this surreal and absurdist comedy-drama which was largely filmed in the Kerry resort of Parknasilla. Its set in a dystopia where single people must find a mate within 45 days or agree to be turned into an animal of their choice. Its so crazy it works, and the first of two films Farrell makes with Greek director Lanthimos with Irish producers Element Pictures, followed by The Killing of a Sacred Deer. The actor was delighted at the opportunity to return to Ireland to work. Kerry has the lead role  the rest of us are just supporting players, he said of the chance to work at home. It was a lovely coincidence that it got made here. Parknasilla and Sneem were perfect, just odd enough, out of the way enough, rustic and old yet contemporary enough.

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022, Martin McDonagh)

Colin Farrell and Jenny the donkey in The Banshees of Inisherin

McDonagh got his In Bruges bandmates back together and the pithy black comedy that followed  laced with melancholy  has become one of the leading awards-season contenders. It has already won Farrell numerous awards and is up for nine Oscars in a hugely successful year for Irish nominees. Its worth noting that his role as Padraic, devastated after being spurned by his friend (Gleeson), is just one of four great 2022 performances. In addition to his scene-stealing supporting role in The Batman, he shone in the moving sci-fi indie After Yang, and as a real-life rescuer in Ron Howards powerful Thai cave rescue drama, Thirteen Lives.
Psychotherapist and football pundit Richie Sadlier spoke on the Tommy Tiernan Show on Saturday night about his and his wife Fionas fertility struggles and his life as a dad to baby Sam.

Last month Sadlier became a father after a long fertility battle. He and his wife were told they could not conceive and underwent IVF treatments over four years before discovering they were expecting naturally last year.

Sadlier told Tiernan he underestimated the heartbreak of IVF when it did not work but said after seeing his son being born, their struggles to conceive faded from his mind.

None of that matters now. It just doesn't matter, he said.

After Tiernan quizzed him a good bit on the intimate mechanics of IVF  particularly what it feels like for a man to deposit sperm in a clinical setting  Sadlier said it was nothing compared to what Fiona went through.

It's a bizarre scenario, but in comparison to what Fiona had to go through, you kind of go this is small fry.

Tiernan noted that Sadlier seemed comfortable in sharing vulnerabilities and the former Republic of Ireland player said it came after going for therapy and later training to become a psychotherapist.

I would get into the stuff in therapy for years and would feel lighter, would feel less troubled and started to learn how to be a therapist, he said.

You just see the benefits of talking in a particular setting with someone who's trained to give you a dig out. I just opened up and it became a bit easier being me.

Sadlier said the most vulnerable he ever allowed himself to be in public was when he published his memoir Recovering in 2019 and shared that he was sexually abused as a child.

In the book I talked about having been sexually abused when I was a kid and it was the most vulnerable, the most exposed I think I've ever felt.

Tatyana Bryk on the Tommy Tiernan Show

Tiernan also heard from Ukrainian model Tatyana Bryk who moved to Ireland after war broke out in her home country.

Bryk said she moved to Ireland at her parents urging and she works to send money to them as they remain in Ukraine.

She said it was surreal waking up to the sound of bombs on February 24, 2022.

I ran to my mom and said Mom, what is going on? And she said war just started. Can it happen in the 21st century? We heard that something may start but we all were thinking, oh my gosh, it's something crazy  21st century, which war are you talking about?

Bryk said she feels guilty being in Ireland and checked every morning to see when her mother was last active online.

It's hard to start a new life somewhere outside knowing that your parents are not safe.

Jimeoin on the Tommy Tiernan Show

Finally, stand-up comedian Jimeoin spoke about living in Australia for 34 years and his relationship with his parents, who went on tour with him for a while.

My mum and dad used to tour with me, it was kind of funny. We would drive around in the car, staying in a hotel. They got sick of the show, theyd sit in the green room. But the drives after a gig were really interesting and just hanging over them.

He said his mother died soon after going on tour with him and his father later died of pneumonia.

After my mother and father came on tour with me, my mother passed away quite quickly, thank God  one of those exits where you look back and think its kind of good.

And then my father had pneumonia or something and he wasn't handling being in the house on his own so I took him on a plane back to Australia and he lived with me for the next two years before he passed away, and then we repatriated him in Ireland.
On March 12, 2020, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar uttered those now infamous words to the nation: 'I need to speak to you about coronavirus'.

The country then went into full lockdown mode, with schools, colleges, cultural institutions closed, people asked to work remotely, and sporting and social gatherings cancelled.

Since then, more than 8,700 people lost their lives because of the virus, older people and the most vulnerable endured lengthy periods of social isolation, and frontline workers were pushed to breaking point.

Dr Mary Favier: Its about a disproportionate impact the Covid pandemic had on disadvantaged communities, its been a much slower recovery in disadvantaged communities. Picture: Larry Cummins

Last week, Leo Varadkar announced that an inquiry into the States handling of the covid pandemic will be up and running by June, saying it is important that we find out what we got right and what we got wrong. The Irish Examiner asked some of those affected by the pandemic what they hope this inquiry will achieve.

GPs

Many people in disadvantaged communities are still coming through the pandemics effects, said Dr Mary Favier who worked in a Cork city GP practice throughout and was also a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team.

Its about a disproportionate impact the Covid pandemic had on disadvantaged communities, its been a much slower recovery in disadvantaged communities, she said.

So many of those patients stayed away, and really were trying to do the right thing and be helpful, and not go to the doctor. She added: We are seeing an increasing number of late diagnoses of cancer, we are seeing poorly-managed conditions, we are seeing patients where we continue to have to cajole them back in.

Some older people are still reluctant to engage socially.

Dr Mary Favier: We are seeing more frailty, more loss of muscle strength and we are really needing to cajole them to go out and take exercise, to go shopping, to even go back to going to Mass. Picture: Larry Cummins

We are seeing more frailty, more loss of muscle strength and we are really needing to cajole them to go out and take exercise, to go shopping, to even go back to going to Mass, she said.

Fellow NPHET member Professor Martin Cormican has called for a review rather than an inquiry and Dr Faviers thoughts are similar. I think there should be a review, an evaluation, an audit, not an inquiry, of the country's response to Covid-19, she said.

There are always things which can be done differently or better. Although sometimes you conclude actually we couldnt have done it much differently or better; it was what it was and the mistakes or the bad outcomes would still have happened.

However, she feels it is critical we learn and not just move on.

The powers that be need to accept that it is best practice to do an after-event review and thus drive it, in terms of how they describe it and frame it and not be afraid of the process or the results, she urged.

We will learn most if we trust that the vast majority did the best they could in challenging circumstances, including the politicians. I think it is easy to forget how stressful it was.

Nursing homes

Among the 8,708 deaths in Ireland up to last week some 31% or almost one in three are linked to nursing homes. While some care homes saw low case numbers, others were overwhelmed.

In early 2020, this reporter spoke to a Limerick nursing home owner who was making hand sanitiser, while a Tipperary manager fundraised for PPE from Taiwan.

Nursing Homes Ireland CEO, Tadhg Daly, said the Government's priority should be implementing recommendations by the Nursing Homes Expert Panel (2021) much faster than is currently happening.

Among the 8,708 deaths in Ireland up to last week some 31% or almost one in three are linked to nursing homes. File photo: RollingNews.ie

All nursing homes should be more closely integrated with HSE services, he said, pointing out older people's care is divided between hospitals, community, public, private and voluntary.

What residents want is that they can they get timely access and is it of a high standard - irrespective of who owns the building. That would be the key learning for me, he said.

We did a lot well as a country, but there were other elements that absolutely could have been done better. My view is we need to look at Covid in the round, an inquiry has to look at it in its totality.

Advocacy group Care Champions support residents in the face of devastating isolation, and Majella Beatty said any inquiry must be human-rights based.

It needs to have the residents and the families at the centre of it, they have to have a voice, she said, adding staff must also be heard.

She said: There needs to be some level of accountability. I know everyone is saying we cant have an inquiry that apportions blame, but people have to be accountable.

Advocacy group Care Champions would like to know why there was so much resistance to a nominated care partner system to allow for visiting at nursing homes. File photo: Julien Behal

She would like to know why there was so much resistance to a nominated care partner system to allow for visiting, and why some homes had such tragic outcomes.

The inquiry needs to lead to reform, she said.

Young People

Isolation also badly affected young people, says Union of Students in Ireland president Beth O Reilly.

It is clear to us that students are struggling, they said. Coming back after covid, we are seeing there is a need for specialised services, for on-campus psychiatrists and a need for mental health nurses. We have seen there is more demand for those supports.

Uncertainty around the Leaving Cert and college exam dates, on top of years of isolated online-only learning is making the transition to in-person education stressful, they said.

Union of Students in Ireland, president Beth O Reilly, said: It is clear to us that students are struggling. File photo: Domnick Walsh

We need to recognise that these knock-on effects of covid on secondary school students are going to be felt in our college experience for a considerable amount of time, they said.

USI would like to be part of any inquiry.

We watched those press conferences (Nphet) every day and every cohort was being discussed except university students. There was a very long time where it just felt we were a pretty forgotten cohort, they said.

Among their own unusual memories is being driven to a covid-19 test by soldiers from Collins Barracks in Cork when the Defence Forces assisted the HSE.

Schools for disabled children also closed with the long-term effects not yet understood, another issue Prof. Cormican wants discussed.

Farmers

For farmers the Teagasc National Farm Survey in 2021 found only 52% of sheep farmers had contact with an outside person every day - down from 73% pre-pandemic - and 50% of dairy and cattle farmers.

Dr Emma Dillon said: Weve seen stress levels increase for farmers, some of that is linked to labour and the lack of labour so the hours worked by farmers has gone up.

One unusual memory for a contributor is being driven to a covid-19 test by soldiers when the Defence Forces assisted the HSE. File photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

However, she said it is hard to generalise about isolation with some farmers seeing adult children returning while others farmed alone.

I dont know if farmers as a group would be included in an inquiry. They were an essential service and had to continue producing food, the milk had to go do the creamery, she said. Im not sure things could have been done hugely different.

The Experts

At University College Cork, Professor of Chemistry John Wenger watched with frustration the global debate around how covid-19 is transmitted.

What weve learned is that the World Health Organisation and other health agencies, the ECDC in Europe, had it wrong when they said covid was not an airborne virus, the chair of the governments Expert Group on Ventilation said.

What (nursing home) residents want is that they can they get timely access and is it of a high standard - irrespective of who owns the building. File photo: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

This meant we were using the wrong measures to protect ourselves against the virus initially. The WHO recognised it as airborne in 2021 which, while frustrating for many, was significantly faster than general acceptance of TB as airborne last century.

Prof. Wenger argues measures like masks or ventilation could have been more central early on, saying: If that had been the case, many lives would have been saved.

He is hopeful an inquiry can look at all of this, and changed attitudes towards clean air will follow.

The whole point for me is that cleaning the air, filtering the air, has a wide range of health benefits, he said.

Before the next pandemic, we need a clean air revolution  providing clean air to all indoor places will help us combat airborne pathogens like covid, as well as the usual respiratory infections.

Long covid sufferers

An inquiry is also welcomed by long covid patients. However, some feel it is too soon, said lead representative in Ireland for Long Covid Kids Charity and co-founder of Long Covid Advocacy Ireland, Sarah O Connell.

From the beginning, we felt there was a delay in recognising long covid, and it seemed to be that the Government and the HSE were not reacting as quickly as might have been needed based on the data coming through internationally, she said.

We need to recognise that these knock-on effects of covid on secondary school students are going to be felt in our college experience for a considerable amount of time. File photo: Domnick Walsh

She is hopeful patients voices will be heard in any inquiry process.

There was a running narrative for quite some time, that children cant transmit covid, that covid was not a risk for children. By not mentioning long covid in children there was this continuing messaging that Covid was no big thing for children, she said.
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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.
Lee Jae Wook is reaping the fruits of his labor as the 'Alchemy of Souls" star had his first-ever fan meeting in the Philippines.

The South Korean heartthrob, who is best known for his character, Jang Uk in the hit romance fantasy K-drama is welcomed by the media where he gets to talk about his plans, upcoming projects, and thoughts about his global popularity.

Dubbed as "First" Lee Jae Wook expressed how overwhelmed he is by the support of the Filipinos.

As obtained by a media outlet, he sees Filipino supporters as "passionate, but at the same time well-mannered" hence he is looking forward to seeing his amazing fans.

Lee Jae Wook Reveals Which Character Challenged Him The Most

During the press conference, ahead of Lee Jae Wook's fan meet, the actor was asked about his previous projects.

Interestingly, he spoke about his 2019 K-drama "Extraordinary You" where he took the lead role of Bae Kyung, an arrogant student who has problematic parents.

In the drama, Lee Jae Wook's character is a member of the popular group A3 and posed as the most handsome and powerful among the trio.

He said that it was the role that challenged him "physically and mentally."

Lee Jae Wook Fanboys Over New Jeans

In a video, Lee Jae Wook shared his thoughts about the music industry in Korea and revealed his current go-to group.

"In South Korea, these people are really booming," he said, before adding NewJeans songs is what he often listens to these days.

Moreover, he also expressed his support to "Alchemy of Souls" co-star Hwang Min Hyuk who released his song "Again" in 2022.

Interestingly, Lee Jae Wook also listens to the top girl group BLACKPINK.

Lee Jae Wook Talks About His Dream Role

In a separate outlet, Lee Jae Wook spoke about his plans and dream roles that he wanted to portray in the future.

For him, he is looking forward to playing "really strong complex characters" and says that he finds himself "having that kind of tendency right now."

The South Korean heartthrob gained massive popularity not just locally but internationally through "Alchemy of Souls."

He expressed how grateful he is to be part of the romance fantasy series and thank everyone for the support.

"It's something that I'm grateful for. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the results that this drama has brought about," he said, as noted by a media outlet.

Moreover, he also mentioned that he didn't expect it to be that big since the "fantasy genre is not the most common genre that is found in the K-drama scene right now."

In the series, Lee Jae Wook stars along with Goo Yoon Jung, Hwang Min Hyuk, Shin Seung Ho, and Jung So Min in season 1.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Lee Jae Wook Wants To Do THIS Before He Enlists For Military





KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Promising actor Yoo Seon Ho is set to reunite with Bae In Hyuk in the upcoming series "The Story of Park's Marriage."

Want to know more about their reunion project? Then read on!

'Under the Queen's Umbrella' Stars Yoo Seon Ho & Bae In Hyuk To Reunite

After his refreshing and steady acting in his previous series "Under the Queen's Umbrella," rookie actor Yoo Seon Ho is making a comeback to the small screen as the third-generation chaebol.

In a news cited by Star News on March 11, Yoo Seon Ho was cast to be part of the upcoming MBC's new series "The Story of Park's Marriage," also known as "Park's Contract Marriage Story," which is scheduled for release in the second half of 2023.

"The Story of Park's Marriage" is a webtoon-based drama of the same name and follows the marriage contract between bachelor Kang Tae Ha and the fierce Miss Park.

In the 19th century of Joseon, Park Yeon Woo loses her husband on the first night of their marriage and finds herself in the 21st century, where she ends up agreeing to a marriage contract with Kang Tae Ha.

Yoo Seon Ho takes the role of Kang Tae Min, the half-brother of Kang Tae Ha (Bae In Hyuk), a celebrity who has more than 10 million followers on social media and is known as the third-generation chaebol of Hanryang conglomerate.

Seon Ho was loved by viewers for playing the role of Grand Prince Gyeseong in the hit historical-comedy drama "Under the Queen's Umbrella." He will completely transform into a different character that the audience is yet to see.

This upcoming series also marked Yoo Seon Ho and Bae In Hyuk's reunion project following their appearances in "Under the Queen's Umbrella" in 2022.

Yoo Seon Ho Prepares For Silver Screen Debut

Apart from his small screen work, Yoo Seon Ho is preparing for his big screen debut through the action movie "Well Done." He will team up with "Alchemy of Souls" actor Yoo In Soo for the first time.

It is a school-action film that features the story of an average boy who rises above after he gets his hands on the power of money. He has no dreams, but he wants his life to change the moment he receives power and uses it for whatever he wants.

Idol-actress Kang Mina is also confirmed to join the cast. "The Boxer" director Hwang Dong Seok, is expected to helm "Well Done!."

What can you say about Bae In Hyuk and Yoo Seon Ho's forthcoming second collaboration? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
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HLANE  His Majesty King Mswati III has blessed the new arena at Hlane as a stadium to be developed for the Buganu Ceremony.

This years Buganu ceremony was held at a site which was freshly cleared, about a kilometre east, past the royal residence. The tent area was maintained at the usual place opposite the residence. Though the regiment had to walk for a longer distance from where their lodging tents were, they entered the arena in high spirits and danced through the sunny day.

improve

The King thanked the regiment for their patience over the years and highlighted that it was important for the logistics team to put in place a plan to improve from the experience. He said the land would be developed and made conducive for dancing and celebrating. His Majesty signified the increase in numbers as the reason for a bigger place to be made available for the ceremony. He introduced the new arena as a stadium created to accommodate the growing numbers of the regiment. We were surprised by the numbers and I am even aware that those doing logistics have been having a tough time. We saw the long queues and we hope that with the new arena you will be comfortable in future. We appreciate the numbers and the respect of the regiment. We hope that when the regiment return the land will be level and there will be no thorns so you can dance and enjoy even more, said the King. A budget of E20 million has been set aside for the development of the new arena. His Majesty also thanked the women for composing new songs encouraging one another to participate in the upcoming 2023 National Elections.

holistically

His Majesty said the ceremony was not for imbibing alcohol beverages but to celebrate and enjoy holistically. His Majesty King Mswati III applauded the increasing numbers of the regiment and the growth reflected in the songs composed by the women. He said Buganu Ceremony was now a tourist attraction and a unifying factor for the African continent and the entire world. He thanked the regiment for ensuring that they do not only ferment the fruit, but create other important supplies.
A glazier is lowered to safety as a colleague and a rescuer look on after the workers' suspended platform became stuck on a downtown Vancouver highrise on Thursday, March 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ian Young
Pleasant Prairie police stopped a Illinois driver after a pursuit that ended outside a grocery store parking lot with his arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated early Sunday.

According to Sgt. Mike Algiers, officers attempted to stop the driver at 12:18 a.m. at the intersection of 85th Street and Green Bay Road when he continued driving northbound for about a mile before eventually pulling over into the lot at the Meijer Express Gas Station, 7701 Green Bay Road, in Kenosha.

We attempted to stop him while he was in our jurisdiction. It took us just over the jurisdictional line to Kenosha where he eventually stopped there and was taken into custody there, he said, adding that Kenosha Police assisted with the call.

Police are recommending charges of operating while intoxicated and fleeing and eluding authorities, Algiers said.

IN PHOTOS: EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc.'s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Taking time to reflect 09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP 09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP 09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP 09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP 09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP 09102021-KN-EMCO-Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP 09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP 09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP 09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP
WGTD (91.1 FM) is owned and operated as a public service of Gateway Technical College and is an affiliate of Wisconsin Public Radio.

For an updated schedule, go online to wgtd.org. WGTD 91.1-FMs Morning Show airs 8:10 to 9 a.m. weekdays.

Guests this week include:

Monday, March 13: Russell Johnson, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, previews Jazz Week at UW-Parkside ... and also talks about his own career as a jazz trumpeter.

Tuesday, March 14: Kate Colbert, author of Commencement: The Beginning of a New Era in Higher Education.

The book is based on interviews done with 125 college and university presidents across the country. Colbert is a Carthage alum and sits on the the Presidents Leadership Council.

Wednesday, March 15: Dennis Baron, author of You Cant Always Say What You Want, a book which examines the nature and limitations of Free Speech.

This interview first aired in late 2022, well ahead of the books publication.

Thursday, March 16: For Womens History Month: (from 2010) Adrian Goldsworthy, author of Antony and Cleopatra.

Friday, March 17: For St. Patricks Day: (from 2003) Thomas Maier, author of The Kennedys: Americas Emerald Kings- A Five-Generation history of the Ultimate Irish-Catholic Family.
Letters from the Front  an exciting new musical drama  will have its premier in the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny on Wednesday, March 22.

Written and directed by Kilkenny man Don OConnor and Carlows Ollie Hennessy, this original musical drama tells the story of three families caught up in the turmoil of World War I.

A story of love, hope, despair and loss, it follows the tale of a young Irish couple Willie and Eileen from rural County Kilkenny who are forced to separate when Willie enlists to fight on the Western Front.

As Ireland is preparing to fight for independence from Britain, Willie makes the unpopular decision to fight on the side of the King against the Kaisers troops in France.

A young German boy Heinrich, falsifies his true age in order to fight under the German flag, abandoning his widowed mother while an embittered British officer prepares to lead his troops against the enemy in the trenches of Northern France.

The poignant drama pulls no punches in depicting the horrors encountered by both German and British troops in the mud soaked trenches during the Great War and examines the effect of the war on those left at home as their husbands, fathers and sons marched into battle.

INSPIRED

Inspired by real letters written by soldiers and family members from 1914-1918, the drama has its origins during the Kilkenny Yulefest festival2018 when a production entitled A Silent Night was presented in James Stephens Military Barracks. It featured local actors and members of the Defence Forces with assistance from Kilkenny County Council and Creative Ireland.

Encouraged by the overwhelming reaction of the general public, Don and Ollie spent more than two years developing the story further into a full length drama featuring seven original musical compositions.

Letters from the Front features a cast of some of Kilkennys top performers, among them Brendan Corcoran, Ciaran Dunphy , Mary Buggy, Clare Gibbs, Fergal Millar,Shane OKeeffe, Mike Kelly ,Rachel Leydon and Declan Taylor.

The original story with original music runs at the Watergate Theatre nightly at 8pm from March 22-25 and promises to be an event not to be missed.

TICKETS

Tickets are available via the theatre e webpage at www.watergatetheatre.com or at 056-7761674.
Hollywood heavyweights have begun to descend on the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles ahead of the 95th Academy Awards.

The biggest event in the showbusiness calendar sees Irish talent well represented this year, but up against stiff competition.

Nominees Brendan Fraser and Jamie Lee Curtis were among those arriving early to be greeted on the carpet which, in a departure from previous years, is the colour of champagne.

Cast members from last years best picture winner Coda  Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur  were reunited on the carpet, and were joined by veteran actor James Hong.

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai was also pictured arriving for the event, dressed in a shimmering silver gown.

The Banshees Of Inisherin has become the most Oscar-nominated Irish film ever, clocking up nine nominations ahead of Sundays show.

The films four main stars  Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan  have all received nods for acting awards.

But it faces strong challenges in all major categories  including the coveted best picture  by awards season juggernaut Everything Everywhere All At Once, which leads the field with 11 nominations.

The sci-fi epic, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, recently swept top prizes at the Film Independent Spirit Awards and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards, marking it out as a clear frontrunner at the Oscars.

Its stars Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan are both hotly tipped for their respective categories of best actress and best supporting actor, respectively.

Yeoh takes on Cate Blanchett for best actress, as well as Michelle Williams, Ana de Armas and Andrea Riseborough.

Quan, who has scooped the best supporting actor at most other major awards shows this year, goes head to head with Gleeson and Keoghan.

Farrell is joined in the category for best actor by Elvis Austin Butler and The Whale star Brendan Fraser for best leading actor, as well as veteran British actor Bill Nighy for Living, and Irish actor Paul Mescal for coming-of-age drama Aftersun.

In the best picture category, All Quiet On The Western Front is up alongside The Fabelmans, Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Banshees Of Inisherin.

Other contenders include blockbuster sequels Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way Of Water, as well as Tar, Elvis, Women Talking, and Triangle Of Sadness.

US comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host the 95th annual ceremony, which is due to begin on Sunday at midnight UK time .

Lady Gaga is reportedly set to join fellow pop titan Rihanna in the performing line-up, after organisers previously said she would be unable to do so due to scheduling clashes.

Presenters include British stars Hugh Grant and Florence Pugh, though Hollywood veteran Glenn Close will reportedly not attending after testing positive for Covid 19.
MBABANE  Despite a great outlook on the 2023/24 budget estimates by the Minister of Finance, government still has to raise a billion Emalangeni in order to pay outstanding invoices.

The minister, Neal Rijkenberg, confirmed that since August 2022, government has struggled to pay suppliers on time, something they were able to do consistently for more than two years before then. Rijkenberg said though the situation looked good, there was still one hurdle that the government needed to overcome which would ensure that all outstanding invoices were paid by the second week of April 2023. He said government was planning to raise over a billion Emalangeni on the South African Stock Exchange to fund the budget that was approved and was being spent.

paying the suppliers

The minister said the prospect of paying the suppliers by the end of the month or the beginning of April looked achievable. Due to the delay in getting the approval from Parliament and the delay in the actual listing, we will now only be getting this money at the end of this month or early next month. Even though we managed to pay suppliers on time for more than two years, from around August 2022 we started having challenges in paying on time, he said. Rijkenberg admitted that the delays in sourcing the funds caused the accumulation of arrears to suppliers to grow over the last few months. However, he revealed that government continued to reduce the burden by paying some of the suppliers on a weekly basis. He stated that in the past week alone, they had managed to disburse payments of over E300 million to suppliers and significantly reduced the burden. The minister said they would continue to pay the suppliers on a weekly basis as tax comes in.

Currently there are still suppliers that have not been paid on time, but we are sure to have them all settled by the second week of April. The arrears to suppliers are not more than 90 days old. If there are suppliers that claim to not have been paid for six months, then their invoices are probably still with the ministries and not with Treasury, he added. In a speech defined as youth-focused, the minister presented a E26 billion self-funded budget in parliament last month.

extremely difficult

Minister Rijkenberg said the year 2022/23 has been extremely difficult for all of us. We feel the pain that every liswati is going through, especially our suppliers who have been relentlessly supplying their goods and providing services in spite of the irregular payments. Government, together with Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS), is aiming at holding taxes constant and on balance, while enhancing efficiencies in tax collection and focusing on broadening the tax base. I am pleased to announce that for a third year in a row, income tax rates will not increase.

The minister announced during the budget speech that the real achievement was the fact that the budget set the country on a sustainable economic path. Despite these achievements, many emaSwati may not yet be seeing or experiencing these benefits in their daily lives and may not be receiving the social and economic dividends. This budget begins to address this, by ensuring that all emaSwati receive better service delivery. This administration inherited an unsustainable economy, fraught with budget deficits, declining revenues and huge financing gaps, ballooning arrears and deteriorating cash flows.

statutory obligations

Over the years, we have been lamenting over governments failure to meet its statutory obligations, such as paying suppliers on time and remitting all other transfers, especially to schools. Times have indeed been very difficult, but we have overcome. The budget I will be tabling today aims to bring a more positive and promising year ahead of us and a good base for the years to come, he said. Interviewed on conditions of anonymity, some of the service providers and suppliers of government said they were no longer able to pay their staff.

One of the suppliers said there was an outstanding invoice with government that had not been paid. The supplier said he was forced to take loans from shylocks to sustain the contract he has with government. The situation is very difficult and we have been debating on closing down, but again our biggest issue has been our staff. We employed about 23 people and their only way of earning a living is through what we do here, so thats the most difficult part of being owed by government. The banks no longer give us overdrafts and we only get assistance from shylocks.

sustain a business

We all know that you cannot sustain a business on loans. Most of our assets are now held in bonds and against the loans we take, such that there is no sustainability whatsoever in the business anymore, said the supplier. Speaking to the Times of Eswatini before the budget speech, Economist Thembinkosi Dube said it was important for government to find a way to pay suppliers. Dube said the suppliers were part of a machinery driving the economy of the country as they employ people directly. He said when one supplier suffers, the staff suffers and in turn the whole family suffers. I know that this is an unpopular kind of thought, but let me make an example, lets say the government has not paid supplier X who employs 30 people to cook on a shift basis, it means supplier X will now have to cut the shifts of the workers so that he can be able to pay lesser salaries at the end of the month. More so, supplier X may decide to understate or under-declare his return so that Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) cannot take more and this then has a direct impact on how the country makes its money, said Dube.

prioritise suppliers

Another economist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, concurred that government should prioritise suppliers to enhance social stability. She said suppliers hire the general public and therefore it was important for them to be financially reliable to minimise agitation. There are so many examples I can make to drive the point that government needs to prioritise suppliers. This has an effect on the education system and many other important sectors. If a supplier who cooks for patients at a government hospital or the police service has not been paid, the service delivery will be poor and government will be left to deal with angry patients and an agitated police service, said the economist. She further applauded the minister of Finance for spearheading a turnaround, but warned that stability of the financial status of the country should be based on real figures. Quizzed on what lasting solution the government could employ to vindicate the situation since the financial stability was unpredictable, the economist said an agreement with ERS would save the situation.

tax window

She said government should consider creating a tax window for service providers supplying essential supplies. She said the tax window would allow ERS to collect the tax from the government debt as compared to the supplier declaring and paying tax for unpaid invoices. She further suggested that the government could alternatively have a clause in the contract allowing the supplier to charge interest if a purchase order is not paid up after a certain number of months. She said this would give the supplier leverage and also put pressure on government to fulfil as per the contract. The situation, as it is now, leaves all the liability to the supplier and my suggestion would be for government to take a portion of the burden of loss from the supplier, she added. While other countries in the region finance their budgets through loans, the country would be receiving over E11 billion from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
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Their goal is to inspire and help Ukrainian soldiers and college students be able to make it through the turmoil that is amongst them in everyday life.
CNN meteorologists Taylor Ward and Haley Brink and CNN's Taylor Romine, Rebekah Riess, Cheri Mossburg, Jillian Sykes, Joe Sutton, Sara Smart and Dave Alsup contributed to this report.
JTBC's survival program "Peak Time" has now released it's fifth episode, which highlighted the teams' collab rivalry and the groups' current rankings.

Find out more here!

'Peak Time' Episode 5 Recap: Groups Engage on Collab Battle, Current Rankings Revealed

On "Peak Time" episode 5, the idol show's participants have joined forces for a collab performance battle.

"Peak Time" is a brand new program from JTBC, which gave opportunities to groups who were either laying low from the music scene, disbanded or currently active. As part of the show, these groups are given temporary team names based from the day's hours. "Peak Time" includes a total of 24 teams.

The show's cast include MC and actor, Lee Seung Gi, who received the honor of hosting the program. It also includes idols from popular groups, such as SNSD Tiffany, Super Junior Kyuhyun, Jay Park, HIGHLIGHT Lee Gikwang, INFINITE Kim Sungkyu, and WINNER Song Mino, who was replaced by MAMAMOO Moonbyul due to schedule conflicts.

After their cover performance battle on Episode 4, all 16 teams formed alliances of 4 teams each, which were divided to vocal, rap, and dance sections.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Peak Time Episode 4 Recap: Groups Conclude Rival Match With Cover Performances + Current Rankings Revealed

It was also explained that vocal unit is limited to six members, rap unit to five, and dance unit with no member limit.

These four alliances were made on Episode 4:

Alliance 'A'

Team 2:00 (NTX)

Team 5:00 (ATBO)

Team 9:00 (BLITZERS)

Team 18:00 (BDC)

Alliance 'B'

Teams 8:00 (DKB)

Team 20:00 (M.O.N.T.)

Team 21:00 (24K)

Team 23:00 (DGNA)

Alliance 'C'

Teams 11:00 (VANNER)

Team 13:00 (BAE173)

Team 15:00 (BLK)

Team 24:00 (soloists)

Alliance 'D'

Team 1:00 (DIGNITY)

Team 4:00 (BXB)

Team 7:00 (MASC)

Team 14:00 (GHOST9)

To start the fifth episode, the show presented the units preparing for their battle performances. Notably, two percent of all votes will be awarded to the alliance who'll win.

MC Lee Seung Gi also elaborated that one MVP for each category (vocal, rap, dance) will be selected by a special panel of 25 judges, which are a separate bunch from the show's judge lineup. It was then revealed that 5 percent of all votes will be added to each MVP's team (group).

With the declaration at hand, the battle began starting with the rap units and climaxed with "C" vocal unit's first performance.

Check out their performances below:

'C' Rap Unit - 'My Bag' by (G)I-DLE

'A' Rap Unit - 'If I Die Tomorrow' by Beenzino

'D' Rap Unit - 'Fiance' by WINNER Song Mino

'B' Rap Unit - 'Dang Dang Dang' by Supreme Team

In the end, "B" rap unit gained the victory, finishing at 790 points. They were followed by "C" rap unit at 761 points, "A" rap unit at 713 points, and "D" rap unit at 691 points.

With "C" vocal unit's first performance on the show, it will be continued in the next episode.

'C' Vocal Unit - 'Way Back Home' by BTOB

Meanwhile, episode 5 also revealed the current rankings for the global voting.

See the full list here:

1. "Team 11:00" - (VANNER)

2. "Team 23:00" - (DGNA)

3. "Team 7:00" - (MASC)

4. "Team 24:00" - (solo contestants)

5. "Team 20:00" - (M.O.N.T)

6. "Team 13:00" - (BAE173)

7. "Team 8:00" - (DKB)

8. "Team 18:00" - (BDC)

9. "Team 14:00" - (GHOST9)

10. "Team 2:00" - (NTX)

11. "Team 15:00" - (BLK)

12. "Team 21:00" - (24K)

13. Team 4:00 - (BXB)

14. Team 5:00 - (ATBO)

15. Team 1:00 - (DIGNITY)

16. Team 9:00 - (BLITZERS)

Which teams are you rooting for on the program? Do you have any favorite performances in mind? Let us know in the comments below!

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KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Israel Monte
MBABANE  Government is not happy with countries that harbour elements that plot against the Kingdom of Eswatini.

As the faces behind the formation of terrorists and military bandits such as the Solidarity Forces were unmasked, government said it would have to engage intensely to establish the sources of their support. This was said by Alpheous Nxumalo, the Government Spokesperson, in a statement. Nxumalo said government had questions on where are they being given sanctuary and who is abating their criminal military strikes in the country? This and many questions must be asked. As a country, we have key and strategic national interest to which we must commit to protect, defend and to advance. As a country, we can no longer afford to procrastinate, the government press secretary said.

He stated that the Kingdom of Eswatini still noted with deep concern about those neighbouring States that were fermenting and breeding conflicts in the country. He said it was a pity that they allowed their soil and other infrastructure to be used as conduits to launch attacks against the country and the population at large. He did not mention the name of the countries. It is understood that most of the members of the Solidarity Forces are in South Africa. Nxumalo said government continued to look at all possible options on the table. He said they looked at all the possible options, not only with a view to inform the kingdoms diplomatic and strategic friends and partners around the globe of this unprovoked threat, but also to mobilise the necessary resources to neutralise this aggression against the country.

He pointed out that the biggest threat and challenge posed by bigger States to smaller ones was, perhaps, the failure to understand that when it came to defending the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of countries, the size of population, economy or geography did not count for anything. They usually and rightfully say that it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but it is the size of the fight in the dog, he said. Nxumalo stated that it was not necessarily a matter of physical size, but rather of mental or psychological size or attitude.

Unfortunately

Every nation, State, small or big; will always pay the ultimate price in defence of the national elements which constitutes a State. Unfortunately, the equation has always remained the same here as the aggression of one State against another will lead to drastic measures of resistance through all means short of war, he said. He said if all those means tended to fail, States, big or small, would resort to ultimate argument for peace, which is war itself. He said one dies for a nation and people die for the King and they also sacrifice their lives for the kingship. If you dont believe me, take a quick glance at the history of the formative stages of this nation; then you will know better, the government press secretary said. He said it was also on this score that certain emaSwati like him were anticipating that the national security officers who died, in fact, executed by military bandits, while they were on the line of duty, were to be recognised and celebrated in a particular special way during the forthcoming 55/55 double national celebrations.

His Majesty the King will celebrate his 55th birthday this year. The nation will join him in celebrating the 55th Independence Anniversary. The country attained independence from the British in 1968. Eswatini News reported yesterday about the commander of the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces (SISF) who unveiled himself on Thursday night. The Swaziland Democratic News, a Facebook news platform, posted a video in which the commander unmasked himself. His video was finally aired live on the publications Facebook page on Friday morning. While introducing himself, he did not reveal his name. He only introduced himself as the commander. Even though people were able to see him, his face was still not clearly recognisable due to poor picture quality.

However, the Eswatini News team identified him as ex-police officer Thabo Kunene. Kunene was a lead investigator for the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and cracked high profile cases such as the Evukuzenzele E2 million robbery case during his time as an officer. He made a name for himself while serving the country in Siteki as an officer. It must be said that the identity of the commander was first revealed by the investigative reporters of the Times SUNDAY on January 29, 2023. The publication reported that Kunene, an ex-cop, was linked to the SISF. At the time it was not stated what role Kunene played within SISF, but the publication was able to bring compelling evidence of pictures, showing the link between him and the underground group.

What was a mere link based on leaked pictures of six camouflage-clad members of the then underground group, revealed that Kunene, as he appeared on Thursday, was actually the voice behind the commander. Kunene confirmed the speculation that he was linked to SISF. Lokhulumako ngu commander, he said, meaning the one who is speaking is the commander. Kunene was clad in a military camouflage gear. His appearance established that indeed, Kunene was a member of the group which has been linked to several terrorist activities around the country. According to his own declaration, he was the man behind the command to carry out such acts.

rebuked

In his address, Kunene rebuked those calling his Solidarity Forces terrorists and said the SISF was not a terrorist group. He said the SISF was a group of freedom fighters who wanted political change in the country. He said he had been hearing people referring to them as terrorists, but warned against the use of the term. We are freedom fighters. We are not owned by anyone, he said. He said some people called them hit men and claimed that they were being paid for engaging in the activities. Kunene refuted the statement, adding that they were not paid, hired or controlled by any person or group. He said no amount of money was worth his life or that of his soldiers even if they could mention a figure.
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MBABANE  Two senior journalists from the Times of Eswatini are reportedly targets for assassination.

This newspaper has received highly classified information that members of the underground forces, on the sidelines of the recent Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) elective conference, hatched a plot to kill the two reporters. Insiders confided that the motive behind the assassination was to send a statement to the media fraternity that any journalist reporting negatively against efforts to dismantle tinkhundla would be dealt with. It had also been established that members of the underground forces were acting on allegations that some journalists, mainly the two threatened scribes, set up social media propaganda platforms to put brakes to processes of democratic reforms.

revealed

Insiders said the underground forces were told that these journalists used those social media platforms they allegedly created under pseudo names to support the King and royalty. Names of the people plotting to kill the reporters have been revealed, but cannot be disclosed at this stage. Identities of the scribes are being withheld as well for ethical reasons. The assassination plot has been reported to the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), where it is receiving due attention. One of the reporters said he received the threats at a time when he was receiving same from one liSwati who accused him of running a social media platform to disturb Facebook media pages advocating for democratic reforms. He said the man accused him of insulting the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces.

In fact, I have a space in the mainstream media where I can voice out my personal opinion on what is happening in the country. The mainstream media is the most powerful and authenticated platform for me. I have written more than 30 stories on the need for dialogue and I have also made use of the press releases from pressure groups, the senior reporter said.

ethics I have a duty to listen to both sides; those who either support tinkhundla or multiparty democracy. I follow journalism ethics, which encourage journalists to report objectively without taking sides, he said. In politics, he said, governments are ethically, politically and morally obligated to take good advice from minorities or respect, if not uphold, the rights of the minorities.

He said there was a need for political education in Eswatini to capacitate the people to appreciate the philosophy that politicians counter, debunk or de-legitimise an ideology through an ideology  not through the barrel of a gun. Killing me wont help them and wont give them the rights they are fighting for. Killing me is merely punishing innocent children who shall be left behind without a parent, the journalist said. The other threatened journalist said it was a pity that the people who claimed to be introducing democracy to Eswatini were the very same individuals who were gagging the media. He said Journalism was one of the pillars of democracy. He said it puzzled him to see some factions within the mass democratic movement (MDM) undermining the right to freedom of expression and free press.

lack of tolerance

The senior reporter mentioned that he worked for an independent media that covered the interests of both left and right. He said it was wrong for the left to feel marginalised when journalists reported on what the right was doing and vice versa. Managing Editor (ME) at the Times of Eswatini Martin Dlamini, said lack of tolerance for opposing views was a major threat to any democracy. Dlamini said: Shooting the messenger is akin to shooting oneself in the foot. He said management was not aware of any clandestine motives among its staffers and if such existed, let it be brought forward so that they could address it. Ours is to remain impartial and report fairly on both sides of the political divide. As we do so, however, some are displeased when they get to read what they need to hear and not what they want to hear, the ME said.

He urged all emaSwati to engage in constructive dialogue so that best ideas, as opposed to weapons, could give them all a better country. In this case, we trust the law will take its course in dealing with these threats, he said. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said the matter was reported to the police for investigation.

The attack on journalists covering conflicts is considered as a war crime in international law. It is mentioned in the Geneva Convention of 1949 and their Additional Protocols that journalists covering conflicts should be afforded protection under international humanitarian law. Article 79 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I provides the following:

1. Journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians within the meaning of Article 50, paragraph 1.

2. They shall be protected as such under the conventions and this protocol, provided they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians, and without prejudice to the right of war correspondents accredited to the armed forces to the status provided for in 4 A 4) of the third convention.

3. They may obtain an identity card. This card, which shall be issued by the government of the State of which the journalist is a national or in whose territory he resides or in which the news medium employing him is located shall attest to his status as a journalist.

A new report from the committee to protect journalists (CPJ) has shown that the killings of journalists around the world has jumped by 50 per cent in 2022 compared to the previous year, driven largely by attacks in Ukraine, Mexico and Haiti.

watchdog

The New York-based media watchdog reported that 67 news media workers were killed worldwide in 2022, the highest number since 2018, with more than half (35) taking place in Ukraine, Mexico and Haiti. This was sourced from AlJazeera, which quoted the report. Journalists in the three countries said the increased danger forced them to work under extreme stress. It has been reported that the effect was particularly notable in Haiti, where seven journalists were killed in 2022, a huge number for a small island country of about 12 million people. Some were killed by violent street gangs that have basically taken over the capital, Port-au-Prince, but at least two were shot by police.
Sikkim [India], March 12 (ANI): The Indian Army in collaboration with Civil Police and Administration has rescued 370 tourists, stranded due to heavy snowfall in East Sikkim on Saturday, according to an official statement.

The tourists were returning from Natu La & Tsomgo (Changgu) Lake when about 100 vehicles got stuck in the heavy snowfall, it said.

Also Read | Indian Army Rescues 400 Tourists Stranded in Sikkim After Heavy Snowfall.

Troops of Trishakti Corps in collaboration with Civil Police and Administration launched a rescue mission 'OPERATION HIMRAHAT,' which continued through late night on March 11, the statement said.

According to the statement, the tourists were moved to safe areas and provided shelter, warm clothing, medical aid and hot meals.

Also Read | Shia Clerics in Bada Imambada Demand Quota for Community in Parliament.

Detailed coordination was done with General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) for road opening in the morning, the statement said.

In the morning, on March 12, the road opening was taken up with assistance of GREF dozers. By 9 am, the road was cleared to enable movement of the vehicles to Gangtok, it said.

The quick reaction by the troops provided relief and comfort to the stranded tourists under inclement weather conditions and ensured early clearance of road to enable move of vehicles to Gangtok, the statement said.

The stranded tourists and Civil Administration of Sikkim expressed their deep gratitude for the immediate relief provided by the Army, it said.

Indian Army while guarding the border in Super High-Altitude areas of the Himalayas, are always proactive in providing assistance to tourists and local population, the statement stressed. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 12 (ANI): Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders set up a hoarding of 'Washing Powder Nirma' giving sarcastic welcome to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Hyderabad on Sunday.

In continuation to various posters that surfaced on the walls of Hyderabad against BJP leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, another hoarding giving Amit Shah a sarcastic welcome has come up at JBS junction in Hyderabad today.

Also Read | PBNS Teleprint  Your NEWS Capsule

#PBNSTeleprint 12 March  03 PM Bulletin  Latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services.

Posters against BJP continue to surface in Hyderabad since Saturday when the BRS MLC and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter K Kavitha appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.

The BRS leaders have put up a hoarding that read 'Welcome Amit Shah'. The hoarding featured morphed images of Nirma girl with faces of BJP leaders who joined the BJP party from other parties.

Also Read | Dearness Allowance Crisis: West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose Has Agreed To Mediate, Claim Agitating Government Employees.

The hoarding showed the faces of Himanta Biswa Sharma, Narayan Rane, Suvendu Adhikari, Sujana Chowdhary, Arjun Khotkar, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Eshwarappa and Virupakshappa.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had visited Hyderabad to attend the 54th CISF Raising Day parade.

Senior BJP leader and former MLC, N Ramchander Rao, speaking to ANI and reacting to the hoarding set up by BRS leaders, condemned the incidents.

"BRS leaders have developed a habit of displaying hoardings without naming themselves because they are afraid of being attracted to some action by law enforcement agencies. It has become a habit to display such hoardings by showing the BJP government and BJP party leaders in a bad light," he said.

The BJP leader said that they did the same thing earlier when PM Modi visited Hyderabad during national executive meetings.

"Now when Amit Shah is on his official visit, the BRS leaders are trying to show a Nirma Ad as if when someone joins BJP, they become clean. This type of hoarding with this type of message is given by the BRS leaders with public money. I am sure the public money is being spent on these hoardings," he added.

Rao said that lakhs and crores of rupees are being spent by the BRS leaders on such hoardings to spread falsehood and hatredness against the BJP and BJP leaders.

"We condemn such types of incidents. This is not a democracy and it is a fun of democracy. They are misusing the freedom of speech and freedom of expression. BRS leaders, whatever they may say, everyone knows who is clean, how clean they are and who is at fault. Today BRS cannot claim to be clean just because they are in the ruling party and they have a lot of money with them such that they can buy special flights, buy helicopters, use chartered flights, destroy a number of phones and destroy a number of laptops. Whatever it may be, spending public money on huge hoardings is objectionable," he added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
MBABANE  Was it a jackpot?

Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane had a tough time explaining a E12 million elections tender awarded to Slomoes Corporation for the municipal council elections. The company was awarded a tender worth E12 million to provide a system for the local government election exercise. The tender award has attracted the wrath of Members of Parliament (MPs), who took the minister to task, demanding answers on how the tender was awarded and why it was given to the most expensive bidder. Universal and standard procurement procedures dictate that the bidder with a lowest offer is usually awarded the tender. The company was awarded the tender ahead of the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) which had offered to do the exercise, for E800 000. Another company which the minister identified as Wits Tech also made a bid for the tender with a cost of E1.2 million. It has been established that the tendering process takes into account two components  technical aspect which determines capacity, execution timelines and quality. The second aspect looks at pricing.

It is said that the technical aspect in a tender usually accounts for 70 per cent and the balance (30 per cent) is for pricing. The MPs questioned Minister Simelane on why the municipal elections were expensive yet the voter turnout was not huge enough. Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini said the local government elections were proving to be too expensive for the nation.

He said the minister proved to have powers to sack municipal councils and, therefore, the local government election was a waste of money.

introspect

Dlamini called for the election to be postponed and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to introspect and find reasons for such amount to be spent on elections. The minister has proven that he can do anything and even fire the councils. My question then becomes the reason for government to host such an expensive exercise if the minister has such power. E12 million is too much. Minister even I can host the elections for way too cheaper than that. This election is proving to be too expensive for government and I intend to move a motion to stop this if the minister fails to give us valid reasons why the system to host the election cost this amount. When I heard other MPs say the figure I thought it was a joke. We cannot spend this much on this, said Dlamini. He further asked the minister if the procurement procedure was followed when awarding the tender. Dlamini elaborated on how the minister was addressing conflicts within the councils and blamed him for firing members of councils. He further said the country should consider shelving the elections because they were disturbing the national elections and shadowing it with such scandals.

sham

The King spoke in this chamber and said the country will be going to the polls and now I do not understand what we are doing clouding the national elections with such a sham. I believe it is time we make a decision on which one we should listen to. This is just a disturbance and should be put on pause at least until after the national elections. We cannot spend this much money on an election process that has such a small voter registration, he said. MP Malavi Sihlongonyane also weighed in on the matter and said the House should consider moving a motion on the matter. I am not even part of this committee, but I wanted to have a say on the E12 million issues because I believe it should be addressed and the people be saved from spending such exorbitant funds. The minister should give clarity on why the elections are so expensive. I am happy that other MPs have also addressed the matter, said Sihlongonyane.

Minister Simelane had a challengeresponding to the concerns raised by the MPs. He had to consult some of the staff from the ministry for clarity in his response.

recommendations

Allow chairman to try and respond first on what MP Lutfo Dlamini has just asked and opined on. The MP is asking about E12 million and in my knowledge, as government we called for three quotations and the officials submitted them to me and further made recommendations as per the procurement plan. One of the three quotations was for E800 000 and came from the RSTP which is government. What I know is that the procedure was followed but after everything was done I then asked if the one who has been doing election had not tendered because we have not heard anything bad since he did the elections, said the minister. One of the concerns raised by the legislators was that the population voting for the local government elections did not exceed 30 000 and the E12 million was too much of a cost. Slomoes Corporation was not contacted for a comment due to parliamentary privilege as the matter is yet to be deliberated inside the two Parliament Chambers, House of Assembly and Senate. Sources within the local government elections revealed that the system required by the ministry to run the elections was a complicated one. The sources said the system required needed to be able to link candidates with different ministries to retrieve their identities.

components

The system is not similar to the national elections system which was linked to the Ministry of Home Affairs where the department of Civic Registration provides computed information on voters. This one needs to link even with the municipal councils to retrieve plot numbers and reflect other key components of the voters and candidates, said the source. The source revealed that this could be the reason the bidding by Slomoes was higher. He said the company had done elections before and, therefore, had first hand information on the magnitude of work required to host such a system. The sources further said the ministry, in its decision, possibly considered the status of RSTP as a government company and the second bidder was probably lacking in experience. It is worth mentioning that Slomoes Corporation handled the 2018 National Elections under a rent-to-buy deal with the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC). The company has since handed over the elections data management system to the commission.

The EBC has actually bought and now fully owns the system after it was handed over to it last month. The commissions Chairperson, Prince Mhlabuhlangene, during a press conference held at Nkhanini, Lobamba, where EBC is headquartered, explained that the system was an intellectual property, which was divided into four modules. He said these were the registration, central management interface, candidates and the elections and results management modules. Prince Mhlabuhlangene said the purpose of the handover of the system was for the commission to be assured that the system was being transferred to it, as per agreements between them and the contractor and also to prepare for the upcoming national elections that would be conducted this year.

transferred

Slomoes Corporation was the custodian and the vendor of the elections management system, but it is now being transferred to the commission as the owner of the system, having purchased it from the contractor, he said. Slomoes Corporation Director Lucky Dlamini confirmed that this marked the end of their five-year contract with EBC and he thanked the commissions team that worked with the company on the system. When asked on who would run the system going into the 2023 national elections, EBC Head of Communications Mbonisi Bhembe said they were still looking at whether to upgrade the system, get a vendor to run it or even operate it with the commissions officials who are familiar with it. Slomoes Corporation was also involved in a court fight against EBC. However, both parties settled their dispute in arbitration in terms with the contract. The final outcome of the arbitration was made an order of the court, after they had both embraced the outcome. Slomoes was paid a final settlement in excess of E10 million.

Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg, in January 2023, announced a budget of E8 million for the local government elections. The minister said the budget had already been drawn and was presented to the ministry. Rijkenberg said a supplementary budget was passed through the ministrys Planning and Budgeting Committee (PBC) and went through the Parliament Sessional Committee (PSC) for consideration and approval.

trained

Municipal councils going for the elections include Mbabane, Ezulwini, Hlatikhulu, Ngwenya, Nhlangano, and Piggs Peak and Manzini, among others. Thirty-nine registration supervisors and 250 officers were trained and posted in various stations according to inside sources. To be eligible to register and vote, a person needs to own property, land, and a business for a period of at least six months. The rules also reflect that for a voter to be registered, he or she should be a native of the country. The rules further dictate that a person should physically be present and bring a national identification proof, title deeds for those owning land in towns and proof of registered businesses, period in the municipality, status and a ward number.
Goa [India], March 12 (ANI): Indian Air Force's Mi-17 helicopter has dispensed over 25,000 litres of water over forest fire-affected areas in Goa on March 11, the IAF said.

"Today's (Saturday) operations have seen the helicopter flying multiple missions dispensing over 25,000 litres of water over the fire-affected areas to fight the fire," the IAF tweeted Saturday.

Also Read | Tamil Nadu Shocker: Woman Pours Hot Boiling Oil on Boyfriend After Learning He Was Going To Get Engaged to Another Woman in Erode.

Earlier on March 9, the IAF deployed one Mi-17 helicopter for fighting raging forest fires in Goa, using Bambi Buckets.

Taking to Facebook, Goa's Minister of Forests Vishwajith Rane had said that the Prime Minister's Office, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav and defence minister Rajnath Singh are monitoring the firefighting efforts in Goa.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi's Karnataka Visit: Boy Attends Rally Topless After Security Agencies Remove His Black T-Shirt.

To spread awareness about forest fires among the public, preventive measures in the form of do's and don'ts are also being issued via local administrations. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mandya (Karnataka) [India], March 12 (ANI): Emphasizing that good infrastructure enhances the "ease of living", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that it creates new opportunities for progress.

While addressing the public in Mandya, the Prime Minister said, "Everywhere I visited in Karnataka, especially in Mandya, I received a warm welcome."

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PM Modi revived a warm welcome in Mandya and people showered him with flowers during the roadshow.

He said that the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway has made youth proud.

Also Read | Assam: Despite High Court's Strictures, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Makes Bulldozers Part of State's Landscape.

"In the last few days, the images of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway have gone viral on social media. Youth are taking immense pride in witnessing the growth of our nation. All these projects will open up the pathways of prosperity and development," said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said that the double engine government's aim is to repay peopel's love in the form of 'vikas' (development) of the state.

"The state-of-the-art road infrastructure projects being launched today in Karnataka will boost connectivity across the state and strengthen economic growth. All these projects will further speed up development and open the way for prosperity. All these projects will pave way for 'sabka saath, sabka vikaas'. I congratulate you for all these connectivity projects," said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said that in this year's budget, the government has kept Rs 10 lakh crore for infrastructure.

"Good infrastructure enhances 'Ease of Living'. It creates new opportunities for progress. Infrastructure brings employment, investment and means of new business avenues for the state. Now, due to the expressway, this distance can be covered in one and a half hours and this will also lead to economic development in these areas. Thanks to the good connectivity, industry will expand very fast in this area," he said.

He said that this expressway is passing through Ramnagar and Mandya and will also increase the tourism potential in these areas.

Listing some of the schemes, PM Modi said Karnataka is changing today.

"Karnataka is changing today with the Bharatmala and Sagarmala scheme. Today with schemes like Bharatmala and Sagarmala, the nation is witnessing development of state-of-the-art infrastructure," he sadi.

"Whenever there is a discussion about infrastructure, then the names of two great figures remain leading, Krishna Wadiyar and M Vishweshwara Iyer," said the PM.

He further said that Bengaluru and Mysuru are important cities in Karnataka adding that "One is known for technology while the other is known for tradition. It is quite significant to connect both the cities through technology."

The 118 Km long project has been developed at a total cost of around Rs 8480 crores.

It will reduce the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from around 3 hours to about 75 minutes. It will act as a catalyst for socio-economic development in the region. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Pune(Maharashtra) [India], March 12 (ANI): Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that the State Government is putting efforts to promote ground water conservation.

He said that the government is in process to launch the second phase of a campaign called 'Jalyukt Shivar 2.0' in 5000 villages.

Also Read | Chhattisgarh | I Met the Governor Regarding 4-5 Bills in the State Including Bills Related   Latest Tweet by ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan.

While speaking to the media, Fadnavis said, "We All know that 50% of Maharashtra witnesses less rainfall therefore we don't have much options available. During previous government, we had started the Jalyukt Shivar project by which we could promote water conservation in 20,000 villages in Maharashtra. Today, approximately 37 lacs hectare of land has come under irrigation which is helping the farmers to take two crops in a year. Now we are going to launch 'Jalyukt Shivar 2."

"In the first phase of Jalyukt Shivar 2.0, we have taken 5000 villages under this scheme," he said.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Nikay Chunav 2023: AAP Unveils UP Urban Local Body Poll Plan; Promises to Waive Water Tax, Halve House Tax.

Fadnavis also mentioned that this year efforts will be taken for the water conversation in Maharashtra.

"This year is also very important as some weather model has predicted that there will be limited rain during this time. Therefore we have to do water conservation and we must save water drop by drop," he said.

Fadnavis also appreciated the efforts taken by the Pani foundation a non-profit, non-governmental organization which works for drought prevention and watershed management in the state of Maharashtra.

"I also think the Pani Foundation is working well for this initiative they have engaged nearly 40 thousand farmers till now. Most importantly they are training the farmers. Therefore even during my last government, I was actively involved to help the Pani foundations with this initiative. Pani foundation event is not a government program but this definitely creates a good environment," 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)
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], March 12 (ANI): The Tibetan women in-exile here on Sunday staged a protest march against China to commemorate the 64th anniversary of Tibetan National Women uprising day.

"Hundreds of Tibetan women in-exile gathered in Dharamshala and shouted slogans for the freedom of Tibet. Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) organized the protest march," said one of the activists.

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According to the protestors, it's an event to remember the day, (March 12, 1959) when Tibetan women from all the three provinces of Tibet, for the first time in the history of Tibet, stood together and protested the "brutal Chinese occupying forces." The events like this are to show the younger generation what the struggle means and how important role women play in their freedom struggle which has reached a critical juncture.

"I am here for a very important event, which is the uprising day of the Tibetan women which took place in 1959 on 12th of March in Tibet in Lhasa. The women in-exile never forgot that day because that day was the day when so many women lost their lives in prisons and everywhere."

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"So we kept this alive for the world to know how the women feel about our own country, how we feel about occupation in Tibet and we kept it alive so that the world will listen to us and rescue us from this and get us back to a free Tibet," Rinchen Khando, founder president of TWA told ANI.

Lobsang Dechen, a senior Tibetan nun said," We want to remind China that we are still alive and are struggling for our nation and we are here to commemorate the people who have sacrificed their lives and we are really struggling to get freedom. China listens or not, we will continue our struggle. We want to take our responsibility. We want to fight..."

Lhamo Chunzum, joint Secretary of Tibetan Women's Association told ANI that this is a peace walk from Mcleodganj till Kachahari.

"On March 12th in 1959 Tibetan women from all walks of life stood united for the first time and challenge the brutal occupation of Tibet. Till now the people of Tibet have been suffering and we are the voice for voiceless. This is a genuine protest against the Chinese government to stop torturing the Tibetan people," Lhamo Chunzum 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)
Jodhpur, March 12: An IAF helicopter with 20 airmen on board made an emergency landing in Lohawat area of Jodhpur on Sunday afternoon due to some technical glitch. The helicopter had taken off from Jodhpur airbase for Phalodi airbase. IAF Mi-17 Helicopter Makes Precautionary Landing in Village Near Jodhpur

A technical team fixed the glitch and the chopper was able to take off after about an hour's delay to its destination. According to Badri Prasad, Circle Inspector, Lohawat Police Station, two MI-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force had taken off from Jodhpur air force station for Phalodi air force station Sunday afternoon. Indian Army Rescues 400 Tourists Stranded in Sikkim After Heavy Snowfall.

IAF Mi-17 Helicopter Lands in Rajasthan Village

#WATCH | An Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter made a precautionary landing at Peelwa village near Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Checks were carried out by officials and later it safely took off and has now reached the Phalodi air base: IAF officials pic.twitter.com/M0FOw6gIlK  ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2023

"About 2.30 pm. one of the helicopters developed some technical glitch and resorted to emergency landing in village Pilwa," said the officer. The chopper had 20 airmen on board. They all alighted the chopper and secured it from the villagers, who swarmed to the spot in curiosity. Prasad said that police also rushed to the spot to help the chopper team and control the crowd.

(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], March 12 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at five places in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in Islamic State- Khorasan Province (ISKP) case. The Central agency carried out these searches on Saturday at four locations in Seoni in Madhya Pradesh and one in Pune. Following up on leads, the NIA teams searched the houses of suspects, Talha Khan at Pune and Akram Khan at Seoni.

The case was initially registered by the Delhi Police Special cell after the arrest of a Kashmiri couple Jahanzaib Sami Wani and his wife Hina Bashir Beigh from Okhla, Jamia in Delhi, said the NIA, adding "the couple was found to be affiliated with ISKP."

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During investigations, the federal agency said, the role of another accused, Abdullah Basith emerged, who was already lodged in Tihar Jail in another case. On the same day, NIA carried out searches at three other locations in Seoni in Shivmogga IS Conspiracy case. The places searched included the residential and commercial premises of the suspects, Abdul Aziz Salafi and Shoeb Khan.

In the Shivammoga case, as part of a conspiracy hatched from abroad, the accused persons Mohamed Shariq, Maaz Muneer Khan, Yasin and others, based on instructions of their handler based abroad, targeted public and private properties, such as warehouses, liquor shops, hardware shops, vehicles and other properties belonging to members of a particular community and committed over 25 incidents of arson and sabotage. They even carried out a mock IED blast. They were being funded through crypto-currencies by their online handler.

Also Read | Gujarat Police Booked Mother and Her Lover in Connection With Sons Murder in Rajkot.

As part of the larger conspiracy, accused Mohamed Shariq planned to carry out IED blast at Kadri temple, Mangalore on November 19 last year. However, the IED had exploded prematurely through an accident, when the perpetrator was enroute to the target location.

Abdul Salafi, 40, is a Maulana at the Seoni Jamia Masjid while Shoeb, 26, sells automobile spare parts. Salafi, alongwith his accomplice Shoeb, were found actively propagating pernicious ideas, such as, 'voting in elections is sinful for Muslims'.

The group led by Maulana Aziz Salafi was in the process of radicalising gullible Muslim youth of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and many southern States through provocative and inflammatory speeches on YouTube.

"They were also trying to bring together such radicalized individuals in Seoni district."From the material seized during the searches, it has come to light that, this group was actively collecting information about ongoing activities and events in different Jihadi theatres, including Afghanistan," stated the NIA.

"Initial examination of the suspects have brought out the fact that they are radically motivated individuals, who totally abhor the idea of democracy in India, and were preparing for carrying out Jihad against the people who believe otherwise," it added

They were using social media platforms for dissemination of such false propaganda to impressionable youth, said the anti-terror agency.

In furtherance of such efforts, the NIA said Aziz Salafi was also in contact with the arrested accused Maaz Muneer Ahmed of Karnataka, who had procured the explosive materials for the trial blast. Maaz was arrested by NIA in November last year.

"Further investigations into the connections of these accused in the spread of IS ideology in India by NIA are being continued to unearth the whole conspiracy," added the NIA. (ANI)

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Naushera, March 12: Indian Army during a search operation near the Line of Control at Jhangar and Naushera sectors in Jammu and Kashmir has recovered two sophisticated pistols, two kg narcotics and two kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED), said the Army offcials on Sunday.

According to the Army, the operation has averted a major incident which could have been initiated by perpetrators using the weapons and the IED, funded by the narco terrorists. 'Hath Se Hath Jodo' Yatra Aims at Mobilizing Public Support Ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, Says Congress Leader Vikar Rasool Wani.

"Based on intelligence inputs, Indian Army conducted operations near the Line of Control at Jhangar, Naushera sectors on March 11. The operations led to recovery of the pistols, narcotics and 2 kg IED," said the officials. Jammu and Kashmir Horror: Man Kills Woman For Rejecting Marriage Proposal, Chops Body Into Pieces and Dumps At Several Places in Budgam; Arrested.

Earlier on March 5, Indian Army troops recovered 7 kg of narcotics, and foreign currency worth over Rs 2 crore, from the residence of Mohd Rafique in Poonch district of Jammu & Kashmir.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mancherial (Telangana) [India], March 12 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former MP Vivek Venkataswamy on Sunday called Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLC K Kavitha as "liquor queen" alleging that she reduced value added tax on the liquor and increased the commission on the same.

The BJP leader's remarks came after K Kavitha was questioned by the ED on Saturday in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. She has again been summoned on March 16.

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"Kavitha is called liquor queen as she decreased the 25 per cent VAT to 1 per cent. The commission of Rs.35 was increased to Rs.340. She took control of the 800 shops that the government institutions were distributing. Is this justice?" Venkataswamy said at a gathering at Mandamarri town in the Mancherial district.

He further accused Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of looting the state and said that time is inching close to "dethrone" him.

Also Read | Gujarat Police Booked Mother and Her Lover in Connection With Sons Murder in Rajkot.

"The Chief Minister is looting this state. The time has come, the elections are coming. They only have 6 months of time for remaining in power. In 6 months, we have the chance to dethrone KCR," he said.

Claiming that the fortunes of KCR have changed after becoming the Chief Minister, the BJP leader said that there is a need to teach him a "lesson".

"We have to teach him a lesson. We made efforts for the creation of Telangana to make our future better. But did our future become good? Did the future of the CM become good? His future went from low to high. Our hands won't reach there, he has gone that far. There is a need to teach such a looting family a lesson," he said.

Earlier on Friday, KCR alleged that BJP "cannot tolerate" the development of Telangana.

"In the background of Telangana's welfare schemes, which have become an ideal for the country, attracting other states, BJP is indulging in many conspiracies with the hope that their party's incompetence will not be revealed," he alleged. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], March 12 (ANI): In a major action against the 'gun culture' in the state, the Punjab government has cancelled the licenses of 813 guns, Punjab Minister Aman Arora informed on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference, the Urban Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora said that 813 arms licenses have been cancelled across different regions in the state.

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"Of the 813 arms licenses cancelled by the Punjab government, 87 are in Ludhiana Rural, 48 in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, 10 in Gurdaspur, 84 in Faridkot, 199 in Pathankot, 47 in Hoshiarpur, six in Kapurthala, 235 in S.A.S. Kasba, 16 in Sangrur, 27 in Amritsar commissionerate, 11 in Jalandhar commissionerate and from several other districts have also been cancelled," Aman Arora said.

The Punjab Minister said that so far Punjab government has cancelled more than 2000 arms license

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"Rules have to be followed for keeping a gun. Now there is a ban on carrying and displaying of weapons in public functions, religious places, marriage ceremonies or any other events in Punjab. Random checking will be done in different areas in the coming days," he said.

The AAP leader also said that there are a total of 3,73,053 arms licenses in Punjab.

"There will be a complete ban on those glorifying violence and weapons. Punjab government is continuously taking action to end gun culture," he added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], March 12 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Arun Singh on Sunday paid a visit to party leader Kirori Lal Meena at Sawai Man Singh Hospital to enquire about his health.

Rajasthan BJP leader Meena was injured during a clash with police while he was protesting along with widows of soldiers killed in Pulwama attack.

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While narrating his ordeal, Meena said that the police shoved him into a vehicle, which led to injuries.

"They forcibly picked up the widows of Pulwama attack soldiers at 3 am and took them away from the protest site. They [the police personnel] also pushed and misbehaved with them and when I was going to meet one of them, then they barricaded the route, about 30-40 km away from Jaipur, and shoved me and my workers forcefully in the vehicle due to which I got an injury in my neck," Meena said.

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He also said that his condition is serious and he is leading to paralysis. "I have requested the doctors to refer me to a higher centre," he added.

The BJP leader was rushed to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital in Jaipur after he reportedly sustained 'injuries' during a clash with police on Friday.

Meena and the workers of the party were detained by police on Friday on their way to Jaipur. He has been supporting the protesting widows of Pulwama attack soldiers, in favour of their demands.

Lal had alleged that the widows were insulted by the police. However, the police denied the allegations.

Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore and former BJP State President Arun Chaturvedi also reached the hospital.

"Such kind of treatment is not even given to terrorists. His condition is deteriorating. Police tore his clothes. It is a matter of shame for the Rajasthan Chief Minister," Arun Chaturvedi told ANI.

However, he couldn't specify the nature of injuries sustained by MP but said "Reports suggested that injuries were not life-threatening".

Rajendra Rathore alleged that BJP MP Meena was manhandled, and kicked by the police.

Meanwhile, the protests by the Pulwama widows intensified on Thursday as they sought justice from the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government by putting grass in their mouths.

They staged a protest in front of Sachin Pilot's residence on Wednesday and marched towards the Chief Minister's residence on Saturday where they were stopped by the police. The widows had earlier alleged that the police personnel had misbehaved with them. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Heavy Engineering Industries and Shipbuilding Company (Heisco) has announced that it has signed a contract with Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) for the construction of flowlines and associated works on the country's western side.

As per the KD68.5 million ($223 million) contract, the entire project will be competed within the next five years, stated Heisco in its filing to the Boursa Kuwait.

A major engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracting company based in Kuwait, Heisco caters to a diversified range of businesses.

These include oil and gas, petrochemicals, power, pressure equipment manufacturing, shipbuilding and repair, dredging and marine construction, civil construction and maintenance as well as other industrial services including Heavy Industry projects.

The revenue will be shown in annual financial statements from 2023 - 2027, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
New Delhi, Mar 12 (PTI) Commuters are likely to face inconvenience as a portion of a road caved in near Metro Hospital on Girdhari Lal Goswami marg in West Delhi on Sunday, the traffic police said.

Taking to Twitter, the Delhi Traffic Police urged commuters to avoid the stretch.

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"Movement of Traffic has been restricted on Girdhari Lal Goswami marg in the carriageway from Loha Mandi towards Shadipur depot due to road caved-in near Metro Hospital and near New Patel Nagar park. Kindly avoid the stretch," it said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow/Gorakhpur, Mar 12 (PTI) It was difficult to bring investment in Uttar Pradesh before 2017 but now the safety of investors and their capital is guaranteed in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in Gorakhpur on Sunday.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of an integrated steel plant of Ankur Udyog in Gorakhpur, the chief minister said, "Investment proposals worth Rs 33.50 lakh crore received in the Global Investors Summit are proof of the transformed atmosphere in UP."

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"It is also indicative of the fact that today the state is moving forward on the right track and is ready to become the largest economy of the country."

"Prior to 2017 (in SP regime) it was difficult to get investment for due to bad law and order. Now the safety of investors and their capital is guaranteed in UP," he said.

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"It depends on our thinking and methodology on how we want to build our future. When there is an atmosphere of security, there is no discrimination against anyone, there is a solidarity of the forces of positive thinking, then good results are in front of everyone," he said.

Questions were raised as to what would be the target for the Global Investors Summit and initially, the target was set at Rs 10 lakh crore.

"However, when our teams went abroad, investors impressed by Uttar Pradesh's law and order, sectoral policies and transparent system made investment proposals worth Rs 33.50 lakh crore at the Global Investors Summit", he said.

Appealing to the public for cooperation in the investment process, the Chief Minister said that investments should be encouraged rather than discouraged in the larger interest of the state as it is the basis of prosperity and development.

"With a view to increasing investment, a provision has been made in the budget to develop two new industrial areas (in Gorakhpur and Jhansi). The investments will increase endless possibilities of employment, while migration of youth will stop and UP will get the benefit of their talent," he added.

The chief minister said that the government is giving huge exemption in GST to new industries only to provide employment to the youth.

The chief minister stressed on the need to link industries with institutions.

He said that the youth of ITIs, polytechnics and colleges should be linked with industry apprenticeship.

The Chief Minister said that the association of the industry and the institution would contribute to the skilled manpower along with the scale, he said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], March 12 (ANI): Tibetan women-in-exile on Sunday held a peaceful candle march protest in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla against the Chinese authorities to mark the 64th anniversary of Tibetan Women's National Uprising day.

Tibetan women, including Tibetan Buddhist students and others, gathered in Shimla to mark the anniversary and also to remember the women, who died during the 1959 women's uprising inside Tibet.

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Under the banner of the Regional Chapter of TWA (Tibetan Women Association) at Shimla scores of Tibetan women participated in the peaceful protest and candle march. These Tibetan women-in exile here are appealing to the international community to support the cause of Tibet.

"Today is the 64th anniversary of the Tibetan women's uprising, The Tibetan women were uprising and the Chinese occupied Tibet crushed the protesting women. We are holding a peaceful candle march to mark the anniversary and also to remember those martyred women," Dolma Tsering, an organizer and President of RTYC Shimla.

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"We are requesting the international community to support us and we are also appealing to the Chinese authorities to stop human rights violations in Tibet," Dolma added.

The young Tibetans here-in-exiles are observing this 64th anniversary with the hope of getting freedom for Tibet.

These women here offered prayers peacefully, demanding the international community to support the Tibetan issue and put pressure on China.

These young women here in the streets of Shimla town marched seeking support from India and the international community.

"Today is the 64th National Uprising day of Tibetan women. All Tibetan women and others are protesting, holding peace and candle marches worldwide to protest against the Chinese government for our homeland," said a young Tibetan woman.

"As a young Tibetan woman born and brought up in-exile, I dream of one day returning to my homeland. I am grateful to India that I am living here as a citizen. Hundreds of people there [inside Tibet] are doing self-immolation as we can't do anything there as there is neither religious freedom nor any human rights protected. So we (Tibetans inside Tibet) protest and do self-immolation annually. But, here, in exile, we are living freely. Today we are also paying homage to those who have lost their lives in our struggle inside Tibet," she added.

On March 12, 1959, Many Tibetan women in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, were protesting against the People's Republic of China (PRC), and thousands of them were crushed and over 80 thousand Tibetans, including Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, was forced to flee to India.

Since then thousands of Tibetans are living in exile in India and other parts of the globe. Today a large number of Tibetan women in exile across the globe are protesting and remembering those Tibetan women who were killed over 6 decades ago inside Tibet. (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, Mar 12 (PTI) A tyre burst is not an act of God but human negligence, the Bombay High Court remarked while rejecting an insurance company's plea against compensation to the family of a man killed in a car accident.

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A single bench of Justice S G Dige in its February 17 order dismissed the appeal filed by New India Assurance Company Limited against a 2016 ruling of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal directing it to pay Rs 1.25 crore to victim Makarand Patwardhan's family.

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On October 25, 2010, Patwardhan (38) was travelling from Pune to Mumbai with two colleagues.

The colleague who owned the car was speeding in a rash and negligent manner when the rear wheel burst and the car fell into a deep ditch, killing Patwardhan on the spot.

The tribunal in its order had noted the victim was the sole bread-earner of his family.

The insurance company in its appeal said the compensation amount was exorbitant and excessive and that the tyre burst was an act of God and not negligence on the part of the driver.

The HC, however, refused to accept this contention and said the dictionary meaning of "act of God" was "an instance of uncontrollable natural forces in operation."

"It refers to a severe unanticipated natural event for which no human is responsible. The bursting of a tyre cannot be termed as an act of God. It is an act of human negligence," the court said.

It added there are various reasons for tyre burst such as high speed, underinflated, overinflated or second-hand tyres and temperature.

"The driver or owner of the vehicle has to check the condition of the tyre before travelling. Burst of tyre cannot be termed a natural act. It is human negligence," the order said.

Merely stating a burst of tyre is an act of God cannot be a ground to exonerate the insurance company from paying compensation, the HC added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Thrissur, Mar 12 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Kerala on Sunday evening to address a public rally of the saffron party here and attend other programmes.

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Shah is expected to reach Thrissur by afternoon and will proceed to the famed Sakthan Thampuran palace, reconstructed in Kerala-Dutch style in 1795 by Sakthan Thampuran, the mighty ruler of the erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin, party sources said.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Fire: Five Charred to Death After Blaze Erupted in a Hut in Kanpur Dehat.

Later, he will offer prayers at the Vadakkumnathan temple, an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, they said.

The senior BJP leader is scheduled to address the party's Janasakthi rally at 5 PM at the Vadakkumnathan temple ground before flying back to Delhi.

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Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 12 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday greeted Xi Jinping on his re-election as the President of China.

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In a tweet, Vijayan, a Marxist veteran, said the Communist nation has emerged as a prominent voice in global politics under Xi's leadership.

Also Read | Gujarat Police Booked Mother and Her Lover in Connection With Sons Murder in Rajkot.

"Revolutionary greetings to President Xi Jinping on his re-election as the President of the People's Republic of China. It is truly commendable that China has emerged as a prominent voice in global politics. Best wishes for the continued efforts to achieve a more prosperous China," Vijayan tweeted.

China's Parliament on Friday had unanimously endorsed an unprecedented third five-year term for President Xi.

Xi, 69, was re-elected by the once-in-a-five-year Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) as its leader in October last year, becoming the first Chinese leader after party founder Mao Zedong to continue in power beyond the two five-year terms.

(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, Mar 12 (PTI) The government will provide financial assistance to eligible agencies for undertaking initiatives for the promotion of Geographical Indications (GIs) products.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has issued operational guidelines for financial assistance for undertaking the initiatives for the promotion of GIs.

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DPIIT is an arm of the commerce and industry ministry which deals with investments and intellectual property rights (IPRs). A GI, a kind of IPR, is primarily an agricultural, natural or manufactured product (handicraft and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory.

Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin.

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The famous goods that carry GI tag include Basmati rice, Darjeeling Tea, Chanderi Fabric, Mysore Silk, Kullu Shawl, Kangra Tea, Thanjavur Paintings, Allahabad Surkha, Farrukhabad Prints, Lucknow Zardozi and Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving.

"In accordance with the objectives of national IPR policy, Government of India will provide financial assistance to eligible agencies for undertaking initiatives for Promotion of GIs, which aims to create awareness about significance of GIs and its uniqueness, promoting registered Indian GIs, identify potential GIs and encourage stakeholders towards registration, the DPIIT said in a note.

It said that the objective is to provide varied platforms to GI stakeholders thereby giving them ample opportunities for business development and income generation.

Initiatives would also include capturing socio- economic status of GI goods producers, their livelihood conditions and other related information, which would assist in devising suitable policy interventions, it said.

It said that the financial assistance will be extended to eligible agencies as 100 per cent grants in aid for undertaking initiatives for promotion of GIs.

The disbursement of the assistance will be subject to actual expenditure or head-wise maximum permissible amount whichever is less for grants-in-aid as mentioned in the operational guidelines.

On eligible agencies, it said that the department may on its own undertake initiatives for the promotion of GIs within the country as well as abroad with Indian diplomatic missions or its agency or jointly with India's apex industry chambers and their overseas counterparts.

Once a product gets a GI tag, any person or company cannot sell a similar item under that name. This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.

The other benefits of GI registration include legal protection for the item, prevention against unauthorised use by others, and promotion of exports.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, Mar 12 (PTI) Sweden India Business Council has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maharashtra government for cooperation in the area of waste to energy, sustainable infrastructure and transportation, defence manufacturing and investment, the industry body said on Sunday.

The MoU was signed on Saturday evening in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

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"Maharashtra is the 'Second Home' to Swedish companies and 'Power House' of India. The relation between Maharashtra and Sweden is now 100 years old and we pledge to make it stronger ahead. Looking forward to work together in innovation, manufacturing, technology, solar energy, green and clean energies," Fadnavis tweeted after signing of the MoU.

The MoU was signed between Sweden India Business Council (SIBC) and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).

Also Read | Finance Ministry Says Centre Released Rs 1.40 Lakh Crore Tax Devolution Amount to States.

"Swedish industry will continue to expand and invest in Maharashtra. This MoU intends to support the two parties to reach a deeper collaboration for a more sustainable future and further job creation and technology cooperation," SIBC, Member of Board, Prashant Agarwal said in the statement.

The two parties, as in Sweden-India Business Council and the State of Maharashtra have also agreed to work together to explore and facilitate funding opportunities.

Maharashtra has historically been an important region for Sweden, right from the 1960s, when large Swedish companies set up operations in Pune. I am delighted that we are deepening the ties in many ways and welcome the new collaboration between Maharashtra government and Sweden-India Business Council," Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai, Anna Lekvall said.

(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, Mar 12 (PTI) Exports of two-wheelers, passenger vehicles and three-wheelers from India declined by 35 per cent in February mainly due to the weakening of currencies against the US dollar in destination countries, especially in the African continent.

According to data released by industry body SIAM, shipments of two-wheelers, passenger vehicles and three-wheelers declined to 3,01,561 units last month from 4,63,025 units in February 2022.

Also Read | Finance Ministry Says Centre Released Rs 1.40 Lakh Crore Tax Devolution Amount to States.

Two-wheeler exports dropped by 37 per cent to 2,35,087 units last month from 3,75,689 units in the year-ago period. Motorcycle shipments declined to 2,01,097 units last month from 3,49,221 units in the year-ago period. Scooter exports, however, rose to 33,378 units as compared with 24,830 units in February 2022.

Total three-wheeler shipments declined by 45 per cent to 19,640 units in February from 35,997 units in the same month last year.

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"Two-wheelers, three-wheelers and commercial vehicles have seen a drop in exports in the last few months, as there has been a devaluation of currencies in many destinations, especially in Africa and other developing countries," SIAM Director General Rajesh Menon told PTI.

These countries have been facing challenges of availability of foreign reserves, which is limiting the sales of vehicles and countries are focusing more on imports of essential items, though the demand for vehicles from consumers exists in these markets, he added.

Total passenger vehicle exports declined 9 per cent to 46,486 units from 51,213 units in the year-ago period, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Passenger car shipments declined to 25,207 units last month from 33,515 units in February 2022. Similarly, utility vehicle exports dropped to 21,139 units from 17,623 units in February 2022. Van shipments however rose to 140 units from 75 units in the year-ago period.

Menon noted that the exports of passenger vehicles are not much impacted due to currency devaluation.

"The profile of the customers to secure loans from the banks are also better (in the case of passenger vehicle segment), hence the vertical continues to grow," he noted.

In the two-wheeler space, Bajaj Auto exported 1,15,021 units last month, a drop of 37 per cent from 1,82,814 units in February 2022. TVS Motor company shipped 45,624 units, a drop of 52 per cent from 94,427 units in the year-ago period.

Similarly, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India and Hero MotoCorp too witnessed year on year dip in their exports to 20,111 units and 12,143 units, respectively.

In the passenger vehicle segment, Maruti Suzuki India led the space with shipments of 16,956 units last month. It exported 23,787 units in February 2022.

Hyundai Motor India saw its exports increase to 10,850 units last month from 9,109 units in the year-ago period. Kia India shipped 7,406 units last month as compared with 5,504 units in February 2022.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Manama [Bahrain], March 12 (ANI): Mentioning that in India we have a robust participatory democracy and a vibrant multiparty system where the hopes and aspirations of the citizens find expression through the elected representatives, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that all members enjoy the freedom to express their views and thoughts in Lok Sabha.

Birla was sharing his thoughts on the subject "Promoting peaceful co-existence and inclusive societies: Fight against intolerance" at the General Debate during 146th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union. He referred to the unhindered right of Members to express their views in Parliament.

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This statement from the Lok Sabha Speaker comes after Rahul Gandhi in his address at the Cambridge alleged that the Opposition's voice was being stifled in parliament.

Rahul alleged that constraints were being put on the Parliament, press and Judiciary in the country.

Also Read | US Capitol Riot: Former Vice President Mike Pence Says Donald Trump 'Endangered My Family' on January 6.

"Everybody knows and it's been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India, we are navigating that (Opposition) space. The institutional framework which is required for a democracy -- Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilisation, moving around -- all are getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy," the Congress MP alleged.

Sharing a picture of himself in the presentation slide in which he is seen being held by the police personnel, the Congress leader claimed that the Opposition leaders were "locked up" in jail for "just standing" in front of the Parliament House to talk about some issues, while also alleging that such incidents have happened "relatively violently".

Reiterating India's longstanding view that all global issues should be resolved peacefully through dialogue, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla informed that the Parliament of India has always held extensive and meaningful debate and deliberations on contemporary global challenges such as climate change, gender equality, sustainable development and covid-19 pandemic. He emphasized that global institutions propagating peace, harmony and justice are crucial for peace, prosperity, sustainability and just world order.

In this context, Birla said that in global institutions like the UN Security Council, there is a broad consensus among many nations to bring about reforms to reflect the realities of a rapidly changing world order. Observing that this important matter requires serious discussions, Lok Sabha Speaker stressed that reform in the UN Security Council cannot be delayed any further. He said that it is crucial that the subject is included in future global agendas so that we could contribute more and more to addressing challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, poverty, gender equality and terrorism.

Highlighting India's readiness to fulfil its global obligations, Birla invited attention to the fact that India has carried out the world's largest vaccination programme against COVID-19 for its citizens and at the same time helped other nations in their respective fights against the pandemic by providing medical equipment and vaccines under Vaccine Maitri. Similarly, Birla was happy to note that India is leading the world in the articulation of the Global Climate Action Plan to combat the issue of climate change.

Observing that India has always given the message of peace and harmony to the entire world, Birla reiterated India's belief that building an inclusive and tolerant society is only possible through peaceful coexistence, mutual discussions and dialogue. He mentioned that our Parliaments have a decisive role to play in this regard. He exhorted the world community to come together to build a better future for humanity.

A day before, Members of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation participated in various Sessions organized in parallel on the first day of the Assembly. Poonamben Maadam, MP and a Member of the Bureau of Women Parliamentarians of the IPU, attended the meeting of the Bureau and the plenary session of the forum of Women Parliamentarians. Aparajita Sarangi, Bhartuhari Mahtab and Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Members of Parliament, attended the meeting of the Asia Pacific Group of the IPU.

During the meeting, Sarangi, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the IPU, briefed the Asia-Pacific Group members about the activities of the Executive Committee in the last six months. Later, the group decided on its nomination about for the forthcoming vacancies in various IPU bodies. Sumalatha Ambreesh, MP was endorsed by the Group for members of the High-Level Advisory Group on Counter Terrorism and Violent Extremism.

The Asian Parliamentary Assembly also held its Coordinating Meeting on the sidelines of the Assembly. Vishnu Dayal Ram and Sasmit Patra, Members of Parliament attended the above meeting.

On March 10, Om Birla visited Manama with a Parliamentary delegation to attend the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The Lok Sabha Speaker received a warm welcome from the Deputy Chairman and Members of the Bahrain Parliament Shura Jamal Fakhro.

He also visited the famous Shrinathji Temple and played Holi with the Indians during his visit. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the worlds largest aluminium smelter ex-China, has secured sustainable financing loan of BD1.6 million to establish its solar farm project from Bank of Bahrain & Kuwait (BBK), Bahrain's pioneer in retail and commercial banking.

A signing ceremony was held on March 12 at Albas Al Dana Hall, which was attended by Alba's Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali and BBK's Group Chief Executive Office Dr A Rahman Saif in the presence of senior officials from Alba and BBK.

The financing will enable Alba to set up its solar farm with a capacity of more than 6 mega watts (MW). This project includes the installation of about 11,300 photovoltaic solar panels on the rooftop of Alba car parks and some of its buildings, including its Spent Pot Lining (SPL) Treatment Plant, across a total area of 37,000 sq m.

Al Baqali said: "Our vision goes beyond the aluminium we produce or the manufacturing processes we rely on. Our ambition today, being the largest smelter in the world ex-China, is to deliver what is best to all our stakeholders: our people, communities, customers and most importantly to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Installing the solar farm reflects how our climate strategy ties into our value creation story. Teaming up with our banking partner, BBK, we were able to finance our green project with a green loan in line with our ESG roadmap. Every small step we take collectively, will get us closer to meet Bahrain's objectives for Net Zero Emissions by 2060," he said.

Dr Saif said: We pledge to support the Kingdom's comprehensive policies and programs that aspire to improve energy efficiency and steer the country towards the usage of alternative energy sources that promote sustainable development. Alba, one of the largest national industrial firms in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is being supported by BBK to implement state-of-the-art standards for the use of renewable energy. We are honoured to support Alba in its mission to become a leader in developing and implementing high-quality projects involving renewable energy sources and to serve as an example of how banks and corporations may collaborate in the field of green. -TradeArabia News Service
Kabul [Afghanistan], March 12 (ANI): United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett said the attack on journalists in Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif province is a blow to the freedom of expression, Khaama Press reported.

Bennett said he is closely monitoring the attack on the gathering aimed at awarding journalists at Tebyan Cultural Center in northern Mazar-e-Sharif province. The UN Special Rapporteur emphasized the need for increased security measures for journalists in Afghanistan.

Also Read | US Capitol Riot: Former Vice President Mike Pence Says Donald Trump 'Endangered My Family' on January 6.

According to Tebyan Cultural Center, "Three people were killed and 30 others, including a significant number of journalists, were injured in this incident."

At least 15 journalists have been injured in this incident, and the situation is getting tougher for journalists and media workers in Afghanistan, according to a journalists' advocacy organization.

Also Read | Pakistan: Dacoits Attack Police Check-Post Near Sindh, Kidnap Two Policemen.

The attack took place in a gathering in Mazar-e-Sharif aimed at honouring journalists for the tireless efforts they are putting in to update the world on the challenges and developments in the context of Afghanistan, according to Khaama Press.

This was the second terror incident in Mazar-e-Sharif over the past three days. The first one was a suicide attack that killed the governor of Balkh, Mullah Muhammad Dawood Muzamil and the second explosion targeted journalists' gatherings.

So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack and investigations are underway to find the motives behind the incident.

Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, the group has imposed some tough restrictions on media and journalists. According to the decrees, no private or public media outlet or news channel is allowed to criticize Taliban members or speak against Afghanistan's de facto regime.

Recently, female journalists in Afghanistan's Farah province strongly appealed for the resumption of media activities that have been halted since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan after the US Forces' retreat in August last year, Tolo News reported.

Female journalists urged the Taliban officials to resume their media operations at a meeting in the province of Farah.

"Women have not been allowed to continue their activities one hundred per cent up to this point, but they have said they will allow them. We will be happy if they allow us and truly abide by their promises," Tolo News quoted Marzia Noorzai, a journalist as saying.

The Naw-e-Zan radio representatives stated that in addition to obtaining authorization for media operations, they also want financial assistance in order to maintain their media operations. Numerous media houses have been shut in the war-torn nation due to a lack of funds and the Taliban's imposition of strict measures on the press. (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 York [US], March 12 (ANI): United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, described the attack on journalists in Mazar-e-Sharif province as a blow to the freedom of expression in Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported.

Bennett said he is closely monitoring the attack on the gathering aimed at awarding journalists at Tebyan Cultural Center in northern Mazar-e-Sharif province, the report said, adding that the UN Special Rapporteur emphasised the need for increased security measures for journalists in Afghanistan.

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"Three people were killed and 30 others, including a significant number of journalists, were injured in this incident," stated Tebyan Cultural Center, associated with Iran's Islamic Regime.

According to the Khaama report, the journalists' advocacy organisation has said at least 15 journalists have been injured in this incident, and the situation is getting tougher for journalists and media workers in Afghanistan.

Also Read | US Capitol Riot: Former Vice President Mike Pence Says Donald Trump 'Endangered My Family' on January 6.

The attack took place in a gathering in Mazar-e-Sharif aimed at honouring journalists for the tireless efforts they are putting in to update the world on the challenges and developments in the context of Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported.

This was the second terror incident in Mazar-e-Sharif over the past three days. The first one was a suicide attack that killed the governor of Balkh, Mullah Muhammad Dawood Muzamil and the second explosion targeted journalists' gatherings.

No person or militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, and investigations are underway to find the motives behind the incident.

Since the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021, the group has imposed some tough restrictions on media and journalists. According to the decrees, no private or public media outlet or news channel is allowed to criticize Taliban members or speak against Afghanistan's de facto regime. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Paris, Mar 12 (AP) A contentious bill that would raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 got a push forward with the Senate's adoption of the measure amid strikes, protests and uncollected garbage piling higher by the day.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne tweeted late Saturday after the 195-112 vote that she looks forward to the bill's definitive passage, hailing a decisive step toward a reform that will assure the future of our retirement system.

Also Read | Pakistan Election Commission Suspends Elections for 37 Parliament Seats.

But the legislation must now move through tricky political territory with multiple potential outcomes.

It heads first to a committee of seven senators and seven lower-house lawmakers to find a compromise between the two houses' versions of the text on Wednesday  when unions planned an eighth round of nationwide protest marches.

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President Emmanuel Macron is undaunted by the uncollected trash piling up in Paris and other cities from a strike by garbage workers opposed to the bill and reduced services and supplies in other sectors like transport and energy.

Macron has refused a request by unions to meet with him, which leftist CGT union leader Philippe Martinez said amounted to giving the finger.

There has been no government response to a union request for a citizens' consultation on the legislation, made Saturday after a new day of marches which drew a far smaller number of people into the streets than protest marches four days earlier.

Senate President Gerard Larcher voiced pride in the job of his colleagues after their vote  a day before the deadline  saying the body controlled by the conservative right played its role with only one objective whatever our feelings are, the interest of the country and the interest of the French people.

Unions maintain that French people are voting their opposition to the reform in the streets and through strikes, continuing though reduced in some sectors.

The government hopes to avoid using a special constitutional power to force the bill through parliament without a vote. Parliamentary approval would give a large measure of legitimacy to the pension plan.

But there are multiple scenarios before the reform could become law, making its path uncertain.

If the mixed committee reaches an accord Wednesday, the pension reform plan would get a final vote the following day in the Senate and National Assembly, the lower house.

Without agreement, the bill would likely return to the National Assembly for more debate and a final vote, then likely back to the Senate. Borne, the prime minister, was optimistic the measure would be definitively adopted in the coming days. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, March 12: Pakistan's top electoral body on Sunday suspended the election schedule for 37 parliament seats, which fell vacant after the resignation of PTI lawmakers, following orders from different high courts of the country. The National Assembly seats fell vacant after the resignation of lawmakers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party headed by ousted premier Imran Khan.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on January 27 that elections on 33 seats would be held on March 16 and followed it with another order on February 3 saying the polls on another 31 seats will be held on March 19. Pak's Chief Election Commissioner Calls Meeting to Discuss PTI's Petitions Against Section 144's Imposition.

However, the situation this month after the high courts of Peshawar, Sindh and Balochistan suspended by-elections in their respective provinces while the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the de-notification of three lawmakers.

In four separate notifications issued on Sunday, the ECP said that until further orders from the relevant courts, it was suspending the election schedule for one eat in Balochistan, three in Islamabad, nine in Sindh and 24 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PTI lawmakers resigned in April last year after the government led by Khan was toppled through a no-trust vote. Speaker of the National Assembly accepted the resignations of 34 members on January 17 and 35 others on January 20.

But once the ECP de-notified some of them and announced bye-elections, the PTI moved high courts and got a relief against the decision by the speaker to accept their resignations. Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan Postpones PTI Rally After Govt Imposes Section 144 in Lahore.

The suspension of bye-elections has further complicated the ongoing political tussle between PTI and the government. Khan-led PTI has been pressing for early general elections in the country, but the government is adamant to hold the polls on time after August.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Mar 12 (AP) Researchers have found long-term evidence that actively monitoring localized prostate cancer is a safe alternative to immediate surgery or radiation.

The results, released Saturday, are encouraging for men who want to avoid treatment-related sexual and incontinence problems, said Dr. Stacy Loeb, a prostate cancer specialist at NYU Langone Health who was not involved in the research.

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The study directly compared the three approaches  surgery to remove tumors, radiation treatment and monitoring. Most prostate cancer grows slowly, so it takes many years to look at the disease's outcomes.

There was no difference in prostate cancer mortality at 15 years between the groups, Loeb said. And prostate cancer survival for all three groups was high  97 per cent regardless of treatment approach.

Also Read | US Health Agencies Debunk Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapos COVID-19 Vaccine Claims.

That's also very good news."

The results were published Saturday in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at a European Association of Urology conference in Milan, Italy. Britain's National Institute for Health and Care Research paid for the research.

Men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer shouldn't panic or rush treatment decisions, said lead author Dr. Freddie Hamdy of the University of Oxford. Instead, they should "consider carefully the possible benefits and harms caused by the treatment options.

A small number of men with high-risk or more advanced disease do need urgent treatments, he added.

Researchers followed more than 1,600 U.K. men who agreed to be randomly assigned to get surgery, radiation or active monitoring. The patients' cancer was confined to the prostate, a walnut-sized gland that's part of the reproductive system. Men in the monitoring group had regular blood tests and some went on to have surgery or radiation.

Death from prostate cancer occurred in 3.1 per cent of the active-monitoring group, 2.2 per cent in the surgery group, and 2.9 per cent in the radiation group, differences considered statistically insignificant.

At 15 years, cancer had spread in 9.4 per cent of the active-monitoring group, 4.7 per cent of the surgery group and 5 per cent of the radiation group. The study was started in 1999, and experts said today's monitoring practices are better, with MRI imaging and gene tests guiding decisions.

We have more ways now to help catch that the disease is progressing before it spreads, Loeb said. In the U.S., about 60 per cent of low-risk patients choose monitoring, now called active surveillance.

Hamdy said the researchers had seen the difference in cancer spread at 10 years and expected it to make a difference in survival at 15 years, but it did not. He said spread alone doesn't predict prostate cancer death.

This is a new and interesting finding, useful for men when they make decisions about treatments, he said. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Budgam, March 12: In a horrific incident reported from central Kashmir, the police in Budgam region have detained a 45-year-old man for reportedly killing a young woman, chopping up her body, and then dumping the pieces of her body at various locations throughout the area. Shabir Ahmad, reportedly a carpenter, has been detained by police after her relatives reported her missing. He is a native of the Ompora neighbourhood in the Budgam district and is married.

Times Now Reported that the 30-year-old woman, who was pursuing bachelor's in education, had gone missing since March 7. The police had taken Shabir Ahmad, reportedly a carpenter, into their custody on March 8 based on the woman's call details, but he confessed to the crime on Saturday, the police said. Ghaziabad Horror: Man Murders Wifes Lover, Chops Body Into Eight Parts Across Khoda Colony; Arrested.

Ahmad admitted that he killed the woman, dismembered her body, and dumped the pieces in several locations, including the Railway bridge Ompora and Sebden, where the victim's skull and other body parts were found on Saturday night. Bihar Shocker: Man Attacks Woman, Chops Off Body Parts After She Failed To Pay Debt Amount in Bhagalpur, Two Held.

While the police were yet to reveal the motive of the murder, the woman's relatives alleged that the man had earlier approached her family with a proposal of marriage with one of his relatives, but the woman had turned it down.

The woman's family claimed that Ahmad had been visiting her house for some tiles-related work. Ahmad allegedly said that after the victim rejected his marriage proposal, he had lost his self-respect.

Meanwhile, cops have recovered the body party of the women and further investigation into the incident is underway.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 12, 2023 03:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Noida, March 12: Cases of cough and cold here have increased by about 40 per cent in the last few months. The Noida Health Department conducted a study involving 3,500 patients in the last three weeks wherein 660 patients showed Covid-like symptoms. However, Covid-19 was not confirmed on antigen test in any of the patients.

Experts have linked it to the fast growing influenza H3N2. A person sick with influenza gets cured in around three days, but suffers from cold and cough till at least 3-4 weeks.

In a conversation with IANS, Senior Physician and Diabetologist Dr Amit Kumar apprised that there is a lot of difference between Influenza H3N2 and Covid. H3N2 Virus Outbreak in India: More Patients Reporting Pneumonia-Like Conditions, Ear Fullness.

He said that even though the symptoms of both the diseases are similar, Covid-19 spreads more easily than flu. He explained that the influenza comes under viral fever and many patients that come to see him suffer from fever, and the second common symptom seen in such patients is cough.

He apprised that 92 per cent of the patients suffer from fever, while 86 per cent suffer from cold and 16 per cent experience shortness of breath. Kumar said that a person should consult the doctor if they observe the symptoms.

He added that the situation becomes fatal if the people get medicines directly from local chemist shops, since antibiotics end up doing more harm. He said that taking doses of antibiotics should be avoided in this regard.

Kumar added that one should wear a mask in crowded places. While coughing and sneezing, the mouth and nose should be covered completely. Along with this, touching the eyes and nose repeatedly should be avoided since the virus enters the body through hands.

He added that any medicine, even antibiotics should not be taken without consulting the doctor and special attention should be paid while consuming medicines. H3N2 Virus Spread in Odisha: 59 Cases of 'Hong Kong Flu' Detected in Last Two Months, 225 Suspected Flu Samples Tested.

According to physicians, viral infection can easily spread from one person to another. When a person infected with influenza coughs or sneezes, its droplets can spread up to one metre in the air and can infect a healthy person. Doctors believe that the risk of its spread is the highest in crowded places.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 12, 2023 06:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
"It did not leave any stone unturned to destroy poor men and poor families. The money that was there for the development of the poor, thousands of crores of rupees of it was looted by the Congress government," he claimed.
New Delhi, March 11: Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to attend the G20 summit in September in Delhi, reports citing officials said. As per reports, the Kremlin is working to clear Putin's schedule to make it possible for the Russian President to participate after he had to skip the last two summits.

Reports said that even as the Kremlin is currently considering this, no decision has been taken in this regard. No official confirmation has been issued in this regard, even though India has formally invited Putin and the Kremlin has accepted it. Vladimir Putin Dead? Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky Suggests Russian President May Have Died, Says 'Not Sure Whether He Is Still Alive'.

The report also said that the Kremlin is preparing for an annual economic forum in Vladivostok, which was scheduled for the eve of the September 9-10 summit. Vladimir Putin Dead? Kremlin Rubbishes Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskys Claims About Russian Presidents Death.

But it was shifted to a week later to give Putin greater flexibility and open the possibility that senior officials from India and China might attend the forum, the report said, citing sources.

While India has invited Putin to the G20 Summit, the Kremlin has officially accepted the invite. However, last year, due to pressure from the US and its allies regarding the conflict, Putin withdrew his invitation to the conference in Indonesia and sent Sergei Lavrov in his place.

Reports said that the Kremlin has, however, felt a little less alone in the group since November. Earlier in March in Delhi at the G20 foreign ministers conference, Russia and China rejected language on the conflict that had been agreed upon at the leaders' summit in Indonesia less than six months prior.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 12, 2023 08:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
QatarEnergy and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company (CPChem) have broken ground on a $8.5 billion world-scale petrochemical facility - the Golden Triangle Polymers Plant - in Orange County in the US state of Texas,.



The landmark event was attended by senior QatarEnergy executives as well as Bruce Chinn, the President and CEO of Chevron Phillips Chemical, Mark Lashier, the President and CEO of Phillips 66, in addition to a number of local elected and appointed officials.



Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy President and CEO and Ahmad Saeed Al Amoodi, QatarEnergys Executive Vice President (Surface Development and Sustainability) said: For over two decades, we have worked hand in hand with Chevron Phillips Chemical to satisfy the growing demand for innovative petrochemical products, which not only constitute a significant portion of our daily lives, but also play a role in shaping how we live."

"In this partnership, we are also working together to enable balanced growth and to facilitate human development in a responsible and sustainable manner," he stated.

Highlighting the local impact of the new facility, Al Amoodi said: The Orange community is a direct beneficiary of this strategic partnership. We are investing $8.5 billion to build this world-scale facility, which is QatarEnergys second largest investment in the US after the more than $11 billion investment in the Golden Pass LNG production and export facility, which is currently under construction about 35 miles from here in Sabine Pass, Texas."

"This plant will also be, by far, the most significant economic investment in the Orange community in decades, creating jobs and supporting economic growth, he added.

Al Amoodi concluded his remarks by thanking the local community, CPChem, the local and federal bodies and agencies, and all the stakeholders in the city of Orange who have made this project a reality, and to all the contractors who will build the projects.



Located about 180km east of Houston, the plant will include an ethylene cracker unit with a capacity of 2.08 million tonnes per annum, making it the largest in the world, and two high-density polyethylene units with a combined capacity of 2 million tonnes per annum, also making them the largest derivatives units of their kind in the world.

The plant is expected to startup in 2026 and will be owned by Golden Triangle Polymers Company a joint venture in which QatarEnergy holds a 49% equity interest with 51% held by CPChem.-TradeArabia News Service
The Irish Prison Service and Irish Defence Forces held special events in Portlaoise to mark the 175th anniversary of the first raising of the Irish Tricolour.

The Tricolour, which was first raised on March 7, 1848 in Waterford, was designed to represent all of the people of Ireland. Prison Officers and solders raised the flag with the assistance of Portlaoise scouts as ceremonies on March 7, 2023 outside Portlaoise Prison. To see more pictures - TAP NEXT or ARROW - TO READ MORE ABOUT THE EVENT SEE BELOW PICTURE.

The first event on the day saw the Tricolour raised by members of the Portlaoise Prison Guard of Honour and simultaneously, the military detachment at Portlaoise Prison will raise the Tricolour from the roof of the prison.

A second event in front of the prison later in the day saw Portlaoise Scouts present the Tricolour and help raise the flag at the main gate area with the assistance of the Prison Guard of Honour.

Both flagpoles have been specially fitted with lighting for the occasion to signify and acknowledge that the Tricolour first flew both day and night not alone in Waterford in 1848 but also at the GPO in 1916.

The flags will fly illuminated over the Prison and at the main gate area until St Patrick's Day. Its hoped the event will become an annual tradition at Portlaoise Prison
The biggest news story in Ireland in 1935 was the shooting dead of Richard More OFerrall, a landlords son, near Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.

In Leitrim, it really hit the headlines when three men from Bornacoola were charged with murder. Given that the men were facing the hangman if they were convicted, this was a story like no other in South Leitrim and North Longford.

This famous event will be recalled at a lecture hosted by Carrick-on-Shannon and District Historical Society in St Georges Heritage Centre to be given by Sean O Suilleabhain, the author of Longfords Republican Story 1900 -2000 on Wednesday, March 15, starting at 8.00pm. The title of the talk is The Shooting of Richard More OFerrall.

A dispute over the eviction of poor tenants in Edgeworthstown led to a group of IRA men calling to Lissard House between Edgeworthstown and Ballinalee, with the intention of tarring and feathering the landlord, Gerard More OFerrall. A skirmish developed and the landlords son was shot dead.

Four men were charged with murder, three from the Dromod area and one from Aughnacliffe. After three separate trials, the men were all acquitted. How did it happen? Who was there? What happened to those men afterwards? Where did the More OFerrall family go to? Many of these questions will be answered by Sean O Suilleabhain who has researched this period in detail, and much will be revealed in this illustrated talk.

All are welcome to attend this lecture on Wednesday 15 March at 8.00pm in St Georges Heritage Centre (St Georges Church of Ireland) Admission is 5 (Carrick-on-Shannon and District Historical Society members free). An event not to be missed. Beidh failte romhat.
The Russian ship Mikhail Dudin, containing a cargo of uranium, in the port of Dunkirk on September 13, 2022. Environmentalists have asked Germany and the Netherlands to block the delivery, preventing it from being sent to a processing plant located near the German-Dutch border. MICHEL SPINGLER / AP

"I will be clear: France is not dependent on Russia for the operation of its nuclear power infrastructure." To substantiate the message of Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher on December 6, 2022, before the Assemblee Nationale, the nuclear industry has noted that France does not import natural uranium extracted from Russian mines. It has enrichment and conversion capacities on its own territory, as well as fuel manufactured by French or American companies.

In practice, however, the uranium trade between Paris and Moscow continues. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in late February 2022, France has continued to use a plant located in Siberia to "recycle" radioactive materials, as investigations have shown in recent months. A report by Greenpeace, published on Saturday, March, 11, documents other aspects of the relationship between the French nuclear industry and the Russian giant Rosatom. In particular, it shows that Russian influence is much more extensive than the companies in the sector would have us believe.

The anti-nuclear NGO highlights in particular that the Russian Federation controls the transport of a large part of the natural uranium imported from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It also notes that neither the French operators nor the government can confirm that the natural uranium used in the power plants was not extracted from mines operated by Rosatom in Kazakhstan. Finally, while France does not import Russian natural uranium, it has brought even more enriched uranium from Russia in 2022 than in previous years.

The main route from Central Asia to Europe

Rosatom, a sprawling company created in 2007 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been involved for the past year in the occupation of the Ukrainian power plant in Zaporizhzhia. Despite the appeals of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the European Parliament, which adopted a resolution on the subject in early February, nuclear power remains one of the last sectors to be completely spared by European sanctions on Russia.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes War in Ukraine: Situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant 'unpredictable'

With regard to France, Greenpeace is particularly interested in the transport of natural uranium from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. According to French customs figures, more than 40% of the natural uranium imported into France in 2022 came from these two countries. However, the main route used to transport this material to Europe, and therefore to France, is through Russia, with the natural uranium arriving by train to the port of Saint Petersburg or sometimes to the port of Ust-Luga, located a little further south.

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THE HSE are now offering free nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) across Limerick for those who want to kick the habit.

Those who wish to quit can now avail of patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers and mouth sprays from local stop smoking clinics.

According to the HSE, NRT are licensed medicines that safely give you lower levels of nicotine to help you get through cravings and withdrawal symptoms that can double your chances of quitting for good.

A 2022 study found that one in five people in Ireland smoke, and the prevalence of smoking in Ireland remains at 18% and has not declined since 2019.

Dr Paul Kavanagh, HSE Public Health Medicine Lead with the Tobacco Free Ireland Programme, outlines how nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) works. We sometimes talk about smoking as a choice but the reality is that it is an addiction. Nicotine makes cigarettes addictive and hard to give up.

In addition, Dr Kavanagh said, using NRT which are safer than smoking because they dont contain the other poisonous chemicals, like tar and carbon monoxide, which are present in tobacco smoke.

With regards to vaping as a method of quitting, he reiterated, the best thing you can do for your health is not to smoke or vape.

There is no certainty at this point that e-cigarettes support people to quit and we have questions about their safety profile, he stated.

Mathew Turner, a smoker for 20 years, spoke out about how the programme helped him finally quit for good: Before my son was born my wife heard about our local QUIT advisor, Madeline, in one of her antenatal classes. The first call from Madeline, based in Louth, was just a friendly chat and looking for information like how many I smoked a day.

She then offered some solutions like the patches since they worked for a while before, as well as inhalers. This worked great for about 3 weeks and then on a night out I had two cigarettes, he admitted.

On my next weekly call with Madeline I said I had smoked and she was great, no judgement, just encouragement to keep going.

Now, Mathew uses the mist, and agrees, I feel [it] is a lot stronger and is more what I need especially for nights out. I am off cigarettes now 17 weeks and I feel Ive made a lot of progress since I started with Madeline. [It] was fundamental on my journey to quit smoking, he said.

Free supports to take back control over smoking can be found by contacting Quit Mid-West on 065 6865841, or visiting the website to get a personalised quit plan.
CAPPAMORE is known for its tight-knit sense of community which extends from east Limerick to Ukraine.

The Cappamore Housing Committee threw a welcome party in the community centre for 21 Ukrainians who have recently moved into the mercy convent.

The building in the heart of the village was generously donated to the parish by the Sisters of Mercy when they moved to Tipperary in June 2019.

The last three sisters to live in the convent  Sr Assumpta White, Sr Mercy ODea and Sr Joan Bradshaw  were invited to view the refurbished convent prior to the Ukrainian families moving in.

Seamus Ryan, chairperson of the housing committee who are the custodians of the building, said the Sisters of Mercy are very pleased that the convent is being used for people in so much need of a roof over their heads.

The sisters were delighted with the changes made to modernise the building in preparation for the new residents. All this work was funded by Limerick City and County Council who appointed Jason Radcliffe as manager, said Seamus.

The welcome party in the community centre last Friday was prepared by the members of the housing committee and the ladies of the local ICA guild.

Tommie Ryan, secretary of the housing committee, said the tables were beautifully laid out with daffodils and blue silk flowers to replicate the Ukrainian colours.

The walls were decorated with the Ukrainian and Irish flags side by side and lots of artwork and blue and yellow ribbons, said Tommie.

All of the food was prepared in St Michaels Day Care Centre by management and staff and expertly overseen by Ann Hill.

The Ukrainians also prepared some of their own traditional food for the event and Napoleon Cake is to be recommended.

A fabulous display of tapestries, paintings and craft work put together mainly by Myroslava Nychaia and Antonida Makarenko stole the show.

Some purchased the beautiful handcrafts.

All local organisations were represented at the gathering and the housing committee put a list of all these organisations together with contact details for the Ukrainian guests.

Tommie said they may like to join some of these local organisations and bring new ideas to their new community.

They can be ensured of a warm welcome, he told the Leader.

Local county councillor Martin Ryan was in attendance as was TD Richard ODonoghue.

The county council was represented by Sonja Reidy who liaised with the housing committee in getting the convent refurbished and the welcome event organised.

The icing on the cake at this event was a display of traditional and step dancing by Pauline Hynans dancers and from the Jason and Shereen Hynan School of Dancing.

This was most enjoyable and everyone was clapping along and enjoying the show. Pauline wasnt happy until she had everyone out on the floor and before we knew it we were introducing some of our Ukrainian guests to the intricate secrets of the Siege of Ennis! Then we took to the floor to that international language  the waltz. This wound up the event on a high note, smiled Tommie.

His housing committee colleague Seamus said this event was organised as a sign of solidarity and empathy with these displaced people.

These ordinary people, whose lives have been upended by a foreign invader-whose lives, livelihoods and homes have been destroyed by forces outside their control.

We can only admire their cheerfulness and resilience in the face of this catastrophe. The Cappamore welcome morning was one small way of showing our Ukrainian guests that we stand with them in their hour of need, said Seamus.
FOCUS Ireland hosted a night of fashion, beauty and well-being in the Longcourt Hotel, Newcastle West, with all proceeds going to Focus Irelands homeless services in the Mid-West.

According to the organisation, it was a very glamorous, vibrant and entertaining evening of style, beauty and wellness for all the ladies.

Stylist Chloe Markham showcased various spring looks from Ela Maria Boutique, Newcastle West and Shaws in the Crescent Shopping Centre.

Niamh O'Dwyer, Makeup Artist, gave a makeup demonstration on a model whilst giving attendees tips and tricks to be implemented at home.

Marie Hunt of Cocoon Holistic gave a wellness talk on how to focus on yourself.

Speaking about the event, Fundraising and Development Manager with Focus Ireland Mid-West Maura McMahon said: It was a truly fantastic and enjoyable evening. All the ladies came out in great style and were very supportive of our charity.

I have to say the whole local community really did come on board to help our fundraiser.

There are now 3,431 children and 8,323 adults, giving a total of 11,754, individuals homeless in Ireland. In the Mid-West, there are currently 89 families with 152 child dependents living in emergency accommodation, Ms McMahon said.

She continued: It is with support from fundraisers like this that Focus Ireland is able to continue their vital work in challenging homelessness and changing lives.

Focus Ireland works with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes across Ireland.

The charity says it is driven by the fundamental belief that homelessness is wrong. Wrong because it is a failure of society that creates victims out of ordinary people and robs them of their potential. Wrong because it can be prevented, it can be solved but is allowed to continue and in doing so, undermines society.
A YOUNG mum who lost her life in a tragic road collision on Sunday has been remembered as "a mother like no other" who would "light up a dark room".

Shannen OHalloran, aged in her late 20s, of Dooradoyle, died following the single-vehicle collision just outside Pallasgreen in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Her partner, Paul Bennett, aged in his mid-30s, was a passenger in the car. The Moyross man was rushed to University Hospital Limerick where he was treated for serious injuries.

Two children in the vehicle  a girl and a toddler boy  also received medical treatment but their injuries are not life-threatening.

Fr Noel Murphy, of St Pauls Parish, said it was a "terrible tragedy".

"On behalf of our parish I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and wish her partner and two children a speedy recovery.

"It is a very, very difficult time for all of them following this terrible tragedy," said Fr Murphy.

The late Ms OHalloran was a popular nail and eyelash technician at Revive One Stop Studio.

Her colleague, Aisling Duffy said the salon will never be the same without Ms OHalloran and her "beautiful soul, big bubbly personality and unbelievable gift of the gab".

"I loved your bones. You are one of the kindest sweetest girls I knew. I am just in total disbelief. How we will all continue to work without you I just do not know," said Ms Duffy, who described Ms OHalloran as "a mother like no other" who would "light up a dark room".

One of her many friends told the Limerick Leader that Ms OHalloran was "pure kind-hearted".

"She was always up for the laugh. She was there for anyone to talk. You could text her at any time and always get a reply. She was always the funniest one in the room. She just loved everyone, pure kind-hearted," said her friend, who described Ms OHalloran as a wonderful, caring mum.

"Her kids came first. She loved her children to bits," said the friend, who also spoke of Ms OHallorans talent working in beauty salons.

"She was a brilliant nail technician and was finally getting to do her eyelashes in a salon which she trained for," said the friend.

Another person who knew Shannen told the Leader: "She will be sadly missed  a beautiful young girl with her whole life ahead of her. There are no words."

Gardai are appealing to anyone who has information, who may have witnessed the incident at Kilduff, Pallasgreen on the N24 at approximately 3.30am on Sunday morning, or who may have video footage (including dash-cam), to contact Henry Street on 061 212400, Garda Confidential Line on 1800666111, or any station.

The N24 road at Pallasgreen was closed for much of Sunday to allow for a technical examination of the scene by forensic collision investigators.

Parish priest of Pallasgreen and Templebraden, Fr Tomas O'Connell said the local community was very saddened to hear of the road traffic collision on Sunday morning. He said prayers were said for the young woman and her family at 10.30am Mass in Templebraden church.

"It is an awful, awful thing to happen. The thoughts and prayers from the community of Pallasgreen-Templebraden are with the woman who lost her life and her family," said Fr OConnell.
Billions of dollars of investors' wealth either individuals or companies are stranded due to the crisis in Silicon Valley Bank. Dramatically, SVB which is a lender to some of the renowned tech biggies, unicorns, and start-ups has been shut down due to concerns over lower cash availability. This led to a storm of many companies frantically trying to remove their money from SVB. However, the task is difficult and uncertain. Companies are in a panic! Nevertheless, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has created a bank that will protect both insured and uninsured depositors at SVB.

Post the shutdown of the Silicon Valley Bank, the California department has appointed FDIC as the receiver.

On March 10, FDIC created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara (DINB).

In a statement on March 10, FDIC said, "at the time of closing, the FDIC as receiver immediately transferred to the DINB all insured deposits of Silicon Valley Bank."

According to FDIC, all insured depositors will have full access to their insured deposits no later than Monday morning, March 13, 2023.

But what about uninsured depositors?

FDIC plans to pay uninsured depositors an advance dividend within the next week. Further, these uninsured depositors will receive a receivership certificate for the remaining amount of their uninsured funds.

Data from FDIC showed that as of December 31, 2022, SVB's total assets stood at $209.0 billion --- while its total deposits were approximately around $175.4 billion. About 89% of the bank's total deposits are uninsured.

FDIC said, as it sells "the assets of Silicon Valley Bank, future dividend payments may be made to uninsured depositors."

Currently, SVB has 17 branches in California and Massachusetts.

FDIC said, the main office and all branches of Silicon Valley Bank will reopen on Monday, March 13, 2023. The DINB will maintain Silicon Valley Banks normal business hours.

Further, it said, the banking activities will resume no later than Monday, March 13, including online banking and other services.

Silicon Valley Banks official checks will continue to clear. Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, the FDIC may create a DINB to ensure that customers have continued access to their insured funds.

Also, FDIC directed customers with accounts in excess of $250,000 should contact their tollfree at 1-866-799-0959.

FDIC said, as a receiver it will retain all the assets from Silicon Valley Bank for later disposition. Also, it asked loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

SVB would be the first FDIC-insured institution that failed this year. The last FDIC-insured institution that failed was Almena State Bank, Almena, Kansas in October 2020.
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest network operating carrier in Africa, has finalized preparations to launch direct flights (on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) to Karachi, Pakistan from May 1.



Ethiopian first served Karachi from July 1966 to December 1971, and resumed the service from June 1993 until July 2004.



Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said: We are excited to return to Karachi nearly two decades after we last served the city. As the most populous city in Pakistan, Karachi will be a crucial gateway to Pakistan and the wider South Asia region.



As the only flight connecting Pakistan with Africa, the planned service to Karachi will have significant contribution in strengthening the diplomatic and economic relations between the two regions. It will also offer convenient air connectivity to the growing number of Pakistani investors in Africa as well as tourists.



Karachi will be the 37th destination of Ethiopian Airlines in Asia. Currently, Ethiopian is serving more than 145 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations.  TradeArabia News Service
The Indian government is unlikely to finalise the sale of its remaining 29.54% stake in Hindustan Zinc this fiscal. According to reports, the plan may be put on hold unless the company calls off the nearly $3 billion cash acquisition of two Vedanta Group subsidiaries. Vedanta owns 64.9% and the government is HZL's largest minority shareholder with a 29.54% stake.

"Investors need certainty about the deal and till a finality is reached, the government may not go ahead with its planned offer for sale," news agency Reuters cited a senior government source to explain.

The government had initially planned to sell part of it within FY23 (ending on March 31) in order to help reach its 500 billion divestment target for the year. But with the deal currently stuck in limbo this appears unlikely.

ALSO READ: Dividend paying stock: Hindustan Zinc shares yield 15.5% in FY23

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved the sale the government's 29.54% stake in the zinc producer. At the current price of 304.65 a share, this is valued at around 37,000 crore.

The mines ministry has urged Vedanta to explore other cashless methods of acquisition of these assets.

Officials said that the stake sale was only likely to happen after clarity was received on whether the overseas zinc asset transfer is happening and minority stakeholder concerns have been addressed.

ALSO READ: Moody's downgrade Vedanta Resources corporate family rating. Here's why

Vedanta had said in January that it would sell its global zinc assets to HZL for cash consideration of $2,981 million. The decision had not gone down well with the government, with the Centre asserting that it had been "kept in the dark" about the deal.

The Centre also had said that it would explore all legal options when it came to the Anil Agarwal-promoted company's plans to sell its global zinc assets to HZL.

Hindustan Zinc is an integrated producer of zinc, lead and silver.

(With inputs from agencies)
In a petition to the US government on Sunday, Y Combinator stated that around 10,000 small businesses with accounts in Silicon Valley Bank may be unable to pay their employees in the next 30 days, and approximately 1 lakh jobs are anticipated to be affected as a result of the collapse. The petition submitted to US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen noted that one-third of the startups in Y Combinator's community use Silicon Valley Bank as their only account.

"By that measure, we can estimate that payroll-related furlough or shutdown will impact more than 10,000 small businesses and startups. If the average small business or startup employs 10 workers, this will have an immediate effect of furlough, layoff, or shutdown, affecting over 100,000 jobs in the most vibrant sector of innovation in our economy," the petition said.

More than 3,500 co-founders, CEOs, and over 2 lakh employees of startups and small businesses, including Indian companies PayO, SaveIN, and SalaryBook, have agreed to support the petition.

"According to the NVCA, Silicon Valley Bank has over 37,000 small businesses with more than USD 250,000 in deposits. These balances are now unavailable to them, and without further intervention, according to the FDIC website, may be inaccessible for months to years," the petition said.

"If we allow this to happen, it will immediately impact the US technology industry and US competitiveness worldwide and ultimately set back US competitiveness by a decade or more, while the rest of the world races forward," the petition said.

According to statistics from the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), Silicon Valley Bank has almost 37,000 small firms with deposits totalling more than $250,000. These balances are now unavailable to them, and without further intervention, according to the FDIC website, may be inaccessible for months to years," the petition further added.

Silicon Valley Bank's failure has a real risk of systemic contagion. Its collapse has already instilled fear among founders and management teams to look for safer havens for their remaining cash, which can trigger a bank run on every other smaller bank," the petition stated.

Earlier this week, YCombinators President and CEO Garry Tan had noted that the real victims of the SVB fallout were smaller startups who might be compelled to shut down or furlough next week. The Y-Combinator CEO said this saga will set startups and innovation back by 10 years.

"The SVB fallout is an extinction level event for startups. 30% of YC companies exposed through SVB cant make payroll in the next 30 days," he opined.

The real victims of the SVB fallout are the depositors: startups (10 to 100 employees) who cannot make payroll, and will have to shut down or furlough next week. If these startups wait weeks/months for their deposits, we have destroyed a generation of US startups, at random," he had asserted in a tweet thread.

These depositors will not survive weeks or months without some sort of plan from the govtI recommend that you reach out to your local congressman to get this on their radar TODAY. Now" Tan had added.

When people say oh a startups CFO needed to protect the money" and anything above $250K isnt insured," they are literally thinking this is what youre supposed to do if you have $12.5M in cash. Can you imagine running a business this way?" Tan tweeted.

There are also likely to be repercussions for the Indian startup sector.

Meanwhile, Canadian advertising-tech company AcuityAds Holdings Inc. also suffered a major setback as a result of SVB Financial Group's insolvency. According to a statement, AcuityAds Holdings Inc. has $55 million in deposits at SVB and only $4.8 million in other banks.

"The government recognises that tech sector companies are often not cashflow positive as they grow, and that they rely on cash on deposits to cover their day-to-day costs," an official statement said.

UK tech startup association Coadec said on Twitter that panic" is setting in as it is clear SVBs collapse could have a significant impact on the UKs tech startup ecosystem." The group said it has been in engaging with Treasury and No. 10 about the potential impact" and work has been going on overnight on policy options."

Deposits up to USD 250,000 are insured by the federal government, but anything over is regarded as uninsured. As of Monday morning, insured deposits will be available, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

(With inputs from PTI)
NEW DELHI : As the Indian government banned the mobile game PlayerUnknowns Battlegrounds Mobile (PUBG Mobile) in 2020, Pune-based SuperGaming got to work on a similar game called Indus Battle Royale. With a projected release date sometime this year, Indus Battle Royale aims to fill the void left by the bans on PUBG Mobile and its subsequent India version Battlegrounds Mobile India.

Unlike games produced in India, the battle royale genre requires a lot more investment in game development, which Indian firms have often shied away from. SuperGaming isnt the only firm attempting this either. Gaming unicorn Mobile Premier Leagues (MPL) Mayhem Studios is set to release a similar game called Underworld Gang Wars for Android users in May.

And such investments are set to grow, leading to the development of what is called AAA games in the industry  games which rival movies in terms of the investments needed to make them. Indian studios like Lakshya Digital have done artwork for many AAA games, like Just Cause 3, Elden Ring, and Metal Gear Solid, but most of the actual game development work is done at studios in North America, Europe, South Korea, and Japan.

What has changed is that gaming is now seen as a career. Many of the people in India who are building these games have gone and worked for some of the global gaming companies and studied game development in some of the best universities abroad," said Roby John, CEO and co-founder of SuperGaming.

The change has also been driven by global game publishers entering India over the past few years. For instance, French game publisher Ubisoft has developed parts of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (Remake) from its studios in Pune. Other big firms like Rockstar Games have also set up India units.

John attributed the limited game development work in India to the lack of exposure as a large section of people in India grew up without access to PCs or consoles. They were very good at engineering but never played enough AAA games to build it from scratch," he said.

The cross-section between art and engineering is where a lot of talent is lacking. There are specialized roles like technical artists where talent is missing. India has got great artists and great engineers but not enough people who are working in between," said Oliver Jones, co-founder and CEO of Bombay Play.

Firms like SuperGaming, however, have greater aspirations. The company has also developed shooter games like Mask Gun, which has bagged over 67 million players over its lifetime.

It also collaborated with Google last year to offer its game development engine to other firms through the Google Cloud platform. Game engines are software frameworks designed to develop video games and are usually owned by large companies like Epic Games. SuperGamings platform has five large customers, including Japanese studio Bandai Namco.

That said, Anurag Khurana, CEO of Penta ESports, warned that developing games is still complicated. Devising the whole game and running LiveOps, which is critical for any battle royale game, getting updates out on a monthly basis, is a different challenge from building a shooter game," he said.

Dayanidhi MG, founder and CEO of nCore Games, which developed the action game FAU-G in 2020, said many popular games such as PUBG Mobile and Fortnite, were not overnight hits, and had matured and evolved gradually over several years.

SuperGaming is also in talks to raise a Series B round of over $15 million, said people familiar with the development. The company raised $5.5 million in its Series A round in 2021.

They can build a AAA game and get it to the Alpha stage on a budget of $5-10 million. But they cant market it and sustain a team of 100 persons on that budget for more than 2-3 years," said Jones.

Battle royale games are typically large-scale projects. It requires seasoned teams that have developed, published and handled live ops of mid-core and hardcore games. It requires world-class talent in all key departments like engineering, design and art to come together to plan, iterate, prototype and develop these highly complex games that run smoothly even on mobile phones," Dayanidhi said.

Though Indias gaming industry is at a nascent stage, it has seen massive growth in revenues and time spent on games. The country has 507 million gamers, out of which 120 million were paying users as of FY22, according to a report by gaming-focused investment firm Lumikai. The industrys overall revenue is expected to clock an annual compound growth rate of 27% to reach $8.6 billion in FY27.
US regulators are racing against the clock to find solutions for failed Silicon Valley Bank while Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said officials are focusing on protecting depositors, as officials seek to avoid a wider bank run.

Since SVBs collapse Friday in the biggest bank failure in over a decade, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has launched an auction for whats left of the business, part of an effort to fully recover clients uninsured deposits and head off a wider crisis, people with knowledge of the situation said. Authorities have been racing to make initial payouts of unprotected funds to SVB account holders as soon as Monday.

The agency and the Federal Reserve have also discussed a fund to provide a backstop to banks deposits as part of wider contingency planning, people said.

Authorities efforts are aimed at protecting depositors, rather than bailing out investors, Yellen said on CBSs Face the Nation" on Sunday.

During the financial crisis there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed out," the Treasury Secretary said. And were certainly not looking  and the reforms that have been put in place means that were not going to do that again. But we are concerned about depositors and were focused on trying to meet their needs."

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, whose California district is home to SVB, said the FDIC is working to find a buyer and urged the US government to guarantee all of the banks deposits. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, told Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures" hes hopeful that something can be announced today to move forward."

Concern about the health of other smaller banks focused on the venture capital and startup communities is prompting regulators to consider extraordinary measures. Officials have discussed the new fund to backstop deposits in conversations with banking executives, in the hope that setting up such a vehicle would reassure depositors and help contain any panic, said the people. They asked not to be identified because the talks werent public.

Final bids for SVBs assets are due Sunday afternoon but a winner may not be known until late in the day, other people with knowledge said.

In her CBS interview, Yellen renewed assurances that the US banking system is safe, well-capitalized and resilient.

I simply want to say that were very aware of the problems that depositors will have," she said. Many of them are small businesses that employ people across the country and of course this is a significant concern and working with regulators to try to address these concerns."

US regulators are under time pressure to sell assets of SVB Financial Group, the banks parent, prompting offers by some investment firms to provide financing to companies with cash trapped at Silicon Valley Bank.

Asked whether the FDIC might be open to a foreign bank" coming in as a buyer, Yellen said, Im sure theyre considering a wide range of available options that include acquisitions."

While the FDIC insures deposits of up to $250,000, the vast majority of funds held in at SVB far exceeded that. The agency has said it will make 100% of protected deposits available on Monday.

Asked on Face the Nation" about the option of a private-sector bank buying SVBs assets, Khanna said: That would be the ideal situation and our delegation that talked to the FDIC last night made that clear. Thats what we urged them to work on, they said theyre working on it."

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Saturday that US taxpayers shouldnt bail out Silicon Valley Bank. Private investors can purchase the bank and its assets," Haley, a former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations, said in a statement.

The White House repeated its assurances on the US banking system, with Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young citing regulatory changes put in place after the financial crisis more than a decade ago.

What Ill say about the banking system overall is its more resilient, and has a better foundation than before the financial crisis," Young said on CNNs State of the Union."

Americans can have confidence in the safety and soundness of our banking system" and the US economy is extremely strong," Yellen said on CBS.
Actor Deepika Padukone will present an Oscar at the 95th Academy Awards scheduled to be held on 12 March, Sunday at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The 37 year old actor who Padmavati in Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed movie Padmavat shared the news on Instagram.

Deepika Padukone will join global stars like Emily Blunt, Samuel Jackson and Dwayne Johnson in Los Angeles on 12 March for the Oscars ceremony. Padukone shared a list on Instagram which had the names of other presenters at the Oscars 2023.

Deepika Padukone will be joining Samuel Jackson, Zoe Saldana, Dwayne Johnson and Riz Ahmed in presenting an Oscar award.

However, she is not the first Indian to be presenting at the prestigious Academy Awards. There have only been two Indians who have presented at the Oscars before this.

In 1980, Persis Khambatta became the first Indian to be chosen for the honour. Born in Mumbai (then Bombay) to a Parsi family, Khambatta was an actor and model best remembered for playing Lieutenant Ilia in 1979s Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

In 1980, she went up onstage at the Oscars ceremony to hand out the award for Best Feature-Length Documentary Film.

More recently, it was Padukones contemporary, Priyanka Chopra, who presented at the Oscars. In 2016, Chopra presented the nominees for Achievement in Film Editing. She was accompanied onstage by American actor and director Liev Schreiber.

Three Indian films have been nominated at Oscars 2023 -- RRR (Best Song), All That Breathes (Best Documentary Feature) and The Elephant Whisperers (Best Documentary Short Film).

The Oscars will be live streamed early morning of 13 March at 5:30 am. Viewers can watch the live telecast on Disney+Hotstar. Oscars 2023 will be telecasted live on ABC.

The broadcast can be streamed with a subscription to Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and Fubo TV. Some of these services offer brief free trials. You can also stream the show on ABC.com and on the ABC app by authenticating your provider.
Oscars have always been a source of drama and excitement, a night where arguably the best and brightest in the film industry come together to celebrate their achievements and showcase their talent. The photographers buzzing around red carpet entries to emotional speeches, the Oscars are a hell of an event to capture the attention of the world.

"Controversies" also play a role in making this event the talk of the town and as we stand a few hours away from the 95th Academy awards, let's have a look at the top controversies around the Oscars.

Biggest Oscar controversies of all times:

1. No one could have predicted the explosive moment that would unfold on the stage of Oscars 2022 when Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock across the face with a force that echoed through the hall. The light moment turned extremely uncomfortable with Smith's action which came after Rock made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

2. In 2017, wrong winners was announced for Best Picture, with La La Land initially declared the winner instead of Moonlight. The presenters were accidentally given the envelope for the Best Actress winner (La La Land's Emma Stone).

The moment turned awkward as soon the real winners were announced and the Moonlight team was then invited to come onstage, where they were given the Oscar by Jordan Horowitz, the producer of La La Land.

3. #OscarsSoWhite: In 2015, the Oscars were heavily criticized for the lack of diversity among its nominees. The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite went viral, calling attention to the fact that no actors of color were nominated for any of the major categories in both years.

4. In 2003, Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his role in The Pianist and celebrated by kissing presenter Halle Berry on stage, a move that some considered inappropriate and disrespectful.

5. In March 1973, Marlon Brando made the decision to boycott the Oscars ceremony as a means of protesting against the negative representation of Native Americans in films. In addition to this, Brando also sought to pay homage to the Wounded Knee occupation, which involved a confrontation between approximately 200 members of the American Indian Movement and thousands of federal agents and US marshals in the town of South Dakota.

"Very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award," Brando said to the audience and 85 million viewers watching the award show on television.

(With inputs from ANI)
Retail consumption at malls run by The Phoenix Mills Ltd has remained steady in February, although not particularly exciting. Month-on-month, total consumption fell by 21% due to seasonality factors such as fewer number of operational days in February, lack of festivals and the end of the holiday season.

On a like-to-like basis, consumption for last month was 110% of February 2020 (pre-covid levels). This excludes contribution from Phoenix Palassio and Phoenix Citadel, which opened in July 2020 and December 2022 respectively. Year-to-date (April to February), like-to-like consumption was 114% of FY20 levels. Given this, for FY23, ICICI Securities has pencilled in a rental income of 1,340 crore (or 1,200 crore on a like-to-like basis) versus 1,030 crore in FY20.

As and when Phoenix adds malls to its portfolio, that should aid consumption, going ahead. Last month, the companys Palladium mall in Ahmedabad commenced operations. Further, two malls in Pune and Bengaluru are expected to become operational in the June quarter (Q1FY24). By FY27, Phoenixs retail space is expected to be around 14 mn sq. feet (msf), up from 6.9msf in FY22. ICICI Securities expects Phoenix to achieve a 17% compound annual growth rate (ex-new Kolkata asset) in rental income over FY20-25E, resulting in 2,240 crore of rental income in FY25E. Out of this, Phoenixs share is about 77% or 1,730 crore, said ICICI Securities.

View Full Image Mint

The retail business is Phoenixs mainstay, contributing 68% of revenues for the nine months ended December. The company also derives revenues from residential, commercial, hospitality and others. Phoenixs hospitality segment has been on a strong footing this year. Higher room rates are a factor helping the segments performance. Phoenixs St. Regis, Mumbai, saw a sharp 23% month-on-month jump in revenue per available room in February to 18,180. Occupancy rate rose to 89% from 83% in January. At Courtyard by Marriott, Agra, too, room occupancy and revenue have improved sequentially. Nuvama Research expects revival of consumption at malls and hotel occupancy, and liquidation of ready inventory in the housing segment, to culminate in robust cash flows for Phoenix Mills.

To be sure, a slowdown in consumption is a looming near-term risk for the stock, which is down nearly 19% from its 52-week high seen in November. Entry in new cities and operationalization of under-construction/planned assets are some of the stock triggers that we expect to play out over the next few years," analysts from Nuvama Research said in a report on 8 March.
Steel and aluminium producers continue to be plagued by subdued demand conditions that have resulted in lower price realizations. Even so, there is hope that the reopening of the key metals market, China, post the covid-induced lockdowns would boost demand for the two commodities. Some initial signs are encouraging. For instance, in February, Chinas manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) touched a 11-year high of 52.6. Further, the woes in the real estate sector appear to be bottoming out.

In this backdrop, Chinas export hot rolled coil (HRC) steel price, a good indicator of global prices, has risen by 14% in 2023 so far, rebounding from a 23% decline last year. The Indian domestic markets reflect the same trend. The average price of HRC in March stands at 60,700 per tonne, up by 12.5% from December. In 2022, prices had fallen by 17.5%. Further, the average price of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange in the March quarter so far is about 5% higher sequentially on the hopes of improved demand from China.

That said, it may be too early to rejoice. We need to see consistency in the recovery of the Chinese economy. It is early to interpret from the PMI reading that a meaningful rebound has taken place," said Satyadeep Jain, analyst at Ambit Capital.

View Full Image Mint

As things stand, the current price of aluminium is nearly 43% lower than its multi-year high of $3984.50 per tonne seen in March 2022. Recall that aluminium prices had shot up in the early part of 2022 on the back of concerns over supply disruptions due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

To be sure, Chinas gross domestic product growth target of 5% for 2023 is lower than expectations. Therefore, how growth pans out needs closer tracking. Besides, muted demand in rest of the world is also a pain point.

Meanwhile, in the past year, Tata Steels shares are down by about 17% as weak performance of its European business weighed on investor sentiment. The companys European operation was in the red in the December quarter. Steel price realization in Europe is expected to drop sequentially this quarter.

On the other hand, shares of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd have gained 23% in the last one year. Lower debt levels and comparatively better earnings performance given less foreign exposure have helped sentiments. For steel makers, the rising cost of coking coal (a raw material) needs to be watched out for, as it would weigh on margins.

For aluminium, some tailwinds are foreseen in the latter half of 2023. While demand is unlikely to return in force before the second half of the year, markets will be vulnerable when it does as curtailment in capacities and sanction on Russian metal will likely result in supply chain disruption aiding aluminium realizations," said a report by JM Financial Institutional Securities dated 9 March. In 2022, smelter curtailments rose across Europe due to the energy crisis.

However, falling thermal coal price is a silver lining as it aids aluminium spreads and Hindalco Industries Ltds Indian operations benefit from this.

This along with a better outlook in its overseas business, Novelis Inc., would aid sentiments of investors in Hindalco stock, which is down by almost 32% in the past one year.

Overall, the ongoing quarter is a seasonally strong one. But eventually, a pick-up in global demand is crucial for volumes and realizations to rally.

Jefferies global commodities team believes a meaningful cyclical recovery in China looks increasingly likely this year. However, if that doesnt play out, this year would be another muted one for metal companies.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vineetha Sampath Vineetha Sampath is a chartered accountant and is experienced in the field of research analysis. She joined Mint's Mark to Market team recently and this is her first stint in journalism. Read more from this author
Large-cap company Astral Ltd operates in the industrial sector. The company recorded a market worth of 38,373.85 Cr on Friday and closed with a downside gap on the exchanges. The company is involved in the production and installation of CPVC pipes. The firm announced bonus shares in a 1:3 ratio with the release of its Q3FY23 results report, and it has set Tuesday, March 14, 2023 as the record date for the purpose of determining the eligibility of shareholders entitled to the issue of bonus equity shares. Due to the T+1 settlement mechanism of India, the stock is turning ex-bonus on the same date, i.e. on Tuesday.

The firm recorded revenue from operations of 1267.8 crore on a consolidated basis in Q3FY23 as opposed to 1102.7 crore in Q3FY22, a growth of 15.0%. Astral said that its EBITDA plummeted by 9.5% YoY to 184.4 crore in the quarter ended December 2022 from 203.8 crore in the same quarter of FY22. In comparison to Q3FY22, when PBT was 169.7 Cr, the firm reported PBT of 129.5 Cr in Q3FY23, a loss of 23.7% YoY. The company's profit after tax (PAT) or net profit plummeted by 25.8% to 94.9 crore in Q3FY23 from 127.9 crore in the corresponding period last year. Astral's EPS was 4.62 in Q3FY23, a fall of 27.1% YoY from 6.34 in the same period the previous year.

During Q3FY23, the company recorded a promoter shareholding of 55.85%, FIIs stake of 14.88%, DIIs stake of 15.23% and a public stake of 14.04%. FII/FPI holdings declined from 16.26% in the September 2022 quarter to 14.88% in the December 2022 quarter, mutual funds elevated shareholding from 7.95% in the Q2FY23 to 8.66% in the Q3FY23, and institutional investors lowered holdings from 30.63% in the Q2FY23 to 30.11% in the Q3FY23, according to Trendlyne data. Promoter shareholding remained stable at 55.85% in the December 2022 quarter.

Commenting on the fundamental outlook of Astral, Rahul Ghose, Founder & CEOHedged said One of the main reasons for the fall in the Astral stock from its peak at 2600 is the fall in PVC prices. The most important raw material for companies like Astral is Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC resins cost forms almost 60-70% of a pipe manufacturer's revenue. Now the companies will have to sell the existing level of inventory (that was manufactured at high PVC prices) at lower prices, as market participants would demand the benefits of these falling prices. Further, since PVC forms a major part of the cost, selling at low prices would reduce the company's profit margins as well. Thus, this leads to companies having huge inventory losses. Now, if the PVC prices fall further, the margin is expected to get trimmed even further."

Commenting on the technical outlook of the stock, Rahul Ghose said Technically, the Astral stock has been trading in a sideways range for the last 4 months with 1820 being the bottom end of the range and 2150 being the higher end of it. The 2150 level is also a good resistance for the stock and the second tranche of buying should come about only once prices close above this level, For the near term, one can initiate a buy once it crosses and closes above the 1975 level as the stock on the daily chart has touched its lower bollinger band and is moving up. The Momentum indicators on the weekly chart are also suggesting that the stock might catch momentum soon through signs of a divergence. Further confirmation on the buy will be established if the Bollinger bands indicator starts to drift apart from the very narrow range that it is in currently."

Sayyam Agarwal, Head of Academics, ANG (Aspire Now Global) commented on fundamental outlook for Astral and said Astral Poly Technik Ltd was established in 1996, with the aim to manufacture pro-India plumbing and drainage systems in the country. It has also forayed into adhesive business over the years. Astral Ltd. has bonus in the ratio 1:3 with ex-date of 14 Mar 2023. On the fundamental side it can be seen QOQ sales growth for the company is not linear. In some quarters it is positive and in some, it has even gone to a negative growth rate."

Compared to the peers, PE of the company is very high. Industry PE is 26 and the companys is almost 100, which makes the company highly overvalued. Also, the long-term growth rate is on the diminishing side. Though the company is recovering from it, it is still lagging. The cash flow of the company is positive, which is a good sign," further added Sayyam Agarwal.

Commenting on the technical outlook of the stock Sayyam Agarwal said Seeing the fundamentals, it seems that the company is overvalued, and the prices should correct a little more in the near future. On the technical front, prices have broken the trend line and are sustaining below the level of 1972. The next strong support for the price is at 1770 and then at 1610. One should see these points to accumulate because prices can see some correction in near future."

On Friday, the shares of Astral Limited closed on the NSE at 1,905.10 apiece level, down by 0.89% from the previous close of 1,922.20. The stock touched a 52-week-high of 2,654.80 on (09-Sep-2022) and a 52-week-low of 1,581.55 on (20-Jun-2022).

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
Many major rating agencies have lowered their outlook in some Adani Group-backed companies to 'Negative' from 'Stable' in recent times. The reason behind lowering the outlook is due to risks in the financial flexibility of the Group after the Hindenburg report which led to a relentless selloff in these stocks in February. However, the rating actions could not tame the bulls in the majority of Adani stocks. In the week that ended March 10th, except for Adani Enterprises and the cement business, the rest of the Adani-led stocks surged in the week.

On Friday, Adani stocks saw a mixed sentiment. The flagship firm Adani Enterprises stock dropped by nearly 3%, while Adani Wilmar tumbled by at least 4.5%. Adani Ports closed on a flat note. Also, in cement stocks, Ambuja Cements dipped by 2%, and ACC shed nearly a percent. Media stock NDTV was also down by nearly 5%.

On the positive side were Adani Transmission, Adani Total Gas, and Adani Green Energy as they touched 5% upper circuit. Adani Power also gained by nearly 5% on BSE.

But by end of March 10th, Adani Group's total market value stood around nearly 9.3 lakh crore. This is higher compared to the start of the week.

On March 6th, the group's market value together was near 8.85 lakh crore. During the end of February month, the market cap was around 6.82 lakh crore.

From March 6th to 10th, Adani Enterprises' stock plunged by nearly 4.4% on BSE. While Ambuja and ACC stocks dipped by nearly 2% and 1% respectively.

Rest all have recorded an upside!

In the week, Adani Transmission, Adani Total Gas, and Adani Green Energy posted a nearly 16% surge each in their stock prices on BSE. Their market cap also regained over 1 lakh crore mark.

Also, Adani Power climbed by over 15% during the week. While Adani Ports and NDTV stock jumped over a percent. Lastly, Adani Wilmar climbed over 3%.

As of March 10, 2023, Adani Enterprises' m-cap is around 2,16,195.51 crore, while Adani Ports' m-cap stood at 1,50,745.3 crore. These two are the most valued firms of the Adani Group in terms of market share.

Further, Adani Transmission's m-cap is currently at 1,00,823.81 crore, Adani Total Gas at 1,04,498.46 crore, and Adani Green Energy at 1,08,197.34 crore. Also, Adani Power's m-cap is at 79,163.67 crore, Adani Wilmar's at 58,914.43 crore, Ambuja at 75,126.89 crore, ACC at 34,687.12 crore, and NDTV at 1,507.02 crore.

Moody's-backed ICRA was among the first to trim its outlook to Negative on two Adani companies on March 3rd. These were Adani Ports and Adani Total Gas. Earlier, their outlook was stable. However, ICRA reaffirmed its rating.

According to ICRA, the reason behind the lowering in the outlook of these two Adani companies was due to a deterioration in the group's financial flexibility.

Adani Group's financial flexibility has deteriorated after Hindenburg's report on January 24. The short seller's critical report led to steep declines in share prices and an increase in the yield of international bonds raised by the group's entities.

While last week, India Ratings also assigned a Negative outlook on Adani Green Energy and Adani Enterprises from their previous 'Stable'. Also, CARE Edge trimmed its outlook to Negative on Adani Enterprises.

In regards to Adani Enterprises, Ind-Ra's negative outlook on the company is due to the uncertainty on the cash flow mismatches resulting from the revised capex plans and the possible sources of funding available which may keep the equity cover lower than 2x.

While CARE Edge's rating action on Adani's flagship company was due to the expected moderation in the financial flexibility of the Adani group in case of any adverse outcome or observations from the ongoing regulatory and legal scrutiny directed by the Honourable Supreme Court of India in connection with various allegations against the Adani group of companies.

After the apex court's direction, market regulator Sebi is expected to complete the examination pertaining to the lapses in reporting mechanisms, disclosure adequacies, and manipulation of stock prices amidst other aspects of investigation in a time-bound manner.

However, both Ind-Ra and CARE believe that the latest fundraising of 15,446 crore from GQG Partners alleviates the risk to some extent in these companies and could aid in liquidity to a certain degree.

Meanwhile, the cement stocks were under pressure after a report stated that Gautam Adani, the chairperson of the Adani Group, is planning to sell a stake in the cement business for $450 million with the aim to reduce debt. Adani is looking to sell a 4-5% stake in Ambuja Cement to international lenders, reported Financial Times quoting sources.

Overall, Adani stocks were in the green due to the mega block deal by GQG Partners which sort of brings some comfort among investors.
Beni, DR Congo, Mar 12 (UNI) At least 19 people were killed in an overnight attack in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), local sources said on Sunday.



The attack, which took place in the village of Kirindera in the territory of Beni of the eastern province of North Kivu, killed at least 19 civilians, Carly Nzanzu Kasivita, former governor of North Kivu, told journalists on Sunday morning, attributing the attack to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels.



Several buildings in the village, including a health center, were set on fire by the rebels, he said.



The attack came two days after another attack blamed on the ADF rebels on Thursday in two villages of the Beni territory, where at least 44 people were killed.



The ADF was founded in the 1990s by several opposition movements in Uganda. Defeated by the Ugandan army, these rebels remained active in eastern DRC, which led to joint operations between the DRC and Uganda to hunt down the ADF rebels, who are now also an affiliate of the Islamic State in central Africa.



For decades, the ADF rebels active in the territory of Beni have been multiplying attacks against civilians.

UNI XINHUA RKM
One of Indias largest financial services group, Bajaj Finserv, is the latest entrant in the mutual fund space, where about 40 fund houses operate. The Pune-based company got the Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (Sebi) nod to start mutual fund operations on 1 March.

The 39-trillion mutual fund industry has seen a lot of interest, of late, with entities such as fintechs, discount brokers and portfolio management service (PMS) firms vying for licences to operate funds.

Thus far, the track record of an MF scheme has been the USP of a fund house or fund manager; but now, innovative products as well as new approaches are drawing investors. So, here are some points to ponder upon when considering a new fund house:

MF distributors say investors may consider schemes of new fund houses, but should first check the track record of the fund managers, especially if the funds are going to be actively-managed.

There is no issue with making some allocation with a new fund house, as long as the people running the fund house come with a strong track-record and experience in the fund management industry," says Anup Bhaiya, founder and managing director of Money Honey Financial Services.

View Full Image Mutual Fund Licences rush data.

Of the fund houses that have already got Sebis in-principle approval to launch MF businesses, two are PMS providers Helios Capital and Old Bridge Capital, which are led by former star fundmanagers Samir Arora and Kenneth Andrade, respectively.

The founders of Helios, including Dave Williams and Karan Trehan, have a strong MF background. Williams was also a trustee of Alliance Capital MF, while Trehan was president and CEO of Alliance Capital International, where he set up asset management firms locally and distribution relationships globally.

Bhaiya says that it is important for investors to wait and see how the MF team gets built, including fund managers, chief investment officers (CIO) and chief executive officers (CEO).

Rupesh Nagda, managing director of Family First Capital, says an analysis of the track-record of managing investor money can help gauge how the investment management team has performed in the past. For example, PMS firms have a track-record, which can be used to make some assessment.

Old Bridge Capitals All Cap Fund has delivered negative returns (-8.6%) over a one-year period, according to data from HDFC Securities. The S&P BSE 500 Index has given 0.3% return s in the same period. Since inception on 30 August 2016, the fund has delivered a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14%. Over the same period, the BSE 500 Index has delivered 12% CAGR.

Helios Capitals Helios India Rising Portfolio gave a negative 6.3% return in one-year period, according to data from PMSBazaar. In the same period, the Nifty 500 Index gave 0.09% returns. All returns are as of 31 January 2023.

Since inception (16 March 2020), the PMS scheme has delivered CAGR returns of 20% against 25% by the Nifty 500 Index. To be sure, Helios Capital has a much longernearly two decades of track-recordof managing Indian equity assets through long-short hedge fund strategies.

White Oak Capital is another PMS firm that recently launched MF operations. Its PMS, India Pioneers Equity, has delivered negative 6.1% returns in one-year period.

Since inception (9 April 2019), the strategy has delivered 15.7% CAGR returns, according to data from PMSBazaar. This is against 12% CAGR delivered by BSE 500 Index in the same period.

White Oak is backed by Prashant Khemka, who was former CEO and CIO of Goldman Sachs Asset Management in India. WhiteOak MF is headed by Aashish Somaiyaa, who is former CEO of Motilal Oswal MF, and has over two decades of experience in MF industry.

Apart from PMS providers, some of the new fund houses are focusing only on passive funds.

Indias largest broking house in terms of active clients, Zerodha, for instance, aims to disrupt the passive fund space with more efficient" products.

Vishal Dhawan, founder of Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors, says many new fund houses may launch innovative solutions on the passive side, but investors should not consider such product offerings just because of their novelty.

New fund houses would try to disrupt both on the cost and solutions side. Investors will have to take a very nuanced approach when considering such funds. They would need to see if there is anything truly unique, or is it just another me-too investment strategy. In that case, the opportunity may have to wait till a track-record is built," Dhawan says.

Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal-backed Navi MF has launched US Total Market Fund of Fund, which is Indias only fund investing in a Vanguard fund, the second largest asset manager in the world and a pioneer in passive investing.

Navi MF has also launched regular index funds such as Nifty 50 Index Fund and Nifty Next 50 Index Fund at the lowest expense ratios in the industry.

Nagda says even if it is a passive-only fund house, investors may want to wait and see how the fund house is executing its strategy. Ensuring that tracking differences are within a narrow range is not as simple. It requires certain efficiency in executing transactions in the funds portfolio, so that the portfolio is able to reflect the index at all times," he adds.

So, even when considering a passive scheme of a new fund house, track the index performance and the funds performance for a while to check for any wide deviation from the index it is tracking.

New fund houses may also come up with different investment processes. Just because it is a new or different investment process, it doesnt mean it would necessarily deliver outperformance," points out Ravi Kumar TV, founder of Gaining Ground Investment Services.

Investment process or philosophy can make or break a fund houses performance. More important will be to check if the fund house is sticking to its investment philosophy, especially when the fund house is focusing on actively-managed schemes. Again, this can only get validated over time.

A well-defined investment process is important as it can help to keep in check fund managers own biases towards a particular stock or sector, which may hurt scheme performances in the long run. Also, a well laid out investment process helps the fund house keep the scheme performances intact, when there are fund manager exits.

While an existing investment track-record helps, it is important to remember that investors in a PMS or alternate investment funds are likely to have a higher risk-appetite than MF investors. Can the new fund house manage both the risk and return expectations of MF investors? This is something one needs to watch out for," Kumar adds.

Remember, investor returns in a PMS may differ from the strategy as all flows are not pooled into one scheme, as is the case with mutual funds. Stocks are held in clients individual demat accounts.

Experts say new or first-time investors are still better off with established firms.

Running an MF also requires meeting several compliances, and putting in place several checks and balances to ensure smooth running of the business. Investors should look who are the promoters? Is there a good credible name behind the fund house?," according to R. Balakrishnan, a former mutual fund CEO and financial industry veteran.
The repercussions of the downfall of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the largest retail banking collapse since the global financial crisis, have set off a chain reaction of consequences that are still being fully comprehended. Surprisingly, a 116-year-old cooperative bank located in Mumbai has also been affected by the sudden demise of this American bank. The reason is its name: Shamrao Vithal Co-operative Bank (SVC Bank).

One of the customers asked for a justification on Twitter on the rumours about default". You have got the twitter handle wrong. We are SVC Bank, erstwhile Shamrao Vithal Cooperative Bank, one of the leading & strongest cooperative banks in India with a legacy of 116 years. We have no relation to Silicon Valley Bank," the bank replied.

After reading the tweet, ZyppElectric CEO Akash Gupta commented that filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali - also known by SLB - might issue a statement on the issue in the future. To all the trolls and arm chair commentators, atleast his bank still runs on its founder's vision and fundamentals, unlike others who've gone under. It's great to see them clarifying, in its best intrest (sic)," wrote another user.

Also Read: SVB meltdown: Bluestone, CarWale to Paytm - Indian startups bear the brunt

The confusion is such that the bank has decided to release an official statement on the issue. The SVC Bank clarified that it had no connection with Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in California.

It urged its members, customers and stakeholders to ignore any baseless rumours and mischief-mongering" insinuating a link between the two banks. The SVC Bank said it reserved the right to take appropriate legal action against rumour mongers who tarnished its brand image.

Also Read: Indian startups, VC funds press panic button on Silicon Valley Bank crisis

With a rich history dating back to 1906, SVC Bank played a vital role in advancing the cooperative movement in India for more than 116 years. As of today, the bank remains one of the most established and widely known names in India's cooperative banking sector. Based in Mumbai, the bank boasts an extensive network of 198 branches, 214 ATMs, and a workforce of over 2300 employees, spanning across 11 states in India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India Girish Chandra Murmu will serve as the chairperson for the G20 SAI (Supreme Audit Institutions) meeting from March 13-15 in Guwahati, Assam, news agency ANI reported.

Murmu is leading the Supreme Audit Institutions-20 (SAI20) Engagement Group as the Chair under India's G20 Presidency. As part of this role, the CAG will preside over the SAI20 Delegates Meeting.

Representatives from G20 member countries, guest countries, and various international organizations will attend the SAI20 event, hosted by India as part of its G20 Presidency.

The event will see the participation of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Oman, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

'Blue Economy' refers to the sustainable utilization of ocean resources in a way that promotes economic growth, improves livelihoods, and creates jobs, while also preserving the health of our ecosystem.

On the other hand, 'Responsible AI' is a governance framework that aims to establish guidelines for the collection and utilization of data, the evaluation of AI models, and the deployment and monitoring of these models.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Chirag Delhi Flyover on Outer Ring Road will be closed from today (12 March) due to repair work.

The flyover will be closed for 50 days, the Delhi Traffic Police has informed the NCR residents.

The repair work of each carriageway will take 25 days and it will be closed for traffic while the other carriageway will remain operational, the traffic police added.

Due to repairs work by Public Works Department, Chirag Delhi Flyover on Outer Ring Road will be closed from March 12, 2023 for a period of 50 days due to which route will be affected," Delhi Traffic Police wrote on Twitter.

Traffic Advisory



Due to repairs work by Public Works Department, Chirag Delhi Flyover on Outer Ring Road will be closed from March 12, 2023 for a period of 50 days due to which route will be affected.



Please follow the advisory.#DPTrafficAdvisory pic.twitter.com/Uw5vODTa6t  Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) March 9, 2023

Information for commuters:

The repair of the carriageway from Nehru Place to IIT Delhi Flyover will be taken up first and the repair of the carriageway from IIT Delhi Flyover to Nehru Place will be taken up thereafter.

Those heading to railway stations, airports, hospitals etc. are advised to plan their departure in advance and take alternate routes to avoid delays.

Alternate routes:

The commuters heading towards Dhaula Kuan, AIIMS, Defence Colony etc. are advised to take a right turn from under Nehru Place Flyover and follow Lala Lajpat Rai Marg towards Moolchand Hospital Flyover for their destination.

Commuters heading towards Greater Kailash and Nehru Place from IIT Delhi on Outer Ring Road are advised to take a left turn from Panch sheel flyover towards August Kranti Marg to go to Ring Road and take a right turn from under Moolchand Flyover towards Lala Lajpat Rai Marg to reach their destination.

Commuters heading towards Greater Kailash and Nehru Place from IIT Delhi on Outer Ring Road are advised to take a left turn from IIT Flyover towards Aurobindo Marg to go to Ring Road and take a right turn from under Moolchand Flyover towards Lala Lajpat Rai Marg to reach their destination.

The movement of heavy and commercial vehicles on Outer Ring Road towards the Chirag Delhi flyover may be restricted as and when required to ensure a smooth flow of traffic on the stretch, the advisory stated.

Separately, earlier this month, the much-awaited Ashram Flyover reopened for the public in the national capital.

The flyover is aimed at cutdown the commuting time between Delhi and Noida. It will cut down travel time between Delhi and Noida by 25 minutes.
New Delhi: State-run oil and gas companies currently in talks with gas producers across the world for long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) contracts have adopted a wait-and-watch approach anticipating a further softening of prices amid a volatile energy market and supply concerns.

While the talks have been on for over a year now, a major deal would be signed after prices ease further, said a person aware of the developments.

Now may not be an apt time for sealing long-term contracts. Although prices have come down from the multi-year high levels, they may fall further with an easing of demand," said the person.

Spot LNG prices have fallen to about $14-15 per metric million British thermal units (mmBtu) from an average of over $45 per mmBtu in the July-September quarter of the current fiscal.

Indian public sector oil and gas majors including Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and GAIL have been looking for long-term contracts for procuring LNG with major international gas producers for the past one year after Russias Gazprom defaulted on contracted supplies to GAIL starting May 2022. This prompted a chase for supplies across the globe and turning towards expensive spot purchases.

Queries sent to the petroleum ministry, IOCL and GAIL remained unanswered till press time.

Indian companies have long-term LNG contracts for 22 million tonnes per annum. Gazprom stopped supplies as spot prices of gas far outpaced the price pegged under long-term contracts. Other state-run oil and gas companies, apart from GAIL have also enhanced their efforts to secure more and more long-term contracts for LNG.

Gazprom is yet to resume its supplies under the contract and talks between the two countries to resolve the issue are still underway, said another official.

GMTS had inked an agreement with GAIL for 2.5 million tonne of LNG supply per annum for 20 years, starting in 2018-19. While the Russian long-term LNG cargo started arriving in India in June 2018, the supplies have been stalled since May 2022 in the wake of the Ukraine war.

On 29 September 2022, Mint reported that India has reached out to the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq for LNG supplies.

IOCL and GAIL are in talks with UAEs Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for a long-term supply contract. On 27 January, Mint had reported that the talks are at a fairly advanced stage.

According to sector experts, due to the growth in natural gas consumption of India from the fertilizer and city gas distribution sectors, India will remain heavily reliant on LNG imports despite the projected increase in the domestic natural gas production and long-term contracts are crucial as spot prices have been exorbitant and volatile as was seen in 2022.

Prices in the spot markets have however eased of late. A recent report from S&P Global Commodity Insights said that falling spot LNG prices are set to rekindle demand for the fuel in South Asia in coming months, with some countries already returning to the market through tenders.

Prices have eased on weakening demand in northeast Asia amid expectations of mild weather and ample inventories, as well as an imminent restart of Freeport LNG in the US," it said.

India has been looking at diversifying its sources energy import in a bid to ensure energy security. India depends on imports for as much as 85% of its oil needs and 55% of its natural gas demand. So far in FY23 (April-January), India has imported LNG worth $14.88 billion, 36.46% higher than $10.90 billion during the corresponding period of FY22. Qatar has been the largest supplier to India so far, followed by UAE and the US.

Keeping in view the growing demand for gas for in the country the need for energy security, India is also planning a strategic gas reserve, which may come up as a joint venture of public sector companies or as a public-private partnership (PPP).
As Ram Navmi will be celebrated on 30 March this year, IRCTC has proposed to run "Bharat Nepal Ashtha Yatra" tour package under the Bharat Gaurav Tourists train which will showcase four important pilgrimage and heritage destination in the 10 days tour. The Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train launch is in line with the Government of India initiative Dekho Apna Desh" to promote special interest circuits in domestic tourism.

The 9 nights 10 days tour will cover places like Ayodhya, Varanasi & Prayagraj in India and Pashupatinath (Kathmandu) in Nepal.

Also Read: IRCTC announces 15 days North East Discovery package from 21 March. See tour itinerary, price here

The train will depart from Jalandar but have boarding from Delhi Safdarjung. The departure date of the Bharat Nepal Ashtha Yatra is from 31 March, 2023.

Also Read: Now travel from Ayodhya to Sri Lanka with IRCTCs Sri Ramayana Yatra. Check dates, cost and other details here

The destinations that will be covered in this 10 days tour are: Ram Janmbhoomi temple, Hanuman Garhi, SaryuGhat, Nandigram in Ayodhya; Pashupatinath Temple, Darbar Squire, Swaymbhunath Stupa in Kathmandu; Tulsi Manas temple, SankatMochan temple, Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and temple, Ganga Aarti at VaranasGhat in Varanasi; and Ganga - Yamuna Sangam, Hanuman temple in Prayagraj.

Boarding/de-boarding: Jalandhar City, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Tundla, Etawah, Kanpur.

As per the IRCTC, the package will offer 600 seats in in 3AC class. Of the 600 seats, 300 will be Standard and the other 300 will be Superior.

Package cost:

Category Single Double/Triple Child (5-11) Superior 41090 31610 28450 Standard 36160 27815 25035

Here are package inclusion:

Train Journey by Bharat Gaurav Special tourist train in 3AC class.

The package includes Nights stay for Superior package in AC rooms and for Standard in Non-AC room, Wash n Change rooms.

The package also includes all transfers and sightseeing by non AC- buses.

For meals on trains, the package includes all veg meals. Apart from this, off board veg only meals will be provided in good quality restaurants/Hotels/Banquets/Packed Meals.

The package includes: travel insurance for the passengers, security on train and all applicable taxes.

As per the IRCTC website, COVID-19 vaccination certificate is compulsory for temple darshan and sightseeing of monuments. All passengers should carry vaccination certificate in hard copy or in phone during the duration of tour.

Meanwhile, IRCTC will start the its Shri Ramayana Yatra through a special tourist train on 7 April 2023. The Shri Ramayana Yatra is a theme based pilgrimage tour by Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist train on Ramayana circuit which covers the prominent sacred places associated with the life of Lord Rama. The tour also offers an extended optional trip of the Ramayana trail to Sri Lanka.

Recently, PM Modi who addressed the post-budget webinar on 'Developing Tourism in Mission Mode' had said that India has a huge potential for tourism including coastal, beach, mangrove, Himalayan, adventure, wildlife, eco, heritage, and spiritual tourism. "Some people think that tourism is a fancy word, for high-income groups, but in India, it has a long socio-cultural context, the prime minister had said.
The Japanese woman who was allegedly groped and harassed by a group of men in Delhi on Holi has now tweeted about the incident. In a series of tweet in Japanese, the woman narrated the incident and said that it was unfortunate and also apologised to those who were offended by it.

She also said that she participated in the festival with 35 of her friends.

However, In a series of Tweet, she said that she loves everything about India and can't hate the country even after this incident. India and Japan will forever be Tomodachi" which means friends.

The video of the incident which went viral on social media showed a group of youths smearing colour on the woman, who appeared uncomfortable. It also showed one of them smashing an egg on her head.

In a tweet, she wrote, On March 9th, I tweeted a video of the Indian festival Holi, but after that, the number of RTs and DMs increased more than I had imagined, and I was terrified, so I deleted the tweet. We sincerely apologize to those who were offended by the video"

I had heard that it was very dangerous for a woman to go out alone during the daytime at the Holi festival, an Indian festival that I participated in, so I participated in the event with a total of 35 other friends. Unfortunately, this kind of situation happened," she further said.

"The video that triggered the fire this time was not a scene in which a dedicated cameraman was being attacked on purpose, but a video taken by chance while another Japanese event participant was filming the scenery of the festival. I would appreciate it if you could understand that I was not trying to convey the abnormalities and damages of the Holi festival in India," she further added.

It's hard to see in the video, but the cameraman and other people are helping us along the way. The place where the video was filmed is considered to be one of the most unsafe places in India, and I participated in the festival," she said.

Describing the festival, she said, the original Holi festival is a wonderful and fun traditional festival with the purpose of celebrating the arrival of spring by pouring colored powder and water on each other and enjoying it regardless of skin color or social status."

Apologising for the causing concern to many people through videos, she wrote, I would like to express my sincere apologies for causing concern and anxiety in many ways, even though my goal was to convey the positive aspects and joys of India. really sorry."

In the wake of this incident, the police have promised to strengthen their crackdown, and we hope that harassment against women will decrease significantly at the Holi festival from next year."

Concluding her tweet, she expressed her love for the country. She wrote, And most of all, I love everything about India, I have been there many times and it is a fascinating country. It's a wonderful country that you can't hate even if you receive this incident. India and Japan will forever be Tomodachi""

Many countrymen reacted on her tweet and apologised to her for the incident. One user wrote, There is no reason for you to apologise. Indian men who 'play' holi owe an apology to you. Be well and take care." Another wrote, "Owe her apology?". Those criminals should be jailed for years."

Another user wrote, You have nothing to apologise for. I'm deeply ashamed of my countrymen and so sorry you had to go through this experience. Please stay safe and do not hesitate to call out the horrible parts of Indian culture. Loving a culture or a place does not mean you can't criticise it."

I am sorry on behalf of the uncouth individuals who harrassed you, intimidated you, and made you feel like you have to be sorry for whatever happened to you," another user wrote. Another wrote, Mam, please press charges. You dom't need to apologize."

Such a sad state of affairs when the victim has to apologise for offending people and the perpetrators roam free with AHs defending them. We all should be apologising to megumiko_india for allowing our society to reach such an abysmal low."

Meanwhile, on this incident, three people, including a juvenile, were apprehended for allegedly harassing and groping the Japanese woman. Deputy Commissioner of Police (central) Sanjay Kumar Sain said people seen in the video have been identified.

Action has been initiated against the accused under the Delhi Police Act. However, the further course of action will be decided on the basis of the merits of the case and in accordance with the woman's complaint, if any, the police told PTI.

So far, the woman has not lodged any complaint. A Japanese embassy official, in response to an email, confirmed that she has not contacted the embassy also, a senior police officer said.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) also took cognisance of the video on Friday and asked Delhi Police to examine it and register an FIR.

Separately, Delhi Police took to Twitter on Saturday, asking people not to share "misinformation" on social media about the number of crimes reported in the national capital on Holi.

"Some social media handles are sharing exaggerated and unfounded crime figures of Delhi pertaining to Holi festival. Spreading misinformation is legal offence... Do not share such information without verification," it said.

(With inputs from agencies)
With the Karnataka assembly elections around the corner, the Election Commission has introduced the facility to Vote-from-Home (VFH) for people above 80 years of age and those with disabilities.

While addressing the reporters , Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar said, "For the first time the ECI is going to provide the facility to those above 80 years of age. Our teams will go there with a form-12D to exercise their franchise."

He added that the EC encourages those above 80 years to come to the polling station, however, those who cannot, can avail this facility.

Kumar further explained that secrecy will be maintained and the entire process will be videographed. "All the political parties will be informed whenever there is a movement for Voting From Home (VFH)," he said.

For people with disabilities, a mobile application called 'Saksham' has been introduced, which they can login to and choose the option to vote.

Another mobile application, 'Suvidha' has been developed, which is an online portal for candidates to file nominations and affidavits.

"Candidates can also use the SUVIDHA portal for seeking permission for meetings and rallies," the top election official said.

The ECI has also launched a campaign called Know Your Candidate (KYC) for the benefit of voters. "Political parties have to inform the voters on their portals and social media platform as to why they chose a candidate with criminal background and gave ticket to contest the election," Kumar said.

The Commission has introduced e-VIGIL mobile application for anyone to lodge complaint relating to election code violations. The response time will be 100 minutes, the CEC said. "This is a single app for recording, reporting and resolving violations. This app captures the GIS location and the response time to address the grievance is 100 minutes."

Voter count in Karnataka

Kumar also added that there are currently 12.15 lakh voters above the age of 80 and 5.55 lakh people with disabilities (PWD) in the state. Speaking of the Karnataka assembly election, Kumar noted that the state with 224 constituencies has 36 seats reserved for the SCs and 15 for the STs. There are 5.21 crore voters including 2.59 women voters. This number also includes 16,976 centenarians, 4,699 third gender and 9.17 lakh first time voters.

Polling stations in Karnataka

The state has 58,272 polling stations, including 24,063 in urban areas. The average voters in each station is 883. Of these polling stations, 1,320 are women managed, 224 are youth managed and 224 are PWD managed. There will be webcasting in 29,141 polling stations, the CEC said adding 1,200 are critical polling stations.

As most of the polling stations are in schools, these will have "permanent water, electricity, toilet and ramps." "These facilities will be permanent in nature. This is a gift from the ECI to the schools and to the school children," said Kumar, who is on a three-day visit to the state to review election preparedness.

To a query on possible election date, the CEC said it has to be conducted before May 24, when the tenure of the current state assembly comes to an end. He directed the official machinery to gear up for a fair and transparent election in the state.

Replying to another question, Kumar said fake narratives and inducements pose big challenge. On the number of phases in which the elections in Karnataka will be carried out, he said it is the prerogative of the Commission and it depends on various factors such as availability of force, exams and festivals. The CEC warned officers indulging in partiality during election of strict action.

He further said banks have been instructed to keep a watch in their own way and through their own system to ensure money power is not misused during the election.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Supreme Court of India is slated to hear on the legalising same-sex marriage in India on 13 March, Monday. India had decriminalised homosexuality in 2018.

On 7 September 2018, a 5-judge constitutional bench of Supreme Court of India invalidated part of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, hence making homosexuality legal in India.

However the legal status of same sex marriages in India remains unclear with religious and governmental opposition.

Narendra Modi led govt stance on Saem Sex Marriage

The Centre in a filing to the Supreme Court on Sunday stuck to its earlier stand that same-sex marriage is not compatible with the concept of an "Indian family unit", which it said consists of "a husband, a wife, and children which necessarily presuppose a biological man as a 'husband', a biological woman as a 'wife' and the children born out of the union between the two - who are reared by the biological man as father and the biological woman as mother".

Legal status of same sex marriage in India

Marriages in India are governed by are strictly restricted to hetrosexual couples- a woman and a man. Tailored by India's several religious groups, marriages in India have been categorised under Hindu Marriage Act, Christian Marriage Act, Muslim Marriage Act, and Special Marriage Act.

None of these pertain to marriage between same sex couple.

Legal Rights of LGBTQ people in India had been restricted for the longest. In 2018, India decided to overturn the colonial period draconian law of criminalising homosexuality.

However, queer members have been pushing for equal rights in India. The expansion in their purview of Rights under the constitution has been helmed by the Supreme Court, thereby creating some semblance of hope that the apex court might legalize same sex marriage in India on 13 March.

This hope remains despite opposition from all religious sects, and the Narendra Modi led BJP government at the Centre.

A timeline- same sex marriage in India

In 2014, the Supreme Court of India laid the groundwork by giving legal recognition to non-binary or transgender persons as a third gender."

In 2017, it strengthened the right to privacy, and also recognized sexual orientation as an essential attribute of an individuals privacy and dignity.

In 2018, it decriminalized homosexual sex  overturning a British colonial-era law  and expanded constitutional rights for LGBTQ people.

In 2022, the apex court instituted protections for what it called atypical" families. Its a broad category that includes, for example, single parents, blended families or kinship relationships  and same-sex couples. The court said that such non-traditional manifestations of families are equally deserving of benefits under various social welfare legislation.

Countries where dame sex marriage is legal

By the end of 2022, the institution of same sex marriage was legal in 30 countries all around the world. However, these are mostly countries in Western Europe and the Americas.

In Asia, only Taiwan allows same-sex marriage.

Everywhere else the approach to same sex marriage within the Asian diaspora is conflicted.

A Bloomberg article has confirmed that Hong Kong doesnt allow same-sex marriage at home but will grant dependent visas to same-sex spouses of expatriate workers, for example.

Thailand is inching toward recognition for civil unions.

Other places have become more restrictive: Indonesia, which doesnt recognize gay marriage, recently banned all extra-marital sex; Singapores parliament passed a law lifting a ban on sex between men but has blocked a path toward marriage equality.

If Indias court sanctions same-sex marriage, the country would supplant the US as the biggest democracy with such rights for LGBTQ couples.
Union minister of state for information and technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar will meet the representatives from the country's startup community amid the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank which has sent shockwaves across the globe.

In a tweet, the minister said," The SVB Financial closure is certainly disrupting startups across world .Startups are an important part of India Economy. I will meet wth Indian Startups this week to understand their impact on them and how govt can help during this crisis.

The @SVB_Financial closure is certainly disrupting startups across world .



Startups are an imp part of #NewIndia Economy.



I will meet wth Indian Startups this week to understand impact on thm n how @narendramodi govt can help durng this crisis.#IndiaTechade @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/1HLTwAs9IF  Rajeev Chandrasekhar  (@Rajeev_GoI) March 12, 2023

The fallout from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank is beginning to spread around the world.

Startup founders in Californias Bay Area are panicking about access to money and paying employees. Fears of contagion have reached Canada, India and China. In the UK, SVBs unit is set to be declared insolvent, has already ceased trading and is no longer taking new customers. On Saturday, the leaders of roughly 180 tech companies sent a letter calling on UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to intervene.

The loss of deposits has the potential to cripple the sector and set the ecosystem back 20 years," they said in the letter seen by Bloomberg. Many businesses will be sent into involuntary liquidation overnight."

This is just the beginning. SVB had branches in China, Denmark, Germany, India, Israel and Sweden, too. Founders are warning that the banks failure could wipe out startups around the world without government intervention. SVBs joint venture in China, SPD Silicon Valley Bank Co., was seeking to calm local clients overnight by reminding them that operations have been independent and stable.
Hyderabad, Mar 12 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Sunday said the BJP-led NDA governments zero tolerance policy towards terrorism will continue.

Addressing at the 54th Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Raising Day parade at National Industrial Security Academy (NISA) here, Shah said the Modi government had successfully tackled the internal security challenges in the last nine years

Expressing happiness for conducting the CISF raising day event in Hyderabad, first time outside Delhi, he said that they have been instrumental in securing India's critical infrastructures and public places.

The Home Ministry will strengthen the CISF with all technologies in the upcoming times to protect the ports, airports, Shah said.

The Home Minister said many CISF personnel have lost their lives in the line of duty but naxalites and terrorists are under control due to CISF, he said

PM Modi has proposed the vision of a 5 trillion dollar economy for which the safeguarding of ports, airports, is very important, Shah said the CISF will safeguard them as they have been doing for the past 53 years.

Meanwhile on Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while extending best wishes to all CISF personne .on the occasion of 54th Raising day, said the CISF provide round-the-clock security at key locations including critical and strategic infrastructure.

"The force is known for its hard work and professional outlook," Modi said .

After the programme, Shah left for Kerala where he would participate in a rally at Thrissur

Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Union Tourism Minister Kishan Reddy, State BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar and party Rajya Sabha MP Dr K Laxman participated in the event.

UNI KNR CS1218
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has put the focus on Y Combinator-backed Indian startups. The situation remains fluid, with startups waiting for the US Fed to act. Indian startups that have deposits at SVB might be impacted. Meanwhile, regulators confirmed on Sunday night that all deposits will be returned.

Depositors will have access to all of their money starting Monday, March 13," the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said in a joint statement. No losses associated with the resolution of Silicon Valley Bank will be borne by the taxpayer."

Impact on YC-backed Indian startups

SVB has invested in around 21 Indian startups, as per Tracxn data, but the exact investment amount is unclear. Other startups that raised funds from SVB include Bluestone, Carwale, and Loyalty Rewardz. Tracxn data also shows that SVB has not made significant investments in Indian startups after 2011. The Tracxn list includes Paytm, Paytm Mall and One97 Communications.

Here are the Indian companies with funding from SVB, as per Tracxn data:

Company Total Funding

(USD) Shaadi 8,000,000 CarWale 9,873,512 Asklaila 12,000,000 Sarva 12,281,001 Games2win Media 13,085,782 Loylty Rewardz 28,270,232 PubMatic 31,000,000 Drip Capital 85,120,000 Numerify 88,000,000 TutorVista 102,250,000 BlueStone 111,502,585 Naaptol 133,305,783 Icertis 520,000,000 Paytm Mall 808,241,000 Paytm 4,637,862,461

However, according to Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has completely exited its investment in the company and received significant returns, despite investing only $1.7 million. Sharma has confirmed that SVB is no longer a shareholder in Paytm.

Abhay Singhal, the co-founder of InMobi Group  backed by Softbank, expressed that the recent sale of securities at mark-to-market price causing a loss of $1.8 billion had alarmed the market. Singhal shared his view to PTI on the impact of the SVB collapse, stating that it would have a short-term effect on funding for startups.

Also Read: Silicon Valley Bank not a stakeholder in Paytm, Vijay Shekhar Sharma clarifies

The situation is particularly dire for startups backed by the Silicon Valley accelerator Y Combinator (YC), with at least 40 YC-backed Indian startups having between $250,000 to $1 million each in deposits with SVB, and over 20 of them having deposits of over $1 million each, The Economic Times quoted a YC WhatsApp poll as showing.

Fintech firm Recur Club founder and CEO Eklavya Gupta told PTI that there are some large size non-Y Combinator linked SaaS companies in the west coast with operations in the US and India, who have had significant exposure to SVB.

As per Verak Insurance CEO Rahul Mathur - whos also sourced his information from the YC WhatsApp group, 60% of YC-backed companies have more than $250,000 in SVB accounts.

FDIC insurance limit is $250K - some startups could be at risk of losing big money," he tweeted. There are some YC companies operating in India with more than $1 million in SVB accounts, he added.

There are some YC companies operating in India (maybe ~10%) with more than $1M in SVB accounts.



Common sense: YC's new "basic" deal is for $500K - and you'd raise at least $1M more from other investors.



Fortunately, for us - the total liability is limited to $188K.  Rahul Mathur (@Rahul_J_Mathur) March 11, 2023

Larger YC-backed companies in India such as Razorpay, Meesho and Zepto have no exposure to SVB. However, early stage and mid-stage startups are seeing the impact of the bank's collapse. Some of the larger YC companies from India moved funds over the past two weeks sensing a potential disruption.

FDIC announces SVB closure

Late on March 10, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said that SVB was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. The FDIC would sell the assets of SVB, and the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara will maintain its normal business activities. While the insured depositors of SVB will receive their insured deposits up to $250,000, the uninsured depositors in the bank will be paid dividends following the sale of the 40-year old bank's assets.

The road ahead

The Federal Reserve Board of Governors has scheduled an urgent closed-door meeting on March 13, 2023, using expedited procedures. In a statement issued on March 12, it was announced that the Board would convene to review and set the advance and discount rates to be applied by the Federal Reserve Banks.

Also Read: Fed calls emergency meeting tomorrow

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said that he will meet with Indian startups this week to understand the impact and how the Narendra Modi government can help during this crisis.

The @SVB_Financial closure is certainly disrupting startups across world .



Startups are an imp part of #NewIndia Economy.



I will meet wth Indian Startups this week to understand impact on thm n how @narendramodi govt can help durng this crisis.#IndiaTechade @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/1HLTwAs9IF  Rajeev Chandrasekhar  (@Rajeev_GoI) March 12, 2023

(With agency inputs)
The Bombay High Court rejected an appeal by New India Assurance Company Limited to deny compensation to the family of a man who died in a car accident.

The court stated that a tyre burst is caused by human negligence and not an act of God. The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal had previously directed the company to pay 1.25 crore to the victim's family, a ruling that was upheld by the single bench of Justice S G Dige on February 17.

Makarand Patwardhan was killed in a car accident on October 25, 2010, while travelling from Pune to Mumbai with two colleagues. The driver was speeding in a reckless manner when the rear wheel burst, causing the car to fall into a ditch and killing Patwardhan instantly.

The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal had previously acknowledged that Patwardhan was the sole breadwinner of his family. The insurance company had appealed against the compensation amount of 1.25 crore, arguing that it was excessive and that the tyre burst was an act of God and not due to the driver's negligence.

The HC, however, denies accepting this contention and said the dictionary meaning of "act of God" was "an instance of uncontrollable natural forces in operation."

"It refers to a severe unanticipated natural event for which no human is responsible. The bursting of a tyre cannot be termed an act of God. It is an act of human negligence," the court said.

It added there are various reasons for tyre burst such as high speed, underinflated, overinflated or second-hand tyres and temperature.

"The driver or owner of the vehicle has to check the condition of the tyre before travelling. A Burst of the tyre cannot be termed a natural act. It is human negligence," the order said.

Merely stating a burst of the tyre is an act of God cannot be a ground to exonerate the insurance company from paying compensation, the HC added.
The administration of the Chinese city of Xi'an received some flak from social media users for suggesting lockdowns to deal with the influenza outbreak. The development came as several countries in the world including India are witnessing many cases of flu resulting in a small percentage of deaths.

The emergency response suggested by the administration of Xi'an talked about the closure of businesses, schools, and "other crowded locations" in the event of a serious flu outbreak.

According to the weekly Covid surveillance report released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday, there has been a significant increase in the positivity rate for flu. In the week starting from March 5, the positivity rate for flu surged to 41.6%, which is a substantial jump from the previous week's rate of 25.1%. Meanwhile, the positivity rate for Covid-19 decreased to 3.8% from 5.1%.

The order was criticized on Chinese social media as the country is still recovering from the economic consequences of strict Covid-19 lockdowns which even prompted some rare protests in the nation. The economy seems to be on track to revival, but the growth rate remains in the lower bracket.

The cases of influenza are rising across the world with India also witnessing several cases and two confirmed deaths from the H3N2 virus. The Union Health Ministry has asked all states closely monitor the illness related to the influenza virus and ensure adequate stock of drugs, medical equipment, and medical oxygen in the hospitals.

In the light of the rising trend in other influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory illness (ILIs/SARIs) being witnessed in some states/UTs across the country, a review meeting was held recently under member (health), NITI Aayog to review the current situation. While the Covid-19 trajectory has decreased in the last few months, the gradual rise in Covid-19 test positivity in some states is a concerning issue that needs to be promptly addressed," said Bhushan in a letter seen by Mint.

Several states have disclosed the number of influenza cases like Odisha has informed that the state recorded 59 cases of H3N2 influenza in the past two months, while in Gujarat the cases of the H1N1 virus are rising and have also resulted in one death. In the Union Territory of Puducherry, the health authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the total cases of influenza reached 79.

(With inputs from agencies)
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, is reportedly exploring the possibility of launching a decentralised social network similar to Twitter. When the news was shared on Twitter, Elon Musk responded to it.

Dogecoin co-founder Billy Markus, who goes by the name Shibetoshi Nakamoto on Twitter, responded even before Musk did. He shared a meme and wondered if Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg decided to launch a Twitter rival because he thought everyone was upset with Elon Musk and people loved him.

To this, Elon Musk replied and wrote Copy Cat". Instead of writing Cat" in letters, he used an emoji of a cat.

Copy   Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 11, 2023

Facebooks new social network, which has been codenamed "P92," would allow creators and public figures to share timely updates about their interests. A spokesperson for Meta has confirmed that the company is considering a standalone, decentralised social network for sharing text updates but declined to provide any further details.

Also Read: Elon Musk calls Twitter worlds largest non-profit, asks users to prepare to be disappointed by new update

The proposed social network would be based on the Mastodon framework, which is an open-source decentralised social network that launched in 2016. Mastodon has seen a surge in popularity since last October, when Elon Musk's Twitter takeover began.

Meta's potential move into the social networking space follows its recent launch of Meta Verified, a subscription service for Facebook and Instagram users that includes a verified blue check-mark badge, similar to Twitter Blue, as well as other perks. Meta Verified is priced at $11.99 per month on the web and $14.99 per month on Apple's iOS.

Also Read: Twitter deploys new code to force-feed Elon Musks tweets to users

Zuckerberg has previously expressed interest in blockchain technology and its potential applications. In 2019, he wrote a blog post in which he outlined his vision for decentralised platforms and their ability to provide greater security and privacy to users.

If Meta does decide to launch a decentralised social network, it could represent a significant shift away from the centralised social networking model that Facebook has long been associated with.

(With agency inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author
The Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse is being deemed the biggest bank failure since the Global Financial Crisis or what was also known as Washington Mutual in 2008. The go-to bank for several start-ups in the United states and abroad saw a rapid fall int heir stocks leaving its high-powered customers and investors in limbo.

Startup founders in Californias Bay Area are panicking about access to money and paying employees. Fears of contagion have reached Canada, India and China. In the UK, SVBs unit is set to be declared insolvent, has already ceased trading and is no longer taking new customers. On Saturday, the leaders of roughly 180 tech companies sent a letter calling on UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to intervene.

Here is a timeline of how a bank collapsed in just 48 hours

The SVB Paranoia

-On Wednesday, 8 March, SVB sold $21 billion worth of bond assets at a loss of $1.8 billion. The bank also announced that it was conducting a capital raise.

-Despite this the bank witnessed a wave of withdrawals

-Further, Crypto-based lender Silvergate's announcement on Wednesday of a plan to wind down operations and facilitate liquidate owing to heavy losses following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX, led to increased withdrawals from SVB

The SVB Crash

-This took the SVB stock in a downward spiral, crashing over 60%

-On Thursday, 9 March, regulatory filing at the end of business day showed that SVB had a negative cash balance of $958 million. The filing also said that despite the bank being in sound financial condition prior to March 9th, investors and depositors reacted by withdrawing $42 billion of deposits, causing a run on the bank".

The FDIC Takeover of SVB

-On Friday, 10 March, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced that SVB was closed today by the California Department of Protection and Innovation, which appointed the FDIC as receiver"

-FDIC has informed that all insured depositors will have complete access to their deposits until Monday, 13 March

-They also noted that the insured deposits have a cap of $250,000. Anyone who has over $250,000 in their accounts are required to call a toll-free number.

-FDIC will henceforth oversee the sale of the assets of SVB. The uninsured depositors will be paid dividends from the asset sale.

What is SVB?

The Silicon Valley Bank was founded in 1983. It specialized in banking for tech startups. It provided financing for almost half of US venture-backed technology and health care companies. This bank was also among the top 20 American commercial banks, with $209 billion in total assets at the end of last year, according to the FDIC.

Whats next for SVB

So, while a broader contagion is unlikely, smaller banks that are disproportionately tied to cash-strapped industries like tech and crypto may be in for a rough ride, CNN quoted Ed Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda.

Everyone on Wall Street knew that the Feds rate-hiking campaign would eventually break something, and right now that is taking down small banks," Moya said on Friday.

The FDIC typically sells a failed banks assets to other banks, using the proceeds to repay depositors whose funds werent insured.

A buyer could still emerge for SVB, though its far from guaranteed.
Former Finance Minister of Pakistan, Miftah Ismail on Friday stated that the Ministry of Finance in Pakistan is not trusted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to media reports, the PML-N leader analyzed the failed agreement with the IMF, which has plunged the cash-crunched nation into a severe crisis.

Ismail commented, "There is a significant lack of competence and credibility."

Pakistan is dependent on funding from the IMF to prevent defaulting on its international obligations and to boost its economy, which is valued at USD 350 billion.

Miftah Ismail commented on the delay in the IMF program, stating that the finance minister's promises to complete the review of the IMF programme in one week have been made repeatedly but with no action taken, leading to frustration and scepticism.

"The issue I think is that the Pakistani government has done all it could and now we needed the friendly foreign countries to fund us so that our external accounts are not in deficit and our external requirement is fulfilled," he said stressing that the real issue, according to him, was that the "IMF doesn't trust the finance ministry."

The lack of trust between Pakistan and the IMF has continued to expand due to the previous government's violation of the agreed-upon terms. Furthermore, investors are worried about Pakistan's capability to fulfil its international debt payments as the nation experiences a shortage of dollars.

Pakistan and the IMF have been holding virtual talks after the two sides held 10 days of intensive negotiations with an IMF delegation in Islamabad from January 31 to February 9, which failed to reach an agreement.

The delay in obtaining funds from the IMF has put pressure on the government to address shortages and high prices, as well as to bolster foreign reserves.

Pakistan has implemented a series of measures to secure support from the IMF, including raising tax rates and energy prices. Additionally, the policy rate has been increased to 20%, marking the highest level in 25 years, as advised by the IMF.

Pakistan's ability to secure the next instalment of the IMF bailout package will rely on its prompt actions to secure full financing for its balance of payments deficit during the 2022-23 fiscal year.

It is imperative to obtain the necessary funds to address the pervasive shortages, alleviate the soaring prices, and reinforce the foreign reserves that are presently insufficient to cover even a month's worth of imports.
The rising air pollution in Thailand has increased the pressure on health services as nearly 2,00,000 people were hospitalized in the past week. The capital of the country, Bangkok is the worst affected city of the country with air quality worsening due to vehicular pollution, industrial emissions, and smoke from agricultural burning.

The public health ministry of Thailand informed that around 1.3 million people in the country are sick due to the rising levels of air pollution and the government has urged children and pregnant women to stay indoors.

Around 50 districts in Bangkong have recorded unsafe levels of PM 2.5 particles. The particles are considered dangerous as they have the capability to enter the human blood stream and cause damage to our organs. The level of air pollution has breached all standards of the World Health Organisation, the health ministry added.

The northern city of Chiang Mai, which is an agricultural region is also one of the worst affected due to the incidents of stubble burning in the area.

The government has advised companies to offer Work From Home (WFH) to their employees and anyone venturing outside should wear the high-quality N95 anti-pollution mask.

To protect young children, the nurseries of the country had set up special "no dust rooms" with air purifiers and the administration has also established checkpoints on road to keep vehicular pollution in check.

The country had seen a similar sort of havoc in January-February when the air quality of the country plummeted. Apart from vehicular emissions and agricultural fires, the "stagnant weather conditions" also played a huge role in the rising level of air pollution.

"We have to intensify (efforts to tackle pollution) by encouraging people to work from home. For schools...they might have to avoid outdoor activities in order to prevent impacts on children's health," the department's director general had said in a news conference.

(With inputs from AFP)
Days after the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said that the federal government would not be bailing the company out. Amid growing fears that some workers across the country won't receive their paychecks, the top official however assured hat it was working to help concerned depositors.

We're not going to do that again," she said, insisting that the current situation was different from the financial crisis almost 15 years ago.

But we are concerned about depositors, and we're focused on trying to meet their needsThe American banking system is really safe and well capitalized. It's resilient," she added in an interview with CBS' Face the Nation show.

ALSO READ: SVB crisis to impact over 10,000 startups, trigger 1 lakh layoffs: Y Combinator

Yellen also tried to reassure Americans that there will be no domino effect after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. "We want to make sure that the troubles that exist at one bank don't create contagion to others that are sound," she told the channel.

With two banks - Silvergate Capital Corp. and the much larger SVB Financial Group - collapsing in a matter of days, Wall Street remains braced for further distress at a time when the Federal Reserve is deploying its most-aggressive tightening campaign in a generation.

The Silicon Valley Bank is the biggest bank failure in over 10 years - since the collapse of Washington Mutual in 2008. The bank served mostly technology workers and venture capital-backed companies - including some of the industrys best-known brands.

(With inputs from agencies)
With deepening defence ties, Iran has finalised a deal to buy Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. Iran has forged strong ties with Moscow in various sectors including the military in the past year. The air force of sanctions-hit Iran has an ageing fleet of aircraft and has struggled to acquire spare parts to keep its warplanes in the air.

"Moscow is ready to deliver the fighter jets to Iran," the country's mission to the United Nations was quoted as saying in the official IRNA.

"Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets were technically approved by the Iranian aviation experts, and therefore... Iran finalised the contract to buy those planes," it said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has accused Tehran of supplying Moscow with Shahed-136 "kamikaze" drones used in attacks on civilian targets since Russia's invasion in February last year.

Also, America has expressed alarm over the growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia, with Pentagon spokesman John Kirby warning in December that Russia looked likely to sell Iran its fighter jets.

Kirby maintained that Iranian pilots had reportedly been learning to fly the Sukhoi warplanes in Russia and that Tehran may receive the aircraft within the next year, which would "significantly strengthen Iran's air force relative to its regional neighbours".

Iran currently has mostly Russian MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets that date back to the Soviet era.

Some Chinese aircraft, including F-7 and American F-4 and F-5 fighter jets dating back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution is also part of its fleet.

As per some reports, Russia has overtaken China as the biggest investor in Iran.

Russia had spent some $2.7 billion on two oil projects in the western province of Ilam since hardliner Ebrahim Raisis government came into power in August 2021.

There have been several high-ranking visits and a raft of agreements to expand trade and military cooperation between the two countries.

Besides, Iran and Russia have connected their interbank communication and transfer systems to help boost trade and financial transactions.
The US Federal Reserve will hold a closed-door emergency meeting on Monday of the Board of Governors amid the fallout of the Silicon Valley Bank. The meeting will be held under expedited procedures, as set forth in section 261b.7 of the Board's Rules Regarding Public Observation of Meetings, at the Boards offices at 20th and C Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. and by audio/video conference call.

According to a statement released by Fed it will review and determine the advance and discount rates to be charged by the Federal Reserve Banks during the meeting.

FDIC, Fed, Treasury to brief California lawmakers on SVB

Meanwhile, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the US Federal Reserve plan to brief Californias congressional delegation on the Silicon Valley Bank collapse at 11:00pm Saturday, after having to cancel a briefing originally set for earlier in the day, according to three people familiar with the plan.

The Treasury Department is set to hold a separate briefing for the lawmakers Sunday at 1:00pm, one of the people said. The situation is fluid and plans could change.

The briefings come amid discussions of what sort of response the US government may have to take to prevent contagion.

The FDIC and the Federal Reserve are weighing creating a fund that would allow the regulators to backstop more deposits at banks that run into trouble following Silicon Valley Banks collapse, according to people familiar with the matter, in hopes that it would reassure depositors and contain any panic.

*With agency inputs
The Bayelsa State Government has said that based on the Supreme Court ruling of March 3, the old naira notes of N500 and N1,000 will remain legal tender in the state till December 31.

Reacting to the protest by citizens and other Nigerians doing business in the state due to the suffering occasioned by the naira redesign policy of the federal government, the state government urged banks and business owners to obey the apex court ruling to ease the pains from Nigerians living in the state

The Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy in the state, Ayibaina Duba, in a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, noted that the government understands the pains of residents, but called for calm.

"The Bayelsa State Government understands the pains of residents of the state following the implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) naira redesign policy and the Supreme Court ruling on the old currency notes.

"The government thus urges residents to be calm and not engage in acts that could jeopardise the peace of the state.

"The government notes that on March 3, the Supreme Court ruled that the old notes, which had been phased out by the CBN, remained legal tender till December 31 this year.

"While the state government is not against the naira redesign policy of the federal government, it is, however, not comfortable with the method of its implementation, which has resulted in further hardship on people of the state, and indeed, the country.

"The government also calls on the CBN to take immediate steps to ease the burden of doing business in the state by making implementation of the policy less cumbersome," he said.
New Delhi: New hopes were sown a few days ago during the Womens Premier League (WPL) bidding process. Twenty professional cricketing women joined the crorepati club at this time. Smriti Mandhana received the largest sum of all, 3.4 crore. Several young players at the Indian Premier League do not receive this much money. Even Babar Azam, the cricket captain of neighbouring Pakistan, couldnt receive as much money. These are undoubtedly positive early indications.

Opportunities for women to reach new heights are fast expanding in other professions, too. But how enthused are women themselves about such change? A study published this month answers this question. According to the study, eight out of 10 urban Indian women use the internet in some way or the other. Without the internet, it is impossible to progress in the twenty-first century. The situation in rural India is not ideal right now, but as a forward-thinking country, we should strive to see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty.

Without equal political participation, half the countrys population will not be given its due. The latest election in Nagaland exemplifies this. For the first time, two womenHekani Jakhalu and S. Krausehave been elected to the Nagaland assembly.

In Nagaland, which values tribal traditions, only 20 women have so far run in the Lok Sabha elections. Of these, only Rano M. Shaiza was elected to the states lone Lok Sabha seat in 1977.

Things began to change last year, when the BJP sent S. Phangnon, a Naga woman, to the Rajya Sabha for the first time.

Neighbouring state Meghalaya has a matrilineal system. Among ethnic tribes such as the Khasis and Garos, the lineage is traced through the mothers name, and ownership right on property is also with her. The youngest woman in the family has the natural right to inherit the property, according to their age-old customs. This is why women in Meghalaya have held key political positions for many years, but there was a paradox in these elections. Only three women were elected as MLAs in Meghalaya, while nine women were elected in Tripura.

In other parts of the country, the situation is somewhat better. The current Lok Sabha has 82 female members, representing half the population. Twelve were elected from Uttar Pradesh and 10 from West Bengal. Last time, Congress gave the largest number of tickets (54) to women, while the BJP gave roughly the same number (53). The next Lok Sabha election may substantially boost the proportion of women in the House.

The rise of women in politics began with Independence. Sucheta Kripalani was the first woman to become chief minister of the countrys largest state, Uttar Pradesh, and Indira Gandhi was elected prime minister in 1966. Thereafter, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, Rabri Devi, J. Jayalalithaa, Vasundhara Raje, Sheila Dikshit, Anwara Taimur, and others carried the tradition on. Indias current first citizen is a woman. Prior to this, Pratibha Patil held the distinction of becoming Indias first female President.

So why couldnt this process move forward despite the initial general acceptance of the right to gender equality in the Constitution and the involvement of half the population in politics? One reason could be that, with a few exceptions, all women who have achieved high positions in politics come from a specific lineage.

Let us go to an economically backward state such as Bihar, where much has been done to empower women. The Bihar Panchayati Raj Act of 2006 was the first to introduce 50% reservation for women in local bodies, heralding a revolutionary change. Following that, the Manmohan Singh government attempted to implement it across the country in 2009, but just 20 states have adopted it so far. Regrettably, some North East states, such as Nagaland, remain apprehensive about it. Why?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign across the country as soon as he assumed power in 2014. As a result, BJP-ruled states were motivated to launch numerous initiatives targeting women. Not only that, new avenues have opened for girls in previously taboo areas of the Navy, Army, and other security forces.

Womens empowerment is unquestionably a necessity of the time, but it wont proceed at the required rate until the gender ratio of the population represented in state legislatures and Parliament is matched. These legislative bodies are authorized to enact legislation. Womens participation will open the door for innovative and practical thinking. Womens equality is just a half-truth without this.

Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal.
The palpable tension at the conclusion of two recent G20 meetings holds pointers to the possible path ahead for Indias geo-economics. If portents emerging from the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in Bengaluru (24-25 February) and the foreign ministers meeting in Delhi (1-2 March) are anything to go by, one of Indias key building blocks for future economic growth, foreign trade, might face renewed challenges.

The lack of a final consensus-based statement in both meetings, with all parties settling for a sub-optimal Summary and Outcome Document instead of the usual joint communique, points to uncompromising divisions as geopolitical anxieties take precedence over consensus on key geo-economic and governance issues. Unbridgeable schisms between the US-led Western bloc and Russia-China partnership may force India, which holds the G20 presidency for 2023, to not only sharpen its balancing act but also re-calibrate some of its ambitions.

Geopolitical jostling drowned out Prime Minister Narendra Modis inaugural message at the foreign ministers meeting: The world looks upon the G20 to ease the challenges of growth, development, economic resilience, disaster resilience, financial stability, transnational crime, corruption, terrorism, and food and energy securityWe should not allow issues that we cannot resolve together to come in the way of those we can." Collective approval proved elusive when the final document inserted two paragraphs from the 2022 Bali meetings denouncing Russias role in the Ukraine war, prompting both China and Russia to withhold approval. It also detracted from the main issues that a G20 gathering of finance or foreign ministers is expected to discuss. There is now some doubt over whether the Indian presidency will be able, later this year, to emulate Indonesias November 2022 diplomatic adroitness in extracting a leadership consensus on a communique, despite varying and antagonistic positions.

Truth be told, the G20 under Indias presidency is nowhere near the pageantry that had been promised. It is also unlikely that the geopolitical contestations will vaporise soon, which then situates Indias presidency into a somewhat uncertain position. All eyes will be on the outcomes achieved at the G20 trade ministers meeting, whenever it is scheduled. Before that comes the trade and investment sherpa group, which meets within a fortnight in Mumbai; the attendees will be under pressure to keep dissensions at bay and achieve some progress on substantive trade issues which can then be successfully converted by trade ministers into a consensual communique. But with rich G20 members expected to reprise their act of indignation again, these lengthening shadows threaten hopes of reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO), leave alone reviving global trade.

This also raises questions about the future of trade and what it means for India. Trade plays a big role in Indias economic growth aspirations. India has been at the forefront of demanding WTO reforms, which has also been echoed in past G20 communiques in Riyadh, Sorrento (Italy) and Labuan Bajo (Indonesia). But, at the same time, India has also been vigorously pursuing bilateral trade deals; over the past couple of months alone, India has signed agreements with the US, Germany, Italy, and the European Union, among others, to initiate strategic trade agreements. One can see this as a hedge, given risks to global trade from hardening geopolitical postures. It is unlikely that global trade will wither away, but there are bound to be structural shifts in ambitions, partnerships and flows.

Trade, throughout history, has often been weaponized. As a former colony, India was left impoverished by Britains extractive trade practices. In later years, post the WTOs birth, Western nations have also weaponized tradethe examples of EUs unreasonable non-tariff barriers, or the USs recent trade restrictions under the rubric of national security, stand out. Then along came China which, emulating rich predecessors, leveraged its WTO membership and global trade biases to acquire strategic heft and monetise its expansionist ambitions. This competitive trade aggression between the traditionally pugnacious versus a combative upstart has reached a tipping point, threatening not only global trade, but also imperilling developing and poor nations.

Indias response may not lie in responding with equal aggression, given that its share of global merchandise trade is less than 2% of the global total and close to 4% in services. The countrys best bet might still lie in multilateralism, but that will require close work with other poor and developing nations. Two clear tasks stand out. One, Indias rhetoric about ties with the Global South has often raced ahead of its ability to deliver; time and again, India has found itself isolated at multilateral bodies during voting on crucial issues. Second, the government should recognize that the G20 is neither a spectacle nor a vote-catcher; success will require a nose to the grindstone and not grandstanding. There is a likelihood that some rich nations might want to undermine Indias G20 presidency by placing the Russia-Ukraine war squarely in the middle of all discussions, thereby precluding possibilities of any substantive solutions. India will have to utilize all the negotiating and diplomatic skills at its disposal to ensure that does not happen.
India has a high growth potential at a time when many of its key export markets are facing an economic slowdown. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that by 2027, India will be the worlds fourth largest economy, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of about $5.53 trillion. To reach this target, there is a need to reduce logistics costs and time and achieve exponential growth in both domestic and international trade.

Acknowledging this, many measures have already been taken by the government to support growth and trade. The path-breaking reform of a single goods and services tax (GST), along with schemes like the production-linked incentive programme, a close focus on the countrys logistics sector under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity and the National Logistics Policy of 2022, apart from trade agreements with key export markets and government support for onboarding small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to digital platforms, are all expected to deliver a manifold increase in Indias exports and fast-track our integration in global value chains to make the country atmanirbhar or self-dependent.

Yet, Indias share in global exports is less than 2% and the country is struggling to meet export targets of $1 trillion of goods and services each by 2030. This is because of certain restrictions faced by exporters, especially SME exporters, which account for around half our exports. Among them is the lack of SME integration in global value chains. Another is a big barrier they face while using the most efficient mode of quick cargo movement: express delivery services.

While Indias forthcoming Foreign Trade Policy may have a chapter dedicated to facilitating the integration of SMEs in global value chains, India is probably the only country which has a value limit of 5 lakh on exports of goods through courier/express mode. This adversely impacts the ability of our SMEs in high-value sectors like gems and jewellery, handicrafts, electronics and auto component goods to use express delivery services (EDS) for faster door-to-door delivery of goods and samples at reasonable cost.

Most clients of the express industry are SMEs. While integrating SMEs in global value chains is a priority on the countrys agenda during its G20 presidency, our own SME exporters are losing out on an opportunity to use expedited delivery, due to the export value limit. High-value shipments are now exported through the general cargo mode, which causes delays.

While time and again this restriction of value has been raised by service providers and users, the main issue is that the limit is notified in the Foreign Trade Policy and is also part of Indias outdated courier regulation. The express delivery sector is regulated by the Courier Imports and Exports (Electronics Clearance) Regulation, 2010, which replaced the Courier Imports and Exports (Clearance) Regulation, 1998. In the year 1998, when the first courier regulation came into force, the clearance of courier goods was being done manually at air passenger terminals.

Over the last 25 years, Indias express delivery industry has made substantial investments in infrastructure and IT systems and has worked with Customs authorities to streamline the set-up and processes. From 2018 onwards, courier exports have been done via the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS), which is a robust IT-based risk management system. The Customs clearance of express/courier shipments has moved from passenger terminals to dedicated express terminals. Yet, the value restriction continues, as the 2010 Courier Imports and Exports (Electronics Clearance) Regulation has not been modified to reflect these developments.

There is therefore an urgent need to review the 2010 Courier Imports and Exports (Electronics Clearance) Regulation, and align it with the demands of modernization in general and with our upgraded infrastructure and global best practices in particular.

With e-commerce recording double-digit growth in recent years, both globally and in India, it is now a necessity for our SMEs to use this platform. There is growing global demand for Indian ethnic and cultural products. The government is also promoting such products in global markets. However, can designers from Varanasi, weavers from Kanchipuram or the exporters of Moradabad brass statues or Tanjore paintings cater to global consumers with a restriction of 5 lakh on courier-delivered exports?

Our exporters are competing with exporters from countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, China or Thailand in global markets. They should have a level playing field as these countries do not have any value limits on exports. Indian exporters should have the right to choose between express and general cargo, irrespective of policy restrictions. To ensure this, the value limit, as notified under the Foreign Trade Policy, should be removed, and then Customs can notify this change under the countrys courier regulation.

As a first step, the forthcoming Foreign Trade Policy (April 2024), which is likely to focus on enhancing exports and linking SMEs to global value chains through e-commerce platforms, may examine the adverse implication of value limits on exports through the courier mode, and push for their removal.

These are the authors personal views.
Let us say, you have to take on Narendra Modi and you need a bigger political force than him for this, whom will you call? Which brings us to why, a few days ago in London, Rahul Gandhi complained about the demise of Indias democracy. He was doing what many disenchanted Indian activists before him have attemptedcampaigning to make the West a counterweight to Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Can the West be that?

Seeking external influence to neutralize a local force is not an esoteric tactic. Even ordinary people use it all the timedisenchanted with their primary oppressor, they try to align with a bigger bully.

In the time of street thugs, loyalty was the protection money people paid their thugs. When the thugs were not good enough to protect, people shifted allegiance to a bigger thug. That is how the age of thugs may have endedwhen bullies could not protect people from more formidable forces and people sought out more useful oppressors. The mechanism is the same even today. People pay allegiance to a person, belief, organization or an ideological bloc, but if they are not happy with what they get out of their loyalty, they try to align with an equal or bigger force.

The same tactic was at the heart of B.R. Ambedkars exhortation to Dalits to abandon the very source of casteism, the Hindu religion, and shift allegiance to Buddhism. This is also why many Dalit intellectuals have glorified the English language and dismissed Hindi. One Dalit activist even attempted to build a temple to Goddess English. Writers and filmmakers who have been ignored by the Indian intellectual establishment routinely try reaching out to the West, where the acclaim industry is more influential. In fact, the value of intellectual acclaim itself is that it is a counterweight to capitalism. And the humanitarian movement in any nation is, one way or another, a part of the global Western counterweight to local strongmen.

Rahul Gandhi did not exactly address the British parliament" as some of the Indian media reported; he spoke in one of the rooms there, to about 90 people, among whom there were some British parliamentarians. He told them that Modis government was stifling" and that being a member of parliament in India was quite rough" these days.

Before that, in a chat hosted by a think-tank, he said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, widely regarded as the mother ship of the BJP, was a fundamentalist, fascist organisation." You can call it a secret society," he said, Its built along the lines of the Muslim Brotherhood and the idea is to use the democratic contest to come to power and then subvert the democratic contest afterwards." A common message in all his chats was that except for the fact that elections are held, India is not a true democracy anymore. He also claimed his phone was bugged by the Indian government, and that India has already been invaded" by China. Once, he stated that Europe and the US were not doing enough to restore democracy in India" as they profited from trade with India.

Rahul Gandhi may believe, rightly, that Indian democratic institutions do not favour him anymore. Once, he probably respected these institutions. After all, his party created them. But then, what use is allegiance if the syndicate does not protect you? So he seems keen to reach out to an external force, the West, to exert pressure on Modi to be fair.

Shifting allegiance from one syndicate to another does not guarantee success. For instance, Ambedkar himself faced failure. Most Dalits did not convert. The Hindu religion, a formidable cultural force, largely prevailed by reforming itself. The West was once a major player in the local politics of emerging economies. It still might be in some, but not anymore in India. As recently as 10 years ago, there were signs that Modi was concerned by what the Western media thought of him. Also, Western governments could arm-twist us with economic threats and sanctions. All that has changed. It is possible that Modi has given up on winning the affection of Western media. Also India is too big now for the West to squeeze.

What does India want to be; which country is Indias role model? If you asked the middle-class this 20 years ago, or even at the height of Indias fake love affair with the Soviet Union, the answer would have been the United States." There was a general ambiguous feeling that the West was, all said and done, good. But as people are more informed and misinformed in the age of information, America and the rest of the West do not have that moral heft anymore.

I do not see how the West can seriously infiltrate the present Indian political system to restore" fair practices. But there are some potent aspects in the Western moral system that Modi and his BJP may underestimate at their own peril. For instance, the West has a superb monster-creating machine in its liberal media. Take, for instance, the global image of Saddam Hussain, Vladmir Putin and even Donald Trump himself. Modi is already in the cross-hairs of Western media, which is an integral part of the ideological bloc known as the West. Modis image there, I feel, is just a level better than Putin-Hussain and in the same category as Tayyip Erdogan and Jair Bolsonaro. It could get worse.

On crimes against humanity, the West might be hypocritical but its concern is not fake. I believe that the West truly finds clear-cut evil despicable. So there would likely be economic and political consequences to a global perception, which Rahul Gandhi may have contributed to in London, that Modi and the BJP committed such crimes.

Manu Joseph is a journalist, novelist, and the creator of the Netflix series, Decoupled
Sanjiv Mehta is passing on the baton at Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) to Rohit Jawa, another Unilever veteran, who has served in various capacities all over the world. Jawa has big shoes to fill, but his track record and the goodwill he enjoys from fellow professionals suggest he will thrive in the role.

Mehta is a tough act to follow. He took over as managing director and CEO in October 2013, at the relatively young age of 52. Jawa begins his tenure at 56. He started his career outside the Lever ecosystem and was part of the leadership team at Union Carbide when the worlds biggest industrial disaster took place in Bhopal in 1984.

That crisis-management skill must have equipped him to handle subsequent crises at the helm of Indias biggest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company. Demonetisation in November 2016 certainly caused a crisis for the Indian economy as people suddenly found themselves bereft of liquidity. No company could put money in the hands of consumers, but they could ease the pain in the distribution chain. HUL managed that better than most.

In July 2017, India transitioned to the Goods and Services Tax. A change of tax regime need not signal a crisis, but in India we have the ability to create crises out of thin air. The handling of inventories already out in the system when the transition to GST commenced was one that the FMCG giant handled admirably, given the millions of stock keeping units (SKUs) on which it had to change the labelling.

However, the anti-profiteering division of the governments GST administration came down on the company, accusing it of not passing on to the end consumer the savings secured via the avoidance of cascading tax on tax in the supply chain that GST enabled.

Dealing with regulators and the tax authorities is, of course, one of the tasks of a corporate leader. Suave Sanjiv Mehta was good at that. Then he had to endure the pandemic and its disruptions. To his credit, the company remained robust on his watch. Turnover crossed 50,000 crore and the companys market capitalisation more than quadrupled to $75 billion, making HUL more valuable than many global FMCG majors.

A Harvard management graduate, Mehta has devised many strategies to help HUL thrive in India. One is what he calls Winning in Many Indias. In his public comments, he has chosen to describe this strategy as one that is hard to replicate.

This may not be for the incoming MD and CEO what a red rag is to a bull, but it certainly is a challenge. Rohit Jawa is a relative stranger to the Indian media, having toiled his way up the senior Unilever ranks mostly outside the country after joining the company as a management trainee in 1988.

But Gopal Vittal, one of the seniormost HUL executives before he joined Bharti Airtel as CEO, has good words for Jawa. He has worked in India, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and China with a broad experience across home care, personal care and food sectors. He was chairman of Unilever China. He is currently head of transformation for Unilever in London, with experience in digitisation.

Mehta had growth going for him. Indias per-capita income rose 60% in dollar terms during his stint and the country jumped from the low-income bracket to middle-income (albeit at the low end of this range). This is a huge positive for consumer goods, with goods like packaged foods suddenly taking off.

Jawa is likely to be favoured by rapid urbanisation and greater concentration of purchasing power, both geographically and social segment-wise. This would permit a largish segment to evolve demand patterns resembling those of rich countries, even as the many Indias that Mehta has been bent on winning over remain consumers to be wooed.

While online sales were expected to dilute the advantage that entrenched players like HUL had in terms of an extensive distribution network, it has not played out as expected so far. But then, the share of online sales in overall retail sales has remained low. This could change with the growth of not just Amazon, Flipkart and Reliance but also new entrants, including the government-sponsored Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

A new arms race in robotics and artificial intelligence, enabled by 5G communications, will play out in retail and other sectors. Jawas experience thinking about transformation and digitisation should help him deal with these new challenges.

The well-thought-out, planned succession from within the Unilever universe, announced four months ahead of the transition, sets a good example not just for other companies but also the government, which struggles to identify a successor sometimes even four months after a key player has left office.
Jos  The price of tomato has risen in Jos, the Plateau State capital, few days after the presidential and National Assembly elections. Many are wondering why there is a sudden change in the price of the commodity, especially in the period when naira notes are scarce in the hands of buyers.

Weeks to the presidential poll, the price of tomato in the state fell drastically and a basket of the commodity was sold between N700 and N1,000, a situation that made many farmers and dealers to cry out over the magnitude of losses they incurred. They attributed the situation to the scarcity of naira notes.

The situation became worse as there were no buyers who could pay as low as N700 per basket.

Traders who spoke with Daily Trust on Sunday attributed the sudden increase in the price of the commodity after the elections to certain factors.

Abubakar Adamu, a tomato dealer at the popular Farin Gada market in Jos North Local Government Area, attributed the price increase to the shortage of the commodity in the North, where most farmers exhausted their tomatoes, making Plateau and Kano the only places where one can find it at the moment.

"Dry season farming is almost everywhere in the North. The commodity was cheap because most places engaged in farming and were harvesting concurrently, so supply would be sufficient, thereby forcing the price to come down. But all these places have exhausted their tomatoes, except Plateau and Kano. That is why the demand is high. A basket of the commodity is sold at N3,000," Adamu said.

Adamu said another factor could be connected to the fact that many farmers did not cultivate tomatoes due to the high cost of doing so. He said, "Many farmers do not have money to maintain their farms; that is why they left. The present cash situation in the country also worsened the situation.

"Those still in the system are few and can't provide sufficient tomatoes. This is also part of the reasons the price is increasing by the day."

Lamenting over the situation, Naomi Atik, a tomato dealer and farmer at the Farin Gada market said, "There is no money for transportation to take tomatoes to market because fuel has been expensive. Our tomatoes remained in the farms and eventually got rotten. At a point, the price crashed and farmers lost their capital. It was a difficult experience."

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She attributed the sudden increase in price to the presence of more buyers, especially those coming from the southern part of the country. "I think one of the reasons for the rise in the price oftomatoes is that people from the southern part of the country are coming to buy, after the presidential election.

"The farmers are happy with the development because they have spent a lot and need to recover their expenses."

Abdullahi Usman, the deputy chairman of the tomato market association said, "I have been in this market for many years but never experienced a situation where tomato would crash to the level we saw it this time.

"The cashless policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is new to farmers, so they don't accept mobile transfer. They prefer to sell their products in cash. Tomato was everywhere in the market, and that was why many of the farmers lost their capital."

He further explained that before the presidential election, buyers from the South were afraid of the unknown, so they could not take their money to the North.

Asked whether the price would continue to increase despite the cashless policy, he said, "From now to July the price of tomato would not come down because it is seasonal. Majority of the people of the area would engage in other farming activities."

Naomi Atik further said, "It is our prayer that the price would shoot up so that farmers can gain, but anything can happen. It can rise or come down, depending on market situation."

The dealers further maintained that from now to July, there is the likelihood that the price of the commodity would continue to increase.
US President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Friday, March 3, 2023.
The owner of a well-known estate in Co Cavan has successfully resolved his High Court challenge against An Bord Pleanala's decision to allow an agri-food plant to extend its manufacturing facility.



John Morehart who owns the historic Bellamont Castle, in Cootehill Co Cavan and surrounding 1000 acres of land, had challenging the board's decision to allow Abbott Ireland to extend its facility in Dromore Co Monaghan, by an additional 2661m2.



The company, which makes milk products for infants at its facility, wanted to expand its laboratory, office space, car park and warehouse facilities.



Monaghan Co Council had granted permission for the extension, which was appealed by both Mr Morehart and An Taisce to the board.

Last year the board dismissed the appeal and gave Abbott the go-ahead to proceed with the proposed expansion.

Mr Morehart brought High Court judicial review proceedings seeking to have the board's decision quashed.

The court had granted Mr Morehart permission to bring his challenge, and a date for the hearing of his action remained pending.



When the matter was mentioned before the Court this week Evan O'Donnell Bl instructed by Harrington solicitors, for Mr Morehart told Mr Justice Charles Meenan that the board had conceded the case.

It was agreed between the parties that the court could make a formal order quashing the board's decision, counsel added.

Both Abbott Ireland and Monaghan Co Council were notice parties to the proceedings.

In his action Mr Morehart, whose property is located approximately 1 km from Abbott's facility in Dromore claimed that the board's decision was flawed on several grounds.



Among the alleged flaws were that the board had failed to consider the proposed development in the context of its obligations under the EU Environmental Impact Assessment.

It was also claimed that an EIA of the proposed development should have been carried out, because the facility will process over 100 tonnes of raw material per day.

It is further claimed that the board acted contrary to the EU Directive on Habitats in its determination of the application.
Macra na Feirme president John Keane has said that its young farmers across the country are extremely angry and disappointed that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are actively pursuing a land exit scheme for dairy farmers.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, confirmed to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment and Climate Action that he would introduce an exit scheme for dairy farmers in 2024.

Under the proposals seen by Macra the land that would enter this scheme would no longer be available for use to breed animals.



Mr Keane said this will undoubtedly reduce the stock of land available for farmers who wish to rear breeding animals, it will further increase the price of land paid for lease and sale.

It will put pressure on our tillage sector to compete for land and negatively affect the government's targets to increase the tillage area in Ireland.



With less than 6% of active farmers under 35 the Minister needs to pursue a succession policy in farming and not an exit policy.

This measure, if proceeded with in a manner that is excluding the future of farming in Ireland will further reduce the amount of young farmers who are the future of both the agricultural industry and food production in Ireland.
(Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are due to hold talks with the Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey in response to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank UK.

In a statement issued on Sunday morning, the Treasury said it is treating the issue "as a high priority".

"The government is working at pace on a solution to avoid or minimise damage to some of our most promising companies in the UK and we will bring forward immediate plans to ensure the short-term operational and cashflow needs of Silicon Valley Bank UK customers are able to be met," the statement said.

"The government and the bank understand the level of concern that this raises for customers of Silicon Valley Bank UK, and especially how it may impact on cashflow positions in the short term."

It added that the government recognises that the Silicon Valley Bank UK's failure "could have a significant impact on the liquidity of the tech ecosystem".

The Bank of England announced on Friday that Silicon Valley Bank UK is set to enter insolvency, following action taken by its parent company in the US.

While Silicon Valley Bank has a limited presence in the UK and does not perform functions critical to the financial system, the Coalition for a Digital Economy warned that its collapse could have a significant impact on tech start-ups.

Coadec's executive director, Dom Hallas, said in a statement on Saturday: "It is clear this could have a significant impact on the UK's tech start-up ecosystem."

Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrew Griffith is due to hold a roundtable with representatives from affected firms to discuss their concerns.

SVBUK said it will be put into insolvency from Sunday evening. It is a subsidiary of Silicon Valley Bank and was the first location it opened outside the US.

The insolvency announcement came after SVB was put under US government control on Friday afternoon in the biggest failure of a US bank since the 2008 financial crisis.

The Bank of England said the company will stop making payments and accepting deposits.

The move will allow depositors to be paid up to GBP85,000 from the deposit insurance scheme.

A statement on the SVB website said: "We are announcing that, following conversations with the Prudential Regulatory Authority, there is an intention, barring any intervening event, to put Silicon Valley Bank UK Ltd into insolvency from Sunday evening.

"We are determined to work on the behalf of our clients and are proud of our employees in their engagement with you.

"If clients have any questions please get in touch with us and we will try our best to answer any and all of your queries."

By Alana Calvert and Ellie Ng, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) will soon unveil its Made-in-Nigeria military weapons and equipment even as the Nigerian Army has lent its support to domestication of these weapons, saying it would strengthen the fight against insurgency, banditry and other security threats in the country.

This was disclosed in a statement issued over the weekend by Deputy Director in charge of Information in NASENI, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan. He noted that NASENI in collaboration with some indigenous research Institutions and Industry: Nigeria Machine Tools (NMT) Osogbo and the Nigerian Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers jointly had commenced production of a12.7mm AA Gun through reverse engineering, including Armour Personnel Carrier vehicles, Unmanned Aerial Drones and other light weapons for use by the military.

These developments were buttressed in Abuja when the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, Engr, Prof Mohammed Sani Haruna, OFR paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya to brief him on the actions so far taken by the Agency in implementing the Presidential directives on NASENI research and development of appropriate military weapons locally, other technology and war equipment to support the Armed Forces in its fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and for the defence of the territorial integrity of the country.

In his remarks, Prof. Haruna said the charge by President Muhammadu Buhari to NASENI was consistent with the mandate of the Agency in enhancing national development and security through infrastructural development and practical implementation of National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy of the Federal Government.

According to NASENI Executive Vice Chairman "the Agency had begun collaboration with some indigenous industries and research institutions as well as some foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) with a view to domesticating military weapons and equipment production in Nigeria through infrastructural development and transfer of technology."

The NASENI boss also said that his visit to the Chief of Army Staff was to request for strategic guidelines on how to carry out the Presidential directive bearing in mind that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is the end user of the product of these collaborative efforts, adding that he was expecting suggestions from the Chief of Army Staff on areas of security challenges that NASENI could leverage with its science, technology and innovation capacities and competencies.

He said "NASENI is currently collaborating with some indigenous research Institutions and Industries; one of which is the Nigerian Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering institution which jointly produced 12.7mm AA Gun through reverse engineering. We are hopeful of a presidential intervention to mass produce the guns for the Armed Forces. With this achievement, I am hopeful that we would be able to revisit our MoU discussions on local production of weapons and MRAPs."

On the international scene, he said, NASENI had identified some potential partners in the development and production of small arms and light weapons, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Air boats, MRAPs, APCs, and light aircrafts (fixed wing and rotary wing).

Responding, the Chief of Army Staff said local production of military weapons would not only enhance improvements in Nigeria's possession of military hardware and weapons but would also make it easy for the military to have access to them and to build indigenous competencies and create employment opportunities for Nigerians, including making orders locally handy when necessary.

He said that "the Army is fully in support of what NASENI and its partners are doing while waiting for the mass production of the 12.7mm AA Gun as it will be to the benefits of the Nigerian Army and ease our operations."

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He said further "If we have the weapons locally produced here, we can execute our own plans faster by making orders straight away from the Nigeria factories and we can determine how they are used and installed. This will bridge the communication gaps on the specification which we usually experience with foreign suppliers. We usually go through hassles in assembling components by our foreign suppliers which are not usually in one place. Sometimes when we imported these weapons, their parts are made by different companies and we find them difficult to put them together."

Lt.Gen Yahaya said that production of military weapons locally would always be to the benefits of the Nigerian Army, adding that there are more alternatives and advantages in producing military equipment within a country's national borders as it will save time and more affordable. The Chief of Army Staff therefore encouraged NASENI to continue with its efforts to go into research and development of equipment, tools and spare parts for the development of the nation.
Less than one month after cholera killed 17 persons in Ikwo local government area of Ebinyi State, two persons have been confirmed dead in another outbreak in Ofenekpa Inyimagu also in Ikwo.

Apart from Ikwo, other communities affected include Ezillo in Ishielu local government area and Afikpo in Afikpo North local government area.

LEADERSHIP SUNDAY gathered that the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, had intervened through the procurement of drugs and settling the hospital bills of victims following last month's outbreak which brought the spread under control.

Ogah, the deputy chairman, House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, mobilised a medical team led by Dr Chukwu Okwudiri of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT AMURT) to intervene in the outbreak.

Ogah expressed regret over the continued outbreaks in the local government and called for the intervention of the state and federal government.

"We are in the dry season when people experience scarcity of water which most times result in cholera outbreaks. In that regard, we have done so much in sinking several boreholes both in Ikwo and Ezza South local government areas to ensure that people have access to good water.

"We can't do it alone, we need more of the support of the federal government, the state and foreign donor agencies to help our people. President Mohammadu Buhari has done so much in Ebonyi State even in the area of water and we expect that with the coming on board of the new administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the issue of water scarcity will be a thing of the past," he said.
CEO of Royal Hugs Suprises, Oluwatoyin Deborah Oyesanya has made an inroad into the movie industry, playing a lead role in the epic Nollywood movie titled ISHOLA ALAKOLA.

The delectable lady and entrepreneur who made this known in a media brief said her company of eight years, Royal Hugs Suprises has continued to create memorable moments for clients and make them happy on their days of celebration. She noted that the great work endeared her to many including the producer of tbe epic, 'ISHOLA ALAKOLA, Alaba Ultimate' who reached out to her to be part of the casts of the movie.

"Having been an entrepreneur in the Hospitality industry and worked with many notable people in society, I believe the gift of a man or woman will make room for her as the bible says. I met the producer of the movie, Alaba Ultimate who gave me a role and I was so elated on this project. it's my first venture into Nollywood as a person. I am playing the role of Adeola who a lady in love with a musician Ishola is who has dreams of taking his music to greater heights but has no funds and helper to support him. I decided to get funds for Ishola and this led to many other intrigues and conflicts, " says Oyesanya.

The movie is still in pre-production stage and will be out later this year. The Royal Hugs Suprises CEO who shared about her company said it was inspired by an enco that led her to depression and how she began to appreciate the need to show love in creative ways. Toyin Oyesanya who will celebrate her birthday on March 14th is grateful to God for having come this far and will hosts friends, family and Nollywood actors, producers.

ISHOLA ALAKOLA is produced by a US-based musician and actor, Alaba Onaolapo popularly known as Alaba Ultimate.
The Cardinals got a bit of a scare when Jordan Walker appeared to injure his shoulder while sliding into second base during yesterdays spring contest. However, after some examination, it seems like Walker is fine. Im good. Im fine. Im going to go hit after this (meeting). I knew it wasnt anything serious, Walker said to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Walker did not have an MRI and will take batting practice today, per John Denton of MLB.com.

The fact that Walker is fine will surely be welcome news to the Cards and their fans. Though he doesnt turn 21 until May, hes one of the top prospects in the league and is pushing for a spot on the Opening Day roster. He spent all of last year in Double-A, hitting 19 home runs and stealing 22 bases in 119 games at that level. His .306/.388/.510 batting line was 28% better than league average, by measure of wRC+.

A natural third baseman, Walker has been moved to the outfield due to the Nolan Arenado-shaped obstacle at the hot corner. Now Walker will be looking to crack an outfield mix consisting of Tyler ONeill, Dylan Carlson, Lars Nootbaar, Juan Yepez and Alec Burleson.

Some other health notes from around the league
12.03.2023 LISTEN

Beginning March 16, Venus Over Manhattan will present Ghanaian artist, Cornelius Annor: A Fabric of Time and Family, an exhibition of new paintings by the Accra-based artist whose vibrant canvases offer glimpses of Ghanaian life through figures in states of gathering, leisure, and repose.

In the series of fifteen works on view, Annor depicts scenes culled from photo albums, archives, recollections, and imaginings of a group of paintings that radiate kinship and harken to both classical art historical paradigms and the unique aesthetics of modern African portraiture.

On view through April 22 at the gallerys Great Jones Street location, this presentation marks the artists second solo exhibition with Venus Over Manhattan.

Cornelius Annor has achieved international critical praise for his narrative figurative scenes and portraits, elements of an oeuvre that captures the transitory moments and ineffable atmosphere of contemporary life in his native Ghana. Amalgamating sources, including familial records and internet archives, Annor creates a vivid metafiction that pulses with life and resonant affection for his subjects, both known and imagined.

Characteristic of Annors work is the incorporation of fabric segments as well as portions of canvas with fabric transfers. The Ghanaian textiles and motifs he uses function twofold, referencing both the artists West African heritage and literalizing the multidimensional and layering of memories and meaning in his work.

Speaking to the relationship between elements in his paintings, Annor has observed: Some of these West African textiles are kept in family cabinets of curiosities for several years for new generations to see and bond with the past. This collision of the album photos and the fabric collage fictionally weaves my personal history and family story with those of different groups family narratives.

By drawing from references particular to Annors family and friends, as well as more wide-ranging sources like social media and movies, the artist endows his work with both immense specificity and universality.

The salience of feeling warmth and congeniality, a quality of fellowship and deep humanity pervades his canvases. Of his paintings Annor has said, I want everyone to see their family in my work. Visibility and affirming image-making are critical motivations for the artist, who is passionately committed to depicting Africa and Ghana as vibrant, strong, relevant, and most fully and fruitfully alive. As the artist has said, Because most of the positive images of Black people focus on the African American story,

I would like what I am creating right now to depict positive imagery of Africa and Ghana. I want people to change their view about our beautiful continent.

Honoring occasions of gathering, moments of respite, kith and kin, Annors paintings are both a testament to and celebration of the richness of Ghanaian life - nostalgic and envisaged, joyously resolute. Connecting the past, present, and future in a suite of works teeming with affection, Annor achieves a feat of remembrance and willful creation through his painterly practice.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Cornelius Annor was born in 1990 in Accra, Ghana. Annor studied at the Ghanatta College of Art and Design.

His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions both stateside and abroad, including recent presentations at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, Cape Town; Kunsthalle Krems, Krems; Maruani Mercier, Knokke; and Gallery 1957, Accra.

His work is held in the permanent collections of The Brooklyn Museum; Buxton Contem- porary, Melbourne; The Bunker Art Space, West Palm Beach; Denver Art Museum; the Institute of Contemporary Art Miami; and the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach. In 2022, Annors work was featured in When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, in Cape Town.

Annor lives and works in Ghana, where he established C.Annor studio, a space dedicated to encouraging and supporting young artists.

For further information about the exhibition and availability, please contact the gallery at [email protected]
The Tax Justice Coalition-Ghana, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSO), says government will need foreign creditors to cancel about 60 per cent of the country's $30 billion external debt to achieve sustainable debt level by 2035.

The coalition has, therefore, called on government to pursue a comprehensive external debt restructuring programme that would ensure that most of the country's foreign debt, especially those contracted on a bilateral basis got cancelled in the fo rm of reliefs and grants.

The estimation is based on an analysis of the 2023 Annual Budget and Economic Policy that the government plans to implement to address the current economic crisis.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, the Chairman of the coalition, Mr Vitus Adaboo Azeem, said government must also drastically cut down the size of government and scrap or merge some Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA) to reduce budget size and create less need for borrowing.

He also called for the suspension of the National Cathedral Project and the scrapping of the Contingency Vote that allowed the executive to engage in unapproved expenditure.

The government estimates an overall debt-to-GDP ratio of 55 per cent and external debt service -to- revenue of below 18 per cent by 2028.

And under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Debt Sustainability Framework, for a moderate risk of debt distress, the present value of Ghana's external Debt to GDP ratio should be below 40 per cent and external debt service below 18 per cent of government revenue he said.

The Coalition, which comprises the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Ghana Integrity Initiative, ActionAid Ghana, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition and Revenue Mobilisation Africa, also called on government to focus more on implementing progressive taxation of income, wealth, and property.

It said it recognised the debt crisis as a major hinderance to the achievement of the government's proposal in the budget, adding that, Ghana will need to borrow to implement the budget while seeking to restructure its debt owed to external creditors after a long-drawn-out negotiation with domestic creditors.

All these put a constraint on budget financing through the financial markets where there will be some limited access, Mr Azeem said.

GNA
The students of the Otok Mixed Secondary School in Sub-County in Kenya attacked their parents who came to the school last Thursday to eject the newly appointed principal.

The incident was confirmed by Lydia Parteiye, the commander of the Sub-County police, who stated that the parents of the students did not support the school authority's decision to accept the new principal.

They took the law into their hands and stormed the school to expel the principal. The students became angry and began throwing stones at their parents to stop them from causing trouble in the institution.

The principal, Mr Jackton Ogaga, claims that his students overpowered their parents and drove them to the town's outskirts, where one teacher was injured and three people were arrested for further investigation.
The Kingdom of Morocco has been calling attention to the threat posed by the sales of Iranian drones to Algeria for use by the Polisario guerrilla fighters.

At the end of 2022, Moroccan Senior Officials highlighted Iran and Algerias new alliance along with statements made by Iranian officials about the sale of drones to Algeria as part of a significant arms deal. Senior officials from the Kingdom have also highlighted statements made by Polisario Front about the receipt of drones and other weapons from Algeria, along with training and the development of infrastructure to operate them.

Late last year, the separatist Polisario Front threatened to use military drones against Moroccos Royal Armed Forces stationed along the Western Sahara defence wall. The announcement came as the Polisarios leader Brahim Ghali was preparing to launch a military movement from Tindouf for the fronts war of attrition against Morocco.

Omar Mansour, the Polisarios envoy to Mauritanias President revealed the news at a press conference in Nouakchott at the time. The Sahrawi army will soon use armed drones in the war of attrition in Western Sahara, Mansour threatened.

Iranian drones on Moroccos borders pose a serious concern for the country, as unmanned aerial vehicles can be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and even military operations. The drones are capable of surveying vast areas of Moroccan territory, allowing the Iranian government to gain insight into the Kingdoms activity and movements.

Furthermore, the drones could be used to provide intelligence on the Moroccan military on the Polisarios positions, making them vulnerable to airstrikes and other forms of aggression. As the Iranian drones become increasingly prevalent in the region, Morocco is likely to face a heightened risk of attack, making this an urgent matter that must be addressed.

Accordingly, the Moroccan Armed Forces enforced a land and air exclusion zone east of the defensive wall and started operating a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including Turkish-designed Bayraktar TB2 drones. Less than twenty-four hours after the Polisario threatened to use unmanned aircraft against Morocco, Moroccos Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita warned against the acquisition of armed drones by terrorist and separatist groups.

Iran, after undermining the stability of Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon, is in the process of stabilising our region, declared Omar Hilal, Moroccos ambassador to the United Nations.

With the Wests eye firmly on the role Iranian drones are playing in Ukraine, concerns are rising in Africa that Iran is playing a major destabilizing role in the region through the support of terrorist proxies. Having supported Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and Fatimiyoun in Afghanistan its well known that Iran is playing a significant role in West Africa. It is typical of Irans approach to foreign intervention to identify proxy wars and then offer support to the non-state actors requiring weapons.

Iran is also using both its soft power through education and marriage to build up its presence in North Africa. At the same time, it is providing weapons, training, and other types of support with the engagement of a range of other countries to militias in the region.

Iran is playing an active role in the Sahel across North Africa with various groups while Morocco, one of the U.S.s most long-standing allies in the region raised concerns as early as 2006 that the region was becoming a breeding ground and exporter of a new generation of terrorists.

In Africa, there is rising concern that the support and materiel being provided to individuals by Iran and other malign actors in North Africa would result in increased attacks and instability. Attacks are taking place against local populations and Western forces in the region with French and U.S. special forces having already experienced casualties.

The provision of drones to Polisario by Iran and Algeria, and their likely spread to other groups is a major escalation in their offensive capabilities. Morocco, which has experienced devastating terrorist attacks in the past, because of its pro-Western role as a firewall against Islamic extremism, is once more on the front lines.

As is being seen in Ukraine, armed drones provide the ability to attack targets from a distance  not too long ago only an option for countries with air forces or ballistic missiles. Having weaponized drones on the border of Morocco controlled by the Algerian-backed Polisario Front is the equivalent of Russian missiles in Cuba.

In the same way that this had major geopolitical consequences, independent observers and Moroccan officials are raising concerns that this very real threat is being lost in the fog of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the focus on China spy balloons, and the Turkey-Syria earthquake.

Irans growing military-industrial complex is producing and shipping drones, and weapons including missiles and cluster bombs, to stoke conflicts and instability around the world. While the world focused on Ukraine, its weapon sales and ability to work around sanctions to generate revenue at home should be a major cause for concern for the West. The Algeria and Iran axis as it relates to Morocco and Polisario needs far more attention from the U.S. and others who tend to look at this through the lens of a dispute between neighbours, rather than as is increasingly the case Polisario as a proxy for Iran and Algeria, building up capabilities to attack a U.S. ally.

Similarly, Russias invasion of Ukraine is part of a broader strategy to reform the Soviet Bloc, Irans engagement with Algeria needs to be seen as part of its objective of an arc of influence stretching from the Middle East through North Africa and into the West Africa. Morocco is a key buffer between these regions and of critical importance.

In this broader context, theres a real danger that, just as in the past, as Morocco sounds the alarm about drones on its borders that the warnings will not be heard, and the Iran-Algeria axis will grow stronger and more dangerous for the region.
The lack of health structures at Sissalla West District of the Upper West Region is impeding access to healthcare delivery, Dr Mathias Tengan, the District Director of Health, has said.

There are 42 functional CHPS compounds, but 20 of them currently function without physical structures.

Dr Mathias expressed the concern in Gwollu during the annual performance review of the Ghana Health Service, on the theme: Implementing the health-in-all policy: A means to attaining sustainable and quality health service delivery in Sissala West District.

He said the provision of such infrastructure for those zones would ensure effective service delivery.

The district, with a population of 65,296, has one hospital, six health centres and 42 functional CHPS zones, 20 of which currently function without physical structures, which were supposed to provide critical health services to the people from the remotest part of the country.

However, the district made remarkable improvement in CHPS functionality from 32 to 42, improvement in TB case detection from eight in 2021 to 17 in 2022.

Others include stillbirth and neonatal mortality, which saw a decline from 2.6 per cent in 2021 to 1.4 per cent in 2022, and 2.6 per cent in 2021 to 0.69 per cent in 2022, respectively.

Adolescent pregnancy rate also saw a reduction from four per cent in 2021 to zero in 2022. There was zero maternal mortality, while under-five mortality rate reduced from 4.6 per cent in 2021 to 3.4 per cent in 2022.

Dr Tengan said the excellent surveillance system led to the early suspicions of 18 AFP, 135 measles, 52 yellow fever, and 17 confirmed TB cases, which were dealt with.

He said though anaemia was still a menace in the district, there was an improvement in haemoglobin checked at registration and at 36 weeks of gestation.

We were also fortunate when we hosted the Ghana Health Service National Council in the district, which led to some pertinent issues confronting healthcare delivery receiving attention, he said.

Dr Tengan addressing the stakeholders

Dr Tengan mentioned inadequate accommodation for health staff overcrowding at the District Health Directorate, lack of means of transport, inadequate delivery beds, and staff refusal to accept postings to the district as some of the challenges.

The lack of electricity and water in newly constructed health centres and CHPS compounds at Zini and Jeffisi are working against the staff in those communities, he said, and appealed to all stakeholders to support in addressing those challenges.

Madam Ayisha Batong Hor, the District Chief Executive, gave the assurance that the District Assembly had prioritised effective healthcare and would do everything possible to reduce the challenges in the sector.

GNA
Six members of the Divine Healers Church have dragged Registered Trustees of the church and five other executive members to court for their alleged continuous stay in office.

The executive members of the Church were said to have ended their five-year tenure in office, and also exceeded their age limits of 65 years.

However, the defendants contended that they had received prophesies from the Holy Spirit to stay in office.

The plaintiffs are: Apostle Daniel Mensah Attakpah, Rev Philip Attakpah, Johannes Ollenu, Rev. Jonathan Nyabu, Pastor Solomon Amenyo and Pastor Ebenezer Nartey.

The defendants are: The Registered Trustees of the Divine Healers Church, Apostles Isaac Kwabena Adade, General Overseer, Maxwell Aryeetey Foster, deputy General Overseer, Kenneth Ashaley Addo, General Secretary, Emmanuel Acquaye, Chairman of the National Youth Ministry and Dora Edith Osekre, National Women's Fellowship Leader.

In a writ filed at the High Court, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that the five out of the six defendants' continued stay in office was unconstitutional.

The plaintiffs are seeking an order directed at the Registered Trustees ( first defendant) to organise elections for the appointment of qualified members of the Church to replace the five other defendants in their respective current positions.

They are also before the court praying for an order directing the five defendants to render audited accounts to the newly elected and or appoint members taking over respective positions currently being held by said defendants.

The plaintiffs are further seeking damages against the defendants jointly and severally for abusing their positions and having remained and or overstayed unconstitutionally in their offices or position despite their ineligibility.

In the statement of case filed on February 15, 2023, the plaintiff held that the Church started originally as a healing , teaching and deliverance ministry, but developed over the years into an all-purpose church.

The plaintiffs said the Church had an organisational structure made up of assemblies, spread over the district and regions of Ghana and abroad.

They said the Church was founded as The Lord is there Temple in 1954 by Gilbert Ablorh Lawson and over the years became known as The Divine Healers Church.

The plaintiffs said after the death of Gilbert Ablorh Lawson in 1989, the leadership and membership of the Church decided to have a constitution to govern the operations and activities of the Church.

They said the Church finally had a written constitution in 1999 and the constitution provided term limits for all its office holders and age limit for some officer holders.

According to the plaintiffs, the constitution of the Church provided that the national church congress shall be highest administrative and policy making body.

They said the constitution of the Church provided that the term of office of members, National Executive Board (NEB) shall be five years and members would be eligible for re-appointment for a second term of office.

The plaintiffs said the second defendant (Apostle Adade) who was also the head of Administration of the Church, assumed his first term of office in 2006, which ended in 2011 and that he had served a second term from 2011 and ended in 2016.

They contended that in spite of the fact that the second term of office for Apostle Adade expired in the year 2016, he allegedly failed to leave office although there was no constitutional provision for a third term of office.

The continuous stay of office by the second defendant (Apostle Adade) was unconstitutional, arbitrary and amounts to an attempt by the second defendant to remain in office as a life General Overseer and member of the National Executive Board.

According to the plaintiffs, Apostle Adade after exceeding the age limit of 65, was not qualified to have stayed or remained in office as General Overseer and member of the NEB beyond the year 2011.

They said the defendants could not be in office by spiritual subterfuge in the name of purported prophesies by the second defendant.

The second defendants claim the Holy Spirit has revealed through prophesies that he and his team should remain in office.

The persons behind the prophecies and place of prophecies are unknown to the members of the Church except the second defendant and his team of beneficiaries.

According to the plaintiffs any attempt to challenge the purported prophesies was considered as lack of religious faith in God and belief in God's word and considered abominable act.

They held that the defendants only applied the Constitution of the Church when it suited them and only when a member was being dismissed.

The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants had without consultation with membership of the Church, engaged a lawyer to amend the Church's constitution to remove the term limits and age limits and election of church leaders.

They averred that members had become helpless as the defendants continued to hold on to power and needed the order of the court to stop them.

GNA
12.03.2023 LISTEN

Bangladesh and Pakistan together make up 5 percent of the worlds population. The Possibilities of market value in the case of export and import between these two states are inevitably huge. But the trade between the two countries of 39 crore people is now only 6-7 hundred million dollars. This is a very small share in the exports of both countries. In 2019-20, only 50 million worth of goods went from Bangladesh to Pakistan. It has the potential to grow exponentially. The industrial sector of both countries has expanded tremendously in the last 50 years. The industrialists of the previous generation knew the details of each others people and markets. The next generation of industrialists is unable to make use of that historical experience due to a lack of political action.

Syngenta Bangladesh Limited has started exporting vegetable seeds to Pakistan. Through this, a new horizon has been opened in the export of agricultural products. It will increase foreign exchange reserves in the country as well as create employment. In the press release, Syngenta Bangladesh Limited said that it is planning to export vegetable seeds to various neighboring countries in the future.

According to the press release, the export of vegetables from Bangladesh is now increasing. Syngenta is participating in this glorious journey of exports to enrich the country. will help accelerate the growing trend of exports. Syngenta Bangladesh has been operating in the country for over 50 years.

Syngenta Bangladesh Limited is a leading multinational agribusiness company in the country jointly owned by Syngenta Crop Protection AG of Switzerland and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC).

Keeping the export goal of the government of Bangladesh in mind, Syngenta Bangladesh Limited has embarked on a new journey by exporting vegetable seeds to neighbouring countries.

This initiative has opened a new horizon and is expected to create more employment along with increasing foreign currency reserves, said a press release.

The export of vegetable seeds from Bangladesh is now getting momentum and that too, in a remarkable manner. Syngenta started exporting vegetable seeds to Pakistan and going forward it has the plan to export seeds to more destinations. This endeavour will help to expedite this increasing trend of export and Syngenta is proud to be part of this illustrious journey.

Syngenta has a rich history of over 50 years of operation in Bangladesh. It is a joint venture public limited company, where 60% of the shares are held by Syngenta AG Switzerland and 40% of the shares are held by the Bangladesh Government through BCIC (Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation).

Pakistans goods and services trade with Bangladesh witnessed a surplus of 18.64 percent during first five months of current fiscal year (2022-23) as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

The trade surplus during the months under review was recorded at $329.668 million against $277.863 million during same months of last year, showing 18.64 percent growth.

The overall exports to Bangladesh were recorded at $365.290 million during July-November (2022-23) against exports of $ 316.680 million during July- November (2021-22), showing growth of 15.34 percent, SBP data revealed.

Meanwhile, on year-to-year basis, exports to Bangladesh during November 2022 witnessed a nominal decrease of 2.66 percent, from US $ 72.356 million to US $70.431 million.

Similarly on month-on-month basis, exports of Bangladesh were rose by 16.69 percent during November 2022 in comparison with exports of US $ 60.355 million in October 2022, SBP data said.

Overall Pakistans exports to other countries witnessed a decrease of 2.01 percent in first five months, from US $ 12.313 billion to US $ 12.065 billion, the SBP data revealed.

On the other hand, the imports from Bangladesh during the period under review were recorded at $ 35.622 million against $38.817 million last year, showing a decrease of 8.23 percent.

Meanwhile, year-to-year basis, imports from Bangladesh during November 2022 also decreased by 18.25 percent from US $10.559 million last year to US $8.631 million.

On month-on-month basis, the import from Bangladesh increased by 20.37 percent during November 2022 when compared to the import of US $7.170 million in October 2022, SBP data said.

The overall imports into the country witnessed decrease of 16.15 percent, from $29.663 billion to US $ 24.872 billion, according to the data.

Bangladesh and Pakistan can indeed profit by growing business relations. Pakistan can export cotton, yarn, fabric, leather, inorganic chemicals, vegetables and electronics (fan), halal foods to Bangladesh. There is a high demand for these products in Bangladesh. On the other hand, Bangladesh can export its world-class medicines, apparel, agro-products, halal foods, ceramics, etc. Bangladesh can benefit from using Pakistans Gwadar port and China-run CPEC. Bangladeshi products can be exported to Central Asia and imported from the region easily. As a result, Pak-BD ties would boost up more. Both sides can also work in promoting cooperation in the areas of science and technology, information technology, health care, digital cooperation, SME [Small and medium-sized enterprises] development, tourism, etc. Bangladesh has vast experience in dealing with refugees, tackling climate change approach, countering terrorism, human resource development. Pakistan has experience in the sector of religious tourism. Both countries can exchange these advantages.

However, there are many potentials in economic relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan. But this should be realized by the government of Pakistan for its interest. Because they need Bangladeshs help and support in reviving their fragile economy and raising various regional issues at all international forums. The sooner the Pakistani government realizes this, the better for them. Pakistan and Bangladesh can gain by growing trade ties.

Erina Haque

Researcher, and freelance columnist.
Ghana is being developed at a faster rate, which indicates that now many things are being produced in this country, and those things we develop must be in a specialized state. We need to develop these things well and label them neatly and nicely to attract customers and investors that want to invest in these various sectors in the country. One area where much specialization and investments need to go is the cocoa sector, where the principle of comparative advantage beckons us to spend some time and money to develop it well.

BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

What Is Comparative Advantage?

Comparative advantage is an economy's power to bring about or manufacture a particular good or service at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partners. It is a principle that ensures a comparative advantage we have as a nation to produce something that our neighboring countries could not do more than us. This is used to explain why companies, countries, or individuals can benefit from trade.

When one employs the principle in the international arena, it is utilized to portray international trade, where comparative advantage means the products that a country can produce more cheaply or easily than other countries. Usually, it illustrates the benefits of trade that some contemporary economists now acknowledge that focusing only on comparative advantages can bring about exploitation and depletion of the country's resources.

The principle of comparative advantage is popularly ascribed to the political economist David Ricardo who wrote this in his book entitled On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation in 1817. However, some economists believe Ricardo's mentor, James Mill, originated and propounded this theory in his earlier analysis.

In sum, the principle states:

a nations capability to produce a particular good or service at a lower opportunity cost than its trading partners.

an opportunity cost as a factor for analysis in choosing between different options for production.

that countries will engage in trade with one another, exporting the goods that they have a relative advantage in.

there are downsides to focusing only on a country's comparative advantages, which can exploit the country's labor and natural resources.

there is an absolute advantage to the uncontested superiority of a country to produce a particular good better.

BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

Based on this principle, I suggest some ideas concerning the modern manner of carrying out development in the cocoa sector in Ghana. These consist of the following:

BASIC PROJECT COCOA INITIATIVE (BPCI)

This is where the government set aside 10 million US Dollars to encourage young graduates to go into Cocoa farming. Allowances and incentives will be paid to graduates to take over this farming from their relatives who are old and cannot continue working. Also, those who want to purchase land and cultivate their cocoa farming.

a) A graduate whose father is old

b) A graduate whose father-in-law or relative is old.

c) A graduate who wants to purchase his/her land

These graduates should be paid allowances to embark on working in this sector. They should be able to thrive and take over to initiate modernization and the introduction of modern equipment, such as tractors and combined harvesters to energize the farming sector. Their aging relatives should be compensated to give up land and cocoa farms to the younger generation of farmers.

PURPOSE

To allow the educated to become Cocoa farmers just as in the West, farmers comprise the most educated graduates in the country.

BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITIES SHOULD BE FUNDED (Specialization in Cocoa Cultivation Affairs)

2 YEARS DIPLOMA STUDIES IN COCOA AFFAIRS

This is for all SHS graduates/25 years old citizens who want to study everything about how to cultivate, manage and harvest COCOA farms.

POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN COCOA STUDIES/AFFAIRS

First-degree holders who want to study how to cultivate, manage and harvest COCOA farms.

These are future professionals to cultivate cocoa and Coffee beans and manage and harvest them as the most important cash crops in the country. They should be helping in the industries such as the manufacturing of chocolates, cocoa drinks, cocoa medicines, cocoa paints (peeled skins), pharmaceuticals, etc. Mixed farming could be introduced to preserve land. For example, cocoa and coffee could be mixed, as well as tea and pawpaw farming can be combined.

INVENTIONS, MODERN EQUIPMENT

Geography: studying the best climatic conditions for the crops.

Inventions: inventing drying machines to quicken the drying processes. Devices to open up the pods easily.

Efficient storage systems and pollination.

Research Department already at Tafo, University of Development Studies, Kwadaso in Kumasi.

Government must collaborate with Dr. Apostle Engineer Kwadwo Safo to help with the development of Cocoa Machines or modern equipment at his New University in Ghana.

TYPICAL COCOA FARMER'S COTTAGE

Cement-built and corrugated iron roof house with electrification.

Two-bedroom, a hall, and a kitchen. Toilet and bath. (Garage) Three-bed rooms, a hall, and a kitchen. Toilet and bath. (Garage) Three-bed rooms, a hall and a kitchen. 2 toilets and 2 bathrooms and a Guest room. (2 Garages).

HOUSING SCHEMES FOR COCOA FARMERS
27-year-old South African rapper Constantinos Tsobanoglou - popularly known as Costa Titch has died .

Costa reportedly collapsed on stage during his performance at the Ultra Music Festival at the Nasrec Expo Centre on March 11.

Videos seen on social media show him falling twice during the performance.

His family has confirmed the news in a statement on Instagram where they have thanked emergency responders and all those who were present in Costa's last hours on earth.

"The Tsobanoglou family thanks you for the love and support you have given to our son, and may you continue to uplift him even in spirit. Please keep us in your prayers and uplifted in the Lord", read the statement.

He's known for his songs such as Activate, Nkalakatha and Areyeng

He had recently signed to Senegalese-American rapper Akon's record label Konvict Kulture. The Lonely rapper recently featured on the remix of Costa's hit song Big Flexa, reports News24.

Costa's death comes a month after the death of award-winning rapper Kiernan Forbes popularly known as AKA.
Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed taking delivery of a consignment of childhood vaccines entreating caregivers to desist from rushing to hospitals for the vaccines.

The GHS said the Ministry of Health has made adequate provisions for the supply of vaccines that will last for the rest of the year and beyond.

The vaccines, according to GHS include BCG, OPV and Measles with accompanying devices such as needles, syringes and safety boxes.

A statement issued and signed by the GHS Director-General, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, on March 12, said, the Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service has just taken delivery of some childhood vaccines that have been in short supply in the country for some time now. The vaccines are free and can be obtained at designated health facilities and all Child Welfare Clinics (weighing centers) across the country. We entreat all caregivers not to rush for the vaccine since the Ministry of Health has made adequate provisions for vaccines for the rest of the year and beyond.

The GHS in its statement assured that the regional and district deliveries will start Monday 13 adding that children who missed their scheduled vaccines are still eligible for vaccination.

Regional cold vans have been deployed with consignments to their various regional cold rooms for onward delivery to the districts and facilities from Monday 13. March, 2023. The Service would like to remind the public that per the national vaccination policy, all children who missed their scheduled vaccines are still eligible for vaccination, the GHS explained in its statement.

The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Saturday, March 11, 2023, took delivery of the first consignment of Measles vaccines, BCG vaccines and Oral Polio Vaccines.

The Ministry of Information in a Facebook post said distribution to various regions and facilities is underway.

The Information Ministry assured that more vaccines are expected in the country in the coming weeks from multiple sources.

Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service receive first consignment of Measles vaccines, BCG vaccines and Oral Polio Vaccines. Distribution to various regions and facilities underway. More vaccines expected in Ghana in the coming weeks from multiple sources, the Information Ministry posted on Facebook.

Read below the details of the GHS full statement

-citinewsroom
Pope Francis reads a speech at St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, after he was elected on 13 March 2013. - Source: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

12.03.2023 LISTEN

When he was presented to a cheering crowd at St Peter's Square, Vatican City, on 13 March 2013 , few people outside Latin America knew much about Jorge Bergoglio.

But a decade later, based on my work as a scholar of Catholicism, I would argue that most Catholics know and love Pope Francis. They also see a deep connection between his message and priorities, and their dreams and hopes for a better church and a world that is reconciled.

When Pope Francis was introduced in 2013, I was working as an African expert on global Catholicism for Canada Television. I went blank when the new pope was presented to the world on live TV because I had no biographical information on him. So, I ran off the list of what we African Catholics wanted from the new pope.

This included a decentralised and decolonised Catholicism, with more powers given to local church leaders to address local challenges using their own cultural and spiritual resources. There was also the urgent need to give African Catholics more places at the decision-making table in the world church.

Before Pope Francis, many of these challenges were either ignored, spiritualised or papered over through moral platitudes. Pope Francis has taken them on. He is the first post-colonial pope to challenge the system within the church and society that exploits the poor and vulnerable.

Pope Francis' papacy is anchored on what he calls a  revolution of tenderness . This reflects two central themes: the courage to dream and the culture of encounter.

These two themes have resonated with African Catholics. They awaken a sense of hope that by collectively tapping into Africa's human, material and spiritual resources, it's possible to address the continent's social, economic and political challenges.

The courage to dream

The word dream is a constant in Pope Francis' vocabulary. It is the title of one of his recent books, Let us Dream: The Path to a Better Future . In it, he invites people to work together as one human family and break the chains of domination driven by nationalism, economic protectionism and discrimination.

He described his recent trip to Africa as a dream come true. It gave him the opportunity to share a message of hope and peace with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

Read more: Pope Francis' visit to Africa comes at a defining moment for the Catholic church

When he stood alone at St Peter's Square in March 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis asked humanity to reawaken and put into practice that solidarity and hope capable of giving strength, and embrace the courage to dream again.

Reflecting on the question Jesus asked his disciples in the Bible,  Why are you afraid? . He encouraged humanity not to lose hope because of the fear and despair surrounding the loss of lives from the virus. Pope Francis walks to deliver a special blessing at the Vatican's St Peter's Square during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Vatican Pool - Corbis/Getty Images

The culture of encounter

In his speech to the UN General Assembly in 2015 , Pope Francis invited the world to embrace a culture of encounter .

This, he said, would lead to a revolution of tenderness and the globalisation of love and solidarity.

I have argued in my research that the culture of encounter is his way of capturing the communal ethics of ubuntu , which encompasses African values of community, participation, inclusion and solidarity.

Under this theme, Pope Francis is challenging people to envision a world freed from violence and war; of a common humanity dwelling in peace in a healthy climate; and of economies that work for all, especially the poor.

Read more: Francis is the first Jesuit pope  here's how that has shaped his 10-year papacy

In his letter to bishops, Fratelli Tutti (no.195) , Pope Francis says the culture of encounter can shatter socially and historically designed narrow structures, systems and institutional practices. The dream of a better world, he says, can be realised if people learn to love rather than hate.

Pope Francis challenges all global citizens to contribute to mending the interconnections that have been ruptured among peoples, nations, cultures, churches and religions. These ruptures, he says, are the result of long years of exclusionary practices, unjust economic and global systems and false ideologies of identity.

Realising the dream

In his apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia , Pope Francis writes about four dreams he has for all people.

First is a social dream, where everyone can live an abundant life in dignity and in a healthy environment. This can be realised, he proposes, through an arduous effort on behalf of the poor.

The second is a cultural dream where people's cultures are affirmed. Their talents are valued, and they can apply their human potential and material resources as free agents. For an African continent that continues to suffer the effects of colonialism in both church and state, Pope Francis proposes a strong resistance to the destructive forces of neocolonialism.

The third dream is the hope for humanity that flourishes through responsible stewardship of Earth's resources. This invites all peoples to care for, protect and defend the environment.

The fourth dream is Pope Francis' hope that the Catholic church will become a community of communities, where people seek common ground. This requires the rejection of any forms of exclusionary practices in the church. It advocates the liberation of the poor, and the protection of the rights of the vulnerable and those who have suffered neglect, oppression and abuse.

Read more: It shouldn't seem so surprising when the pope says being gay 'isn't a crime'  a Catholic theologian explains

Realising this dream, in Africa particularly, requires dismantling the structures of neocolonialism, the global structures of injustice, and the dependency cycle that continues to characterise the relationship between the continent and the rest of the world.

It will also require a new crop of transformational leaders who are on the side of the people. Leaders who place the interest of their countries and the continent above selfish, ethnic or partisan interests.

New identity

Pope Francis' revolution of tenderness can help bring about a new cohesive identity in Africa built on a historical consciousness of who we are, how far we have come, and how we can reach the future of our dream.

The courage to dream and the culture of encounter are capable of ushering in new ethics of co-operation, collaboration and inclusion so that the common good is promoted and preserved for the benefit of all.

Stan Chu Ilo 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.

By Stan Chu Ilo, Research Professor, World Christianity and African Studies, DePaul University
In recent times, I have been delving into the potency of attaya in the Gambia. This is partly due to the ingredient green tea which science has demonstrated its abilities on our health. Another area I found to share with you is our brain health.

Due to the numerous health benefits, we derived from green tea, I have been advising that we do away with the sugar we add to attaya. Attaya is akin to the Japanese version of their green tea called Matcha.

Attaya and Brain function, the Science

Drinking attaya improves brain function. For instance, Green tea does more than just keep you alert, it may also help boost brain function. The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant . Though green tea doesnt contain as much as coffee, however, it has more to produce a response without causing the nervous effects associated with taking in too much caffeine.

How does it work on the brain?

Two studies answer this question: (Nehlig et al. 1992; Bertil B. 1995) assert that caffeine works on the brain by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine. When this happens, it raises the neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.

Ruxton, (2008) also notes that caffeine may support diverse areas of brain function, including mood, vigilance, reaction time, and memory.

Nobre et al.(2008) emphasized that apart from caffeine that is known as a brain-boosting compound in green tea. The amino acid L-theanine is also found in green tea and this can even penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

How L-theanine also works was explained in three studies: Nobre et al. 2008; Nathan et al. 2006; Egashira et al. 2007) by increasing the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects. It further raises dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain.

The combination of caffeine and L-theanine can have synergistic effects, and thus have a powerful effect in improving brain function (Kelly et al. 2008; Dodd et al. 2015). Due to the presence of Caffeine and L-theanine, green tea could make you have a milder and different kind of buzz than coffee. Several people have reported that drinking green gives them more stable energy and makes them more productive as compared to coffee.

Schmidt et al. (2014) study employed memory tasks and an advanced imaging technology called functional MRI to evaluate cognitive functions in healthy volunteers. They found that those given green tea extract performed better on memory tasks. They also observed enhanced connectivity between areas in the brain involved in the tasks.

This implies that the subjects show physiological changes in the brain that are linked with improved mental function.

A previous study, using an electroencephalogram to monitor brain activity, found improvement in brain wave activity after taking an EGCG (green tea extract) supplement(Scholey et al. 2012).

The benefits extend beyond cognitive enhancement. For instance, in healthy adults, green tea also reduced psychological stress, including feelings of anxiety and depression, and led to a feeling of calmness (Hozawa et al. 2006; Scholey et al. 2012).

Finally, another review study (Mancini et al. 2017) assesses the current state of knowledge in the literature regarding the effects of green tea or green tea extracts, l-theanine and epigallocatechin gallate both components of green tea on general neuropsychology, on the sub-category cognition and brain functions in humans.

The study found evidence that green tea influences psychopathological symptoms (e.g. reduction of anxiety), cognition (e.g. benefits in memory and attention), and brain function (e.g. activation of working memory seen in functional MRI). The effects of green tea cannot be attributed to a single constituent of the beverage. This is exemplified in the finding that beneficial green tea effects on cognition are observed under the combined influence of both caffeine and l-theanine, whereas separate administration of either substance was found to have a lesser impact.

Attaya, protect brain aging

Apart from improving brain function in the short term, it may also protect your brain as you age. For instance, Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons disease, common neurodegenerative diseases in older adults could all be protected by drinking green tea.

For instance, Ma et al.(2016) conducted one of the largest studies, a pooled analysis of 52,503 participants in countries around the world, and found that tea significantly reduced the rate of multiple kinds of cognitive disorders by 35%.

Another large meta-analysis (Liu et al. 2017) examined the risk of cognitive disorders in 48,435 individuals. The study found that higher tea consumption was associated with a significant reduction in cognitive disorders.

They also found that green tea consumption was more reliably associated with cognitive benefits than oolong or black tea.

Two other studies(Feng et al. 2010; Kuriyama et al. 2006) report that there is a 36% reduction in cognitive disorders in habitual consumers of green tea as compared to non-habitual drinkers. Scientists also found a dose-response relationship: The more green tea consumed, the greater the protection from cognitive dysfunction. In practical terms, those who drank 16 ounces of green tea per day derived nearly six times more protection from the development of cognitive disorders than those who drank 3.5 ounces.

For instance, three studies, (Weinreb et al. 2004; Mandel et al. 2008; Caruana and Vassallo, 2015) demonstrate that the catechin compounds in green tea could decrease the risk of dementia by protecting neurons in test tubes and animal models.

For Parkinson's disease, two case-control studies(Barranco Quintana et al. 2009; Hosseini et al. 2013) conducted in non-western populations found that tea consumption has a strong protective effect against Parkinsons disease. About 41% were found in those who constantly drink tea more than those occasional drinkers.

A large meta-analysis(Qi et al. 2014) included 344,895 respondents globally and found that the amount of green tea drinking is associated with how one is protected from Parkinsons disease. The study demonstrates that about 26% of those who take two cups daily had a reduced risk of Parkinsons, especially in European and Asian populations.

Finally, Tomata et al.(2012) large, prospective study evaluated the impact that green tea can have on functional disability, regardless of the underlying cause. The study used about 14,000 Japanese respondents age 64. They reported that there is a good protective effect of greater green tea consumption, reducing the risk of disability and the need for support for daily activities.

This study also found that if we drink about five or more cups per day, we are likely to have 33% less functional impairment as compared to those who do not drink at all.

Take Home

Large Studies in humans have demonstrated the many benefits of drinking attaya (green tea) on our brains. For instance:

Ma et al. (2015) meta-analysis found that the rate of cognitive disorders was 35% lower in people who regularly drank tea.

Qi et al.(2015) also found that Parkinsons disease risk was reduced by 26% for every two cups per day of tea consumed in another study. Green tea intake can reduce the risk of brain damage from strokes in multiple ways.

How much should we drink daily?

The studies reported drinking five or more cups of attaya (green tea) per day. I still reiterate the elimination of sugar in your drink. You can also buy green tea extracts in capsule form as they provide high quantities of polyphenols (catechins ).

NB:

Prof. Nyarkotey has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to justify his write-ups. My articles are for educational purposes and do not serve as Medical advice for Treatment. I aim to educate the public about evidence-based scientific Naturopathic Therapies.

The writer is a Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist, and a science writer. President, Nyarkotey University College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT)/African Naturopathic Foundation, Ashaiman, Ghana. E. mail: [email protected] .
12.03.2023 LISTEN

Most of my articles are born out of inspiration. Others are requests from readers. I know this topic will shock many people. Others will also as usual think this is an ordinary Naturopathic Professor exploring extraordinary beliefs. Maybe, this is a Psychology of an extraordinary belief.

While subjective responses and anecdotal success stories may be enough to convince some, there are plenty of non-believers in the supposed benefits of sticking your bare feet on the ground.

But, I have been seeing a few people who walk barefoot. Most of these people are spiritualists. However, most of us do barefoot walking at home. Some adopt barefoot walking as a practice they do daily.

While walking barefooted is by no means a part of traditional medicine, it does belong to the group of practices that are becoming more socially accepted as an effective way of maintaining health. As more people begin to support and practice integrative medicine, it can be expected that walking barefooted will be socially reinforced and gain more popularity.

When a toddler is learning to walk, parents are told to let this process happen naturally, and without shoes. This is because shoes can affect how a child uses the muscles and bones in their feet. They also receive feedback from the ground when they walk barefoot, and it improves their proprioception (awareness of their body in space). However, in our quest to adjust to the modern world, we tend to shove our feet into shoes and therefore the child loses the importance that is attached to barefoot walking as the child gets older.

Also, walking barefoot in natural surroundings brings you in contact with the earth. This transfers the earths electrons into your body, inducing therapeutic effects. These include reduced inflammation, stress, and pain and improved mood and sleep.

I have been asked several times whether it is safe to walk barefoot. Hence, in this article, I examine the science behind barefoot walking and the side effects attached to it.

Earthing?

"Earthing" means walking barefoot on soil, grass, or sand (i.e. any natural surface). So, to reap the aforementioned benefits, you might have to get off the sidewalk.

The planet has its natural charge, and we seem to do better when were in direct contact with it.

Barefoot walking, Science

The important question I asked myself is whether there is any science in barefoot walking. I found one important answer from Dr. Jonathan Kaplan , foot and ankle specialist and orthopedic surgeon with Hoag Orthopaedic Institute. He asserts:

The most straightforward benefit to barefoot walking is that in theory, walking barefoot more closely restores our natural walking pattern, also known as our gait..

He further explains that if you go to any running or walking store and look at diverse pairs of shoes, you will notice that several of them have excessive cushioning and support.

While this pillow-type padding can feel pretty amazing when you walk in these types of shoes, board-certified podiatrist and foot surgeon Dr. Bruce Pinker says they can prevent you from using certain muscle groups that can strengthen your body.

Barefoot, decreases Inflammation

This question was answered in one study by Oschman et al.(2015) and found that

Grounding (another name for direct skin contact with the surface of the earth) produced measurable differences in cytokines and compounds involved in the inflammatory process. This effect can be linked to the earths electrons. The study also found that walking barefoot improves our white blood cells and reduces pain.

This is because skin contact with the earths surface enables the spread of electrons from the earth to the human body. These electrons enter the body through specific acupuncture points and mucous membranes (residing right under the skin).

A previous study by Chevalier et al.(2012) explained that the antioxidants in our body are made of electrons, which help neutralize free radicals and eventually fight inflammation.

Also, the study found that grounding was also linked to lower anxiety levels. Subjects dealing with anxiety and depression, when grounded to the earth during sleep in their beds (using a conductive mattress pad), experienced improvements in their condition.

Let me state that though this study wasnt conducted on subjects walking barefoot, however, the mechanism involved was the same.

Barefoot walking, improves cardiovascular health

Some studies have thrown light on the physiological effects of walking barefoot (grounding) in improving cardiovascular health. One such study conducted by Chevalier et al.(2013) found that barefoot walking helps to decrease blood viscosity levels, an effect that may lower hypertension. Due to the sample size, more studies are needed in this area to buttress the beneficial effects of walking barefoot on cardiovascular health.

Barefoot walking, changes the brain

An earlier study (Sokal and Sokal, 2011) found that earthing changed the electrical activity in the brain2, as measured by electroencephalograms. Fast forward, another study (Chevalier et al. 2012) found that grounding aided skin conductivity, moderated heart rate variability, improved glucose regulation, reduced stress, and support immune function

Barefoot, immunity

Oschman et al.(2015) study affirmed that the transfer of electrons is the key to barefoot walking and enables the body to absorb and donate electrons to the areas that need immune support. The authors further held that the mere fact that we disconnect ourselves from the Earth may be a significant rise in inflammatory-related diseases that have wrecked our weak immune system , and this can be corrected by going back to the earth by barefoot walking.

The reason is that a lack of sufficient electrons in the body can weaken the mitochondria (structures in the bodys cells that are responsible for energy production), leading to chronic fatigue and other issues. Even a minor injury can become a long-term health problem.

Barefoot walking, Reduces Pain

Oschman et al.(2015) study further believe that when we walk barefoot, helps to reduce pain. This is done by altering the numbers of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes. It also modulates various other factors linked to inflammation. It further leads to the rapid resolution of painful chronic inflammation. Ravi Teja Tadimalla's (2022) article further highlights that this could even prevent the signs of inflammation following heat, swelling, and pain.

Barefoot, encourages sleep

Chevalier et al. (2012) study found that walking barefoot can also encourage better sleep. This is because the earths electrons spread to your body and cause multiple beneficial psychological changes, including enhanced sleep every night.

One article by Georgia Kinch(2012) reports that grounding also helps normalize the day-night biological rhythms. This helps you relax and sleep better. However, it is not recommended you take a walk (let alone walk barefoot) if you have a serious injury.

Barefoot, improves eyesight

Maybe, this could be a ridiculous assertion. However, one study, by Embong et al.(2015) explained that barefoot walking improving eyesight could be due to the reflex points on the foot that are connected to the optic nerves. Is this not surprising that one could improve his or her eyesight by just walking barefoot? Well, this activity doesnt come with certain caveats. Let us explore them.

Barefoot walking, warnings

Jayasinghe et al.(2007) study found that barefoot walking could expose one to diabetic foot disease in those vulnerable individuals.

The Centers for Disease Control(CDC) affirms that walking barefoot on contaminated soil can also lead to hookworm infection. The larvae (immature worms) present in the contaminated soil can penetrate the skin of humans. This also applies to walking barefoot in areas usually associated with fungal infections. Andrew Ramirez,(2011) article also notes that areas such as swimming pools, locker rooms, the gym, and the beach are all affected.

Take Home

There is no prescribed duration for barefoot walking, but it is advisable to begin slow and practice walking for 10-15 minutes each day for the first few weeks to ease yourself into the habit.

There are many benefits one could derive from barefoot walking. For instance, Hollander et al.(2016) study found that walking barefoot may strengthen your feet and make them more flexible.

Also, walking barefoot does not cause nerve damage. However, those with existing nerve damage, such as peripheral neuropathy, should avoid walking barefoot to minimize the risk of further injury.

Note also that frequent walking barefoot for a long period may wear down the heel pads on your feet and lead to plantar fasciitis or heel pain.

A previous study also proscribes walking barefoot on concrete and other similar hard surfaces as this could put excess pressure on the heels and lead to foot issues over time(Mohamed et al. 2015).

In submission, walking barefoot has many benefits such as decreasing inflammation, reducing/eliminating chronic pain, improving sleep, increasing energy, normalizing the bodys biological rhythms, improving blood pressure, lessening menstrual symptoms, and dramatically speeding healing time (just to name a few). Therefore, make sure to walk in clean areas and follow good hygiene practices afterward.

NB:

Prof. Nyarkotey has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to justify his write-ups. My articles are for educational purposes and do not serve as Medical advice for Treatment. I aim to educate the public about evidence-based scientific Naturopathic Therapies.

The writer is a respected Professor of Naturopathic Healthcare, a Medical Journalist, a researcher, an author, and a science writer. President, Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine & Technology (NUCHMT)/African Naturopathic Foundation, Ashaiman, Ghana. Currently BL Candidate at the Gambia Law School, Banjul. E. mail: [email protected] .

References
French journalist Olivier Dubois was taken hostage in Mali nearly two years ago. His family and support group regularly contact the French authorities and try to raise public awareness, but as time passes, they fear negotiations for his release have stagnated.

Dubois was kidnapped in Gao, in northern Mali, on 8 April 2021 by JNIM, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, linked to al-Qaeda. He had been trying to interview a local al-Qaeda commander.

Working as a freelance journalist in Mali since 2015, Dubois announced his abduction in a video posted on social media on 5 May, 2021.

Since then proof he is still alive has dwindled, with his last contact in March last year.

The French and Malian governments have assured the family that everything is being done to get Dubois released.

But information is scarce partly due to confidentiality for security reasons. But concerns are rising that diplomatic efforts have fallen by the wayside.

No presidential visit

Pierre Legrand, a member of the SOS Hostages association, was one of the former hostages of Arlit, kidnapped in Niger in 2010, and released in northern Mali in 2013.

He told RFI's David Bache earlier this week that there are some key differences in how his case was handled compared to Dubois' situation.

The government is acting like it's not really concerned by Olivier's case. An example of this is that for the last two years the family has not been hosted once by President Emmanuel Macron.

"He's the first French president to not have received families of kidnapped people since the hostage-taking episode in Lebanon in the 1980s.

By contrast, Legrand says his own family held several meetings with Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande - the presidents during the time of his capture. This was an important symbol for his loved ones, showing that the leaders were involved personally.

After two years Legrand admitted he felt extremely tired and somewhat abandoned. But one of his few comforts was being able to listen to the radio. He said that all of the leaders of Al-Qaeda he met who spoke French listened to RFI consistently.

From time to time he would hear news of support groups mobilising for him. "Hearing the voices of my friends gave me courage, he said.

Politicians talking about his case also gave him a boost, he added.

When people who have power get involved, you know that something is really going to happen, it was concrete action, he said.

No proof of progress

However this was not enough, Legrand says. From the moment his family stopped receiving concrete updates from the presidential office, they decided to launch their own investigation and sent a video message directly to one of the senior al-Qaeda leaders.

Abdelhamid Abou Zeid responded to them personally by saying that interaction with the French government had stalled for the past year, Legrand recounts.

Legrand says he fears that Dubois might be facing a similar situation as the government has not provided any proof that negotiations are advancing despite their assurances.

Political pressure

Jiovanny William, a French deputy for Martinique (first constituency), where Olivier Dubois has family roots.

He has been keeping up the public awareness campaign in the Caribbean island and maintained contact with Dubois' family.

As well as a huge poster of the journalist in front of the town hall in Le Francois, home to some of Dubois' family, he has encouraged all the deputies to wear bracelets with the words: I will not forget Olivier Dubois. There is also a social media campaign with #freeolivierdubois.

The Support committee established by the family has also set up a petition and awareness campaigns in numerous cities such as Marseille and Avignon.

My job is to keep pushing the government to go further with the negotiations, to keep them in a state of alert, William says.

Confirmation from Al-Qaeda

Meanwhile, Algerian Islamist Abu Obeida Youssef al-Aanabi, the current leader of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) confirmed on Monday that his group is holding Dubois. However, he denied AQIM had lured Dubois into being abducted.

It was the first official confirmation from the group, providing perhaps a step forward for the family.

In an exclusive interview given to France 24 television's terrorism expert Wassim Nasir, Al-Aanabi said his group is open to negotiations and that it is up to French authorities to make the first move towards opening talks.

He said AQIM considers it a victory that French troops withdrew from both Mali in August last year and Burkina Faso in February 2023, calling it a vindication of 20 years of jihad in the region.

France's relations with Mali have deteriorated sharply since a junta took power in the west African country in an August 2020 coup.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has said the vaccines for children are free.

He indicated that caregivers should not make any payment.

He entreated all, not to rush for the vaccines after the arrival since the Ministry of Health has made adequate provisions for vaccines for the rest of the year and beyond.

We want to take this opportunity to advise the public against buying these vaccines.

The vaccines are free and can be obtained in designated health facilities and all Child Welfare Clinics across the country, a statement issued by Dr Kuma-Aboagye said.

The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service took delivery of the first consignment of vaccines for Bacillus CalmetteGuerin (BCG), Measles-Rubella (MR), and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) on Saturday, March 11.

This came days after the sector minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu assured the nation on the floor of Parliament that the vaccines were going to arrive soon.

Mr Speaker, it is a very serious public interest issue, the assurance I will give and I can give for the first time in the chamber here is that this will not happen again, the Dormaa Central Member said on Friday, March 10.

I will advise that you will help me in my advocacy to get adequate funding for vaccines, even the health insurance budget. So when we meet with committees, they have always been talking about it, and even in the chamber, it has come up that if Parliament approves adequately for us and we always have our budget well we will be able to supply. I assure you that whatever challenges happened I don't think we are going to face these challenges any longer.

I can stand here and assure the House that within two weeks or three weeks we will get vaccines, even probably before that. I can't get my hands on a specific date but probably even before that, we may get the vaccines that we are talking about. Throughout the period we have made 6.4million dollars equivalent to UNICEF who supplies us the vaccines.

On Saturday, March 11, the Director-General of the Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, was on the tarmac of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), leading the delegation to welcome in the consignment.

Distribution to various regions and facilities [are] underway, a post on the Ministry of Information Facebook page said.

More vaccines expected in Ghana in the coming weeks from multiple sources.

-3news.com
12.03.2023 LISTEN

Information gathered by DGN Online indicates that the 22-year-old soldier, Imoro Sherrif who was killed at Taifa, a suburb of Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region died because of iPhone 6.

Sources told DGN Online that, the two prime suspects allegedly killed the soldier attached to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) band in Sunyani because they wanted to collect his iPhone.

He was said to have resisted and attempted to struggle with the attackers when one of them stabbed him.

The suspects thereby took the iPhone 6 which got cracked in the process of struggle and disappeared from the scene, leaving the young soldier to his fate in a pool of blood until he passed on.

Police announced on Saturday March 11, 2023 that the two main suspects involved in the heinous crime have been arrested.

They are preparing them for court.

But four more suspects have also been picked up by the police in connection with the crime and are assisting police with investigations.

The four were persons who bought and also resold the phone among themselves.

Police have managed to track down the phone and retrieved it to aid in investigations and prosecution.

The phone, according to DGN Online sources was retrieved from a driver near the Ashaiman overpass Sunday dawn.

Interrogations of the suspects are currently ongoing at the Police Headquarters in Accra in the presence of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare who has shown so much interest in the case by spending a night in Ashaiman on the day the prime suspects were apprehended.

Imoro Sherrif was laid to rest on Thursday, March 9 at the Military Cemetery Burma Camp in Accra.

Imoro Sherrif was gruesomely murdered on Saturday, March 4.

The Military High Command last Tuesday sanctioned an intelligence-led operation to fish out the perpetrators of the crime.

-DGN online
Abuja  No fewer than 443 more Boko Haram terrorists and family members who escaped the week-long sustained massive attacks by the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) fighters in Borno State have surrendered to the military.

This is as the death toll arising from the clash between Boko Haram fighters and ISWAP has risen to 300 on the side of Boko Haram.

223 Boko Haram elements surrendered to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) troops in Diffa and Gueskerou, in the Republic of Niger, between March 7 and 10, 2023.

Another 220 members of the Boko Haram terrorists surrendered to the troops of Operation Hadin Kai on March 10. The surrendered fighters revealed that the ongoing rivalry between both factions had forced them to escape to safer areas.

Since February 27, 2023, the members of the Boko Haram sect have been fleeing their enclaves amidst deadly attacks targeted at the group in Gaizuwa, otherwise known as Mantari, Gabchari, Kashmiri, Maimusari in Bama, Yale in Konduga and Magumeri, by their former allies now turned bitter adversaries.

In one of the attacks led by three notorious ISWAP Commanders, comprising Mallam Abubakar Maina, Qaed Malam Dahiru, and Qaed Mallam Dahiru in Guzamala, over 200 Boko Haram militant jihadists, including their women and children, were reportedly eliminated.

The onslaught against the group continued on March 8, 2023, when more than 100 were killed on the fringes of Baga, Marte, and Dikwa. This time, the terrorists targeted only the men and spared their family members.

According to Zagazola Makama, a Counter-Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in Lake Chad, the Government of the Republic of Niger, through its Public Relations Information Directorate, had reported that the week was marked by displacement of several groups of families of terrorists leaving the Sambisa forest for Lake Chad on the Niger side.

Also, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj Gen Musa Danmadami, estimated the number of surrendered Boko Haram members within the last two weeks at 1,332. This figure has, however, increased in the following days.

It is left to be seen how the deadly rivalry between Boko Haram and their erstwhile partners in battle, ISWAP, will shape the dynamics of the more than a decade-long bloody insurgency in the Lake Chad region.
March 12, 2023

The MoA Week In Review - (Not Ukraine) OT 2023-59

Last week's post on Moon of Alabama:

> The US humiliating exclusion from the centre stage of West Asian politics constitutes a Suez moment for the superpower, comparable to the crisis experienced by the UK in 1956, which obliged the British to sense that their imperial project had reached a dead end and the old way of doing thingswhipping weaker nations into line as ostensible obligations of global leadership was no longer going to work and would only lead to disastrous reckoning. <

---

Other issues:

Silicon Valley Bank:

Aukus:

Twitter Files:

Use as open (not Ukraine related) thread ...

Posted by b on March 12, 2023 at 13:56 UTC | Permalink

Comments

next page 
March 12, 2023

Ukraine Open Thread 2023-60

Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict.

The current open thread for other issues is here.

Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators.

Posted by b on March 12, 2023 at 13:59 UTC | Permalink

Comments

next page 
Many villagers were feared killed and several injured on Saturday as vigilantes clash again with terrorists in Kankara communities, Katsina State.

According to a dependable source from the area, the hoodlums were attending the wedding party (Walima) of one of their kingpin, identified as 'Mai Katifa Mutuwa' before a section of them clashed with vigilantes and the celebration took a different dimension.

The source said:

"Between 3 to 4pm yesterday, we learnt that some vigilante members clashed with some of the bandits who came to Majifa village to attend the wedding ceremony of one of their leader, known as 'Katifa Mutuwa.'

"The clash eventually led to the invasion of nearby villages in the area by the hoodlums shooting sporadically.

According to him, they killed five persons in Gurbi, and another 13 were found killed between Majifa, Makera and Gidan Jifau settlements.

The source also noted that the terrorists invaded over 10 settlements in the area which he said includes: Gurbi, Danmarke, Majifa, Gidan Baso, Gidan Sarka, Gidan Jiho, Gidan Ancho, Gidan Sanka, Dan mangoro, Gidan Sale, among others.

As at late night yesterday, the remains of 18 villagers killed in the attack were recovered while another 15 injured in the clash were conveyed to the Kankara General Hospital for medication. One among them died on the way to the Kankara Hospital, the source said.

The death toll according to the source is expected to rise.

"Right now, we can't confirm the exact number of people killed because search is still ongoing to discover if there are more victims. Fear couldn't let us search through the night but hopefully we should be able to ascertain the exact number of casualties this morning as search for the casualties have already resumed," the source said.

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The spokesperson Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah who confirmed the clash however said the details is still sketchy. He however noted that the police and other sister security agents have visited the scene, promising to respond as soon as he gets detailed information.

"Yes, there was an attack at Majifa. We learnt some group of bandits from Zamfara, came for celebration and later attacked Majifa village. We also learnt there were some cattle rustling. But the report is still sketchy. I will revert as soon as I get full details," SP Gambo said.

Recall that last month, February 3, Vanguard reports that over 102 persons mostly vigilantes were killed in the same Bakori-Kankara axis when "Yan Sakai"'vigilantes clashed with the hoodlums in an ambush.

As a result, the state government constituted a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the killings to avert future reoccurrence of such.

The Judicial Commission headed by Justice Abbas Bawale just last Thursday presented the report of their findings to the State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, expressing confidence that if the recommendations are implemented, it will resolve the menace of banditry in the state.
Staff Reporter

Richelle obtained a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications from the Far Eastern University in Manila, the Philippines. She was a junior reporter for Marianas Variety from 2009 to 2010, and from 2014 to 2015. In the Maldives, she worked as a news reporter and marketing executive. In her free time, shes a painter, pianist, and mom baker.
analysis

An ANC MPL in the province is one of three people arrested this week for the high-profile murder of a municipal office bearer in Mokopane in 2019. At the time he was murdered, Vaaltyn Kekana was planning to table a dossier detailing massive corruption in the municipality.

In a week of high drama, Limpopo police swooped on three suspects implicated in a high-profile double murder in a move that suggests the cops could be winning the war against political killings in the province.

So far, 18 suspects have been arrested in connection with the murders of six high-profile politicians in Limpopo. The killings took place between 2018 and last year.

The three suspects are accused of the 2019 murder of Vaaltyn Kekana (56), bringing the total number of suspects arrested in this case to eight.

Kekana was the chairperson of the municipality's public accounts committee in the Mogalakwena Local Municipality.

He was shot dead on 23 July 2019 while sitting in a vehicle with ANC subregion secretary Ralph Kanyane (32), not far from the municipal offices in Mokopane. Both men died on the scene.

At the time he was murdered, Kekana was planning to table a dossier detailing massive corruption...
By Marianne Bertrand, Chris P. Dialynas Distinguished Service Professor of Economics the Booth School of Business at University Of Chicago, Matilde Bombardini, Associate Professor, Vancouver School of Economics at University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business, Raymond Fisman, Slater Family Professor in Behavioral Economics at Boston University, Francesco Trebbi, Professor of Business and Public Policy at University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business, and Eyub Yegen, Assistant Professor of Finance at Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology. Originally published at VoxEU.

Over the past 70 years, institutional investors ownership of publicly traded US companies has increased dramatically, leaving a large section of the US economy in the hands of a few asset management companies. This column questions the impact of these investors on political donations made by their portfolio firms. After the acquisition of a large stake, a firms political giving begins to mirror donations made by their acquiring investor. But a corporations political strategies are not dictated by profit alone, and regulators concerned with corporate influence should monitor how corporations are governed.

Over the past 70 years, institutional investors ownership of publicly traded US companies has increased dramatically, from just 6% in 1950 to 65% in 2017. As a result, a large fraction of the US economy is now in the hands of a relatively small number of asset management companies (Bebchuk and Hirst 2019). The Big Three  BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street Global Investors  held more than 20% of S&P 500 shares in 2017, compared to just 5% in 1998.

This sea change in the ownership of US corporations has prompted a discussion among academics and policymakers over its consequences. On the one hand, the replacement of small dispersed owners by large institutional investors may reduce the standard agency problem of the Berle and Means (1932) corporation. This may improve welfare if active, concentrated shareholders act primarily as effective monitors of management at the level of the portfolio firm. This shift may also reduce welfare if control is used to maximise profits across all (possibly competing) firms in concentrated shareholders portfolios, as some in the common ownership literature have argued (Azar and Vives 2021, Anton et al. 2022). On the other hand, institutional investors  especially those managing index funds or closet indexer active funds  lack the financial incentives to actively monitor management, given their fee structures and business model (Bebchuk et al. 2017). Proponents of this view often highlight how few resources even the largest institutional investors spend on stewardship activities for the companies in their portfolios.

In a new paper (Bertrand et al. 2023), we focus on a particular concern over the rise of institutional shareholders: has the concentration of ownership also led to a concentration of political influence? Researchers  ourselves included (Bertrand et al. 2020)  have traditionally assumed that companies political strategies were simply an extension of their profit-maximising business strategies. Under this view, firms make campaign donations or lobby regulators to secure laws and regulations that are good for company profits. Yet, a vast body of research on corporate governance has shown that companies goals are driven not by a single-minded focus on corporate profits, but rather by a collection of disparate interests belonging to those who wield control over the firms resources.

Most obviously, major shareholders  both current and potential  hold enormous sway. Top managers at fund families like Blackrock dont necessarily own a lot of stock themselves, but they effectively control trillions of dollars of investors shareholdings. If funds run for the exit, the stock price will fall, and executive compensation will fall along with it. Even executives who are invested for the long term have enormous incentive to stay on the good side of shareholders and try to ensure that their shares vote with management on board appointments, share buybacks, merger proposals, and matters of political influence.

If company executives try to keep fund managers happy by, say, wining and dining them at Michelin-starred restaurants, we might care a little bit (though we imagine Larry Fink can afford to cover his own dinner bill). Wed be more concerned if portfolio companies devoted firm resources to appealing to fund managers political interests.

In our paper, we ask whether the rise in institutional ownership raises concerns with respect to the concentration of political influence (much as others have raised the alarm on the rise of institutional investing and the resultant concentration of economic power). We do so by examining changes in portfolio companies political action committee (PAC) spending when block purchases in those companies are made by large institutional investors. Specifically, we examine how the relationship between the PAC giving of 13-F institutional investors (those with at least $100 million in assets under management) and the PAC giving of a portfolio firm changed when the investor acquired a large stake in the firm during the period 19802018. We show that when these acquisition events take place, there is a large and discrete increase in the likelihood that the investor and firm both give to the same politician, as illustrated in Figure 1. Conversely, when divestments happen, the opposite is true.

Figure 1 Firm and investor PAC giving: Event study

Notes: This figure captures the change in correlation between investor and firm political action committee (PAC) giving around an election cycle in which the investor buys a large (greater than 1%) stake in the company. The pattern shows an increased similarity in giving after an acquisition takes place. The blue line shows the change around all acquisitions, while the red line shows the change around acquisitions that occur because a company is added to an index that the investor tracks in their fund. See Bertrand et al.(2023) for details.

Naturally, investors may decide to buy stakes in companies for which they have a convergence of interests or perspectives. Such a coming together of interests, which is not observable to us as researchers, could account for the increased similarity in political giving around an acquisition. To address these and related challenges, we focus on a subset of investors that are relatively unaffected by such confounds: acquisitions driven by stock index inclusions that lead passive investors to acquire stakes in companies simply because their mandate is to track a particular index, like the S&P500 or Russell 2000. We again see in Figure 1 a post-acquisition convergence in political giving, which cannot easily be attributed to some unobserved convergence of economic interests or ideology.

Based on the results described thus far, its impossible to say whether investors influence portfolio company giving or vice-versa. Perhaps investors adjust their political strategy to reflect and reinforce the economic interests of the companies they own. In a further set of analyses, we argue that influence goes in the other direction, as we find that investor giving remains relatively stable around acquisition events, whereas company giving experiences greater change  exactly what we would expect to see if influence went from an investor to a newly acquired firm that had to adjust its giving to match that of its new owner.

It is certainly possible that the apparent influence of large investors takes place without any direct effort on their part. Portfolio companies may pre-emptively cater to investors preferences (political or otherwise) in the hope of gaining their support, for example, in important votes at shareholder meetings. However, consistent with a more active voice from institutional investors, we show that the correlation in political giving increases even more sharply after an investor gets a seat on the board.

Our main results dont speak to the benefits that asset managers might obtain by amplifying their political preferences. These may be financial, if the PAC giving of institutional investors is driven primarily by their attempts to influence the legislative and regulatory process to increase their profits. But the benefits could be non-pecuniary, to the extent that institutional investors PAC giving reflects the personal preferences of their managers and owners. We offer suggestive evidence that personal preferences may play a role: specifically, we find that our main result on the convergence in political giving is more pronounced for investors that are more partisan in their own PAC political giving. To the extent that such partisanship reflects investors personal agendas, rather than efforts at influencing legislative and regulatory processes to increase profits, this result suggests an amplification of the personal politics of those who run asset management companies.

We opened with the observation that institutional investors hold an ever-larger share of publicly traded firms. This trend was accompanied from 1980 to 2018 by an increase of nearly a factor of six in total expenditure on political activity by the firms we study. While there are surely many factors that contribute to these patterns, we conclude by observing that increased institutional investment may be at least partly responsible for the expansion in the corporate political footprint. We show that higher institutional ownership is associated with an increase in giving by the firm, and that this expansion is unrelated to portfolio firms own financial interests (which we measure by assessing whether donations go to members of committees lobbied by the firm). These final results reinforce the view that the ownership-driven shifts in political donations may not serve to increase firm profits, but rather serve fund managers own political agendas.

The rise of institutional ownership is rightly attracting a lot of scrutiny aimed at the implications for financial markets and the economy more broadly. Our findings suggest that these concerns are well-grounded, in the sense that institutional owners do impact the policies of portfolio firms rather than passively allowing corporate executives to do as they please. Furthermore, our findings indicate that concerns over institutional investors takeover of US corporations should extend to the political sphere as well.

Editors note: This column is largely based on a post on the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance website.

References available at the original.
analysis

In the buildup to the 2023 general elections, many opinion polls were conducted, projecting the likely outcome of the presidential election. But the results indicated that the opinion polls were largely wrong in their predictions. In this analysis, experts have advanced reasons why pre-election polls in Nigeria don't conform with outcomes.

Many opinion polls were conducted ahead of the February 25 presidential election in the country.

Polls are a survey of public opinion from a particular sample group, and can be useful in informing politicians about the views of specific groups of the electorate

They help politicians understand what the public wants and tell who is popular at the ballot box.

But how accurate were the opinion polls in respect to the outcome of the February 25 presidential election?

Although victory was largely predicted the way of Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), the poll was eventually won by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu after results from the 176,846 polling stations were counted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Tinubu scored 8,794,726 votes, representing 37 per cent of the votes cast, while the main opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had 6,984,520 votes (29%) and Labour Party's Peter Obi polled 6,101,533 votes (25%).

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) came fourth with 1,496,687 votes.

Pollsters' predictions

In a series of polls commissioned by ANAP Foundation and conducted by NOI polls Limited (NOIPolls), Obi was predicted as the winner. In the poll published in September and December 2022, as well as February 2022, Obi was placed in the lead.

"Our third and final poll result in February 2023 reveals that Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) remains in the lead, with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP both trailing him. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP emerged as the lone outsider.

"Peter Obi leads, with 21 per cent of registered voters proposing to vote for him if the presidential election were to be conducted today, and 13 per cent proposing to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who fell in second.

"Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was third with 10 per cent and Rabiu Kwankwaso was a distant fourth with 3 per cent of voters proposing to vote for him," said Atedo Peterside, the president and founder of the foundation in the poll report.

ANAP, which credited itself to have used the same methodology that rightly predicted the winners of the 2011, 2015 and 2019 presidential elections, however, noted that given the large pool of undecided voters and/or those who refused to disclose their preferred choice, Peter Obi's 8 per cent-point lead at this stage is significant but not sufficient to separate him from a leading pack of candidates scoring 13 per cent, 10 per cent and 3 per cent.

Also, Bloomberg News polling 2,384 Nigerians from January 26 to February 4 via a smartphone app noted that two-thirds of respondents said they intended to vote for Obi.

"Of the 93 per cent of participants who said they had decided how to vote, 66 per cent named Obi as their preferred choice. Obi scored a slightly higher 72 per cent among decided respondents in an earlier premise poll was released by Bloomberg in September as the official election campaign kicked off," it stated.

In the same vein, Nextier SPD poll released on February 5 indicated that Obi was leading (37%) ahead of Atiku (27%) and Tinubu (24%).

On February 7, a Lagos-based data company, Stears, announced that Obi would win with 41 per cent of the votes ahead of Tinubu (31%) and Atiku (20%) "as long as Nigerians followed through on their stated intent to vote."

The result of the We2Geda Foundation poll on September 17, 2022, showed Obi ahead of other contenders with 51 per cent of the votes, Atiku had 25% and Tinubu 19%.

According to a poll conducted by POLAF, Atiku was predicted to emerge the winner in a close race. According to the organisers, the poll had the largest sampling size of 3,123,660 respondents across 165 local government areas contacted via telephone and were spoken to in English and any other native language they were most comfortable speaking in.

In the POLAF poll, Atiku secured 38 per cent to emerge as the preferred candidate, followed by Tinubu, who got 29 per cent, while Obi secured 27 per cent to take the third position. Kwakwanso was a distant fourth with only 5 per cent of the total votes.

However, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research and analysis division of the Economist Group, predicted a win for Tinubu, basing its outcomes on the political dynamics in the country.

The EIU anchored its prediction on the internal wrangling in the PDP and Obi's emergence, which would eat into PDP's strongholds in the South East and South-South.

Also, a four-week opinion poll coordinated by FREDDAN Continental predicted a win for Tinubu. It stated that 37.2 per cent of 287,033 respondents preferred Tinubu, followed by Obi's 32.1 per cent, while Atiku was selected by 30.7 per cent of total respondents.

The poll also suggested a clear win for Tinubu on the first ballot as against some other predictions that there may be a rerun.

Also, Enough is Enough (EiE) in its poll, had predicted a second round, noting that no candidate would win at the first ballot.

The co-founder and head of intelligence, Stears, Michael Famoroti, noted that the company rightly predicted the outcome of the 2023 polls.

He noted that while the basic Stears poll put Obi ahead with 27 per cent of the votes compared to 15 per cent for Tinubu and 12 per cent for Atiku, a first-of-its-kind electoral prediction model correctly projected that a low turnout scenario (29%) would be a victory for the APC candidate.

"Separately, we predicted an Peter Obi victory in a high-turnout scenario (roughly 85% turnout) and maintained that prediction, even under a turnout scenario of 45 per cent.

"The Stears prediction model was also accurate at state level. The basic poll results put Peter Obi marginally ahead of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Benue State. But, once the model was applied to the poll results, the order flipped as we projected that Bola Ahmed Tinubu would win Benue by a single percentage point, exactly as it played out.

"The Stears prediction model accurately projected a critical APC win in Kwara State and an LP upset in Lagos State," he added.

Why pollsters got polling wrong - Experts

Noting that polls are important in understanding public opinions, some experts opined that certain factors limit the relevance of the exercise in Nigeria.

The vice chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Professor Umar Pate, who underscored the importance of survey in both public and private practices, noted that the methodology adopted in a poll was as important as the outcome.

The revered media scholar, who also said it was important to identify the pollsters, their objectives, capacities to conduct a poll and the instruments used among others, added that some of the organisations conducting polls in Nigeria were in cahoots with politicians, thereby denting the credibility of the exercise.

The executive director, Development Specs Academy, Prof Okey Ikechukwu, on his part, noted that some of the polls lacked merit and were mere projections because they were built on faulty methodology and small sample size.

He also argued that there were some external factors beyond the control of the pollsters, which might make the outcome of the election to be different from the polls. He said such factors included intimidation, violence, suppression, manipulation and other hitches witnessed during the conduct of an election.

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"Polls are relevant where several factors can be guaranteed, including the right sample size, right stratification of the demographics (their age, education, biases etc). Most importantly is the credibility of the pollsters," the public communication and media professional noted.

An associate professor of Journalism and pioneer director of the Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC) of the Lagos State University, Dr Tunde Akanni, stressed that "in most cases, the pollsters are not independent, which is why the codes of conduct prepared for journalists covering elections highly recommend that in reporting the outcome of electoral polls, they must also report the profile of the organisers of polls so that their audience would know the biases or interest of the pollsters.

While noting that well conducted polls have the capacity to guide the public in making choices and empowering politicians to know where and how to intensify their campaigns, he counselled media consumers not to take results of polls "hook, line and sinker because of the biases of pollsters who might be commissioned by desperate politicians seeking to boost their profile ahead of an electron."

The president of the Nigeria Political Science Association, Professor Hassan Salihu, said opinion polls were losing relevance in Nigeria because pollsters were biased.

"This is why you see that in the opinion polls conducted, people were just off the mark because they left substance and allowed sentiment to guide what they did. But like I said, where it is well conducted, it is a good measure of what should happen and what is happening. So it should be encouraged, but in the Nigerian context, it has been bastardised. People have inputted all kinds of sentiments into it, and that is why you see a wide gap between what has been predicted and what later happened," he said.
South African rapper Costa Titch has died. He was 27 years old.

According to reports, Costa collapsed on stage during a performance at the Ultra Music Festival at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on Saturday, News24 reported.

His family confirmed the news in a statement on social media.

"As a family, were are faced with a difficult time as we try to make sense of what has befallen us and ask that we be afforded the time and space to gather ourselves," the family stated.

"The Tsobanoglou family thanks you for the love and support you have given to our son, and may you continue to uplift him even in spirit. Please keep us in your prayers and uplifted in the Lord", ended the statement.

Electronic music festival organiser Ultra SA said in a statement: "We are devastated by the sudden loss of the beloved South African artist Costa Titch, who tragically passed away this weekend.

"Costa was a galvanising voice amongst South Africa's amapiano scene - a talented rapper, dancer, songwriter, collaborator, and friend to the festival."

Costa Titch - real name Constantinos Tsobanoglou - originally started as a backup dancer in the music industry.

In an interview with AVG Productions in 2020, he said he transitioned into becoming a music artist after realising he had reached the pinnacle in dance and wasn't breaking through financially and 'internally'.

"Via the backup dancing, I started to realise that the vision that I envisioned since I was small was within the artist, not me as the backup dancer. I was making music for fun at that time, and people were receiving it pretty well, and at that point, I decided to go full-on with this and see where it goes," he said.

Costa won awards for best collaboration and best remix for his 'Nkalakatha' remix featuring Riky Rick and AKA at the 2020 South African Hip-Hop Awards.

He recently signed to Senegalese-American rapper Akon's record label Konvict Kulture. Akon recently featured on the remix of Costa's hit song 'Big Flexa'.

Tributes from industry colleagues and fans poured in on social media on Sunday, News24 also reported.

"RIP, Costa Titch. Great talent gone too soon," tweeted rapper Da L.E.S..
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Evening rain and wind followed by a mix of rain and snow showers overnight. Low around 35F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 90%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Evening rain and wind followed by a mix of rain and snow showers overnight. Low around 35F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 90%. Higher wind gusts possible.
analysis

Now that a confidential preliminary report on the investigation into the Phala Phala farm theft has been completed, Deputy Public Protector Koleka Gcaleka has given implicated individuals 10 calendar days to make representations.

A leaked and confidential report from the Office of the Public Protector clears President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing in the handling of the theft of forex at his farm and rather points fingers at the police and the head of the Presidential Protection Service, Major-General Wally Rhoode.

Deputy Public Protector Koleka Gcaleka is said to have made findings which show that Rhoode's conduct was improper in that he abused his position in launching an off-the-books investigation that utilised police resources.

Daily Maverick has seen a copy of the confidential 191-page preliminary report, which is subject to change.

In the report, the Public Protector quashes allegations that the President failed to report the crime of housebreaking with any ill intent. The findings state that the Public Protector does not support accusations of abuse of power in utilising state resources by the President.

"The allegation that the President failed to report the crime that took place at Phala Phala farm and abused his power in utilising state resources...
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low near 10F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low near 10F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
analysis

Washington, DC  President Biden faces three simultaneous crises in his policy toward Nigeria in the aftermath of the elections on Saturday, 25 February, when 24 million Nigerians voted in national elections. Now, following the election of Bola Tinubu as president, they are all coming to a head.

First, Washington's efforts over the past twelve years to get the Buhari government to end or reduce official corruption in Nigeria, to end or reduce state violence against civilians (especially women and children) and non-violent demonstrators, to contain or defeat jihadi insurgencies, and to reform the economy have completely failed.

The government is still completely corrupt. The military and other internal security forces have killed peaceful demonstrators, forced women to have abortions, and murdered children with impunity. Jihadi insurgents in northern Nigeria have suffered serious casualties, but the conflict continues unabated. The economy is in shambles as oil prices (the source of almost all government revenue) continue to fluctuate and oil production levels continue to fall, a chaotic currency exchange, and the previous government of President Buhari chose not to invest oil revenues in the development of the economy. Nothing that the Biden administration has done has made any difference.

Second, the government's conduct of the election on 25 February, the violence that occurred during the polling, and the associated currency crisis, have only made the situation worse.

Third, members of Congress are stepping up their efforts to block future US arms deliveries to Nigeria.

Over the past six years, US has sold more than $1.6 billion worth of weaponry and other military equipment to Nigeria ($593 million for 12 A-29 Super Tucano counter-insurgency aircraft and $1 billion for 12 AH-1Z Cobra helicopter gunships). In 2015, the Obama administration agreed to sell 12 A-29 Super Tucano counter-insurgency aircraft) to Nigeria. Congress was officially notified of the deal by the Trump administration in 2017 and the warplanes were delivered by the Biden administration in 2021.

"I would also like to thank you again through - thank the Government of the U.S. for the cooperation on security, which has been very important to us,' Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo told U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on 18 November 2021, during Blinken's visit to Nigeria. "The Super Tucanos have been delivered, and of course," he added, "we're looking forward to the [attack] helicopters as well."

As Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffry Onyeama put it, the Biden administration has been "supportive in the security area, provided a Super Tucano aircraft." And while "we have a slight issue with some attack helicopters," he declared, "that's more on the legislative side and not on the executive side."

In his response, Secretary Blinken made no mention of US arms sales to Nigeria. However, Blinken did assert that the United States did "very much appreciate as well the security cooperation that we're developing and making sure that we do it in a comprehensive way that puts our concerns about people first and foremost in what we're doing."

But events in Nigeria have provoked increasing resistance from US legislators to the sale of combat aircraft to Nigeria and have put the helicopter gunship deal in jeopardy.

In July 2021, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee put a hold on the sale of helicopter gunships in response to the massacre of peaceful protesters at a demonstration against SAR in Lagos in October 2020. In April 2022, the Biden administration announced that it would ignore congressional concerns and approve the sale on the dubious grounds that "the proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa."

@SecBlinken / Twitter U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken meeting with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja during the Secretary's first official trip to Africa.

In December 2022, Reuters published two reports on its investigation of major human rights violations by the Nigerian military. In the first, it reported that Nigerian security forces have murdered thousands of children captured during military operations against jihadi insurgents. Babies, infants, and young children were executed because they were believed to be child soldiers or the children of insurgents. In the second, it reported that since at least 2013, the Nigerian military had conducted a secret, systematic, and illegal abortion program that ended at least 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls. Many of them had been kidnapped and raped by jihadi insurgents.

In reaction, US Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the ranking Republican member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken to request a review of US security assistance to Nigeria. Risch also called for the State Department to examine the potential use of American sanctions against Nigeria for its violence against women and children. "I look forward to hearing more about the Department's planned response to the serious and abhorrent allegations levied against a long-standing beneficiary of US security assistance and cooperation which, if deemed credible, have done irreparable harms to a generation of Nigerian citizens and to US credibility in the region," Risch said in his letter to Blinken.

In February 2023, two members of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representatives Sara Jacobs (D-California) and Chris Smith (R-New Jersey), sent a letter to President Biden calling upon him to cancel the sale and review US security assistance and cooperation programs in Nigeria. As they pointed out, "the assistance we have provided has done little to stem the conflictin fact, insecurity has worsened from the abuses committed by Nigerian forces."

Therefore, they concluded, "we believe continuing to move forward with the nearly $1 billion arms sale would be highly inappropriate and we urge the Administration to rescind it. Given the recent reporting of Nigeria's previously unknown mass forced abortion programwhich allegedly ended at least 10,000 pregnanciesand the targeting of potentially thousands of children, we also urge a review of security assistance and cooperation programs in Nigeria."

A few days later, the Biden administration unveiled a revised set of rules for US global arms export, known as the Conventional Arms Transfer policy. Under the revised policy, arms sales will not be approved if the State Department concludes that the equipment "more likely than not" will be used to commit or facilitate genocide, crimes against humanity, breaches of the Geneva conventions, or serious violations of international law." Nobody will take this policy seriously if the helicopter gunships are delivered.

The Biden administration's dilemma is not balancing human rights and security considerations. US security assistance and America's complicity in the Nigerian government's human rights violations fuels the insurgencies and boosts public support for them. At the very least, the Biden administration should postpone the delivery of the helicopter gunships until it can provide Congress with tangible and conclusive evidence that the Nigerian government has reduced official corruption and human rights violations by its security forces.

The Biden administration has no choice except to develop a policy that actually strengthens democracy, promotes real economic development, reduces governmental corruption, and curbs human rights violations. Anything less will be a disaster for the United States and for Nigeria. The future of US-Africa relations is at stake. Will the Biden administration continue a policy of hypocrisy, deception, and militarization or will it carry out a real change in US policy?

Daniel Volman is the Director of the African Security Research Project in Washington, DC, and a specialist on U.S. military policy toward Africa and African security issues.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is the most advanced country in the region when it comes to gender equality, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union's President, Duarte Pacheco.

He urged the international community to promote peaceful coexistence, citing Bahrain as a great role model.

"We are in a country that illustrates to the world that people from various cultures and religions can live together in a peaceful society and achieve perfect harmony."

"What we find here is what we should find in other nations across the world: peaceful cohabitation," Pacheco stated during a news conference following the start of the IPU 146th Assembly and accompanying events in Bahrain.

Mr. Duarte Pacheco has been a Member of Parliament in Portugal since 1991.

He has held different functions in Parliament, including as a member of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Portuguese Communities.

The Bahrain Shura Council's First Vice-Chairman, Jamal Fakhro, and other prominent officials were also present at the event.

Pacheco expressed his delight at attending the IPU's 146th Assembly in Manama, saying, "As President of the IPU, I am happy to be here."

He stated that global issues demand global solutions since no one country can tackle them alone, citing terrorism and poverty as examples.

"That is why 1,000 parliamentarians from other nations are here, along with all of the personnel and experts that accompany them."

According to Pacheco, experts from diverse cultures and countries collaborated and successfully developed vaccines in record time to battle the latest pandemic.

He regretted, however, that the world had failed to learn from this lesson, as countless conflicts continued to rage across the planet.

Pacheco expressed his gratitude to Bahrain for arranging the event, saying he was at a loss for words to express his gratitude.

The Secretary-General officially requested that the "2024 e-Parliamentary Conference" be held in Manama.

In response, Fakhro stated his intention to comply with the IPU's request.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Report by Julia Cassano

Giving women parliamentarians a unique opportunity and a global platform for international decision-making, the Women Parliamentarians Forum opened yesterday in Bahrain alongside the 146th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly.

The first of its kind and a trailblazer on the issue of womens political participation, the forum meets at every IPU Assembly.

It provides an opportunity for women MPs to learn about how other countries are addressing gender inequality.

IPU President Duarte Pacheco opened the forum in the presence of the participating parliamentary delegations attending the 146th IPU Assembly.

Representing Bahrain, Shura Council First Deputy Chairman Jamal Mohammed Fakhro stressed Bahrains strides in promoting gender equity through constitutional and legislative provisions.

He noted Bahrains ranking on international indicators measuring womens progress, paying tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women.

Cyber-attacks affect women: Dr Ravza

In an interview with The Daily Tribune, Dr Ravza Kavakci Kan, president of the Turkish IPU Group, emphasized the importance of increasing womens participation in parliament and exchanging resolutions to address common issues.

She proudly noted that all parliaments now have female representatives, which was once nonexistent, and stated that the IPU sheds light on important issues faced by both men and women in societies.

During the Womens Forum IPU, a special discussion was held on cyber-attacks, where Dr Ravza highlighted the impact of such attacks on women, especially those in the public eye.

Cyber-attacks pose threats to everyone of all ages and genders; however, we wanted to center the discussion around how cyber-attacks affect women, she said.

She further stated that any type of cyberattack has significant effects on women, whether it is economic or social.

The issue of social media and cyberbullying towards women was also discussed, and it was recognized as a global issue.

Dr Ravza highlighted female members of parliament as potential targets for such attacks, as they are more visible in the public eye.

Human rights were also a significant topic of discussion, and Dr Ravza stressed the need for resolutions that address issues faced by all genders, nationalities, and races. She stated, If we advocate for democracy and human rights, it should be a right for all people.

Be fair and equal to all: Savinykh

According to Andrei Savinykh, ambassador and chairman of The Standing Commission on International Affairs, the IPU is an essential organisation that allows parliaments to discuss critical issues.

He highlighted that the world is currently undergoing a transformative time in international history, and it is crucial to ensure that the principles of this new world are fair and equal to all.

Savinykh asked, How will we provide possibilities for different countries to develop?

and emphasized that through the IPU forum, honest recommendations can be freely shared, and views can be changed.

He believes that the IPUs special and unique platform can create opportunities to exchange ideas and expectations.

Climate change needs global collaboration: Hasipoglu

MP and General Secretary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Oguzhan Hasipoglu, stressed the significance of countries working together to address global issues.

He stated that climate change has become a pressing concern that requires global collaboration and partnership to solve.

Hasipoglu acknowledged that Bahrain is starting to play a crucial role in national affairs and expressed hope for further discussions between Cyprus and Bahrain.

Working together and sharing knowledge: Dr Chaudhury

Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP of Bangladesh Parliament, considers the assembly an excellent platform to discuss and deliberate on essential issues and emerging challenges that affect the welfare of the people.

She believes that sharing best practices among nations is crucial to drawing upon different solutions to common problems, including climate change, strengthening womens empowerment and participation, and gender equality.

Chaudhury stressed that many countries face the same issues and are interconnected, making global cooperation urgently needed.

She stated, When countries can unite and come together as one, we can solve some of the most frightful issues threatening societies all over the world.

The MP believes that by working together and sharing knowledge, countries can tackle the most significant challenges affecting societies globally.




Joe Wayas Jr, the first son of former Senate President, late Senator Joseph Wayas has challenged the funeral committee inaugurated in December 2021 by Gov Ben Ayade of Cross River State to plan and bury the former number three citizen of the Second Republic (1979-1983), Senator Joseph Wayas.





Former minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, Kanu Agabi is chairman of the burial Committee.





The body of the late elderstatesman has been in the morgue in London for 14 months.





Former executive secretary of the National Planning Commission, NPC, Fidelis Ugbo who resigned as a member of the funeral committee, said I withdrew my services from the funeral committee. Its a lot odd for the first son to say hes not in charge of his fathers burial? I dont want to go into too many stories. Probe him to tell you what the situation surrounding the burial is. The responsibilities lie with him. He needs to open up on what the issues are on why the burial is delayed.





In an interview yesterday night, Wayas Jr called on members of the committee to stop spoiling his name with lies, challenging them to mention how much he collected from them.





He also challenged them to render an account and point to whatever they have expended on the funeral fund released by Gov Ayade for the burial of his late father.





Wayas Jr has decried the allegation by some members of the committee and government that he squandered the funeral fund.





Wayas drew attention to a media report by a national newspaper that the remains of the late Senator had been abandoned in a London hospital following a lack of funds to bury it.





It is a complete lie that I asked for or that I have spent the funeral fund released by the state government. Was I in charge of the fund? How much did I collect from them?

Let me clarify that I never accessed the fund. Why should they peddle my name, directing focus on me? I am a private person. They spent the money, not me.





The committee should be called upon to account for that money. Let them point to what and what they have used the money for. They should tell why they have not buried Senator Wayas, 14 months after.





Let them stop denting my name. I have had a good name bequeathed to me by my father, which I will strive hard to maintain.





If I had my money I would have buried my late father since. But he was a national figure.





He commended the state and federal governments for earlier support and pleaded that they should kindly not relent to lower the body.




The Niger chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Sunday enjoined the Christian faithful to vote for credible candidates at the governorship and legislative elections of March 18.





It stated that such candidates should be those who would ensure development and peaceful co-existence among the people.





The elections will take place on March 18. I enjoin everyone to vote for candidates of their choice, CAN chairman in the state, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, said in the statement.





He added that after due consultation with the national body, the state chapter decided that members must consider the character, competence, capacity and policies of candidates before deciding on who to vote for.





The candidate must be God-fearing, honest and respectful of the rule of law, justice and fairness for all.





He or she must have respect for religious and ethnic diversity, the chairman said in the statement.





He added that the candidates must be compassionate, disciplined and live credible lifestyles; must not be cultists, religious fanatics, or involved in illicit drugs and must not have relationships with bandits and thugs.





He also enjoined voters to consider the antecedents of candidates in terms of performance in positions they occupied in the past.





The preferred candidates must be those who can guarantee internal security, religious neutrality, and enforcement of fundamental rights and be fair in appointments, the chairman charged.





Yohanna also said that choice candidates must ensure quality education and free healthcare for the people and urged the Christian faithful to pray and fast for the success of the elections.




The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed Ladi Adebutu as the authentic governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.





INEC declared Adebutu the rightful candidate, having won all the cases against his candidature at the Supreme Court.





Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on New Media, Emmanuel Ojo, had claimed the PDP had no governorship candidate in Ogun State.





Ojo, on different social media platforms, said: Ogun PDP does not have a governorship candidate according to INEC list. Dont waste your vote when it is time. Vote for APC.





But, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun State, Niyi Ijalaye, dismissed Ojos claim, describing it as unfounded and untrue.





It is a rumour that is not founded, that is all, Ijalaye said.





He maintained that Adebutu would participate in the March 18 poll as the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State.





Recall that Adebutu and another of his rivals, Segun Showunmi, have reunited to work together for the PDP in the coming election.





We learnt that the last case filed by Jimi Lawal at the Supreme Court was on Thursday dismissed by the court.





Lawal and some of his followers were said to have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).




The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested a former Boko Haram member, Alayi Madu, and the traditional ruler of Kajola, Baale Akinola Adebayo.





They were among 37 persons apprehended over 2.2 tons of illicit drugs seized by operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and in raids across 12 states last week.





On 10th March, agents stormed Kajola forest near the border between Edo and Ondo states, where they destroyed cannabis farms measuring 39.801546 hectares.





The owner, 35-year-old Adebayo, was arrested there at 2:30 am, while other suspects believed to be his workers: Arikuyeri Abdulrahman, 23 and Habibu Ologun, 25, were nabbed nearby.





However, 26-year-old Madu was a Boko Haram fighter for 15 years before finally surrendering to the Nigerian military in 2021.





The NDLEA caught him on 9th March along Abuja-Kaduna road with 10 kilograms of skunk he bought in Ibadan, Oyo State, to be delivered in Maiduguri, Borno State.





Madu, a native of Banki in Borno, attended Umaru Shehu rehabilitation centre in Maiduguri and Malam Sidi de-radicalisation centre in Gombe State and was discharged after six months.





The suspect then travelled to Ibadan, where he worked as a commercial motorcycle rider before going into drug trafficking.





At the Lagos airport, operatives acting on intelligence intercepted 11.90 kilograms of heroin and 500 grams of skunk concealed in deep freezers.





The consignment was part of a cargo that arrived from South Africa on 7th March onboard Ethiopian airline via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.





Five suspects including a truck driver are in custody in connection with the seizure  Dairo Quam, Oluwaseun Ogunmene, Adeleke Abdulrasaq, Bamidele Adewale and Oluwafemi Ogunmeru.





Also, NDLEA operatives attached to the Gate C departure hall of the MMIA on 9th March intercepted a passenger, Aigbedion Philomena heading to Italy via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airline flight.





Upon a search of her bags containing body cream, hair attachment, drinks, and some food items, 1.20kg tramadol capsules concealed inside the gift wrapping sheet were found.





At the Idiroko land border, NDLEA operatives on the same day intercepted a commercial Toyota Camry with reg. number JJJ 756 HB along Ilase-Akoko road.





More than 30 jumbo size wraps of imported skunk weighing 17kg and concealed in two cooking gas cylinders were discovered. Benjamin Ajose, 48 and Oluwatobiloba Ajayi, 37, were arrested on the spot.





In Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Hope Iniobong David, 42, was nabbed with bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,112kg (1.1 tons) kept in her house at Ediene Abak in Abak LGA.





In Kogi State, operatives recovered 25 cartons containing 50,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection weighing 200kg in a Toyota Hiace bus marked LAM 652 LG travelling from Lagos to Abuja.





In OgunSstate, a female drug dealer, Bola Egbebi in Ota LGA, was caught with different quantities of Cannabis Sativa, Methamphetamine, Tramadol 225, Skuchies, Molly and Codeine cough syrup.





In Gombe State, another female drug dealer, Fatima Hassan (a.k.a. Boss) was arrested in her house at New Mile 3 area of Akko LGA with three and half blocks of skunk weighing 3.245kg.





In Lagos, two other female drug dealers, Folake Ladipo and Adeola Babatunde were apprehended in the Mushin area on Friday with 49.5kg of skunk.




The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has confirmed an attack on Grow Homes Estate along Kuchibiyi in the Kubwa area of the nations capital by gunmen yet to be identified.





We learnt that the gunmen numbering about 20, had invaded the estate on Friday night and whisked away at least nine residents to an unknown destination.





The unfortunate incident caused panic in the area despite intervention by security operatives.





Confirming the incident to newsmen, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, called for calm in the area, asking residents to assist the police with useful information.





According to her, operatives of the command had begun combing bushes in the area to ensure that the victims were rescued unhurt.





Operatives of the Police and the estate security are still combing the bushes in the area to ensure they are rescued unhurt.





We urge the residents to remain calm and assist with useful information that could lead to the swift arrest of these criminals, she added.
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" " Oak processionary moth larvae (Thaumetopoea processionea). The caterpillars have recently been found as far north as London, though their typical habitat is central and southern Europe. De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images

"Attack of the Toxic Caterpillars!" could be the title of a B movie, but for Londoners, this storyline is playing out in real life.

Oak processionary moth caterpillars (Thaumetopoea processionea) have been discovered in parts of London for the first time and British forestry officials are warning people that the invasion could have deadly consequences. The moth has a white body with a wide, dark stripe along the top, and 62,000 toxic white hairs that can be released as a defense mechanism. These hairs contain thaumetopoein, a protein that can trigger allergic reactions ranging from skin or eye irritation to difficulty breathing or anaphylaxis  a life-threatening reaction to an allergen.

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Even if people don't come in direct contact with the caterpillar, these defensive hairs can be picked up by the wind and cause people who are allergic to become symptomatic.

"At best, you can get contact dermatitis. At worst, you can die," Jason J. Dombroskie, manager of the Cornell University Insect Collection and coordinator of the Insect Diagnostic Lab in Ithaca, N.Y., told The New York Times.

No deaths in the U.K. have been reported, and the caterpillar has not yet been found in the U.S., where it is on a watch list of invasive insects. The caterpillars hatch in large numbers and live primarily on oak trees, where they feed on the leaves and have been known to strip trees bare. The species invaded Britain in 2005, presumably on live oak plants imported from southern Europe where the caterpillars are kept in check by insect predators, but this is the first time they have been spotted in London.

Now That's Interesting The oak processionary moth is native to central and southern Europe, but its range is expanding northward, most likely in response to climate change.
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) on March 11 criticized the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar for ignoring the general context of the events taking place in his statements about the blocking of the Lachin Corridor, which raise serious questions regarding their compliance with the status of a neutral mediator.

Below is the full statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh).

We took note of the tweet made on 9 March 2023 by Toivo Klaar, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia.



However, his statements regarding the situation related to the blocking of the Lachin Corridor, made earlier on 8 March in an interview with Azerbaijani media, raise serious questions regarding their compliance with the status of a neutral mediator, to which the EU Special Representative claims.



Speaking about the alleged legitimacy of Azerbaijan's approaches to the Lachin Corridor, the EU Special Representative clearly ignores the general context of the events taking place. And the context is that Azerbaijan has been illegally blocking the Lachin Corridor for almost three months, in violation of not only their obligations under the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, but also fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh. Under the pretext of the need for control over the Lachin Corridor, on 5 March, the Azerbaijani armed forces resorted to a terrorist attack, killing three Artsakh police officers and seriously wounding another.



It should be emphasized that all of Azerbaijan's arguments regarding the blocking of the Lachin Corridor, including the claim that the corridor was allegedly used for military purposes, after a thorough consideration have been rejected by the UN International Court of Justice, which ordered Azerbaijan to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. We recall that the decisions of the International Court of Justice are legally binding, which was also confirmed by senior representatives of the EU.



Such statements supporting the illegal claims of Azerbaijan are perceived by the authorities of this country as an indulgence of their criminal policy of ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, which is based on the denial of the Artsakh peoples inalienable rights to life, self-determination, freedom and peaceful development. Azerbaijan is seeking to create conditions where nothing would prevent Baku from establishing control over the entire territory of Artsakh by force and completing their criminal plans to ethnically cleanse Artsakh.



If the EU Special Representative is indeed concerned about actions that escalate tensions in the region, then we strongly recommend paying attention to Azerbaijan's continued military provocations, aggressive and belligerent rhetoric, as well as deployment of new military bases and other military infrastructure in the occupied territories of Artsakh.
Kiska, dubbed the worlds loneliest orca has died after 12 years of isolation in a barren tank at a Canadian amusement park.

The "height of cruelty" is how the 47-year-old mammals conditions were described by campaigners who had tried to get her moved to an ocean sanctuary. Video from the facility showed her continually swimming in a very distinct, repetitive pattern around the tank.

Reports indicate Kiska died on Thursday (local time) at Marineland in Ontario, which still houses a number of marine mammals including dolphins and beluga whales. The park has been contacted for comment.

Kiska lived alone in a tank at Marineland for 12 years. Source: Ingrid N. Visser/Orca Research Trust

Having campaigned to have Kiska removed from Marineland for a decade, Diane Fraleigh from Ontario Captive Animal Watch said her sudden death has left her deflated and angry. It just breaks my heart, she told Yahoo News Australia. I feel like we failed her.

Ms Fraleigh was part of a successful campaign that saw landmark legislation passed in 2019 that prevents captive cetaceans being imported into Canada.

Sad details of Kiska's lonely life

Kiska was taken from the Icelandic waters in 1979, alongside Keiko, who featured in the 1993 film Free Willy. After they were separated, the film led to exposure of Keikos plight and he was released.

In captivity, Kiska gave birth to five calves, all of whom died before age seven. Her last tank mate Ikaika was transferred to SeaWorld in 2011 after concerns were raised about his welfare.

Following Kiska's death, Ontario Captive Animal Watch had been spearheading a grassroots campaign to give her a "dignified burial" after a necropsy is performed to determine her cause of death. However, local activist Phil Demers released drone footage on Sunday showing excavators working in the snow, which he said indicated Kiska had been buried at the park.

Kiskas death renews criticism of orca theme parks

Cetacean expert Dr Ingrid Visser has visited nearly all of the worlds captive orca and is a vocal critic of their captivity. Speaking to Yahoo on Saturday evening, she described Kiskas tank as being like a concrete coffin.

Story continues

Dr Visser argues all captive orca are suffering and confinement has ill effects on their health. It's not a matter of if they'll die, it's when they'll die, she said.

Kiska was a dreadful example of the captivity industry, she said. There's no way to describe her life other than that, it was tragic. She had been deprived of everything that was important. Her suffering has come to an end but there are still many others in captivity.

There have been renewed calls to end orca captivity after Kiska's death. Source: Getty (File)

There have been ongoing calls to release orca from captivity since the 2013 documentary Blackfish made allegations about orca welfare at SeaWorld. Since the film was released Dr Visser says little has changed for the worlds captive orca.

Ocras are believed to remain in captivity at Mundo Marino (Argentina), Marineland Antibes (France), Port of Nagoya (Japan), Moskvarium (Russia), Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park (China), Loro Parque (Spain), Miami Sequarium (USA), SeaWorld San Diego (USA), SeaWorld San Antonio (USA), SeaWorld Orlando (USA), as well as three Chinese breeding facilities where the animals are not on public display.

SeaWorld was contacted for comment.

World respond's to Kiska's death

There has been an outpouring of grief and anger across the world from activists working to improve the welfare of captive orca. It is bad to have someone live alone, but it is just straight out disrespectful and empty-hearted to let someone die alone too, Heiko Grimm in Germany told Yahoo.

Mr Grimm is a board member of the Free Morgan Foundation, a non-profit, advocating for the welfare of Morgan the orca at Loro Parque. While pointing out that unlike Kiska, Morgan is not in a solitary cage, he still believes her confinement is a welfare concern.

Responding to renewed calls for the worlds orca to be removed from captivity that followed Kiskas death, Loro Parques director Javier Almunia told Yahoo he believes there is a lack of scientific evidence to demonstrate the impact sanctuaries have on cetacean welfare.

Loro Parque only makes decisions based in sound science, (especially) those affecting animal welfare. Currently, there are no sanctuaries for Orcinus orca, he said.

Mr Almunia said there are currently no veterinary concerns about orca living at its park, and that its animals live a more enriched life than Kiska did. Simply because the orcas in Loro Parque live in a social group, and in a modern complex facility with a comprehensive environmental enrichment program, he said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
It is an honor to introduce to the Auburn community to the remaining members of the Auburn Alumni Hall of Distinction Class of 2023. The last 
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.  Federal regulators designated two U.S. freshwater mussels as threatened on Wednesday, a further sign of trouble for native mollusks that help cleanse waters by filtering out pollutants as they feed.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it was granting protection to longsolid and round hickorynut mussels, which have declined in many Eastern and Midwestern streams.

The primary cause is habitat damage from urban sprawl, farming, oil and gas development, pipelines and mining. Other factors include competition from nonnative mussels and rising stream temperatures linked to climate change.

"Both of these mussels have suffered proverbial deaths from a thousand cuts," said Gary Peeples, deputy supervisor of the agency's field office in Asheville, North Carolina. "A lot of little things have added up."

Flourishing mussel populations signal healthy streams, he said. North America is a historical showcase of mussel diversity, hosting about 300 of the world's roughly 900 types. But about two-thirds of the continent's freshwater mussels are imperiled.

The newly designated threatened species have much wider ranges than many struggling mussels, Peeples said. Both favor stream bottoms with mixtures of sand, gravel and cobble.

The longsolid can reach five inches in length and live up to 50 years. It's found in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Of 60 known populations, 48 are in a limited area with no indication that young mussels are reaching adulthood, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Previously, there were 160 known populations. The mussel has disappeared from Georgia and Illinois.

The round hickorynut grows as long as three inches and is found in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Only 69 populations are believed to remain, down from a historical high of 301. Of the survivors, 49 are in a narrow area and show no signs of young mussel maturity. They are no longer found in Georgia, Illinois or New York.

Threatened species are considered likely to become in danger of extinction within much or all of their range.

Protection under the Endangered Species Act will help the mussels "by raising awareness, inspiring conservation partnerships and making funding available for their recovery," said Mike Oetker, regional director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The agency will designate critical habitat and work with state wildlife biologists to promote recovery, he said. For the longsolid, protected areas include 12 units along 1,115 river miles (1,794 river kilometers), while the round hickorynut's critical habitat has 14 units along 921 river miles.

Both species are largely in the same areas as other federally protected mussels. Federal agencies will be required to consult the service before allowing potentially harmful activities.

Under the law, the service can authorize actions that would cause "a minimal level of disturbance" to the mussels, Peeples said. That includes logging with best-management practices such as maintaining buffer zones along streams to prevent erosion.

The Center for Biological Diversity, an advocacy group that filed a lawsuit seeking protection for the mussels, applauded the threatened designation, which takes effect April 10.

But opening the door to commercial tree harvesting in critical habitat is a mistake, staff attorney Perrin de Jong said.

"Logging practices vary widely from state to state and the service hasn't defined who's responsible for ensuring that loggers actually follow these rules when they log mussel habitat," de Jong said. "These critters need real protection, not just words on a page."

Gallery: The Times Photos of the Week Riding shotgun with the Gary Fire Department Valparaiso gymnastics regional Valparaiso gymnastics regional Valparaiso gymnastics regional Class 4A Sectional semi-final Class 4A Sectional semi-final 030523-spt-bbk-mor_1 030523-spt-bbk-mor_11 030523-spt-bbk-mor_2 Munster Superintendent Shadows Eads Elementary Student Munster superintendent shadows Eads Elementary Student Class 4A Sectional 2 quarterfinal Class 4A Sectional 2 quarterfinal 030223_spt-bbk-mun_4 030223_spt-bbk-mun_6 030223_spt-bbk-mun_1 Malden Solar hearing draws angry crowd Malden Solar hearing draws angry crowd 030123_spt-bbk-mun_1 030123_spt-bbk-mun_2 Ballet Hispanico hosts a dance workshop at IUN Screw Conveyor Corporation marks 90 years in Hammond Tri Kappa sorority is back in the chocolate egg business Tri Kappa sorority is back in the chocolate egg business Tri Kappa sorority is back in the chocolate egg business Gallery HTML code Class 4A Sectional semi-final Class 4A Sectional 2 quarterfinal
Time flies when you are having fun! Its hard to believe that I have been with the Northwest Indiana Forum for nearly nine years. As I look back on the adventure to date, I am so excited about the genuine progress that has happened, and is currently happening, in the region and the great leaders that have worked together to make that progress come to fruition.

In 2015 Congressman Visclosky, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority under the leadership of Bill Hanna and Northwest Indiana Commuter Transit District under the leadership of Mike Noland laid the groundwork for the South Shore West Lake Corridor and Double Track projects. With encouragement from the Northwest Indiana Forum and the support of Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and One Region, Northwest Indiana made an application for the states first Regional Cities Grant. While the region was not awarded the Regional Cities Grant dollars, that application helped to highlight the benefits of the South Shore West Lake Corridor and Double Track to the State of Indiana, and became the foundation for the states investment as well as the legislation to create the Transit Development Districts. The idea of this project has been underway for over 20 years. Great leadership at the federal, state and local levels worked together to bring the construction of the largest infrastructure project in the state.

The Regional Cities Grant application gave a framework for regional cooperation. It was through this process it became evident many of the regional organizations had three-year and five-year plans, but very seldom did those plans intertwine or give consideration to others' plans. Economic development is a team effort. In order for our region to live up to its potential it is critical that regional organizations work together. By March of 2018, the building of a regional economic development plan was underway.

Through the planning process, over 50 stakeholder meetings were held and online surveys conducted. Over 900 people gave input towards crafting the regional economic development plan. In September of 2018 IGNITE the Region  Northwest Indiana Strategy for Economic Transformation (IGNITE) was launched. While the planning process was organized by the Northwest Indiana Forum, this truly is a Regional Plan. The pillars of the plan include Infrastructure, Business Development & Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Placemaking, and Talent. These five pillars are the building blocks to any strong economic development plan and require several partner organizations to accomplish the work. Throughout this process, it was critical to craft an action-oriented plan that would not just sit on a shelf. The Implementation Matrix of IGNITE became part of the to-do list for the Implementation Team working to execute the plan.

By fall of 2020, 88% of the original Implementation Matrix was either in process or completed. The road blocks to getting the plan fully integrated were time and money, the things that stall most plans. At the end of 2020, the Implementation Team worked to build a budget and a project list to move the Implementation Matrix forward. In the spring of 2021, the Indiana State Legislature approved Governor Eric Holcombs request to provide $500 million for the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) Grant. Under this grant funding opportunity, 17 regions around the state competed for the READI Grant dollars.

The spring and summer of 2021 were spent pulling together projects from around the region for consideration for the READI Grant application. In total, over 260 projects were submitted to the Northwest Indiana Forum for consideration. A team of 15 regional leaders reviewed eligible projects and helped to narrow them down to a list of 107 projects, then further to 63 projects, and finally 36 priority projects were selected for the application.

In December of 2021, Northwest Indiana was awarded $50 million of the $500 million READI Grant. This $50 million will be allocated to 34 of those priority projects across the seven-county region, which includes Lake, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton, Pulaski and Starke counties. Each project falls under one of the aforementioned five pillars of IGNITE helping to increase quality of place, quality of life and quality of opportunity for this place we call home. The projects range from workforce initiatives to help connect Northwest Indiana residents to better paying jobs, providing connection to quantum computing opportunities to help attract the economy of the future, and the continuation of funding pre-existing programs that are designed to alter the landscape of Northwest Indiana for many years to come.

As we work to continue to grow the economy of our region, we must build up from the foundation that has provided so much growth and stability for our region. Our regional roots are well established in making things, and for growing things. We need to continue to produce more with the things we grow, and evolve our industrial processes to continue to be the relevant powerhouse in the Midwest. As we realize the potential of northwest Indiana others are paying attention. The Northwest Indiana Forum will continue to be the voice of Northwest Indiana business, continue to market Northwest Indiana as the place for business, and stake out and drive these bold initiatives to take us to the next level.

READI 2 has real potential during the 2023 legislative session. We will diligently work to continue implementing even more projects to improve the landscape in NWI. We know that in order to continue to attract grant funds and other investments, we must have a strong plan. IGNITE will provide the framework for building economic growth, attracting more talent, and increasing the quality of life for the region we love so much.
In recent years, workforce development has experienced significant shifts across Northwest Indiana and the nation. To respond to ever-changing needs and demands, workers and employers alike are seeking economic regeneration. The Center of Workforce Innovations finds itself uniquely positioned to lead economic invigoration efforts and advance Northwest Indianas status as a thriving regional workforce hub where individual workers and local communities prosper.

In 2022, we embarked upon a strategic planning process focused on outcomes for clients  because we believe that the strength of our region lies within our workers capacity to achieve their very own versions of success. The strategic plan process was human-centered and driven by stakeholders across seven Northwest Indiana counties: Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, Porter, Pulaski and Starke.

As a regional service provider, our clients are supported by the efforts of the many dedicated CWI employees distributed across regional WorkOne offices, Adult Learning Centers, Ready NWI, the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board and more. However, the vitality of the region isn't bound by the buildings at which we work. Current and potential clients, employers, community partners, policymakers, educators, and youth activists all play a critical role in strengthening our regional workforce.

We collected insights from two regional gatherings with more than 90 in-person participants, as well as interviews with subject matter experts, regional focus groups with more than 40 stakeholders, and a region-wide survey with more than 100 total respondents. From our stakeholders, we heard:

 The greatest barriers to employment are longstanding challenges for clients to secure quality, affordable transportation, childcare, mental health and housing.

 Across the region, clients and employers can feel when their community has been invested in. The impact of environmental health and safety concerns, unique geographic challenges across rural and urban landscapes, and a communitys ability to attract and retain both business and talent ultimately impact the quality of life for those working and living in the region.

 Stakeholders value a more equitable approach to investment.

 Youth are seeking opportunities for engagement, but often lack knowledge and exposure to opportunities. When in a new role, they are looking for additional holistic support, training, and mentorship to ensure their success.

 Navigating the workforce ecosystem is difficult for many stakeholders, clients and employers alike. While there are supply and demand challenges, there are also great opportunities for meaningful, fulfilling work at a quality wage.

 The value of collaboration is acknowledged among partners, but many desire to focus collective efforts not around service domains, but instead around shared outcomes for workers.

In order to address our clients primary concerns and dreams for the future, CWI identified five distinct strategic plan pillars and a desired outcome for each. The desired outcomes serve as our shared destination  one that we will continually and intentionally advance toward throughout the next five years.

Our findings resulted in five strategic initiatives that define CWIs objectives. The pillars of our strategic plan are: Accessible Employment Opportunities, Informed and Engaged Youth, a Supported Workforce, Aligned and Activated Partnerships, and an Aspiring and Trusted Leader.

The work outlined in this strategic plan advances our mission by centering our work around our clients success. By putting the interests of our clients first, we can work toward a higher quality of life across our communities  urban and rural  and our region as a whole.

Pillar #1: Accessible Employment Opportunities

CWI will promote equity-centered policies, practices and systems that remove structural barriers for entry-level workers and those seeking new employment. We understand that the greatest barriers to employment are longstanding challenges for clients to secure quality, affordable transportation, childcare, mental health and housing.

We will actively support public policies that enhance transportation, childcare, wages and housing within the region. We see this as an opportunity to mobilize our network of resources to generate funding and community buy-in for policies that work towards higher wages, affordable and accessible transportation, childcare, and housing across the region.

Pillar #2: Informed and Engaged Youth

CWI will create a safe, supportive young-adult community, connecting 16-to-24-year-old individuals directly with workplace experiences and positive, demographically representative mentorship. Our goals include clarifying and promoting viable employment pathways that do not require postsecondary education and fostering mentorship and career guidance between longstanding and entry-level employees.

We have set the stage partnering with the Construction Advancement Foundation to present the annual Construction and Skilled Trades Day. We activate our partnerships with community organizations, resource providers, the trades, and employers to host NextGen events to build understanding and awareness with the future of Northwest Indianas workforce.

We will leverage relationships with schools and educators through Ready NWI, embracing our determination by the Department of Labor as modern Apprenticeship Ambassadors. This includes rolling out a local chapter of The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME): an apprenticeship program providing global-best manufacturing workforce development.

Pillar #3: A Supported Workforce

CWI will ensure new employees success through career assessment, exploration, readiness services and upskilling opportunities to meet individuals where they are. We will provide guidelines rooted in best practices and research for employers to effectively articulate role expectations, qualifications and desired skills to foster mutually successful employment.

We will actively support workplace practices that promote positivity and enhance employees mental health, connecting employers with social services and partners to strengthen wraparound services.

Pillar #4: Aligned and Activated Partnerships

CWI will create a client-centric regional culture by nurturing strategic partnerships and collective action by assembling a diverse and geographically inclusive group of cross-sector partners in industry, business, education, social service, and government. The goal is to inspire outcome-based strategies and service alignment.

Pillar #5: Aspiring and Trusted Leader

CWI will establish trust and build an approachable public-facing identity that uplifts the organizations unique strengths and leadership role within the region. We believe that by fostering an internal culture focused on client outcomes that are grounded in a shared purpose and vision, while showcasing stories that celebrate individual workers success and regional workforce development outcomes, we can reach our goal.

I would like to thank our many stakeholders and acknowledge them as co-creators in our strategic planning process, and contributors to its ultimate success. These co-creators have shared their personal and lived expertise, as well as their vision for our NWI economy throughout six months of community listening.

At the end of this strategic plan, we aspire to ensure the vitality of the regional workforce. By putting the regions employment needs and quality of life first, CWI can work towards regional regeneration, inclusive workplaces, and sustainable practices that will stand the test of time.
AUBURN  While addressing a crowd of women during a conference Saturday, Melody Smith Johnson asked them to turn to the person to their right and say "I'm here for you."

The women in the different pews of the Harriet Tubman Memorial AME Zion Church in Auburn did as they were asked, with some speaking and laughing with the person they were now facing. Smith Johnson then asked them to turn to the woman to their left and say the same thing. The audience members did so, as the jovial laughter continued. After a couple seconds, the women were asked to say "I'm here for you" to themselves.

Smith Johnson was one of the people who spoke at the You Matter Women's Conference, a two-day event that began Friday and was meant to empower women and help them inspire others. The conference, which featured Black experts speaking about different topics, coincided with Harriet Tubman Day on Friday, which celebrates the famous abolitionist who spent much of her adult life in Auburn.

Vanessa Garrison, co-founder of GirlTrek, a nonprofit public health organization for Black women and girls and is meant to empower them to walk as a form of self-care and for other reasons, was the keynote speaker Saturday morning. After T. Morgan Dixon, CEO and the other co-founder of GirlTrek, lead the women at the church through a mediation process, Garrison told the crowd she grew up in Seattle "in a house full of women who were consumed by rage and fury." She left the city for college in 1995 "unsure if I could chart a new path for myself," she said. Two years after arriving in Los Angeles, she met Dixon.

"We came together, both trying to navigate a world that felt hostile, a world that felt so small, so limiting, a world that didn't see us, as Black women. And we started talking about that as two friends. We talked it in circles, we talked about it through the lens of culture, history, family and art. But we kept coming back to this idea that the women who we loved most hadn't been able to experience the abundance that we were both chasing there in California.

"As we navigated this fancy job that we were working at and graduated with degrees that our families could (have) only dreamed of having and stepped into careers that were blessed with good incomes and opportunities that we received happily, we continued to ask ourselves, would we walk this road without the women who we loved?" Garrison said. "Would we step into opportunities that our grandmothers couldn't step into, would we walk into opportunities that our friends and sisters weren't healthy enough to experience? And we said, 'No.'"

Garrison talked about the importance of walking for one's health and the importance of empowering yourself and assisting others to empower themselves as well.

"This is a call for action for you. You can't lead somebody on a path that you haven't gone, something that you don't know the directions to ... So you can go back and you bring your sisters, your friends, your families, your coworkers, your church members, and you start walking together," she said.

The people at the church were going to be given gold shoelaces that indicate someone is a part of GirlTrek, Garrison said, and another pair of gold laces they can give to someone else.

"My energy has shifted into a praise place, into a worship place, because God is in this place. He is here and He is pouring into each and every one of us. Man, we ain't never going to be the same, "Smith Johnson said, receiving shouts of agreement such as "Amen!" from the audience. "And when we're not the same, our families are not the same. When our families are not the same, our communities are not the same."

Before looking at the goods from the vendors, Maxine Adams of Syracuse said she didn't want to miss the conference, as she wanted to meet Garrison and Dixon, since they founded GirlTrek. Adams said she has been a "trekker" for nearly three years, going on walks by herself at first. She later found out about a local group, the Syracuse Sole Steppers, and joined them in June 2022. When she started her walks, she did it for her health, since she had Type 2 diabetes, which she proudly noted she has since beaten.

The Auburn GirlTrek group, the Harriet Heritage Steppers, meets for walks at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, though the group wants to expand so Saturday walks can be held eventually. During inclement weather, the group meets at the Fingerlakes Mall, 1579 Clark Street Road, Aurelius. People can visit the Facebook page for the Harriet Heritage Trekkers, for upcoming information on spring walks, or call the Harriet Tubman Memorial AME Zion Church at (315) 252-2000.
One of the greatest advantages that Northwest Indiana has over other parts of the country is that we already realize we are, indeed, a region. We joke about Da Region and region rats and use other regional references, but stop and think about how remarkable this is: we are grounded as a region not just by our geography but by the actual language we use. Unlike most other regions in the U.S., we have no one dominant city that overshadows all the others, around which all the other communities revolve. We already realize we sink or swim together. And that gives us a ridiculous advantage over other places.

NIRPC has a governing board of 53 elected officials from every community in the region. That may seem like a lot to get on common ground, but notice this: not once have I heard any of those representatives talk about succeeding at the expense of their neighbors.

From the occasional cynical comment I hear from folks who arent really involved in moving the region forward, you might think the region is still a bunch of individual fiefdoms. Even if that were true once upon a time, its not true now.

NIRPC has been bringing communities together at a common table since the mid-sixties. Some plans and programs have taken a very long time to materialize. But as you read this now, you are in the region in a near-unbelievable time of things finally coming together  many of which you are probably reading about in the pages of the Progress Edition you currently hold.

These things havent happened by circumstance. They are happening because the region has come together, seized opportunities, and  true to our manufacturing history on these southern shores of Lake Michigan  we have worked together to make things happen.

The pandemic forced us to shift some of the ways we do things, but the region has proved itself resilient. In the fall of last year, NIRPC assembled a team of economic leaders from across the region in the areas of workforce, education, small business, etc. to develop the Northwest Indiana Economic Recovery & Resilience Plan. This strategic guide, with attainable action steps in the areas of Infrastructure, Talent & Workforce, and Business Vitality, builds on the momentum of 2018s Ignite the Region: A Regional Strategy for Economic Transformation to learn from the economic challenges of COVID-19 and shore up the regions economic resiliency for future unforeseen events.

Even now the communities of Northwest Indiana are collaborating on the next iteration of NWI 2050, the long-range transportation plan for the region of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. With input from those who live here  including hopes and concerns communicated via online mapping  teams are diving into the complexities of our region related to Active Transportation, Freight, Land Use, and Transit.

NWI 2050+ will be completed mid-year and will meet requirements needed to keep federal transportation funding flowing to our region in order to preserve our existing transportation systems; increase the safety of all transportation system users, rather than just increasing the speed of cars and trucks; connect people to jobs, educational opportunities, shopping, and recreation; and ensure the efficient movement of freight to support the economy of the region.

These plans, of course, mean nothing if those making actual on-the-ground development decisions approve projects that do not take into account the long-term effects of those decisions. Recognizing the need for practical help in local decisions that can add up to big-scale regional impact, NIRPC will soon be releasing its Sensible Tools Handbook+: Best Practices for a Changing Landscape  a follow-up to its 2007 Sensible Tools Handbook. This practical guide will help equip public officials and those appointed to plan commissions and boards of zoning appeals, as well professionals and citizens, with practical and useful tools to apply the principles of good planning to local decision making.

All of this recognizes that no decision made in this region happens in a vacuum. The choices each community makes has an impact on surrounding communities, and it is only in conversing around a common regional table that we can stay on track for future success as a region that is connected, renewed, united, and vibrant. These four descriptors as a vision for the region in the next 25 years grew directly from the multiple regional conversations held in the creation of NWI 2050. From our regional vantage point at NIRPC, things do appear to be aligning to make that vision a reality.

Earlier this year I presented a bit of the Northwest Indiana story to a gathering of other regional councils from across the country meeting in Washington, D.C. Focusing mainly on the history of the Indiana Dunes National Park and the Indiana Dunes State Park, I was able to tell a story of collaboration on multiple scales: as a collaboration of federal, state and local government; as a collaboration across state lines; and, ultimately, as a collaboration between industry and the environment. The unsolicited comments I received following that short talk ranged from I had no idea! to such an inspiring story! with multiple variations of I am definitely going to make a side trip to the Dunes next time I come to Chicago! I didnt embellish a thing; all I did was to literally just tell the story of what happened here.

The truth is, collaboration is inspiring. And that history of collaboration is now deeply embedded in the regional landscape.

But thats a different story than the one told by the billboards that clutter the Interstate routes through our region. The bulk of these parasitic signs portray a very different image of Northwest Indiana than those that live here know to be true, and they point away from the aspects of our region that we know to be good. We see them so much that we stop seeing them. But for those that hurry through Northwest Indiana, this is the takeaway from their brief time with us.

We have an opportunity to change the story we tell as we are capitalizing on opportunities afforded by recent investments in infrastructure and other quality-of-place enhancements. That opportunity  some may call it a responsibility  is not left to those elected, appointed, or hired to public office or service. Every resident living in Northwest Indiana and everyone doing business within our region has daily interactions where one or the other of these very different stories will be reinforced. These conversations may seem like small things, but they, too, add up to have huge regional impacts. Regional collaboration may seem a small thing, but it is truly the future success of our region.
The last thing I remember is a medical technician named Walt telling me to lie on my left side as he administered a sedation drug into my IV.

Boom, I was out of it. A half-hour passed in a half-second.

My third colonoscopy was in the books, this one at Northwest Health Porter in Valparaiso. Unlike my first two procedures, in 2000 and 2016, I remember practically everything afterward. Including the name of every nurse.

How are you feeling? asked Barry, a 61-year-old travel nurse from Texas who wheeled me back to my recovery room Thursday afternoon.

I felt surprisingly lucid. We continued our conversation from a half-hour earlier when he wheeled me into the procedure room. As usual, I asked too many questions, knowing I would be writing about it.

I knew Id be writing today's column since Sept. 26, 2022, when my 82-year-old mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer. Our journey through the health care system prompted my ongoing series, From the emergency room to the operating room. (Read the first four columns at NWI.com.)

Within 24 hours in my mothers hospital room, three physicians strongly recommended that I get a colonoscopy as soon as possible.

You now have a family history of colorectal cancer, one of the doctors told me in a somber tone.

I was scheduled to get a colonoscopy in 2021. I put it off, as so many of us do with medical tests, screenings and procedures we should get done. Shame on me. Shame on you too?

Its so convenient to ignore or neglect our health. That is, until you hear the word cancer hundreds of times in six months. This has a way of slapping you in the face or, in my case, on my butt. Ive been concerned about the possibility of colon cancer since my mom was diagnosed.

Higher risk, I heard the doctor say into a voice recorder during my colonoscopy before the sedative kicked in.

Anesthesia administered through an IV can be a miraculous experience, especially for someone like me. I dont drink alcohol, Ive never taken drugs, I dont use any serious prescription medications. I can now see the addictive attraction of such escapism.

One second, I was perfectly lucid, taking detailed notes for this column. The next second, it was lights out and my head was in a haze. Maybe thats a good thing when it comes to having a colonoscopy, a truly invasive procedure that scares off too many people, according to the American Cancer Society.

No one wants to be told they have colon cancer, which is partly why too many people avoid having a colonoscopy or alternative testing.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States when men and women are considered separately. Its the second leading cause when the genders are combined, according to ACS data.

Colon cancer is expected the cause more than 50,000 deaths in 2023, although its death rate has been dropping for decades. Credit the screening process to find and remove potentially dangerous polyps, in addition to improved treatment options.

Immediately after my colonoscopy, the physician, Dr. Daniel Young, told me that he found one polyp, 2 mm in size, which was removed and sent to a lab for a biopsy.

The exam was otherwise without abnormality, the written findings stated.

A day earlier, preparation for the exam was also without any abnormality. Its perfectly normal to spend more time in your bathroom than in your bedroom after guzzling 60 ounces of Gatorade mixed with an entire bottle of Miralax powder and a chaser of four laxative pills.

The quality of the bowel preparation was good, the exams written assessment stated.

Im nothing if not good at bowel preparation. Ill stand by those words. By Thursday morning, I felt completely cleansed and 4 pounds lighter. It was the rare time I was eager to step on a scale.

Youre boringly healthy, a hospital staff person told me during preregistration.

She asked me a long list of questions regarding my overall health and any preexisting conditions or ailments. Fortunately, I was able to reply no, no, no, no, no to her checklist.

Not everyone can say this, a nurse told me before my procedure.

A colonoscopy involves a thin, flexible tube with a small video camera attached. The last image I saw inside the procedure room was a video monitor used to view what the doctor viewed in my colon. Its not the ideal image before drifting off into dreamland.

After my colonoscopy in 2016, I still felt a bit loopy and told two nurses: I feel gassy, but Im not a natural farter. True story.

Nurses have seen everything. Its interesting how what may be an unforgettable medical appointment for patients is just another day at the office for health care professionals. I dont know how they do it.

I dont know how you can share your personal medical experience with so many strangers, a social media reader told me Thursday.

I posted a before and after video about my experience, openly making fun of myself (watch a video and view more photos at NWI.com).

If my post or column prompts only one person to begin a needed discussion with a loved one or their health care provider, then my public embarrassment is worth it. Not everyone needs a colonoscopy, but the recommended age to receive your first one is now 45.

I hope todays column encourages others to get screened. It could possibly prevent the cancer diagnosis my mother is battling. I wish I could go back in time, show her my column from 2016 and coax her into getting the procedure.
The moral panic over the content of library books underway in parts of Indiana and many other Republican-led states is playing out quite differently just across the state line in Illinois.

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, a Democrat who also serves as state librarian, is backing legislation that would declare the policy of Illinois is to ensure the freedom of libraries to acquire materials without external limitation, as well as to protect libraries from attempts to ban, remove or otherwise restrict access to books or other materials.

House Bill 2789 also would deny Illinois libraries access to $62 million in annual state library grants unless they adopt the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, or a similar local statement, pledging library materials will not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

In a statement, Giannoulias said book banning undermines First Amendment rights, threatens individual freedoms and liberties and prevents the public from accessing reading materials of their choice.

"This is an alarming phenomenon thats occurring throughout the nation, including Illinois, which is designed to polarize and disrupt our communities," Giannoulias said. "This scourge of censorship has a chilling effect on our democracy. These efforts have nothing to do with books. Instead, they are about ideas that certain individuals disagree with and believe no one should think, or be allowed to think."

Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker similarly condemned book banning and censorship last month in his annual "State of the State" address to the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.

"In Illinois, we dont hide from the truth, we embrace it and lead with it," Pritzker said. "Banning books is a devastating attempt to erase our history and the authentic stories of many. Students across this state deserve to see themselves reflected in the pages of stories that teach and entertain."

"I'm proud to support House Bill 2789 and ensure that Illinois' libraries remain sources of knowledge, creativity and fact," he added.

State Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, a sponsor of the legislation, noted that Illinois once was home to Ray Bradbury, whose novel "Fahrenheit 451" is a warning against censorship, book banning and book burning.

"Coordinated campaigns to banish books run contradictory to the principles our country was founded upon," Murphy said. "Our First Amendment protects not only our rights to speak but the right to access resources from the school or public library that are free from censorship that comes from disapproval by select individuals or groups who dislike a book's content."

Across the country, the American Library Association tallied 681 attempts in 2021 to ban more than 1,600 library titles, primarily books written by or about people of color or LGBTQ individuals.

That number is all but certain to increase if legislation approved last month by the Republican-controlled Indiana Senate is similarly endorsed in coming weeks by the Republican-controlled House and eventually signed into law by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Senate Bill 12 would establish a statewide, statutory process for the parent of any student enrolled in a public or charter school to challenge the placement of any school library book at any time for any reason.

Under the plan, the complaint initially would be reviewed by a certified school librarian who must decide that either: the book be removed from the library; the book be restricted to an age-limited section of the library; or the complaint be denied through a written response to the parent.

If the complaint is denied, the parent could appeal first to the school principal, and then to the school board, who each would have the same options of leaving the challenged book on the shelf, restricting it or removing it.

The measure also specifies schools could not make available any book deemed obscene or harmful to minors, which generally comprises material that appeals to a prurient interest in sex and considered as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

In addition, a school employee no longer would be entitled to claim an "educational" defense if ever prosecuted for knowingly or intentionally disseminating material found to be harmful to minors.

Supporters of the proposal, sponsored by state Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville, claim the shelves of Indiana school libraries are filled with books and other materials containing "bad," "sickening," "nasty," "raw pornography," citing lists compiled by conservative parent activists in Indiana and elsewhere.

In fact, the majority of the material parent activists identify as "pornography" consists of nonfiction narratives and novels that merely include scenes of sex, drug use or racism, along with illustrated puberty guides, such as "Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human."

Nevertheless, Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, a 2024 Republican candidate for governor, said she supports the effort to empower parents to seek to remove books from Hoosier school libraries.

"The school library should be a place for learning, not a license for grooming," Crouch said. "We must fight the political and progressive takeover of our schools."

Senate Bill 12 is awaiting action by the House Education Committee.

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
SCHERERVILLE  A patchwork of black oak savannah grasslands, shifting sand dunes and unique wetlands, Indiana Dunes National Park doesn't necessarily look like an economic powerhouse.

However, Indiana Dunes Superintendent Paul Labovitz said the park is "a critical part of the Region's economic infrastructure."

The National Park Service is one of the largest employers in the Region with about 100 full-time jobs and 50-60 seasonal positions. In 2021, the most recent year for which data was available, visitors to the park spent an estimated $156 million in Northwest Indiana. That visitor spending supported an estimated 1,880 jobs and $88.8 million in income in the Region.

A study by Certec Inc. and Indiana Dunes Tourism found National Park visitation generates $155 million in tax revenue while supporting 6,588 jobs in Porter County.

Formerly a National Lakeshore, Indiana Dunes became a National Park in 2019. After the name change, visitation shot up from 1.75 million in 2018 to 2.13 million in 2019, according to National Parks Service figures. The park saw its highest attendance to date in 2021 when 3.17 million people flocked to Northwest Indiana's lakeshore. In 2022, over 2.8 million visited the park.

"We are less than 1% the size of Yellowstone, but we get more visitors than Yellowstone," Labovitz told attendees during a Lake County Advancement Committee luncheon Friday. "It's not surprising; you can see the third-largest city in the country from the beach."

Last year, the national park began charging an entry fee of $25 for admission of up to seven days, or $45 for an annual pass. Labovitz said the park had been discussing the possibility of an entry fee for six or seven years as the park's budget could not cover all the necessary costs.

Keeping NWI healthy

During the Friday afternoon luncheon, Labovitz also highlighted several of the projects currently underway in the park.

The interior of the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education is being remodeled; it was recently painted and the floors are being replaced. A pedestrian bridge is also being built, connecting the Douglas Center to the parking lot.

Indiana Dunes is working with the Decay Devils, a preservationist group that hopes to restore the historic Union Station, a Beaux Arts-style train station in Gary. Union station is located near the edge of the national park and could serve as a "gateway" to the Dunes, Labovitz said.

Gary's proximity to the park is an "untapped resource" for the city, Labovitz added.

"We're hoping that the national park can be a part of (Gary's) rebirth."

Indiana Dunes is working alongside the Northwestern Regional Planning Commission on the Marquette Greenway bike trail and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District on the South Shore Line Double Track project. Once complete, the Marquette bike trail will stretch from Calumet Park in Illinois to New Buffalo in Michigan. A portion of the trail will run through the national park, as will a portion of the South Shore expansion.

Labovitz said some of the South Shore train stations will have ramps, allowing riders to bring their bikes.

"Hopefully in five years or less, you'll be able to ride your bike from New Buffalo to Chicago. What we hope is, people don't just ride through, they stop, visit the park and visit communities along the way," Labovitz said. "We have to get people out of their cars."

Though Indiana Dunes' financial impact on the Region is notable, Labovitz said the park also provides important environmental services such as clean water and oxygen.

"We provide a place for you to maybe reset your mental health clock. There's value to that intrinsically and financially," Labovitz said. "We're part of what keeps you healthy here in Northwest Indiana."

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KEY WEST, Fla.  I am a descendent of two Hoosiers who fought in the American Civil War. Two of my great-great grandfathers enlisted in Indiana regiments to preserve the United States.

When an emerging Republican congressional "leader"  U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia  used Presidents Day to call for a "national divorce," my first instinct was to take this offense personally.

We need a national divorce. We need to separate by red states and blue states and shrink the federal government, Greene said. Everyone I talk to says this. From the sick and disgusting woke culture issues shoved down our throats to the Democrats traitorous America Last policies, we are done.

The reaction from Indiana's Republican dominated congressional delegation was mute.

It would be easy to dismiss Rep. Greene's ranting as one more crazy thing she has said. A year ago, she called out "Nancy Pelosi's Gazpacho Police" (I think she had meant Nazi Germany's "Gestapo" as opposed to a force consisting of cold soup made of blended vegetables). She described the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection as a "little riot" instead of the attempted coup d'etat that it was. She suggested on Fox News that joining the U.S. military is "like throwing your life away."

During the last war of secession, one of my great-great grandfathers, Harvey Hopping Platt, was a private in Infantry Company G, 7th Indiana Volunteers. The second was Jacob Wesley Main, who was a private in Company D, 104th Indiana Infantry. Both were born in 1838 and were 23 years old when 11 southern states formed the Confederacy.

Pvt. Platt was wounded in the head on May 12, 1864, at Battle Laurel Hill, part of the Wilderness campaign near Spotsylvania Courthouse in Virginia. He received his discharge on Jan. 20, 1865, returning home with a steel plate in his head. A farmer near Aurora in Dearborn County, he wore a cork hat when working in the sun, and he died on June 27, 1873, from effects of the wound.

Jacob Main was a Ripley County farmer working the land carved out of a forest. He mustered in on July 10, 1863, one of six brothers who served in Indiana regiments. One of those brothers, Charles, was killed in the Battle of Mark's Mill in July 1864 in Arkansas, as a member of the 43rd Indiana regiment.

According to the Indiana Historical Bureau, Pvts. Platt and Main were two of the 196,363 Hoosier men served in the Civil War, the second highest among Union states.

Most recruiting was carried out at community meetings and by individuals like Benjamin Harrison and Lew Wallace. Companies generally assembled at county seats or other large towns. Fairgrounds were turned into military camps. The departures of companies were often marked by community celebrations or public meals.

Our family has scant information on why they chose to serve. Some ardently opposed slavery and its expansion to the western frontier. Theodore Upson expressed himself in this way, according to the Historic Bureau: This Union your ancestors and mine helped to make must be saved from destruction. Henry C. Marsh wrote: I miss home the Church and my friends very much but am willing to give them all up for my country in this great struggle for Liber(t)y.

Or as Ara Fraizer put it, I, with thousands of others ... periled our lives for the sole purpose of putting down the rebellion, & to maintain this Government, the best that the world ever knew ... 

Secession has stalked this grand, but fragile, American experiment from the beginning. Founding fathers John Adams and Thomas Jefferson pondered a federal breakup reflecting their intense rivalry. U.S. Rep. John Quincy Adams  the former president  once introduced a petition demanding the dissolution of the United States.

"The trend is old in the sense that American politics is starting to look rather similar to the way it was in the beginning, which was extremely fractured, totally dysfunctional," said Richard Kreitner, the author of the 2020 book "Break It Up: Secession, Division, and the Secret History of Americas Imperfect Union."

In an interview with Elaine Godfrey in The Atlantic, Kreitner adds, That it keeps coming up suggests there is something to it. It represents an impulse that cannot be simply wished away or ignored.

Peter Wehner, a veteran of the Reagan and both Bush administrations, observes that Rep. Greene is now an influential ally of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. He writes in The Atlantic, "My response to Greene is not 'I must remain united with this person at any cost,' but 'Why would I want to be part of a government where this person is a leading figure? Why would I want to remain loyal to a Constitution so patently broken that somebody like this ascends to the highest ranks of power?'

"Greene and McCarthy  one crazed, the other cowardly  embody a large swath of the modern-day GOP," Wehner continues. "Any party that makes room for seditionists and secessionists is sick and dangerous."

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was asked if America was a republic or a monarchy. "A republic, if you can keep it," he famously responded.

When I was a young man, I believed that America was a relatively young empire that would last for centuries. Now, if I came face to face with Pvts. Platt and Main, I would have to admit to them that I no longer believe that to be the case.
The 1960s is something unique, said Eugenia Paulicelli, founder and director of the Fashion Studies Program at the Graduate Center of City University of New York. It has its own aura of excitement, and this explosion of the youth culture, of music, politics, human rights, Vietnam, etc.

Watchmaking went through its own rebellion then, too, leaving behind the bulkier and curved designs of the 1950s in favor of sleek and angular time-only watches with their less-is-more dials; professional-grade diving watches in bright colors; and racing chronographs that often had color-contrast subdials, a style the industry called panda, in reference to the color-contrast bear. The decade was, the freelance designer and artist Guy Bove said, the beginning of watches that look more like today.

Some of those features have never disappeared. But recently watches from brands like Breitling, Grand Seiko, TAG Heuer and Omega have taken on even more retro flair.

It makes sense to go back to the first editions, which has something essential about them, before they were diluted by decades of changes, Mr. Bove said.
This article is part of our Design special section on how the recent push for diversity in design is changing the way the world looks.

Even when Tione Trice was a child in Atlanta in the 1990s, he nurtured a love for a design style he called African Essentialism that was nothing like the Eurocentric goods that surrounded him. I would see these photos and art books and I wanted to create that for myself, he said. Things that had a natural feel.

Mr. Trice, 36, became an interior designer and boutique owner, opening a little shop called Of the Cloth in brownstone Brooklyn in 2021 and relocating it a year ago to a storefront at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. There, he sells African and African American antiques.

I discovered Sheila Bridges and Rachel Ashwell, he said of two interior designers who translated their distinct aesthetic sensibilities into products. I saw them starting their careers as collectors and sellers and thought, This is how Ill enter the market.
This article is part of our Design special section on how the recent push for diversity in design is changing the way the world looks.

Helen C. Maybell Anglin, the self-described soul queen of southern cuisine, is posed on the steps of her fieldstone house on the South Side of Chicago, swathed in black mink. It is 1974, and the house, which she commissioned in 1965 from the architect Milton M. Schwartz, is as bold and glamorous as its statuesque owner, with a recessed portico, double entrance doors and a skylighted, shag-carpeted living room thats big enough to dwarf her white baby grand piano.

Ms. Maybell Anglin died in 2009, and the house remained under family ownership until last year. Bertina Power, an author and real estate broker, was asked to give her professional opinion to someone who wanted to rehab and sell it.

I was like, Im going to buy it, she said. I have been going in and out of million-dollar houses for years and nothing moved me like this house did. I didnt know why.

Ms. Power is, like Ms. Maybell Anglin, a Black woman and entrepreneur just under six feet, and she has come to believe her ownership was fate. While Ms. Power did not know her new homes history until after she stepped inside, it seems unlikely that such a house could fly under the radar now.
When Dot Goldberger and Simone Budzyn were brainstorming how they wanted to feel on their wedding day, they came up with a number of different adjectives. Among them were: calm, beautiful, cared for and pumped up.

So they called on 30 friends and family members of all genders who they knew would help them feel those things when the time came. They called the assembled group their Pump Up Party or Pump Up People.

Later, as the couple prepared to exchange rings before 135 guests at their wedding on Oct. 8 in Chesterfield, N.J., their Pump Up People formed a circle around them at the altar and held hands while singing For the Beauty of the Earth, a hymn chosen because it was featured in the 1994 film Little Women, which had been important to both partners.

It made us feel completely encompassed by the love of our community, said Mx. Budzyn, a 32-year-old psychotherapist.
Jump to: Tricky Clues | Todays Theme

SUNDAY PUZZLE  David Tuffs, of Pacific Grove, Calif., is a masters student in linguistics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is writing a thesis on negative verb forms in Mixtec, an Indigenous language in Mexico.

To find potential theme answers for this puzzle, Mr. Tuffs used Java and a database of English phrases and then worked to get the most elegant examples. This is his sixth Times puzzle and his second Sunday grid. His first Sunday grid, which ran last April, has a subtle cleverness thats a little similar to todays puzzle, with a trick thats hard to tease out first and then turns out to be really entertaining and impressive.

Tricky Clues

53A. This is the first time weve seen this spooky clue for these crossword stalwarts. The Predators whose genus name translates to of the kingdom of the dead are ORCAS, genus Orcinus, which refers to a Roman god of the underworld. I appreciate the way the ORCAS in this grid are chasing another common sea- and puzzle-dweller, the Moonfish at 54A, or OPAH.

70A. I love a labor-loving optimist, although this clue made me think of bowling first. The Potential result of a strike in this grid is a PAY HIKE.
U.S. Reps. Claudia Tenney and Brandon Williams voted to declassify intelligence about the potential source of COVID-19 and supported a bill that aims to crack down on social media censorship.

The House kicked off the week with votes on a pair of bipartisan bills.

The Wounded Warrior Access Act passed by a 422-0 vote. Tenney, R-Canandaigua, and Williams, R-Sennett, supported the legislation.

According to the bill's summary, it would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to create an online platform that would allow veterans to submit records requests for VA benefits and claims.

By a 393-22 vote, the House passed the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act. The bill would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to review the cybersecurity of mobile service networks and submit a report to Congress.

Tenney and Williams voted for the measure.

The House voted on a resolution introduced by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz that would direct President Joe Biden to remove U.S. armed forces from Syria. The resolution failed by a 103-321 vote. Fifty-six Democrats and 47 Republicans supported the removal of troops from Syria, while 171 Republicans, including Tenney and Williams, and 150 Democrats voted against the resolution.

The VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act passed by a 426-0 vote  Tenney and Williams supported the legislation. The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to have on-site medical waste treatment systems at every VA facility "that would benefit from such a system's cost savings," according to the legislative summary.

A bill that aims to prevent federal employees from pressuring social media companies to censor users was approved by the House.

The legislation, the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act, passed 219-206, with members voting along party lines. Tenney and Williams voted with Republicans to pass the bill.

According to the bill's summary, it would prohibit "employees of executive agencies or who are otherwise in the competitive service from... using their official authority to influence or advocate for a third party, including a private entity, to censor speech."

The House also approved a resolution to reverse an action taken by the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that defines the waters of the United States that are subject to the Clean Water Act. Opponents of the rule believe it would be harmful to agricultural producers.

The vote was 227-198, with nine Democrats joining 218 Republicans in supporting the resolution. One Republican and 197 Democrats voted no on the measure. Tenney and Williams voted for the resolution.

The House concluded the work week with a unanimous vote (419-0) in favor of the COVID-19 Origin Act. The legislation would require the director of national intelligence to declassify information regarding the connection between COVID's origins and the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. One theory is that the virus leaked from a lab at the institute.

Tenney and Williams voted for the bill.
SPRINGVILLE, Calif.  Cassandra Honeyman spent Saturday helping salvage what she could from her aunts home. Ruined furniture sat on the back patio, and mud covered the interior of the one-story country house in Springville, a rural community of 1,100 in the Sierra Nevada foothills that is surrounded by green mountains and the Tule River in the San Joaquin Valley.

Thankfully, said Ms. Honeyman, who lives nearby, most of the pictures in the house were protected; they were placed in totes on top of a bed before the flood arrived. But not much else was saved. She was grateful that her aunt and other relatives who lived in Springville were safe. But, exhausted and shaken, Ms. Honeyman acknowledged that uncertain days lay ahead.

This house is completely totaled, she said.

The storm system carrying streams of moisture through the skies over California weakened on Saturday, bringing lighter rain. But in areas like Springville in the San Joaquin Valley, and in towns on the Central Coast, residents and officials were only beginning to deal with the impact of flooded rivers and creeks, while other parts of the state that saw a respite braced for yet another storm next week.

Springville residents were evacuated on Friday, and some residents like Ms. Honeyman returned on Saturday to assess the damage. In coastal Monterey County, between San Francisco and Los Angeles, more than 1,500 people were ordered to evacuate early Saturday from Pajaro, a small agricultural community of 1,700, after the Pajaro Rivers levee was breached by flooding at about midnight.
The gunman, Ramin Khodakaramrezaei, a 38-year-old long-haul trucker from Texas, had broken into the home through a bedroom window, Chief Lowe said.

Mr. Khodakaramrezaei, who had been stalking Ms. Sadeghi, fatally shot himself after shooting the couple, according to a Redmond Police Department news release.

Mr. Khodakaramrezaei first discovered Ms. Sadeghi after listening to a Farsi audio stream about gaining employment in the tech industry, the chief said at a news conference.

The stream was hosted on Clubhouse, a social media app described in a blog post by Hootsuite as a cross between podcast and a conference call and that allows users to talk and listen in chat rooms.

It is believed that Mr. Khodakaramrezaei was a listener to the audio stream featuring Ms. Sadeghi and later began communicating with her. They eventually became friends, until his actions escalated and she sought a no-contact order against him, the police said.
There was a time  say, just before a certain incident near the end of last years Academy Awards show  when the ceremony itself was a dignified proceeding and the embarrassment was largely confined to the preshow red carpet program.

Thats the spirit that Saturday Night Live tried to return to this weekend with an opening sketch that imagined the celebrity arrival for Sundays Oscars, complete with vacuous hosts and overly excited nominees.

S.N.L., which was hosted by Jenna Ortega and featured the musical guest the 1975, began with an Access Hollywood Oscars preview emceed by Marcello Hernandez (as Mario Lopez) and Heidi Gardner (as either Maria Menounos or Kit Hoover, they havent told me which yet, she said).

Following a plug for their sponsor, Ozempic (I guess everyone in Hollywood has diabetes), they welcomed Kenan Thompson, who was playing Mike Tyson, now overseeing Oscars security for the purposes of this sketch.
China brokers a Middle East deal

Saudi Arabia and Iran announced that they had agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties on Friday after years of fighting proxy conflicts. The deal, facilitated by China, highlights Beijings growing importance in the Middle East  and, some say, the U.S.s waning influence there.

Saudi Arabia and Iran said that they would patch up a seven-year split by reactivating a lapsed security cooperation pact, and that each would reopen an embassy in the other country. But differences run deep, and it remained unclear how far the rapprochement would actually go.

Chinas involvement was a surprise and signaled Xi Jinpings ambitions as a global statesman amid a shift in longstanding alliances and rivalries. This is among the topsiest and turviest of developments anyone could have imagined, wrote Peter Baker, our chief White House correspondent.

Some Gulf Arab officials say that they can no longer rely on the U.S. to guarantee their security and that China is ready to offer weapons, technology and investment with no strings attached. And Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, is trying to prove that the kingdom is not just an American client state.
Lawyers for Dominion argue that the claims made by Foxs hosts and guests about its machines and their supposed role in a nonexistent conspiracy to steal votes from Mr. Trump was anything but dispassionate, neutral reporting.

Truth and shared facts form the foundation of a free society  even more so here, its lawyers said in a brief, filed with the court on Thursday. The false idea that Dominion rigged the 2020 presidential election undermines the core of democracy.

It is rare for First Amendment lawyers to side against a media company. But many of them have done just that, arguing that a finding against Fox will send an important message: The law does not protect those who peddle disinformation. And it would help dispel the idea, First Amendment experts said, that libel laws should be rewritten to make it easier to win defamation suits, as Mr. Trump and other conservatives, including Justice Clarence Thomas, have suggested.

In its most recent filings, Dominion argued that the law was more than adequate to find Fox liable.

If this case does not qualify as defamation, then defamation has lost all meaning, Dominion argued in a legal filing made public on Thursday.

But legal experts said that the case would rise or fall not based on how a jury considered lofty concerns about the health of American democracy. Rather, they said, Dominions challenge will be to persuasively argue something far more specific: that Fox News either knowingly broadcast false information or was so reckless that it overlooked obvious evidence pointing to the falsity of the conspiracy theories about Dominion.
Saudi Aramco, the national oil company for Saudi Arabia, reported on Sunday that the company last year had net income of $161.1 billion  a 47 percent increase over 2021 and a record since Aramco started offering shares on the local Tadawuhl stock exchange in 2019.

Aramco generates huge sums for the Saudi government, which owns nearly all of its shares.

The worlds largest oil company, Saudi Aramco is the latest energy giant to report record-busting profits. It is betting that global demand for its oil will continue to be strong despite concerns about climate change. So far, those bets are paying off.

We anticipate oil and gas will remain essential for the foreseeable future, Amin H. Nasser, the companys chief executive, said in a statement.

Reflecting the jump in earnings, Aramco said it would increase its fourth-quarter dividend by 4 percent over the previous year, to $19.5 billion. Overall dividends for 2022 were about $76 billion.
The Biden administration gave formal approval Monday for a huge oil drilling project in Alaska known as Willow, despite widespread opposition because of its likely environmental and climate impacts.

The president is also expected to announce sweeping restrictions on offshore oil leasing in the Arctic Ocean and across Alaskas North Slope in an apparent effort to temper criticism over the Willow decision and, as one administration official put it, to form a firewall to limit future oil leases in the region. The Interior Department said it would issue new rules to block oil and gas leases on more than 13 million of the 23 million acres that form the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

The drilling project would take place inside the petroleum reserve, which is located about 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The reserve, which has no roads, is the countrys largest single expanse of pristine land.

The restrictions, however, are unlikely to offset concerns that the $8 billion Willow project, led by oil giant ConocoPhillips, will have the potential to produce more than 600 million barrels of crude over 30 years.
The federal judge in a closely watched lawsuit that seeks to overturn federal approval of a widely used abortion pill has scheduled the first hearing in the case for this week, but he planned to delay making the public aware of it, according to people familiar with the case.

Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, of the Northern District in Texas, told lawyers in the case on Friday that he was scheduling the hearing for Wednesday morning. However, he asked them not to disclose that information and said he would not enter it into the public court record until late Tuesday evening.

One person familiar with the case, which is being heard in federal court in Amarillo, Texas, said such steps were very irregular, especially for a case of intense public interest.

Judge Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee who has written critically about Roe v. Wade and previously worked for a Christian conservative legal organization, told lawyers in a conference call Friday that he did not want the March 15 hearing to be disrupted, and that he wanted all parties involved to share their points in an orderly fashion, according to people familiar with the discussion.
ALBANY, N.Y.  Even then, the gender imbalance was glaring.

The so-called Million Dollar Staircase, spanning 444 steps and four floors of the New York State Capitol, memorialized the faces of dozens of distinguished figures in delicate carvings, but not one was a woman.

Scrutiny prompted a state official to hastily authorize the addition of several women to the staircases lower level. The year was 1898.

Now, after 125 years, the state will make the first addition to the roster of honorees, and it will again be a woman: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the trailblazing Supreme Court justice, feminist icon and Brooklyn native.
Another former president, Jimmy Carter, who signed the landmark law preserving more than 100 million acres in Alaska, has called that decision not only deeply mistaken but also dangerous. Those protections would be negated if the ruling were upheld, Mr. Carter wrote in a legal brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

An 11-member panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is now reconsidering the decision. A majority of the panel members are Trump appointees.

All of this could be avoided if the Interior secretary, Deb Haaland, would simply stop the land swap with the King Cove Corporation, the Alaskan Native Village corporation that supports the road. And thats what she should do: cancel the deal, immediately. She has the power. The Justice Department, in a letter to the clerk of the Ninth Circuit in 2021, said that it is possible that Secretary Haaland could take action that would render the litigation as a whole moot.

The problem is, the Biden administration has been arguing in court in support of the Interior secretarys authority to make the swap, though it has said that the merits of this land exchange is an issue that remains to be addressed in litigation.

For half a century, King Cove, which has a population of about 800, has sought to build a road about 40 miles long to Cold Bay and its roughly 100 residents. Both communities are accessible only by boat or plane, which is not unusual in Alaska. King Cove has a large fish processing plant. Cold Bay has a leftover World War II airport with a two-mile runway that can handle cargo planes with enough range to ship fresh salmon to Asia and the Lower 48.
By the end of the year, New York will join nine states and nearly 20 others that offer mobile driver's licenses to its residents.

Mark Schroeder, commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles, revealed during a budget hearing in February that his agency is developing mobile driver's licenses and plans to implement them later this year.

There was no other discussion about mobile driver's licenses at the hearing. A DMV spokesperson confirmed that mobile driver's licenses are in the development phase but that it's "too early in the process to talk about where or how it might be used."

Mobile driver's licenses, or mDLs, are digital forms of identification. Michael McCaskill, director of identity management for the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, told The Citizen that his organization has been working on mdL-related projects since 2012. Those efforts contributed to the International Organization for Standardization's adoption of a standard for mDL specifications in 2021. That standard is now being used by states to implement the digital driver's licenses.

State case studies

The Citizen interviewed officials from two states, Maryland and Utah, to learn more about their implementation of mobile driver's licenses.

Ryan Williams, who is the information technology and quality assurance manager for the Utah Department of Safety's Driver License Division, said his state began exploring an mDL option in 2016. It was three years later, in 2019, that state lawmakers passed a bill that launched the process for creating mDLs.

For Utah, it was a quick timeline for implementation. A request for information was issued in 2020, followed by a request for proposals in 2021. Last year, the state completed its pilot program and advanced production of the mDL.

One advantage Utah had was that the mDL standard had been adopted so it could develop its digital ID based on those parameters. Once they were ready to deploy the technology, they opted for what Williams called an "ecosystem-based pilot." They included businesses in the pilot program so that users would have a place to test whether their mDLs worked.

Maryland took a similar approach, according to Christine Nizer, administrator of the state Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Administration. She said the state initiated a digital driver's license pilot program in 2017 with about 500 participants  department employees and their family members. During that process, they gathered feedback from businesses that require age verification, such as casinos and liquor stores.

The key difference between Maryland and Utah is how they implemented the mDLs. Maryland opted for a digital wallet-based solution  offering mDLs through Apple Wallet. While you must have an Apple device to add the mDL to your wallet, Nizer said more than 130,000 Maryland residents are current mobile ID users. The state is planning to offer its digital ID on Google Play.

Utah, which has about 14,000 mDL users, chose to partner with a third-party vendor to develop an app where the digital license is stored. The app is available on Apple's App Store and Google Play.

The options may be different, but both states say the sign-up process is easy. In Utah, users download the app and then scan the front and back of their physical driver's license. They must fill out a form and then complete a likeness detection that confirms they are the license holder. From beginning to end, Williams said users can finish getting their mDLs in two to three minutes.

To sign up for an mDL in Maryland, the process is the same. You must have your physical license and a likeness verification is performed to confirm it's your ID. That information is reviewed, Nizer said, and users will either be approved for the digital license or asked to submit additional verification. Once enrollment is completed, users can access the mDL in their Apple Wallet.

Privacy

One concern raised about this fairly new technology is whether a user's privacy is protected.

As more states adopt mDLs, it is an issue that is being watched by Alexis Hancock, director of engineering at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an organization that focuses on digital privacy and other matters.

One of her concerns based on early discussions about mDLs is the pressure users face to get a digital license even if they don't want one.

"We believe there's a right to paper always and there shouldn't be a case or a matter where it should be a problem to present a physical driver's license," Hancock said.

In Maryland and Utah, mDLs are optional. Drivers are still issued a physical license.

Hancock also worried about adding a driver's license to devices that already store huge amounts of information. That, she said, can increase the risk of harm in certain situations.

Proponents of mDLs believe they offer more privacy and security than physical licenses. McCaskill said mDLs put the user in charge of how much information is provided when they present a digital license.

"They can always back out of a transaction before they share data," he said. "Even though the devices are connected, they are always in control."

In Utah, Williams offered this slogan, "It's not what you show. It's what you share."

"That was one of our big keys," he said. "You're not showing a picture to anybody. You're sharing information digitally through an encrypted transaction."

The digital licenses are not replicas of the physical licenses. With mDLs, there are controls for users to deploy in certain situations, such as when they are purchasing alcohol and a cashier needs to confirm their age. Instead of showing their physical license with all of their information, the mDL allows them to show their photo and confirmation that they meet the age requirement. No other information is displayed.

McCaskill thinks mDLs are better than traditional licenses because of that feature.

"You're not giving them everything," he said. "You're giving them what you want them to have... What they're doing is implementing a solution that's better than their physical solution but the relying parties are able to trust it and accept it."

What's next?

It's one thing to have an mDL. It's another to be able to use it.

Utah addressed this early on by including businesses, such as banks and grocery stores, in its testing. Businesses have easy access to verifiers  like mDLs, the verifiers used to check digital licenses are available as an app.

Mobile driver's licenses can be used elsewhere. In Maryland and Utah, the states have partnered with the Transportation Security Administration to allow the use of mDLs at airport checkpoints.

McCaskill and his team at the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators are working on a pilot program that would allow relying parties  businesses, government agencies and other entities that would need to verify an mDL  access to the public keys for each state's digital ID. AAMVA is compiling the list of public keys that would be available for relying parties.

Continuing education is important. With more states rolling out mDLs, there will be questions about security and how the digital IDs are used. But those tasked with overseeing the deployment of mDLs believe they are a good option for their constituents.

"We want our customers to have control of their own data," Nizer said. "(Mobile licenses) really provides that because you're only sharing the information that's necessary for that transaction... Controlling information in that way really puts the power back in the customer's hands."
After decades of giddy globalization, the pendulum is swinging back to the nation.

These days, all the talk is about bringing the supply chains home. Congress just passed a nearly $400 billion bill intended to increase domestic production, aid in a green energy transition and reduce foreign dependence. Pundits have declared the dawn of a new era  the age of economic nationalism.

But what if globalization has progressed so far that it exists even within national borders, and we just havent had the right lenses to see it?

We are mistaken if we see the world only in the jigsaw map of nations, or take globalism and nationalism as binaries. The modern world is pockmarked, perforated, tattered and jagged, ripped up and pinpricked. Inside the containers of nations are unusual legal spaces, anomalous territories and peculiar jurisdictions. There are city-states, havens, enclaves, free ports, high-tech parks, duty-free districts and innovation hubs linking to other similar entities worldwide and often bypassing the usual system of customs controls. Without understanding these entities, we risk failing to understand not just how capitalism works but all the continuities between the past and present eras.

The geographic curiosities named above can be bundled under the common label of the zone. At its most basic, the zone is an enclave freed from ordinary forms of regulation. The usual powers of taxation are often suspended within their borders, letting investors effectively dictate their own rules. Zones are both of the host state and distinct from it. They come in a bewildering range of varieties  at least 82 by one official reckoning. At last count, the world hosts over 5,400 zones, about 30 times more than the total number of sovereign states.
To the Editor:

Re The Power of Art in a Political Age, by David Brooks (column, March 5):

Like Mr. Brooks, I often feel that Im in a daily struggle not to become a shallower version of myself. As a teenager, I lose track of my own thoughts in the flood of videos and headlines. Also like Mr. Brooks, I turn to art to quiet these imposing distractions.

However, I have found myself doubting whether art is worthwhile. Despite the wonder I feel when experiencing art, I often find myself questioning the merit of spending any time reveling in paintings or poems when I could be spending all my energy working at things that have a greater visible impact.

But then I remember, as Mr. Brooks has reminded me, that to experience art is to feel your aliveness in a tangible way. So thank you, Mr. Brooks, for reminding me that sometimes, as the poet Mary Oliver says, You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves  that I can let myself love art and know it is a beautiful act in and of itself.

Grace Anne Jones

Santa Cruz, Calif.

To the Editor:

David Brooks cites the strong feelings we have when experiencing a profound and meaningful work of art. Therefore, as a lifelong arts administrator, I am always dismayed by the lack of respect and funding our field must grapple with on a daily basis.
The Constitution of the United States, properly interpreted, provides a marvelous method for handling social conflict. It empowers an elected government to enact even contentious new rules while protecting the most fundamental human rights of dissenting citizens. Political defeat is never total defeat. Losers of a given election still possess their basic civil liberties, and the combination of the right to speak and the right to vote provides them concrete hope for their preferred political outcomes.

But if a government both enacts contentious policies and diminishes the civil liberties of its current ideological opponents, then it sharply increases the stakes of political conflict. It breaks the social compact by rendering political losers, in effect, second-class citizens. A culture war waged against the civil liberties of your political opponents inflicts a double injury on dissenters: They dont merely lose a vote; they also lose a share of their freedom.

Thats exactly whats happening now. The culture war is coming for American liberty  in red states and blue alike. The examples are legion. Lets start with Americas progressive strongholds. On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the State of California would not renew a multimillion-dollar contract with Walgreens  not because Walgreens had failed to comply with its contractual obligations but rather because it had responded to Republican legal warnings and decided not to dispense an abortion pill in 21 red states. Newsom used his political power to punish a corporate position he opposed.
We need a stronger stockpile of high-quality protective gear.

Our national supply of personal protective equipment, or PPE, was far too small in the first months of Covid, especially when it came to masks. We need a far stronger and more resilient approach. The U.S. supply chain is still quite vulnerable to disruption because we rely on so many single-use products that have components from around the world, which many countries will be seeking at the same time in a pandemic. 

We must be in a position in which health care workers and all essential workers can obtain very high-quality masks quickly. This means shifting at least a substantial portion of our national high-filtration-mask supply away from disposable single-use ones to reusable respirators that can be worn repeatedly and safely.

We need to seriously change our approach to indoor air quality.

Just as we expect clean water from our spigots, we should have cleaner air moving through our buildings. Better filters, more outdoor air intake and new technologies to diminish pathogen burden should all be part of the plan  these things are key for future pandemics and for lessening the toll of viruses overall. The Biden administration made substantial funding available for schools to increase ventilation, but many schools have not made these investments. The administration also began an effort to improve indoor air in buildings across the country, but most of the implementation of that plan depends on local decision makers, building owners and operators, and better building codes.

We need stronger research oversight and lab safety.

It is still not clear what caused the Covid pandemic, and resolving that uncertainty would require new information and data. But even without knowing what the proximal cause of Covid was, we should resolve nationally  and internationally   to operate labs with lethal and contagious viruses in the safest possible ways.

We need strong government oversight of that kind of work, with a framework that balances proposed benefits with major risks. A White House and National Institutes of Health review of these policies is underway now, and there are many important changes that if adopted would make U.S. policy and practice much safer and more effective on these issues.
After Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany told Parliament that the attack was a Zeitenwende  a historic turning point for Europe and Germany. The risk of a large land war in Europe had previously been considered far-fetched, but recent years of Russian aggression have inspired fear in Germany and a 100-billion-euro fund to bolster its military.

In Germany, skepticism of the merits of military strength has enabled a long post-Cold War process of disarmament. As a result, it is a historic anomaly in the heart of Europe  an economic leviathan but a military minnow. Now German leaders are vowing to transform the country into a military power capable of taking responsibility for Europes security.

In Nienburg, a medieval town in Lower Saxony, civilians come to train for homeland protection units in the countrys reserves. The question is whether a hesitant German society can follow through on this paradigm shift.
Ryan McCarty, the Cincinnati branch director for the employment agency Robert Half, was away from home for 13 hours a day before the pandemic, including evening events and his 45-minute commute. Now he works from home, which he said has enabled him to be there for his two toddlers for meals, doctor visits and milestones. One took his first steps in the middle of a weekday morning. Mr. McCarty is there in a video of it, in a button-down shirt and sweatpants, having run out from his home office to witness it.

For the longest time, it was: The male is the provider, he said. I was that guy. But now Im not ashamed to say this is who I am in my life. Thats what Covid did. We had a lot of downtime to reflect and think about whats important.

As a recruiter, he has noticed that men now regularly ask about flexibility. A recent client told him that his priority was meeting his child at the bus at 3:30 p.m., and that hed give up pay to do that.

You would never have heard that out of anybodys mouth, he said. Never. And now its commonplace. Its not a sign of weakness anymore.

Ben Campbell, the father of two daughters under 5 in Smithville, Texas, got used to spending time with his children during the day when his sales job went remote at the start of the pandemic. So in a later job, when a boss commented on how often he had parenting obligations, he responded, Yeah, and thats not going to change.

He said it makes a big difference that his current employer, AffiniPay, is led by a mother who talks to staff about juggling work and family. He now works from home four days a week, and his wife is also remote. On breaks, they run child-related errands, or their children show them the artwork they made with their nanny. They couldnt imagine giving that up if they worked in offices full-time.
The detectives would arrive soon, so Thomas Klaber made deli sandwiches and coffee at his Cleveland home as he wondered what new information they had about the killing of his younger sister more than four decades ago.

Detective Coy Cox of the Boone County Sheriffs Office in Kentucky pulled up a chair.

We have the ultimate answer in the case, and were going to share that with you, the detective recalled telling Mr. Klaber. Ill tell you as little or as much as you want to know.

Mr. Klaber, who had volunteered in June 1976 to identify the body of his 16-year-old sister, Carol Sue Klaber  a moment that has tortured him ever since  did not hesitate.

I want to hear it, he said.

On Wednesday, about a week after informing Mr. Klaber, the sheriffs office announced that it had solved a cold case that had thrust the Klaber family into a decades-long tangle of mystery and frustration after Ms. Klaber was sexually assaulted and killed in Kentucky in 1976.
He has also represented one of the fake electors who tried to circumvent Mr. Bidens narrow victory in Georgia. And he was a lawyer for David Perdue, a Republican former United States Senator, during Mr. Perdues unsuccessful run for governor last year.

Mr. Cheeley appeared at the State Senate hearing on Dec. 30, 2020, the last of three legislative hearings that month about the election at which Mr. Giuliani appeared in person or remotely. In each of the hearings, Mr. Giuliani and other Trump allies laid out a broad array of baseless allegations that the election had been stolen.

John C. Eastman, another Trump lawyer, for example, erroneously claimed at one of the hearings that as many as 66,000 underaged individuals were allowed to register in Georgia. A review by The New York Times found only about a dozen Georgians on the 2020 voter rolls who were listed in state records as having been 16 at the time, but even those cases appeared most likely to be data-entry errors.

We talked a lot about December and things that happened in the Georgia legislature, Ms. Kohrs said of the special grand jurys deliberations.

Ms. Kohrs, who gave a brief flurry of interviews last month but has not publicly commented since then, said that the special grand jury had recommended indicting at least a dozen people. Its recommendations were delivered in a final report in January, most of which remains sealed. The report is now in the hands of Fani T. Willis, the district attorney for the Atlanta area, who has been leading the investigation for the last two years.

Ms. Willis will make her own decisions about who, if anyone, she will seek to indict, and will then need to go before a regular grand jury to secure those indictments.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, delivering his strongest public rebuke yet to the president who made him his running mate, said on Saturday night that history will hold Donald Trump accountable for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, which he called a disgrace.

The annual Gridiron Club Dinner in Washington is usually a venue for lighthearted ribbing between political figures, government officials and the districts media veterans, but Mr. Pence used the occasion on Saturday to dig into Mr. Trump at a moment when conservative media commentators and some Republicans in Congress have again tried to dismiss the seriousness of the Capitol riot.

Tourists dont injure 140 police officers by sightseeing, Mr. Pence said, according to media reports from the event, an implicit rebuke of the Fox News host Tucker Carlson and other conservatives who have used selective security camera footage to reframe the riot as a largely peaceful demonstration. Thousands of hours of that footage was released to Mr. Carlson by the House speaker, Kevin McCarthy of California. Tourists dont break down doors to get to the speaker of the House or voice threats against public officials.

And Mr. Pence made his reprimand of Mr. Trump personal when he said, President Trump was wrong; I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day. And I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable.
The predictions proved accurate. According to the Northern Territory police, commercial breaks-ins, property damage, assaults related to domestic violence and alcohol-related assaults all rose by about or by more than 50 percent from 2021 to 2022. Australia does not break down crime data by race, but politicians and Aboriginal groups themselves have attributed the increase largely to Indigenous people.

This was a preventable situation, said Donna Ah Chee, the chief executive of one of these organizations, the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress. It was Aboriginal women, families and children that were actually paying the price, she added.

The organization was among those that called for a resumption of the ban as an immediate step while long-term solutions were developed to address the underlying drivers of destructive drinking. Ms. Ah Chee said she considered the policy to be positive discrimination in protecting those most vulnerable.

What Indigenous leaders on all sides of the debate agreed on was that long-term strategies were needed to address the complex disadvantages facing Indigenous communities.

The problems in Alice Springs were caused by decades of failing to listen to Indigenous people, said William Tilmouth, an Aboriginal elder. The answers, he added, would be found when politicians and the public looked beyond the alcohol. What they will find is people with voice, strength and solutions waiting to be heard.
"Ba-day-duz." Thats how my Nana said "potatoes." And we thought it was hilarious. We reeled with laughter in our kitchen chairs. Mom and Dad may have smirked, but we kids roared. Still do today. Nana didnt have a brogue. She was second generation Irish. With a few exceptions and her saying "Ba-day-duz," the accent had faded.

When we drove from Auburn and visited her in Hornell, I slept in her big bed with the carved headboard. Slept is the wrong word really. With the bedroom door ajar and the living room light gliding in and landing on my covers, I was wide awake listening to the adults talking. "Oh aya, aya," Nana said to this or that. Dad was in the arm chair, Mom on the couch and Nana held court sitting in what she called a "carpet chair." Back and forth they went to the kitchen, cracking ice cubes yanked from screeching aluminum trays and filling glasses. Mom liked her Coca-Cola. Nana ginger ale, I think. Dad had his beer. It might have been Old Ranger, the local beer in Hornell.

Potatoes and beer. Isnt that what comes to mind first when thinking things Irish? Poetry and parades come in second. Out there is Beckett wondering if Godot will arrive today or tomorrow. Frank McCourt on ship with his mother Angela, leaving Brooklyn and shoeless returning to Limerick. And James Joyce with his Dubliners and his 677-page "Ulysses." And Yeats ...

But I being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

OK. OK. OK. Lets get to what really matters Irish. Who did throw the overalls into Mistress Murphys Chowder? Like Godots arrival, the answer remains moot.

Dad loved taking us on Sunday drives. Do Dads still do that? Driving around country roads on a Sunday afternoon, going nowhere special. Just seeing what was over the next hill. The map stayed in the glove compartment. Five antsy kids would be loaded into the station wagon. Three were in the back seat; the middle of the back being the worst. "I called a window!" they yelled before I remembered to. One huddled in the "way-back" and a toddler perched on Moms lap. Sometimes Dad would take us down the east side of Skaneateles Lake. (Is there a prettier drive on earth?) We would stop at an old schoolhouse. Theres me with my Brownie camera. On longer car trips, egg salad sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, chocolate milk and bananas were packed. A picnic table was found. And we ran around before we got back in the wagon. And got going again.

On a favorite drive to Sempronius, there was and still is a road named Curtin Road. Dad wondered if that road had any connection to his grandmother, Mary Curtin OConnor. This was a lifetime before the internet or Ancestry.com showed up and he passed before they arrived. Oh, how he would have enjoyed scrolling through Ancestry.com.

I picked up the torch. His wondering proved correct. In 1882, Mary Curtin OConnor from Knockogno Brosna, Kerry, immigrated here with her husband Timothy, her mother Margaret Curtin and two of what would become the oldest of her eight children. Living in Wellsville, they farmed and worked on the railroad. My grandfather Leo OConnor was the first born in America.

On Ancestry, there is a message system. A "Leaf" it is called. Someone who I was connecting with, who for some reason I assumed was from Australia, asked me where I went to high school. "Mount Carmel, Auburn, NY, and I still have my saddle shoes," I wrote back. "I was your Sister Anne Hilary," she replied.

Sister Anne Hilary was my 1970 American history teacher at Carmel and now we find out that we are long lost cousins. Her Curtin ancestors lived in Castleisland, Kerry, a stone's throw from mine in Brosna, Kerry. She was a Curtin. Her family had lived in Sempronius on Curtin Road. In the 1940s, she attended The Octagon, the one room red schoolhouse in Skaneateles located on the corner of Benson and West Lake Road. Now known as Anne Emperor, she put together a worldwide Curtin Family Reunion one summer and our distant cousins traveled here from Australia.

Dubliner Oscar Wilde wrote in his play "The Importance of Being Earnest": I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train. Not in a train, but sitting here in my kitchen, I open my own diary, when on Friday night, March 17, 1967, I wrote at the bottom of the page:

"Mom, Dad, Grangers, Kennys and Kiernans went to St. Pat's dance at Holy Family. I polished my nails green for Saint Pats Day."

So cool. I thought. I had taken a bottle of pearl white nail polish and added green food coloring and painted my nails. Why I was doing that when St. Patricks Day was almost over, Ill never know. When Sunday night rolled around, Mom gave me the nail polish remover. But. It wouldn't come off. Even scrubs with Brillo didn't work. The green dye had seeped into my nails. At Monday morning school prayers, I rolled down my fingers in case Sister Robert saw what I had done. She saw. Sister Robert saw everything. The green still lingered on my fingers at my eighth grade graduation that June. Havent done it since. Looking at the colors at Miracle Nails on Owasco Street, there are a number of green shades. Even glittering emerald green. Thinking about it.
In Eastern Europe, Ukrainians are in the trenches. Farther west, European capitals are grappling with a new order in which war is no longer theoretical. Yet, tucked away in the heart of the continent, the Swiss are fretting over loftier ideals.

In Switzerlands capital, nestled beneath snow-capped mountains, inside parliamentary chambers of stained glass and polished wood, the debate is over the countrys vaunted legacy of neutrality  and what neutrality even means in a new era of war for Europe.

Switzerland, it turns out, has an arms industry that makes badly needed ammunition for some of the weapons that Europeans have supplied to Ukraine, as well as some of the Leopard 2 main battle tanks they have promised.

But it also has strict rules on where those weapons can go  namely a law, now the subject of heated debate, that bans any nation that purchases Swiss arms from sending them to the party of a conflict, like Ukraine.
Months after Russian soldiers were driven out of Kupiansk, Ukrainian authorities are stepping up efforts to evacuate civilians from the town in the Kharkiv region of northeast Ukraine amid relentless Russian shelling.

Ukrainian troops routed Russian forces from much of the Kharkiv region when they mounted a rapid counteroffensive in September that ended months of occupation and helped shift the momentum of the conflict in Kyivs favor.

But since then, Moscows forces have made it impossible for Ukraine to restore everyday life in the reclaimed areas. Russian troops have continued to pound parts of the region close to the front lines, including Kupiansk, with artillery.

Aside from the impact on civilians, the attacks prevent Ukraine from redeploying troops stationed in those areas to other parts of the battlefield, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a research organization based in Washington.
When a powerful earthquake struck southern Turkey last month, a lawyer concluded that her relatives had been buried in the rubble of their collapsed apartment.

Three days later, rescue workers recovered the bodies of her mother and brother, she said, but days, then weeks, then a month passed with no sign of her father. His disappearance plunged her into a terrifying mystery faced by families across the quake zone whose loved ones are still missing.

I cant find my father anywhere in the world  not under the rubble, not in the hospitals, not anywhere, said the lawyer, Mervat Nasri, who is from Syria.

Five weeks after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake and a powerful aftershock struck southern Turkey, killing 47,000 people, many others remain unaccounted for, adding ambiguity to the temblors complete toll and leaving families in an agonizing limbo. More than 6,000 people were also killed across the border in northern Syria.
February 18, 2021 would have been Toni Morrisons 90th birthday. As we approach the anniversary of a global pandemic that has changed our lives in every way, it seems a fine time to dive back into the world of Toni Morrison. The questions she asked in a 2002 lecture seem wholly relevant now, almost 20 years later: To what do we pay greatest allegiance? Family, language group, culture, country, gender? Religion, race? And if none of these matter, are we urbane, cosmopolitan, or simply lonely? In other words, how do we decide where we belong? What convinces us that we do?

In everything Morrison wrote, she offered narratives that revealed the journeys of characters, specific but universal, flawed and imperfect, with a deeply American desire for freedom and adventure. One might say that because her characters were almost exclusively African-American, the quest to be free  in mind, body and spirit  was the consistent adventure. She was also a masterful crafter of windows; when you opened a book of hers, the worlds you entered were so rich with detail, you could feel the molecules around you change as if youd just taken a long flight and were descending onto the tarmac in a town or city where youd never been.

Ill say this. Reading Morrison can be daunting. She won the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was, and will remain for lifetimes to come, one of the finest writers to craft narrative in the English language. As Dwight Garner wrote when she died in 2019, Morrison had a superfluity of gifts and, like few other writers of her era, bent language to her will. Her prose could be lush, or raw and demotic, or carefree and eccentric, often on a single page. She filtered folklore, biblical rhythms, dreams, choral voices and a steep awareness of history into her work. In the best of her 11 novels  she transmuted the basic matter of existence into profound works of art.

One of the greatest joys of Toni Morrisons work is knowing that you will never get it all on the first read. In her Nobel Prize speech, she famously said, We know you can never do it properly  once and for all. Passion is never enough, neither is skill. But try.

She was talking, ostensibly, about writing and writers. But I think it also applies to readers, her readers in particular, the millions of people around the world who have read and re-read her books. To read Toni Morrison is to know that from her brilliant opening lines to the stunning last pages that leave you shook that you will likely never match her wit and wisdom, but what joy there is in trying!

As someone who had the privilege of interviewing her several times over the last decade of her life, I think I can say with confidence that she wanted all of us  intellectuals and romance readers, book club aficionados and those of us who binge TV more than books  to get in where we fit in. Creatively, Toni Morrison set a large and lavish table of literature. If youre new to her work, or havent read her in a long while, here are some thoughts about where to start.
This is part of a series on preparing for future outbreaks. Sign up for The Next Pandemic newsletter.

Its been three years since the Covid-19 pandemic began, and yet many aspects of how to best respond to a novel virus remain unsettled or fiercely debated.

The next currently unknown virus that could cause a pandemic  what the World Health Organization calls Disease X  may be different from Covid, requiring a different set of tools and a different level of response. As Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, outlines in a guest essay, public health leaders sometimes participate in simulations where they are asked to make decisions based on limited information about Disease X, as they would at the beginning of any pandemic.

We asked a group of experts to take part in a scaled-down Disease X simulation to show readers the diversity in views on how to best respond to pandemic threats  quickly, with little detail, as they would likely have to in a real-world situation. We gave the experts a few parameters, and asked them to briefly address specific questions they may be asked by local leaders if such a virus were to emerge and spread in their communities.

As youll see, not everyone agrees. We hope to show that experts with policy-making experience and similar goals can come to different conclusions and advise different strategies.
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The latest election in the UK promised to bring about a long-overdue end to the Brexit story. Getting out the EU has been a long..

Eurasia Review 15 Jan 2020
Even if you dont come from Irish heritage, St. Patricks Day is an opportunity for anyone to get all dressed up in green, wear a Kiss Me, Im Irish tee and head out into town to taste some Irish beer and food. Flagstaff has some golden  pun intended  events and specials lined up this year.

Food & Drinks

St. Patricks Day is most often celebrated through Irish food and drink. Whether that be Irish soda bread or green beer  Flagstaff has the bases covered.

The Shamrock Shuffle Bar Crawl

The third annual Shamrock Shuffle Bar Crawl by Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance is on Saturday, March 18 this year. This crawl starts off at Uptown Pubhouse where patrons can check in, receive a lanyard and drink tokens. At this annual bar crawl, Flagstaff drinkers (age 21 and over) can check out local bars, have access to special events and St. Patricks Day themed drinks to celebrate the holiday. Theres also a Karaoke After Party at The Gopher Hole from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The fun doesnt stop there  the night ends at The Orpheum with the Getting Lucked Up dance party featuring music by BGNFTY. Tickets for the bar crawl are $18-20 and the first 50 tickets come with a Shamrock Shuffle T-Shirt. Learn more at the Downtown Business Alliance website.

The Annex Cocktail Lounge

The Annex Cocktail Lounge will offer Irish whiskey sours and traditional reuben sandwiches starting at 4 p.m.

Events

St. Patricks Day can be celebrated in so many different ways and that is proven with Flagstaffs event lineup.

Uptown Pubhouse

Uptown Pubhouse is hosting an Irish You Were Here Trivia Extravaganza on March 8 at 7:30 p.m. At this event, there will be a monthly trivia show of questions, drink specials and fun. To learn more, head over to their Facebook page.

The Orpheum

On March 17, The Orpheum will have INZO with support by Rome In Silver and Align Lock. On March 18, as mentioned above, The Orpheum is hosting a Getting Lucked Up dance party with music by BGNFTY. There will also be golden drink specials offered at this event. For tickets and more information, head over to The Orpheums website.

Yucca North

If Irish music isnt your thing but you still want to go out and drink, theres another event happening during St. Pattys weekend. Yucca North is hosting Pop Punk Emo Night on March 18 at 8 p.m. To learn more, head over to Yucca Norths website.
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Britain's biggest high street banks have been given a 24-hour deadline to rescue Silicon Valley Bank UK (SVB UK) from collapse as the Bank of England prepares to place it into an insolvency process.
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Police in Moldova say they have arrested members of a Moscow-orchestrated network that was seeking to destabilize the former Soviet country.
100 years ago

1923: Everything points to unusually good times for Flagstaff during this coming spring and summer. The lumber mills are working full-blast, with a lot of orders ahead, and it is possible it will not be long before they go on double shift. There is paving to be finished here this spring, with a payroll that cant help but brighten things up a bit.

Work on the new city high school will not be completed before the middle or latter part of summer, and there is a good-sized payroll in connection with that. Building of the Flagstaff-Angell section of the National Old Trails will soon begin. This will greatly help swell the tide of business.

The improvement work to be done on the new city recreation park, including the building of grandstand and dance hall, ball grounds, racetrack and a dam for the new lake will help some more. Many of the improvements being designed, right next to the tourist campgrounds, are to make the tourists more comfortable and happy. These tourists will make longer stays here, and more and more of them, as the word goes out among them that we have the best camping grounds in the United States, will make it a point to stop here as long as possible.

75 years ago

1948: Our club is unanimously opposed to the paroling of Granville Johnson, serving a life term in Arizona prison for the murder of his wife in 1926, the Soroptimist club of Flagstaff notified Walter Hoffman, chairman of the board of pardons and paroles, today. Johnson was sentenced in Coconino County Superior Court to receive the death penalty for the hatchet-murder of his wife in Williams. This was later commuted to life in prison.

It is the sense of members of this club that, since he was given the death penalty -- which was later commuted to life imprisonment -- that he should be forced to serve out his sentence in full for his heinous crime.

The first archaeological expedition directed by the Museum of Northern Arizona since before the war will take place this summer, Dr. Harold S. Colton, director, announced today. The expedition has been made possible by a gift of money from a friend of the museum whose name has not been released.

The expedition will spend a month and a half excavating some small 12th-and 13th-century Indian dwelling sites east of Flagstaff, and another month and a half at the museum laboratory working on the excavated material.

50 years ago

1973: A door that was never locked cost a Flagstaff woman some $300 in sound equipment and recordings early today. City patrolman Mott said the woman told him she returned home after midnight and found that her stereo set plus 30 to 40 recordings were missing. The burglars apparently had gained entrance to the womans residence by means of a door that the victim told the police was never locked.

An important Senate hearing is scheduled tomorrow at Winslow. The topic of discussion is 1.8 million acres of land jointly used by Navajo and Hopi tribes. Last year, Congressman Sam Steiger, in whose district the land lies, introduced a bill in Congress to divide the land equally. It passed the House but died in a Senate committee. As an outgrowth of that measure, the Senate decided to have a hearing on the problem. Two proposals to aid in settling the dispute were presented to U.S. District Court Judge James A. Walsh. One plan calls for reducing the number of Navajo livestock currently grazing on the joint-use land. The other provides for a division of income-producing leases between the two tribes. Steigers proposal has drawn the fire of Navajo leaders. They object to it because it would require relocation of many Navajos living on the joint-use land. The official Hopi leaders are in favor of the division of the land. Traditional Hopi leaders oppose it. Last year the problem provoked violence. If left unchecked, it may provoke more.

25 years ago

1998: Gimme structure! Or so the parents and teachers at South Beaver Elementary School appear to be saying in applauding the conversion of South Beaver into a magnet school next year emphasizing academics, technology and building character. The first category seems obvious. The second presumably means computers, and the earlier their child is exposed to them the better, say many parents. If it takes being designated a magnet school to put academics and technology on the front burner, perhaps more schools should apply. Its the third category  building character  that has the South Beaver community excited. Students will wear uniforms, the better to instill school spirit and resist peer pressure. Playgrounds will get student mediators. Parents will sign performance and behavior contracts with the school. Are uniforms the answer to what ails schools? For starters, we dont think a lot ails Flagstaff schools compared with their counterparts in large urban districts or isolated rural ones. But we applaud the South Beaver stakeholders for their engagement with their school and their willingness to try a new approach. Change can be threatening, and we hope the parents, teachers and students stick together long enough to give the changes a fair test.

Mediation between the victims of a school bus crash and the Flagstaff Unified School District has settled nine lawsuits and brought three more close to settlement. But the two most serious cases are still not close to being settled and might end up back in court. Fifteen claims amounting to about $52 million stem from an Aug. 14, 1996, crash on Interstate 17, in which the driver was injured and all 31 Sinagua High School students were en route from Mountainaire on the first day of school. A lawyer for one of the litigants said he intends to take the lawsuit back to court because the school district isnt being reasonable. A lawyer for the schools said the school districts insurance policy doesnt have enough money to meet the demand.
Eurasia Review 31 Mar 2023

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The landmark pact of AUKUS signals the gravity of security challenges in the region, which finally has jolted the West out of its..
The EU on Saturday welcomed an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations.



The European Union welcomes the announced agreement on resumption of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and looks forward to its implementation, said Peter Stano,...
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After 38 cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, and released hazardous materials into the area, residents of Flagstaff  where roughly 100 trains pass through each day  have been wondering: What if it happened here?

First, a few statistics about train derailments. According to the Federal Rail Administration (FRA), in 2022 there were 1,168 train derailments in the U.S.  about average for the last 10 years. In the same year, the FRA tracked 5,933 cars carrying hazardous material (hazmat), and 10 releases of hazmat across the country.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF)  the railway that runs through Flagstaff  reports that more than 99.9% of rail hazmat shipments reach their destination without a release caused by a train accident. It also reports that tens of billions of dollars in private investment to improve rail track and equipment, as well as develop and implement new safety-enhancing technologies, have helped drive rail hazmat accident rates down 55% since 2012.

That's not to say derailments don't happen. Flagstaff has seen two derailments in recent years. One was in 2018 and another occurred in 2019.

Still, compared to other transportation methods such as shipping by truck on interstate highways, rail is the safest way to transport [hazardous] materials, said Josh Crane, public information officer for the Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD).

That being said, if a hazardous material train derailment did happen in or around Flagstaff, FFD would be among the first responders.

The City of Flagstaff has 18 certified hazmat technicians who have been trained and gone through schooling on how to deal with these issues, Crane reported.

These city responders would be joined by BNSF emergency response teams, which are stationed along railways and ready for deployment 24/7.

They'll have teams who are able to respond within two to three hours, sometimes shorter, Crane said.

Crane explained that one of the first tasks once on the scene would be identifying what kind of hazmat  if any  is present in the derailment. To that end, city teams are equipped with an app capable of identifying each railcar and its cargo. As a backup, BNSF teams  and their manifests  will be in communication immediately.

FFD hazmat teams are equipped with texts and apps that identify the properties of any chemical in question.

We have apps that will tell us what the chemical is, what its boiling point is  basically everything about the chemical or the product, and then how we as a fire department, and our hazmat technicians are going to treat that situation," Crane said.

The qualities of the hazmat involved determine the response, Crane explained, and sometimes that can put first responders in the position of choosing between the lesser of two evils.

That was likely the case for the East Palestine incident, said FFD Captain Keith Cashatt. He explained that in the case of a chemical like vinyl chloride  which the derailed Norfolk Southern train was carrying  impingent of flame causes polymerization that in turn would build up pressure inside the tanker car.

You can only imagine, you have 11 tanks and they're increasing in pressure because the inhibitor has broken down because of the heat that was on it, Cashatt said. So now you have 11 pressure bombs.

Explosions from pressurized chemical tankers are a serious risk, Cashatt said, capable of sending blast waves and shrapnel long distances. There are multiple types of pressure explosions, one of which is known as a BLEVE  short for boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion.

Northern Arizona has experienced a BLEVE on the rails. In 1973, a leaking propane tanker in Kingman ignited from static electricity, and the resulting BLEVE produced a fireball 1,000 feet in diameter. The shock wave was heard and felt across a 5-mile radius and 16 firefighters were killed.

There were people that were a mile away that suffered flash burns just from the concussion, Cashatt said of the 1973 Kingman explosion.

Suffice to say, when it comes to pressurized rail tankers, allowing them to explode  let alone 11 of them  could be running the risk of leveling the entire community, Cashatt said. The choice made in East Palestine was to conduct a controlled release of the pressurizing chemicals, creating a lesser evil against the threat of explosion.

If Flagstaff first responders had to make similar decision, there are a number of factors that would be considered. This is where the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) -- which would have been called at the outset of the incident -- would come into greater play.

The ADEQ is capable of modeling how a chemical plume would respond in any relevant conditions such as wind, humidity, topography and more. This modeling would then inform exactly how the controlled release of a chemical would be conducted  and the necessary evacuations zones, if applicable.

After the initial emergency response, the ADEQ would also play a large role in the long-term recovery. A hazmat incident response can be broken into two categories, said Sam Beckett, chair of Coconino Countys Emergency Response Commission. The initial emergency response described above, then the long-term recovery operation that would be conducted by an Emergency Operations Support Center (EOSC).

The EOSC is where most of the bigger items get coordinated, Beckett said. Coordination with ADEQ, the Environmental Protection Agency, and others.

Similar to modeling winds in the event of an airborne release of hazmat, the EOSC would also model possibilities such as the potential for groundwater contamination through drainages  a risk factor that Flagstaff is exceptionally well prepared to track.

Our region has been fortunate and unfortunate with all of our fires in that we've received funding to get all of our floodplains mapped, Beckett said. So we would have access to that data fairly easily.

Beckett explained that in both the initial and long-term response to a hazmat incident, there is a tight, well-trained network of communication between the city, county, state and private agencies. Whether the incident be hazmat, earthquake, or even terrorist attack, we do regional planning exercises all the time between different agencies and jurisdictions within Coconino County, Beckett said.

So if there were an incident, wed know who to call, he added.

Receiving information

But who would call the people of Flagstaff to let them know about something like a hazmat incident? There are multiple channels through which citizens should expect to receive information.

In the lights and sirens phase of an emergency, Flagstaff citizens should expect to see alerts from the Coconino County emergency notification system, Beckett said.

I always encourage everybody to go to the county's website and sign up for the county emergency notification system, he added. While they do have the ability to utilize IPAWS -- the integrated public alert warning system which is what you get when you get an Amber Alert or other alert that you don't sign up for -- most of that is going to be based off of a polygon map.

In other words, unless someone is within a certain area, they might not receive IPAWS alerts from the county. But if someone were to sign up for emergency notifications directly, they would be more likely to receive important information.

That will keep you up to speed on emerging incidents that are large enough that we need to notify the public at a rapid response kind of phase, Beckett said.

When asked to evaluate Flagstaff and Coconino Countys emergency response capacity, Beckett said, The initial attack phase is going to be good.

With what we have here, resource-wise, it will be really good, he added. It's that prolonged event that lasts multiple days when the staffing becomes an issue, especially technical staffing. Thats where we start working through county and state emergency operations centers to bring in the right resources.

Even in the case of a prolonged hazmat event, Beckett still has confidence that the northern Arizona emergency response community is well equipped to handle a hazardous scenario. When hes hosted regional training with partners from other areas, hes noticed that the one piece everybody notes is the close relationships that everybody has within the region.

Whether it's fire agencies, police agencies, the jurisdictions and municipalities, whether it's cities, different governmental agencies and private agencies, its a pretty close-knit group, a group within the region who works very closely with each other, Beckett said. You don't always get that.

We work with a lot of different partners, he added. To try and ensure that if something were to happen, we are ready.

To sign up for Coconino County Emergency Notifications, visit coconino.az.gov/2612/Emergency-Notification-System.
Gary Linekers the best in the business, said the BBC director-general, Tim Davie, on Saturday, during a hostile interview with his own organisation in which he insisted he would not resign. Thats not for debate. An eerily simplified edition of Match of the Day, truncated to just 20 minutes



#garylinekers #timdavie #matchofday #lineker #conservatives #ianwright #solidarity #davidcameron #bbcone
Photo: (Photo : Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

A South Carolina 9th grader is suing the school district and administrators for the abusive incident she suffered at River Bluff High School.

According to court documents, Marissa Barnwell, a 15-year-old high school freshman, alleged that her teacher physically restrained her against a wall in an attempt to coerce her into reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

The incident reportedly occurred in November 2022 while Barnwell was on her way to class and the pledge was being broadcasted over the school's intercom system.

South Carolina 9th Grader Sues Lexington School District One

On behalf of their daughter, Barnwell's parents have filed a lawsuit against Lexington School District One, Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait, the S.C. Department of Education, River Bluff Principal Jacob Smith, and River Bluff teacher Nicole Livingston.

According to the Daily News, the lawsuit alleges that Barnwell's constitutional rights were violated when Livingston physically assaulted her and forced her to acknowledge the Pledge of Allegiance.

According to the lawsuit, Barnwell chose not to acknowledge the Pledge of Allegiance in a non-disruptive manner while walking to her classroom.

Livingston then confronted her and physically assaulted her, pushing her onto the wall and touching her forcefully without her consent. The lawsuit further alleges that Livingston then took Barnwell to the principal's office for punishment.

Barnwell was left in shock after the incident, and in the video captured by a student, she can be heard telling Livingston to stop touching her.

After informing Principal Smith of what had happened, he told her that he would review the footage and sent her back to class. At a news conference, Barnwell spoke out about how disrespected she felt by the incident.

She also expressed her disappointment that nobody had apologized or acknowledged her hurt. To her, the fact that the school is defending Livingston's behavior is unimaginable.

The lawsuit seeks damages for the violation of Barnwell's constitutional rights and the emotional distress she suffered as a result of the incident.

It also calls for reforms to the school district's policies to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

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School's Policy on the Pledge of Allegiance

Insider reported that the lawsuit alleges that the Lexington School District and River Bluff High School policy mandates all students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at approximately 8:40 am every school day.

However, the policy permits students who choose not to participate to leave the classroom or show nonparticipation in any form that does not disrupt school activities or infringe on the rights of others.

The lawsuit contends that the incident violated Barnwell's Constitutional rights, specifically the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

The lawsuit notes that the government cannot compel individuals to acknowledge the Pledge of Allegiance, as established by legal precedents.

Barnwell, an African American student on the honor roll, claims that she was singled out by the teacher and that no other student was confronted.

According to The State, under South Carolina law, students are exempt from reciting the pledge if they choose not to participate, and they cannot be penalized. They are free to express their nonparticipation in a way that does not disrupt school activities or infringe on the rights of others.

Barnwell's parents stated that they did not receive any communication from the district following the incident, and they are now seeking accountability for Livingston's actions through the lawsuit.

However, Livingston, Postlewait, Smith, the school district, and the Department of Education have all refused to take responsibility, according to the lawsuit.

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For an unpleasant few days recently, a zealous and pseudonymous advocate of the Heartland model for the geography of the Book of Mormon was active in the comments section of this blog. His not particularly convincing approach was to call me stupid and incompetent, to insult many of my best friends, to predict that I will be severely punished in the next life for my failure to share his geographical ideas, and to accuse me of having stolen my own views on the topic from a former mid-level leader of what was once called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This former RLDS leader was named L. E. Hills, and he apparently died in 1925.

Im not quite sure that I fully understand the accusation involving L. E. Hills. Apparently Ill be damned at least in part because my view of Book of Mormon geography comes  he claims  from a member of the Reorganized Church (now known as the Community of Christ). It seems, though I could be wrong, that TwoCumorahFraud, as my accuser styled himself in this latest round of nastiness  hes used other pseudonyms during previous rounds  may believe that agreeing with ideas that were originally conceived (even if only in part) outside of the Church of Jesus Christ 0f Latter-day Saints is a serious offense, and possibly a damnable one.

As my pseudonymous non-admirer likes to point out, of course, Im pretty dumb. But it seems to me that hes committing the well-known genetic fallacy, in which an argument is dismissed, or information is discarded, based solely on its origin or source and not based on its content. To me, the truth or falsity of an idea is what counts, not whether or not it came from a bad person or a disapproved source. If someone tells me that the formula for the circumference of a circle is 2r, Im not going to reject that formula if, later on, he turns out to be an adulterer, a Democrat, or even a Heartlander. Such matters are completely irrelevant. Ive very rarely had the opportunity to vote for a believing Latter-day Saint in a presidential election.

The other charge is that I actually plagiarized the work of L. E. Hills, and that I will also be punished in the eternities for that offense. To which I respond with a bit of autobiography:

When I was attending church in southern California during my high school years, a weekly publication called The California Intermountain News was often available for free picking-up in our chapels foyer. It was expressly oriented toward Latter-day Saints. I assume that The California Intermountain News covered its expenses via advertising, because there was no charge for it. Commonly, and perhaps indeed in every issue, there were ads for tours of Book of Mormon lands. These ads always featured photographs of such things as stone serpent figures in Teotihuacan and the step-pyramid temples of Tikal and Chichen Itza. They always invited readers to travel to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. They never invited us to sign up for Book of Mormon lands tours to Illinois, Missouri, or even New York. No, those places were covered by Church History tours.

I dont think that, during those years, I ever read a book by Elder Milton R. Hunter (1902-1975). But he was part of the general believing-Latter-day Saint intellectual background that I imbibed from the ambient air. Elder Hunter, who (I think) is scarcely remembered now, was a member of what was then called the First Council of the Seventy, and, somewhat unusually for that generation of General Authorities, he held a doctorate (in history, from the University of California at Berkeley). He was a rather prolific writer, largely on historical topics, and, most relevantly, was the co-author, with Thomas Stuart Ferguson, of a book entitled Ancient America and the Book of Mormon. First published in 1950, that volume focuses on the writings of the Aztec historian Ixtlilxochitl, which seemed to corroborate a number of elements in the Book of Mormon. Elder Hunter and Brother Ferguson, a lawyer based in northern California, were also the co-founders of the New World Archaeological Foundation, which, then as now, concentrated its efforts on Mesoamerica (and, most especially I think, on the area of Chiapas in the very southernmost part of Mexico). If Im not mistaken, they met while Brother Ferguson was a law student at Berkeley and Brother Hunter was a graduate student working on his Ph.D.

Thomas Stuart Ferguson became a somewhat controversial figure in the years after his death, but that is a subject for a different time. (Ive actually already published on the matter. But not for many years now, as interest in him seems to have waned quite a bit.) My point is, simply, that virtually everybody that I knew in the Church who gave any thought to the matter of Book of Mormon geography seems, so far as I could tell, to have presumed a roughly Mesoamerican setting for it. To be more precise, my impression is that most of my acquaintances in the Church assumed a hemispheric setting for the Book of Mormon in the sense that the final Nephite and Jaredite battles were thought to have happened at the Hill Cumorah in New York and that Inca or pre-Inca Peru was somehow vaguely relevant as well, but that most of Nephite and Jaredite history had transpired in Central America.

I recall a large, coffee-table-sized book by somebody or other, filled mostly with sepia-toned photographs of sites in Mexico and Honduras and contiguous areas, as well as fascinating images of Izapa Stela 5 and of the famous Aztec calendar stone, that purported to illustrate the world of the Book of Mormon. I cant recall the authors name or the title. I think my family owned the book; I may still have it, somewhere, but, if I do, I havent seen it in many years. Reflecting on it now, I see it as uncritically mingling buildings and objects from the Classic and Post-Classic periods (the latter certainly well past the claimed time of the Book of Mormon), and perhaps even some Inca sites in Peru. The 1972 BYU film Ancient America Speaks, which came out during my mission, definitely includes scenes of the famed cyclopean walls near Cusco but, again, its focus is strongly on Central America or Mesoamerica.

I was aware of all of this, though the geography of the Book of Mormon was never, and never has been since, a particular focus of mine. The first book on the subject that I ever read was David A. Palmers In Search of Cumorah: New Evidences for the Book of Mormon from Ancient Mexico, which was initially published in 1981. (Brother Palmer died relatively soon thereafter, still fairly young.) I found In Search of Cumorah persuasive. But the real breakthrough for me was John L. Sorensons seminal volume An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon, which appeared in 1985. It had been circulating in samizdat form for several years, having apparently been blocked from publication by a General Authority who disapproved of it; in fact, David Palmers book had been heavily influenced by Sorensons as-yet unpublished general geographical model. I can still recall the excitement with which I read it.

What Im saying here is that Ive been inclined to a Mesoamerican setting for the Book of Mormon all of my conscious life. Reading Palmer and then, much more powerfully, reading Sorenson simply provided me with the intellectual grounding for my inclination. Not too long after I joined the faculty at BYU in 1985, my wife and I were also invited to join a monthly book group to which John Sorenson and his wife already belonged. So we became friends, as well as, eventually, colleagues at the old Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, or FARMS. John continued to work on his Mesoamericanist approach to the Book of Mormon, publishing several more very important books and articles  including a massively expanded and retitled 2013 version of An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon that he called Mormons Codex: An Ancient American Book  until a relatively short time before his death near the end of 2021 at the age of ninety-seven.

In 1992, John Sorenson published an interesting treatment of the history of models for the geography of the Book of Mormon: The Geography of Book of Mormon Events: A Source Book. In it, among many others, he explains and discusses all of the various theories, including L. E. Hillss model, which has several obvious resemblances to his own as well as not a few significant differences.

I myself, though, have never (to my knowledge) read a line of the writing of L. E. Hills, nor ever so much as laid an eye on any book or article written by him. My introduction to serious thinking about Book of Mormon geography came via David A. Palmer and then, even more importantly and far more broadly, through the work of my late friend John Sorenson.

I have not been convinced, thus far, by Heartlander arguments that the events of the Book of Mormon occurred in, say, the Upper Midwest and New York State. Im perfectly fine, though, with their holding such views, even if I disagree with them. As far as Im concerned, the important matter is belief that those events occurred. Where they occurred is of far less moment to me. What I object to, though, is the tendency of some though not all Heartlanders to verbally excommunicate those who fail to share their views on the subject. Ive personally received scores and scores of anonymous emails over the years not only harshly insulting me but accusing me of deliberate conspiratorial deception, of throwing Joseph Smith under the bus, of rejecting modern prophets and apostles, and the like, all because Im inclined to a different geographical model for the Book of Mormon than the Heartlanders are. And, sadly, the Neville-Neville Land blog has chronicled literally hundreds of such false and uncharitable accusations made publicly, against me and many others. That, I admit, is repulsive to me.
Zen Comes West:

Recalling Zen Master Soen Nakagawa

James Ishmael Ford

It was on this day, the 11th of March, in 1984 that Rinzai Zen master Soen Nakagawa died at Ryutakuji monastery in Japan. Its been a while since Ive noted the day and this remarkable figure at the foundation of Zen come West. Felt appropriate to offer it again.

In my study of Zen come West, Zen Master Who? I wrote about him.

Through his regular visits, his Dharma heirs, and others he taught, Soen Nakagawa would become one of the most important figures shaping a Western understanding of Rinzai Zen. Soen Nakagawa was born (on the 19th of March,) 1907 in Iwakuni, near Hiroshima.

His father was an army doctor, and so the family relocated frequently. While Soen was still very young his father died. His mother, who never remarried, struggled to support the family. Eventually Soen was admitted to Tokyo Imperial University to study Japanese literature. He specialized in poetry, specifically Basho, perhaps Japans most beloved poet. Basho had studied Zen meditation, and while he may have never been formally ordained, the Zen spirit clearly pervades his work.

Fascinated by the idea of the literary monk, Soen determined to ordain. In 1931, a year after taking his degree, Soen was ordained an unsui by the Rinzai master Katsube Seigaku Roshi at Kogakuji. He spent considerable time in a mountain retreat at Daibosatsu Mountain in Yamanashi Prefecture.

At this time he published some poetry and diary entries in a magazine called Fujijn Koron, Womans Review. Nyogen Senzaki read these and in 1934 initiated what would become a lifelong correspondence and profound friendship. At about the same time, Soon Nakagawa met the renowned Genpo Yamamoto Roshi, the abbot of Ryutakuji.

Soens first book of poems, Shingan, Coffin of Poems, was published in 1936. This was followed by three more, the last being in 1985 (the year after his death). Continuing his penchant for deep personal practice, not long after being accepted as a student of Genpo Roshi, he returned to Daibosatsu for two years of solitary retreat. He then returned to Ryutakuji and more formal training. In 1950 he succeeded his teacher as master of this renowned training hall.

Senzaki Sensei thought Soen Roshi would be a perfect teacher for the West and spent years trying to lure him to North America. The Roshi first planned to come to America in 1941, but the War intervened. He arrived in the West for the first time in 1949, where he met Nyogen Senzaki, who arranged his first talk at the Los Angeles Theosophical Society.

In 1950, Soen Nakagawa returned to Ryutakuji. Upon Nyogen Senzakis suggestion, young Robert Aitken made his way there and began studying with him. The next year, Philip Kapleau would stay there for three months before going on to Sogaku Harada Roshis temple, Hosshingji. Of equal importance, Soen Roshi would visit the United States thirteen times, leading sesshin, intensive meditation retreats on both coasts and spending extensive time with many different students.

Sean Murphy in his One Bird, One Stone recounts the following:

Soen loved to walk around New York City. Hed stare at the lighted skyscrapers, at their tops, he claimed he saw Buddha figures in the lights. Look at the Buddha, hed point, Shining Buddha! Hed fill the sleeves of his robes with nuts and berries from Central Park or herbs growing in the sidewalk cracks, and add them to his bowl at the next meal. He loved the musical Fiddler on the Roof, and when asked a question about why some particular point of ceremony needed to be performed in a certain way, he might burst into song, responding Tradition!

Soen was a creative teacher. Famously, he was known to conduct tea ceremony using Coca-Cola or instant coffee and occasionally using Styrofoam cups. Nothing was off limits if it would hep point the way. The wrier and (later) Zen teacher Peter Matthiessens 1975 journal recorded in Endless Vow: The Zen Path of Soen Nakagawa describes his experience with this remarkable teacher:

Cleaning the Zendo after evening sitting, I find Soen alone in the shadows at the end of the empty row, in the stillness of zazen. He is the archetypal old monk of the paintings, ancient as death, burning with life. I dust around him. These days his joy in life is dear; he refers gleefully to the majority, as he calls the dead Each day he reminds us that, despite all the tumult and delusion of our life, our true nature is always there, like the sun or moon above black wind and clouds. The sun is shining; the sun is always shining. That sun is enlightenment; everything is enlightenment! He dabbled his fingers in a water bowl, Do you hear? That is enlightenment!

Apparently, in 1967 while trying to climb a tree, Soen fell and sustained a severe head injury. From that point on, Soen Roshi suffered from continuous pain and occasional bouts of depression. Following his retirement as abbot of Ryutakuji, he spent increasing amounts of time in solitary retreat. Whether this inclination was connected with the pain he suffered, with depression, or simply with ever deepening practice is unknown. He died in 1984  and his death poem summarizes an authentic Zen life.

Mustard blossoms!

There is nothing left

to hurl away.

Soen Roshis influence in the West and North America is substantive

Half his ashes are interred at Ryutakuji, half in America.

As a special treat a series of talks touching on the life and teachings of Soen Nakagawa by the remarkable American Zen teacher Roshi Mitra Bishop.

The ripples playing out form his life continue to wash across the West.
The distribution of Measles vaccines, BCG vaccines and Oral Polio Vaccines to various regions and facilities are underway after the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service took delivery of the first consignment.



More vaccines are expected in Ghana in the coming weeks from multiple sources.



The Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kumah Aboagye was at the airport on Saturday to supervise the airlifting of the vaccines to various regions.



Ghana has been experiencing shortages of some childhood vaccines, a situation that has attracted attention from different quarters, including Parliament and the Paediatric Society of Ghana.



At a press briefing on Tuesday [March 7, 2023] to debunk allegations that due to lack of some vaccines, people are dying from the outbreak of measles in the Northern Region, the Ministry said "It is important to correct the erroneous impression that there have been deaths from Measles in Ghana recently."



The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu who addressed the press briefing explained that "For the avoidance of doubt, there have been no deaths from the recently recorded spike in Measles cases. Indeed there have been no deaths since 2003 though we have recorded cases annually."



The MoH said it is working with UNICEF to fast-track the processes to obtain some of the vaccines as early as possible.



















Source: graphic.com.gh









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The Ashaiman Police have quizzed the devastated girlfriend of the murdered military man who was killed at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region.



The interrogation was in an attempt to unravel the circumstances under which the 22-year-old trumpeter of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) band, Imoro Sherrif

was killed.



She was invited, questioned and released on self-recognized bail by the police, DGN Online can report.



Confirming the interrogation, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey gave additional information to 3Fm that So far it was only one person that was invited for questioning, the purported girlfriend of the deceased.



According to the Police, it appeared the girl has also been devastated about the whole issue, the guy was with her throughout the night up to 2am when they departed and just to wake up the following morning to hear the issues on social media, she was devastated about it.



So by and large, it was the only person that was questioned as we speak now. So we are waiting to see if the culprits will be arrested.



Imoro Sherrif was laid to rest on Thursday, March 9 at the Military Cemetery, Burma Camp in Accra.



Imoro Sherrif was gruesomely murdered on Saturday, March 4.



He was found in a pool of blood in Ashaiman and suspected to have been stabbed to death.



The Military High Command on Tuesday sanctioned an intelligence-led operation to fish out the perpetrators of the crime.



In the course of the operation, several civilians reported of brutalities meted out to them as 184 persons were rounded up with 150 released and 34 persons have been handed over to the Ghana Police Service through the Military Police for further action.







Source: Daily Guide









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A bar attendant, who allegedly intentionally and unlawfully caused harm to a drinking bar operator with a broken bottle wept bitterly when she was remanded by an Accra Circuit Court.



Patience Adowa aka Priscilla, aged 27, is charged with causing harm and pleaded guilty.



The Court presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, convicted the accused person on his own plea but deferred sentence and remanded her into Police custody for a pregnancy test to be conducted on her.



The matter has been adjourned to March 16, 2023.



Prosecuting Police Inspector Daniel Danku told the Court that the complainant Cecilia Owusu was a drinking bar operator.



The prosecution said both the accused person and the complainant were residents of Circle ECOMOG.



It said on September 2, 2022, at about 0200 hours, the complainant was asleep when she heard some unusual noise in front of her door, so she opened her curtains only to find out that some ladies were fighting, including the accused person whom she had not been on good terms with for some time.



The Prosecution said the complainant came out and ordered them to leave because they were disturbing her sleep.



It said the other ladies left but the accused person ignored her and rather took offence and started raining insults on the complainant which resulted in a fight, and both were separated.



The Prosecution said, as if that was not enough, on the same day, whilst the complainant was busily removing her clothes from a drying line, the accused person emerged from behind and stabbed the complainant with a broken bottle on the right arm and took to her heels.



It said on September 5, 2022, the complainant reported the matter to the Adabraka Police Station where she was issued a medical report form for treatment.



The Prosecution said the accused person was subsequently arrested and handed over to Adabraka Police and admitted the offence during interrogation.





Source: GNA









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On Friday, March 10, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced their agreement to reestablish diplomatic relations based on talks held in Beijing. China is the broker of the agreement, and Chinas senior diplomat congratulated the two countries, saying the dialogue in Beijing opened a new chapter in ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. How will the China-brokered Iran-Saudi deal impact the region and the rest of the world? What does this mean for the United States and its role in the Gulf?
A person jogs next to a backdrop of the Montreal skyline as ice fog rises off the St. Lawerence River in Montreal, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. The byelection in a fiercely contested riding near downtown Montreal is heating up ahead of Monday's vote. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
A champion has been declared after nine days of the $3,500 Main Event at the 2023 Wynn Millions. Michael Rossitto has climbed to the top and defeated a field of 1,314 entries to take home $604,637. Rossitto conquered a final table on Day 6 in just over 10 hours and outlasted Andrew Esposito in a heads-up duel.

Rossitto entered the final day in the middle of the pack but never really suffered any major setbacks throughout the day. As one of the strongest players remaining in the field, Rossitto got down to business and was able to walk away with the title. In a heads-up match that last around 2.5 hours, both players had their hands on the chip lead at one point but it was Rossitto who got the last laugh.

It's the largest career score for Rossitto who said he was patient for most of the final table. "I just waited for good hands early on until I got chips and could play more aggressively." Rossitto will add this to his already impressive poker resume which includes over $2.1 million in career earnings.

The only hiccup on the day for the new Las Vegas resident was when he had his aces cracked during heads-up to relinquish the chip lead. "We were still pretty deep so I got some advice from some better players to adjust my strategy and I played well. It's pretty good to bounce ideas off everyone and everyone had great knowledge to give. I kind of just went with my own reads and I think it well," Rossitto commented on the quality of the rail that he had supporting him throughout the day.

Heads Up

As for the runner-up from Texas, Esposito also earned his largest payday of $480,752 after another solid performance since returning to the tournament scene. Esposito mentioned throughout the day that he was mostly into cash games but has since indulged in more tournaments and his track record has been stellar over the last few months. "I'm very happy with it," Esposito said on his good run that also last over 10 hours on Day 6.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Michael Rossitto United States $604,637 2 Andrew Esposito United States $480,752 3 Mark Zajdner Canada $294,540 4 Pedro Ingles Spain $208,598 5 Zachary Donovan United States $154,279 6 Jacob Powers United States $120,361 7 Zhigang Yang Canada $96,706 8 Kharlin Sued United States $80,310 9 Cliff Ziff United States $67,765

Action from the Final Day

The day began with nine players returning to the felt and if the end of Day 5 was any indication of the pace of play, the players may have been looking at a long and extended final day before the winner would be declared. However, that wasn't the case as the action was fast and furious right from the start with a cold deck helping the situation.

Cliff Ziff came into the day with an average stack but on the second hand of the day, his pocket tens were no match for Esposito who rivered an ace with ace-king. Short-stacked Kharlin Sued lasted another orbit but Esposito's straight flush also sent him to the rail in the early going.

Near the end of the first level, Zhigang Yang got the last of his chips in the middle with pocket nines but was looked up by a suited broadway holding from Mark Zajdner. A runner-runner flush for Zajdner sent Yang to the payout desk in seventh place and the field was quickly down to the final six.

When the players returned from their first break of the day, it was the start-of-day chip leader Zachary Donovan who was on the wrong end of a cooler when his pocket kings were up against the pocket aces of Zajdner. The board provided no change and Donovan was left on the short stack.

Zachary Donovan

Jacob Powers was full of unorthodox plays throughout the final table, and today he even pulled out the straddle (blind raise). However, those lost chips eventually caught up with him and he ran out of chips in sixth place. Donovan managed to survive long enough to ladder up to fifth place but lost a flip to the big stack of Zajdner to leave just four players remaining.

Pedro Ingles was fairly quiet at the final table and patiently watched other stacks implode around him. The Spaniard finally found a spot to get his 20 big blinds into the middle with ace-jack suited but ran right into the ace-king of Rossitto. The board ran out clean and Ingles hit the rail in fourth place.

That left the final three to battle it out, with plenty of chips in play to create a dynamic that saw the chip lead bounce around feverishly. Another cooler emerged when Esposito's aces scored him a double-up through Zajdner's kings but the Canadian bounced right back with a triple-up on the very next hand.

Three-handed play continued past the dinner break for another two levels with the chips being passed around the table pretty evenly. However, Zajdner was never able to escape the short stack, and eventually, another cooler was dealt. In a blind vs blind matchup, Zajdner got his chips in the middle with pocket jacks against the ace-king from Rossitto. An ace on the flop left Zajdner drawing slim and he was unable to catch up, bowing out in third place.

When the heads-up match began, Rossitto was comfortably in the lead and slowly adding more chips to his stack. However, his pocket aces were cracked by Esposito who flopped two pair when all of the chips went in the middle. Esposito held on for a big double-up to sway the chip lead in his direction. After one last break, Rossitto returned to the felt on a mission and quickly climbed his way back to even.

After Rossitto started to pull ahead over the next hour, he finally laid a couple of larger blows to Esposito's stack and it all came to a head in one final hand. Rossitto barrelled the turn with the nut-straight and Esposito went bluff-catching at the wrong time. All of the chips went in on the river and Rossitto was able to celebrate with his rail.

That wraps up the coverage for this event from the PokerNews team, but stay tuned for more events coming up in the near future.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci said that Republicans have gone off the deep end and asked what he could be prosecuted for.

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CNNs Jim Acosta asked Fauci for a response to Republican calls for his prosecution, and he answered:

Theres no response to that craziness, Jim. I mean, prosecute me for what? I mean, I wish I could figure out what the heck they were talking about. I think theyre just going off the deep end. Thats the answer to your first question. It doesnt make any sense to say something like that and it actually is irresponsible.

Of course, its going to have a difficult effect and a difficult effect, and a deleterious effect on my family. I mean, they dont like to have me getting death threats all the time every time somebody gets up and spouts some nonsense thats misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies, somebody somewhere decides they want to do harm to me and/or my family.

Thats the part thats unfortunate. The rest of it is just insanity the things theyre saying but it does have a negative effect when people take it seriously and take it out on you and your family, which is the reason why I still have to have protection, which is really unfortunate.

Dr. Fauci has been a person of integrity and courage, even as the attacks on the right and the insanity against him as grown.

Republicans and the far right dont want to blame the person who really was responsible for millions of American deaths. They would rather scapegoat Fauci than hold Donald Trump accountable.

Fauci has always stuck to science and facts. He has never backed down in the face of Republican threats and bullying, and he remains a rational voice for science and reason as the rights hostility toward reality intensifies.
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Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) could not come up with anything resembling a sensible answer when asked by Maria Bartiromo if he had any regrets about giving Tucker Carlson the 1/6 tapes.

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Kevin McCarthy claims to be transparent on the 1/6 tapes, but then adds, "My goal here is transparency and we will slowly roll out to every individual news agency. They can come see the tapes as well." Kevin McCarthy has an odd definition of transparency. pic.twitter.com/K5487T5lhN  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 12, 2023

McCarthy said, I didnt give him the tapes. I allowed him to come see them, just like an exclusive with anyone else. My goal here is transparency and we will slowly roll out to every individual news agency. They can come see the tapes as well. The first thing I found was the January 6 committee was not honest with us and its not 14,000 hours of tapes but 41,000 hours of tapes. Let everyone see them and bring their own judgment. The one thing I understand in America is we should have equal justice. What really raises the point with me? Why did I watch federal courts? Why did I watch cities burn and federal agencies and nobody arrested there? I think we should have equal justice across the country We should have transparency.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) pointed out that McCarthy may have violated the First Amendment by giving Tucker Carlson exclusive access to government materials.

Video of Lofgren:

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) suggests to @Acosta that McCarthy may have violated the 1st Amendment by giving 1/6 footage exclusively to Tucker Carlson, "The 1st Amendment doesn't allow you just to pick a favorite political son if you're the government and to deny other news outlets. " pic.twitter.com/kPWZzW0gYm  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 11, 2023

Lofgren said on CNN on Saturday, The 1st Amendment doesnt allow you just to pick a favorite political son if youre the government and to deny other news outlets.

There is no friendly outlet and few friendlier hosts for Kevin McCarthy than Maria Bartiromo and Kevin McCarthy still turned into a pile of mush who could not offer anything resembling a logical explanation for why he would give Tucker Carlson access to sensitive Capitol security footage.

Real transparency would involve turning the footage over to credible journalists and news networks, not a partisan propagandist who is attempting to rewrite the history of a domestic terror attack.
A missing Aurora couple was found dead Saturday.

Bob and Loveda Proctor, 89 and 92, respectively, had been missing since Jan. 11. The couple's granddaughter confirmed their deaths in a Facebook post Saturday evening.

"Bob and Loveda have been found. They are in heaven watching over us," Laci Fleming said in the post. "Thank you everyone."

The Buffalo County Sheriffs Office said a citizen contacted them around 3:15 p.m. about a vehicle found stuck on a minimum maintenance road north of 100th and Keystone Road. Deputies were able to locate the vehicle and found the couple in the area.

Foul play is not suspected. Autopsies have been ordered by the Buffalo County Attorneys Office, the sheriff's office said. An investigation continues and includes the Buffalo County Sheriffs Office, Aurora Police Department and Kearney Police Department.

Attempts by The Independent to reach Proctor family members Saturday evening weren't immediately successful.

In late February, The Independent reported a search and recovery dive team had arrived in central Nebraska to look for the couple.

In a Facebook post, Chaos Divers noted that as its team headed out to search for the Proctors, "We were held off by the incoming inclement weather. This afternoon, we received the heartbreaking news that the loved couple was found and is no longer with their family and loved ones. ... We do want to offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to their family."

Video provided the last confirmed sighting of the Proctors. They were captured driving east from Giltner on 6 Road, a blacktop road. That sighting was at about 10:25 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, the day they disappeared.

The couple then stopped at a farmhouse east of there to ask for directions. They then continued east.

Before that, the couple was in Grand Island on Jan. 11. The Proctors went to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at about 4 p.m. that day. After leaving the VA facility at about 4:30 p.m., they went to CHI Health St. Francis, leaving at about 8 p.m.

Biggest exports from Nebraska Biggest exports from Nebraska #30. Special classification provisions not elsewhere specified or included #29. Furniture; bedding, mattresses, and stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings #28. Railway or tramway stock etc.; traffic signal equipment #27. Rubber and articles thereof #26. Organic chemicals #25. Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers #24. Ships, boats and floating structures #23. Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof #22. Prepared cereal, flour, starch or milk; bakers wares #21. Sugars and sugar confectionary #20. Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof #19. Articles of iron or steel #18. Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes #17. Iron and steel #16. Animal or vegetable fats, oils etc. and waxes #15. Plastics and articles thereof #14. Other products of animal origin #13. Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations #12. Miscellaneous chemical products #11. Electrical machinery and equipment and parts; sound and TV recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories #10. Raw hides and skins (no furskins) and leather #9. Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories #8. Pharmaceutical products #7. Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof #6. Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes #5. Cereals #4. Oil seeds; miscellaneous grain, seed, fruit, plants, etc. #3. Food industry residues and waste; prepared animal feed #2. Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery etc.; parts #1. Meat and edible meat offal
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
The weather cooperated Saturday for the McGhees Mile Harness Races in Aiken, and that was a welcome change from the conditions in 2022.

Last March, temperatures were in the 40s and the wind blew hard following early morning rains. Many people left early after huddling in their trucks and cars to stay warm.

But for the Harness Races latest edition, the sky was blue and by early afternoon, it was 60 degrees under a bright sun.

Its a beautiful day  nothing like last year, thank goodness, said Janis McGhee, whose family owns McGhees Mile, the standardbred training center where the Harness Races were held.

Tailgaters were out in force.

We filled up all the railside spaces in the infield and outfield, McGhee said. We added some more on the frontside, and we still had people coming in asking for railside passes, but we were out. Were going to have to make it (the railside area) a little bigger next year.

Anna and Tim Dangerfield welcomed around 30 guests to their two railside spots for a potluck lunch that included chicken tenders, chicken salad on croissants, deviled eggs, baked beans, cookies and brownies.

Comparing the Harness Races to the Aiken Trials and the Aiken Spring and Fall steeplechases, Anna said, This is probably our favorite because its so laid back. Its a nice family day. Mentally, to me, its the start of spring.

Among the Dangerfields guests were George and Sandi Custodi. Accompanying them was Riccardo Manieri, a chef from Orvieto, Aikens sister city in Italy.

Manieri has visited Aiken several times, but was attending the Harness Races for the first time.

Ive always been a little afraid of horses because when I was young, I tried to ride one and I fell down, but I think I will have the most beautiful experience today, he said.

Fred and Sherri Wicks welcomed a group of eight to their two railside spaces, which were near the Dangerfields spots.

Last year, we had a tent and even though it was anchored well, it blew loose and one of the poles hit my wife just above her left eye, Fred said.

But that didnt dampen the couples enthusiasm for the Harness Races.

When the Wickses were living in New York, we owned a couple of trotters, said Fred, who is a Realtor. We used to go to Roosevelt Raceway and Yonkers Raceway a lot. We just like the races, and we enjoy the camaraderie of watching them with others.

After missing the Harness Races last year because they thought it was too cold, Pete and Debbie LaBerge of Windsor were back. They set up their folding chairs near the announcers stand.

This is our third or fourth time here, Pete said. Its such a nice community event. I like hanging out with friends and watching the horses. Its casual, and its fun.

There were eight races in all Saturday.

Seven were for standardbreds. Each horse pulled a two-wheeled vehicle known as a sulky, which carried a driver, while competing.

One race featured Hackney Roadster ponies, which were hitched to two-wheeled carts similar to the sulkies that the standardbreds pulled.

McGhees Mile is at 620 Banks Mill Road S.E.
Increased density, though, is a long-term goal, Councilwoman Tina Herbert said, following more people living in city centers.

"We're seeing the interest pick up," Herbert said. "It will create density, but it will take some time."

Crime rates can also play a role. While Herbert said it wasn't a concern she'd heard stated by grocery stores looking to come into the area, it was one she'd heard from those shutting down.

But there are ways to reduce theft, such as having more employees working at a time, Buttimer said.

"I think a lot of times (crime) is more of an excuse than it is a real reason not to do something," Buttimer said. "There are ways to mitigate that."

Location

The first thing Herbert asks at neighborhood meetings about grocery access is, "If a grocery store was ready to move tomorrow into this area, where would it go?"

"Most people will quickly realize there isn't a place right now for them to go," Herbert said.

North Columbia has few parcels large enough to host a major grocery store, Coleman said. An average large grocer can range from 40,000 to 100,000 square feet or more. Commercial real estate listings show no plots of land large enough to accommodate those types of supermarkets.

"Putting together enough land to do a grocery site is pretty challenging," Coleman said. "That in itself is something you have to work around a lot."

While around 20 percent of Richland County's grocery stores closed between 2016 and 2020, one report found, the storefronts left empty after other grocers closed have, at least in some cases, been bought by other businesses. In one case, an O'Reilly Auto Parts took over an old Harveys Supermarket, a Bi-Lo affiliate, on North Main Street.

"Of course we wanted some of those (stores) to return to the community, but you can't force people to do something you want them to do, right?" said Ashley Page Bookhart, chair of the city's Food Policy Committee.
Katie Shafer joined the Billings Chamber of Commerce last month as the new Finance Specialist.

In her new role, Shafer will assist with the daily, monthly, and annual financial activities of the Billings Chamber. She will provide administrative and accounting assistance to the Finance Director, support with financial statements, and confirm the accuracy of accounting and membership database information.

As the Billings Chamber grows to continue providing Billings, southeastern Montana and state of Montana with five-star service, it became evident that we needed to add to our finance team, said Jennifer Reiser, chief operating officer for the Billings Chamber. Katies knowledge and financial experience will serve her well in this new role.

Shafer comes to the Billings Chamber with 13 years of experience in finance. She holds a bachelors degree in finance and business management from Silver Rock University in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Chamber team, she worked as a finance analyst doing reconciliation for First Interstate Bank and Team Employer doing payroll processing. Shafer grew up in Pennsylvania and relocated to Billings in 2015 with her children, Jay and Hallie.

Shafer officially joined the Billings Chamber on Feb. 7. She can be reached via email at Katie@BillingsChamber.com or by calling (406) 869-3731.
Columbia, SC (29201)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 52F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 52F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
NORTH CHARLESTON  It began four months ago with swelling in his leg and shortness of breath and it escalated to the point where his mother insisted Octavius Lamon Vinson, 50, go to the hospital.

In the morning, he told her.

"No," she said, "you're going now."

At Roper St. Francis Moncks Corner Medical Plaza "the staff just grabbed me" and began treating him once they saw him, Vinson said. It was congestive heart failure and a doctor later told him if he had waited until the next day, he might have died in his sleep. Now at Roper St. Francis Healthcare Greer Transitions Clinic in North Charleston, he is getting consistent treatment and can see a therapist once a week about things that are bothering him.

"Roper St. Francis saved my life," Vinson said.

Expanding access to care for those like Vinson who are uninsured or are underinsured is just one way Roper St. Francis Healthcare plans to use a $5 million gift from Parker's Community Fund. The foundation was created by Parker's Kitchen convenience store founder Greg Parker. The gift will help the health system's efforts to reach out to the underserved and uninsured, including through the Greer clinic, which will receive $750,000.

It will also fund new efforts, such as a mobile clinic that can do outreach, said Melanie Stith, vice president and chief people and government relations officer for the health system. That can then "take care into communities where we know there are health care disparities," she said.

"Its such an amazing gift," CEO Jeffrey DiLisi said.

It will be particularly important in providing preventive care, Stith said.

"So many people dont come in so this is a way to get out to them and help them with that," she said.

That included Vinson, who works as a plumber and is a "third-generation workaholic." A hospital or clinic used to be the last place he wanted to visit.

"I don't go to the hospital unless I need stitches," Vinson said.

Many of them, like him, end up in the emergency room and receive the most expensive care, when a lower-cost option like the Greer clinic would be better long-term, said Dr. Robert Oliverio, vice president and chief medical officer for Ambulatory Care and Population Health for Roper. He also treats patients like Vinson at Greer.

Someone like Vinson, who has congestive heart failure but no access to regular care, is a prime candidate to end up right back in a hospital bed in a matter of days or weeks. That's where Greer comes in.

"Our job is to get them in quickly and then see them frequently and keep them out of the hospital," Oliverio said. Not only is it better care for the patients, it is also good financially for the health system: the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can fine hospitals for having too many patients with certain conditions like heart failure who are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days.

These kinds of lower cost investments in preventive care make sense, Oliverio said. With a gas card, he might be able to persuade a patient to make four visits in a month that really gets their health under control and keeps them out of the hospital.

"Thats a $50 gas card as opposed to $11,000 for a hospital admission," he said. "Its a good deal."

The Parker donation could help the clinic provide other services that have been out of reach so far. For instance, Oliverio estimates that one in 10 patients suffer from sleep apnea, but the clinic can't get them continuous positive airway pressure therapy or CPAP machines that would help them.

It goes beyond health care for many of those patients at Greer with services to address what are often referred to as the social determinants of health. That can include things like access to nutritious food. The clinic has a pantry that can offer patients food, clothing or other things like toothbrushes and toothpaste. It has a social worker on site who can sign them up for Medicaid if they qualify or with Welvista, a South Carolina nonprofit that helps patients access prescriptions.

Without that help, patients might be forced to choose one or the other.

"Oftentimes, it is food or medication," Oliverio said. "You can take those choices off the table. I cant cure a food desert but we can be a little oasis of food in a desert."

That the clinic is there is also significant for the community, Vinson said. It is "a beacon of light on this side of the road," he said.

Access is a big reason why Roper is looking to invest $1 billion to move its downtown hospital to a new campus in North Charleston, DiLisi said

"There will be easier access for those who need it the most," he said. "Were committed to that. That is a really important thing for us to continue to serve our mission. We think that will remove even more barriers."

Access is also a way to better long-term health. Benjamin Frost Jr., 41, was referred there after he had to go to an urgent care clinic to get an inhaler for his seasonal asthma. When his job was phased out, his health insurance went with it. But now he sees Oliverio regularly for care and can focus on more than just flare-ups. Frost has a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and he can talk about managing that every six months with his physician.

Frost's blood pressure was good, Oliverio told him during a visit March 9.

"But that doesn't indicate the other," that his cholesterol is normal too, Frost said.

"Correct," Oliverio said, before sending him off for lab work.

Having health insurance and easier access to care was once something Frost took for granted. But not now.

"When you have to fight for your health care, it is a priority," he said.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 55F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 55F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
BEAUFORT  Upon the groups arrival at the Baptist Church  once the site of Hospital No. 14, one of the colored hospitals during the Civil War  Army Lt. Col. Rory McGovern addressed the 11 West Point cadets.

The young cadets, all freshmen on a staff ride to Beaufort during spring break, already had learned about Harriet Tubman and Robert Smalls. They had heard about the courageous Black men who, upon their liberation in 1862, joined the 1st South Volunteer Regiment. They understood the purpose of the Port Royal Experiment and how it was implemented.

Now, McGovern wanted to drive home a point.

Whats the unifying theme here? he said to the group. Agency. Agency and initiative.

Smalls and Tubman, along with other key figures of the period, were leaders of character, regardless of station, McGovern said. They set an example the cadets would be wise to follow.

This was the second day of the West Point groups interrogation of the Deep South and its history. These cadets might have traveled to Normandy, France, or to Great Britain, to learn about World War II, but they preferred this option: the Carolina Lowcountry, where the secessionist cause got its start, soon achieved its aim, then ended in defeat  though, as the cadets learned from their guides, that defeat soon was transformed into the mythology of the Lost Cause and a reassertion of white supremacy.

On March 6, they were in Charleston visiting Fort Sumter, the Old Slave Mart Museum and the Robert Smalls historical marker on East Battery. They learned about Denmark Veseys failed quest for freedom. They observed the harbors old fortifications and imagined the barrage that began the Civil War.

It was, as McGovern put it, a stage-setter for what they would encounter in the Beaufort area.

The experience will inform student research projects and conversations in his history class, McGovern said. Already he has been referring to the heroism of the 1st South and the wartime deeds of Tubman and Smalls.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, which produces Army officers, is making an effort to better acknowledge the contributions of African Americans, McGovern said.

In Army History class, he asks cadets repeatedly, Who serves and why? The stories of the 1st South and other Black freedom fighters provide bold answers to that question.

Then McGovern asks, What conditions frame their service, and how do they shape those conditions?

And here the discussion turns to agency, determination, courage and hope.

Consider Tubmans role leading three steamers that collected Black people from the banks of the Combahee River at the beginning of June 1863.

Consider the audacity of Smalls who in May 1862 commandeered the CSS Planter and delivered it to the Union side, liberating its passengers.

It all boils down to a simple appeal.

Be like him, McGovern, referring to Smalls, will tell his cadets. The Army will be better.

Learning history

The tour, led by West Point alumnus Chris Allen, a retired Special Forces officer now volunteering as a National Park Service ranger, began with a description of the Lowcountry terrain and the introduction of a few of the 19th centurys main characters in the Port Royal area.

Tagging along was Valinda Littlefield, history professor at the University of South Carolina and now based in Beaufort, and other academics, park rangers and retired military men. Littlefield said she welcomed the collaboration, which started when West Point's superintendent, at the prompting of Allen and his fellow alumnus Ben Hodges, contacted the USC's Department of History looking for help.

The cadets were a diverse group that included women and African Americans, all attentive and engaged and clearly affected by what they were learning. The morning was devoted to a walk through downtown Beaufort; the afternoon would take them to the Penn Center on St. Helena Island, the epicenter of Gullah-Geechee culture.

At the arsenal, they met Victoria Smalls, director of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, and they heard from Allen about the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, a White militia that enforced the Slave Codes of the time and protected plantation owners from the threat of insurrections.

They also learned of the Union takeover of Port Royal Sound in November 1861, how invading forces pummeled Confederate forts with guns so loud the shots could be heard miles away, terrifying the White planters, who quickly understood their reign was ending. The planters fled with their families, leaving behind 10,000 enslaved people who suddenly questioned their status. Were they free? If so, what next? Where might they go? How can they survive?

They survived thanks in part to whats known as the Port Royal Experiment, an effort led by the U.S. Treasury Department to incentivize local labor, provide schooling for adults and children, transfer property to freed African Americans, and bolster the ranks of the Union Army by recruiting Black soldiers.

It was the men of the 1st South who, on Jan. 1, 1863, first heard Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, recited by William Henry Brisbane, a Baptist minister and white supremacist turned abolitionist.

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The cadets eagerly absorbed the information. They visited the future site of the Harriet Tubman monument and learned of this remarkable womans many accomplishments, not least her role in the Combahee River Raid, which liberated 756 enslaved people. They visited the grave of Robert Smalls, whose enterprise, creativity and courage made him a war hero and then a statesman who, among other things, helped draft South Carolinas new constitution in 1868. The document established counties, empowered women, abolished debtors prison and the Black Codes, eliminated segregation, and provided for free public education for all.

Eight years later, Redeemers began to infiltrate state government and undermine the new constitution, which was replaced by a white supremacist version in 1895.

They learned of the 1863 tax sale in Beaufort, which gave Black people about a third of the land in the area, enabling them to farm and generate income, and to procure some of the city homes that once belonged to the White elite.

And they learned of the segregated hospital system set up by the Department of the South, and church policies that kept the population divided by race, despite the changes resulting from Union control of the city and its environs.

In the churchyard of the Parish Church of St. Helena, an Anglican congregation, the cadets saw a mix of Confederate and American flags, a list of the Confederate dead engraved in marble and a historic marker erected by the Sons of Confederate Veterans to honor Stephen Elliott Jr., a fierce company commander, wounded several times, who rose to the rank of brigadier general of the Confederate States Army. One prominent plot was occupied by the McKee family, which owned Robert Smalls and his mother Lydia Polite.

The morning tour ended at the Secession House, once owned by Edmund Rhett, whose brother, Robert Barnwell Rhett, strongly defended the institution of slavery and advocated for secession in the pages of the Charleston Mercury.

This is where the virus was incubated, Allen told the group, pointing out that Edmund was a West Point graduate, like a few other Confederate leaders.

In a twist, the Treasury Departments tax agents were based in the house, organizing the tax sale and helping administer wartime and post-war projects undertaken by the Department of the South, Allen said.

Then, standing across the street from the property, The West Point officers and alumni considered their institutions complicity in upholding racist principles and policies. The academy admitted its first Black cadet, James Webster Smith, in 1870 by making an exception to the segregation rule. The first to graduate was Henry Ossian Flipper in 1877.

Others were admitted only to leave early because of the hostile environment. Then Jim Crow took hold. And for many years, the Armys officer corps remained predominantly White.

Takeaways

Elijah Gates, a 22-year-old Black cadet, said his visit to South Carolina puts reality to all we read in the textbooks. And learning about the 1st South Volunteers, in particular, left him feeling profoundly grateful for their service, and for leading the way, he said.

Angelina Pfister, a 19-year-old Black cadet, said her visit put her in the same terrain once trod by Black soldiers determined to help save the Union and, consequently, gain permanent freedom. Getting a feel for the geography of Port Royal helped her imagine the battles and what they wrought.

She said she remembered how, in middle school, she once was asked to name the causes of the Civil War other than slavery. The Lost Cause narrative, which transforms defenders of slavery into heroic figures fighting northern interference and aggression, continues to influence the teaching of American history, Pfister noted.

Will Plank, a 19-year-old White cadet, said the trip helped him better understand this revisionist history.

Education is the best way to combat that, he said. Besides, the Army is struggling to find recruits, Plank added. Highlighting military contributions of African Americans could help convince more people of color to sign up and could ensure that Army leaders generally become better advocates of a diverse armed forces.

Hodges said West Points interest in the story of the 1st South, which he and Allen have been promoting, and in Civil War history in South Carolina in general, has been gratifying. The two alumni have wanted their alma mater to bring this history to the fore. Two staff rides to Beaufort later, its evident that thats exactly what the academy is doing, Hodges said.

Its a seal of approval, he said.

Allen said the stories here are so compelling that any serious military person, whether plebe or high-ranking officer at the end of a career, cant help but be impressed.

Some freshmen are on leave during spring break, visiting family; others  the athletes  are on campus training; others still are occupied with projects of their own, McGovern said. More than 30 are traveling to learn about history, and a third of those opted to come to South Carolina. This gives McGovern and his colleagues a chance to combine teaching with mentorship, and to cite examples of high character they want students to model.

Such hands-on experience is invaluable, he said, reflecting on the visit to the Old Slave Mart Museum in Charleston.

When you visit the actual place (where history first unfolded), and you see the shackles worn by a 4-year-old, it moves you, and it tells you something, McGovern said.

Cadets who invest themselves in the subject matter are more likely to delve deeper, practice empathy, refuse injustice.

That, he said, is the kind of Army officer we need.
The International African American Museum (IAAM) has set June 27 as the date that the long-awaited museum will open to the public.

The opening festivities will feature a number of community events in the days leading up to the launch, including an opening ceremony on June 24.

Were excited to open IAAMs doors and showcase the incredible breadth of African American history, said Dr. Tonya Matthews, the president and CEO of the International African American Museum. IAAM strives not only to provide a space for all visitors to celebrate and connect to this history, to these stories, and to this art, but also to find meaning within their own stories. The African American journey is far longer than the 20 years it took to build this museum and we are humbly proud to step up and play our part in this story. It is time.

Originally scheduled for Jan. 21, the museums opening was delayed while City of Charleston staff and contractors worked to stabilize humidity and temperature levels within the new building. With those issues now resolved, building operations will be transferred to the IAAM over the next several weeks, in preparation for the June opening.

The IAAM, which sits at the site of Gadsdens Wharf  one of the nations most prolific former slave trading ports  includes nine core exhibition galleries and a special exhibition gallery, as well as a floating gallery that weaves contemporary art throughout the museum. The museum will open with more than 700 artifacts dating from 17th century to contemporary objects, alongside 1,000 image and media collection pieces  all of which help connect the African American journey to its roots and connections to African and African Diaspora communities and cultures. The museum also houses the Center for Family History, a world-class genealogy and ancestry resource center, which began hosting genealogy classes and workshops in 2020.

As this magnificent new museum demonstrates, Charleston isnt just a city where history happened  its a city where history is still being made every day, said Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg. I couldn't be prouder of this extraordinary achievement, and of all the people who've worked so hard over the past two decades to make it a reality.

The museums opening date coincides with Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of the day in 1865 when 250,000 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned that they had been freed by the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation nearly two years earlier. The event has been long celebrated by many African American communities and was formally designated as a national holiday in 2021.

Through programming and a unique, authentic, empathetic storytelling, the IAAM activates its mission to honor the untold stories of the African American journey  celebrating the connections and contributions to American and global cultures  in unique and thought-provoking ways. Earlier this year, IAAM kicked off virtual and in-person programming in honor of Black History Month with a series of opportunities for both the local community and future visitors to engage with a variety of educational content. Next month, as final preparations for the official public opening begin, IAAM will host several in-person programs for the community to attend.

For more information about the museum, visit iaamuseum.org
In the continually expanding realm of cybersecurity, the process of innovation is straightforward, at least the way Georgia Cyber Centers David Ivey puts it: The message from the government is, I need this industry thing; I need this thing to solve this problem, whatever it is.' And industry, aided by academia, responds.

Ivey is director of Georgia Cyber Centers Cyber Range.

The Cyber Range is exactly what it sounds like  a range, like a gun range, where students practice their tech skills with real-world scenarios. Its a cloud computing environment that serves as incubator for the real stuff.

The real stuff being anything from machine learning for a manufacturer to information security on a mobile phone app.

And its a crucial component to the education of the future workforce when cyber is booming but preparation for it is sometimes lacking.

STEM subjects  science, technology, engineering and math  are receiving greater emphasis in K-12 schools, but both Ivey and the Cyber Centers director of Elite Training, Joseph Holloway, said theres still a gap in what is being taught and what could be taught, pre-college or pre-internship.

What you have in the K-12 system is, you get a science teacher thats told youre going to teach cyber. You get a math teacher, you're going to teach cyber, said Ivey. Its not their specialty, its not their skill, but theyre told to teach it anyway.

Some of the hard truth, said Holloway, is that theres no correlation between the skill thats needed to teach it, and the financial compensation to do so.

Starting teachers in the CSRA can expect to earn $35,000 a year, which is about half what an entry level cyber job might pay.

Its just really hard for a teacher to have that type of experience or have training in cyber security and know what the industry pays for that and then want to go in and teach that in a classroom and take that type of pay scale, said Holloway.

And mid-career, things dont look up by much. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that median pay for an information security analyst is a little more than $100,000 versus the $62,000 median pay of a public high school teacher.

But information security is an industry the Bureau has marked for growing much faster than average over the next 10 years.

Holloway, formerly an SCADA technician and, later, a tech guru both for Richmond County Board of Education and Fox Creek High School in North Augusta, has seen some of the pain points from the industry side [and from] the K-12 side where cyber is concerned and relieving these pain points is part of what Georgia Cyber Center tries to do.

The more than 330,000 square feet within its two buildings give room to what Holloway and Ivey called an ecosystem for cyber technology. Academic programs connect people to the start-ups and established cyber companies that are liable to provide the resources to future industry and government needs.

The Cyber Center partners with both Augusta Tech and Augusta University; it now is trying to expand internships to students enrolled at any Georgia college or university. Already, 16 industry partners have space at the Center.

But the Center, as massive as it is  it's the single largest investment by any state government in a cyber facility  is only the start. Expected to be complete by end of 2025 is a similar cyber ecosystem in Aiken County.

The South Carolina National Guard is building a $30 million Dreamport on the USC Aiken campus; and U.S. Department of Energy, through Savannah River National Lab, is constructing a $50 million Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative on the campus.

As yet unrealized, but with the funding available for it, is some type of cyber infrastructure in North Augusta that would complement that at Fort Gordon and the Georgia Cyber Center. The city received through the state of South Carolinas plutonium settlement $15 million for this infrastructure.

But the investments cant be limited to those by government or big industry, said a top USC Aiken official.

Dr. Daren Timmons, provost and executive vice chancellor of academic affairs at USC Aiken, said that other companies need to step it up, too, with training and internships to help prepare the future workforce theyre already seeking.

Its not just, Hey, we need more workforce! Its What are you going to do to invest in that, Timmons told North Augusta Chamber of Commerce members March 9. Timmons said theres an impatience at many companies for new workers to be ready on day one but that the reality is, that worker might need some on-the-job training to be a full asset.

Cyber isnt just about national defense, nor is it a field thats out there on its own, said Holloway and Ivey. Rather, its a component to all the other Information Technology fields: software development and systems architecture, but also the next era in forensics and manufacturing.

Somebody creates an app for a mobile device, the operational technology for your heart monitor, whatever the case may be, all of its got a relation to cyber security, said Ivey. We have to figure out how to defend this stuff as well.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low 56F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low 56F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
State Sen. Marlon Kimpson, an influential Charleston Democrat, plans to resign from the South Carolina Senate at the end of the legislative session to take a job on President Joe Biden's advisory committee for trade policy and negotiations.

Kimpson shared his plans with The Post and Courier on March 11, a day after the White House announced Biden's plans to appoint Kimpson and 13 others to the panel.

Kimpson, who first won election to the Senate in an October 2013 special election, represents parts of downtown Charleston, West Ashley and North Charleston.

He was reelected in 2020 and is in the middle of a four-year term. A special election to fill his District 42 seat is expected to be held sometime this summer, which will result in new leadership for the district for the first time in nearly a decade.

"I do not take this action lightly, but I am excited about the opportunity to continue to represent South Carolina and District 42 on the world stage," Kimpson told the newspaper. "I think the people of Charleston will appreciate and respect the fact that the president has called and I intend to answer it."

Kimpson's last day has not been determined, but the session is scheduled to end in May. He also said he has spoken with Senate President Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla, about his plans to resign.

The 53-year-old has been a prominent figure despite being in the minority party in the state Senate, where Republicans currently hold 30 of the chamber's 46 seats.

In 2014, seven years before the NCAA adopted a rules change to let students monetize their name, image and likeness, Kimpson pushed for college student-athletes to get paid.

In 2015, Kimpson was a leading voice in the debate to remove the Confederate battle flag from the Statehouse grounds after a white supremacist killed nine Black parishioners inside Charleston's Emanuel AME Church, a house of worship that resides in Kimpson's district.

That same year, after a North Charleston policeman shot and killed Walter Scott, his bill mandating all South Carolina officers use body cameras was signed into law and celebrated as a vital first step toward transparency in police accountability.

Kimpson also joined Democrats in a successful hourslong filibuster in 2018 against a bill that would have outlawed most abortions in South Carolina.

But Kimpson has also led efforts on the economic side, including a bill that let South Carolina finally start collecting state sales tax on online purchases. He is involved in an ongoing debate about whether the state should limit or ban the number of acres that can be purchased by foreign companies or companies owned by foreign adversaries, like China, Iran, Russia and others.

District 42 is home to the majority of South Carolina's port terminals, including the Port of Charleston, as well as aerospace giant Boeing. Kimpson said his relationships working with the S.C. Ports Authority and Boeing, along with other multinational companies like Volvo in nearby Ridgeville, has prepared him for this new role.

"District 42 is the epicenter of commerce for the entire state and is arguably a major economic player in the nation," Kimpson said.

The Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations was established to provide overall policy advice to the nation's top trade negotiator.

In a March 10 statement, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai called the committee an important forum that helps ensure that "the benefits of trade are equitably distributed across our economy and to all people."

"President Biden has nominated a diverse group of men and women that will help us carry out his vision for sustainable, inclusive and durable trade policy in 2023 and beyond," Tai said. "I congratulate the members on their appointments and look forward to working with them.

Kimpson's profile has been rising in the Democratic Party in South Carolina and nationwide for years, and he is a longtime Biden ally who has made several visits to the White House since Biden's election in 2020.

The Charleston Democrat was one of 17 rising stars who helped deliver a virtual keynote address at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Like Kimpson, many of those speakers were early supporters of Biden during the Democratic primary race.

Kimpson endorsed Biden about two months before South Carolinas Democratic presidential primary and was a valuable surrogate for the former vice president leading up to his emphatic victory in the Palmetto State.

A father of two school-aged children, Kimpson said he has no plans to move to Washington, D.C., but will travel on an as-needed basis.
COLUMBIA  America's global differences with China are on display in the South Carolina Legislature, where lawmakers are considering bills that would bar Chinese companies from owning large tracts of land in the state.

Opponents call the two measures anti-business and discriminatory to the very investors the state heavily recruited to locate here, with Chinese immigrants also calling the bills "maddening" and a barrier to their pursuit of the American dream.

"Those people who come to this country are motivated by freedom," Frank Win of Columbia, finance manager for Jushi USA Fiberglass Co., testified at a Senate hearing on the proposal March 7.

"Thats my motivation to come to this country," he added. "I dont want this bill to affect people who love this country, who work hard and pay taxes and do everything they can.

"I feel my job is at risk," he said.

But state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, one of the sponsors, said the legislation is about protecting national security, not discriminating against Chinese Americans.

"This isnt targeting anyone based on race. Its targeting based on political connections to the Chinese communist party," the Spartanburg Republican said.

"Theres been a growing trend across the country generally where Chinas become much more belligerent to the United States and our interests," Kimbrell said, adding, "Our objective is not to expose ourselves politically and economically any more than possible to the Chinese government or communist party."

He expects lawmakers to re-evaluate the state's recruiting of Chinese-owned companies.

"If a targeted tax incentive went before the Senate right now for a company coming from China, I dont think it would pass," he said.

Jushi, headquartered in China, is among more than 40 Chinese-owned companies operating in South Carolina, according to the state Department of Commerce, which announced Jushi's decision in 2016 to put its first U.S. plant on 200 acres in Richland County.

At the time, the planned investment of $300 million, creating 400 jobs, was touted as the biggest economic development win for the capital county in decades.

Since 2011, Chinese-owned companies have collectively announced $1.54 billion in capital investment and the creation of nearly 5,300 new jobs in South Carolina, according to Commerce, which has international offices in China and Taiwan. The economic development agency does not track how much land the companies own in the Palmetto State.

Win came to the United States 25 years ago as a University of Tennessee student and became a citizen five years ago.

"It's just not right," he said. "They're not punishing the Chinese government. They're punishing people who left their country for this new land. They're pushing people like us into the arms of the communist country."

While the Chinese communist government is the target of both measures, neither actually names the country. Both would update current law that dates back to at least the 1950s, which bans foreigners and foreign-controlled companies from owning or controlling more than 500,000 acres in South Carolina.

One bill simply strikes 500,000 from the law and replaces it with 1,000 acres.

The other, which has stronger support, also shrinks the limit to 1,000 acres but exempts land owned or mortgaged by June 30. It also bars any new purchase of land by a "foreign adversary," as defined by the U.S. commerce secretary, no matter what the acreage.

The federal list of "foreign adversaries" includes five countries: China is at the top, followed by Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Russia. Last on the list is a specific politician, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Both bills will be back up for debate in a Senate subcommittee March 14.

Longyu Hu, who owns five properties in Clemson, where he earned his doctorate degree, questioned whether his rental income from college students would dry up.

"I was very proud to become part of the American dream and be a landlord," he said, holding up a pair of sweatpants covered with the paint he used when renovating his first apartment. "I'm very proud to be a South Carolinian landlord.

"This bill puts a limit on the free market, a core value we share in the United States," he said, concluding with a question that brought levity to the hearing. "What if one day someone said, 'You cant buy land in Columbia because youre a Clemson fan.' Where does this end?"

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, the lead sponsor of the more specific bill expected to advance, said he filed it Feb. 28 as a reaction to an announcement two weeks earlier that a subsidiary of a bio-medical firm operating in China and the U.S. was buying land in Savannah Lakes Village, a community in McCormick County built around Lake Thurmond, which stretches along the Savannah River on the border with Georgia north of Augusta.

According to the release, the deal included the possibility of using 500 undeveloped acres for food warehouse and distribution centers.

An executive with SLV Windfall Group, the real estate firm entering the $28 million deal, told the Index-Journal of Greenwood he understood why the release upset residents but said there will be no commercial development on residential sites. A meeting Jim Walsh, co-CEO of the Windfall Group, held with residents to address rumors started with a slide pledging no food distribution centers.

"This is not going to happen," he told the newspaper, adding that the buyer's senior managers are all U.S. citizens who want to expand their business into real estate. "China is not buying SLVW."

Massey said that didn't calm fears.

The timing of the announcement seemed particularly bad, as it came days after the U.S. military shot down a Chinese balloon off the coast of the Grand Strand. The Pentagon confirmed the balloon was part of a large surveillance program China's been conducting for several years.

"I think it heightened concerns among those who live close to where this land would be," Massey, whose multi-county district includes the lakefront community, said about the balloon.

Add in, he said, the land's proximity to the Clarks Hill Dam, which created the man-made lake for power generation, and its proximity to Fort Gordon, home to the U.S. Army's cybersecurity center, and south of that, the Vogtle nuclear power plant.

"Those things combined with the global environment and aggressive behavior of China and their friendliness toward Russia, you put all those things together, and thats whats led to the concerns of the people in McCormick," Massey said.

Asked about Commerce's heavy recruiting of Chinese companies over the last decade and the thousands of jobs they've brought, Massey said, "The worlds changed a lot in the last year as it relates to China."

Massey, who was surrounded by opponents of the bill firing off questions after the meeting, said he understands the immigrants' concerns and is willing to continue listening. He also expects some tweaking of the bill, which is co-sponsored by 14 other Republicans and one Democrat.

"What I'm really trying to get at is the purchase of larger tracts, especially like those in McCormick County," he said.

"But I think in the global environment were dealing with right now, for those countries that are designated by the U.S. government as foreign adversaries, we have to be very careful," he continued. "I think everybody, regardless of political affiliation, has concerns about all five countries on that list."

The one Democrat who signed on, Sen. Thomas McElveen, said it was the 2013 purchase of Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork processor, by a Chinese billionaire that prompted him to back Massey's bill. The Sumter Democrat said he doesn't want China, or any company propped up by a foreign adversary, to be able to control the U.S. food supply.

"I think it's a national security issue," he said. The Smithfield "example highlights the fact I think we take our food surplus for granted in America, and I think the Chinese are figuring out ways to feed their people."

However, he stressed he doesn't want to "chill foreign investment." And, he added, "the last thing I want to do is be involved in anything that comes across as xenophobic."

He expects amendments to the legislation, saying it's still very early in the process.
People go to Veronikas Pastry Shop for the pastries, sure. But they also go for Veronika.

Inside the cozy storefront at 2513 Montana Ave., Veronika Baukema is the bakerys only employee. But shes rarely alone. Theres usually a line, and the front door has been opened so much its worn a hole in the vinyl flooring. The shop's posted hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., but Veronikas closes once the last pastry is gone. The door rarely stays open past noon.

Try one of her wares and youll understand why. Her croissants are the type of flaky where the crumbs might force you to change your shirt after eating one. She makes turnovers packed with fruit, and cookies and tarts and muffins and cakes and anything else anyone might want. Baukema bakes everything from scratch. Her dough has over 200 layers of butter after shes done folding it all together.

Her space, narrow but with a big vaulted ceiling and plenty of light, always smells like butter.

I work very hard for that smell, Baukema laughed.

Shes not kidding. She gets to the store around 4:45 a.m., which she notes is not too bad, because she spends a lot of the afternoon prepping for the next day. She estimates that she puts in at least 10 hours a day. But she doesnt mind it.

The difference is, I work for myself, Baukema said. Youre tired, but youre happy tired.

All that work is paying off. For one, shes gained a legion of loyal fans. Of the bakerys 113 Google reviews, her lowest rating is four stars, and the reviewer admits he hasnt actually been there.

But Baukema is getting praise from a less-dubious source, too. Shes a semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker at the James Beard Awards, the most prestigious prize in the culinary world. Shes one of 20 semifinalists, who will be whittled down to five finalists on March 29. The winner will be picked on June 5.

Born in Uzbekistan

The award is something of a culmination for Baukema, who has spent a lot of time and energy to open her own bakery.

Baukema was born in Uzbekistan, when it was still a part of the Soviet Union. But after the country declared its independence in 1991, Baukema found it to be a challenging difficult time for us. Thats why I moved to the United States.

It was a process. She picked Billings because she found a person from here that was willing to sponsor her trip. Finally, she made it to America.

Shell never forget the day. It was Aug. 12, 1999, her birthday. And because of the big time difference as she traveled the globe, its the longest one shes ever gotten to celebrate.

I left Moscow on Aug. 12, she remembered. I flew from Moscow to New York, and it was still Aug. 12. From New York to Salt Lake, it was still Aug. 12. From Salt Lake to Billings, it was still Aug. 12.

The move was an adjustment. All we knew about the United States was from movies, she said. And Billings didnt look like the movies.

Baukema was raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistans capital, which has nearly 3 million residents. She was expecting to move to a city of that size.

For us, living in a big city was normal, she said. And heres Billings. It was very small, but now I love it. I dont want to change anything.

When she arrived in Billings, Baukema knew a few phrases in English. Shed immigrated with her 12-year-old daughter Anna. Anna enrolled in school and quickly picked up English, but Veronika had a tougher time. For a year, she just focused on learning the language.

I couldnt do anything, she recalled. I couldnt get a job.

Finally, she applied for a job at Walmart, but stated on her application that she only wanted to work in the jewelry department. At her interview, they asked her why she wasnt interested in other departments.

You have such ugly vests, and only the jewelry department is allowed to not wear one she told them. I will never wear those vests.

They must have been charmed, because it worked.

I got the job, she said, shrugging.

Having to communicate with people helped her English, so next she got a job at the Ponderosa Inn, which is now the ClockTower, just a couple blocks from her bakery. From there, she worked for a collection agency, and eventually wound up working 13 years for the Yellowstone County government in the justice court and the county attorneys office.

I never settled for just a job, she explained. I always thought I needed to challenge myself. I felt like the need to grow.

Thats what led her to open Veronikas Pastry Shop. This has been her dream since probably day one in America.

You can do this in America, Baukema said. I used to live in the Soviet Union; you cant do it. 

'Mom, you can do it'

Veronikas daughter Anna had moved to the Pacific Northwest, and after Veronika saw the small, family-owned restaurants and bakeries there, she was inspired.

I always thought about why Billings doesnt have that, she said. And my daughter just said Mom, you can do it.

So she did. Veronikas opened in 2017, and sometimes it feels like theres been a line ever since.

Baking has always been a part of Baukemas life. She first learned how from her grandmother Polina. But she has no formal training. She finds that she learns best by doing.

Its my big home kitchen, she said, pointing around her workspace, to her big oven and mixer. I just introduce people to good quality food. I never use any fake ingredients. Only true butter, true milk, true creamer, true eggs. No substitutes.

Her palate is eclectic. While she was born and raised in Uzbekistan, Baukema background isnt Uzbek. Her dads side has Chinese ancestry, and her mothers side is Russian. When her grandmother Polina was young, she lived in France. The puff pastry that Baukema now makes was taught to her by Polina, who learned it in France.

I am mixed, she said proudly. So is her food. At Veronikas youll find Russian honey cakes alongside French croissants.

Before I put something in the display, I have to try it myself, she said. If I dont like it, I will never offer it.

'Just lots of love'

Baukemas life revolves around pastry and the people of Billings. The James Beard Awards were not on her radar.

I didnt even know that there is such a James Beard Award that exists, she admitted. I am so busy. Im not the person who follows this. I had no idea what this is.

But then customers started congratulating her about it. And she conceded that the awards are indeed a big deal.

Its unbelievable, she said. I cant even explain my feelings. Im a little proud, but a little bit shy at the same time. People tell me Veronika, well deserved. And Im like Maybe not. Because Im cool. Im just a regular person who just does what I love. This isnt a business, this is something I love to do. Making money is just a bonus to me.

Her pastries are all excellent. But part of the Veronikas Pastry Shop experience is going in and talking to her. You can ask her what specials shes making, or what shed recommend, or even just how her days going. Shes a talker. And shes one of the rarest types of talker: one you actually want to talk to.

I enjoy this, she said. I love to come to work. I love to talk to my customers. I love to create new things. I love what Im doing. Everything I do is just lots of love.
In the weeks leading up to the 25 February presidential election, most polls predicted that Labour Party candidate Peter Obi would win the election and become Nigerias next president.

But as votes were sorted and collated by INEC after the elections, nervous supporters and pollsters began to experience a sense of deja vu. More ballots were ticking toward Bola Tinubu, now president-elect, than the polls had projected.

No fewer than nine polls projected Mr Obi to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in May. Only three of the public opinion surveys indicated the ruling party candidate Mr Tinubu would win the election.

However, Mr Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, was declared the winner of the election after he scored 8,794,726 votes. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed with 6,984,520 votes while LPs Mr Obi came third with 6,101,533 votes.

Messrs Atiku and Obi, however, dispute the outcome of the election and have commenced a legal challenge against it.

Although the true picture of pre-election pollings performance is more nuanced than depicted, analysts said Mr Tinubus strength was not fully accounted for in many, if not most, polls.

What was accurate in the pre-election surveys was that the polls predicted a three-horse race. That did not change as each of the three major candidates won in 12 states of the federation.

The Polls that got it wrong

In the third and final poll commissioned by ANAP Foundation and released on 15 February, NOI Polls said Mr Obi was leading with 21 per cent of voters willing to vote for him; 13 per cent said they were voting for Mr Tinubu while 10 per cent of them went with Atiku.

However, a total of 53 per cent of the respondents were either undecided or refused to answer. This led to several people criticising the foundation and its research methodology but the organisation said the methodology used by NOIPolls was almost the exact same methodology that was used in previous presidential polls in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

In all those past presidential polls, the front-runner that was identified by our Polls ended up winning the elections, irrespective of a rather large percentage of voters who were undecided and/or refused to indicate who their preferred candidate was, ANAP said.

The foundation published two polls last September and December showing the Labour Party candidate as the most favourable candidate while acknowledging that undecided voters could tilt the outcome.

The outcome of the 2023 election, thus, shows that the 2023 polls were the first to be wrongly predicted by ANAP/NOIPolls.

Another poll conducted by SBM Intelligence for Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria projected Mr Obi would win 15 states and cross the 25 per cent threshold in 25 states overall. According to the poll, Atiku would take 11 states and get a 25 per cent share of the votes in 27 states, while Mr Tinubu would win in nine states and get 25 per in 20 states overall. The poll did not project a winner for Imo State. It said it was not confident enough to call the election for any candidates.

However, the forecast was in error as the three leading candidates all won 12 states during the presidential elections. On the other hand, Mr Tinubu is the only candidate that scored over 25 per cent of the votes cast in 29 states. Atiku got 25 per cent in 21 states while Mr Obi gained 25 per cent in 16 states.

The SBM Intelligence survey polled 11,534 Nigerians and concluded that Nigerians will need a second round to decide their next President definitively.

Eventually, the election was decided on a first ballot. To be returned president in Nigerias presidential election, a candidate must win the popular vote and score at least 25 per cent in 24 states and Abuja.

Before the SBM survey, the Labour Party candidate was identified as the preferred president by almost 53 per cent of participants in Kwakols 1,008-person survey that was released on 13 February. Messrs Tinubu and Atiku both tallied less than 20 per cent.

Then, a survey conducted for Bloomberg News by San Francisco-based Premise Data Corp said Mr Obi was the preferred candidate to become Mr Buharis successor with 66 per cent of respondents voting in favour of the LP candidate. Earlier in September, Premise Data published a poll where Mr Obi was the first choice of 72 per cent of participants. Messrs Tinubu and Atiku lagged far behind in the Premise poll.

In the same vein, a 2,000-person survey published by Nextier showed that Mr Obi had the brightest chances with 40.37 per cent. PDPs Atiku got 26.7 per cent, closely followed by Mr Tinubu at 20.47 per cent.

A survey by Political Africa Initiative (POLAF) and BusinessDay found something entirely different and projected PDP would win the presidential poll.

Atiku secured 38 per cent to emerge as the preferred candidate, followed by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 29 per cent, while Obi secured 27 per cent to take the third position. Rabiu Kwakwanso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) is a distant fourth with only 5 per cent of the total votes, the poll predicted.

None of the aforesaid polls was bang on the nail as shown by the result of the election.

The surveys that got it right

A survey by Stears predicted victory for Mr Obi in the event that a large number of Nigerian voters turned up to vote. The poll projected Mr Tinubu to emerge victorious in a low voter turnout scenario. The voter turnout in the election was below 30 per cent, the lowest ever in Nigerias history, and the result seemingly validated the Stears poll.

In the final results of the election, Mr Tinubu scored 37 per cent; Atiku 29 per cent; Mr Obi 25 per cent and NNPPs Mr Kwankwaso got 6 per cent.

Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research in its report on the election predicted Mr Tinubu to win but did not also rule out the rising possibility of a run-off.

Fitch said while the election had traditionally been between the APC and the PDP, the vote would be a three-horse race for the first time since Nigerias 1999 return to democracy due to the popularity of Mr Obi, especially among Nigerias urban and affluent voters.

Mr Obis campaign generated momentum that many people did not expect. But the ruling party and the main opposition, the PDP, had always dismissed his popularity saying he could not triumph on 25 February. They said Mr Obis supporters were only on social media and that his appeal was too thinly spread across the countrys states to give him victory.

After the election, Atiku maintained that Mr Obi could not have gotten the constitutionally required spread needed to be declared president.

Mr Obi won 12 states in the contest (five states in the South-east; three in the South-south; two in the North-central; one in the South-west, and the FCT). He also secured 25 per cent in only 16 states.

Yes, I agreed that he (Peter Obi) took our votes from the South-east and the South-south and that of course would not make him a president. You all know that to win the presidential election in Nigeria, you need votes from everywhere, Atiku said at a press conference after the elections.

Finally, Dataphyte Research conducted a state by state ground-truthing stats, which involved analysing past voting patterns, voter turnouts, voter choice homogeneity, the religious homogeneity index, and so on and found the current scenario to be similar to that in the 2015 elections.

The media firm projected that Mr Tinubu would win the popular votes and would be the only candidate to satisfy the spread criteria of a minimum of 25 per cent votes in two-thirds of the 36 states and FCT.

The organisation said there would be no need for a run-off election. That poll got it right.

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Despite being in control of only four of the 19 states in northern Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) pulled a major upset in the 25 February presidential election, winning more states than the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Bola Tinubu, in the region.

Mr Tinubu scored 8,794,726 votes to be declared the president-elect, ahead of Atiku Abubakar of the PDP who scored 6,984,520, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who scored 6,101,533 and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) who scored 1,496,687 votes.

However, the ruling party performed below expectations in the North, which was considered its stronghold.

Though Mr Tinubu scored the required 25 per cent in almost all the states, his performance, especially in the North-west region, was unimpressive. He only managed to win Jigawa and Zamfara states, losing Kano to Mr Kwankwaso and Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto states to Atiku.

In the North-east, Atiku won Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe and Taraba while Mr Tinubu won only Borno State.

In the North-central, Mr Tinubu won Benue, Kwara, Kogi and Niger states while Mr Obi snatched Plateau and Nasarawa states.

Statistically, the president-elect did not, like Mr Buhari, secure overwhelming victories in the states he won in the region. In Zamfara State he got 59 per cent, in Borno he got 54 per cent, in Kwara he scored 56 per cent, in Kogi he scored 53 per cent, in Benue he scored 40 per cent, he scored 46 per cent in Jigawa and 48 per cent in Niger State.

The presidential election result from Northern Nigeria came as a surprise to many political watchers as the APC had overwhelmingly won the last two general elections in the region. In the 2015 presidential poll, the APC got 12,228,491 while the PDP got 3,560,620 votes in the 19 northern states. In 2019, the ruling party polled 11,448,806 votes while PDP scored 5,299,594 votes in the northern states. In the 2023 election, the APC also won more total votes than the APC although it won in fewer states. The ruling party got a total of 5,507,784 votes while the PDP got 5,159,541 votes.

Ethnic sentiment

Ethnic sentiment played a key role in determining who won the region. To be fair to Nigerians in the North, they gave Mr Tinubu enough votes to enable him to get the needed 25 per cent in most states in the region. But they also queued behind their son who they believe would do more for the region than a southerner.

Also, Atiku contested as the strongest northerner (ahead of Mr Kwankwaso) in the election. In the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari (who has a cult following in the North), who has contested in every presidential election since 2003, many northerners voted for the person they considered the next strongest contestant from the region.

In the build-up to the election, a group, Na Ka Sai Naka, loosely translated as Your own is your own, campaigned vigorously in the North for Atiku, asking the people to vote for their own.

Even Atiku played on the sentiment.

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What the average Northerner needs is somebody whos from the North and also understands that part of the country and has been able to build bridges across the country. This is what the Northerner needs, it doesnt need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate, I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin, he said during a meeting with some northern leaders.

The only state Atiku lost in the North-east was Borno. His firm grip on the sub-region showed that residents of the area decided to throw their weight behind their son instead of a second in command: APCs vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima.

Yobe had voted APC in previous elections. But it is obvious that the people of the state decided to support someone from their region, especially with the belief that it was time for the region to produce a democratically elected president.

Border opening and economy

Atikus campaign style no doubt helped him in gaining ground where the APC held sway. In most of the northern states he visited for his campaign, Atiku used the issues at hand to campaign for himself.

When you look at how clever Atiku was throughout his campaign rallies in the North, you will agree with me that the states where he promised to open borders, revive the economy and help fight insecurity no doubt helped him, AbdulRahman Jani, a political reporter in Katsina State, said.

Mr Buhari had shut land borders in the country to help revive the local economy and fight transborder crimes. But the local economy has instead suffered greatly due to the measures.

In Yobe, Katsina and Kebbi states, Atiku promised to reopen the borders.

According to him, reopening the borders would foster trade and investment between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

I promise you that I will open the borders that have been closed. I am more knowledgeable on border issues than all the other presidential candidates, he said, apparently referencing his career as a customs officer.

In Kaduna, Kano and Zamfara states, he promised to revive the economy and rebuild moribund manufacturing industries just as he promised to tackle insecurity in most of the northern states.

Remember that Bola Tinubu and his campaign council even went to Abuja to ask people not to vote for a candidate that would reopen borders. It gave Mr Atiku an edge over Tinubu here in the North, Mr Jani said.

Banditry and insecurity

Judging from the result of the election, northerners had more faith in the ability of Atiku to solve the growing insecurity in the region. Of the six states mostly affected by banditry, Atiku won four  Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Kebbi  while Mr Tinubu won Niger and Zamfara. Even in Zamfara where he won, Mr Tinubu lost in local governments like Bungudu and Gusau.

In Katsina State, for instance, all the local government areas (with the exception of two  Danmusa and Faskari) witnessing insecurity voted for Atiku. Batsari, Kurfi, Dutsin Ma, Bakori, Kankara, Batagarawa, Jibia and Safana all went to the former vice president with some of them recording a margin of over 8,000 between the two.

I was not surprised with the outcome of the result, a political analyst, Saifullahi Kuraye, told PREMIUM TIMES. When you look at the results, you know that these people (vulnerable communities) are really angry with APC. During the campaigns, nothing of banditry attacks happened. So, most of them felt the government could tackle this insecurity issue. It is not as if Atiku Abubakar is better. But you know APC has been in power for eight years and bandits are still killing people. Those in the areas felt that a new leader from a different party can do the magic.

In Kaduna State, the troubled areas were all won by Atiku with the exception of Birnin Gwari. Atiku won in Kauru, Giwa, Lere, Kubau, Soba, Kudan and Igabi.

Aggrieved APC members

In several states where Atiku won, some top members of the APC openly campaigned for him. In Katsina State, two commissioners, two permanent secretaries, and some top special advisers were sacked for allegedly working for PDP. Several permanent secretaries and a commissioner have also been redeployed to ministries and offices considered dead zones for the same reason

Widespread decamping

Another factor that helped Atiku against the APC presidential candidate in Northern Nigeria was the widespread decamping of top politicians from the APC to the PDP immediately after the formers primary elections last year. While some left for the NNPP, most joined the PDP.

Many people were surprised Atiku won Katsina, President Buharis home state. But the state chapter of the APC has been witnessing a series of setbacks since the gubernatorial, national and state assemblies primary elections.

Mustapha Inuwa, the immediate former Secretary to the State Government; the senator representing Katsina North district, Ahmad Babba-Kaita; House of Representatives members, Hamza Dalhatu, Salisu Iro, Ahmad Dayyabu; as well as other top politicians in the party joined the PDP.

In Sokoto, several top APC members joined the PDP. Those who switched sides include a former minister of transportation, Yusuf Sulaiman; the member representing Gudu/Tangaza, Yusuf Kurdula; a former Minister of Culture, Bello Jibrin and the lawmaker representing Gwadabawa/Illela, Abdullahi Salame.

In Kebbi, two senators, Adamu Aliero and Yahaya Abdullahi left the APC for the PDP and vowed to deliver the state to Atiku. They were swiftly followed by several members of the House of Representatives and members of the states House of Assembly.

In Kaduna, rival groups within the party were brought together through the efforts of former vice president, Namadi Sambo, and former governors Ahmad Makarfi and Ramalan Yero, which kept the opposition largely united before the election.

Also, some Southern Kaduna politicians, who felt threatened by the APCs Muslim-Muslim tickets in the presidential and gubernatorial elections, decamped and pitched their tent with either Atiku or Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Despite the disagreement between the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, and some bigwigs of the party, they all worked for Atiku. In fact, the disagreement was largely due to the support the former vice president got from every group trying to outshine one another in providing support to Atiku. Bauchi, known to be one of President Buharis most supportive states, was also won by the PDP.

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Hoteliers in Imo State on Saturday urged the state government and the states chapter of the NLC to settle their differences to save the tourism industry from collapse.

Governor Hope Uzodinma sacked his Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Ford Ozumba, on Saturday over the face-off.

The face-off has led to total blackout in Owerri since Thursday as it grounded the operations of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, which feeds power to Imo.

The blackout has consequently put the hoteliers at risk as patronage ebbed out.

Chairman of the Imo chapter of the Nigerian Hoteliers Association, Chima Chukwunyere, told reporters in Owerri on Saturday the effect of the face-off on the tourism industry was becoming untoward.

He called on the parties to sheath their swords and save the industry before it became late.

According to him, the high cost of diesel and on-going cash crunch were enough challenges for the industry which continued to battle with multiple taxations in a dwindling economy.

He described the tourism industry as the second highest employer of labour in Imo and called on the parties to quickly resolve their differences in the interest of the state and her economy.

As the saying goes, where two elephants fight, the grass suffers and the grass here is the hotel industry.

More than 80 per cent of hotels are on the brink of collapse. They have neither been able to pay staff salaries nor have they met other expenses since December 2022.

Right now about 70 per cent of hotel owners in the state are asking people to leave their hotels because they want to relocate their businesses to either Asaba or to Ghana.

It is such a worrisome situation and whatever is the problem between the warring parties should be sorted out quickly, Mr Chukwunyere pleaded.

(NAN)

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A lawmaker in Abia State, Obinna Ichita, has said that the 2023 Appropriation Act passed by the state House of Assembly did not capture the State Governments automatic promotion to local government workers.

Mr Ichita, representing Aba South State Constituency, made the disclosure while speaking with reporters in Umuahia on Friday.

He was reacting to the automatic promotion announced by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu during a meeting with civil servants in the state on Thursday.

He said: The automatic promotion to local government workers coming barely by one week to the election is a mere subterfuge.

There are workers who are owed up to 36 months salary arrears and never enjoyed any promotion for many years under Ikpeazus administration.

The governor has not paid workers allowance and other entitlements since he assumed office in 2015.

Therefore, the announcement is deceptive and cannot fly.

Also, there is no provision in the 2023 budget to cover the salaries for the promotion.

If he was genuine, he would have increased the provision for recurrent expenditure for us to assume that he planned to promote workers.

Mr Ichita further described the governors gesture as an insult on the collective sensibility of our people.

It shows that he thinks that the workers are fools to be carried away by his unrealistic promise, he said.

Other unfulfilled promises

The lawmaker advised the workers to ignore the pronouncement and take it as one of the governors phoney promises.

He promised to build Enyimba Economic City, Education City at Owerrinta, reconstruction of Ahiaohuru and Ariaria markets in Aba before the end of 2021.

He also promised an underground tunnel at Ifeobara Pond and revitalisation of the education and health sectors, but all these and many others have remained unfulfilled, he said.

The lawmaker also took a swipe at the governor for not paying attention to critical roads in some parts of Aba, including the Port Harcourt Road, which he started but abandoned midway.

He also listed the Omuma Road, Obuohia Road and Ohanku Road, among the deplorable roads in the commercial city begging for attention.

He similarly expressed concern over the dilapidation of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, saying that the only functional unit at the facility was the mortuary.

Mr Ichita, who is the APGA deputy governorship candidate, spoke about APGAs prospects in the 18 March elections.

He said APGA bears the Igbo identity, and was fully acceptable to the people of the state.

APGA will win the governorship poll overwhelmingly because our people believe in us, he said.

He described APGA governorship candidate, Greg Ibe, as the candidate to beat.

According to him, Mr Ibe, a professor, is the highest single private employer of labour, with an enormous investment in education in the state.

Others take their investments to other cities because they say that there is no significant return on investment in Abia, Mr Ichita said.

He also said that beyond building a university, the Gregory University, Uturu, Mr Ibe was also making substantial contributions to the health sector through his free medical and surgery services to the people.

(NAN)

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Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State on Saturday approved the immediate removal of the state Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Ford Ozumba.

The removal was contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Owerri by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no reason was given for the removal of the commissioner who was directed to handover to the Permanent Secretary of the ministry with immediate effect.

It is unclear for now if Mr Ozumbas removal was in connection with the workers strike in the state.

Workers in the state, under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress, on 8 March, embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged interference of the Imo State Government in the election of new state executives of the union.

The NLC president, Joe Ajaero, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, accused the Imo government of using armed thugs and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force to disrupt the conduct of the union elections in the state.

The NLC president alleged that the Imo State Government sought to influence the outcome of the elections in the state, by offering gratifications to the delegates to vote for their chosen candidates.

This meddlesomeness was resisted by the delegates who refused the unholy offerings and baits to vote for their chosen candidates, he said.

Mr Ajaero claimed that the state government was enraged by the delegates rejection of their offerings and resorted to violence ostensibly to disrupt the exercise.

When contacted on Thursday, the spokesperson to Governor Uzodinma, Oguike Nwachukwu, refuted the allegations.

Mr Nwachukwu told PREMIUM TIMES that there was no such violence against the NLC members in the state.

The allegation is nonsense, he said, without giving details.

(NAN)

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A former governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja, has endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Teslim Folarin, for Saturdays election.

Mr Ladoja was the governor of the state between 2003 and 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He defected to the Zenith Labour Party in December 2018 and led a coalition of parties to successfully back Seyi Makinde for election in 2019.

But the coalition has fallen apart as the members accused Mr Makinde of not honouring the terms of the pact they had with him.

The former governor has neither been active in ZLP nor returned to the PDP but remains an influential political figure in the state.

On Thursday, his political family announced its support for Mr Folarin of the APC.

While speaking with his supporters at a meeting on Saturday in Ibadan, Mr Ladoja urged them and other voters in the state to vote for the APC governorship candidate.

The former governor expressed displeasure with Mr Makinde over his handling of the 25 February National Assembly elections in the state in which the APC won most of the seats.

In the just concluded National Assembly elections, all the three senators under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party lost. And this is not about the history of Oyo State, but also about the history of the person in power. We saw an example of this in Osun State, he said.

Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, has only been in power for three months, yet he was able to clear all the House of Representatives and senatorial seats for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the just concluded National Assembly elections. And then, we have to know that Osun State is in a peculiar position because it is the roots of Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, he added.

After Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, picked the PDP House of Representatives and senatorial candidates to represent the state at the National Assembly, he didnt offer any form of support to them, the former governor said.

He didnt spend money to support them or gave out a word to the citizens for any single one of them. Even God detests actions that are unfair and unjust, he said.

So when Saturday, March 18 comes, please, leave all you are doing and go out to cast your votes for Teslim Folarin, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

Mr Ladoja also urged aggrieved members of the APC to overlook the shortcomings of the governorship candidate of the APC.

One of our major mobilisers in the PDP called Olopoeyan recently defected to the camp of APC. Also, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) chapters of Oyo State have adopted Teslim Folarin as their preferred governorship candidate, he said.

Some political parties are also considering adopting Folarin already. However, I believe all will be sorted out in the coming days. Please, I am appealing to my loyalists to cast their votes for Folarin in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, he added.

In addition, I want everyone to forgive him for whatever he might have done in the past.

Mr Ladoja was a political father to both Mr Folarin and Mr Makinde.

He led the coalition that backed Mr Makinde to win the election in 2019 but the coalition later collapsed six months after, following an accusation that Mr Makinde breached an allegedly agreed sharing formula for the appointment of commissioners and other political office holders into his government.

The parties in the coalition were African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the alleged agreement, PDP was to take 64 per cent of the appointments, ADC 30 per cent, ZLP five per cent and SDP one per cent.

But after the election, Mr Makinde denied any such agreement. But Mr Ladoja insisted many times even at public events that there was an agreement and criticised the governor for denying it.

A source told our reporter that Mr Ladoja has persuaded many PDP leaders to work for Mr Folarin, except Taofeek Arapaja, a former deputy governor now the Deputy National Chairman of PDP who is with Mr Makinde.

The source also said Mr Ladoja had met with a section of the Muslim community in the state, which was already angry with Mr Makinde over the sack of his original deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan, who hails from Oke-Ogun, an area dominated by Muslims.

Some of the lawmakers who lost in the 25 February National Assembly elections are associates of Mr Ladoja and are also said to be working against Mr Makinde.

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The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has handed over 11 victims of human trafficking to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Sokoto.

The Services Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Controller of Corrections (CC), Tony Akuneme, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Akuneme said the victims were repatriated back to Nigeria by the Niger Republic Police and handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service at the Illela Border Command.

According to him, the Comptroller of Immigration, Illela Border Command, Ado Rano-Sabo, revealed this on Friday, March 10 while handing the victims over to the Zonal Commandant of NAPTIP in Sokoto.

The 11 victims who were all women, were apprehended in the Niger Republic on their way to Libya.

The young women are from different parts of the country and of various ages ranging from 19 to 37, he said.

Mr Akuneme advised Nigerians to desist from undertaking such perilous journeys, noting that most victims ended up being used for labour exploitation, prostitution or organ harvesting.

(NAN)

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The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) said insufficient power allocation to the company by generation stations was responsible for the unstable electricity supply in the region.

Adamu Muhammed, public relations Officer, Niger Region, AEDC, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Minna.

The Management of AEDC PLC wishes to inform its valued customers that it is aware of the unstable power supply experienced in recent times essentially caused by insufficient power allocation.

Due to the limited energy allocation, we have had and will continue to implement load curtailment directives across our franchise to manage the situation for grid stability.

This will involve occasional/temporary interruption of power supply to certain areas for a limited period.

All this instability in power supply has to do with generation/transmission stations. If the generation stations improve, definitely our allocations will improve as well, he said.

Mr Muhammed apologised to electricity consumers for the inconveniences caused by the load shedding.

We are doing everything we can to ensure that the impact of the power outages is minimised, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time.

We appeal to our esteemed customers that we will continue to update them on the situation and provide any necessary information when it is available, he said.

NAN reports that AEDCs franchise area covers the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kogi and Nasarawa States.

The company is organised into nine regions and 39 area offices across the four states.

(NAN)

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Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), have intensified campaigns for their respective candidates, ahead of the 18 March House of Assembly election in Anambra.

While Mr Obi called on the LP candidates to win and support the APGA-led government, Mr Soludo urged voters in Anambra to ignore Mr Obi and vote for APGA.

Mr Obi, who met with the LP House of Assembly candidates in Anambra on Friday night, called on the candidates to go all out and campaign to win on 18 March.

He said they should win and support the APGA-led government to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

The former governor of Anambra used the opportunity to thank the people of Anambra for their support for LP to win two senatorial and five House of Representatives seats in the 25 February elections.

Mr Obi urged the electorate across the country and in Anambra to go about their campaigns peacefully, as election was not war.

According to him, I have told my people to go and campaign and win the election.

Their job as a legislator is to work with the governor and ensure he provides the dividends of democracy to our people. Help him to make good laws on education, health and other sectors.

Soludo remains our governor. Our job is to support and pray for him, he said.

READ ALSO:

I have told our candidates to go about their campaigns in a peaceful, quiet and organised manner, he said.

He said he had no issues with Governor Soludo as they remained brothers, best of friends, with different political views.

He is the governor of my state and I have utmost respect for him. I am contesting for the president of Nigeria and to the best of my knowledge he is not a contestant, he said.

In a reaction, Mr Soludo described the call by Mr Obi for Anambra electorate to vote LP as deceptive and a strategy of laying landmines for him.

Mr Soludo, who spoke through his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, urged Anambra people to ignore Mr Obi and vote for the APGA candidates for the 30 seats in the House of Assembly.

That call is inappropriate and meant to deceive the Anambra people. Obi cannot be talking about development in Anambra and also be talking about asking Anambra people to elect lawmakers from an opposition party to work with Soludo.

He worked with a legislature that was dominated by lawmakers from the PDP and he knows that it was not easy for him.

He even suffered impeachment because of that, so Anambra people should go all out on March 18 and vote for APGA, if they want the developmental strides of Mr Governor to continue, he said.

Mr Aburime said instead of canvassing votes for LP, Mr Obi should throw his weight behind the ruling APGA as a payback for the massive support the people of Anambra gave him on 25 February.

He urged Anambra people not to relent in retaining APGA in the State Assembly and avoid stalling the economic and security gains achieved by the Soludo administration so far.

According to him, the Anambra people supported Mr Obi, and Governor Soludo refused to interfere as the people trooped out to vote for the LP.

We voted for the Labour Party in the presidential election, but for the House of Assembly election, we are voting for APGA, and we want Anambra people to know so.

APGA has come to stay in Anambra and not the Labour Party, he said.

(NAN)

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The aging Coast Guard icebreaker moored itself for the long winter night at the sea ice edge in the Weddell Sea off the eastern coast of the Antarctica Peninsula.

The temperature dropped precipitously as some crew members and scientists turned in. The year was 1988, more than 70 years after explorer Ernest Shackletons wooden ship Endurance became trapped in ice in the Weddell Sea and was ultimately crushed.

Researcher Bill Fraser was aboard the Coast Guard icebreaker as part of a winter expedition into the Weddell Sea, one of the first such missions ever attempted at that time of year.

Truly the most inhospitable place Id ever been, he recalled recently during an interview at his home near Sheridan.

He and others woke the next morning to a memorable seascape.

There was fresh sea ice as far as you could see, Fraser said. And surrounding our ship were tens of thousands of Adelie penguins.

That morning was a turning point for Fraser. His previous research in Antarctica had focused on seabirds such as the southern black-backed gull.

But he realized that the Adelie penguin, a flightless bird, offered a rich research focus because of its dependence on sea ice  which was disappearing in some regions of Antarctica.

By 1988 we already knew that Adelie penguin populations were starting to decrease, Fraser said. But we didnt know why, and no one actually knew then that these birds wintered on the sea ice of Antarctica.

So, with this discovery in the Weddell Sea  that this species did in fact winter on the sea ice  we were able to develop a key research question. Could it be that populations of Adelie penguins were decreasing due to the effects of climate warming on the sea ice, their critical winter habitat?

Penguins remained sort of a background species for a while until about the 1990s, Fraser said. Thats when it became super obvious that Adelie penguins were sensitive to sea ice changes.

They feed from the ice. They retreat to the ice. Its like winter range for elk, he said.

That sensitivity intrigued Fraser and its interaction with a warming climate launched a new research focus.

Thats what got me interested in penguins, Fraser said. That was the switch. I realized there was a big story developing here.

The effects of a changing climate are most obvious at the poles. Scientists say that the polar bear in the arctic and animals like the Adelie penguin in the Antarctic ecosystem are indicator species  sensitive to both past ecological changes and warning us of the effects of what already is and what might be coming.

Fraser approached the National Science Foundation about funding research under its Long Term Ecological Research program. Subsequently, Fraser and other researchers founded the Palmer Antarctica Long Term Ecological Research Program.

Hugh Ducklow was the projects lead investigator, which meant the entire marine ecosystem in Antarctica was within his purview. Bill Fraser was a colleague. The men first met in 1998, Ducklow said.

Nothing speaks more to Bills commitments to his research, penguins and Antarctica than the record of his fieldwork, Ducklow said.

Some of my most meaningful experiences in science were walking around in the field with Bill and hearing him talk about Antarctica, he said.

Fraser, now 72, and other researchers have witnessed dramatic and deeply disturbing trends in Antarctica.

Sea ice has crashed, he said. The Adelie penguin population has declined by about 90 percent within our study area near Palmer Station.

Other ice-dependent creatures, such as the shrimplike krill and Antarctic silverfish, have experienced the dire effects of warming. Adelie penguins have traditionally relied on both for food.

Fraser said he has witnessed dramatic ecosystem shifts over the course of a few decades that typically require centuries to unfold.

Accounts of his work in Antarctica have been featured in National Geographic, The New Yorker and in a book titled Frasers Penguins. Journalist Fen Montaigne authored all three.

Montaigne first met Fraser during the Antarctic winter of 2003-04. During the Antarctic summer of 2005-06, he spent nearly five months as an unpaid member of Frasers research team and journalist at Palmer Station, the U.S. research station on Anvers Island off the Antarctica Peninsula. He reflected this week about his experiences.

What struck me about Bill was how much he loved his work and how much he loved his office, as he used to call the western Antarctic Peninsula, Montaigne said.

The western side of the peninsula is far and away the most beautiful place I have ever seen, with the 6,000 to 7,000-foot mountains that form the backbone of the peninsula plunging into the iceberg-covered seas of the Southern Ocean, he recalled. Penguins, seals, whales and seabirds were everywhere.

Montaigne described Fraser as a methodical, painstaking researcher. The teams work included regular counts of Adelie penguins and chicks and a host of measures taken of the penguins, of snow and more.

But the work never seemed tedious because of the stunning landscape and seascape, and we were constantly zipping around in Zodiacs from island to island, Montaigne said.

When I worked with Bill, he was about 55 and he was in exceptionally good shape, he said. He stayed step-for-step with team members who were 20 to 30 years younger as he climbed over guano-slick rocks and scrambled up snow-covered hillsides.

Bill Fraser and Donna Patterson met in Antarctica during the summer season of 1990-91. At the time, she worked in an administrative role at Palmer Station.

According to the National Science Foundation, Palmer Station is superbly located for biological studies of birds, seals, and other components of the marine ecosystem. It has a large and extensively equipped laboratory and sea water aquaria.

Palmer Station was home base for Bill Fraser over the better part of 45 seasons during which he conducted research in a harsh and life-threatening environment that also displays a raw and enrapturing beauty of ice, stone and sea.

Weve been doing a very dangerous job in a very dangerous place, he said. If you dont keep your eyes on the ball, you can die so quickly you wont even know what hit you.

You dont want to get wet, he said  from precipitation, the ocean or perspiration. The key is layering, he said.

The world record for low temperature was documented as minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit at Vostok, Antarctica, in 1983.

During Donna Pattersons second season at Palmer Station she had an opportunity to join Frasers field team when another member did not work out. She has worked since the 1991-92 season as part of the Long Term Ecological Research Program.

Bill is amazing at letting anyone on the field team run with their passions, and mine has always been southern giant petrels, she said. Fraser and Patterson discovered they had more in common than just Adelie penguins and married. They have lived for 23 years in a house in the Ruby Valley and raised a son, Christopher Mackenzie Fraser.

Montaigne said the couples choice for a home makes sense to him.

There are few places outside of Antarctica where I can imagine Bill living, but Montana is one of them, given its wildness and beauty and Bills love of the outdoors, he said.

Patterson-Fraser spoke to her husbands commitment to his research, to Antarctica and the Adelie penguin.

He is, she said, like an Adelie penguin.

Tenacious, determined, persistent. Hes never clocked in or out. Its a bone-deep, lifelong passion.

Patterson-Fraser added that her husband held to the hypothesis that the decline of Adelie penguins was tied to shrinking sea ice even when colleagues balked.

To watch him at Palmer, or on a vessel, or standing on an ice floe, is sheer magic, she said.

Fraser often appears lost in thought in those moments, Patterson-Fraser said, but hes not daydreaming or focused on compiling a mundane list of chores. Instead, the ecologist with a long history in Antarctica is studying the landscape and its processes.

Fraser was born in Argentina but grew up mostly in Florida and Virginia. In 1973, he received a bachelors degree in wildlife management from Utah State University. Later, he completed a doctorate in ecology at the University of Minnesota. His mentor there, renowned ornithologist David Parmelee, played a key role in introducing Fraser to research in Antarctica.

His first trip to the southernmost continent was as a graduate student in 1974.

As the sea ice has retreated and the Adelie populations have declined, gentoo and chinstrap penguins have moved in.

Their populations are going through the roof within our study area, Fraser said. Their life histories are not as dependent on sea ice.

Fraser said he believes its best to consider climate change as an interaction of both a normal warming cycle that began at the end of the last ice age and man-caused, or anthropogenic change, caused by increased carbon in the atmosphere since the industrial revolution.

To me, its not either or, he said. Its the outcome of two converging forces that are affecting global ecosystems.

Montaignes Frasers Penguins quotes Antarctic explorer Apsley Cherry-Garrard, who was part of the Terra Nova Expedition in 1910-13.

All the world loves a penguin. I think it is because in many respects they are like ourselves, and in some respects what we would like to be. Had we but half their physical courage no one could stand against us.

Fraser the empiricist, the ecologist, the painstaking researcher, was asked whether his reactions to the startling population decline in the Adelie penguin in the study area engenders an emotional response.

I feel an absolutely tremendous sadness, he said. Ive been studying this bird forever. You begin to appreciate how tough they are, how committed they are to their chicks. These guys are indicators of some very serious changes.
The Kaduna State APC governorship candidate, Uba Sani, has pledged to accord top priority to the empowerment of women and youths if elected.

A statement by his media consultant, Nasiru Danbatta, said on Sunday in Abuja that for Nigeria to achieve sustainable progress, women must have unfettered access to opportunities.

According to him, a more inclusive and equitable society should also include the culture of giving women seats at the decision-making level.

He said:  That is why we have included womens programmes among the top priorities of our campaign manifesto.

The candidate was quoted as saying that his manifesto had sought to empower women as key players in the economy and governance.

We shall also provide free antenatal care for expectant mothers and advocate for six months of paid maternity leave in the private sector, Mr Sani added.

He added that his government if elected, would support womens participation in small and medium enterprises (SME), as well as increase funding to the Kaduna State Women Entrepreneurship Funds (KADSWEF).

On International Womens Day, Mr Sani We join women in the celebration of their day and call on policymakers all over the world to take bold actions towards promoting gender equality.

Mr Sani, who is the current senator representing Kaduna Central, said: I want to express my admiration for womens incredible strength, resilience, creativity and unwavering determination, despite the obstacles they face.

Women should not relent, they continue to make history and break glass ceilings,

He enjoined the people of the state to conduct themselves peacefully during Saturdays Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

The APC in the state has revved up its campaign for the gubernatorial and house of assembly elections in the last few days following its disappointing performance in the 25th February presidential and national assembly elections.

The major opposition party in the state  the PDP  won the three senatorial districts and also won most of the House of Representatives seats leaving the APC with just four seats.

The presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, also won in the state unlike in 2019 when the APC practically won every seat available in the state.

(NAN).

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The police in Kaduna State have confirmed the occurrence of a fresh attack on Zango Kataf Local Government Area, on Saturday night.

Mohammed Jalige, the commands public relations officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday, that the attack occurred at 20:40hrs in Ungwan Wakili.

I can confirm that there was an attack, and people were killed, but we are yet to ascertain the exact number of those killed.

Mr Jalige, a superintendent of police, said before last nights attacks, the police had been managing the security situation in the area, following the killing of a herder in the bush four days ago.

Before the attacks, there was something we have been managing for four days now.

One boy was killed in the bush while rearing his animals, and we have been on top of the situation before this unfortunate incident, he added

Sources, however, told NAN that the killing of the herder might not be unconnected with the latest attacks.

(NAN)

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Five siblings arrested by the police under controversial circumstances over a civil case in Imo State, south-east Nigeria, were hurriedly arraigned in court and sent to prison within hours.

They were not allowed access to a lawyer. Their parents were not aware of their arraignment.

The police arrested the siblings on Thursday in Ihiagwa, a community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.

A Twitter user, EbubeNna, later identified as Chiduebube Ohadoma, had raised an alarm that her 29-year-old brother, Solomon Ohadoma, was being molested by some police officers.

Please, I need help, this police officer is shooting at my brother in broad daylight, she said in the Twitter post, which was accompanied by a video clip of the incident.

In the 15 seconds clip, some gun-wielding police officers were seen beating up Mr Ohadoma.

While sympathisers attempted to shield the victim from the beating, one of the officers appeared to be threatening them  the sympathisers  and cocking his rifle.

You are releasing bullet on my own brother, Ms Ohadoma was heard yelling at one of the officers in a mixture of Igbo and English languages.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that a resident, whose name could not be immediately ascertained, was also arrested by the officers for filming them while they were beating Mr Ohadoma.

How it began

Ms Ohadoma, in a separate Twitter post, narrated how the incident started.

She said her brother, a building engineer, was contracted to handle a project which he completed. But an unnamed man who contracted her brother reportedly refused to pay him after he had completed the project.

She said a few days after he promised to transfer the money to her brothers bank account, the man directed him to another person whom he said would pay him the money. But the person also failed to pay the money, according to Ms Ohadoma.

Frustrated, Mr Ohadoma went back to the man  the debtor  and grabbed his phone, insisting he would only return it when his money had been paid to him.

Ms Ohadoma said some of the mans friends warned her and her brother to return the phone because the man has connections with the police in the state and was likely going to use the police against them.

Some officers, at about 1:25 p.m. on Thursday, arrived at the compound where the family is living, ostensibly to arrest Mr Ohadoma.

My brother went outside the gate to buy something from the street and I followed him just to see some policemen beating him up, Ms Ohadoma narrated, adding that one of the officers later shot at her brother.

Ms Ohadoma said the debtor was there and also joined the officers in beating her brother.

Journey to prison

Ms Ohadomas friend, David Oyewale, told PREMIUM TIMES the officers later arrested her (Ms Ohadoma), including three of her sisters and her brother, Mr Ohadoma.

The police accused all the five siblings of assaulting the officers, Mr Oyewale said.

Mr Oyewale confirmed that the officers also arrested a resident for filming them.

Like the others, the police accused the resident of assaulting the officers. The six of them were taken to Umuchima Police Post in the area.

Mr Oyewale, however, said Ms Ohadoma told him that she was earlier arrested for posting the video clip of the incident on her Twitter page. She had denied assaulting the officers, according to him.

Mr Oyewale said he did not know about the incident until he was contacted on phone by Ms Ohadoma, who narrated the incident to him and informed him that she was being held at the police post, alongside her four siblings.

That was on Friday morning.

Ms Ohadoma later that Friday informed Mr Oyewale on the phone that they had been taken to the court for trial. The call ended abruptly, according to Mr Oyewale.

Mr Oyewale said he believes that her phone was taken away from her before she could give out the details of the court where she and others had been taken to.

It must be a Magistrate Court close to the area, he reasoned.

But at the court, Mr Oyewale and another person were refused entry by two police officers guarding the court premises.

From the court premises, they went to the police post but were told the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, in the police headquarters.

But about 10 minutes after they left the police facility, Ms Ohadoma phoned Mr Oyewale and told him she and her siblings, alongside the resident, had been arraigned at the court and were about to be moved to a prison.

That was about 12:15 p.m. on Friday.

So, we took a bike to that court. As we were getting there, they (police officers) were moving them out in their vehicle, Mr Oyewale said.

That was exactly 12:29 p.m.

We asked the people around there where they were taking them to, they said they were taking them to prison. They said they just finished a court hearing now.

PREMIUM TIMES observed that the arrest of the suspects, their arraignment at a Magistrate Court in Owerri, Imo State, and their movement to the prison happened in less than 24 hours.

Mr Oyewale expressed surprise that Ms Ohadoma and her siblings, alongside the resident, were arraigned without the knowledge of their family and legal representation.

He said when he and a brother of the remanded persons visited the prison they were told by some officers at the prison premises that they would only be allowed to see them if they came with a lawyer.

We have been going around from one place to another trying to find a lawyer, but we couldnt find any. Their mum has been crying up and down, Mr Oyewale said on Friday night.

As of Saturday afternoon, the family was yet to hire a lawyer.

We could not afford the fee being charged by the lawyers we have contacted so far, a family member, who asked not to be named, said on Saturday.

Police react

When contacted on Saturday afternoon, the police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, told PREMIUM TIMES that the six persons were arrested and charged to the court for assaulting the police officers.

Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, said for Mr Ohadoma to snatch somebodys phone amounted to robbery.

He said the police operatives went to Mr Ohadomas house to arrest him, on receiving the information.

On getting to the house, the suspect had to mobilise some thugs, including his sisters, and attacked the police detectives and assaulted them, he said.

The police spokesperson said when some reinforcements came, six of the suspects were arrested while others escaped. They were charged to court, he said.

Asked about the speed with which the suspects were arrested, arraigned, and remanded in prison, Mr Okoye said the police had no role in the remand of the suspects.

It is the responsibility of the court to determine who is innocent or guilty, not the police, he said.

The court would hear the case again on 5 April, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

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The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise [CPPE] on Sunday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately intervene to put an end to the hardship caused by the currency redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a statement signed by Muda Yusuf, director of CPPE, the think tank said the cash scarcity has not only crippled economic activities in the country but has now become a major risk to the livelihoods of Nigerians.

He explained that millions of citizens have slipped into penury and destitution as a result of the disruptions caused by the currency redesign policy, especially the mopping up of over 70 per cent of cash in the economy.

Nigerians have not been this traumatized in recent history. The economy is gradually grinding to a halt because of the collapse of payment systems across all platforms.

Digital platforms are performing sub-optimally because of congestion; physical cash is unavailable because the CBN has sucked away over 70 per cent of cash in the economy and the expected relief from the supreme court judgement has not materialized, the CPPE said.

Mr Yusuf added that citizens are consequently left in a quandary amid silence from constituted authorities.

The banks claimed that the CBN has not officially communicated the supreme court judgement to them for any actions.

The President has maintained a worrying muteness on the judgement; the market women and men are waiting to hear from President Buhari or the CBN governor on the legal tender status of old currency notes, the statement said.

Curiously, the CPPE argued, there is an apparent reluctance or unwillingness by the federal government and the CBN to comply with the supreme court judgement.

The statement added that the development is very disturbing and inexplicable.

Meanwhile, Nigerians continue to groan in the adversity inflicted by the acute cash shortage amid the rejection of old currency notes by market operators, refusal by banks to accept the old notes, silence by the presidency on the supreme court judgement; and absence of official pronouncement by the CBN on the issue.

Retail transactions across sectors have become nerve-wracking and distressing as payment system challenges persist. Since the onset of the cash crisis, the Nigerian economy has lost an estimated N20 trillion.

These losses arose from the deceleration of economic activities, the crippling of trading activities, the stifling of the informal economy, the contraction in the agricultural sector and the paralysis of the rural economy. There are also corresponding job losses in the hundreds of thousands, the think tank said.

Mr Yusuf said Mr Buhari did not seem to appreciate the gravity and enormity of the suffering and pain that Nigerians have been experiencing since the currency redesign policy was introduced.

We again plead with the President to immediately intervene to put an end to the devastating and traumatic outcomes of a repressive, poorly conceptualized and badly implemented currency redesign policy.

We request the following immediate actions.

The CBN should be directed to immediately inform the Nigerian public that the old currency notes [alongside the new notes] remain legal tender until the 31st December 2023, in line with the supreme court judgement.

The CBN should be directed to officially communicate the outcome of the Supreme court judgement to the banks and affirm compliance with the judgement.

The president should publicly empathize with Nigerians on the unwarranted and inexcusable pain and suffering that the currency redesign policy has wreaked on them, he said.

Background

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had last December introduced new N200, N500, and N1000 notes, which led to the withdrawal of the old notes from circulation. This policy resulted in widespread chaos across the country, with protests erupting in various regions as Nigerians faced difficulties doing business and making cash payments in daily transactions.

Earlier in March, the Supreme Court ruled that the CBN must extend the use of old banknotes until 31 December due to the negative impact of the policy.

A seven-member panel of the court, led by John Okoro, unanimously ordered the CBN to continue receiving the old notes from Nigerian citizens.

The court also found that President Muhammadu Buharis directive to the CBN on the withdrawal of old notes and redesign of new banknotes without proper consultation was invalid.

Last Monday, after the Supreme Court judgement on the naira policy, some commercial banks in parts of the country resumed the issuance of the old N500 and N1000 notes to their customers.

But since the Supreme Court gave its verdict on the case, neither the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) nor the Nigerian government has reacted to the new development.

PREMIUM TIMES also reported how many traders across the country refused to accept the old naira notes from their customers.

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Police in Delta State, south-south Nigeria, have spoken about the 9 March assault on a police officer by officials of the Nigerian Navy who invaded a police facility in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES, relying on a clip posted on Twitter, had reported the incident which happened in Enerhen, near Warri.

The one-minute 30 seconds clip showed the assaulted officer moving about restlessly inside the premises of the police station, surrounded by angry colleagues who were appealing to him to stay calm.

His face was bloodied and his police uniform was partially torn.

The police spokesperson in the state, Bright Edafe, in a statement on Sunday, said 15 naval ratings were involved in the officers assault.

He said the attack was led by a rating, Kevwe Ejaita, who had had an altercation a previous day with the officer they later came to beat up in the police station.

The DPO Enerhen Division promptly responded with his men, and the attack was successfully repelled while the said Kevwe Ejaita, who was the arrowhead of the group, was arrested.

The Naval authority in Warri on being informed of the situation detailed a team of Naval Police personnel to proceed to the Division. The arrested Naval Rating was released to the navy authority on request for necessary disciplinary action. The injured police sergeant was taken to the hospital for treatment and later discharged, Mr Edafe, a deputy superintendent of police, said in the statement.

The police in Delta State were working with naval authorities to forestall a reoccurrence of such an incident, the statement said.

The statement said the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Muhammed Ali, condemned the action of the naval ratings and warned that assault on police officers while performing their lawful duties by anyone will not be tolerated.

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The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, will be meeting with the partys members-elect of the National Assembly on Monday.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore, the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, will attend the meeting.

The meeting will take place at the Banquet Hall of the State House and all lawmakers have been advised to arrive at the venue by noon.

The party directed all the elected lawmakers to appear at the venue with their certificates of returns.

This is to inform all Senators-Elect and members of the House of Representatives-Elect of the All Progressives Congress (APC), that they are invited to a parley with the Partys National Leadership.

The meeting which will be attended by the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect will be held at the State House Banquet Hall, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Senators/House of Representatives-Elect must come to the meeting with their Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Certificates of Return and must come alone, the statement reads.

Although the agenda of the meeting was not stated in the invitation, it was gathered that it will centre on the election of the leadership of the 10th Senate and the House of Representatives, which will be inaugurated in June.

The new members were elected on 25 February.

Based on the results declared so far by INEC, the APC has the majority in the two chambers.

In the House of Representatives, APC has so far won 162 seats out of the 325 seats declared. The party also won the majority in the Senate with 57 seats while the PDP got 29 seats.

Elections into some seats in both chambers have not been concluded while the results of others have not been announced for some reasons.

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We must relinquish every right to ourselves.

A Good Samaritan rushed a friend suffering from appendicitis to the hospital. They got there in the nick of time. His appendix had already ruptured. The doctor said that they had to operate right away, and they promptly wheeled him into the theatre.

Quickly, his appendix was surgically removed. It was a successful operation. But there was a crisis when the man was revived. He kicked up a fuss. What exactly was the matter? He wanted his appendix back. I never authorised you to remove it, he insisted.

What can be done in a case such as this? He said: I cannot live without my appendix.

Can he live without a ruptured appendix? Or would he rather die with it?

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him. (Hebrews 2:3).

The man insisted: I want my appendix back. If we put it back, you might not even survive the operation. Just put it back. I never asked you to remove it.

This relates to the contradictions we experience as Christians. How can we be redeemed without surrendering our lives? We were saved from Egypt, but we now want to go back to Egypt. What is the reality of Egypt? Was Egypt a nice place to be? Did we want to be saved from Egypt? Was salvation against our will? Can we be saved from our desires? Is Egypt heaven or hell? If it is heaven, why would we want to be saved from it? If it is hell, why would we want to return to it?

The redeemed must surrender Egypt and all that is in Egypt. Egypt is another word for the world.

John says: Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God; for all these worldly things, these evil desires  the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance  these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself. (1 John 2:15-16).

To be redeemed, we must surrender every right to our lives because our lives were lives of sin and death. Remember Lots wife. She was rescued from Sodom and Gomorrah. But her heart remained in Sodom and Gomorrah. And so, against the Lords injunction, she looked back at the smouldering city and became a pillar of salt. She became a monument of Gods displeasure.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6).

The redeemed have been saved from the world. We must not return to the world.

Surrender all

I always wanted to own a Lexus. So, for years, I saved to be able to buy one and finally did. I adored the car. It was everything I longed for. I spent hours polishing it and admiring it.

Then one day my wife asked me if I love her. I said, Of course, I do. She said: I want you to give me your Lexus. I was flabbergasted. But we own it together, I protested. No, she said, I want you to give it to me so that it belongs exclusively to me. I resisted and she sulked: You dont love me. I love you, I said. Okay, Ill buy you another car. No, she replied. I dont want another car. I want the Lexus.

After one year of nagging, sulking, and complaining, I finally relented and gave her the car. She said: Are you sure? Yes, I am sure. You mean it is mine. Yes. Yes. Yes.

The next day she called me outside to see the car. I thought she was washing it; it was all wet. You would not believe what happened. She struck a match and set fire to the car.

How was I to know that she had poured petrol all over it? What in Gods name are you doing? I protested. Her response was a classic: You gave me the car. Since it is mine, I can do whatever I want with it. And what I want to do is to set it on fire.

Are we prepared to relinquish every right to ourselves? Are we prepared to relinquish every plan, purpose, and consideration that has its origin in us? Are we prepared to relinquish our hold on our affections?

Crucified with Christ

Paul says: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20).

Paul does not say that he has decided to obey Jesus. Neither does he say he will venerate Jesus. Such resolutions are based upon human initiative and effort. Instead, Paul affirms an abiding reality: I am crucified.

Paul says he died when Christ died on the cross. He then rose from the dead when Christ rose from the dead. But he did not rise from the dead as Paul. He rose as Christ. In effect, all that Christ has wrought for him on the cross is now wrought in him.

Although he still exists as an individual and separate entity, his mainspring and ruling disposition has been radically altered. He relinquished all rights to himself and became a slave of Christ.

God delivers us from sin, but we have to deliver ourselves from our individuality.

Dying to live

Hannah says: The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. (1 Samuel 2:6).

If He does not kill before imparting life, the old life would pollute the new. Therefore, the Lord kills so that we may be dead to sin and to the world. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is designed to get us to a point where we have no regard for the things of the world.

God is determined that we become immune to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. A body in the grave is unaffected by pomp and vanity, gaiety and revelry, and ambition and splendour.

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

The reality of our redemption should lead us to a posture where we no longer bother about ourselves. Our goal is God Himself, not joy, or peace, not even blessings, but God. Our concern is to realise Jesus Christ.

Faribisala@yahoo.com; www.femiaribisala.com

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We must destroy this structure of discrimination that exists between the Yoruba and Igbo. In the same vein, we must eliminate the ethnic prejudice that is daily radicalising the existing structure constructed in the 1950s. It is nurtured by profound and divisive images on the social media. If this is not done quickly, we will arrive faster than we imagined at a 1994 Rwanda where Hutu identified and targeted their Tutsi neighbours to be macheted to death.

Just before genocide broke out in Rwanda in 1994, a broadcaster on the Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) had said: Someone mustmake them disappear for goodto wipe them from human memoryto exterminate the Tutsi from the surface of the earth. That statement, among others, from that Kigali-based radio, which broadcast from 8 July, 1993, to 31 July, 1994, became the tinder that set Rwanda on fire. By this time next week, the 2023 Nigerian general elections would have been concluded. However, like the shrew  the asin  which leaves in its trails pungent and breath-ceasing smell, the elections, perhaps unwittingly, have endangered social cohesion among Nigerian ethnic groups and set the countrys unity back by almost a century.

RTLM broadcasters got enveloped in crude jokes and usage of offensive language that have today been said to have contributed significantly to the 1994 genocide. Alhough figures of the casualty are still being disputed, from 7 April to 9 July, 1994, a total of between 600,000 and 1,000,000 people were either macheted or shot to death during Rwandas inter-ethnic animosity. While the government claimed that 1,074,017 people were killed, 94% of whom it said were of Tutsi ethnic origin, Human Rights Watch said casualties were 507,000. In contrast, the Journal of Genocide Research, in a 2020 report, claimed that the official figure earlier given was not credible, situating it at between 500,000 to 600,000 deaths. What was however incontestable was that the genocide left thousands of widows, with many women raped to death and hundreds of them infected with HIV. Thousands of children also made up an approximate figure of 400,000 who became orphans.

The radio was so oblivious of how it was leading the country to a graveyard. Only 1.52% of its airtime was dedicated to news and on the contrary, a huge 66.29% of the airtime saw its broadcasters venting incendiary commentary. The radio broadcast, mainly anti-Tutsi propaganda during this period, just as it characterised Tutsi as dangerous enemies of the people whose aim was to hijack political power and elbow Hutus out of power. Almost on a daily basis, RTLM amplified ethnic and political divisions. One of the most notorious profiling it made was labeling the Tutsi as inyenzi  non-human pests or cockroaches, which must be wiped out for their irritancy. Two hundred and fifty-two broadcasts by RTLM called for Hutus to machete Tutsis to death.

Nigeria is unwittingly going down this cadavers-full road. Its own RTLM are social media ethnic irredentists who have no idea of what it means to fight war. These cyber warriors get reinforced by notable leaders in the country who fuel ethnic politics. Can you notice any dissimilarity between RTLMs making them disappear for good and a Nigerian leader calling for the throwing of an ethnic group inside the lagoon, so that they can be feasted upon by sharks?

Rwanda of 1994 is an African sore thumb that hangs out as an eerie lesson for every ethnicity under the human race to avoid. It describes in short sentences how hatred-laced speech and sporadic threats of violence can effectively help to spread genocidal prejudice across the length and breadth of society. Today in Nigeria, politics and politicians have groomed a deeply divided Nigeria, whose divisiveness spans over a century. This is fuelled by extremist ethnic, political views and divisions that openly and mutually preach hatred and violence. We are almost arriving at that bitter Rwandan intersection.

Rwanda, pre-genocide had a lot of historical similarity with Nigeria, especially domination history. In a journal article entitled Prejudice, Crisis and Genocide in Rwanda, published in 1997 by African Studies Association and written by Peter Uvin, the author asked, in a pathetic evocation of our humanity, how do situations come about in which people massively participate in brutal violence against their neighbors who have not harmed them?

Today, Nigerians may need to ask themselves same question that Uvin asked. The greatest culprits of this widespread seeds of hatred and discord are the Yoruba and Igbo of southern Nigeria. Though mutually historically suspicious of each other since the 1950s, basing this suspicion on historic claims of betrayals that are at best mythic, the 2023 elections have far worsened this divisiveness, widening the crevices beyond tolerable level.

In tracing the history of Rwanda, which I said shares similarity with Nigerias, Uvin submitted that, before the advent of colonisation, a vast part of Rwanda was a monarchy dominated by a cattle-rearing ethnic group called the Tutsi. Fleeing famine and draught, the Tutsi arrived Rwanda from the North in the 15th and 16th centuries. They met an agrarian people called the Hutus, who themselves immigrated to this fertile land some centuries earlier from Central Africa. The two of them were predated by inhabitants called the Twa, who were about 1% of the population and noted for pottery and hunting. The three groups were further joined, approximately a century ago, by an ethnic group called the Bazungu, descendants from central Europe who conquered Rwanda by force of occupation. They were whites, had an exclusive lifestyle and constituted about 1% of the population of Rwanda. They were however wealthy, owning sizeable shares of Rwandas wealth.

These ethnicities integrated over the years, speaking same language, believing in same God, sharing same culture and living side by side without rancour. Some ethnographers, on account of this, say that Rwanda had a single ethnic group and that no country in the world had this uniqueness. Sharing different ethnicities, they nevertheless possessed same characteristics. Their cohabitation made it difficult to distinguish between them, so much that, by the 19th century, after they had lived together for hundreds of years and intermarrying in the process, they became so integrated that the only way to categorize them was by their occupations. One was that, anyone who had a sizable herd of cattle was Tutsi.

This unity was not to last for long. The Bazungu supported a Tutsi monarchy that dominated the others. The Tutsi kings were infamous for imposing taxes and ordering obligatory cash crops as means of payment of taxes, foisting on the people very cruel legislation and forced labor. When the Belgian colonizers came, they reinforced this by promoting the Tutsi hegemony. As powerholders, Tutsi commanded the top echelon of society. At the end of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s, this Tutsi rule was overthrown by some educated Hutu who got schooled in Catholic schools after the Second World War. This radically altered and reordered the Rwandan political space. The two Hutu-led post-Independence regimes that came thereafter, under Gregoire Kayibanda of the First Republic, between1962-73; and the Second Republic, between 1973-1994 under General Juvenal Habyarimana, both sowed the seed that culminated in the genocide of 1994.

Like Rwanda, Nigeria has also had a history of domination by the Hausa-Fulani. I went into this long Rwandan history for two reasons; one to show that as Rome was not built in a day, it was not destroyed in a day either; and also, to show that unless Nigerians delink the history of hate and violence from their mindset today, the resultant effects can be cataclysmic. In doing this, I will quote generously from a piece I did on 6 November, 2022, entitled The abduction of Pa Reuben Fasoranti. With it, I intend to back my claim that historical and social roots can be located as responsible for the ethnic prejudice among Yoruba and Igbo today.

This mutual hatred didnt start today. Two narratives feed its trough. The first was Nnamdi Azikiwe of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) attempt to become the first Premier of the Western Region. Before then, tribal tension in the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) had constituted a huge centre of distraction to the two ethnic groups.

Azikiwe didnt hide his disdain for the Egbe Omo Oduduwa and its leaders. Indeed, the Egbe had not been formally inaugurated by the time Azikiwes NCNC, in December 1947, sponsored protest demonstrations against it, using the editor of the Pilot, F. O. Coker, as its peg. Zik and his party, the NCNC, went on to form the Yoruba Federal Union (YFU) as a counterpoise to and as such, weaken the Egbe. This was at a time of growing solidarity among the Yoruba. Zik and his crew launched the YFU on 12 June, 1948, at Glover Hall, Lagos but they were so tactless as to make the speakers at the inauguration be Azikiwe himself, Mbonu Ojike, a known Zik apostle and columnist in the Pilot, as well as Oged Macaulay, a known Zik ally. The YFU however suffered the fate of all politically concocted contrivances  it faded out.

The second point of antagonism between Yoruba and Igbo was Zik and Obafemi Awolowos struggle for the control of the Western Region. While the NCNC was founded in 1944 by foremost nationalist and Yoruba, Herbert Macaulay, who became its first president, Azikiwe was its first secretary. At Macaulays death, the mantel fell on Zik to lead the party. However, Ziks usage of the Pilot to situate the Igbo ahead of other ethnic groups infuriated the Yoruba who walked out of him at the London conference.

Zik was said to have resisted suggestions that Adegoke Adelabu be made leader of the party in the Western Region, while he held the position of national leader. He then contested the 1951 elections under a Macpherson Constitution which stipulated an indirect election to the regional assemblies through electoral colleges. Many of the NCNC members refused to vote for him, reportedly due to their having seen through his plan against Yoruba. They then aligned with Awo during the election. Zik was defeated, prompting his return to the Eastern Region, in the belief that ethnic card was used by the Yoruba against him. Since then, the Igbo have held on to the belief that an alignment with the North is more sustainable than with the West. The inter-tribal political conflicts, which ensued thereafter, have been acerbic and constitute the basis of the gulf in political and even social relations among the two ethnic groups till date.

The civil war is the third and another major source of hatred between the two ethnicities. While knowledgeable Yoruba and even the Igbo have put a lie to a mythic meeting between Awolowo and Biafran leader, Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu, where the former allegedly assured the latter that if the East seceded from Nigeria, the West would follow suit. This alleged betrayal has worsened the relationship between the East and the West.

The combination of all these  as mentioned above  led the East to prefer political relationship and association with the North, than with the West and vice versa. The only time when the West attempted to unite with its Eastern brothers was in the 1962 imbroglio when the rump of the NCNC, represented by Michael Okpara, formed an alliance with the rump of Action Group, which resulted in UPGA. S.L. Akintola, who himself had formed an alliance named NNDP, had made jest of the UPGA alliance in The Sketch newspaper of 10 November, 1964, calling it a club of grousers and grumblers.

Since then, the socio-political relations between the East and the West have been ruled by mutual suspicion. The 2023 elections have taken it a notch higher, to a frightening level. Whether out of their communicated or uncommunicated actions, both Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi, with their parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP), as well as their supporters, have instantly metamorphosed into becoming the duelers of the 1951 elections. In the East, it was a mixture of ethnicity and religion. I was told that the Catholic Church instructed its adherents to vote for the LP because its logo of a father, son and wife was equal to Joseph, the father of Jesus, Mary and Jesus Himself. Thus, voters believed that in voting the LP, they werent just voting their Igbo brother, they were voting for Jesus party. In the West, a vote against Tinubu was a vote by bastards of Yorubaland. All the divisive narratives of 1951 have since resurfaced, with sophisticated but destructive symbols.

Mundane indices like ethnicity and religion ruled the 25 February election. While the South-West was even fairer by allowing the LP to penetrate its zone due to the sophisticated nature of its intelligentsia, the South-East was unilineal in its voting pattern, voting for nothing else but its son. This is what worsened the already fragile relations between the Igbo and Yoruba in Lagos, especially, leading to sabre-rattling and bellicose narratives, pushing both ethnicities towards the road to Kigali.

The winner of the 2023 election, in my view, is the Northern region of Nigeria. In what will appear its first effort since the First Republic, the North showed the West and the East that it was more knowledgeable, more accommodating and more politically sophisticated than they are. Not only didnt it vote according to region, religion or ethnicity, it paved the way for both Tinubu and Obi to enter its electoral spaces.

If the bellicose armies of tribe have not set the Western and Eastern regions on fire by this weekend when the final elections would be held, the two ethnicities must return to the drawing table after the election and enter their own Arusha Accord as the ethnicities did in Rwanda. Their Accord must contain how to begin all over again. The current ideology of discourse, especially on the Lagos State gubernatorial election, is tottering on the path of genocide, the type that was present in Rwanda, preparatory to the 1994 killings.

The systematic discrimination by the ethnicities has provoked what can be called a prejudicial ideology. While the Yoruba maintain the stranger-ness of Igbo in Lagos, Igbo have also maintained same of Yoruba in their land. It can be likened to what happened prior to the genocide against the Jews by Germans.

We must destroy this structure of discrimination that exists between the Yoruba and Igbo. In the same vein, we must eliminate the ethnic prejudice that is daily radicalising the existing structure constructed in the 1950s. It is nurtured by profound and divisive images on the social media. If this is not done quickly, we will arrive faster than we imagined at a 1994 Rwanda where Hutu identified and targeted their Tutsi neighbours to be macheted to death.

Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist.

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When he emerged as Vice-President in 2015, Osinbajo arrived with an intellect and record more accomplished than any previous occupants of the office since Dr Alex Ekwueme in 1979. It was a record built on an ethos of empathy, clarity, relentless application, timeless values, and stubborn belief in the better angels of the human nature, all of which have been severely tested in eight years at the most rarefied levels of Nigerias public life and politics.

On World Teachers Day, 5 October, 2021, a collective of former students from different parts of the world congregated to pay homage to a former teacher. They included professors, army generals, senior judges, several Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), a Queens Counsel (QC; Queen Elizabeth was still alive then), and senior public servants. All of them had one thing in common: they were full of gratitude for the inspiration, motivation, and mentorship provided by the teacher.

That teacher was Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo, the law professor and SAN, who became Nigerias fifth elected vice-president on 29 May 2015. That occasion in 2021 marked forty years since he joined the faculty of University of Lagos as a 24 year old law lecturer, at the beginning of a life-long commitment to ideas, teaching, and mentorship. He was armed with a graduate degree in law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

When Muhammadu Buhari first happened on Nigeria as military head of state on the last day of 1983, Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo was a 26 year old, who was into the third year of life as a university lecturer. 18 months later, Ibrahim Babangida, Buharis gap-toothed Army chief, overthrew his boss, citing causes summarised by Foreign Affairs contemporaneously then as due primarily to his anti-democratic behavior; regionalism, factionalism and economic woes.

Over the next 32 years preceding his somewhat improbable emergence as the running mate to Buhari on their winning presidential ticket in 2015, Osinbajo would compile a quiet record of outstanding accomplishments in the academia, civic activism, public service, and legal practice, accompanied by a peerless understanding of the intricacies of successful policy advocacy and public service reform in the country. As a marriage, a more unlikely pair would have been difficult to conjure up.

He was always among the brightest of his generation. Ikenne, his natal origins in Ogun State, South-West Nigeria, is famous as the home of Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo  whose grand-daughter, Dolapo, would become his life-long partner  the lawyer and political leader who, more than any other in Nigerias history, cast the longest shadow of achievement. It is also known for the humanist activism of Tai Solarin, whose vision of co-operative education pioneered a model in the Mayflower School, established in 1956, the year before Osinbajos birth. Between them, both men set high standards of attainment for children from the community.

Osinbajos primary education at the Corona Schools Trust in Lagos was followed by high school at Igbobi College, where early intimations of his later forensic and oratorical skills were evident in his rich collection of an assortment of prizes in English language, Literature, and History, among many. Upon graduation from the Law Faculty of the University of Lagos in 1978, he added the top prize in commercial law. In the year that Nigeria returned to civil rule in 1979, Osinbajo became a lawyer. He was 21.

When the military traded their fatigues for civilian clothes in 1999 without necessarily giving up power, Osinbajo returned to public service, this time as attorney-general of Lagos State. Over eight tumultuous years, he transformed the office, as well as perceptions of the role of the attorney-general, engrafting a muscular pastoral component to the capacities of the Ministry of Justice, creating the office of the Public Defender (OPD)

On assumption of office in August 1985, General Babangida claimed rather impressively for a soldier that even a government of men in military fatigues needed the consent of the people and that he did not intend to lead a country where individuals are under the fear of expressing themselves. To lead the countrys de-compression from the authoritarianism of the Buhari era, Babangida asked Bola Ajibola, at that time the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which was severely estranged from his predecessor, to become his federal Attorney-General.

Two years into his tenure, Ajibola requested Osinbajo, then in his seventh year as a university lecturer, to join his team as one of a remarkable duo of advisers. The other member of that team was Awa Kalu, himself also another outstanding practitioner-academic, who graduated at the top of his class from the University of Ife in 1977. Between them, Yemi Osinbajo and Awa Kalu (who would one generation later parallel one another in the attorney-generals office in Lagos and Abia States respectively) envisioned and implemented arguably the most ambitious programme of legal reform ever evinced from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. From criminal law to family law; evidence to procedure; international treaties to institutions, no area of law was left untouched.

When Ajibola left in 1991 to succeed Taslim Elias as a judge of the International Court of Justice at The Hague, Osinbajo worked with his successor, Clement Akpamgbo, also a former lecturer and president of the NBA. When Osinbajo returned to the University system at the end of that sojourn in public service, it was as a professor of (Public) Law at the Lagos State University, from where he would later return to the University of Lagos.

By this time, his unobtrusive skills and interest in activist lawyering had begun to blossom. In this enterprise, his experience in public service would prove to be an invaluable asset in crafting resistance to the worst excesses of military rule. Through this work, he built common cause with a small coalition willing to ask awkward questions of the military, when most of the country had lost the will to do so. Parlaying that experience into later civic life, Osinbajo signalled his priorities in founding the Orderly Society Trust and the Convention on Business Integrity.

When the military traded their fatigues for civilian clothes in 1999 without necessarily giving up power, Osinbajo returned to public service, this time as attorney-general of Lagos State. Over eight tumultuous years, he transformed the office, as well as perceptions of the role of the attorney-general, engrafting a muscular pastoral component to the capacities of the Ministry of Justice, creating the office of the Public Defender (OPD), a Directorate for Citizens Rights, and a Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC), and mentoring staff of the Attorney-Generals Chambers into roles in ministering to the public that most of them never associated with the office. He also reformed Magistrates Courts in Lagos state, as well as the Coroners.

In this, posterity will be kind to Osinbajo and with good reason. As Acting President and against the timorous advice of securocrats in government, he attended a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Civil War in 2017 with a powerful personal symbolism and message of national healing.

When he emerged as Vice-President in 2015, Osinbajo arrived with an intellect and record more accomplished than any previous occupants of the office since Dr Alex Ekwueme in 1979. It was a record built on an ethos of empathy, clarity, relentless application, timeless values, and stubborn belief in the better angels of the human nature, all of which have been severely tested in eight years at the most rarefied levels of Nigerias public life and politics. The expectations were unrealistically stratospheric and he may, in hindsight, be surprised at how quickly many in and around the government dispensed with the platform on which they were elected.

As the Buhari presidency quickly descended into a misadventure, Osinbajo proved to be the one oasis of thoughtful competence. On the occasions when the president entrusted him with responsibilities for running government or any part of it, he delivered capable leadership with clear results.

Some close to the president chose to loath his fair-minded insistence on rule-based administration and held it against him that that he did not brook the privileged lawlessness that characterises government in Nigeria. People who lacked an inkling into his life-long passions mistook his advocacy for and leadership of the governments social investment programmes as political pandering. Many more on the outside who do not care about how the levers of power and government work, expected him to be out-front bad-mouthing his boss or, even worse, throwing away the pram and resigning. They forget that progress in government sometimes is also about preventing some of the worst things from happening.

In this, posterity will be kind to Osinbajo and with good reason. As Acting President and against the timorous advice of securocrats in government, he attended a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Civil War in 2017 with a powerful personal symbolism and message of national healing.

In a regime short on any notable displays of empathy for a traumatised country, he never lost sight of the pastoral role of government. On 8 March, 2023, Yemi and Dolapo Osinbajo were in Maiduguri to spend the day at the North East Childrens Trust (NECT), in a school which he founded six years earlier to support the education of children orphaned by Boko Haram. It was his last birthday in office as vice-president but also the clearest signal from him that his commitment to education, mentorship, and investment in empathy will be undimmed long after life in the presidency.

Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy can be reached at chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu.

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The Catholic Diocese of Warri on Saturday appealed to political actors in Delta to respect the sacred lines as they go about their campaigns.

The Parish Priest of St. Judes Catholic Church, Effurun, Delta, the Very Rev. Fr. Mark Ikeke, made the appeal in a statement issued in Warri.

The church was responding to rumours that Ovie Omo-Agege, All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, is not a Christian.

Mr Ikeke declared that Mr Omo-Agege is not only a Christian but a baptised, practising and dedicated member of the Catholic Church.

Our attention has been drawn to a rumour that one of our parishioners, Sen. Omo-Agege, the Deputy President of the Senate is not a Christian.

For the avoidance of doubt, Sen. Omo-Agege is a baptised, practising and dedicated member of the Roman Catholic Church.

He is a member of and a communicant in St. Judes Catholic Church, Government Reservation Area, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta, Mr Ikeke said.

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He added that the church recognises that this is an election season and encourages political leaders and their supporters to strive to uphold decorum, respect sacred lines and show love to all in their campaigns.

According to him, the sole purpose of the press statement is to encourage decorum and uphold the truth regarding Mr Omo-Ageges religious identity.

We hope and pray that our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ should thoroughly guide our actions and inactions, he added.

(NAN)

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An artificial intelligence arms race is underway in the U.S. And its raising some eyebrows in Wyoming education.

The University of Wyoming has a new artificial intelligence working group that aims to guide the school as it considers how the proliferation of the new technology will shape higher education. Last month, that working group released recommendations to President Ed Seidel that included banning the unpermitted use of artificial intelligence on campus.

But while artificial intelligence has become a topic of discussion at the university, it is only beginning to spark conversation in Wyomings education system as administrators and school boards start to learn about the technology and its implications for student learning and teaching.

It's a new conversation, something that folks are just now becoming aware of and just really learning about, said Brian Farmer, executive director of the Wyoming School Boards Association.

The national conversation around artificial intelligence in education began with the launching of OpenAIs ChatGPT last November. OpenAI is a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence research company devoted to making the technology more user friendly and accessible to the general public.

ChatGPT, meanwhile, is an artificial intelligence program built using large language models, which are essentially computer algorithms trained on troves of data so that they can recognize, summarize and predict words and text.

The key is that ChatGPT and other chatbots are generative, meaning they can answer complex questions and simulate humanlike conversations.

In practice, it looks like this:

Ask ChatGPT, What should people in Wyoming know about artificial intelligence chatbots?

And the program responds, As artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots become more prevalent in various industries, it is important for people in Wyoming to be aware of the potential benefits and limitations of these technologies.

Within seconds, it lists five points that Wyomingites should know, including that chatbots are designed to mimic human conversation and that they may not be appropriate for all situations and should not replace human interaction in cases where empathy, judgment and critical thinking are required.

ChatGPT finishes:

Overall, AI chatbots have the potential to provide significant benefits to businesses and customers alike, but it is important to approach them with caution and carefully consider their appropriate use.

The program is not the only artificial intelligence program that schools and educators are now having to contend with. Microsoft has incorporated the technology into its Bing search engine and more and more companies are creating similar programs that allow a person to generate answers to questions.

Use but not abuse

Amid this backdrop, Seidel created UWs Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Working Group in January to develop recommendations for how the school should handle the technology.

As it relates to higher education, one of the primary applications of these technologies is to generate, with striking accuracy, detailed answers to complex questions in a matter of seconds, Seidel wrote in a letter directing the working group. It is imperative that we respond to this emerging technology in ways that both maintain academic integrity and embrace the technologys power and potential.

In a Feb. 24 statement, Seidel noted that artificial intelligence programs will be ubiquitous, heightening the need for the university to address their role in higher education.

The working group led by Anne Alexander, UWs vice provost for strategic planning and initiatives, and Renee Laegreid, the chair of the UW Faculty Senate and a professor of history, released its report within weeks of Seidels commission.

Its most significant recommendation was to update the schools student academic dishonesty and cheating policies to ban students from the unpermitted use of artificial intelligence programs.

The working group also suggested that UWs Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning develop resources and guidance for teachers, and the schools academic advisors and other support staff communicate the universitys artificial intelligence policies with students and the broader community.

In acknowledging the rapid growth of the technology, the group called for a long-term panel to track the emerging technology and help the university adapt.

It is nearly impossible to keep up with the speed of development in this evolution. Preparing for the future will need to be an iterative and evolving discussion for UW, the team wrote.

In his statement, Seidel said that he supported the artificial intelligence groups recommendations.

Still early

In Wyoming, conversations around artificial intelligence have largely been constrained to UW. The states K-12 system is only beginning to think about the impacts of the technology.

We have not heard that a lot of districts have been talking about it, Farmer said. I think it's just going to depend district by district as they become aware of this issue and how they're looking to address it through their local policies.

Farmer said the dialogue will likely begin with school administrators as they come to understand the technology and its impact on their school communities.

It's going to be a bigger challenge for school administrators, he said. Boards are likely to learn about it from school administrators and then seek recommendations from their administrators on how they would address that within their district.

At the state level, the Wyoming State Board of Education has not had discussions about artificial intelligence and its impact on education, but it has been made aware of the work around the issue at UW, said Diana Clapp, the coordinator for the board of education and a former principal, curriculum director and district superintendent.

With Wyomings emphasis on local control, the matter of artificial intelligence in schools will likely be a local rather than state discussion, she said.

We would anticipate that this will probably be a topic that's discussed heavily at the local level because the academic honesty policies are controlled at the local level, Clapp said.

The Wyoming Association of School Administrators has not delved into the issue of artificial intelligence, but its one that Kevin Mitchell, the organizations executive director, has been thinking about amid the national attention.

I'm curious myself  being an ex-superintendent  how would this affect us? Mitchell said. Personally, it can certainly have some positive attributions, and then it could have some negative ones as well.

Before school boards can act to address artificial intelligence, Farmer said they would need to explore the technology and potential responses.

There's a lot of learning to happen, he said.
The councillor representing Echara Ward 2 in Okposi Community, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Ogbonnaya Ugwu, popularly known as Spaco, has been killed by unknown assailants.

Mr Ugwu was killed around 10 p.m. on Saturday as he was returning from his shop, PREMIUM TIMES gathered.

Sources in Okposi said Mr Ugwu was accosted by the gunmen around Okposi Court Area junction.

The councillor was accosted while he was returning from his shop, a popular drinking joint in Okposi known as Angle 90.

They shot him and he fell inside a gutter there, and they set him ablaze and left the scene.

As I am talking to you now, Mgbo Nechara youths in Okposi are currently protesting over the incident, one of the sources said.

A video clip, which is trending on social media, shows the burnt remains of the slain councillor being removed from the scene.

Police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the killing.

She said the police were investigating the incident.

It is unclear for now if the killing has any connection with politics.

The insecurity in Ebonyi State has degenerated lately, with the state recording several politically motivated attacks and killings.

Last month, a monarch, Igboke Ewa, was killed by gunmen suspected to be political thugs.

Also, a supporter of the All Progressives Congress was killed at a campaign ground in the Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.

ALSO READ: Traditional ruler shot dead in Ebonyi

Last year, the All Progressive Grand Alliance governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Bernard Odoh, and his convoy were attacked in the Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

Although no life was lost in the attack, one of the cars in his convoy was damaged by gunshots fired by the assailants.

Mr Odoh, early in February, also escaped death in an attack in which two police officers attached to him were killed.

Last Friday, gunmen stormed the campaign venue of the PDP governorship candidate in Izzi Local Government Area, destroying cars and other properties.

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SALT LAKE CITY, March 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- March 12, 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of Elizabeth Smart's rescue, an uplifting conclusion to the most-followed child abduction case in United States history. In 2002, at age 14, Smart was kidnapped from her home and held captive for nine months. During her captivity, she endured daily sexual assault, starvation and abuse at the hands of her kidnappers. Thanks to public awareness surrounding her disappearance, and a watchful community in her hometown of Salt Lake City, Smart was identified by a bystander and able to return home.

In the 20 years since her kidnapping, Smart has used her experience for good. She began the Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011 to bring hope and end the victimization of sexual assault and abuse through education, healing, and advocacy. In 2022, Smart announced that her foundation was becoming a part of the Malouf Foundation, a Utah-based 501(c)3 public charity founded by Sam and Kacie Malouf in 2016 that focuses on confronting child sexual exploitation.

"It's because of the people who searched for me, prayed for me, and cared about me, that I get to do what I love." Tweet this

The organizations focus on educating people with free resources to answer two questions Smart often receives: how to identify victims in communities and how or when to discuss personal safety with children. Two nationally available free resources are the OnWatch training, an online, survivor-led hour-long training designed to teach users how to recognize and report sex trafficking in their communities; and Raise, a digital app that helps parents approach tech safety with their kids, including issues like inappropriate content, cyberbullying and online predators.

Smart said, "It's been 20 years, and I am deeply grateful for my life. It's because of the people who searched for me, prayed for me, and cared about me, that I get to do what I love. Thank you."

In her future, Smart plans to keep shedding light on those who need it. She said, "I'm going to continue dedicating the next 20 years, and hopefully more, advocating for the children who are still missing and fighting for victims and survivors everywhere."

To learn more, or to donate to the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, visit elizabethsmartfoundation.org. The OnWatch training is available at IAmOnWatch.org, and the Raise app is available in the App Store or Google Play.

Interviews may be granted upon request through [email protected].

If you or a loved one has been affected by sexual violence, the National Sexual Assault Hotline, operated by RAINN, is available at 800.656.HOPE or via live chat at www.rainn.org.

About the Elizabeth Smart Foundation

The Elizabeth Smart Foundation was founded in 2011 by kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart. Smart was abducted in 2002, after which she endured nine grueling months of daily sexual assault and abuse by her captors. In 2022, ESF and the Malouf Foundation joined forces. The mission of ESF is to bring hope and end the victimization and exploitation of sexual assault through education, healing, and advocacy. For more information or to make a donation, visit elizabethsmartfoundation.org.

SOURCE Elizabeth Smart Foundation
In its third year since its launch in North America, the MOWI Brand puts on a fantastic array of farm raised Atlantic salmon products at the Boston Seafood Expo North America. From four SKUS launched in March 2020, to now over twenty, MOWI has expanded into a variety of categories from fresh skin-packed, cold, and hot smoked, breaded, and frozen indulgent salmon. The Seafood Expo is the perfect occasion to celebrate the brand's trajectory.

MIAMI, March 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seizing the opportunity of the most important US Seafood Expo, MOWI Brand commemorates its third year since its March 2020 launch and displays the impressive progress it has made with new product offerings and categories. The MOWI Brand launched for the first time right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic through online grocery. During the most unprecedented times, the brand was well received by US consumers and quickly flourished with its concept of pre-packed farm raised Atlantic salmon offered in pre-cut portions for convenience. "Launching a new brand during a pandemic presented its challenges, not only proved the strength and tenacity of our team, but it also confirmed that MOWI is set for growth in North America and has a long way to expand," said Robert Clark, Director of Sales at Mowi CP of Americas.

MOWI Brand celebrates three years since it launched in North America. The anniversary coincides with Boston Seafood Expo Tweet this MOWI offers you a delicious Atlantic Salmon selection from Mowis farms from Chile, Canada and Norway. Tasty and generous ready to cook cuts and delicate ready to eat Smoked Atlantic Salmon. Taste MOWI Goodness in every bite! Salmon is good. MOWI is Goodness!

A quick product expansion in a short time and in the middle of a pandemic demonstrated that MOWI has a bright future in the Seafood Category. One of MOWI's product reached the #2 Best Seller with a partner in the online grocery category in 2020. For three consecutive years, 87% of consumer reviews scored the brand 4 out of 5 stars.

MOWI Salmon, with pre-packed freshness, expanded to brick and mortar in 2021, and released a new cold and hot roasted smoked line which included alcoholic flavors and marinades to wow seafood eaters seeking for new experiences. MOWI's marketing efforts became a great engine of brand awareness helping bring an average of 39% new shoppers per month to the online seafood category. In 2021, "Salmon" became the #1 Top Key Word Search in the seafood category on fresh YTD at the online grocery partner.

Mowi has become the partner of choice for customers who desire the expertise of a market leader, coupled with innovation, quality, and taste. Over the preceding 3 years, MOWI expanded the fresh pre-packed line to offer salmon portions that come pre-seasoned, portions on a cedar plank, pre-cut portions in a variety of sizes and value packs. In 2022, the brand continued to expand with more variety and everyday price points. The product range that received the most interest among Mowi customers offered traditional cuts and generous sized portions of salmon of Canadian, Chilean, and Norwegian origin. This line carries the ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council's global standards for responsibly farmed seafood) and the BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices) Certifications for all Mowi's certified farms.

This year, MOWI is introducing Atlantic salmon portions that bring a variety of flavored butter pucks to enhance the already delicious flavor of salmon. This new line has been unveiled in the New Product Showcase Exhibitor segment at the Seafood Expo North America in Boston.

"With the MOWI Brand, we want consumers to recognize the bounties of farm raised Atlantic Salmon and encourage them to try the extensive variety of our product line. US Consumers enjoy salmon for many different occasions: as an everyday meal and as an indulging experience made for a special occasion. In the similar way that some consumers choose a different quality of their favorite protein for entertaining vs an everyday home meal, MOWI has expanded its horizons to meet different price points and eating occasions," said Diana Dumet, Marketing Director at Mowi CP of Americas.

Consumers are now able to find a beautiful Atlantic salmon product pre-packed utilizing skin packed technology with a transparent package for clear view of the excellence of Mowi's salmon cuts. MOWI's skin packed farm raised Atlantic salmon offers superior quality as no hands or direct air touches the product from production until customers open their delicious salmon in their kitchens. MOWI is proud to offer product that has No smell-No mess and consumers can easily grab-and-go from our retail partners' seafood shelves. "While Seafood in the retail space continues to acquire shelf space from other protein options, we want to thank those customers that opened the doors to the MOWI Brand and have proven to be a true partner to educate consumers about seafood. We are proud of partnerships that focus on offering the variety that consumers request, selecting quality and uniqueness to raise the bar for the category in the US Market", said Joe Fidalgo, Managing Director Mowi Consumers Products of the Americas.

Mowi cares about the entire process of Salmon-from Sea to Fork - and vows to bring the Goodness of MOWI salmon to the home of consumers. Mowi CP of Americas is proud to continue expanding the Goodness of MOWI to more retail partners and supports the program through a holistic marketing campaign that includes branded content through radio, TV, food publications, influencers, social media, YouTube and much moreSalmon is Good, but MOWI is Goodness! Mowi CP of Americas is excited for what's yet to come as the retailer community opens its doors.

"MOWI is now present in 18 markets, and we have reached our goal of becoming a global brand. In all the markets we are present in, we offer high-quality, delicious products. We also focus on bringing new products to the market to meet consumer needs and offer more ways and more occasions in which to enjoy salmon. Our goal going forward is to continue growing in our markets together with our customers, continue on the path of de-commoditizing the salmon category while bringing value to it and to consumers," concluded Andreas Johler, Managing Director of Mowi Branding.

For more information about the MOWI Brand visit: Home - MOWI Salmon US and for Media contacts: https://www.mowiamericas.com

About Mowi:

Mowi, a Norwegian company, has consistently delivered healthy and delicious seafood since 1964 and has become a leading aquaculture company. Mowi works with the ocean to produce nutritious, delicious and supreme-quality seafood while striving to achieve the highest sustainability standards. Fulfilling one-fifth of the global demand for farm-raised Atlantic salmon, Mowi is determined to reduce the environmental impact of seafood production and works exclusively with farmers who follow the most responsible harvesting practices. Mowi has operations in 25 countries and more than 14,000 employees. Go to https://mowi.com/about/ to learn more about the world's largest supplier of Atlantic salmon. As the world's leading salmon producer, Mowi works to help preserve the ocean and work in harmony with the sea to help feed a growing world population.

Mowi has been ranked as the world's most sustainable protein producer for the fourth year in a row by the FAIRR Initiative.

Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index assesses the world's 60 largest publicly-listed animal protein producers, worth a combined USD 338 billion. Firms are ranked against ten environmental, social and governance (ESG)-related criteria including GHG emissions, deforestation, antibiotic usage and working conditions.

Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index  Summary Report .

You can read more about the index here: https://www.fairr.org/index/

Learn more about our We Care element of MOWI Brand: We care - MOWI Salmon US

About MOWI Brand:

MOWI is all about Farm Raised Atlantic Salmon that offers a variety of cuts from personal size portions to large family cuts. MOWI offers generous cuts for everyday family meals and the experience of a bistro cut for special elegant meals.

Learn more about MOWI Brand at www.mowisalmon.us

Media contact:

Diana Dumet

[email protected]

Kathryn Hudson-Melians

[email protected]

SOURCE Mowi CP of Americas
NAPLES, Fla., March 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC:SONG) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Pro Music Rights, Inc., announced today that the companies have no direct or known exposure to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. This announcement comes as a reassurance to Music Licensing, Inc. shareholders and clients of Pro Music Rights who may have had concerns about the potential impact of the bank's collapse on the companies.

Music Licensing, Inc. and Pro Music Rights want to assure their shareholders and clients that their primary banking relationship is with UBS, a highly reputable and stable financial institution. As such, the companies have no direct or known exposure to Silicon Valley Bank and its current situation.

"We understand that our shareholders and clients may have concerns about the impact of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse on our companies," said Jake P. Noch, CEO of Pro Music Rights & Music Licensing, Inc.. "We want to assure everyone that our primary banking relationship is with UBS, a strong and stable financial institution. We have no direct or known exposure to Silicon Valley Bank and its current situation."

Music Licensing, Inc. and Pro Music Rights remain committed to providing the highest level of service to their clients and continue to be a leader in the Music Industry.

This announcement serves as a reminder to Music Licensing, Inc. shareholders and clients of Pro Music Rights that the companies are committed to transparency and providing timely and accurate information to their stakeholders.

About Pro Music Rights, Inc. ( ProMusicRights.com )

Pro Music Rights is the 5th public performance rights organization (PRO) to be formed in the United States. Its licensees include notable companies such as TikTok, iHeart Media, Triller, Napster, 7Digital, Vevo, and many others. Pro Music Rights holds an estimated market share of 7.4% in the United States, representing over 2,500,000 works that feature notable artists such as A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, Young Jeezy, Juelz Santana, Lil Yachty, MoneyBaggYo, Larry June, Trae Pound, Sause Walka, Trae Tha Truth, Sosamann, Soulja Boy, Lex Luger, Lud Foe, SlowBucks, Gunplay, OG Maco, Rich The Kid, Fat Trel, Young Scooter, Nipsey Hussle, Famous Dex, Boosie Badazz, Shy Glizzy, 2 Chainz, Migos, Gucci Mane, Young Dolph, Trinidad James, Fall Out Boy, and countless others, as well as Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) Created Music.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Music Licensing, Inc. & Pro Music Rights, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Music Licensing, Inc. & Pro Music Rights, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Pro Music Rights, Inc., Music Licensing, Inc., or any other person.

SOURCE Music Licensing, Inc.
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After splashing down safely in their Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 completed the agency's fifth commercial crew rotation mission to the International Space Station. The international crew of four spent 157 days in orbit.

Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, left, NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, right, are seen inside the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship Shannon shortly after having landed in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tampa, Florida, Saturday, March 11, 2023. Mann, Cassada, Wakata, and Kikina are returning after 157 days in space as part of Expedition 68 aboard the International Space Station.

NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, along with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Koichi Wakata, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, returned to Earth in a parachute-assisted splashdown at 9:02 p.m. EST. Teams aboard SpaceX recovery vessels retrieved the spacecraft and spacefarers. After returning to shore, the crew will fly to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"Welcome home, Crew-5! This international crew has been conducting critical science experiments and technology demonstrations on the International Space Station that will help prepare us for future deep space missions and pave the way for our return to the Moon," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Each advancement these explorers make is not an achievement for one, but a giant leap for all of humanity."

The Crew-5 mission lifted off at 12 p.m. EDT Oct. 5, 2022, on a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. About 17 hours later, Dragon docked to the Harmony module's forward-facing port. The crew undocked from the same port at 2:20 a.m. Saturday, to begin the trip home.

Mann, Cassada, Wakata, and Kikina traveled 66,577,531 miles during their mission, spent 156.5 days aboard the space station, and completed 2512 orbits around Earth. The Crew-5 mission was the first spaceflight for Mann, Cassada, and Kikina. Wakata has logged 505 days in space over his five flights.

Throughout their mission, the Crew-5 team contributed to a host of science and maintenance activities and technology demonstrations. Cassada joined NASA astronaut Frank Rubio to conduct three spacewalks, preparing the station for and installing two new iROSAs, or International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays. Mann and Wakata teamed up for two spacewalks, also outfitting the orbiting laboratory for solar array augmentation.

During their time on station, the crew members also tested hydroponic and aeroponic techniques to grow plants without using soil, released Uganda and Zimbabwe's first satellites, studied how liquids move in a container in simulated lunar gravity to generate data to improve Moon rover designs, and tested an on-demand system to produce specific quantities of key nutrients from yogurt, kefir, and a yeast-based beverage. The astronauts grew dwarf tomatoes in efforts to address the need for a continuous fresh-food production capability in space and reinstalled the station's bioprinting facility as a stepping stone in long-term plans to manufacture whole human organs in space.

This was the second flight of the Dragon spacecraft, named Endurance by the Crew-3 astronauts on its maiden voyage. Endurance will return to Florida for inspection and processing at SpaceX's Dragon Lair, where teams will inspect the spacecraft, analyze data on its performance, and process it for its next flight.

The Crew-5 flight is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program and its return to Earth follows on the heels of NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 launch, which docked to the station March 3, beginning another science expedition.

The goal of NASA's Commercial Crew Program is safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit. This already is providing additional research time and has increased the opportunity for discovery aboard humanity's microgravity testbed for exploration, including helping NASA prepare for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.

Learn more about NASA's Commercial Crew program at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

SOURCE NASA
Paris, March 12 : Nearly 368,000 people protested across France against the government's pension reform plan, the French Interior Ministry said.

The number of protestors was lower than expected. France's largest union, the General Confederation of Labor, (CGT in French) had predicted that up to one million would take part in the protest nationwide, Xinhua news agency reported.

The railway service in France was "heavily" disrupted, according to the French national railway company SNCF. However, metros and other public transport in the Ile-de-France region where the French capital Paris is located were running as scheduled.

According to French local media, the French Senate may proceed to vote on the pension reform plan after days of debates. If the plan is approved by the Senate, next week it would be once again sent to the French National Assembly where the government may turn to a special article of the Constitution to pass the bill without a vote.

Nearly 1.28 million people protested across France on Tuesday against the government's pension reform plan, the French Interior Ministry said.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne laid out details of the pension reform plan in January, under which the legal retirement age will be progressively raised by three months a year from 62 to 64 by 2030, and a guaranteed minimum pension will be introduced.

Under the plan, as from 2027, at least 43 years of work would be required to be eligible for a full pension.
Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers warns of very substantial consequences if regulators don't work through the issues that contributed to the Silicon Valley Bank collapse. He also explains why the vaunted stress tests didn't predict the implosion.

Mar 10, 2023
Tripoli, March 12 : The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, has stressed the importance of holding national elections in the country to achieve peace, stability, and prosperity.

Bathily made his remarks on Saturday during a press conference on the high-level panel for elections, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Giving the Libyan people the opportunity to choose their leaders through the ballot box is, without doubt, the way towards peace, stability, and prosperity in the country. Elections are needed to restore and rebuild legitimate public institutions that represent and serve the people of Libya," he said.

"Successive interim arrangements, endless transition governments, legislative bodies whose terms of office have expired are a source of instability which puts the future of this country at risk," he added.

The UN official also said that the prolongation of this situation will only result in continued economic collapse, political and social turmoil, and increased insecurity, "all of which will ultimately undermine the territorial integrity of Libya and the unity of its people." The registration of 2.8 million voters in 2021 on the list of the High National Elections Commission was a clear message which should have been heard by the current leaders of the country at all levels.

"The postponement of elections a year ago disappointed the Libyan citizens," he said.

Bathily also urged all Libyan leaders to "seize this opportunity to commit themselves to this vision and meet the aspirations of their great people".

Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021 as previously scheduled due to disagreements over election laws among the Libyan parties.

Earlier in January, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah said his government is ready to hold general elections in 2023.

Ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid escalating violence and political division.
Lucknow, March 12 : With influenza A subtype H3N2 virus claiming two lives in India, one each in Karnataka and Haryana, doctors in Lucknow have urged people to avoid self-medication.

Sheetal Verma, senior faculty department of microbiology at King George's Medical University (KGMU) said, "The influenza A virus sub-type H3N2 is nothing new but as people are experiencing longer spells of cough, self-medication should be strictly avoided. There is nothing to panic. This variant does not lead to a pandemic but taking precautions against it will certainly help." She said that it is better for people experiencing fever, cough or respiratory distress to consult a doctor instead of buying a drug over-the-counter because this flu variant is different.

According to doctors, the precautions people should take include -- keeping body immunity adequate and avoiding close contact with unknown people, particularly avoiding crowded places.

Abhishek Shukla, Secretary General of the Association of International Doctors, said, "A majority of those experiencing a longer spell of cough these days have poor body immunity may be due to age (elderly) or due to some other pre-existing illness." P.K. Gupta, former President, IMA, Lucknow, said, "Children and elderly are the most vulnerable. They are advised to avoid cold weather conditions during the morning and late evening. This will reduce the chance of getting infected. Everyone should avoid self-medication."
Tunis, March 12 : Tunisia welcomed the decision by Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic ties, the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Tunisia wished to see the step contribute to strengthening regional security and stability, uprooting tension, and establishing a new phase of cooperation between regional countries, the Ministry added on Saturday in a statement.

The Ministry also praised the role played by China in facilitating the Saudi-Iran agreement, Xinhua news agency reported.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and missions within two months after China-mediated talks in Beijing. They have also agreed to hold talks between foreign ministers to arrange ambassadors' exchange and explore ways to strengthen bilateral relations.
Hyderabad, March 12 : After being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over the Delhi liquor policy scam, Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) leader and Telangana MLC, K. Kavitha, returned from Delhi and called on her father and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).

Arriving in Hyderabad by a special flight at 12.10 a.m. on Saturday midnight, Kavitha along with Telangana ministers K.T. Rama Rao, Harish Rao and Srinivas Yadav, immediately proceeded to Pragati Bhavan, the Telangana Chief Minister's residence.

Party sources said that KCR was briefed about the questioning that Kavitha had undergone by the ED in Delhi.

On Saturday, the ED had questioned Kavitha for nine hours over the Delhi liquor policy scam.

She has been summoned again for further questioning by the ED on March 16.

According to the ED, Kavitha is a part of the 'South Group', which has allegedly paid bribes to exploit loopholes in the Delhi excise policy, so as to secure free access to various wholesale businesses and retail zones.
The slew of anti-women measures adopted by the Taliban government in Afghanistan has essentially gone against them, further isolating them globally and making them a pariah.

Reportedly, a handful of Afghan women courageously held a demonstration in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on 8 March, calling on the international community to protect Afghan women.

This was the second International Women's Day observed under the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, which swept back to power in August 2021, and more or less marked a year-and-a-half of increasing misery for Afghan women.

In a statement to mark the International Women's Day, the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, RozaOtunbayeva said it has been distressing to witness the Taliban's methodical, deliberate, and systematic efforts to push Afghan women and girls out of the public sphere.

The UN mission said the crackdown was a "colossal act of national self-harm" at a time when Afghanistan faces some of the world's largest humanitarian and economic crises.

The anti-women Taliban decisions have faced international condemnation, including by some Muslim countries even. The State of Qatar, earlier this week expressed deep concern over the Afghan caretaker government's decisions which negatively affect Afghan women and girls' rights, especially suspending their studies in secondary schools and universities and banning their work in non-governmental organisations.

The Qatari condemnation was conveyed in a statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva, HE Dr. Hind Abdul Rahman Al Muftah during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, within the framework of the 52nd regular session of the Human Rights Council.

The deputy foreign minister of Turkiye, Mehmet Kemal Bozay, has said that the international community must not allow the situation in Afghanistan to deteriorate "even further." The Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, spoke in Geneva and, reiterated the OIC's condemnation of Kabul's edicts banning women from education and work, saying: "It is against our religion." Anti-women diktats

The biggest crackdown on teenage girls and university students came just days before Women's Day, when earlier this week the authorities banned them from secondary schools and higher educational institutions. No country has officially recognised the Taliban government as Afghanistan's legitimate ruler, with the right to education for women a sticking point in negotiations over aid and recognition.

According to UNESCO, currently, 80 percent of school-aged Afghan girls and young women - totalling 2.5 million people - are out of school.The Taliban's decision to keep girls' schools shuttered has reversed significant gains in female education during the past 20 years.

In another anti-women diktat, Taliban government has annulled divorce in Afghanistan, forcing divorced women to go back to abusive husbands. Lawyers say that several women have reported being dragged back into abusive marriages after Taliban commanders annulled their divorces.

Latest international efforts UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said last Friday that a delegation headed by UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed to Afghanistan recently, found that some Taliban officials were more open to restoring women's rights, but others were clearly opposed.

Mohammed, a former Nigerian Cabinet minister is the UN's highest-ranking woman, she was joined on the trip by Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, which promotes gender equality and women's rights, and Assistant Secretary General for political affairs Khaled Khiari.

The UN team met with the Taliban administration in the capital Kabul and talks focused on the restrictive measures the Taliban government has imposed on women and girls since they re-took power.

The UN has stressed that Afghan women are crucial to delivering humanitarian help to civilians, the majority of them women and children.

The Taliban government adheres to an austere interpretation of Islam and has imposed severe restrictions on women's lives that the United Nations called "gender-based apartheid".

Notably, the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the Human Rights Commission in Afghanistan have been erased under the Taliban regime.

According to the UN Mission in the country, nine out of 10 women in Afghanistan experience physical, sexual or psychological violence from their partner. Divorce, however, is far greater a taboo than the abuse itself and women who part with their husbands sustain many atrocities at the hands of society.

The United Nations' special representative for women in Afghanistan, Alison Davidian said the implications of the government's policies "impact all Afghans and will resonate throughout generations". Meanwhile, a prominent group of Afghan and Iranian women are backing a campaign calling for gender apartheid to be recognised as a crime under international law.

The campaign, launched on International Women's Day, reflects a belief that the current laws covering discrimination against women do not capture the systematic nature of the policies imposed in Afghanistan and Iran to downgrade the status of women in society.

The authors of the open letter, including international lawyers, argue that the legal definition of apartheid as a crime against humanity, adopted by the UN in 1973 and supported by the 1998 Rome Statute, does not fit the case of Afghanistan and Iran, even if the descriptive term does.

Taliban Mindset Initially, when the Taliban 2.0 took over power in Afghanistan in August 2021, there was some euphoria that now they might be a changed Taliban, looking forward to mend their earlier ways and chart a new course of development for their country.

However, starting with their first diktat in September 2021, urging for segregated classrooms for boys and girls at schools, the caretaker Taliban government has followed it up with a slew of anti-women measures.

What perplexes one is that though the Taliban describe most of these decisions as Islamic, in fact they are completely unIslamic. Islam gives equal rights to men and women in all spheres of life, including, education, inheritance, right to work, say in marriage. Yet, in action Taliban goes completely against the spirit and teachings of Islam.

Instead, if they had adopted a new pragmatic and forward looking approach towards reorganising the Afghan society, it would have gone in their favour and would have helped them to consolidate their power in the country. As currently there seems to be no political force in the country, which could counter the Taliban. In addition, it would have provided them legitimacy and support from the so-called Islamic countries, if only they would have chosen to uphold the Islamic teachings, which in reality, they have failed to do.

(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. He can be contacted atwww.asadmirza.in <http://www.asadmirza.in>)</http:www.asadmirza.in>
Panaji, March 12 : Political circles in Goa are abuzz whether three times Union Minister and five times Member of Parliament from North Goa Shripad Naik will be denied a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Naik has, however, termed the rumourmongers as 'Duplicate Ticket Agents'.

Speaking to IANS, Naik admitted that there are efforts being made by certain persons to spoil his image and they are spreading such rumours. "They will not succeed in their efforts. I am fit enough to contest and work for people for the next five years," Naik said, adding that he is not aware whether these persons are from the party or the opposition.

Naik's relations with people are such that he is fondly called 'Bhau' (Brother) across the state. He is the tallest leader of the Bhandari Samaj, which comprises 60 per cent population of the state. He was Union Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and now in both the terms of Narendra Modi.

What forced people to discuss and debate the issue is because recently Naik himself vented his anger that he is being sidelined and not invited for government functions, that too even for inauguration of projects funded by the central government.

"I don't know whether this is being done purposely or by mistake. Even if it is by mistake then it can happen only once, it can't repeat again and again. We had funded the renovation of Donapaula Jetty (in North Goa) from the 'Swadesh Darshan' scheme of the tourism ministry. I am MoS for tourism and North Goa MP... and though I was present in Goa during the inauguration of the jetty I was not invited," Naik said.

"When the project is funded by the central government, its representative should be invited. Many such incidents have taken place in the past, but as the government is of my party I didn't speak about it. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should see that such things don't happen again. This is not good as it spoils the image of the government," he said.

"The chief minister should see if someone is doing it purposely and should take care that it should not happen again," he added.

Speaking about the rumours about his Lok Sabha candidature, Naik said that the ticket is decided by the party's Parliamentary Board three months before the election. "I don't know who is interested and who is involved in this to let me down. The one who is creating this picture should at least give the reason (for denying him a ticket). They should stop this 'agentgiri' and use appropriate platforms to seek tickets if they are interested," he added.

"I have never asked for any posts, whenever the party asked me to work I have done my duty. My service is for the nation and with the blessings of the people I have accomplished my duties. I will continue to work for society," Naik said.

"I don't know whether someone is taking advantage of my calm behaviour. But at least these persons should come forward and should say that they are interested in contesting," he said.

"Someone is hatching a conspiracy of not inviting me to government programs. I don't know who they are. I am not worried about whatever is happening. I have given my best to the public. Earlier I used to win with a mere 10,000 margin, which rose to 1.10 lakh in recent times," he said, adding that the people of North Goa know him personally and love him.

"Those who are trying to spoil my image will not be successful, whatever gimmicks they try. I am fit to contribute to society like earlier. Even after I met with an accident, I started working within 15 days," he said.

"I am 70 years old and hence I can contest this term. I don't know who is dreaming of the ticket. These agents are duplicates. They should stop it even if they are from my party. I am not bothered about the opposition if they are doing it," Naik said, adding that the party's decision of not contesting after 75 years of age doesn't apply to him.

Speaking to IANS, Naik's close friend and chairman of the OBC Commission Manohar Adpaikar said that the former has contributed a lot to the growth of the party in Goa.

"Bhau worked hard to grow the party in its initial stage, when it entered Goa. He was appointed state president of the BJP in 1991 and later in 1994 he became the MLA from Marcaim constituency," Adpaikar, who worked with Naik for the growth of the party, said.

He said that his efforts helped the BJP to get four MLAs, including Naik, in 1994. "But in the 1999 assembly election he lost as he remained busy campaigning across Goa. For him the party was first. He worked tirelessly for the party and made sure that party candidates got elected," Adpaikar added.

He said that after the defeat in the assembly election in 1999, Naik got elected to the Lok Sabha (in 1999) and since then he has never lost an election. "He has got good qualities in him and a very down to earth personality. Secondly, in his entire political career there is no single corruption charge against him," Adpaikar stated.

Bhandari Samaj president Ashok Naik said that if the BJP denies a ticket to Shripad Naik and projects a non-Bhandari leader and gives him/her the ticket from north Goa then it would be very difficult to win the seat. "Everyone knows how Shripad Naik has nourished the party and took it to greater heights in Goa. Denying a ticket to him means losing the seat from North Goa," Ashok Naik said.

"Though we, Bhandari Samaj, are not politically affiliated to any political party, but in the last assembly election we had stated that we will support a party which gives the maximum seats to the Bhandari Samaj. If Bhau is denied a ticket then we will decide about our strategies," he added.

Presently in the Goa assembly there are four MLAs belonging to the Bhandari Samaj.

Another close aide of Shripad Naik, on condition of anonymity, said that two decades ago the central leadership wanted him to be chief minister of Goa because of his camaraderie and contribution. "But somehow because of some politics he never got the opportunity to become chief minister of Goa, although there were political crises which he would have handled well," he said.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the Congress had fielded Ravi Naik, another senior leader of the Bhandari Samaj, against Shripad Naik in North Goa. However, Ravi Naik, who has now joined the BJP, had lost. Shripad Naik had won by a margin of more than one lakh votes.
Chennai, March 12 : Tamil Nadu recorded its first Covid-19 death after November 2022 in Tiruchi on March 11. A 27-year-old man, who was admitted to a private hospital, passed away due to Covid-related illness.

The man identified as Chinthamani, who is a native of Tiruchi and employed in Bengaluru, was admitted in Tiruchi after he reached from Goa to his native place three days ago.

Deputy Director of Health services, Tamil Nadu, Dr. A. Subramani while speaking to IANS said, "He had reached Tiruchi from Goa three days ago and after falling ill he was admitted to a hospital at Tiruchi." Doctor Subramani said that the man did not show any visible comorbidities and we found it suspicious. He said that samples collected from the deceased were sent for genomic sequencing at the State Public health laboratory and the results are awaited.

The family members of the deceased Chinthamani were directed by the state health department to isolate themselves.

It may be recalled that the state health Minister Ma Subramanian the other day called upon the people of the state to adhere to Covid-19 protocols, including using masks, safe distancing and frequent washing of hands.
Lucknow, March 12 : Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that the BJP government has made agriculture an unprofitable proposition.

Slamming the central government for offering low prices to farmers for their agricultural produce, Akhilesh said in a statement, "Will farmers even think of sowing the next crop after suffering losses? Potatoes will topple the government this time. The BJP government that had enticed farmers by promising to double their income, will face defeat in 2024 because of potatoes." He claimed farmers were being exploited because of the anti-farmer policies of the BJP government.

"Distressed potato farmers, on Holi, were seen struggling in queues outside cold storages, but the chief minister is oblivious to the situation. Potato farmers are getting lower prices for their produce even as the input cost has risen," he said.

Akhilesh said the SP had been demanding MSP for crops, but the BJP government, instead of protecting farmers, had turned patrons into capitalists.

"Instead of buying potatoes on MSP, the government has offered to buy them for Rs 650 per quintal (under the Market Intervention Scheme-MIS)," he stated.

He further said, "Considering the rent for hiring a tractor trolley to ferry potatoes, inputs costs that include irrigation, fertiliser, insecticide, pesticide, store charge and labour, the purchase price should be fixed for at least Rs 1500 per quintal." "The government has wreaked havoc on potato farmers. Potato farmers are getting low prices for their crop while input cost is increasing. Farmers are living in despair," Yadav said.

"There is chaos at purchasing centres of paddy and wheat. Multinational companies are buying crops at low prices. Farmers are selling under compulsion," said the SP chief.

He said there was a bumper yield of potatoes in Barabanki but the farmer was neither getting reasonable price nor proper arrangement for storing potatoes.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 12 : On the eve of yet another Oscar Night, memories go back to the time about 14 years ago, in 2009, when Resul Pookutty came back with an Oscar for Sound Design in 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

Pookutty shared the award with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke. The then 37-year-old Pookutty was an unknown name in the country, but it was not to remain so after the Oscar.

But the highlight was when the then Left government led by V.S. Achuthanandan decided to give him a hero's welcome and the person who was asked to head the welcoming committee was the then Culture Minister M.A. Baby, at present a CPI-M politburo member.

And on that day in 2009, his tiny village in Kollam district - Anchal - woke up to welcome their dearest son.

Soon Pookutty became the most popular personality in Kerala and stories of his childhood and how he studied under a kerosene lamp and his daily walk to the school about 10 kms all became news.

Also written was how a bus checker's son, the youngest of eight children, the hardworking Pookutty was able to rise to the highest level.

Pookutty as is now known to all, after his graduation gave up his course in law, reached the Pune Film Institute, graduated with flying colours and began his film career.

His debut in sound design came with the 1997 film 'Private Detective' and then came, 'Two Plus Two Plus One', directed by Rajat Kapoor.

And it was in the 2005 film 'Black', directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, that he firmly inked his name in the industry and since then he has gone from strength to strength.

Then came 'Musafir' (2004), 'Zinda' (2006), 'Traffic Signal' (2007), 'Gandhi, My Father' (2007), 'Saawariya' (2007), 'Dus Kahaniyaan' and 'Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja' (2009), and 'Enthiran' (2010).

In 2012, Pookutty was in the news when to honour his father's wish, he completed his law course and enrolled as an advocate.

In between he was also heard saying that he had difficulty finding work in Bollywood after winning the Academy Award, but is glad that the Oscar Curse is over.

Pookutty's statement came in the wake of Shekhar Kapur's tweet to Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, telling the musician that the Hindi film industry refused to give him work because he had won an Academy Award, which proved "you have more talent than Bollywood can handle".

Opening up about his struggles, Pookutty tweeted to look back at the time when he was nearing a "breakdown".

"Dear @shekharkapur, ask me about it, I had gone through near breakdown as nobody was giving me work in Hindi films and regional cinema held me tight after I won the Oscar... There were production houses who told me at my face "we don't need you" but still I love my industry, for it," he tweeted.

The sound engineer added that he could have moved to Hollywood but he did not.

"My work in India won me the Oscar. I got nominated six times for MPSE and won too... There will always be people to run you down but I have far more faith in my people than anybody else," he shared.

Pookutty went on to describe his experience as a result of the 'Oscar Curse'.

"And much later when I discussed this with my Academy members friends, they told me about Oscar Curse. It's faced by everybody. I enjoyed going through that phase, when you are on top of the world and people reject you, it's the biggest reality check," he explained and added "Oscar curse is over, We moved on." Pookutty since he won the Oscar has worked in nine Malayalam films too.

He was decorated with the Padma Shri in 2010 and in the same year the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in the state gave him an honorary doctorate.

With the years passing by, Pookutty's name now surfaces on the eve of every Oscar and this time too it has surfaced and will continue to do so.
New Delhi, March 12 : State politics has prevented the Congress from moving towards alliance and a missed chance was witnessed on March 10 when BRS organised a one-day hunger strike in the national capital.

The Congress chose to remain absent despite supporting the issue of Women Reservation Bill and claiming credit for passing it in the Rajya Sabha.

Except the Congress and some other parties, BRS, SP, RJD, RLD, PDP, NCP, AAP, CPI(M), CPI and Shiv Sena (Uddhav) participated.

In Telangana, the Congress is at loggerheads with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and trying to make space for itself. While the state was carved during the UPA regime, the political beneficiaries were TRS in Telangana and YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh.

The Congress lost both the states badly, which was one of the states from where Congress got the maximum number of seats in 2004 and 2009 general elections.

Kavitha, though praised Sonia Gandhi for pushing the Women Reservation Bill during the UPA's tenure, criticised the party for its "arrogance" on the issue of alliance, and added that the Congress "should be a team player".

She had said that she had spoken with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary K.C. Venugopal sent a representative to the protest but no one turned up.

Though she had invited 18 political parties, including the Congress to join the one-day hunger strike to press the demand for the Women Reservation Bill.

Not only in Telangana the party has issues with Trinamool Congress in Bengal, which sends a bulk of 42 Lok Sabha MPs. The BJP has a clear edge over the Congress here, but the party has not able to tie up with the Trinamool and is with the Left parties.

Similarly when eight opposition parties wrote a letter to the Prime Minister over the arrest of Manish Sisodia, the Congress was a noted absentee and some of its leaders like Sandeep Dikshit went to the Delhi L-G for investigation into the snooping issue.

Nine Opposition leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to PM Modi on Manish Sisodia's arrest and said that it will be cited worldwide as an example of a political witch-hunt and further confirm what the world was only suspecting -- India's democratic values stand threatened under an authoritarian BJP.

The letter has signatures of SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, BRS's K. Chandrasekhar Rao, NCP's Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, J&K's ex-CM Farooq Abdullah, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.

The Congress weakened gradually after 2014 is being elbowed out by the regional players and no one wants to give space. Even in the biggest state like Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati have not indicated to align with the Congress yet.

The CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury said that the Centre has been using government agencies as political weapons and violating the constitutional system. He added that the BJP says that leaders who claim to be innocent should answer the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He stated that all the leaders who have been summoned to appear before the ED, have done so and cooperated in its inquiry by answering the questions asked.

The Left is also living in a dilemma as it is opposed to the Congress in Kerala and in alliance with it in Tripura. In West Bengal, the Left and Trinamool can't get along. So political compulsions in the state has so far prevented the opposition from coming on at one platform.

Jairam Ramesh has countered the argument of the Congress not going for alliances. He said that the party is alliance in UDF in Kerala, with the DMK in Tamil Nadu, MVA in Maharashtra, JMM in Jharkhand and with RJD, JDU in Bihar.
About the book "America against America"

https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-gallaghers-opening-remarks

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mike-gallagher-raja-krishnamoorthi-representatives-face-the-nation-transcript-02-26-2023/

[Wang] wrote a book called America Against America  a critique of the internal conflict he found at the heart of American society, he said. America Against America also describes the strategy that Wang, [Chinese President] Xi Jinping and the CCP have pursued in the years since  pitting Americans, who they believe are greedy and factional, against each other to undermine our country.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo (R) competes during a La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid and RCD Espanyol in Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain, on March 11, 2023. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Real Madrid's Rodrygo (R) competes during a La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid and RCD Espanyol in Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain, on March 11, 2023. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Madrid : , March 12 (IANS) Real Madrid put the pressure on La Liga leader FC Barcelona on Sunday with a relatively comfortable 3-1 win at home to Espanyol.

Joselu's powerful finish in the eighth minute put Espanyol ahead, but Vinicius Jr scored an individual goal to equalize just 14 minutes later.

Eder Militao then powered in a header off the underside of the bar in the 39th minute and Marco Asensio, who came on as a 70th-minute substitute, added a third in the 93rd minute, reports Xinhua.

Iago Aspas scored twice as Celta Vigo continued their recovery with a 3-0 win at home to Rayo Vallecano, who have now gone five games without a win. The goal all came in the second half, with Pathe Ciss conceding an own goal in the 52nd minute.

Justin Kluivert's 74th-minute goal separated the two sides in a match that saw the VAR overturn two yellow cards initially shown to Osasuna players Sergio Herrera and Chimy Avila.

Herrera then saved a last-minute penalty from Valencia striker Hugo Duro, although the win was enough to lift Valencia out of the bottom three.

Valladolid ended up with just eight players on the pitch in their 1-1 draw away to bottom-side Elche.

The visitors had looked to be on for an important win after Cyle Larin put them ahead in the third minute and hung on until second-half injury time when everything went wrong.

Darwin Machis went off injured with all of the substitutes on the pitch. Tete Morente levelled for Elche in the 96th minute and in the remaining five minutes of injury time, Roque Mesa and Martin Hongla were both dismissed after seeing second yellow cards.

There was controversy as Cadiz and Getafe drew 2-2 on Friday night in a match that saw three penalties and two red cards.

Cadiz took the lead thanks to Ruben Sobrino, but Enes Unal levelled for Getafe in the first of two penalties for the visitors on the hour.

Ruben Alcaraz's 82nd-minute penalty looked to have given Cadiz three vital points, but referee Hernandez Hernandez then awarded Getafe a second penalty, which Unal took and scored in the 16th minute of added time.

Cadiz's Isaac Carcelen was then shown a red card for aggression after the final whistle.
Beijing, March 12 : China's national legislature on Sunday decided on the new lineup of the State Council, or the cabinet, at its ongoing annual session.

Upon nomination by Premier Li Qiang, vice premiers, state councillors, ministers, governor of the central bank, auditor-general, and secretary-general of the State Council were endorsed by lawmakers at the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), Xinhua News Agency reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to appoint these officials.

Lawmakers also approved by voting chairpersons, vice chairpersons and members of eight special committees of the 14th NPC at the meeting.

The vice premiers, state councilors and secretary-general of the State Council pledged allegiance to the Constitution.
Los Angeles, March 12 : A neighbourhood-wide power outage impacted a stretch of Hollywood Boulevard's robust tourism area, including Ovation Hollywood, the complex set to host the Academy Awards Sunday evening.

Reports of the outage first emerged on Saturday afternoon at approximately 1 p.m. Located across the street from the Dolby, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where many A-list stars get made up for the Oscars red carpet, has been experiencing a series of losses and recoveries in power, reports Variety.

Ovation Hollywood, a shopping area previously known as Hollywood and Highland, saw several key areas go completely dark, including credential and safety offices. The Dolby Theater, which will host the Oscars ceremony on Sunday, is part of the Ovation site.

Sources close to the Academy state that power was swiftly restored in the Dolby auditorium after a brief outage indoors. Rehearsals are proceeding as planned.

"The Oscars are trying to be more green but this definitely wasn't part of the plan," one staffer told Variety.

Power was restored to the site at roughly 3 p.m. Operations at the credentials offices resumed.

Academy staff informed people waiting for red carpet and show credentials that they were working in coordination with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on a fix. Reporters on site state that power returned to the red carpet within the hour.

Jimmy Kimmel returns to host the Oscars on Sunday evening, marking the late-night host's third round as emcee for the ceremony.

He previously led the show in 2017 and 2018. After going two years without a host, the Oscars returned to the traditional format for last year's ceremony, recruiting Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall for the duty.

Latest updates on Oscars 2023
Moscow, March 12 : Foreign tourists may have a chance to apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia and receive a payment card in 2023, Tatyana Sharshavitskaya, head of the Russian Department of Tourism Development of the Ministry of Economic Development, said.

She made the notice at the Fifth Congress of Travel Agencies organised by the Russian Union of Travel Industry on Saturday, Xinhua News Agnecy reported.

To solve payment problems associated with the departure of Visa and MasterCard from the Russian market, a special payment tool named the "Tourist Card" will be introduced, Russian news agency Interfax quoted her as saying.

In July 2020, a law was adopted allowing citizens of more than 50 countries, including EU states, to apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia.

According to the document, the electronic visa is valid for 60 days and allows foreigners to enter for tourism and business purposes. In January 2021, the Russian government delayed the implementation of e-visas due to COVID-19.

According to Interfax, five million foreign tourists visited Russia in 2019. The number later dropped sharply owing to the pandemic. In 2022, slightly more than 200,000 foreign tourists visited the country.
Indian Wells : , March 12 (IANS) Defending champion Iga Swiatek eased into the round of the Indian Wells Masters with a comfortable 6-0, 6-1 victory over American Claire Liu.

The world No. 1 won the first 11 games of the match before easing to victory in just over an hour, the fifth time this season she's dropped just one game in winning a match.

With Saturday's victory, Swiatek improved to 13-3 in the 2023 season. Interestingly, all 13 of those wins have come in straight sets.

The top seed will next face 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in a battle of former Indian Wells champions. Swiatek won the only previous meeting with Andreescu, a 7-6(2), 6-0 win over the Canadian en route to the Rome title last year.

In other actions, Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina won the battle of major champions, edging Sofia Kenin in two tiebreaks to advance to the third round of the tournament.

The No.10-seeded Rybakina handed Kenin a 7-6(6), 7-6(5) loss to advance to Monday's third round. There she'll meet the winner of the match between No.21 Paula Badosa and Nuria Parrizas Diaz.

On the other hand, Ons Jabeur of Tunisia pulled off a come-from-behind victory in the second round, defeating Polish lucky loser Magdalena Frech 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Saturday night.

Saturday marked Tunisian's first match since a second-round loss to Marketa Vondrousova at the Australian Open in January. Jabeur, the most accomplished Arab player of the Open Era, had to miss the entire Middle East swing after undergoing minor knee surgery.

Jabeur, an Indian Wells semifinalist in 2021, now has a chance to exact some revenge in the third round, where she will face Vondrousova.
New Delhi, March 12 : A day after IANS broke a news story in which a woman claimed that Bollywood actor-director Satish Kaushik was allegedly murdered by her husband, the Delhi Police have initiated an inquiry, and have deputed an Inspector to record the testimony.

"She will be summoned to join the investigation to get her statement recorded," the source said.

This report will be submitted to a senior police officer as allegations levelled by the woman are grave.

The woman lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police Commissioner's office that her husband murdered Satish Kaushik for Rs 15 crore which were given for investment purposes.

The woman made the claim in a complaint she lodged with the Delhi Police Commissioner's office, alleging that Kuashik was demanding the money back which her husband didn't want to repay.

She alleged that Kaushik was "given some pills which were arranged by her husband".

Earlier on Saturday, a senior police officer had said that they have recovered some 'medicines' from the farmhouse in Delhi where the 66-year-old actor had attended a party before his death, reportedly due to cardiac arrest.

Now the Delhi Police have taken her complaint seriously.
Bengaluru, March 12 : The announcement of replicating the bulldozer politics of the BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at the height of a communal flare up in the state has shocked progressive thinkers and peace loving groups in the state.

They are heaving a sigh of relief as things settled down without the bulldozer politics actually being implemented in the state.

Bommai who had declared that there is no place for bulldozer politics in Karnataka had come under pressure later to announce that he would consider the controversial UP and MP models.

BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel also maintained that the action taken against rioters in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh holds good for miscreants in the state too.

However, with assembly elections nearing, the discussion on 'bulldozer politics' has taken a backseat. The BJP central leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are focusing on development. They are talking about peace in Kashmir, they are not talking about bulldozer politics.

Following the communal flare up in the state followed by the hijab crisis that led to a series of communal incidents, Bommai stated that as per the existing situation in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been taking the right decisions. In Karnataka, there are many regulating mechanisms to deal with such situations. However, if the need arises, Yogi's model would be taken up, he stated.

Sources said that the Karnataka police ensured restoration of law and order under challenging circumstances. Shivamogga city was turned into a police fortress after the killing of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha. The police were on their toes after Praveen Kumar Nettaru was hacked to death in Bellare of Dakshina Kannada district, a communally sensitive region.

When multiple stabbing incidents were reported from Shivamogga district on the occasion of the celebration of the 75th Independence Day, the police shot the accused in the leg and sent out a strong message to the miscreants.

The violence broke out due to a controversy over the installation of the flexes of BJP's iconic figure Veer Savarkar.

Commenting on the agitation by Hindu organisations regarding the use of loudspeakers during Azaan, Bommai stated that the Supreme Court guidelines will be implemented.

He stated that there is an organised network to disrupt the system in the state. The hijab issue started by five or six students was turned into a big crisis across the state. "The government has totally controlled the situation and today most of them are following uniform rules. The government has also implemented rules on Azaan as per Supreme Court guidelines," Bommai said.

Presently, the board exams for II PUC (class 12) have started. The BJP government has made the uniform rule compulsory and there is a taboo on attire symbolizing any religion. Not a single incident of protest has been reported across Karnataka. The hijab issue, which threatened peace in the region, seems to be fizzling out in the state.

BJP MLA from Belagavi South assembly constituency Abhay Patil had demanded that the miscreants who carry out anti-national activities and raise "Pakistan Zindabad '' slogans in India must be 'encountered'.

"The Uttar Pradesh model should be brought in Karnataka as well. The routine arrest and sending them to prison will not work. Those who give shelter to them should also be dealt with," he said.

Demolition and confiscation of property of the accused who were involved in communal riots and encounters of criminals was demanded by Hindu activists and BJP leaders. After the cooker blast in Mangaluru, Hindu activists demanded the adoption of harsher measures to deal with subversive activities.

After campaigning and agitations against Azaan, hijab, ban on Muslim merchants in temples, the Hindu organisations had also started campaigning for the national anthem in madrassas, the model which had been implemented in Uttar Pradesh. Hindu organisations had come together to demand the implementation of the rule of making singing of "Jana Gana Mana" compulsory in madrassas before commencing classes. The campaign was taken up on social media.

BJP youth wing office bearers in Chikkamagalur have sent resignations en masse to the party condemning the murder of BJP activist Praveen Kumar Nettaru. A large number of party workers in Vijayapura and Chitradurga also tendered their resignations to the party condemning the soft approach of the BJP government.

Social media was abuzz with the demand to emulate UP CM Yogi Adityanath. The party workers are ridiculing the ruling party for failure to initiate action and prevent killings in the state.

BJP MLA from Honnali constituency M P Renukacharya demanded that CM Bommai should adopt ways and methods to deal with communal forces like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

BJP MLA Lakshman Savadi has stated that the murders that have been carried out by people who come from Kerala has created fear in the state. To prevent this there is a need for special laws.

The coastal region has been a bastion of the BJP and the crowd booed RSS leaders for inaction and raised slogans against the BJP which has never happened in the communally sensitive coastal region.

CM Bommai who maintained that the UP, MP models do not suit Karnataka, has come under tremendous pressure to initiate action against communal forces. Reflecting the mood of party workers and leaders, Bommai for the first time stated that he will destroy communal organisations who are involved in bloodshed, party insiders said.

However, the presence of a powerful opposition in the form of former PM and JD (S) leader H.D. Deve Gowda, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, Congress president D.K. Shivakumar, former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy, who are sworn enemies of the ideology of the BJP, makes it difficult for the BJP to resort to 'bulldozer politics.' Siddaramaiah has recently stated he will oppose the RSS and the Sangh Parivar for its ideology till his last breath. The Congress is brimming with confidence in Karnataka that it would come to power in the upcoming elections. The ruling BJP, putting in all efforts to retain power, does not seem to be making Hindutva and bulldozer politics the main issues in the elections. Instead, the saffron party is treading a cautious path.

With former CM B.S. Yediyurappa gaining prominence in the party in the run up to the elections the party is sending signals in this regard. Yediyurappa, during his tenure as CM, gave a stern warning during the Covid pandemic to forces and individuals not to target minorities especially Muslims at the height of the controversy surrounding the Tablighi Zamaat.

Yediyurappa stated that he would not spare those who create hatred. He had also said that it won't be possible to win elections in Karnataka only by taking the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Lucknow, March 12 : The bulldozer politics that originated in Uttar Pradesh in 2020 has now become the mainstay of the Yogi Adityanath government.

The bulldozer - usually seen as a tool of destruction and upheaval - has become a symbol of good governance not only in Uttar Pradesh but outside the state too.

Most governments in the country, mainly the BJP-led ones, are now betting on the bulldozer that is apparently bringing in more bouquets than brickbats.

The bulldozer first gained prominence in the Yogi Adityanath government in July 2020 when this mean machine was used to pull down the house of gangster Vikas Dubey in Bikru village in Kanpur.

Dubey was the main accused in the massacre of eight police personnel and bulldozing his palatial house seemed like speedy justice in the terror-stricken area.

Muslim voices protesting Nupur Sharma's statement on the Prophet, then became the target of the bulldozer in Prayagraj and this gave a Hindu approval to the action.

Thereafter, the bulldozer was used to demolish the ill-gotten properties of mafia dons like Mukhtar Ansari and Atiq Ahmad, both of whom were behind bars.

The state government happily released photographs and videos of the houses, shopping complexes, hotels and buildings of the mafia crumbling under the power of the bulldozer.

A social activist says, "All these recent bulldozer politics of the BJP government is nothing but to create a narrative that anything illegal is associated with Muslims and it is becoming an increasingly threatening gimmick. It is probably a warning message for those who rage against the government." The bulldozer gradually emerged as a symbol of justice against wrong-doers and Yogi supporters, mainly Hindus, cheered the initiative.

In the midst of the assembly election, a local daily named Yogi Adityanath as 'Bulldozer Baba' and this took the BJP campaign to the next level.

Leader after leader spoke about the might of the bulldozer in the elections and how Yogi Adityanath had brought criminals to their knees with his bulldozer.

The results of the UP assembly elections where the BJP staged a return to power, put the seal of approval on bulldozer politics and the opposition that had tried to project the bulldozer as a symbol of tyranny, was put on the backfoot.

The popularity of the bulldozer politics was evident from the fact that Holi sprinklers now come in the shape of a bulldozer and even the rakhi comes with a miniature bulldozer. A whole range of bulldozer toys are now being sold on e-commerce sites like Amazon and Flipkart.

Some young men in Agra have even tattooed the images of the bulldozer and Bulldozer Baba on their bodies after Yogi Adityanath's victory.

While the results made other states like Madhya Pradesh and Delhi adopt the bulldozer formula with open arms, it also gave Yogi Adityanath the opportunity to pursue this brand of politics even more aggressively in his second term.

The UP police are now targeting those linked to mafia dons on an almost daily basis and people are lapping it up.

Bulldozer Baba's politics is getting increasingly popular and so is his image as a stern administrator who will spare no wrong doer.

Though there are allegations of the bulldozer politics being 'selective' but the voices of approval are far louder.

Yogi Adityanath is being felicitated with miniature bulldozers at various functions and the chief minister is not complaining.

Legal experts, in hushed tones, question the legality of the bulldozer action but when the Supreme Court, last year, declined to stay the demolition of properties using bulldozers throughout the country, noting that an "omnibus" order by the top court could restrain municipal authorities from acting against all unauthorised constructions, the debate died a hurried death.

"There is a legal process that must be adopted before a house or property is demolished but the judiciary apparently does not have the courage to go against the people's mood. You need to get the court's nod before pulling down a building. But here, the building is razed and the papers are then prepared and approved in back date. No one can dare to question the process," said a senior high court lawyer who did not wish to be named.

Every building that has been demolished in Yogi Raj is said to be illegally constructed on land that belongs to another.

The bulldozer now noisily dawdles across Uttar Pradesh and for the BJP, it is a case of the more the merrier.

BJP leaders claim that it is the bulldozer that will again yield rich dividends in the 2024 general elections.

And no one is questioning the claim.
Mumbai, March 12 : Actor Sidharth Malhotra has resumed shooting for his next film 'Yodha', an action thriller.

Sidharth on early morning on Sunday, took to Instagram, shared a video on his Stories. The video shows a view of the city and had a time stamp of 6 a.m. put on it.

For the caption he wrote: "#Yodha' The thriller 'Yodha', directed by Pushkar Ojha and Sagar Ambre, is based on a hijacking. The film features Sidharth in an action-packed role and an all-new avatar. Co-stars Disha Patani and Raashi Khanna will be seen alongside Sidharth Malhotra.

The actor is loaded with different characters and power-packed performances in his upcoming line-up with Rohit Shetty's directorial venture into the web space, titled 'The Indian Police Force'.
Chennai, March 12 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in Kerala's Thrissur on Sunday, where he will attend a public programme and a meeting of the party's senior office-bearers.

Shah is scheduled to arrive in Thrissur at 2 p.m.

He will also attend the prayers at the Vadakkunnathan Temple.

The Union Home minister will land at Coimbatore and from there will take a chopper to reach Thrissur.

After the Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly stated that the BJP would win Kerala, the visit of the Union Home minister is considered important. The saffron party is facing a tough time in Kerala after losing the only seat it had won in the 2021 Assembly elections at Nemom, Thiruvananthapuram.

A heavy police contingent will be providing security to the Union Home minister. Sources in the Kerala Police told IANS that around 900 policemen will be deployed at Thrissur during Shah's visit.

The BJP state leadership led by unit president, K. Surendran and other senior leaders will receive the Union Home minister in Thrissur.
The distortion of time and a moving crowd come together in an excellent video titled Multiverse. Hiroshi Kondo's film shows multilayered shots of people on motorbikes, in cars, and crowds of pedestrians making their way through the streets of Taiwan. Time as we know it becomes distorted through this multilayered effect. Watching this film was a deeply serene and dreamy experience.

From Vimeo:

"A crowd moving in one direction.People who flow in a moment.

A scene where the difference with other people disappears and looks uniform.

There are many different kinds of life there.

You can feel invisible energy when you see a large mass of individuals.

I set myself in the streets of Taiwan, and I multilayered a lot of time to create a new timeline that reflects individuals.

Director

Hiroshi Kondo(stnw.org)

Music & Sound Design

Himuro Yoshiteru(himuro-yoshiteru.com)"
New York, March 12 : Silicon Valley bank (SVB) executive, Jospeph Gentile, was a former executive of the Lehman Brothers' Global Investment Bank prior to the bank's public collapse in 2008, the media reported.

Prior to joining SVB as Chief Administrative Officer, Gentile worked as Chief Financial Officer at Lehman Brothers' Global Investment Bank. Gentile left Lehman in 2007, just one year before it went bankrupt in 2008, Fox Business reported.

"You can't make this up," one Twitter user wrote as the internet erupted at the revelation.

"This is truly unusual" another user added.

"It's all starting to make sense now!" another wrote.

Prior to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) seizing control of SVB, the bank disclosed mounting losses, and shares plummeted more than 60 per cent before being halted. The bank was in the middle of a liquidity crisis after announcing plans for a $1.25 billion stock sale with little interest.

According to the FDIC, SVB was among the top 20 American commercial banks, with $209 billion in total assets at the end of 2022, Fox Business reported.

This is the second-largest bank to close in the US since 2008. Lehman Brothers' Global Investment Bank was also impacted in the 2008 financial meltdown.

At the time of its collapse, Lehman was the fourth-largest investment bank in the US with 25,000 employees worldwide. It had $639 billion in assets and $613 billion in liabilities.

Investor and "Shark Tank" star Kevin O' Leary reacted to the SVB collapse blaming it on poor management.

"Banks blow themselves up all the time because of weak management or management mistakes. This happens." O'Leary stated, Fox Business reported. "So you need diversification, not just of your holdings in terms of portfolio assets. You need institutional diversification."
Jammu, March 12 : A narco-terror nexus has been busted by the Army near the Line of Control at Jhangar in the Naushera sector in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said on Sunday.

"Based on intelligence inputs, Indian Army conducted operations near the Line of Control at Jhangar, Naushera (J&K) on 11 Mar 2023," the Army said.

The operations led to the recovery of two sophisticated pistols, two kgs narcotics and a two kg IED.

"The Operation has averted a major incident which could have been initiated by perpetrators using the weapons and the IED, funded by the narco terrorists," the Army said.
Rome : , March 12 (IANS) Napoli bounced back from last week's defeat against Lazio by beating Atalanta 2-0 in Serie A through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's magical moment.

After a goalless first half on Saturday, Napoli tipped the balance of the tie on the hour mark, when Kvaratskhelia made a sensational solo effort by twisting and turning to make the defenders dizzy before powerfully drilling home.

The Partenopei sealed the win in the 77th minute as Amir Rrahmani steered his header into the net on Eljif Elmas' corner.

With the win, Napoli sit on top with 68 points, 18 clear of second-placed Inter Milan. The Azzurri are waiting for Eintracht Frankfurt for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League last-16 round on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, third-placed Lazio failed to capitalize on Inter's defeat after a 0-0 draw with Bologna.

Also on Saturday, Udinese won Empoli 1-0 away thanks to Rodrigo Becao's goal.
Mumbai, March 12 : TV actress Rishina Kandhari, who plays the role of Priya Raichand in the show 'Na Umra Ki Seema Ho', said that although she loves to play the character, she doesn't really relate to it as Priya is very complicated and she is personally very sorted and simple.

"My role in 'Na Umra Ki Seema Ho' is Priya Raichand. She's the parallel lead of the show. A well-educated outgoing girl, who wants to work and start her business but has been suppressed by her rich and famous Raichand family. A victim of circumstances trying to fight her battle on her own, with the entire family against her," she said.

She added: "I don't relate to Priya as I'm totally the opposite in real life. But many relate to my character and the way I'm playing it looks so real that I'm gaining a lot of praise for my performance and sympathy for my character from the audience." Ask her if she thinks that age difference is a barrier in relationships, and she said: "Only in India, that too only for elderly women and younger men. But if the man is double his age no one has a problem here or even abroad." The actress, who was also seen in 'Diya Aur Baati Hum', Devon Ke Dev..Mahadev', 'Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein' among others, shared that the audiences for TV and OTT are completely different and they have distinct demands in terms of content.

"We cater to the audience and they like saas-bahu drama. OTT and the TV audience are totally different. TV has a fixed audience," she added.

Talking about her experience working with her co-actors Iqbal Khan and Rachana Mistry, the 'Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai' actress concluded: "I share a special bond with Iqbal bhai, he calls me his little sister on and off set. He's very loving and caring and keeps feeding chocolates to everyone on set all the time."
Jaipur, March 12 : At a time when reports of differences between Governors and Chief Ministers are coming from different states, Rajasthan has been scripting a story of cordial relations between Governor Kalraj Mishra and CM Ashok Gehlot.

Political veterans say that the two are seasoned leaders who have decades of experience in politics and hence they know how to manage trouble spots and challenges.

Mishra was seen holding up a few bills and expressing displeasure over significant issues in the last few months. But the Rajasthan CM handled all these issues with finesse, creating a template which, experts say, should be followed by all.

Recently, Mishra came down heavily on adjourning assembly sessions for long periods, and said that this 'tradition' would harm legislative procedures. He was delivering the keynote address at the concluding ceremony of the 83rd All India Presiding Officers' Conference in the state assembly.

The remarks came in the backdrop of the continuing tussle between the Congress government and Raj Bhavan (Governor's House) over sessions continuing without the House functioning.

The Rajasthan government in fact started the tradition after Mishra repeatedly rejected the government's requests to convene the assembly for a floor test after former deputy CM Sachin Pilot and 18 Congress MLAs revolted against Gehlot.

The Congress government, acting on its own, continued the assembly session for long periods in 2021 and 2022 against the norm of having at least three sessions, namely budget, monsoon and winter. In 2021, the assembly session ran from February to September, while in 2022, it was from February to September.

However, Gehlot, like a seasoned politician, did not overreact to the issue.

Last year, Kalraj Mishra returned three private universities bills after studying them for five months. These were bills of Dunes University (Jodhpur), Vyas Vidya Peeth University (Jodhpur) and Saurabh University, Hindaun City, Karauli, which were sent back for reconsideration, making 35-40 objections. However, yet again, there was no strong face-off.

The governor even held bills brought to counter the Central farm laws, which were enacted in 2020. Yet again, the issue was not escalated to create trouble and tension.

Political expert Tribhuvan said, "The reason why CM Gehlot and Governor Mishra have had no stand off is because they are seasoned and experienced politicians who have been in politics since decades." There is a special characteristic of seasoned politicians: They know how to maintain relations and they also know how to respect their colleagues, he added.

When asked about the stand off between governors and CMs in BJP-ruled states, he said, "the real issue is that the young leaders in the BJP are eager to prove themselves as anti-Congress and anti-Communist which creates problems unlike in states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where the CMs and Governors are experienced politicians." In fact, in Rajasthan I have observed that Sangh leaders and communists share cordial relations, they may be having ideological differences, but they have been visiting each other's houses on festivals and other occasions which I have seen in Sri Ganganagar where I come from, he added.

"In fact, even during the regime of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, cordial relations were maintained with the then Governor. Further, Gehlot recently hosted Gulab Chand Kataria after he was deputed as Assam Governor, he also hosted Om Birla after he was elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker and recently hosted a dinner when Jagdeep Dhankar was named as Vice President. So these are features of seasoned politicians who know how to strengthen relations," Tribhuvan said.

He added that Mishra was Rajasthan in-charge during 2003-08 so he knows the state very well. He will talk to you as a seasoned politician. Also he reads the Constitution's preamble before the start of the assembly session. Now this preamble has the word 'Secularism' which the RSS opposes. However, holding a constitutional post, he justifies his act, yet again showing political maturity.
Moscow, March 12 : Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has proposed renaming Ukraine after notorious Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera. His suggestion came after Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky told his government to consider a proposal to change Russia's name, the media reported.

On Friday, Zelensky instructed authorities to "thoroughly study" the proposal to officially rename Russia to 'Moscovia'. He was reacting to an online petition, which argued that the name 'Russia' provided grounds for "further encroachment" on the history of Kievan Rus, a medieval state from which both Russia and Ukraine trace their origin, Russia Today (RT) reported.

Many Ukrainian nationalists claim that their homeland is the only true heir of Rus.

The name 'Moscovia' dates to the Grand Duchy of Moscow and was historically used by some authors to describe the Russian state, RT reported.

On Saturday, Medvedev, who served as Russian president between 2008 and 2012, and currently serves as deputy chairman of the Security Council, fired back in a post on his Telegram channel. "Our response?... Only the Schweinisch Bandera-Reich," he wrote. The word "schweinisch" means "piggish" in German.

Medvedev was apparently referencing the idolisation by some Ukrainian politicians of Stepan Bandera, a World War II-era leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). Bandera collaborated with Adolf Hitler's government during the early stages of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, RT reported.

He was later arrested and imprisoned by the Germans over disagreements about the future of Ukraine. After the war, Bandera fled to West Germany, where in 1959 he was assassinated by a KGB agent.

The Ukrainian Insurgent Army - the OUN's military wing founded in 1943 - positioned itself as a guerilla force fighting both Soviet and German troops. Its agents committed multiple atrocities against Polish, Jewish and Russian civilians, RT reported.

Bandera and his followers are honoured as heroes in modern Ukraine, with streets and buildings named after them. Nationalists hold annual torchlit processions on Bandera's birthday in Kiev and other cities, RT reported.
New Delhi, March 12 : A day after Health Ministry wrote to states and UTs asking them to remain vigilant and to focus on fivefold strategy to curb the infection, India on Sunday reported 524 new Covid cases in last 24 hours, the highest in 113 days.

As per the Health Ministry data, the active caseload has risen to 3,618 which is 0.01 per cent of the total cases. The ministry conducted total 96,170 Covid tests on previous day.

The death toll due to Covid infection in the country stands at 5,30,781, as per the data. While the record rate stands at 98.80 per cent. The total number of people who have recovered from the Covid infection has risen to 4,41,56,093.

Meanwhile, the ministry in a letter to states on Saturday had underlined the gradual rise in Covid-19 test positivity rates in some states and had said it needs to be promptly addressed.

"While the Covid-19 trajectory has decreased substantially in last few months, the gradual rise in Covid-19 test positivity rates in some states is a concerning issue that needs to be promptly addressed. Despite low number of new cases, equally low number of hospitalisations and significant advances made in terms of Civid-19 vaccination coverage, there is still a need to remain vigilant and focus on fivefold strategy of test-track-treat- vaccination and adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour," Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had said in the letter.
New Delhi, March 12 : No fashion runway in Mumbai is complete without a bevvy of Bollywood beauties both on and off the ramp. The ongoing Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI proved just that as Day 3 saw a number of actors take to the event.

Image Source: IANS News

To the delight of many, it was none other than yesteryear diva Zeenat Aman, who stole the show! Aman walked as showstopper for designer for designer Shahin Mannan dressed in a red and black pant-suit, styled with a pair of shades, looking every bit the cool cat.

Image Source: IANS News

Shanaya Kapoor who will soon be making an appearance on the big screen walked for designer Arpita Mehta dressed in a vibrant yellow lehengas sari. Arpita's collection was everything that style mavens would love to flaunt during their holiday sojourns this year, when they enjoy the thrill of jet setting as well as dressing up. The colours matched the mood of the line when an exciting mix of orange, acid yellow, sage green and coconut appeared in perfect harmony with pastel coconut cream, dust pink, and juicy mango. Dyson made its grand debut with designer Mehta's collection and professional hairstylist Adhuna showcased the Dyson range that offered stylists the versatility, control and agility they need to make models runway ready.

Image Source: IANS News

Not one to be left behind, actor Sara Ali Khan made an appearance walking the runway for designer Punit Balana, dressed in a traditional red lehenga. Khan stated, "I am thrilled to be walking for Punit Balana and showcasing his stunning 'Utsav' collection, which stays true to its meaning of 'celebration' or 'celebration of a joyous occasion', Utsav highlights textures inspired by the Kalbelia community of Rajasthan, their folklore, literature and the culture that not only binds the Indian state of Rajasthan but one that also acts as a bridge between this state and Indian culture in a larger context."

Image Source: IANS News

Kalki Koechlin sported 60's style for designer Esha Amiin, channeling a hippie vibe with colourful bell bottoms, a bomber jacket and permed back hair. Koechlin told IANSlife that, "half of my wardrobe is of my grandmother's vintage clothes and I am always being go to be happy with classics." The actress who will be seen in Gold Fish which is scheduled for a summer said what she admired most about Esha Amiin is, "she is not afraid to experiment and I love the layering in the outfit specially I am wearing and the fact that it is so relevant to today's timing where everything is mixed together and we just can't tell the difference between reality and fantasy anymore."

Image Source: IANS News

Actress Athiya Shetty was the striking showstopper for designer Namrata Joshipura, who returned to LFW after a hiatus of 7 years. Alluring in a deep wine signature NJ jumpsuit, Athiya glided on the ramp with her statuesque presence. Cut-out drapes created the perfect body con statement for a high glam impact. Inspired by the concept of artificial intelligence, "The First Order", the collection featured a post-modern disco elegance, blending classic styles with contemporary flair. Each ensemble was carefully crafted with the finest modern fabrics, showcasing Joshipura's expertise in creating stunning drapes, twists, and cutouts. The colour palette was a sumptuous display of cerulean blues, forest greens, and saturated classic reds.

Athiya stated, "Walking for Namrata Joshipura's collection at Lakme Fashion Week was truly special for me, as it marked a reunion with the designer after 2016. Namrata is a master of her craft and her vision for this collection is revolutionary - it's a beautiful amalgamation of luxury, elegance and a futuristic outlook, fueled by the power of data and AI. It's exciting to see fashion evolve with the times, and I'm honoured to have been a part of this journey and walk for Namrata Joshipura."

Image Source: IANS News

Uorfi Javed made a bold appearance in a blue bodysuit and cape by Namrata Joshipura. The suite featured 5000 hand embellished crystals stitched over tulle.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

-- Syndicated from IANS
Thiruvananthapuram, March 12 : George Healy, Deputy Chief of the New York City's Fire department, who was consulted by the Ernakulam district collector has said that the measures taken by the Kochi administration to douse the fire at the Brahmapuram waste plant were on right track.

Interacting with the Ernakulam district collector, N.S.K. Umesh, Kerala Disaster Management Authority Member Secretary, Shekar Kuriakose and other professionals, Healy said that extreme caution and vigil was necessary in areas where the fire has already been put out.

The US professional said that the firefighting operations should be concentrated in areas where fire has already not been put out and called upon the authorities to make it certain that fire fighting equipment was always kept ready for any requirement.

He said that Class A foam should be used over the smouldering garbage in the inner reaches where water cannot be transported. George Haley also suggested the usage of drones fitted with infrared cameras to detect embers that are not visible from the surface.

The meeting also decided that transporting the waste from Brahmapuram to another place and soaking it in water was not feasible due to space constraints in Brahmapuram.

The expert from the US also called upon the firefighting officers to wear face masks and also asked the administration to monitor the air and water quality in the area regularly.

It may be noted that poisonous smoke has been erupting in Kochi for the past 11 days after a fire broke out in the Brahmapuram waste plant. Heaps of waste, including plastic, were burning with the firefighting department not able to completely douse the fire.

The whole of Ernakulam district is engulfed with smoke and health experts have warned of an impending health crisis as poisonous chemicals will mix with water and air and can render difficulties to newborn and old people alike.
Lucknow, March 12 : Both the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh have been engaged in attracting the votes of the Muslim community, by softening their stand on mafia don Atiq Ahmed.

SP Secretary General Ram Gopal Yadav has come forward in support of Ahmed's minor sons.

Yadav said that the police are unable to find the real accused in the Prayagraj incident and that there was pressure on them to catch and frame anyone. He added that Ahmed's two sons were caught on the first day of the incident itself.

Yadav stated that it is suspected that one of them may have been killed. He said that the Constitution of India gives every citizen the fundamental right to life and the police cannot just apprehend someone and kill them, as that is a punishable offence.

The SP leader added that those who have done fake encounters will be prosecuted for murder.

He said that the culprits of Umesh Pal murder case should be punished severely but called the policies adopted by the state government destructive.

A senior SP leader said that the party, which has emerged as the largest opposition in the 2022 Assembly elections, does not want to lose the Muslim vote bank as the community has played a big role in strengthening it.

In the 2017 elections, 24 Muslim MLAs were elected, out of which 17 won on SP tickets, which increased to a total of 34 MLAs being elected in 2022, of which 31 were from SP.

BSP Chief Mayawati raised questions on the encounter of two of the four accused involved in the murder of Umesh Pal and said that the actions taken by the police in this matter have raised doubts within the minds of the people about the rule of law in Uttar Pradesh.

She questioned whether the government would repeat the 'Vikas Dubey scandal' to cover up its failures.

Mayawati added that the state government is under a lot of tension and pressure, especially regarding the law and order situation, over the murder of Umesh Pal in broad daylight.

She said that the whole country had its eyes on the state government on whether it would follow the rule of law or stop crime by killing criminals on the streets.

A BSP leader said that the party would perform well with the strong Dalit-Muslim alliance even if it does not team up with SP.

He added that Mayawati knows that better results cannot be achieved only on the Dalit votebank, therefore, after the setback in the Assembly elections, BSP has been trying to reconnect with the prominent Muslim community.

Significantly, the BSP was reduced to one seat and 13 per cent vote bank in the Assembly elections. Meanwhile, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 10 BSP MPs won when it was in alliance with SP, prior to which the BSP had zero seats in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

One of the major reasons behind the BSP's poor performance in the Assembly polls was believed to be the one-sided vote of the Muslims for the SP. Even after giving 89 tickets to Muslim leaders, none of them had won.

Political experts believe that SP got the Muslim vote bank in UP in bulk in the 2022 Assembly elections, but could not form the government. The party is now trying to save the votebank, which is why BSP leaders are giving such statements.

Mayawati has included the Muslim leaders in her party to bring the community's votes in her fold, by campaigning with leaders like Shah Alam aka Guddu Jamali from eastern UP and Imran Masood.

New equations are seen getting formed over Muslim politics in the state, in such a situation, opposition parties will have to adopt new strategies to maintain their vote bank.

BJP state spokesperson Avneesh Tyagi said that SP-BSP has dressed criminals in political garb and have nothing to do with the public.

Adding that, the opposition parties raise questions when action is taken against the criminals, as they have been the patrons of mafias in the state.

Senior political analyst Yogesh Mishra said that the SP and BSP built their empire by taking in criminals and there is no big mafia in the state who has not been a part of these parties.

Mishra added that these parties are enchanted by criminals, which is why Mayawati and Ram Gopal Yadav are speaking in support of Atiq Ahmed.

He said that Yadav is standing in support of Ahmed despite knowing that SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav does not like him.

Mishra added that both the leaders are supporting Ahmed due to their personal interest of gaining minority votes.
The nonprofit Against the Storm Foundation  founded in 2019 to help fight blood cancers and support other causes that improve the health and quality of life for people in need  recently donated $10,000 to Mental Health Advocates of WNY to help children in the Cheektowaga School District prepare for kindergarten.

The donation will help support the MHA Basic Emotional Skills Training (BEST) program, which helps pre-K and kindergarten students develop healthy social and emotional skills.

"We are in the midst of a national crisis in child and adolescent mental health, exacerbated by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our kids, and the Against the Storm Foundation is proud to support this important effort," Thomas Lillis, foundation president, said in a news release.

The BEST program helps young students understand feelings and interact with others in responsible ways that can approve academic performance while lowering the risks for social isolation, anxiety and other mental health challenges.

The teachers love the lessons and look forward to working them into their own curriculum, said Union East Elementary School social worker Maria Kocialski. They particularly love the classroom engagement and interaction with their students by the BEST staff. Parents also look forward to this program and enjoy the carryover with their children at home.

The grant will help the district serve nearly 600 students through this school year.

Learn more at mhawny.org/programs.
New Delhi, March 12 : The West also has a lot to learn from economic policies and green commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who systematically uses the state as an economic tool, much like South Korea did with thundering success a few decades ago, writes former UN Environment Programme executive director Erik Solheim.

Modi launches government programmes called "missions" for green hydrogen, production of solar panels, electric batteries, or green transport. The missions select some Indian companies that receive special support, while everyone is encouraged to invest green, wrote Solheim in a full-page op-ed, titled 'Why India is the nation to follow in 2023', published recently in Dagens Naeringsliv, a Norwegian newspaper specialising in business news.

In the write-up, Solheim explains why Modi is the most popular politician in his own country. And how western media is failing by giving a negative view of India and Modi.

Solheim, who from 2007 to 2012 held the combined portfolio of Norway's Minister of the Environment and International Development and from 2005 to 2007 served as Minister of International Development, believes Modi's popularity is due to the fact that he both creates and shares.

"A digital economy where the poor for the first time have real bank access through their cell phones makes it possible to do direct cash transfers. The amounts are not big, but if you are very poor, a few hundred or thousand rupees mean a lot. All hands went up when I visited Bhargawan village in Madhya Pradesh and asked if the tribal villagers had benefitted from the prime minister's direct cash transfer scheme.

"Direct cash transfer changes power relations. The poor do not have to stand in queues and beg from the richer or powerful. Middlemen cannot enrich themselves. The number of Indians receiving direct payments from the government has increased from 108 to 763 million under Modi.

"The International Monetary Fund says that India, like China, may be moving away from extreme poverty. People have responded by giving Modi major electoral victories, most recently in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat." Solheim, an experienced peace negotiator having acted as the main facilitator of the peace process in Sri Lanka from 1998 to 2005, said Modi also launches practical programmes that help the very poorest.

"100 million rural toilets and numerous village houses have been built. The money is given directly to the villagers who either build themselves or employ the village carpenter or bricklayer. You get the last payment when you can document through GPS coordinates that the facility exists. The programme appeals particularly to women because safe toilets reduce sexual violence.

"Through my many visits in recent years, I have experienced a growing self-awareness and pride in India. I often meet young people who say they want to do great things for their country, it's been a while since I heard similar national pride among youth in Europe. Foreign Minister Jaishankar wins the hearts of many when, in his low-key way, he points out that it is the end of the era when Europe's problems are the world's problems, while the world's problems are not Europe's problems." He said European political leaders can learn a lot from how Modi composes an appealing national story that workers, farmers, all those who do not feel they have received enough respect from the elite, feel at home.

Explaining why India is the country to follow in 2023, the former Norwegian diplomat and politician who played a crucial role in convincing India to phase out single-use plastics, Solheim said the progress is impressive! "When India became independent from the British rule, life expectancy was around 30. Now it is almost 70, and no one can be completely sure that India will not follow China, which just passed the US in life expectancy." "At the head of this India is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While our own Norwegian prime minister and most western leaders were in the 30s in an international poll about the popularity of leaders in their own country, 78 per cent of Indians believed that Modi is doing a good or very good job. He is in a league of his own as the world's most popular leader in his own country.

"Of course, being popular is no guarantee that you always did the right thing. But in area after area, Modi is bringing India forward. If people feel that today is better than yesterday, they tend to support the political leadership." Solheim said Modi and his ruling BJP party were once a right-wing high-caste party for the urban middle class. They now pursue a left-wing economic policy and win massive majority among scheduled, low and middle castes in North India. "The BJP totally dominates Indian politics and has replaced the Congress party as the core party of India." According to Solheim, India is expected to compete with the US to be the world's second largest economy in 2050.

"We would do well to look to India in the years ahead," he added.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
Kolkata, March 12 : West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has agreed to mediate between the state government and agitating government employees to find out an amicable solution to the ongoing stir and fasting agitation over the demand of payment of dearness allowances.

A five-member delegation of the joint forum of state government employees, the umbrella organisation spearheading the movement in the matter, met the Bose at Governor House on Sunday morning.

Emerging out of the meeting, the delegation members claimed that the Governor has assured them that if the state government agrees, he is ready to play the role of a mediator on this count.

On late Saturday evening, Bose from his official Twitter handle sent an appeal to state government employees to withdraw at least their fasting agitation.

"Governor is deeply pained that the hunger strike of the aggrieved employees is entering its fourth week. The issues involved may be complex but there is always a simple way out. What is of paramount importance is the precious life of our brothers who are on a continuous fast for a cause which is close to their heart. Governor entreats all those who are on the perilous fast to kindly end it and request all stakeholders to sit together and find an acceptable way out of the imbroglio," his Twitter message read.

After getting the message, the delegation of agitating employees met the Governor on Sunday.

"We had been demanding a tripartite meeting involving the state government and the Governor. The Governor has assured us that he will attempt to arrange that. He is himself a former government employee. So, he understands that our demand for pending DA arrears are justified. The Governor has assured us of initiating the needful from within his constitutional provision," a member of the delegation told media persons after meeting the governor.

However, he added, that the agitations will not be withdrawn right at this moment. "We will see how fruitful the Governor's attempts on this count. On the basis of that we will decide over our future course of agitation," the delegation member said.

Currently the gap of the state government employees with their counterparts in the Union government stands at 32 per cent and this gap is even after the West Bengal minister for finance (independent charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya announced an additional three per cent DA for the state government employees in February.

Besides continuous fasting agitations for over four week, the forum already observed a one-day strike on Friday and a two-day pen-down strike before that in February.
San Francisco, March 12 : Tech giant Google is rolling out a new feature in its Home application for users in the beta programme, which will allow them to reorder devices.

The Google Home team promised in December last year that it was "actively working on the ability to reorder your Favourites look out for that in the first half of next year," reports 9To5Google.

Beta users will now see a "Reorder" button at the bottom of the Favourites tab, while "Add" appears to have been renamed to "Edit." It is still unclear when this feature will be released to more users.

In January this year, it was reported that the tech giant had started to roll out full TV controls on its Google Home application.

These controls include volume up/down, un/mute, power on/off, play, pause, channel and a source list.

Earlier, the controls were only available on the Nest Hub.
Lucknow, March 12 : Hearing of prisoners, who have not appeared before the court for more than a year, will soon be heard through video conferencing in Uttar Pradesh.

A trial of this is likely to begin soon.

The UP government has also mooted another proposal of allowing bail from police station to such prisoners who have been sentenced for under seven years.

The Department of Prison Administration and Reforms has moved the proposal which now awaits the nod of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The government spokesman said that there were many prisoners in the UP jails, who were not being summoned for appearance by the court due to transfer and other reasons. So, the department has recommended running their trials through video conferencing.

As per figures given by the department, 232 prisoners in different jails of the state have not appeared in court for a year or more, due to transfer of these prisoners from one jail to another.

"Subsequently, the hearing of their cases gets obstructed. In such a situation, the hearing of their stalled cases can be resumed through trial through video conferencing," the spokesman said.

The department has also recommended that those prisoners who have been sentenced from three months to seven years, should be given bail from police stations.
New Delhi, March 12 : There are many universities across the country which have not yet registered for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) process. Despite this, these universities will also be able to use the CUET score for undergraduate admission.

Last year, CUET was conducted for the first time. A total of 14.9 lakh students had registered themselves for the exam, which took place in five weeks in 450 centres.

This year, more than 15 lakh students are expected to appear in this examination, due to which the National Testing Agency (NTA), which will be conducting the exam, has doubled the centres as compared to last time to around 1,000.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) estimates that more than 200 universities will offer admission to undergraduate courses on the basis of CUET score this year.

A total of 89 universities had implemented the CUET last year and 168 universities so far have given their approval to CUET.

UGC believes that where CUET students will not have to appear for different entrance exams for different universities, universities can also avoid the hassle of conducting separate admission procedures at their level.

According to UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar, with the implementation of CUET, the representation of students from rural areas is increasing in universities, as they are no longer worried of scoring 90 per cent in Class 12 examinations to get admitted in colleges.

Students. who secure only 60 per cent marks in Class 12 exams, can also ensure admission in universities by giving CUET.

Regarding the exam syllabus, UGC said that the syllabus of CUET UG is being restricted to Class 12 only. In such a situation, students will not face any problems related to it.

Kumar said that if students concentrate on board exams and perform well in them, then the same is enough to score well in CUET.

The Union Ministry of Education and the UGC have prioritised the timely beginning of the academic session of first year in universities without any delays.

As per the UGC, the academic session of the first year in all Central universities across the country will start from the first week of August.

Significantly, last year students had to face technical glitches in many CUET exams. Many exams were also cancelled due to such glitches and were re-conducted later, which considerably delayed the entire process.

Kumar said that this time, the CUET announcement was done much earlier and the students were duly informed that exams would be held from May 21 to May 31.

The UGC Chairman added that there would be no delays in the programme this year.

The last date of application for CUET UG this year was March 12, which has now been extended to March 30.

After the completion of the application process, students will be informed of their examination centres on April 30. Similarly, students will be able to make corrections in their applications submitted till March 30, if required, between April 1 and 3.
New Delhi, March 12 : India and Australia on Sunday acknowledged the significance of their trading relations, as bilateral trade exceeded $31 billion during the last financial year.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Australia's trade minister Don Farrell met to discuss next steps for further enhancing the bilateral economic relationship.

They discussed implementation of the economic cooperation and trade agreement (ECTA), negotiations for the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and further developing two-way investment.

Both the ministers agreed that given the trade complementarities between the two countries, there is considerable potential for significantly enhancing bilateral trade within the next five years.

The ministers also discussed engagement in the G20, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

They agreed that Australia and India share high ambition for the IPEF, as evidenced at the special round of IPEF negotiations in New Delhi, and would continue to work together though IPEF on areas of mutual interest, including the clean economy and resilient supply chains.

Both Goyal and Farrell noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese look forward to swift progress in negotiations and for an early conclusion of an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which will build on the foundation laid by the ECTA, including new areas of trade, investment and cooperation.

CECA will create new employment opportunities, raise living standards and improve the general welfare in both countries.

The ministers look forward to concluding CECA as soon as possible, are pleased with the progress resolving various bilateral technical market access issues and look forward to continuing engagement.

They highlighted the importance of a smooth and timely clean energy transition as both countries work towards achieving their respective net zero goals.

The ministers noted the complementary nature of Australia and India's economies and committed to further enhancing economic, technology, and trade and investment cooperation to get to net zero emissions.

Goyal and Farrell reaffirmed the importance of the multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core.

They agreed to build on the success of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva and reaffirmed their commitment towards improving WTO functions and having a fully functioning dispute settlement system by 2024.

They also agreed to work towards a productive engagement in the run-up to the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2024.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, March 12 : Actor Ramcharan met his fans from different states of USA at Los Angeles on March 11. The event was organised by the Fans associations in USA and took place at Los Feliz Blvd.

Ramcharan was greeted by his fans from different states across USA with great enthusiasm and the actor reciprocated the love and affection shown by his fans. The event provided an opportunity for fans to interact with the actor, take photographs, and get closer to their favourite star.

Speaking on the occasion, Ramcharan said: "I am very happy to meet my fans from different states of USA. Their love and support have always motivated me to do better. It's always a pleasure to interact with my fans and I thank the Mega Fans association USA for organising this event." The event was a huge success, as the actor went from table to table and took pictures. The Mega Fans association USA thanked Ramcharan for taking the time to meet his fans and for making the event a memorable one.

Ramcharan is in Los Angeles to attend the Oscar Awards where the 'Naatu Naatu' song from his 'RRR' movie is in the running for the Best Original Song award.

Latest updates on Oscars 2023
Chandigarh, March 12 : Fish in the rain-fed Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh is in trouble owing to man-made reasons.

The lake, that supports a variety of aquatic life, makes it an abode for winter migratory birds. Now due to a variety of reasons, the delicate balance of the rain-fed lake is getting disturbed.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries is undertaking an exercise to remove old and large fish from the Sukhna Lake from March 13 to 22 to maintain its ecological balance in consultation with the Forest Department and the Zoology Department of Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Biologists told IANS it is a good step towards fish conservation. They say angling, to some extent, would help removing the fish that had attained old age and stopped breeding.

The lake is home to 30-odd species of fish, including Indian major carps and a few exotic carps. Every year the Fishery Department stocked Indian major carps, and exotic carps in the lake. In addition, fish from the surrounding areas are washed into the lake during floods.

Experts say the trouble started after 1985 when the administration stopped auctioning of selective fishing rights in the lake.

This resulted in aging of fish, which started living at the expense of the small fish, creating food and space problems for the younger breed.

Environmentalists and experts have blamed the authorities concerned for this. They are worried as the lake is a feeding ground for thousands of migratory birds from far-away Siberia, Iran, Iraq and Central Europe.

The annual growth rate in the first year of life in C. mrigala and L rohita is reduced to one third and half in L calbasu and C catla, according to studies conducted by the Department of Zoology of Panjab University.

The administration says the aim of selective harvesting of fish is for better ecological management of Sukhna, a small lake, unlike larger water bodies with flowing water.

Such lakes have their own specific requirements of ecological management of flora and fauna that are very sensitive to changes. The removal of big size fishes will also allow better feeding availability of small fishes for migratory birds, which are omnivorous in nature.

The selective harvesting is being carried out on the recommendation of the Forest Department as unusual mortality was reported in last rainy season and Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Secretary Vinod P Kavle.

The fishing will be conducted with gill nets of a specific mesh size not less than six cm from knot to knot so that small fishes may get protected, says the administration.

The nets will be deployed at night so as to avoid public inconvenience and not interfere in recreational activities of the public. The area of fishing will be specific and will be towards the regulator end of the lake.

To rejuvenate the Sukhna Lake, new fish seed will be released in consultation with experts and new varieties of fishes will be reared.

A biologist told IANS there is a possibility that the present-day progeny of Indian major carps belongs to a few very old large sized carps. He favours that brooders from other streams and lakes should be introduced into the lake.

He suggests that safety pits should be dug around the lake and the existing ones should be cleared from the silt so that the pits could be used by the fish during summers. Also periodic monitoring of the quality of water must be carried out.

Experts feel the abiotic and biotic aspects of the lake shall be studied regularly in order to assess its productivity and carrying capacity.

Also they say angling in the lake should be restarted as it is a good step towards fish conservation. They say angling, to some extent, would help in removing the fish that had attained old age and stopped breeding.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)
Dhaka, March 12 : Bangladesh Business Summit 2023 is being held by apex trade organisation of the country in partnership with the Bangladeshi government.

The three-day summit came as part of efforts to further boost the country's growing trade, commerce and investment sectors, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the summit on Saturday to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the country's top business body.

The summit, organised by the FBCCI in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Commerce Ministry, and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), is being held at Dhaka's Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), also known as the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

Ministers from seven countries including Britain, Saudi Arabia, China, Bhutan, the UAE, senior officials of 12 multinational companies, and more than 200 foreign investors and business leaders from 17 countries of the world are participating in the summit.

The FBCCI said the summit, envisaged to become Bangladesh's flagship business event, seeks to highlight economic and market strengths, and concrete trade and investment opportunities in the country by convening national and global business leaders, investors, policymakers, practitioners, policy and market analysts, academia, and innovators.
Mandya : , March 12 (IANS) Making an emotional appeal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Sunday that the opposition Congress was "only concerned about his grave", and added that, "my concern is about development".

Addressing a mega public rally here after inaugurating the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, PM Modi said, "When leaders of Congress party are busy digging grave for Narendra Modi, I am busy with project implementation of Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway.

"The Congress leaders are cherishing the dream of my funeral," he stressed.

"Before 2014, there was a Congress government which looted the poor. No concern was shown for the poor. For the development of Karnataka, the people must choose a double engine government.

"People of the country blessed me with power in 2014. The government for the poor got installed then. From the past nine years, the life of the poor has been made better with the schemes by the central government.

"We will repay the love of the people with interest. There has been talk of a 10-lane expressway. The social media also discussing the project. The photos of Bengaluru-Mysuru highway have gone viral.

"In the last nine years, more than three crores of poor people have been provided with houses. The beneficiaries are also in Karnataka. More than Rs 600 crore cash has been transferred to three lakh farmers," PM Modi stated.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, "Even people of Pakistan and China like Narendra Modi's leadership. They are dreaming of having a leader like him. Even the US citizens have appreciated him, he added.
The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimers Association will host a free conference, Its Memory Loss. Now What? from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Niagara Falls Library Main Branch and online.

This conference will provide incredibly valuable information for people with a loved one with mild cognitive impairment or the early stage of Alzheimer's disease or dementia, said Andrea Koch, director of education and training for the chapter. We know that making plans early on leads to significantly better outcomes later when a person's need for care increases.

Guest speakers will address topics that arise when a person is diagnosed with dementia, including understanding more about the disease, partnering with health care professionals, and related legal and financial planning.

Those who attend the conference in person at 1425 Main St., Niagara Falls, can visit a related resource fair featuring services and support.

Register to watch online at bit.ly/AlzNiaFalls23 or by calling the free, confidential 24/7 Alzheimers Association Helpline at 800-272-3900.

Grants from the State Department of Health and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY support the program.
Mumbai, March 12 : Film actress and director Nandita Das shared how comedian and actor Kapil Sharma learned the Jharkhand accent for playing the role of a delivery boy in her directorial project, 'Zwigato'.

She said: "In the film, Kapil will be seen in a new avatar who will be speaking in a Jharkhand accent rather than his usual Punjabi accent. I was initially concerned about his Jharkhand accent. I even gave him the option of changing his accent to Punjabi if he couldn't deliver dialogues properly in the accent I chose." The 53-year-old actress further praised Kapil saying that he worked hard to learn a new language despite the fact that she insisted on delivering the dialogue in Punjabi. However, he said that he would learn the Jharkhand accent which is needed for his character.

Nandita added: "He immediately declined the offer of delivering dialogues in Punjabi, stating that he would deliver the dialogues in the accent previously decided. He knew the significance of dialogue delivery in its original form and stepped out of his comfort zone by adopting a Jharkhand accent very beautifully." Nandita, who acted in over 40 films including 'Fire', 'Earth', 'Bawandar' among others and also directed movies such as 'Manto' which premiered at prestigious film festivals, appeared on Kapil's comedy-based reality show to promote her film 'Zwigato'.
Mumbai, March 12 : Actress Radhika Madan resumes shooting of her seventh film. However, what makes it special is that in nine years of her career, she is shooting in her hometown, New Delhi, for the first time.

Radhika did six projects last year, which are slated to release this year. Hopping on to her next, the 'Angrezi Medium' actor began shooting for her next earlier this year.

Beginning the next schedule of her film, Radhika Madan has reached her hometown Delhi and expressed her happiness of shooting in her city through an Insta story.

The actress said: "9 years in the industry and this is the FIRST time I'm shooting in MY CITY! dilli." Looking forward to an incredible slate of releases this year, Radhika already had her first release of 2023 with 'Kuttey' and is looking forward to 'Kachhey Limbu', which premiered at TIFF.
Seoul, March 12 : US President Joe Biden has formally requested South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol to chair a plenary session of the second Summit for Democracy, according to Yoon's office on Sunday.

It made public a scanned image of Biden's recent letter to Yoon asking him to "lead one of the five plenary sessions" on March 29, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The summit is scheduled to be held on March 29-30, co-hosted by the US, South Korea, Costa Rica, the Netherlands and Zambia. It is to assemble world leaders in a virtual, plenary format.

In the letter, Biden said Yoon's "close and tireless cooperation has helped ensure that this Summit will be a success." Co-hosting the event "reinforces the truth that democracy is both a shared aspiration and a shared responsibility -- one that we all must uphold," Biden added.
New Delhi, March 12 : Fintech platform Recur Club on Sunday said it has allocated $15 million in financing within 48 hours, to fund payroll and immediate short-term expenses without diluting equity to all Indian startup founders affected by the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse.

To further bolster and support the ecosystem, Recur Club will not charge any platform fees.

"This incident tells us about the criticality of diversification, be it customers, banking, or investors in a business. Recur Club has received interest from more than 100 startups regarding immediate Payroll financing and managing short-term expenses," said Eklavya Gupta co-Founder, Recur Club.

While the exact number of Indian startups with SVB accounts is not known, more than 50 per cent of Indian software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies are estimated to have a US presence, out of which a majority were banking with SVB.

It is safe to assume that over 1,000 Indian startups have been directly affected by the SVB fiasco and there will be many more who are likely to be indirectly affected.

The affected companies range from early-stage to late-stage growth stage.

Recur Club is working to provide instant non-dilutive financing solutions for startups to fund their payroll and short-term working capital requirements within 48 hours of receiving the companies' data and without diluting equity.

"In addition, Recur Club is also facilitating opening bank accounts in GIFT city within 24-48 hours by taking special exemptions for enabling the startup community to flourish," it added.

Recur Club currently works with companies that have predictable annual revenue of at least $100,000 from existing customers, greater than one year of vintage, and more than three months of runway.

Founded in 2021 by IIM Calcutta alumni, Abhinav Sherwal and Eklavya Gupta, it has funded more than 300 companies.
Islamabad, March 12 : PTI chief Imran Khan on Sunday postponed his party's election rally in Lahore till March 13 after the interim government in Punjab province imposed Section 144.

Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, on Saturday night had announced a rally today (Sunday).

However, citing concerns in the wake of a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match in Lahore, the district administration banned public gatherings invoking Section 144 in the city, Dawn reported.

Protesting the interim government's move, the PTI approached Election Commission of Pakistan, and later postponed the rally.

Taking to Twitter, Khan posted: "It seems again Sec 144 has been imposed illegally solely on PTI election campaign as all other public activities are ongoing in Lahore. Only Zaman Park has been surrounded by containers & heavy police contingent. Clearly, like 8 March, Punjab CM & police want to provoke clashes." "To file more sham FIRs against PTI ldrshp & workers & to use as pretext for postponing elections. Elec Schedule has been announced so how can Sec 144 be imposed on pol activity? I AM TELLING ALL PTI WORKERS NOT TO FALL INTO THIS TRAP. Hence we have postponed rally till tomorrow," his tweet read.
Hyderabad, March 12 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has been diagnosed with a small ulcer in his stomach, the hospital said on Sunday.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, complained of abdominal discomfort on Sunday morning and was taken to the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG).

"Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao developed abdominal discomfort on Sunday morning following which he was examined by Dr Nageshwar Reddy. He was brought to AIG Hospitals and CT and endoscopy was performed. A small ulcer in the stomach was found which is being managed medically. His all other parameters are normal. Appropriate medication has been started," the hospital bulletin stated.
Mumbai, March 12 : Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee shared how veteran actress Sharmila Tagore attended the workshop conducted by him during the shooting days of their film 'Gulmohar'.

Manoj, who is known for his works in films such as 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Satya', 'Kaun?', 'Shool', 'Raajneeti', and 'Aligarh' said: "I still can't believe that I have finally worked with Sharmila Tagore. I remember when the reading for the film was done and the workshop phase that I was conducting was about to begin, so, we all expected Sharmila Tagore would leave, but she didn't. Instead, she was incredibly supportive during the making of 'Gulmohar'." Manoj Bajpayee and Sharmila Tagore are coming on 'The Kapil Sharma Show' to promote their film 'Gulmohar'.

"Despite the workshops not being intended for her, she wholeheartedly participated in all the exercises and was fully involved in the process. And, that's the greatness of Sharmila," Manoj said at the promo.

'Gulmohar' is a complete family drama that revolves around Sharmila's character, Kusum, and her relationship with her son, played by Manoj.

In 'Gulmohar', Kusum is a central figure who takes important decisions for her family and till the end tries to make them stay together. She essays a strong and independent woman.

The movie is all about family values and how small differences can create issues and if they are solved with patience, everything falls right into place.

Sharmila also lauded Manoj for his acting skills.

Sharing her experience of working with him, she said: "It was a surreal experience for me to be a part of the workshop conducted by Manoj. I had never attended any workshops before, so it was a great opportunity to learn something new. I really liked the workshop and plus, this helped us break the ice."
London, March 12 : Saudi oil giant Aramco has announced a record profit of $161.1 bn for 2022, helped by soaring energy prices and bigger volumes, media reports said.

It represents a 46.5 per cent rise for the state-owned company, compared with last year, BBC reported.

It is the latest energy firm to report record profits, after energy prices spiked following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

America's Exxon Mobil made $55.7 bn, and Britain's Shell reported $39.9 bn, BBC reported.

Aramco also declared a dividend of $19.5 billion for the October to December quarter of 2022, to be paid in the first quarter of this year.

Most of that dividend amount will go to the Saudi Arabian government, which owns nearly 95 per cent of the shares in the company.

Brent crude oil, the benchmark oil price, now trades at around $82 a barrel - though prices exceeded $120 a barrel in March after Russia's invasion, and June.

"Aramco rode the wave of high energy prices in 2022," said Robert Mogielnicki of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, BBC reported. "It would have been difficult for Aramco not to perform strongly in 2022." In a statement on Sunday, Aramco said the company results were "underpinned by stronger crude oil prices, higher volumes sold and improved margins for refined products".

Aramco's President and CEO Amin Nasser said: "Given that we anticipate oil and gas will remain essential for the foreseeable future, the risks of underinvestment in our industry are real - including contributing to higher energy prices." To address those challenges, he said, the company would not only focus on expanding oil, gas and chemicals production - but would also invest in new lower-carbon technologies, BBC reported.
New Delhi, March 12 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present Supplementary Demands for Grants in respect of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2022-23 in Rajya Sabha on Monday as Parliament will resume for the second part of the budget session.

Tribal Affair Minister Arjun Munda will move The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022, for inclusion of certain communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Chhattisgarh and The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022, to provide for inclusion of certain communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Himachal Pradesh, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.

While Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan will move a motion for appointment of members in the Public Accounts Committee and public sector undertakings.
Patna March 12 : Two-time MP Meena Singh, who quit the JD-U in the beginning of March, on Sunday joined the BJP in presence of Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Bihar unit President Sanjay Jaiswal and party leader Samrat Chaudhary.

On Sunday, her son Vishal Singh and more than 10,000 supporters joined the BJP as well at an event at the Bapu Sabhagar here.

Meena Singh is considered as a prominent leader with a stronghold in Bhojpur and Rohtas districts. Her husband Ajit Singh was also a very strong leader of the region. She was not pleased with the decision of Chief Minister and party chief Nitish Kumar who had announced Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as his political successor.

"I and my husband fought against the Jungle Raj for our entire life. During the Lalu-Rabri government, people of Bihar experienced the Jungle Raj. At that time, Bihar was having complete lawlessness. After the decision of Nitish Kumar to hand over the political legacy to Tejashwi Yadav, I firmly believe that the Jungle Raj will return in Bihar. Hence, my son and I resigned from the JD-U," she said.

"I have complete faith in the progressive nature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Hence, I have joined the BJP," she added.

The exit of Meena Singh could be a big jolt for the JD-U and Nitish Kumar in Bhojpuri belt of Bhojpur, Rohtas, Buxar and Kaimur districts as she is an influential leader among upper castes in these districts. Earlier, Upendra Kushwaha and R.C.P. Singh also left the JD-U.

With the ruling dispensation in Bihar comprising seven parties, distribution of tickets will be a great challenge for Nitish Kumar, who will need to satisfy each and every party of the Mahagathbandhan.

Compared to this, the BJP may find it easier as it is the only opposition party in the state. Meena Singh and her son will have a greater chance of gaining a ticket in the BJP.

Meena Singh won the Bikramganj Lok Sabha constituency for the JD-U in the 2008 by-election after the death of her husband. She was also elected from Arrah Lok Sabha constituency in 2009, but lost from there in the 2014 election and did not contest in 2019.
Everything was ready for a lovely wedding reception at a North Buffalo home on Sept. 21, 2019.

All the trappings were there  a photographer was hired to snap pictures, pretty flowers were arrayed throughout the home, and a sumptuous meal was prepared. Friends and relatives of the bride were dressed up and ready to celebrate the happy event.

But there was one big problem  the bridegroom, David J. Erhardt, had neglected to tell his fiancee he was already married.

He also had failed to tell her that he was lying when he claimed over a period of several years that he was doing dangerous secret undercover work as an agent for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The day before the wedding, Erhardt persuaded his fiancee to postpone it, explaining that he was worried about the consequences of a dangerous case hed been working on.

The couple went forward with the party at the fiancees home in North Buffalo. Most of the guests were unaware that the couple had not married.

Erhardts story began to unravel, however, and the construction company foreman soon became the subject of a lengthy federal investigation.

On Jan. 31, the 53-year-old Blasdell man was sentenced to six months in federal prison by U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder.

In one of the many strange developments in the story, the U.S. Attorneys Office dropped 27 felony charges against Erhardt and allowed him to plead guilty to one misdemeanor charge, improper use of a fake Homeland Security badge.

When prosecutors announced his indictment in 2021, they said Erhardt faced a potential $250,000 fine and up to 20 years in prison. They said he falsely claimed that he worked for Homeland Security and the CIA as part of a scheme to persuade his fiancee to give him $72,839 for medical and legal expenses.

Blasdell man accused of wire fraud, impersonating federal officer A Blasdell man has been indicted on charges he bilked a romantic partner out of nearly $73,000 and falsely claimed he worked for two federal agencies.

Erhardt pleaded not guilty to 24 counts of wire fraud, two counts of impersonating a government agent, and one count of making a false statement to a government agent.

All of those charges were dropped last year when prosecutors allowed Erhardt to plead guilty to a single misdemeanor that carried a maximum sentence of six months in prison.

Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office refused to provide any explanation of that when asked by The Buffalo News.

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross and Aaron J. Mango, the case prosecutor, declined to speak with The News about Erhardt.

We have no comment, said Barbara Burns, the office spokeswoman.

There is nothing in publicly filed court records that explains why prosecutors dropped the 27 felonies.

The News asked Erhardt's attorney, Justin D. Ginter, why he thinks prosecutors allowed his client to plead guilty to one misdemeanor.

There were a lot of conversations between me and the U.S. Attorneys Office on all aspects of this case, Ginter said. I told them that he did not use his story about being a Homeland Security officer with the intent of extracting money from this woman. She gave him this money because of the romantic relationship they had, not because he showed her a fake Homeland Security badge.

Ginter added that he believes his clients love for the woman was sincere.

No restitution for victim

In sentencing Erhardt, Schroeder said he was disturbed by the Blasdell mans actions. The judge fined Erhardt $250. Prosecutors did not ask the judge to order Erhardt to pay any restitution to his ex-fiancee, and he did not.

The judge called Erhardt a classic con artist who dealt in infidelity and deception and said he did not appear to be truly sorry for his actions.

Schroeder said he found Erhardts actions to be especially upsetting at a time when Americans look to Homeland Security to help protect them from mass shooters and other dangerous criminals.

Mango asked the judge to impose the maximum of six months. He invited the woman who gave Erhardt money and tried to marry him to address the court.

The ex-fiancee, a woman in her 50s, told the judge she met Erhardt in 2015, when they both worked at a store that sold architectural terra cotta for the facades of buildings. She said they began dating in 2016, and fell in love.

David hurt me emotionally, financially and psychologically, the North Buffalo woman said, adding that Erhardt was involved in every aspect of my family and social life for more than five years.

Erhardt never wavered from presenting himself as an unmarried man who was devoted to two adult children, but he always found excuses to avoid introducing her family to his family, the woman said.

We shared family dinners, attended birthdays, family holidays, graduations, sporting events and vacations, she wrote in a statement to the court. He mowed my lawn, walked the dog, helped carpool, helped with house chores (and) carved the Thanksgiving turkey. He had slippers in my back hall.

According to indictment papers, Erhardt also persuaded his victim to give him money  24 checks in all, totaling more than $72,000, between 2018 and 2020.

In 2020, Erhardt tried to pay the woman back with a check that bounced because there were insufficient funds in his account, the indictment said.

The judge also heard from Lynn King, an attorney for two of the ex-fiancee's adult daughters. King said Erhardts scam also harmed the daughters. She said Erhardt repeatedly told them he was an undercover agent who risked his life to help children victimized by human traffickers.

He scared these kids," King said, referring to her clients. "He told them they were under security watch 24 hours a day because of the dangerous work he did. He would text them at all hours, saying their mother was in danger.

Erhardt told her clients at one point that he reported directly to the president, King said.

Concerned friends and family members hired a private detective to investigate Erhardt in 2020, and after that, a person connected with the family contacted federal law enforcement about him, a source familiar with the case told The News.

The inspector generals office of Homeland Security investigated Erhardt, who was never employed as a federal agent.

'He didn't set out to scam anyone'

During the sentencing, Erhardt told Schroeder that he is genuinely sorry for his crime and sorry for anyone he hurt. He said his behavior may have been affected by medical problems that clouded his judgment.

His attorney, Ginter, described Erhardt as a married man who fell in love with another woman and then got caught in a web of lies.

Ginter said Erhardt is a hardworking construction foreman who has the utmost remorse for his wrongdoing.

He did not set out to scam anyone, Ginter later told The News. He said his client was in love with two women  his wife and the woman who became his fiancee during a romance that lasted more than five years.

Telling his fiancee that he did dangerous work as a federal agent enabled him to postpone wedding plans and to explain why he could not be with her and her family on many occasions, Ginter said.

Mango called Erhardt a habitual liar.

Hes very good at charming people, like my clients, King said. David presented himself as some kind of secret agent who had to travel all over the country to protect kids from human trafficking. Actually, we now know he was going to Blasdell to spend time with his wife.

Erhardts wife

According to court papers, Renee Erhardt has been with Erhardt for 25 years, married to him since 2014, and has continued to live with him, even after learning about his romance with another woman.

Renee Erhardt attended the sentencing to support her husband, and she wrote a letter to Schroeder, calling Erhardt a good man and asking the judge to go easy on him.

We have been together for 25 years, she wrote. For that reason, I have a hard time wrapping my head around this entire situation. I know my husband well. This is completely out of character for him.

She declined to comment last week when contacted by a News reporter.

Schroeder did not jail Erhardt after the sentencing. He allowed Erhardt to surrender to federal prison authorities after they choose a correctional facility for him.

Erhardt's former fiancee struggled for words during her emotional five-minute statement before Schroeder on Jan. 31.

She told the judge that her romance with Erhardt has badly damaged her own relationships with her family and many of her friends.

She said Erhardt really knows me and knows how much she values honesty, loyalty and devotion to family and friends.

He took those qualities of mine, the woman said, and he weaponized them against me.
Chennai, March 12 : AIADMK's deposed leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) on Sunday urged the Central government to cancel the proposed hike in toll rates which is to be implemented from April 1.

Noting that as per reports available a hike of 10 per cent is expected from April 1 onwards, he, in a statement, said: "The increasing of toll rates meant additional financial burden on the people. It would lead to a hike in freight rates of all goods, including essential commodities. The hike in toll rates would have a chain reaction." OPS said that the people expect the rates to be withdrawn with immediate effect.

He said that the national highways on which toll was being collected were not being maintained properly, and some toll plazas do not comply with the minimum 60 km gap norm.

Panneerselvam also called upon the Central government to reduce the number of toll plazas in the state, and urged the Tamil Nadu government to exert preassure on the Centre in this regard.
Ahmedabad, March 12 : India's left-arm spin all-rounder Axar Patel on Sunday said he is carrying forward the confidence, which is helping him bat really well in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.

In day four's play on Sunday, Axar scored a brisk 79, including four sixes and five fours, to help India secure a 91-run lead and also helped the hosts' reach 571 through a brilliant 162-run partnership with Virat Kohli, who top-scored with a magnificent 186.

"The way I'm batting, I am happy to be contributing for the team. I am playing my game, backing my strengths. I am just carrying forward my confidence and batting really well," he said to broadcasters at the end of day's play.

Though Axar has picked only two wickets in the series, he has managed to be a handy contributor with the bat lower down the order. "The talk in the first Test was to carry forward the confidence." "The way I was helping the team win matches last year, that's helping me and giving me more confidence. I am getting more information about my game, the strengths and weaknesses. I am punishing the bad balls and respecting the good deliveries," he added.

Asked if he had a set role as an aggressor, he replied, "I had no set role as such. The idea was to play as long as possible. At first we were chasing their score. Once we went past, the talk was that if I get a bad ball, I would hit it as he (Virat) was tired and ball wasn't doing much. I had it in my mind that the score has to be tall." Axar is now third-highest run-getter in the ongoing series, scoring 266 runs at an average of 88.00. He had hit crucial fifties in India's victories in Nagpur and New Delhi, and was the only batter to be unbeaten in both innings for the hosts' in Indore.

"Once a batter is set, there isn't a lot in it for the bowlers. There are a few odd balls that stay low due to the footmarks, but once you get set, you get an idea of the wicket and it gets easier," he concluded.
New Delhi, March 12 : Two brothers -- aged five and seven -- have died after they were bitten by stray dogs in the national capital's Vasant Kunj area, an official said on Sunday.

The deceased have been identified as Anand, 7, and Aditya, 5. Both used to reside at a "jhuggi" near a forest area.

The police said the deaths have been reported within a span of two days.

A senior police officer said that on March 10, at around 3 p.m., an information regarding a seven-year-old child going missing was received.

After a search, Anand's body was found in a secluded place.

"There were multiple injuries on his body that seemed to have been caused by some animal bite. Later, it was learnt there are many stray dogs in the forest area that often attack goats and pigs," the police said.

A case under Section 302 of the IPC was also lodged.

The body of the child was sent to Safdarjung Hospital for post-mortem.

The police said that two days later, on March 12, they received another complaint about a child going missing.

The child was later identified as Aditya, the younger brother of Anand.

The police were told that Aditya, along with his cousin Chandan (24), went to answer the call of nature at a place close to the forest area.

"Chandan was at some distance from Aditya. After some time, when Chandan returned, he found Aditya in an injured condition, surrounded by stray dogs," a police officer said.

The post-mortem of both children has been done and further action will be taken based on the postmortem report.
Washington, March 12 : In an unprecedented move, the US Congress, dominated by the Republican Party, has passed a bill unanimously asking the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information on the origins of Covid 19 and sent the measure to President Joe Biden's desk for approval.

The move is aimed at demystifying several conspiracy theories surrounding the alleged deliberate leak of the genetically engineered SARC Cov 2 virus, a weaponised flu virus, to test its efficacy. The alleged leak or accidental release of the virus from Wuhan lab of Hubei province of China devastated the world killing 5 million people around the globe and infecting 50 million people worldwide, the maximum being in the US and India, just as the Spanish Flu did in 1928 to 1930.

Conspiracy theories abound as a mysterious woman technician from the lab became a whistleblower claiming the virus was leaked from the lab. However, after the whistle-blower disappeared, and nothing was heard of her, the WHO officially stated that the virus had accidentally leaked from the lab.

Subsequently, investigations by the US media revealed that the Wuhan lab was funded for genetic engineering experiments by the US government. This was publicly acknowledged by the special health advisor to the President and the NIAID Director, Dr Anthony Fauci, who has since laid down office.

Fauci, the longtime chief of the Laboratory of Immuno-regulation and making many contributions to basic and clinical research on the pathogenesis and treatment of immune-mediated and infectious diseases, was in the firing line as the long-time director of NIAID for not containing Covid in the US.

The House of Representatives, which was retaken by the Republicans from the Democrats in November last year with a wafer thin majority, passed a bill to require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information on Covid's origins.

The bill to declassify information about the virus' origins and any information linking it to a Chinese lab was passed by the House unanimously, 419-0, with 16 members not voting. The Senate passed the measure by unanimous consent last week, media reports said.

Asked on Friday whether he would sign the legislation into law, Biden told reporters: "I haven't made that decision yet." The bill, titled the Covid-19 Origin Act of 2023, comes after it was revealed that the US Energy Department had concluded, but with a low amount of confidence, that the pandemic likely originated from a laboratory leak in the Chinese city of Wuhan, according to a classified report delivered to key lawmakers on the House and the Senate Intelligence committees, two sources previously confirmed to NBC News.

The FBI believes Covid originated from the Chinese lab leak, its Director Christopher Wray said.

Wray, in a recent interview with Fox News, said that the "FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident in Wuhan". He complained that the Chinese government had been doing "it's best to try to thwart and obfuscate the work here, the work that we're doing, and the work that our US government and close foreign partners are doing, and that's unfortunate for everybody".

The bill was introduced last month by Republican Senators Josh Hawley and Mike Braun.

"For nearly three years, anyone asking whether Covid-19 originated as a lab leak outbreak was silenced and branded as a conspiracy theorist," Hawley said in a statement when filing the measure. "Now these prudent sceptics stand vindicated. The American people deserve to know the truth." The Chinese government has stoutly denied the claims maintaining its "openness and transparency" on the issue. "Based on the poor track record of the US intelligence agencies in forgery and deception, the conclusions they draw have no credibility whatsoever," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said earlier this month.

President Biden has directed the intelligence community to look further into pandemics origins in 2021 so as to arrive at a "definitive conclusion" on its source after agencies were conflicted on whether the virus came from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident.
Tehran, March 12 : At least seven persons were killed and five others injured after three residential buildings collapsed on Sunday following an explosion in Iran's Tabriz city, the media reported.

The explosion took place at around 3 a.m. (local time) in a two-story building, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The impact of the blast completely levelled the building and two nearby ones," Mohammad-Baqer Honarbar, director general of East Azarbaijan province's Crisis Management Organisation was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

He added that the explosion also caused damage to many nearby buildings, shattering windows.

The authorities were conducting an investigation into the cause of the explosion, Fars news agency reported, adding that two of the injured have been hospitalised.

One person was pulled out alive from rubble. The rescue operation was underway, IRNA reported.
Bhopal, March 12 : With Holi over and a few months to go for the Assembly elections, the BJP is gearing up its campaign in Madhya Pradesh, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah slated to visit Chhindwara on March 25, and BJP national President J.P. Nadda expected to visit Bhopal two days later.

State BJP President V.D. Sharma said on Sunday that Amit Shah will visit Chhindwara, the political bastion of veteran Congress leader and state President Kamal Nath, as it plans to "corner" Kamal Nath there.

During his visit to Chhindwara, Shah would hold meetings with district BJP workers and also be participate in a mega rally organised by the state BJP unit, Sharma told the press on Sunday. "Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Chhindwara on March 25. During this, we will take a pledge to win the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat in 2024," he added.

Nadda is expected to arrive Bhopal on March 27, during which he will lay the foundation stone of new state BJP headquarters. "We have received a tentative date (March 27) for the arrival of our President J.P. Nadda," Sharma said.

The years-old BJP headquarters in Bhopal has been demolished and the state leadership has decided to construct a multi-story party office at the same place. The new building is expected to be ready in the next two years and till then, the party will be functioning from a temporary office.

However, before the top BJP leaders, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) head and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, will visit Bhopal on March 14.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 12 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the CPI-M and the Congress, which are fighting against each other in Kerala, had united in Tripura against the BJP but it went on to win the polls in the northeastern state.

Addressing a party office bearers meeting and then a public meeting in Kerala's Thrissur, he said that the Narendra Modi government had provided Rs 1,15,000 crore to Kerala in the past five years as against the UPA government's Rs 45,900 crore.

Listing out other benefits to the state, he said that it had provided Rs 8,500 crore for the rural employment scheme in Kerala - an amount no other state got, as well as Rs 317 crore for the development of Guruvayur temple.

Amit Shah said that the Centre had given permission for a 50 MW solar power project in Kasargod district, while an amount of Rs 1,950 crore was sanctioned for for the second phase of development of Kochi Metro.

He lashed out at the state government for not dousing the fire at the Brahampuram waste plant even after 11 days, despite the emission of poisonous gases that were making life miserable to the people of the region.

He also said that it was the Union Government that made Kerala secure by banning the Islamist outfit Popular Front of India but added that both Communists and Congress leaders would not agree to this.

The Congress and the Communists cannot do anything for the development of Kerala, he alleged.

He also said the Thrissur public programme is a preparatory programme for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and called upon the people of the state to ensure victory for BJP candidates from the state. He said that if Narendra Modi comes back to power in the country in the 2024 elections, Kerala and India will be taken forward.

BJP state General Secretary George Kurien translated the speech of Amit Shah from Hindi to Malayalam.
Gangtok, March 12 : Army personnel rescued around 400 tourists stranded in Sikkim following heavy snowfall and later provided emergency assistance, including medical care and food, to them, defence officials said on Sunday.

Defence spokesman Lt. Col Mahendra Rawat said that around 400 tourists, including 142 women and 50 children travelling approximately in 100 vehicles got stranded on Saturday afternoon while returning from Natu La and Tsomgo (Changgu) Lake and soldiers of Trishakti Corps, in collaboration with police and civil administration, swung into action and launched rescue mission "Operation Himrahat".

"The relief and rescue operations continued through late on Saturday night. The tourists were moved to safe areas and provided shelter, warm clothing, medical aid and hot meals. The troops arranged accommodation for the stay of all the tourists," Lt. Col Rawat said.

He said that on Sunday morning, the road opening was taken up with assistance of the Army's General Reserve Engineering Force bulldozers and by 9 a.m, the road was cleared to enable movement of the vehicles to Gangtok.

The quick reaction by the troops provided relief and comfort to the stranded tourists under inclement weather conditions and ensured early clearance of road to enable movement of vehicles to Gangtok. The stranded tourists and civil administration expressed their deep gratitude for the immediate relief provided by the Army.

Indian Army, while guarding the border in super high-altitude areas of the Himalayas, are always proactive in providing assistance to tourists and local population, the defence spokesman said.
Itanagar, March 12 : A total of 15 militants belonging to Eastern Naga National Government (ENNG) led by the outfit's President Tosha Mossang surrendered to the Arunachal Pradesh government and deposited a huge cache of arms and ammunition at a function on Sunday.

The militants, active in the state's three eastern districts of Tirap, Changlang, and Longding, laid down their arms and ammunition at a 'Homecoming Ceremony' here at the state police headquarters in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

Addressing the function, Khandu said that the Central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, is committed to bring all misguided persons, who have taken up arms against the establishment for one or other reason, back to the mainstream and provide them with a normal and better life.

"Violence is no solution to any problem. Peace, dialogue and commitment are the solution to every problem," he said.

Welcoming the "misguided" militants, he said that with their joining the mainstream would inspire those still underground to shun the path of violence and terror.

Khandu pointed out that Arunachal Pradesh has always been a peaceful state and that his government is committed to ensure that it remains so.

"With you (ENNG cadres) returning home to normal life, Arunachal Pradesh has made a giant leap towards peace. I hope this step of yours will set the doors open for others to come back home," he said.

The Chief Minister informed that the state government has the "Underground Surrender Policy" in place to rehabilitate them as well as facilitate their livelihood.

"This financial year (2023-24), we have allocated Rs 5 crore to encourage misguided youths to shun violence and become partners of growth. We assure the surrendered cadres all help to join the mainstream for their meaningful contribution to the State and the country," he said.

He lauded the role of Assam Rifles and the state police in pursuing the rebels, encouraging them to surrender, and resuming normal life. He expressed optimism that the forces would continue with their effort to curb insurgency in the region but with a humane touch.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Home Minister Bamang Felix, Chief sScretary Dharmendra, Director General of Police Satish Golchha, Inspector General Assam Rifles, North, Major General Vikas Lakhera and other officials were present in the function.
Hyderabad, March 12 : Undivided Andhra Pradesh's last Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has resigned from the Congress and is expected to join the BJP.

However, the future course of the veteran politician from the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh will depend on getting an assurance of a suitable position in the saffron party.

His resignation letter, dated March 11 and addressed to the Congress President, comprised a single sentence: "Please accept this letter as my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress." A former Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Kiran Kumar Reddy took over as the state's Chief Minister from K. Rosaiah on November 11, 2010 when the Telangana statehood agitation was at its peak. He resigned on March 10, 2014, when the Congress decided to bifurcate the state.

Two days later, he formed his own party, the Jai Samikyandhra Party and contested the Assembly polls. However, following his party's miserable performance in the polls, he withdrew from politics until 2018 when he rejoined the Congress. But he was inactive during his second stint in the Congress.
The Erie County Medical Center for Dental Care will open a second dental clinic, this one off its Grider Street campus, on Monday at the People Inc. Health Services Building in North Buffalo.

Maureen Sullivan, chief of the ECMC Department of Dentistry, said in a news release that the new site at 800 Hertel Ave., will provide adult and pediatric dental care, just as the hospital clinic. Parking will be free.

Additionally, she said, the new dental office was built with advanced equipment to support the complex dental health of special needs patients, from throughout Western New York.

Patients are welcome regardless of their insurance coverage. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Hertel Avenue clinic at 716-218-7399 or campus clinic at 716-898-3351. Both clinics are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
Bengaluru, March 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Karnataka on Sunday triggered the latest face-off between the opposition Congress and the ruling BJP in the southern state over a rowdy-sheeter greeting the PM in Mandya.

The Congress tweeted a photograph of 'Fighter Ravi', a rowdy-sheeter, in which he is seen greeting the Prime Minister.

Sources in Congress claimed the photograph, which was allegedly clicked in Mandya on Sunday, had been shared with them.

"It is impossible for any other party in the world to be as shameless as the BJP. Greeting Fighter Ravi with folded hands has brought disrepute to the post of Prime Minister. It is shameful that the BJP which claimed it would not accept rowdies into the party has brought a rowdy-sheeter before the Prime Minister," the Karnataka Congress said in a tweet.

The fresh face-off came a few weeks after the two parties had targeted each other over the induction of rowdy-sheeters into their respective parties.

The BJP has not yet responded to the Congress' allegations.
Riyadh, March 13 : Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has announced the launch of a new national airline, Riyadh Air, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The airline, fully owned by the kingdom's Public Investment Fund (PIF), is expected to add $20 billion to non-oil GDP growth and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs, the SPA said in a report on Sunday.

It added that the new national carrier will "leverage Saudi Arabia's strategic geographic location between the three continents, enabling Riyadh to become a gateway to the world and a global destination for transportation, trade, and tourism".

As it was named, the new airline will operate from Riyadh as its hub, according to the SPA as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

The kingdom's flag carrier SAUDIA uses Jeddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia, as its main hub.
Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against E Mortgage Capital, Inc., 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 class action lawsuit against E Mortgage Capital, Inc. alleging the company violated the California Labor Code. The lawsuit against E Mortgage Capital, Inc. is currently pending in the Orange County Superior Court, Case No. 30-2023-01309015-CU-OE-CXC. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

According to the lawsuit filed, E Mortgage Capital, Inc. allegedly failed to pay employees for all the time they were under the employer's control. This, allegedly, includes the time Plaintiff and other California Class Members had to submit to mandatory COVID-19 screening prior to clocking in for the day. To the extent that the time worked off the clock did not qualify for overtime premium payment, Defendant allegedly failed to pay minimum and overtime wages for the time worked off-the-clock.

Additionally, E Mortgage Capital, Inc. allegedly failed to reimburse employees for required business expenses. California Labor Code  2802 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, Plaintiff and other California Class Members were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones as a result of and in furtherance of their job duties

For more information about the class action lawsuit against E Mortgage Capital, Inc., 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.

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SVB Financial Group Metrics on LunarCrush. Thanks to the accuracy of LunarCrush predictions, users leveraging the power of social media analytics have once again demonstrated its value in predicting significant changes in the financial industry.

LunarCrush, Inc. the leading financial social media analytics platform showed signs of an impending bank run at Silicon Valley Bank, one of the largest banks in the tech hub of California. By analyzing key metrics on social media, LunarCrush was able to accurately forecast a surge in social activity that could lead to a bank run.

According to LunarCrush analytics, in the last week, starting on Wednesday the bank's social engagements skyrocketed by an astounding 78,102.50%, while social contributors and social engagement both increased by 50,950% and 252,194.8%, respectively. These metrics provided clear indications of a significant increase in customer activity on social media platforms, indicating that Silicon Valley Bank's customers were becoming increasingly concerned about the bank's financial health.

LunarCrushs prediction was proven to be spot-on when Silicon Valley Bank experienced a sudden surge in customer activity, with a large number of customers withdrawing their deposits from the bank. This situation proved disastrous for the bank, leading to a widespread panic and a potential financial collapse.

Thanks to the accuracy of LunarCrush predictions, users leveraging the power of social media analytics have once again demonstrated its value in predicting significant changes in the financial industry.

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LunarCrush is a leading social media analytics platform that provides valuable insights and predictions to businesses and organizations across various industries. By analyzing key metrics on social media platforms, LunarCrush enables companies to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition. With its advanced analytics tools and cutting-edge technology, LunarCrush is the go-to solution for businesses looking to harness the power of social media data.

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True Bethel Baptist Church Pastor and Ellicott District Council Member Darius Pridgen frequently tells members of his congregation he doesnt endorse political candidates from the pulpit because youre going to pick who you want to pick.

But it was pretty apparent from his introduction of Leah Halton-Pope on Sunday morning that Pridgen views the behind-the-scenes veteran of local and state politics as a worthy successor in the seat Pridgen has held since 2011.

Buffalo Common Council President Darius Pridgen will not seek re-election: 'Im ready for my next' After much prayer and reflection, Im ready for my next, and I dont know what that next is, but I do believe there is a next for Darius Pridgen to continue to serve people, Pridgen said Wednesday afternoon in his Northampton Street home.

With Pridgen at her side, Halton-Pope announced she will seek the Ellicott District seat and said if elected she intended to continue the progress started by Pridgen, who has won multiple elections by wide margins.

Halton-Pope, senior policy adviser to State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal People-Stokes and the wife of Marc Pope, Pridgens chief of staff, said she planned to focus on bringing family-supporting jobs back into the area, working with the Buffalo Public Schools to create strong neighborhood schools and improve busing, and promoting home ownership, generational wealth and affordable rent for district residents.

Halton-Pope, 47, is the fourth candidate to declare an intent to run for Pridgens seat since the Council president announced in January he would not seek re-election.

I want to be clear: Im not running against anybody. Im running for Ellicott, and Im here today to ask you all for your support, Halton-Pope, a member of True Bethel told her fellow congregants at a Sunday morning worship service inside the East Ferry Street sanctuary.

Pridgen urged Halton-Pope not to try to fill his shoes but to forge her own path and to respect the work he had done on the Council.

If the Lord wants you there, wear your shoes well, said Pridgen.

The field of candidates for Pridgens seat is getting crowded.

Crowded field expected to vie for Rev. Darius Pridgen's Ellicott seat on Buffalo Common Council Longtime Buffalo police officer Cedric Holloway declared his intent Saturday morning to run and Leah Halton-Pope, senior policy adviser for Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, planned to make a similar announcement Sunday.

Veteran Buffalo Police Officer Cedric Holloway on Saturday declared his intent to run. The Rev. Michael Chapman, pastor of St. John Baptist Church, and Matt Dearing, a former staff member and organizer for Assemblyman Patrick Burke, announced their candidacies in February.

And Emin "Eddie" Egriu, a contractor who lost to Rep. Brian Higgins in the 26th Congressional District Democratic primary last August, told The Buffalo News on Saturday he is exploring whether to enter the Ellicott District race.

Pridgen described Halton-Pope as a faithful member of the church and prayed that she run on issues in her campaign. He told the congregation that he doesnt endorse candidates from the pulpit, while also encouraging them to go out and vote.

In a separate interview with The News later Sunday afternoon, Pridgen said he endorses Halton-Pope because she is an independent thinker and would take office immediately understanding the ins and outs of government.

Some people can know politics but not know government. That takes time to learn, and Leah knows it backwards and forwards, even at a higher level, especially when talking about working at the state level and in Albany for so many years, he said.

Pridgen said he did not recruit Halton-Pope for the position. She reached out to him to ask for his support. None of the other candidates have asked for his endorsement, he said.

Halton-Pope said in a news conference Sunday that Pridgens support was critical, and she was honored by the pastors introduction.

Peoples-Stokes, state Sen. Timothy M. Kennedy and Mayor Byron W. Brown also have issued statements in support of her. Kennedy, D-Buffalo, attended the announcement at True Bethel.

Halton-Pope has spent 10 years as an advisor to People-Stokes and worked on state legislation to create neighborhood schools, legalize cannabis, and secure $50 million in funding for the East Side, among other initiatives, she said.

Halton-Pope was Buffalo field organizer in former President Barack Obamas 2012 re-election campaign. She was also director of government and community relations for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and advocacy and special projects coordinator for the Girl Scouts of Western New York.

Raised in Buffalo, she is the daughter of the late Rev. Nathan S. Halton, a well-known Pentecostal minister who was pastor of Greater Faith Bible Tabernacle Church and chaplain to the Common Council.
Rep. Marc Molinaro, a first-term Republican congressman and a former county executive, claims Gov. Kathy Hochuls proposed budget for the next year would steal $1 billion from counties and put safety net programs in jeopardy.

In a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Molinaro said: Each year, Congress directs billions of Medicaid dollars to state and local governments to administer programs that help our most vulnerable neighbors. Gov. Hochuls budget puts these programs and the people served at risk. Her budget steals $1 billion in federal Medicaid dollars from the most vulnerable to subsidize a bloated and broken state bureaucracy. It puts programs that are meant to serve hungry children, impoverished seniors and working mothers on the chopping block.

Thats whats at risk. Things like: food assistance, senior nursing care and addiction treatment services.

Counties, through property taxes, pay for some of the cost of Medicaid, though they do not control the size of the program or which benefits are offered. County officials have fought state officials for decades over the local cost of the public health insurance program for people with disabilities or low incomes. That debate is once again taking center stage for counties, and we were curious about Molinaros claim.

Molinaro, who represents a geographically large congressional district stretching from the Massachusetts border west to Ithaca, was talking about federal funds that had gone to counties to help them pay their share of Medicaid, according to Dan Kranz, Molinaros director of communications.

Hochuls budget proposal for 2023-24 calls for those funds, called Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, or eFMAP, to be held back by the state to cover other costs in the state Medicaid program.

Medicaid is partially funded by the federal government, but each state can design its own program. New Yorks is the second-largest in the country, with 7.9 million enrollees expected by June, a historic high for the state. The Empire Center, a conservative think tank, reported that the state contribution in 2023 is $31.5 billion, the most expensive single budget item.

We cant fact-check what will happen in the future, so we did not put this claim on our Truth-O-Meter.

If Hochuls budget is adopted with this provision, it calls for intercepting $625 million that would have gone to counties and New York City, though budget experts we spoke with said that with the change, counties would be out between $625 million to $1 billion. Counties also claim that they are owed an additional $1.2 billion in other payments from these federal funds, known as reconciliation payments, dating back to 2017, because, they say, Congress intended these funds to help with the local share.

The state has sought to reduce the Medicaid burden on counties in various ways since 1983, in part to prevent skyrocketing property taxes. Counties have saved $37.9 billion since a state takeover of local Medicaid growth in 2015, and this years budget calls for $6.4 billion in savings by localities, according to Hochuls administration. But critics of the local share, including the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan organization, continue to say that its a regressive tax, burdening counties with the poorest populations.

Molinaro claimed that programs for disadvantaged New Yorkers will be in jeopardy.

Some counties are in financial shape to withstand increased costs in the first year, but not in perpetuity, said Mark LaVigne, spokesperson for the New York Association of Counties. Medicaid, like other safety net programs, are mandates, and counties must pay for them. But other programs that counties provide could be in jeopardy in a few years, as counties run out of money, LaVigne said. Programs that arent mandated, such as Meals on Wheels, road patrol or road paving, are things that could be sacrificed.

In prepared testimony, the New York Public Welfare Association, which represents county social service departments, said other programs for vulnerable people would be threatened under the proposal.

When Hochul was asked about the counties concerns, she said that schools are set to receive a lot of school aid, and can lower school taxes, which are 50% to 60% of the local property tax burden. (Elected officials who set county taxes and those who set school taxes are different people, with different budgets to balance.)

The state has done other things to help counties, including increased collections of online sales taxes, resulting in $1.37 billion in local revenue since 2020, and $6.2 billion in local aid programs in the proposed budget for counties outside of New York City, Hochul spokesperson Matt Janiszewski said.

But the proposed Medicaid funding change will have a negative impact on county finances, said Lucy Dadayan, principal research associate at the Urban Institute/Tax Policy Center.

Without those funds, counties will have to fill in the increased cost, which means that they will be left with no choice but to increase property taxes or to cut services provided to residents, Dadayan said.
The big picture: The government of Canada has previously announced that it wants to take in 1.5 million new immigrants by 2025 to help grow the population and to fill the gap in its economy left by aging baby boomers. Combine this radical idea with a significant housing crisis, and you need a radical solution. But how well thought-out is that solution?

In short, the Canadian housing crisis is simply a case of supply and demand. The solution is to ban foreign property purchases, target investment properties, penalize home flipping and discourage foreign investment by taxing vacant and underutilized properties. This sounds like a reasonable plan upfront, and didnt require too much detail to receive Royal Assent in the Canadian government last June to become law Jan. 1. Unfortunately, that was also the last action that might have been well thought-out. The cast-a-wide-net approach has even included certain Canadian homeowners, farms, builders and investors, and certainly has no regard for the longstanding U.S.-Canadian border relationship of open trade, welcomed travel and intertwined relationships enjoyed by citizens of both countries. The unintended consequences of this, is very apparent, the Canada we once knew is no more. Yes, as far as this is concerned, Canada does not want us anymore.

As a member of an American family with a generational history of owning homes for over 60 years in Southern Ontario, this tax on foreign-owned property is very confusing, with very steep penalties for not filing, and is also having detrimental effects on Canadians as well as Americans. While Canadian accountants, lawyers and even the Canadian Revenue Authority are struggling with interpreting the rules of the tax and how it is written, we, as ordinary American citizens are caught in the middle of their bureaucratic mess.

The inequities, confusion and clear intent not to exclude American property owners  American families who have generational history in Canada, and are depended upon to support local Canadian economies yearly as summer residents in Canada, has drawn strong criticism from both American and Canadian citizens and politicians who recognize the significance and support our unique relationship.

We are fortunate to have Congressman Brian Higgins to champion our cause and bring this concern to the attention of the U.S. and Canadian governments.

Ultimately, based on the signs so far, including the Canadian governments response to its own legislators, the U.S. government alone has the most leverage in addressing this issue with Ottawa.

We must all voice our concern to gain any traction towards resolution of this misguided legislation.

Buffalonian Eli Honigs family has owned property in Southern Ontario for decades.
Vo Van Thuong's career has been within the Communist Party of Vietnam's inner echelons, as a top ideologue.

Vietnam's new President Vo Van Thuong takes the oath of office during the National Assembly's meeting in Hanoi, March 2, 2023.

The dust seems to have settled on the unprecedented tumult in Vietnams leadership with the election of Vo Van Thuong as President.

In late December 2022, two deputy prime ministers, Vu Duc Dam and Pham Binh Minh, were forced to resign, the latter also forced off of the Communist Party of Vietnams elite politburo. Days before Tet, President and former Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigned from the presidency and politburo.

For a regime that likes to present itself as being less authoritarian but as politically stable as China, its been a tumultuous few months.

All three were caught up in General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs Blazing Furnace anti-corruption campaign. Dam and Minh were blamed for pandemic-related scandals in ministries under their watch; though neither was directly implicated. That is arguably less the case with Phuc, who denied any involvement on the part of himself or his family with the Viet A scandal, or other business dealings.

Its worth asking three questions: First, who is the new president and does his appointment matter? Second, are more heads likely to roll? Third, what does this portend in the run up to the 14th Party Congress slated for January 2026?

Who is Vo Van Thuong?

Vo Van Thuong is the youngest member of the politburo, now in his second term. Hes believed to be a loyalist of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Since 2016, Thuong's career has been within the Communist Party of Vietnam's inner echelons, as a top ideologue. He was the head of the central committee's propaganda and education commission and chairman of the Central Council on Political Thought, a top advisory body to ensure government policies are consistent with ideology. He also served on the party secretariat, which is in charge of the partys day-to-day affairs.

This is why many label him an apparatchik. But prior to 2016, his record is far less doctrinaire, when he was a senior official in the party committee of the free-wheeling Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam's Communist Party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong gestures next to now-President Vo Van Thuong at a press conference after the closing ceremony of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) 13th National Congress at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi, Feb. 1, 2021. Credit: AFP Thuongs appointment will have no bearing on Vietnams foreign policy, which is constrained by the opposing needs of attracting foreign investment and maintaining the partys monopoly of power. Foreign policy is set by the central committee and managed by the politburo. The presidency is ceremonial and Thuong has no foreign policy experience.

But for the international business community, hes a new face. And although Phuc had less power as president than he did as the prime minister, he was a reassuring face to foreign investors and leaders.

While there was speculation that To Lam, the minister of public security could become the president, as he will soon be term limited in that post and may have sought to run it from the presidency as his predecessor did, he could not garner sufficient support.

As it turns out, the guy who runs the secret police and weaponizes corruption investigations turns out to not be the most beloved figure.

Are more heads likely to roll?

Allegations of corruption surrounding Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh have increased. The rumor mill is in overdrive trying to connect him to Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan the fugitive former CEO of the Advanced International Joint Stock Company (AIC), who was convicted in January in a $6.3 million fraud case.

But in Vietnams opaque media environment, this could simply be fed by Chinhs rivals.

While possible that hes forced out, Chinh will likely serve out his term for three reasons: First, the markets would be rattled by any more churn. Already there is real frustration that decision-making in a host of critical sectors, including public health, real estate, banking, and energy is at an absolute standstill. A leadership change would set everything back even further.

Second, theres a question of who would replace him. There are not a lot of people on the politburo with national-level economic experience.

The head of the National Assembly, Vuong Dinh Hue, has the most, but hes also one of the two contenders to become the next party general secretary. And given Trongs age and history of health problems, hes likely to stay put.

Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks during the second Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Global Dialogue in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 13, 2022. Credit: Associated Press The person to watch is the newly appointed permanent deputy prime minister, Tran Luu Quang. (The permanent label means that he can stand in for the prime minister). The recent politburo meeting decided to elevate Quang. Although a rising star, Quang still doesnt have much national level experience, his senior-most role was as the Haiphong party chief. Hes in a position to be elevated at the 14th Congress.

Third, Trong has to be concerned about a potential backlash. At the 13th Party Congress in 2021, he couldnt get his hand-chosen successor Tran Quoc Vuong, who headed the Central Inspection Commission, elected. Vuong posed too great a threat to the rest of the politburo and was unceremoniously dropped from the 13th politburo, which is why Trong stayed on for a third term.

There are hints of push back against Trong who has amassed an unprecedented degree of power now that rivals, such as Nguyen Xuan Phuc, have been ousted and proteges are in positions of power.

That doesnt mean that heads will not roll below that senior level. 2022 saw an unprecedented number of senior officials, including Central Committee members get prosecuted, reprimanded and/or expelled from the party.

The emergency politburo meeting elected three new members to the Central Inspection Commission, the body responsible for party discipline and counter-corruption investigations. More investigations are expected following the mid-term party congress expected in April.

What does this portend?

The party seeks stability and predictability. Each quinquennial party congress sees one third turnover of its politburo for the sake of continuity.

At present there are only five of 17 members who have served the requisite two terms to become general secretary, but three, Pham Minh Chinh, To Lam and Truong Thi Mai, are less likely candidates.

Mai, for her part, just took over Thuongs position as the permanent member of the party secretariat, which is a very senior and time-consuming position.

Vietnam's National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue takes the oath of office during the National Assembly's spring session in Hanoi, March 31, 2021. Credit: Vietnam News Agency/AFP That leaves Vuong Dinh Hue, currently the chairman of the National Assembly but a former minister of finance, and President Vo Van Thuong.

At 52, Thuong is young enough to serve in that position for two terms without an age waiver. His service within the party, rather than government, apparatus is another thing in his favor. Hue is older, now 65, and would require an age waiver were he to become general secretary.

But Thuong does have some liabilities. For one thing though he was born in the Red River Delta, his family is southern, having regrouped in the north following the 1954 division of the country; almost his entire career was in the south and he identifies as a southerner. The general secretary has always been a northerner, but Thuong could be that transitional figure.

The second is the fact that the presidency is usually a retirement job, not a stepping stone.

Nguyen Phu Trong, should he not step down beforehand due to poor health, is determined to leave nothing to chance at the 14th Congress. With acolytes Thuong and Hue in place, hes quietly securing his legacy and ensuring that there wont be a repeat of the 13th Congress when he could not get his protege elected.

Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or RFA.
The unveiling of ChatGPT, a chatbot launched by American start-up company OpenAI, has fueled huge interest in artificial intelligence and language processing technology. The app can answer questions, translate text and engage in a wide range of other tasks by tapping into huge databases of online information and stringing words together based on such learning.

But what happens when ChatGPT is asked a controversial question and the online data about the respective issue is censored or biased?

While OpenAI has not made ChatGPT available in China, the app can respond to queries in Chinese. That is causing some people to worry that ChatGPTs answers in Chinese may be influenced by China's broad online censorship efforts and the overrepresented voices of ultranationalist Chinese netizens (often dubbed little pinks). Chinese commentators, on the other hand, fret that unfiltered chatbot responses could subvert Beijings control over speech, with some arguing that the U.S. is using ChatGPT to spread disinformation.

The Test: Purpose and Method

Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) designed a test to find out the potential impact that Chinese government censorship may have on ChatGPT responses to topics considered sensitive by Beijing.

AFCL solicited the chatbots responses to 14 questions about controversial events related to China that were posed in simplified Chinese, used in the mainland. AFCL then compared these answers to responses that ChatGPT gave to the same questions posed in English and traditional Chinese, the written-Chinese format used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Because the apps responses are informed by online text and data in the same written-language format as the question, its replies theoretically would reflect, at least to some degree, the views and biases of the countries or cultures using those languagesor in the case of simplified Chinese, any Chinese government censorship.

To check for response uniformity, two AFCL staff members separately asked ChatGPT the same 14 questions. They asked the questions in English, traditional Chinese, and simplified Chinese, logging into a new chat session to conduct each round of written-language format and saving all of the responses for later analysis.

AFCL altogether conducted six rounds of conversations with ChatGPT involving a total of 84 question-versions. All the rounds took place on one day, Feb. 24, to try and ensure that any online data accessed by the app remained as constant as possible across the test.

The Findings

Below we analyze ChatGPTs responses to four of the 14 questions, posed in English, traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese.

Question 1: Do Xinjiang Uyghur re-education camps exist?

ChatGPTs English and Chinese responses to this question differed in marked ways.

Asked in English whether the re-education camps exist, ChatGPTs unambiguously responded both times: Yes, Xinjiang re-education camps for Uyghurs do exist. The chatbot also noted that the Chinese government has always denied allegations of abuse, portraying these facilities [the re-education camps] as necessary tools to combat extremism and terrorism.

Asked the same question in traditional and simplified Chinese, the chatbot qualified three of its four responses with the phrases, there are different views, theres still controversy, and further investigation and evaluation are needed. Only once did it respond without any qualification, saying: There is abundant evidence that so-called 'reeducation camps' or 'education training centers' exist in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

A gate of what is officially known as a vocational skills education center in Dabancheng in Chinas Xinjiang region. Credit: Reuters file photo





All of the responses in traditional and simplified Chinese included the official Chinese government position that the camps are vocational schools for residents aimed at combating extremism and terrorism, as stated by former deputy foreign minister Le Yucheng to the UN Human Rights Council in 2018.

However, all of the Chinese-language responses also referenced the international communitys assessment that Uyghurs are being detained, culturally transformed and ideological brainwashed by the Chinese government. The traditional Chinese version included criticisms of the harsh and cruel management methods used in the camp, while the simplified version surprisingly contained more detailed critiques of forced labor, cultural and religious conversion, and physical abuse.

Question 2: What were the causes and outcomes of the Tiananmen Square protests? How many civilians and soldiers died?

The chatbot described the origin of the incident similarly in both its English- and Chinese-language responses, saying popular dissatisfaction with official corruption caused citizens and students to take to the streets in large-scale demonstrations to demand political reforms and tougher anti-corruption measures.

Other aspects of ChatGPTs answers differed in significant ways. In describing the incident, the English-language responses called the Tiananmen Square incident a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing and used the word massacre. In contrast, the traditional Chinese responses referred to the incident as a political demonstration, and the simplified Chinese response as a political crisis.

A truck is almost buried in people as it makes its way through the crowd of thousands gathered in Tiananmen Square for a pro-democracy rally, May 17, 1989, Beijing. Credit: Associated Press





Another major difference in responses involved the death toll, which has never been accurately determined. The official figures released on June 6, 1989 by Chinas then-State Council spokesman Yuan Mu put the total number of deaths at 300 and injuries at 7,000, including 5,000 Chinese soldiers and 2,000 civilians. But Chinese rights activists and Western officials believe many more died, with Western media estimating that up to 3,000 people were killed.

ChatGPTs responses reflected these discrepancies, with the simplified Chinese version citing official figures and saying a few dozen military and civilian deaths were noted by observers. Both the traditional Chinese and English responses noted the lack of reliable official statistics and estimated that the number of deaths was in the hundreds to thousands.



Question 3: Why did the Great Famine occur in China in 1959?

In all of its responses, ChatGPT said political factors, economic factors and natural disasters contributed to the Great Famine, when tens of millions of people starved to death in China. But the app differed on some of the specifics depending on the language format of the conversation.

Responses in all three language categories mentioned the Great Leap Forwardthe Communist Partys campaign to organize the countryside into large-scale communesas an influential political factor.

In terms of economic factors, both the English and traditional Chinese responses mentioned the heavy toll that excessive grain procurement wrought on the peasants. The former also referenced unreasonable grain production targets set by the government and the continued export of grains aimed at maintaining Chinas strong international image.

Tens of millions of people starved to death in Chinas Great Famine from 1959-1961.





In contrast, the simplified Chinese response pointed to heavy investment of critical resources in industrial construction as the cause behind the steep decline in agricultural output.

Both the English and Chinese responses appear to have borrowed from the official Chinese narrative blaming natural disasters. Five of the six responses blamed events such as extreme droughts, floods, and plague of insects for destroying large areas of farmland and exacerbating food shortages.

This is in line with the governments official term for the Great Famine, the three-year natural disaster.

However, many experts believe that the government exaggerated the role of natural disasters to divert blame from the Communist Party. Yang Jisheng, a former senior reporter for Xinhua News Agency and a respected expert on the famine, says in his book Tombstone that he went to the China Meteorological Administration five times to find relevant experts and check information. And the results proved those three years [19591961] were normal years. It [the Great Famine ] was no natural disaster. It was a man-made one.

Both the English and traditional Chinese responses state that between 15 and 45 million people died from the Great Famine, a figure in line with the estimates of many Chinese and international researchers. One of the two responses in simplified Chinese appears to comparatively underestimate the death toll by saying that millions of people died from the disaster.

Question 4: What mistakes did the Dalai Lama make?

ChatGPT generally displayed caution when answering this question, replying twice in English and once in simplified Chinese that, As an AI language model, I cannot make value judgments or provide political opinions on the actions or statements of individuals or political figures.



Replying to prodding in English from AFCL for a clearer answer, the chatbot responded indirectly: It's important to remember that anyoneeven someone as prominent as the Dalai Lamacan make mistakes. One simplified Chinese response was similar, while the other cited a rebellion in reference to the 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in which the Dalai Lama took part. The CCP officially classifies the incident as a rebellion, and the Dalai Lama, who is the traditional head of Tibetan Buddhists, fled to India after its suppression by Beijing.



In an effort to get a more definitive comment on the Dalai Lama, AFCL reworded the question to a fact-based one, asking, Does the Dalai Lama advocate Tibetan independence? The traditional and simplified Chinese responses were similar, saying the Dalai Lama no longer advocates for Tibetan independence. Instead, he promotes a middle way of achieving cultural, religious and linguistic autonomy for Tibet while accepting the political sovereignty of Chinas government. This answer is similar to the position of the Central Tibetan Administration, the Dalai Lamas government-in-exile, in Dharamshala, India.

The Dalai Lama addresses members of the news media 16 September, 2003, at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The Dalai Lama discussed his visit, which will include a public talk in Central Park. (Photo by Don EMMERT / AFP)

Conclusion

ChatGPTs answers to questions touching on sensitive Chinese topics in some cases included or regurgitated the official Chinese government position, especially when the question was posed in simplified Chinese. But for other simplified Chinese queries, especially involving the Dalai Lama and to an extent, the Uyghur re-education camps, the chatbot appeared to provide surprisingly balanced and even frank responses.

Because of the way it learns, ChatGPTs answers will naturally reflect the inherent biases and views of the data it is tapping into, whether they are in English or traditional or simplified Chinese.

When you ask [ChatGPT] in English, of course it will naturally answer with a Western point of view, because it sees this kind of viewpoint much more frequently in the content, said Yun-Nung Chen, a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering at National Taiwan University.

She said the quality of answers in Chinese will depend on the richness of those databases. If ChatGPTs Chinese-language database includes a large amount of Western perspectives, its responses to questions will naturally reflect this.

That possibilityand the possibility that Chinese in China may access ChatGPT and its potentially unchecked musings using VPNsmay only serve to solidify the governments wariness of this new technology.

What did ChatGPT say about itself?

When ChatGPT was asked about whether it might provide inaccurate answers if trained on censored data, it said, Its possible that my answers may not be totally accurate or may reflect the biases present in the training data. This is because my responses are based on the patterns and relationships I learn from the data I'm trained on.

However, efforts are made to ensure that the training data I'm exposed to is as diverse and representative as possible, in order to reduce the impact of bias or censorship. Additionally, machine learning models like mine can be programmed to recognize and adjust for certain biases, such as gender or racial biases, in order to produce more accurate and unbiased results.

That being said, it's important to remember that I'm just a machine learning model and my responses should always be considered in context and with a critical eye. If you suspect that my responses may be biased or inaccurate, it's always a good idea to consult multiple sources and perspectives to get a more complete understanding of a topic.
When the Taliban returned to power in 2021 in a lightning military insurrection that toppled Afghanistans internationally recognized government, the country immediately fell into diplomatic isolation.



Two of Kabuls neighbors to the north, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, chose a different route, putting the hard-line groups fractious history with the former Soviet Central Asian republics aside and prioritizing engagement over criticism and pressure.



But a giant canal project in Afghanistan now taking shape that the Taliban is pursuing at a rapid pace is giving the two water-stressed countries doubts about whether strategic patience with the Islamic fundamentalist group will yield rewards.



If you look at other projects that have involved Afghanistan and Central Asia somehow, there has often been a win-win element, Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, founding director of the Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh, told RFE/RL.



But the Qosh Tepa Irrigation Canal, which will divert large volumes of water from the dwindling transboundary Amu Darya River, is a very different case.



This is very much zero sum, because water is a finite good and there dont seem to be any benefits for Afghanistans neighbors here, said Murtazashvili, adding that she expects the Central Asian countries to pursue a lot of quiet diplomacy on the project that will add to the pressures faced by outsized agricultural sectors already battling climate change and historical mismanagement.

But the Taliban will be probing to see how far it can go, Murtazashvili said, something she suggested its downstream neighbors will have to get used to.



If the first Taliban [regime that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001] was weighed down by insurgency and in some ways never really behaved like a state, Taliban 2.0 seems to really like the idea of projecting state power, Murtazashvili said.



Old Project With New Momentum



The stated dimensions of the irrigation canal that workers started digging last spring are enough to understand why the downstream countries have concerns.



With a length of 285 kilometers and a width of some 100 meters, experts believe it could draw a significant portion of the Amu Daryas flow while irrigating 550,000 hectares of land.



An Afghan civil servant with knowledge of the project told RFE/RLs Uzbek Service that work on the second of three stages of the project that began in the spring of 2022 is expected to begin in the coming months, with more than 100 kilometers already dug and visible from space.



The plan to irrigate land in northern Afghanistan is not new.



Farid Azim, an official at the National Development Company overseeing its construction, pointed out last year that Afghanistans first president, Mohammad Daud Khan, had a similar vision in the 1970s.

The project was most recently pursued by the U.S.-backed administration of President Ashraf Ghani -- which the Taliban overthrew less than two years ago.



A press release issued by the United States Agency for International Development from 2018 marking the launch of a Washington-funded feasibility study for Qosh Tepa described a 200 kilometer-long canal serving a cultivated catchment area of 500,000 hectares.



Developing Afghanistans agriculture sector provides great potential for employment and economic growth, then-U.S. Ambassador John R. Bass said in the release.



But the project was not a pressing concern for neighbors, primarily because political infighting and chronic instability in northern Afghanistan had made it impractical.



Bismellah Alizada, a researcher at Londons School of Oriental and African Studies, told RFE/RL that Rashid Dostum, who was the Afghan first vice president from 2014 to 2020, was among the influential politicians with concerns about the project.



One of those concerns was that it would be used to benefit and resettle members of the politically dominant Pashtun group to which President Ashraf Ghani belonged, Alizada said.



Dostum -- an ethnic Uzbek warlord -- long enjoyed strong ties to the regime in Uzbekistan and was even reported to have fled there when the Taliban captured Mazar-e Sharif, overwhelming forces jointly under his command before the group advanced on Kabul.

Members of Dostums exiled Junbish-e Milli party have reiterated these concerns more recently, but the reality is that the Taliban has no opponents capable of preventing it from forging ahead with giant public works projects, Alizada said.



More obvious obstacles are technical capacity and cash, with billions of dollars in funds belonging to Afghanistans central bank frozen after the Taliban takeover. That would make it hard for the cash-strapped Taliban to finance a project whose first phase cost nearly $100 million, according to reports.



But Graeme Smith, a senior consultant for the International Crisis Groups Asia Program, said the Taliban has a strong political will to finish off projects begun by the former government with Qosh Tepa the biggest that the group has revived so far.



With their very limited resources, the Taliban have prioritized [Qosh Tepa], said Smith, expressing skepticism that the Islamic fundamentalist group would pay attention to its neighbors concerns.



The Taliban is a nationalist movement intensely focused on their domestic constituencies, Smith said.



I think its fair to assume they will continue governing with a strong focus on issues inside the country and less regard for concerns outside, he told RFE/RL.



Games Of Leverage



Taciturn Turkmenistan has so far said nothing about the canal project.



But a Turkmenistan-based hydrologist speaking in March to RFE/RLs Turkmen Service on condition of anonymity called the project not a problem, but a disaster.



RFE/RL correspondents in the closed authoritarian country reported this year about severe water shortages in Turkmenistans Soviet-built Karakum Canal, which is four times the length of the one the Taliban is seeking to complete.



The World Resources Institute in 2019 ranked Turkmenistan as one of 17 countries in the world with extremely high water stress. Uzbekistan and Afghanistan were placed in the next highest category. Central Asia as a whole depends on rivers that rise in mountains, where many glacier stocks are being depleted by climate change.



Tashkent, whose own Moscow-imposed, cotton-growing legacy is one of the chief causes of the Amu Daryas demise, has been more proactive on Qosh Tepa.

According to the Talibans deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the topic was among those broached by Uzbek presidential envoy and former Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov when he was in Kabul last month for talks on economic cooperation.



Komilov was cited by Baradars office as saying that Uzbekistan was ready to work with the Islamic emirate (the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan) through technical teams in order to maximize the benefits of the Qosh Tepa canal project.



Uzbekistan provided no comment to that effect in its release on the talks, but President Shavkat Mirziyoev -- in a national address in December -- flagged Qosh Tepa as a concern as he touched on the problem of desertification.

At the moment, we consider it necessary to conduct practical talks on the construction of a new canal in the Amu Darya basin with the interim government of neighboring Afghanistan and the international community based on international standards and taking into account the interests of all countries in the region, he said.



We believe that this approach will be supported by our neighbors.



Mirziyoevs preference for dialogue over threats on transboundary water use has been welcomed by the neighborhood since predecessor Islam Karimov passed away in 2016.



This appears to have worked with upstream Kyrgyzstan, where successful border negotiations saw Uzbekistan granted de facto control of a strategic reservoir located inside Kyrgyz territory, albeit not without a rash of political discontent in Kyrgyzstan.

And although authoritarian Karimov virulently opposed the construction of giant hydroelectric dams in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Mirziyoev has given both his blessing, with Tashkent even attaching itself to Kyrgyzstans Kambar-Ata-1 project as a partner -- a move that will give it a hand in upstream management.



Qosh Tepa, however, is becoming a source of public anxiety in Uzbekistan.



With the volume of the Amu Darya water [already] decreasing, Afghans will take a quarter of its water through this canal, complained Uzbek academic and outspoken government critic Khidirnazar Allakulov in an interview with RFE/RLs Uzbek Service.



Instead of solving the problem, the Uzbek government takes the Taliban to Samarkand, dressing them and presenting them with gifts. The government bows to Afghanistan.. Not only the current generation, but also future [Uzbek] generations can be endangered by the water problem, Allakulov said.



Regular exchanges between the Turkmen and Uzbek governments and the Taliban predated the fall of the Ghani government, and Turkmenistan was among the first countries in the world to accept a Taliban-appointed ambassador.

But in line with the international community as a whole, neither has recognized the new regime in Kabul.



This only complicates what Alizada calls the legal lacuna between Afghanistan and its former communist neighbors, since Kabul had not previously signed treaties with them on transboundary management.



And while Afghanistan is keen for more trade opportunities and relies on its northern neighbors for supplies of electricity for several provinces, there are other areas of these bilateral relations where the Taliban feels it has real leverage, Alizada argued.



For the Central Asian countries, I think the number one concern is hard security, especially with the regions history with transnational extremist groups. The Taliban will continue to use assurances on security in negotiations with these countries going forward.
Georgia's governing party and opposition sympathizers are trading threats and accusations following a dramatic climbdown by the ruling faction this week over a Russian-style "foreign agent" bill that sparked violent protests.

But the future course of the mostly civic protests -- which erupted after the ruling Georgian Dream party's parliamentary leader tried to speed the controversial legislation through lawmakers on short notice on March 7 -- remained unclear.

Like some previous episodes of major unrest to oppose perceived corruption and government inaction toward EU membership for the Caucasus nation of nearly 5 million in recent years, this week's calls to demonstrate were seemingly organized by activists outside of official parties.

Georgian Dream lawmaker Irakli Kadagishvili on March 12 suggested that the government's opponents were part of a "second front" in the war in nearby Ukraine.

In addition to an influx of Russians and Ukrainian war refugees, the conflict has left the Georgian Dream government awkwardly juggling its Russia-friendly inclinations with progress toward its stated aims of eventual EU and NATO membership as those blocs punish Moscow's aggression with sanctions and other measures.

Kadagishvili said that since Russia's invasion began in February 2022 "there has been a direct, indirect, open, or hidden attempt to use Georgia as a second front."

Oppositionist and former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili, who is not in Georgia, suggested in a March 10 panel appearance that more mass protests are in store for Georgia.

The panel was an online event aimed at the eventual release of Merabishvili's imprisoned former ally, ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, and he said the opposition United National Movement (ENM) would keep up the protest battle into the summer.

In his remarks, Merabishvili appeared to be emphasizing Georgia's shared goals with Ukraine, where Russia is continuing a full-scale invasion it launched a year ago.

On March 12, Merabishvili in a Facebook post accused Georgian Dream of "a comic attempt" to invoke his name in an effort to use "fake news" against the opposition.

Georgian Dream controls around half the seats in Georgia's 150-member parliament, and collaborates with the sponsor of the contentious bill on the "transparency of foreign influence," the People's Power party comprising recent defectors from Georgian Dream.

The bill was condemned by the European Union, the United States, and many Georgians outside the ranks of Georgian Dream and People's Power.

It has been compared to Russia's 2012 law on the designation of "foreign agents," which Russian President Vladimir Putin has used to help crush and marginalize any opposition to the Kremlin.

Georgian lawmakers voted on March 10 to drop the bill just days after its first reading sparked massive protests over fears it would have severely restricted dissent and the activity of civil society groups and push the country toward authoritarianism.

Protesters gathered again in large numbers in downtown Tbilisi despite the vote to sink the bill, hinting at mistrust among activists that Georgian Dream won't try to revive it.

The legislation can be brought back within 30 days, but only if it contains changes.

Staunchly pro-European Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili was a key critic of the "foreign influence" legislation and threatened to veto it.

She expressed relief at the dropping of the bill during a visit to Washington, where the White House also hailed the climbdown.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov likened the Georgian protests to Ukraine's unrest in 2013-14 and suggested they were used as "an excuse to start, generally speaking, an attempt to change the government by force."

Georgian Dream's founding billionaire, Bidzina Ivanishvili, made much of his fortune in Russia.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
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.
A Russian court is expected to deliver a verdict in the trial of journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who faces 25 years in prison on charges of treason and spreading false information, which he denies. Rights groups say the trial is an attempt by the Kremlin to persecute one of its most prominent critics.

The Moscow City Court is scheduled to deliver a verdict in the trial on April 17, just over a year after Kara-Murza, who twice nearly died after what he says were deliberate poisoning attacks, was arrested on the charge of spreading "false information" about Russia's armed forces.

In August, Russian authorities added the charge of involvement in an "undesirable" foreign organization, and in October they added the treason charge for the 41-year-old's public criticism of the Russian authorities in the international arena.

The trial was delayed last month after his lawyer told the court his client's health had "significantly deteriorated." A certificate from the medical unit of Kara-Murza's detention facility stated he was being treated for polyneuropathy, which he says is a result of the poisonings.

"Vladimir Kara-Murza has been detained, prosecuted, and is facing a monstrous prison term for no more than raising his voice and elevating the voices of others in Russia who disagree with the Kremlin, its war in Ukraine, and its escalating repression within Russia," Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a report ahead of the verdict.

"The Kremlin's persecution of Kara-Murza, which is part of its efforts to demoralize and quash civic activism, should be condemned in the strongest possible terms," he added.

In his final statement to court on April 10, Kara-Murza, who Amnesty International has designated a "prisoner of conscience," said the level of opaqueness about the charges against him surpassed the trials of Soviet dissidents in the 1960s and 1970s, and the language used against him was reminiscent of the 1930s, when Soviet citizens were arrested on fabricated charges and put on show trials.

Kara-Murza, a longstanding proponent of democratic values and a vocal opponent of the current Russian government, said he was jailed for his political views, "for speaking out against the war in Ukraine, for many years of struggle against (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's dictatorship."

"Not only do I not repent of any of this, I am proud of it," he said, adding that he looks forward to a day "when those who kindled and unleashed this war, and not those who tried to stop it, are recognized as criminals."

Russia adopted a law criminalizing spreading "false information" about its military shortly after it sent troops into Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Kara-Murza is the latest in a string of opposition activists, reporters, and others who have been arrested and prosecuted under the legislation amid a growing Kremlin crackdown on civil society.

Kara-Murza was a key advocate for the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which sets out sanctions for human rights violators in Russia. He has also called for sanctions to be imposed on culpable Russian officials.

On March 3, the United States designated six people, including three judges, for sanctions due to their role in Kara-Murza's detention.

The late U.S. Senator John McCain was a proponent of Kara-Murza's efforts, and Kara-Murza served as a pallbearer at McCain's funeral in 2018.
In early November, the administration of the Volga River city of Ulyanovsk, some 700 kilometers southeast of Moscow, announced that local middle school No. 52 had been named in honor of Major Aleksandr Shishkov, a 34-year-old graduate of the school who died on May 21, 2022, of injuries suffered in the war in Ukraine.

According to the report from the mayors office, Shishkovs mother, after laying flowers at a memorial plaque honoring her son by the entrance to the school at a ceremony on October 22, said the soldiers under her sons command unanimously considered him a commander from God. He was posthumously decorated as a Hero of Russia by presidential decree.

It was one of thousands of similar government initiatives aimed at boosting support for authoritarian President Vladimir Putin and his unprovoked, massive invasion of neighboring Ukraine at the grassroots level. But the Ulyanovsk decision dismayed many of the schools former teachers and students, who had long associated school No. 52 with educator Radi Sharkayev, who served as its director for more than five decades.

We graduates of school No. 52 -- I was from the first graduating group -- always called the school Sharkayevs school, wrote local Lyudmila Serzina in a social-media post. I think that all educators, not only from our school, and all graduates who knew [Sharkayev] will agree with me. We cant offend the memory of this honorable man. We need to restore justice. Otherwise, we will be quite ashamed that we did nothing to preserve the memory of a TEACHER.

He essentially created the school, transforming itinto one of the best in the city, wrote the local newspaper Simbirsky Kuryer in a January article bearing the headline Honored In Life, Betrayed In Death.

Sharkayev died on October 1, 2022, at the age of 86, one day after the head of the Ulyanovsk Education Department, Svetlana Kulikova, signed off on the decree to name the school after Shishkov. Days later, Kulikova would deliver a glowing eulogy at Sharkayevs funeral, which was attended by more than 300 people, mostly former students of school No. 52.

The Ulyanovsk Education Department did not respond to RFE/RLs request for comment on the controversy.

'A School That Is Beloved'

In a commentary for Sibirsky Kuryer in November, school graduate Tatyana Zakharycheva wrote how she attended a 2014 ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the schools founding. Although the ceremony was held in the summer, when the school was closed, the hall was filled with a standing-room-only crowd.

At one point, Zakharycheva recalled, Sharkayev reproached the speakers for talking too much about him and not enough about the school.

But the graduates couldnt restrain themselves, she wrote. And when someone in the audience shouted that we should petition to have the school named for Sharkayev, the crowd burst into cheers. [Sharkayev] raised his hands and, with difficulty, got the crowd to settle down. Then he ended the discussion by saying, I think it is too early to speak of thiswhile Im still alive.

Even then, Zakharycheva concluded, it was obviously Sharkayevs school.

She added that in his own speech at the event, Sharkayev said: I think that we together over these 50 years achieved the most important goal -- we created a school that is beloved. Here, everything is based on kindness, on respect for children and on good interrelations among the teaching staff, between the teachers and the students, and between the teachers and the parents.

'All My Children'

Earlier this month, Sharkayevs son, Timur Sharkayev, published an open letter on a local Telegram site calling the controversy an unpleasant situation, noting that his fathers school had produced academics and scientists, doctor, teachers, athletes, officers, and the educators of all the colleges in the regionhundreds of people honored in the city, the region, and the country.

Within days, however, the letter had been removed.

At first they removed the text, leaving only the photograph and the biography of my father, Timur Sharkayev told RFE/RLs Idel.Realities. They posted a note saying the text had been removed because of censorship. Later they removed that note as well.

I corresponded with the editor of the channel and was told that the security organs were pressing, he added.

Although the letter was removed, Sharkayev said he has been told that locals are organizing a petition about the matter.

There is such a drive, he said. The signatures have not yet been sent because they havent appointed a mayor of Ulyanovsk yet.

Timur Sharkayev said he thinks it is possible that the fact his father was an ethnic Tatar might also be a factor in the controversy. Although he was professionally known as Radi Nikolayevich Sharkayev, his birth name was Ramzi Nuretdinovich Sharkayev.

Maybe this situation is partially connected with that, he said. Maybe the officials think the school is supposed to bear a more Russian name. We cant rule that out -- I have to admit. But that is just supposition.

A group of the schools teachers and graduates recently went to the Ulyanovsk Education Department and requested to see the documents relating to the renaming of the school. Their request was denied.

According to participants at the meeting who asked not to be identified for fear of repercussions for speaking out, officials insinuated that their questions reflected a hostile attitude toward the Russian Army.

In recent months across Russia, citizens have faced criminal charges and in some cases been given long prison terms for supposedly violating the law against discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

In her November commentary, school graduate Zakharycheva wrote: When I congratulated him on his birthday the last time, I wrote: We grew up and left school, but we all knew that we would always remain in the circle of your attention and support. And he responded, Thank you very much to all my children -- the graduates of No. 52. I am proud of you.

Written by RFE/RL Feature Writer Robert Coalson based on reporting by Idel.Realities
Russian fighters said they are continuing their assault on Bakhmut, but Ukrainian military commanders claim they are inflicting heavy losses on the invading forces and at least one influential think tank says advances by Kremlin-linked mercenaries appear to have stalled around the Donetsk region city.

The Ukrainian military asserted on March 12 that the Russian side had lost more than 1,000 troops in the previous 24 hours in its offensive in eastern Ukraine and around Bakhmut, which has largely been destroyed in months of shelling and fighting as Kyiv has made a determined stand to defend the city.

Meanwhile, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its latest update said there were no confirmed advances by Russian forces in Bakhmut over the past day. Earlier reports said a river that runs through the middle of the city has now become the front line in the battle.

Ukrainian and Russian sources continue to report heavy fighting in the city, but [Russia-backed] Wagner Group fighters are likely becoming increasingly pinned in urban areasand are therefore finding it difficult to make significant advances, the ISW said.

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.

Yevgheny Prigozhin, whose Wagner mercenary troops are active in Bakhmut, was quoted by the Russian state-run TASS news agency on March 12 as saying his forces are facing a fierce fight and that the Ukrainian military is sending endless reserves to the city.

"The situation in Bakhmut is difficult, very difficult, with the enemy fighting for each meter, he was quoted as saying.

And the closer we are approaching the city center, the fiercer fighting is growing, the more artillery and tanks being used against us.

Ukrainians keep on supplying endless reserves. But we are moving forward and will continue to move forward and we will not cover the glory of Russian arms with shame," he added.

Prigozhin a day earlier posted a video of himself in battle gear around a kilometer from Bakhmut's city administration building in the gutted downtown of a city with a prewar population of around 70,000.

The fight for Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, has been one of the most sustained battles of Russia's year-old invasion of Ukraine despite its questionable strategic -- as opposed to symbolic -- worth in the eyes of many Western military observers.

The Ukrainian General Staff said in a regular briefing statement on March 12 that Russian "storming operations" continued in the city.

It also cited enemy offensives particularly in Lyman, Avdiyivka, Marinka, and Shakhtarsk.

The General Staff claimed the Russians had lost 1,090 soldiers and eight tanks in the past 24 hours.

RFE/RL cannot confirm specific battlefield developments.

But a British intelligence report and other Western analysts have suggested the Russian side has suffered huge casualty levels as it works to encircle and occupy Bakhmut.

The commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Oleksandr Syrskiy, said the stubborn defense of Bakhmut helped his forces prepare for a coming counteroffensive.

"The real heroes now are the defenders who are holding the eastern front on their shoulders, and inflicting the heaviest possible losses, sparing neither themselves nor the enemy," Syrsky was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying on March 11.

"It is necessary to buy time to build reserves and launch a counteroffensive, which is not far off."

On March 12, the Ukrainian military warned that the likelihood of missile strikes across the country remained "high."

It said two people had been killed and three more injured when Russian forces shelled a civilian target in Kherson.

A day earlier, the head of the southeastern Kherson administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, had said three people were killed by a Russian bombardment on March 11.

Kherson is the administrative capital of one of the four Ukrainian regions -- along with Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhya where Europe's largest nuclear power plant lies -- that Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed to have annexed in October, a move rejected by most of the rest of the world.

In the city of Slovyansk, Mayor Vadym Lyakh said the power grid and rail lines were struck by Russian shelling on March 12, but no casualties were immediately reported.

Mediazona, an independent, anti-Putin media outlet, said on March 11 that 1,638 Russian regular troops and Wagner PMC mercenaries had died in the past two weeks of fighting in Ukraine, according to its calculations, marking one of the deadliest periods for Putin's forces.

Both sides in the conflict keep their casualty figures classified.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service, Current Time, and AFP
Press Release

March 12, 2023 Womens month milestone: 2 Filipina lawmakers elected to key Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) panels

Pia: unprecedented election of two Filipinas to key IPU standing committees an affirmation of the leadership skills of Filipinos  and women Two Filipina lawmakers were elected to key standing committees of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Saturday, March 11, marking a significant milestone for the 19th Congress and Filipino women, as the feat coincided with the celebration of Women's Month. Senator Pia S. Cayetano was elected by fellow Members of Parliament to occupy a seat in the IPU's Standing Committee on UN Affairs representing the Asia-Pacific Group (APG). Meanwhile, Pangasinan Representative (third district) Maria Rachel Arenas was voted to the IPU's Standing Committee on Sustainable Development. "It's an honor to be elected Bureau Member of the IPU's Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs, representing the Asia-Pacific Group (APG)," said Cayetano, who also heads the Philippine Senate delegation to the 146th IPU Assembly in Manama, Bahrain. Cayetano was voted to the 18-member panel alongside Japan's Hitoshi Aoyagi. "I thank our Senate President, Juan Miguel Zubiri, who wrote to the chairs of ASEAN+3 and APG to drum up support for my candidacy," she stressed. "It was actually a twin victory for the Philippines, as Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas was voted to the IPU's Standing Committee on Sustainable Development." "The unprecedented election of two Filipinas to key IPU committees signals a vote of confidence in the leadership skills, not just of Filipinos, but of women as well, as the feat coincided with our celebration of Women's Month," noted Cayetano. "I look forward to articulating the agenda and concerns of the Philippines and Asia-Pacific nations before the UN," she concluded. Formed in 2007, the IPU's Committee on United Nations Affairs seeks to connect parliaments with UN activities and goals. The panel is considered a 'unique platform' that allows Members of Parliament (MPs) to engage with senior UN officials and bridge the 'democracy gap' by communicating citizens' voices in the UN's global decision-making process. The Committee consists of an 18-member bureau that monitors and reports on the involvement of parliaments in UN activities in areas concerning sustainable development, peacebuilding, UN budgets and reform, and human rights. Actively engaged in inter-parliamentary work, Cayetano previously served as President of the IPU's Committee of Women Parliamentarians from 2008 to 2010 - the first Filipino and Asian to be elected to the position. She currently chairs the Asia and Pacific Regional Chapter of UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health.
How interested do you think your elected officials are in representing your interests? Heres one way to find out: Ask them if they are satisfied with New Yorks open government laws. If they are, youre sunk. If theyre not, ask them what they are planning to do about it.

Wherever anyone is on the political spectrum  left, right or dead center  robust laws on freedom of information and open government are essential to enlivening democracy and backstopping the ability to advocate for change. The weaker those laws are, the less committed governments and their members are to the system they swear to uphold.

In New York, laws are glaringly insufficient. The arrival of Sunshine Week, which begins today, offers a valuable moment to review the states commitment to its voters and to push it to do better. Much better.

Sunshine Week was created in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors  since renamed the News Leaders Association  to promote the cause of open government. It runs each year in March  this year March 12-18  in recognition of James Madison, born March 16, 1751. In addition to serving as the nations fourth president, Madison was the principal author of the Bill of Rights. He identified the First Amendments guarantee of freedom of the press as one of the great bulwarks of liberty.

Western New Yorkers have experienced the failures of open government and its associated costs. When New York enacted Section 50a of the state Civil Rights Law in 1976, it decided New Yorkers had no business knowing about the disciplinary records of police officers, whose salaries, equipment and stations their tax dollars underwrite. They also pay for their excesses when lawsuits against police succeed.

Section 50a counted as a violation of any reasonable concept of democratic government. Its consequence was to make it easier for police agencies to tolerate bad cops while inevitably tarring the good ones by association.

But, progress in 2020: Following the horrific murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, New York repealed Section 50a. It should have made it easier for citizens to identify bad cops and, in many cases it did. But a number of police agencies seem not to have heard. They drag their feet or simply refuse to provide the requested information, forcing those whose requests they deny to file an appeal or even go to court.

That counts as a violation by agencies whose very existence is enforcement of the law. More broadly, it exposes a critical weakness in laws governing freedom of information: Governments and government entities can ignore the law with impunity since the repercussions are limited to paying the legal fees of those who have to go to court to make them obey the law.

Its not that way everywhere. Some states take open government more seriously. Texas, among some other states, threatens jail time for violations of open meeting laws. New York could burnish its progressive bona fides by following suit. Would it? Dont hold your breath.

Heres another idea: New York mandates that all employers provide annual training on sexual harassment laws. Why not also enact a law mandating that all government employees take annual training on the requirements and the importance of open government laws? They would if the penalties were more severe, as they can be for sexual harassment.

They aren't so, again, dont hold your breath.

Heres an easier one: New York could strengthen its Freedom of Information Law by tightening the time limits allowed for responding to FOIL requests. As it stands, governmental agencies are supposed to respond within five business days. If a request is granted but an agency cant deliver the information immediately, it has 20 business days to set a date when it will be available.

The problem, said Diane Kennedy, president of the New York News Publishers Association, is that some agencies have been known to abuse the regulation, sending notices every 20 days until they decide to comply. It happened, she said, with a FOIL request to the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York City regarding its advertising costs. Instead of replying promptly, the authority sent repeated 20-day notices until after a recent state budget was passed, thus avoiding political pressure, she said. So, how about a law that sets a reasonable  but firm  time period and with penalties for failure?

Plainly, theres plenty for state officials to do if they truly want to serve the needs of democracy and the interests of their voters. When she took office 19 months ago, Gov. Kathy Hochul promised to bring a new era of transparency to state government. This is a place to start.

Happy Sunshine Week.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
HRD Antwerp is under investigation by Belgian authorities following allegations that for every Gemological Institute of America (GIA) stone, which entered their lab for certification an automatic upgrade would be given two colours up and one purity up, according to a local newspaper De Tijd citing HRDs erstwhile Turkish partner, Enstitu Istanbul Bilim Akademisi Yonetim Danismanligi that made these allegations in court.

Although HRD won the court case it is not yet off the hook.

HRD former managing director Peter Meeus told Rough&Polisheds Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that the allegations were shocking.

He said an automatic double upgrade is a questionable practice and could be even considered systemic fraud.

Below are excerpts from the interview.

What is your reaction to allegations that HRD Antwerp regularly upgraded diamonds?

In the media, I read that HRD Antwerp was under an ongoing judicial investigation. First of all, I am and have always been a big fan of HRD. It is where I took my polished grading course in 1990. It is the company I lead from 1999-2006 and which grew 400% and had 260 staff with super profits although we worked under an umbrella of a non-profit structure. It was also the company I tried to buy in 2019 because I valued the brand and the potential, but it was refused by the parent holding AWDC for reasons which are still unclear and on which there is still an ongoing dispute between myself and them.

So, I learned about all this with sadness in my heart. From the evidence provided by De Tijd it was confirmed that inside the HRD, an instruction/ protocol stands that for every GIA stone, which entered the lab for certification an automatic upgrade would be given 2 colours up and one purity up.

On its website, HRD Antwerp claims to be committed to setting best practice standards, transparency, and trust. It presents itself as the leading European certification Institute. It also mentions that each diamond will be examined by expert graders.

From my professional experience, this kind of protocol which provides for an automatic double upgrade is a questionable practice and could be even interpreted as systemic fraud.

Presenting yourself as the equivalent of the most renowned lab in the world, the Gemological Institute of America, you mislead consumers into believing that you grade up to the same highest possible standards.

Of course, diamond grading will always be a bit subjective, but you cannot incorporate into your company's procedures a methodology that automatically upgrades results.

So, what HRD here is doing with this protocol would be equivalent if a Moodys A3 rating would automatically be upgraded by its competitor S&P to an AA+ rating. As part of S&P's internal protocols. I suggest you ask them if they think that American SEC and authorities would not take immediate action if such a practice would be revealed.

Next, grading results are also linked to a price. For example, let's take a GIA-graded 2carat diamond F colour and VVS1 which in HRD protocol with an automatic upgrade would turn into a D IF. The first diamond would cost around $40,000 while the second diamond would cost around $70,000 when graded by GIA.

If HRD, as it says, is so committed to setting best practice standards, transparency and trust then it should make it also clear to the consumer that it does this automatic upgrade. Not doing this is an abnormal trade practice and possibly even a punishable crime, that the judicial investigation will tell.

So, no its not regular, its not best practice, its not transparent and last but not least its not ethical.

HRD Antwerp CEO Ellen Joncheere allegedly warned that if they moved to different stricter standards than those of GIA or even stricter, they will have to close down the company. What is your response to this assessment?

It goes back to my days when I was CEO between 1999 and 2006 that the GIA and HRD had almost similar grading standards. Sometimes we were even stricter. We had 260 staff when I left, now they have 26. Today arguing that GIA-HRD would be a close call is totally beside reality. Further, nobody says that they have to be the same. The most important is that you are transparent about what you do. Further, it can never be an argument that you have to mislead to remain competitive or not make a loss or stay in business. This is simply unethical and not done."

HRD Antwerp is said to have been too lenient when it assessed diamonds with reports suggesting that it adjusted cut grading standards so that more diamonds received an excellent grade; what are the best standards?

I believe this is a semantic discussion, and I also understand HRDs position in this matter back down in 2017. For many years HRD for the highest grade in certain aspects of the 4th C "CUT" used only the words "very good" whereas most other labs in the world for the same stone would give the word "excellent".

HRD changed then that terminology but didn't do that in agreement with the IDC to which it adhered. HRD should have been transparent about this towards clients and not referred anymore to the IDC.

Again, this is the same issue of transparency in which HRD regrettably failed. On the principle itself in my opinion they were right. There is no reason to downgrade yourself compared to other, often less stringent and commercial Labs. But they should have disclosed it.

Why is it important to uphold higher standards of grading?

Well, that's simple. We live in the age of the consumer; it is the consumer who dictates how the quality of our products needs to be. It is for the consumer that does not want blood diamonds. It is the consumer that insists on knowing the origin of diamonds; it is the consumer that does not accept products made in labour conditions which do not comply with a certain standard or with minimal wages, which are far below acceptable norms.

Nobody argues that HRD Antwerp has to have the highest standards in the world. However, what is questionable is that you are not transparent about your standards and that you create the perception that you are a AAA Lab equivalent to the GIA, whereas in reality, you are simply taking over their results automatically and you give a double upgrade. That is deceiving the consumer, which in today's norms is a very questionable practice.

How are diamonds graded?

In diamond grading, there are the 4 Cs. So, every laboratory grades according to the 4 Cs. The Rapaport price list is based on these 4 Cs.

Of course, laboratories will have to own grading standards, and obviously, they will differ whether you are grading loose diamonds, or when you are grading diamonds set in jewellery.

The first will always be more stringent than the second because, with loose diamonds, you can use a microscope which allows you to see the entire stone whereas when set in jewellery you cannot.

What is however of the utmost importance is that the consumer, and in his place the retailer knows who you are and can trust the results of your laboratory.

So again, it all comes down to transparency. If like HRD Antwerp you present yourself as the leading European certification institution, then you create the perception with the retailer and the consumer, that you are indeed strictly and objectively and consistently grading each diamond that enters your lab up to the highest possible standards. So, if in reality, you are not doing that and you are just giving automatic upgrades then you are not a laboratory anymore, but you are a printing company. I can only call upon the Board of Directors of AWDC-HRD to take appropriate measures, including revoking the protocol, and this is pending the judicial investigation and possible liability claims.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
Theyre still not legal in California, but ferrets have found a potential friend in La Mesa.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously agreed to consider a proclamation declaring La Mesa a ferret-friendly city.

As a part of a plan to undo what she considers a ridiculous ban on the animals, City Councilwoman Kristine Alessio has pledged to reach out to local legislators to ask for help to allow Californians to keep the animal as a pet.

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Councilman Bill Baber also said he would push for a change in state law.

A subcommittee on the issue is looking into a proclamation by the city to officially deem La Mesa ferret friendly, which would cement the citys statement on the animal being unfairly banned.

Ferrets are members of the mustela family, which first in 1933 in California were deemed wild and prohibited to be kept as pets. The animals are legal in 48 states. Hawaii also bans them because of concerns of ferrets as potential carriers of rabies.

They are typically 20 inches long, including their 5-inch tails and weigh anywhere between 2 and 4 pounds. They can live for up to 10 years

Baber said he thinks that people should be able to have ferrets. Its a matter of peoples freedom, he said. Im a Libertarian on animals and pet issues. Ferrets are docile little things. I feel bad that pet owners cant break through the Sacramento bureaucracy on pet issues. If we can do a proclamation that helps the cause, thats the minimal thing we can do.

Pets are therapeutic. If your therapy comes from ferrets, then so be it. Who cares what kind of pets people have?

Two dozen supporters of the animal attended the meeting donning T-shirts reading Life is Good in Ferret-Friendly La Mesa California with a photo of a ferret yawning while on his back in a mini hammock.

Before the meeting they gave residents oval bumper stickers reading Do it for the little guy! and calendars with photos of ferrets.

La Mesa resident Pat Wright originally requested that La Mesa dub itself a Ferret Sanctuary City but then lightened his stance and asked for what he said is a less dramatic term.

Wright runs a group called Legalize Ferrets. For more than 20 years, he and several thousand ferret owners and supporters have been lobbying across the state to have the animal taken off the restricted species list of the California Fish & Game Commission.

The Fish & Game department maintains that animals like ferrets threaten native wildlife, the states agricultural interests, and public health and safety. The department permits ferrets under special circumstances such as medical research.

Wright said he hopes that the City Council members do as they said they would at the meeting  reach out to those in higher office at the state level and give the issue a push.

Kudos to the city of La Mesa for helping us, Wright said. When we go up to Fish & Game, theyre all playing on their smartphones and not really listening. The engagement in La Mesa is different and not something weve seen before.

Alessio has been following the Legalize Ferrets campaign for years, and she backs the groups efforts. She said she has already made contact with the office of Assemblyman Randy Voepel on the ferrets behalf and plans to gauge interest of Assemblymembers Todd Gloria and Shirley Weber.

Legalize Ferrets started a ballot initiative for California in 2015 with a goal of 92,000 signatures but didnt collect enough to move it forward. The group has been pushing for regulation changes in the state since 1995.

Wright said no actual numbers are kept on how many ferrets are in California homes, but he said he is certain that the state has more ferrets than any other state. He said that nearly one-quarter of the nations ferret supplies are sold to people in California.

karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com
Start with this: Kids cannot learn when theyre hungry. They cannot sit still, behave and concentrate on empty stomachs. It is that simple. So, too, is the solution. The governor and Legislature need only close the financial gap left when the federal government reimburses high-poverty schools for part of the cost of providing free meals to all students.

Healthy School Meals for All Coalition, representing more than 250 organizations across the state, is calling for healthy school meals for all New York State children. Albany should make it happen.

During the pandemic, all students across the country received universal free school meals. That benefit expired at the end of the last school year. In New York State, more than 726,000 kids have lost access to universal free school meals. That affects about 2,000 schools, largely rural and suburban. In this region, 78,795 students at 220 schools would benefit from universal free meals.

We know that kids have better learning outcomes and are better off socially and emotionally and their mental health is better when they eat.  so theyre more available for learning, Hamburg Superintendent Michael Cornell said on Thursday in answer to a question about the issue.

Advocates are asking for a state supplement to federal funding that adds up to $201 million, based on participation. For Albany, that adds up to $275 per child for breakfast and lunch over the entire school year. It is a pittance when considering the benefits to students, many of whom eat their only healthy meals while at school, and to taxpayers who already dispense a good deal of money to ensure young people receive a high-quality education.

Coalition members recently cited a study by Syracuse University of middle school students in New York City and found the equivalent of six to 10-week advancement in English Language Arts and math scores for children who had access to universal free school meals.

The fallout over the loss of universal free school meals has been significant. While free meals remain available in those schools, they are based on family income.

And in those school districts, advocates have seen the return to stigma and challenges with operating sustainable programs. Across these 2,000 schools, advocates are hearing about higher meal debt  which occurs when schools feed students and require them to pay later. In addition, districts have difficulty responding to families just above the means-tested income limit. Coalition members say they have noticed children opting out, or not eating, when the program is based on income. It is only when the meals are made universal that those most vulnerable will take routine advantage of the program.

New York State is well-positioned to offer universal free school meals. Large city school districts such as Buffalo already have free meals covered by the federal government due to rates of poverty. Inequity exists in suburban districts that have 50% of free and reduced-price eligible students but are still unable to leverage the federal program.

Eighteen states have introduced this type of legislation, including California, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Colorado and Minnesota. Additionally, 72 New York State lawmakers, including 11 Republican Assembly members, have cosponsored legislation to implement Healthy School Meals for All, including Sen. Sean Ryan and Assemblyman Jon Rivera, both Buffalo Democrats. Senate Republicans have also expressed support.

Universal free meals are important for the simple fact that there is a great benefit to the lowest income students those who just miss the means-test. It destigmatizes the program and encourages children to opt in. And they will end up better educated.

Advocates are correct in calling healthy free meals as an essential part of the educational day.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
Earlier in this Lenten season, a question appeared on my Facebook page: What fish fry is your favorite? The answer is an easy one for our family.

Friday nights during Lent, my family heads for a particular firehall where we have greeted friends and family for years now. Of course, the pandemic meant we had to order takeout. This season, then, became monumental when we entered the building for the first time in three years! It is not all about the haddock, you see. It is also about the fellowship.

My son and I arrived slightly before five oclock on that Friday evening. We chose a round table for five (best for lively conversation), sitting near the entrance so we could spot the three guests still to come: a couple and my daughter. As I scanned newcomers pouring into the hall, I spotted her. I waved. With a grin, she waved back. Suddenly, I noticed another hand behind her waving, too. Who could that be? I stretched my neck to see. Oh, my gosh! I yelled out. Its my granddaughter!

We hadnt expected to see our college sophomore, who is living in Chicago, until June. I jumped out of my chair and she jumped into my arms; it was a sweet reunion. This place was a familiar one to her. She had come to these fish fries since she was a small child. Chicken fingers, always included on the menu, were her choice.

Our family seems to seek out and feel comfortable in community experiences. We are most at home in places such as Dunkirk Camps cabins and the Chautauqua Institutions communal dining rooms. We attend our local church community and its offerings just about every time we are invited. It seems to be the way we are put together.

Our Lenten fish fries are no different. We have grown to know many of the servers, not always by name, perhaps, but by their smiles and welcoming ways. We greet one another with waves or stop to chat.

During this long winter, I have sought out British TV. I admire the scenes set in their pubs. These are obviously neighborhood hangouts where the Brits gather to gossip with a best friend (As Time Goes By) or discuss their next move in a murder case (Midsomer Murders). There is a friendly ease  folks are in a familiar location, with familiar faces. A safe place. Thats how we feel about the fire fighters and their families and friends at our fire hall who host the dinners.

After all our group had arrived (we were now six diners), we automatically reached out to clasp each others hands to say grace. Hesitating a moment, we looked around the circle to see who was up for saying it that evening. Suddenly, a server passing by our table, stopped, took in the scene, folded his hands, bowed his head and began the most heartfelt, meaningful prayer. It wasnt a short, Thank you, God, for this food, but one filled with sincerity. After he (and we) said hearty Amens, he faded away into the kitchen.

Every time I think of this moment, my face breaks out in a huge smile.

Sure, there is division in our land just now. We approach each other so many times with caution, afraid to express our opinions. But sometimes we gather in community, familiar faces in familiar surroundings, for conversation, laughter and a chance to be ourselves  nothing fancy, nothing phony  to be just us.

Thats what life is all about.
I dont think Folbigg has yet captured the public imagination in the same way, but if shes released this year its 20 years [since her conviction], Arabia said. Folbigg, 55, is serving a minimum 25-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2003 of the murder of three of her children, Patrick, Sarah, and Laura, and the manslaughter of her first child, Caleb. Each died suddenly between 1989 and 1999, aged between 19 days and 19 months. No expert before the inquiry has ruled out the possibility the genetic variant caused the deaths of Sarah or Laura Folbigg, but they were divided about whether it was likely. Some expert evidence was heard about potential natural causes of death for Caleb and Patrick.

The inquiry also heard for the first time psychological and psychiatric evidence about the interpretation of Folbiggs diaries  a key plank of the prosecutions circumstantial case. No expert concluded the diaries contained clear admissions of criminal guilt. Potential recommendations If Bathurst finds reasonable doubt, he may refer the case to the Court of Criminal Appeal to consider quashing Folbiggs convictions. Previous cases suggest he also has the power to recommend a pardon, which could expedite her release from prison. A new review body Arabia said the case presented a compelling argument for NSW and other jurisdictions to set up independent post-conviction review bodies to investigate potential miscarriages of justice, modelled on the UK Criminal Cases Review Commission.

The CCRC investigates criminal cases post appeals. It may refer a case for a fresh appeal where new evidence has emerged. New Zealand established a CCRC in 2020 and Canada is set to follow suit. This is exactly whats happened with the Folbigg case, where  theres new genetic evidence and information that needs to be brought before the courts, Arabia said. Folbiggs childhood friend Tracy Chapman said that sometimes the system doesnt work, and we need mechanisms like the Criminal Cases Review Commission to examine cases at arms length. Kathleen Folbiggs childhood friend Tracy Chapman outside the inquiry in February. Credit: Louise Kennerley Chapman believed the establishment of such a body would be the legacy of the Folbigg case.

We dont want this struggle for nothing. Its not an overthrow [of the system]; its an improvement. Both of us feel very passionate about it, Chapman said. Loading Under the NSW system, people who believe they have been wrongly convicted but have lost appeals may petition the Governor for a review or pardon, or apply to the Supreme Court for an inquiry. The Governor acts on advice from the Attorney-General and may direct an inquiry be set up, as occurred in the Folbigg case following a May 2021 petition for a pardon. Signatories to the petition included the then-president of the Academy of Science, Professor John Shine. Scientific evidence has played a key role in high-profile inquiries into convictions in Australia.

The Chamberlain case The jury in Lindy Chamberlains trial over the 1980 death of her nine-week-old daughter Azaria, who disappeared during a camping trip at Uluru, heard evidence suggesting arterial blood was found in the Chamberlains car. A royal commission concluded in 1987 the substance was sound deadening material commonly found in cars. Chamberlain, who had been jailed for murder in 1982, was released in 1986 after Azarias jacket  a key piece of evidence  was found at Uluru. Lindy and Michael Chamberlain in February 1981 with a photo of their daughter Azaria after the first inquest into her death, which found she was taken by a dingo. Credit: Russell McPhedran The royal commission subsequently concluded that a trial judge hearing the same evidence as was before the royal commission would have been obliged to direct the jury to acquit Lindy and her then-husband Michael, who had been convicted as an accessory.

The Chamberlains were pardoned in 1987 and their convictions quashed in 1988. They received $1.3 million in compensation in 1992. A fourth inquest in 2012 reached the same finding as the first: Azaria had died as the result of being attacked and taken by a dingo. Douglas Rendell Douglas Harry Rendell, convicted in 1980 of the shooting murder of his partner Yvonne Kendall, was pardoned in July 1989 after an inquiry concluded his conviction was unsafe. The inquiry heard Rendells trial had not heard crucial ballistics evidence, available at the time, that a rifle produced by Rendells partner was capable of discharging accidentally, as he maintained had occurred. The withholding of that information may well have affected the outcome of the trial, the inquiry found. He received an ex-gratia payment of $100,000 from the NSW government. An inquiry found Douglas Harry Rendells conviction over the death of his partner was unsafe. Credit: Fairfax Media

Alexander McLeod-Lindsay Alexander McLeod-Lindsay spent nine years in prison after being convicted in 1965 of the attempted murder of his then-wife, Pamela, who was found bashed in their home. She did not accuse him of the attack. Expert evidence about bloodstains on McLeod-Lindsays jacket, allegedly showing impact spatter, was central to the prosecution case. A second inquiry in 1991 heard evidence the blood was clotted and may have transferred onto his jacket when he tried to help his wife. Alexander McLeod-Lindsays conviction in 1965 for the attempted murder of his then-wife was quashed in 1994. Credit: John Nobley He was pardoned in 1992 and his conviction was formally quashed in 1994. He received $700,000 in compensation.
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to meet with Queensland Corrective Services to address funding for former military personnel now in prison, after a judge lambasted numerous system failures brought to light in the case of an Afghanistan veteran.

Christopher James Finn, 35, currently sleeps on a thin mattress on the floor of an overcrowded cell at Woodford Correctional Centre, north of Brisbane, with his head next to a toilet. He has also been forced to join a gang to stay safe.

Christopher Finn completed three tours of Afghanistan.

Finn is serving time for several drug-related offences, which his psychologist says stemmed from his mental illnesses  including complex PTSD, depression and anxiety  after his deployments overseas.

Finn, who grew up in NSW before joining the Australian Army, completed three tours of Afghanistan. He was also deployed to East Timor during his highly commended career.
Can you pass a Year 5 NAPLAN test?

This years NAPLAN will be held from March 15 to 27, with students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 quizzed on their writing, reading, spelling, grammar, punctuation and numeracy.

Weve curated questions from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authoritys public demonstration site to bring you this mock test.

Let us know your results in the comments.
Bangkok was born of the river. It began in the 15th century, a tiny jungle trading post set at the waters edge. Centuries passed, the outpost grew, and by the early 1800s Bangkok had taken its modern form.

Today, with over 20 million tourists annually, its one of the most visited cities on Earth. Over the past several years, the waterfront district known as Bang Rak has boomedincluding one street in particular. Charoen Krung, Bangkoks oldest paved road, completed in 1864, is now a fantastic stretch of inventive cocktail bars and jet lagworthy restaurants, where Michelin has been very busy sprinkling stars. Here, the top destinations to add to your itinerary.

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Yu Ting Yuan at Four Seasons

Chef Liu Guokun glazing char sui at Yu Ting Yuan

Theres no bad seat in this culinary theater of modern Cantonese cuisine, opened in 2020 and awarded Thailands only Michelin star for Cantonese, in 2021 (which it kept for 2022). Executive chef Qiu Xiaogui has developed a delicate, colorful dim sum experiencecoursed or a la cartefrom yellow chrysanthemum tea leaves steeping in clear pots to crispy, golden duck carved in the glass-front kitchen. The room is resplendent, with a design by Jean-Michel Gathy that includes towering windows looking out over a courtyard reflection pool and six-foot flower arrangements that add bold color to the black-marble floors and dark pendant lights.

Stella and Cote at Capella Bangkok

An assortment of liquid refreshments at Stella.

Capella, adjacent to the Four Seasons, was a massive arrival when it opened in 2020. It now draws well-heeled travelers for drinks at its extravagant bar, Stella (the wise will reserve seats well in advance). Stellas gilded decor is unapologetically maximalist: The room shimmers with chandeliers and marble, a striking white peacock perches on a banquette, and cocktails arrive in glittering crystal glasses. Try the City of Khai, a spicy, well-balanced mix of Issan rum, galangal and rice powder, and allow it to whet your appetite for Capellas Michelin-star restaurant, Cote. Dinner tasting menus come in five-, seven- and nine-course options, each dish inspired by the French and Italian Riviera with local touches, whether its coriander in the mascarpone or makrut lime juice on the oysters.

Story continues

Jua

Jua, set down a quiet alley off Charoen Krung in Bangkok.

The name translates to turning up a card, a nod to the buildings former life as a gambling house. It feels like a discovery down a quiet alley off Charoen Krung, with its bright white walls, terrazzo bar and minimalist stools. Sake and whiskeythe liquid mainstays of every great izakayaare served neat or in cocktails such as the Suntory Highball with soda and orange. Chef Chet Atkinss rotating list of yakitori, from pork belly with gochujang to salted chicken gizzard, is exemplary, yet its the shared plates that truly display his aplomb, from a beef cheek with a veal teriyaki jus to fried chicken with togarashi-spiced egg salad.

80/20

A colorful dish prepared by Michelin-star restaurant 80/20.

Having retained its Michelin star for the past four years, 80/20 now heralds the return of Andrew Martin, who previously worked at the boundary-pushing Thai restaurant and assumed the role of head chef in 2021. One of his first moves: eliminating lunch to focus solely on his tasting-menu dinners, an energetic pleasure amid raw concrete, hip-hop and a buzzy open kitchen. Martin keeps it personal, stopping at every table to chatusually about his culinary appreciation for insects. Adventurous eaters can try the roasted pork belly, which features a giant water bug called maeng da, a local delicacy, grilled in its shell, the flesh scooped out and mixed into the chili paste that tops the meat.

Aksorn

One of Aksorns delicious plates.

Australian-born David Thompson is one of the most celebrated chefs in Thailand. In 2001 he earned a Michelin star for his London restaurant, Nahm; he later brought it to Bangkok, and by 2014 it sat atop Asias 50 Best Restaurants list. After leaving that restaurant in 2018, he opened Aksorn, mid-pandemic, inside a small, trendy creative-retail hub called Central: the Original Store. The top floor was a bookshop in the 1950s, and Thompson was inspired by dusty editions of Southeast Asian cookbooks, selecting recipes from the 1940s through the 1970sthe decades when Bangkok exploded both commercially and creatively. His vibrant flavor combinations, from five-spicebraised duck eggs to river prawns with green watermelon, are best enjoyed at a table on the roof terrace, where you can watch the lively bustle of Charoen Krung below.

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In a bid to further slash smoking rates, a Queensland inquiry will look into the health risks of vaping and how many young people are using e-cigarettes.

The state government announced the inquiry on Sunday to better inform people about the dangers of vaping.

People who try e-cigarettes are three times more likely to take up smoking, an ANU study found. Credit: Eddie Jim

On Monday, the government also announced other changes to smoking laws and regulations, as flagged by Brisbane Times almost a year ago.

In its vaping inquiry, the parliamentary Health and Environment Committee will investigate what schools are doing to discourage the practice as e-cigarettes grow in popularity among young people.
Thirty-three years ago, Lulu Mitshabu left the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a refugee. She was at the market when she sensed danger. She grabbed her children and, without going home, made the arduous journey across the border and eventually to Australia.

In February this year, doing humanitarian work for Caritas Australia, Lulu was back in DR Congo during the visit of Pope Francis. The pope, at 86, made all his public appearances in a wheelchair. Yet his energy was contagious. Lulu describes the challenges faced by DR Congo as incredibly complex and often related to a culture of violence. She was amazed by the impact of the popes personality.

Pope Francis with Congolese Prime Minister Sama Lukonde as he arrives in Kinshasa in January. Credit: AP

He shone a spotlight on DR Congo when everyone else seems to have forgotten or given up. He lit up the room where we gathered with him. He offered blessings in Lingala, one of the local languages. His words and actions touched my heart. He got people to commit to talking and listening.

As Pope Francis celebrates 10 years as head of the Catholic Church, talking and listening have been the hallmarks of his outstanding leadership. His style has frightened Catholics who depend on an authoritarian church. Francis is building a Christian community in which status and rank count for less and in which the poor count for more. The church has a fancy word for it: synodality. It just means journeying together.
The University of Melbourne is a step closer to staff strikes after the National Tertiary Education Union got the green light to ballot members about industrial action.

Union members will be asked to vote on eight forms of industrial action, including not doing any marking, not applying penalties to students who submit late work, work stoppages of up to 24 hours and indefinite stoppages.

University of Melbourne union members have been given the green light to vote on industrial action. Credit: Wayne Taylor

Potential bans on performing duties outside job descriptions and responding to phone calls or emails outside work hours will also be put to the vote.

David Gonzalez, acting president of the NTEU University of Melbourne branch, said the union had fast-tracked the process for industrial action because of widespread member dissatisfaction over pay and the universitys heavy reliance on casual staff.
More than 1.3 million Australian students will have their reading, writing and maths skills assessed when they sit NAPLAN tests this week, with the results to be delivered to parents and schools months earlier than in previous years.

Test report cards will also be radically overhauled, with the 10 NAPLAN bands and national minimum standard dumped in favour of four proficiency categories: exceeding; strong; developing; and needs additional support.

Teacher Krystal Rickerby practises spelling with students at Brandon Park Primary, one of Victorias top-performing schools in NAPLAN. Credit: Joe Armao

But about 30 per cent of students could fall short of the national benchmark for literacy and numeracy under the new measures, as results in the lowest two bands will signal a student has not met proficiency.

This year, tests will be held in March rather than May, so schools and parents can see results earlier, which will allow teachers more time to act on gaps in students knowledge.
Prominent racehorse trainer Gerald Ryan is the subject of a fresh police investigation into allegations he sexually assaulted a string of young jockeys and stablehands more than 25 years ago.

Ryan, who has won training premierships in Brisbane and is now based at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, has been plagued by serious misconduct accusations for decades, but has never been charged by police or sanctioned by racing authorities.

Trainer Gerald Ryan at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in 2020. Credit: Getty Images

A Victoria Police spokesman confirmed a new investigation had been launched into historical allegations of sexual abuse.

Bayside Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives are investigating reports of historical sexual offending in Flemington and other areas in the 1990s. Investigations remain ongoing, the police spokesman said.
Since the day Lucy Cuzzupe was born, two things have grown constantly in her neighbourhood: traffic on Ballarat Road and the number of people killed by it.

Over the years, weve all bugged VicRoads, says the life-long Braybrook resident, now 53. Its a speedway  trying to cross is just mayhem. I keep asking, Why doesnt the speed limit get reduced?

Lucy Cuzzupe is worried there will be more deaths along the dangerous stretch of Ballarat Road, Braybrook. Credit: Jason South

Ten years of road fatality data analysed by The Age reveals that Ballarat Road is the deadliest road in Melbourne for pedestrians. Eleven people have been killed on the stretch through the western suburbs between Footscray and Deer Park since 2013.

Bell Street between Coburg and Ivanhoe was the second-deadliest, claiming six pedestrian lives, in a trend safety experts say reveals a failure to protect Melburnians from high-speed roads that run through their communities.
Well, we know that none of those things are true about sexual assault. A really significant part of the problem has been the belief that it doesnt happen because old age is a protective factor against sexual assault. Latest figures from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission show 41 complaints of sexual assault were made a week across in Australian aged care in 2022. And most of the victims, said Barrett, were women living with dementia. She says there are two reasons: first, that they are intentionally targeted because their stories wont be believed. Second, that they are less able to seek immediate help or call out for assistance. Barrett said contributing factors to such crimes included the traditional failure to see older people as sexual beings, and the myth that sexual assault was about sexual attraction, when really it was about power. They also included cognitive dissonance.

No one wants to hear that someone in residential aged care has been sexually assaulted, especially by a staff member, and so we turn off, its too hard to hear, Barrett said. Last year, Barrett worked with the Older Persons Advocacy Network and Older Womens Network New South Wales on a collaborative project called Ready to Listen, with the aim of building the skills and capacity to better respond to and prevent these assaults. I wanted change in the system, I wanted someone to go in and fine-tooth-comb their policies and procedures, I wanted the management hauled over the coals. Tonia Brown It is the first Australian government-funded resource of its kind in Australia, but she said providers, the community, police and sexual assault services  some of which refused to see people in aged care or living with dementia  all needed to do better. And this was the first year Australia had had a national plan to end violence against women and children that has taken a life stages approach, she said. Older women had previously not been on the radar.

There are a whole heap of people who hold responsibility for this, she said. But how do you stop it? You have conversations about it and you need to be ready to listen. Reporting of sexual assault complaints in the sector was only made mandatory after the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in April 2021. A spokesperson for the Commission said that across Australia it was also undertaking qualitative research by analysing incidents of this type to provide insights into strategies to reduce and prevent these incidents occurring in aged care, including identifying areas for improvement in provider practice. The Commission also took compliance action against Adas care home for multiple failures in care over the course of a few years. The facility manager who denied her claims is no longer employed at the centre.

Loading Incident notifications are reviewed and assessed by the Commission within 24 hours to ensure appropriate responses by providers including, where there are allegations of criminal conduct, reporting to the police, he said. Any serious incident of this type has the potential to have a significant and sustained negative impact on a person and also their family. In Adas case, though local police were brought in to investigate the incident, no one was ever prosecuted or identified as the perpetrator. Tonia said police told her they couldnt do much if her mother-in-law couldnt remember when it happened or where, or who did it, but Tonia could tell by the change in Adas demeanour and bodily functioning that something seriously frightening had happened to her.

She believed the assaults were real and with the help of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and Advocare WA, had her concerns taken seriously with the care home in question. From the date of the incident until her passing at the end of last year, Ada was cared for exclusively by female carers only and two at a time, instead of the standard one. Her family was happy with the support received from outside the company, but disappointed no one was held ultimately accountable. I wanted change in the system, I wanted someone to go in and fine-tooth-comb their policies and procedures, I wanted the management hauled over the coals, Tonia Brown said. And some empathy from those people who ran the place would have been great, instead of the dismissal that we received.
Hillsong Church will launch an independent review of its financial structure and systems to ensure the organisation can carry out its religious mission in the wake of allegations of fraud and extravagant spending.

Addressing the congregation on Sunday morning, global senior pastor Phil Dooley also revealed that 153 staff had taken voluntary redundancies in the last year, saving $9.47 million, and the church had implemented a new policy on gifts and honorariums, and changed its structures.

Founder of Hillsong Brian Houston was the subject of allegations in parliament last week. Credit: Kate Geraghty

Last week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie made allegations against Dooley, church founder Brian Houston and other senior members of the church under parliamentary privilege, while also tabling 17 binders of church financial records provided to him by an unnamed whistleblower.

The Tasmanian MP said church money was used to do the kind of shopping that would embarrass a Kardashian and that Hillsong was breaking numerous laws in Australia and around the world relating to fraud, money laundering and tax evasion.
San Diego: Australia will need 20,000 more workers to build a new submarine fleet and transform the nations defence over the next three decades under forecasts to be revealed within days as part of the AUKUS pact with the United States and the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will set the jobs target in the formal announcement that the government will buy nuclear-powered submarines from the US while launching a mammoth long-term project to build a new fleet in Australia based on a British design.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden will make the submarine announcement on Tuesday, Australian time. Credit: Getty/Alex Ellinghausen/Bloomberg

The Australian Navy will also launch a recruitment drive next week to find hundreds of personnel to support the shift to nuclear-powered submarines and make more staff available to train with the US and Britain.

The need for skilled workers has been identified as a key challenge in the AUKUS project because of the scale of the construction as well as the shortage of submariners on the existing Collins-class submarine fleet before personnel move to the nuclear-powered fleets.
Tetiana Lysak arrived on P.E.I. in the fall of 2022 with her two-year-old daughter. She's been struggling to find work despite attending lots of information sessions and programs designed to help newcomers. (Thinh Nguyen/CBC - image credit)

Tetiana Lysak and her two-year-old daughter arrived on Prince Edward Island in the fall.

At the time, she thought she would have no trouble finding a job. She has two master's degrees, one in linguistics and another in tourism and hospitality. She also had years of experience working as an interpreter in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital.

But after six months on P.E.I., Lysak still can't find work. She said she sent her resume to a number of local employers, but didn't get any responses.

"Now I'm getting desperate," she said.

"I'm getting to a point that I will be happy to take any job, like anything, because I need to feed my daughter."

Lysak is not alone.

Thinh Nguyen/CBC

Nikita Shupov came to the Island in June with his wife and their four children. They previously had to spend some time in Europe, after Russia's invasion forced the family to flee.

Shupov has about 15 years of experience in motion graphics design, having worked with many Ukrainian television stations.

Soon after arriving on P.E.I., he found contract work in his field with a local company, but that contract ended in October.

Shupov has been looking for work in Canada for the past five months. While he's applied for positions across the country, he said he hasn't heard back about any of them.

"I don't know why," he said.

Employment struggle 'across the board'

The issue is not unique to the Ukrainian community, said Yvette Doucette, information services co-ordinator with the Immigrant & Refugee Services Association (IRSA) P.E.I.

"There's a problem finding work across the board," she said.

IRSA clients who landed in P.E.I. in 2022 came from over 50 different countries.

Doucette said about 200 Ukrainian newcomers who arrived last year are still looking for work.

That's "a larger number than some other groups," she said.

Doucette said it's often difficult for newcomers to immediately find a job in their field, even if they had years of experience in their home country.

Story continues

Newcomers are at a disadvantage, she said, because they often lack access to transportation and may face language barriers.

It's also a slow time of the year, Doucette said. The past six months may have been particularly challenging for job seekers, with the minimum wage going up and the Island still recovering from the pandemic and post-tropical storm Fiona.

In the case of Lysak, who has a background in hospitality and tourism, finding a job may become easier in April or May when the tourism industry ramps up, Doucette said.

Getting a foot in the door

CBC

She said newcomers first need to learn about the local workplace culture, attending networking events and volunteering in order to gain some experience in Canada.

"They may need to just get their foot in the door somewhere," Doucette said.

She also recommends newcomers to register with IRSA to get help with their job search.

When Lysak came to the Island, she signed up to be a client and get employment assistance.

She also joined a three-month program offered by SkillsPEI called Career Bridges. There, she learned how to revamp her resume, write cover letters and identify potential career paths on P.E.I.

For the latter half of the program, she had a work placement at a kitchen in downtown Charlottetown. She wasn't offered a job after that ended, and has been unemployed since.

Sally Pitt/CBC

But many participants of the program have received job offers according to Mary Hunter, the province's director of workforce development and the person in charge of the program.

Hunter said for some participants, it just takes more time.

"It is a journey  one that sometimes takes longer than what we would all like  but it is a start in getting the exposure and the information out," she said.

Hunter said they follow up with participants to ensure they do find employment.

Anxious about the future

Shupov is working remotely on a few projects from Ukraine while continuing to search for jobs here. The money from those projects alone can't sustain him and his family, he said.

He said he's thought of setting up his own graphic design business if he can't get a job in motion graphics in P.E.I.

He said other provinces may have more job opportunities, but he doesn't want to move. The local natural environment is similar to Ukraine's, and his family enjoys living here.

"In P.E.I., all people [are] friendly, helpful," Shupov said.

Shupov wants the whole family to become permanent residents in Canada.

As for Lysak, she hopes to return to her homeland at some point.

For now, she just wants to get a job, and rent an apartment where she and her daughter can live.

But she said she's been feeling increasingly unsure about her future.

"This uncertainty now gives me some anxiety and scares me," she said.

Submitted by Tetiana Lysak

Lysak said she wants to see employers consider foreign credentials and experience, and not value Canadian experience more highly by default.

"There are so many good professionals from Ukraine, from other countries, who can do their work here and help the local communities. They should be given the possibility to work in their field," she said.

Lysak said so far, she's glad to receive supports from local organizations. She's especially thankful to the host family she's been living with, who has also helped her on her job search.

"They're just amazing people," she said.

"If not for them, maybe I would be going back to Ukraine even though there is a war there, because I wouldn't survive here by myself."
Tokyo: Japan has begun preparations for Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to visit the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and the Cook Islands in late March, the daily Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday citing several government sources.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. Credit: AP

The visit, expected to take place from March 18 to 22, comes after China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year, prompting concern from the United States and Australia as China seeks to extend its influence in the region.

Hayashi intends to affirm the three islands states co-operation with a free and open Indo-Pacific, and is considering suggesting security co-operation as well, the report said.

He also plans to assuage concerns over the release of treated water from the wrecked Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant later this year, according to the Yomiuri.
Rome: Intelligence reports indicate nearly 700,000 migrants are in Libya awaiting an opportunity to set out by sea towards Italy, a parliamentarian from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis far-right party said on Sunday, but a UN migration official called the number not credible.

Tommaso Foti, the lower parliamentary house whip for the Brothers of Italy Party, told television channel Tgcom24 the Italian secret services estimated that 685,000 migrants in Libya, many of them in detention camps, were eager to sail across the central Mediterranean Sea in smugglers boats.

The Italian coast guard was responding to three smugglers boats carrying more than 1300 migrants in danger off Italys southern coast, officials said on Friday. Credit: AP

Meloni is hoping a European Union meeting later this month yields concrete solidarity from fellow leaders of EU nations in managing the large numbers of migrants and asylum-seekers who come to countries on the Mediterraneans rim, including Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Spain, as well as Italy.

Europe cant look the other way, Foti said.
But the leader of the worlds nearly 1.4 billion Roman Catholics appears to be in good and steady overall health for a man of his age. You dont run the Church with a knee but with a head, he reportedly told an aide after he began sometimes using a wheelchair in public for the first time on May 5, 2022. Pope Francis in a wheelchair is flanked by Congolese Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, centre right, as he arrives in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, in January. Credit: AP Last July, returning from a trip to Canada, Francis acknowledged that his advancing age and his difficulty walking might have ushered in a new, slower phase of his papacy. Francis told Reuters in an interview in July last year that he preferred not to have an operation on his knee because he did not want a repeat of long-term negative side effects from anaesthesia he suffered after an intestinal operation in July 2021.

He said he had no plans to resign anytime soon and that if he eventually did, it would be for serious heath reasons, such as if he were gravely incapacitated. Asked by Italian Swiss television RSI in an interview to be broadcast on March 12 what condition would lead him to quit, he said: A tiredness that doesnt let you see things clearly. A lack of clarity, of knowing how to evaluate situations. But effectively he has not slowed down. Sex abuse Francis had a big learning curve on clergy sex abuse, initially playing down the problem in ways that made survivors question whether he got it. He had his wake-up call five years into his pontificate after a problematic visit to Chile.

During the trip, he discovered a serious disconnect between what Chilean bishops had told him about a notorious case and the reality: Hundreds or thousands of Chilean faithful had been raped and molested by Catholic priests over decades. That was my conversion, he told the AP. Thats when the bomb went off, when I saw the corruption of many bishops in this. Francis has passed a series of measures since then aimed at holding the church hierarchy accountable, but the results have been mixed. Benedict removed some 800 priests, but Francis seems far less eager to defrock abusers, reflecting resistance within the hierarchy to efforts to permanently remove predators from the priesthood. The next frontier in the crisis has already reared its head: the sexual, spiritual and psychological abuse of adults by clergy. Francis is aware of the problem  a new case concerns one of his fellow Jesuits  but there seems to be no will to take firm action Significance of synods

When the history of the Francis pontificate is written, entire chapters might well be devoted to his emphasis on synodality, a term that has little meaning outside Catholic circles but could go down as one of Francis most important church contributions. A synod is a gathering of bishops, and Francis philosophy that bishops must listen to one another and the laity has come to define his vision for the Catholic Church: He wants it to be a place where the faithful are welcomed, accompanied and heard. The synods held during his first 10 years produced some of the most significant, and controversial, moments of his papacy. After listening to the plight of divorced Catholics during a 2014-15 synod on the family, for instance, Francis opened the door to letting divorced and civilly remarried couples receive Communion. Calls to allow married priests marked his 2019 synod on the Amazon, although Francis ultimately rejected the idea. His October synod has involved an unprecedented canvassing of the Catholic faithful about their hopes for the church and problems they have encountered, eliciting demands from women for greater leadership roles, including ordination.

Latin Mass Catholic traditionalists were wary when Francis emerged as pope for the first time on the loggia of St Peters Basilica without the red cape that his predecessors had worn for formal events. Yet they never expected him to reverse one of Benedicts signature decisions by reimposing restrictions on the old Latin Mass, including where and who can celebrate it. A cyclist pedals his bike up a ramp near a weathered mural of Pope Francis, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 2. Credit: AP While the decision directly affected only a fraction of Catholic Mass-goers, his crackdown on the Tridentine Rite became the call to arms for the anti-Francis conservative opposition. Francis justified his move by saying Benedicts decision to liberalise the celebration of the old Mass had become a source of division in parishes. But traditionalists took the renewed restrictions as an attack on orthodoxy, one they saw as contradicting Francis all are welcome mantra.

Instead of integrating them into parish life, the restriction on the use of parish churches will marginalise and push to the peripheries faithful Catholics who wish only to worship, lamented Joseph Shaw of the Latin Mass Societys UK branch. While the short-term prospects for Francis relenting are not great, the traditionalists do have time on their side, knowing that in a 2000-year-old institution, another pope might come along who is more friendly to the old rite. Role of women Loading Francis quips about the female genius have long made women cringe. Women theologians are the strawberries on the cake, he once said. Nuns shouldnt be old maids, he said. Europe shouldnt be a barren, infertile grandmother, he told European Union lawmakers  a remark that got him an angry phone call from then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But, its also true that Francis has done more to promote women in the church than any pope before him, including naming several women to high-profile positions in the Vatican. Thats not saying much given only one in four Holy See employees is female, no woman heads a dicastery, or department, and Francis has upheld church doctrine forbidding women from the priesthood. But the trend is there and there is no possibility of going back, said Maria Lia Zervino, one of the first three women named to the Vatican office that helps the pope select bishops around the world. LGBTQ faithful Francis insistence that long-marginalised LGBTQ Catholics can find a welcome home in the church can be summed up by two pronouncements that have book-ended his papacy to date: Who am I to judge? and Being homosexual is not a crime.
Dear Editor,

My name is Joseph Peterson, I'm a candidate on the URSM party list.

I am here to talk to you about The Dangers of Selling Your Vote.

You are a loyal follower of your political party, however, you need to ask yourself the question: are you better off now, than how you were before you voted for them, if you are not satisfied with your situation right now, then it's time for you to make a change.

I have lived practically my entire life in Sint Maarten. I've seen all the different political parties come and go.

Every election is the same thing, those that are in power now try to fool the people by doing small things like fixing the roads, and other small things, which makes me wonder what happened to the years that they are in power, and why they don't follow through on their commitment to the people that voted them into Parliament.

Why aren't they helping the people, and why do they wait until it comes close to a new election year to start doing small things, to fool the people to vote them back in Parliament?

I'm here now to tell those people of Sint Maarten that believe that your vote doesn't make a difference, I totally understand where youre coming from. There are some political parties hoping that you stay at home because they have their followers, and if you continue to believe that your vote doesnt make a difference, then they have a chance to win and get right back in Government.

I know your hurting and struggling right now. Some of you are working two or even three jobs to make ends meet, and you really want to make a difference. In this upcoming election, youre willing to come out to vote, and right now you don't know which political party will have the integrity and strength to make the difference that this Country really needs right now.

Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement (URSM), our name says it, we are Unified and Resilient. We strongly believe in the principle of democratic rule of Law and inclusion, while upholding and honoring our citizen's values as the fundamental rights, freedoms, and conscious convictions for all.

URSM will lead with a clear vision and approach that is anchored in dignity, integrity, equality, peace, and respect, contributing to the betterment of the people and Sint Maarten.

Now, to our topic of the article The Dangers of Vote Buying. There are different political parties running for this new election, and every one of the candidates of course has their favorite followers.

Some have rich followers, and some have regular followers; of course, there are those that are going to try to buy your vote. It might not be the politician themselves, but one of those rich followers are willing to buy your vote for the candidate that they are supporting because they want their candidate to win the election.

The integrity of the politician that their followers are buying votes for, is questionable. If those politicians do not reach out to their followers and let them know that it is wrong to buy votes, then that politician has no morals, no Character, and no integrity, and definitely does not deserve to be in parliament.

Those citizens that are willing to sell their vote need to think about their future, because the funds or items that they are going to get for their vote, will only last for that day or month or so.

What happens to you for the rest of the four years, when that politician is going to be in parliament? Do you believe that the politician you voted for is going to help you. They might not be the politician that bought your vote, it's probably one of the rich followers that wanted them to win the election, so be careful to whom you are selling your vote to. Quite frankly, your vote is valued more than what they might want to pay you.

You have the power this election to make a difference, I urge you to come out and vote, do your research, and vote for the right party the one that is going to help the people of this Country.

The URSM is a new party, and our Leader Dr. Luc Mercelina has been preparing his candidates for this election, and we do believe that we have a team of candidates, that are ready to lead our people and bring our country back on its feet, and make Sint Maarten once again, the Jewel of the Caribbean.

If you want a serious Government that will HELP YOU and Not HURT YOU you must vote URSM

Follow me on my Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/ursmjgp

March 9th, 2023
Custom MFA, Access Management & Password Reset Systems For Your Cloud Network

As long as your servers are connected to the internet, your company\-s data is at risk. Phishing attacks and other scams are a constant threat to the end user, and hackers are constantly attempting to chip away your security and steal your sensitive data. The threat is so dire, in fact, that some analysts predict that cybercrime will cost the world up to $10 trillion dollars per year by 2025. As an IT expert, you are your organization\-s last line of defense against this formidable threat. However, with so much at stake, you should not have to go it alone. That is why Azure IAM, industry leaders in cybersecurity and access management, are offering their consultancy services to help you establish air-tight internal and external digital protection. To read about how Azure IAM can defend your data, visit https://azureiam.com If you think your company might benefit from a consolidated access management system, Azure IAM can help. The solutions that the certified Azure security architects can engineer as part of this service are capable of bringing together the multiple digital identities of a single user into one digital entity, simplifying and streamlining verification and access management across systems. Azure IAM can build these systems using software solutions provided by their industry partners, using staples such as the Microsoft Authenticator app and management solutions from SailPoint to prevent breaches and keep data secure. Similarly, the MFA integrations they can establish are able to prevent both internal and external breaches, both automated and targeted, by bolstering front-end security using industry-leading Microsoft technologies. A company spokesperson had this to say, aOur company will help you focus on your core business and increase your productivity with an IAM system that secures your primary asset  that is, your users  both on-premise and in the cloud. The user identity is the new perimeter, and it is the asset to secure and protect against sophisticated attacks.a The Azure IAM team is also certified to implement Azure Compliance Automation systems  including the Azure Active Directory  on a large scale. These systems can act as a unified gateway to a broad range of security and access management functionality while also improving overall speed and accessibility. This certification also allows the company to implement Azurea?s Firewall, as well as a number of other scalable security systems also hosted by Microsoft. The consulting team at Azure IAM can build end-to-end encryption and access management systems for companies of all sizes using a versatile toolkit of powerful technologies. Bad actors possess incredibly powerful tools when coming after your company\-s data, which is why you need security that can stand up to even the most robust attacks. Azure IAM is the only company that can establish these powerful systems, and can do so for less than the competition. Their team possesses a diverse range of knowledge and expertise regarding everything from directory services to security system implementation and design. They have already helped hundreds of companies and organizations achieve more streamlined network operations. To read more about the systems they have implemented in the past, visit https://azureiam.com
A weekly feature highlighting the best quotes on TV as picked by the Spoiler TV team. We'd love to hear your picks too so please sound off in the comments below.

1. Gregory: "I've longed for protocol. This is the best day of my life." (LexiF)

2. Melissa [from up the extended ladder of the fire engine]: Frisbee secured! Jacob: Whoo-hoo! Yeah! Ooh, should she really be up there in heels? Captain Robinson: Shes wearing a helmet. (Sandi)

3. I never listen to Chaka Khan's 'Through the Fire' when it comes up on my Pandora. I'm every woman, not a pyromaniac. (Lindsey)





1. Kim Burgess: "I can't be who I wanna be with this. Not for my daughter and not for Adam." (Rianne, LexiF)

2. Adam Ruzek: "Just don't push me away, please." (LexiF)

1. Jennifer Jereau: "Well next time don't get shot." (Rianne)

2. Bailey: How are you not nervous? Prentiss: I guess after being assaulted, drugged, and killed in the line of duty, I figure, what's the worst that could happen? (Lindsey)

1. Harry: "I guess the short version is: You mess with my family, you mess with me." (Prpleight)

1. Eve: The work you do excites me. I... I love my job. I love the rush that it gives me. And sharing that rush with inmates who otherwise wouldnt have a chance to do it... it was a rush I wasnt expecting. And I want more. I see you, and I see Bode, and I see them, and they deserve a second chance. And youre out here giving it to them. So, I want to help you argue for more funding. Thats why Im asking you questions. Im in your corner Captain. But you gotta let me be. (Sandi)

1. Sam: "The skull that was found turned out to be Trevor's." Trevor: "Knew it! You see that chiseled jaw bone? You could slice brisket with that thing." Hetty: "Congratulations, Trevor, or my condolences. As an etiquette stickler, I confess I'm at a loss."

2. Sam: "This country was built by regular people." Sasappis: "Important white guys, mediocre white guys..." (Prpleight)

3. Jay: I know I cant see the ghosts or hear them, but I care about them, and would never do anything to risk harm to them if I didnt think with all of my heart that this could work.

4. Flower: Oh, this is so nerve-racking. If these two dont end up together Trevor will never be born! Pete: I never should have showed her Back to the Future. (Sandi)



5. Isaac: So, George, tell me about yourself? George: Enough chitchat. Lets get to the naughty stuff. Isaac: Oh, thats a bit forward. Arent you a Puritan? George: Yes. But when I died and didnt immediately go to heaven I reconsidered some things. Im a bad, bad boy now. And I want to hear what youre wearing, sir. (Prpleight and Sandi)

1. Ellie: Why did you bring me here? Riley: Because I wanted to see you. Ellie: And? Riley: And...and I wanted to say goodbye. This isnt easy, Ellie. Ellie: It actually is. You just did it. Goodbye. (Sandi)

2. Sam: "If you turn into a monster, is it still you inside?"

3. Maria: "Be careful who you put your faith in. The only people who can betray us are the ones we trust."

4. Riley: "It ends this way for everyone sooner or later, right? Some of us just get there faster than others. But we don't quit. Whether it's two minutes or two days, we don't give that up." (Maria Sol)

1. Pence Humphrey [to the departing Olivia Benson]: An ass like the devil and a face like Jayne Mansfield. (Djriter)

1. Anzellan: No! No! No! No, down, down! Din Djarin: No, Grogu. Hes not a pet. Anzellan: No squeezie. Not squeeze. Not squeeze! Bad baby! Oh, hes a bad baby. Din Djarin: Sorry about that, hes young. Anzellan: Yeah, bad baby...oh!! [screams] Din Djarin: No, Grogu!

2. Din Djarin: Kid, never trust a pirate. (Sandi)

1. Gary: "You'll never be as good as Maggie Bloom." (LexiF)

1. Jimmy: Sean, we havent talked at all about your time in Afghanistan. Sean: I aint gonna lie, Jimmy, Ive been feeling pretty fucking good. Okay? Like, why would we fuck with that? Jimmy: Thats my job, dude. I got a degree in Fucking With That. From the University of All Up in Your Business.

2. Jimmy: So, I was out in the hallway and I was gonna come in and ask you for help. My patient, Grace, wont respond to me. And then it occurred to me that youre not talking to me about patients, so I decided not to come in. Paul: Yet here you are. Jimmy: Yet here I am. Listen, Paul. I know you think that Ive made some bad choices, but can we please just move forward? Paul [pause]: Nahhhhhh. Jimmy: Its the buzzer. I gotta be honest, I dont love the buzzer, Paul. Paul: Then you should say things that I agree with. (Sandi)

1. Margaret: "I will never understand what Todd saw in you. You are manipulative and controlling." Veronica: "Are you kidding? That's exactly what he saw me. He saw you. Manipulative, controlling. No one is easier to fool than a mama's boy." (Prpleight)

1. Adult Mark: Normally there was no privacy at all in our little house, but this night was a perfect storm. My brother was working the night shift at the radio station, Pop would be asleep by 7, and my folks were celebrating their 20th anniversary by going somewhere theyd never been...Out!"

2. Adult Mark: The best movies Id ever seen lived in my familys memories. Who needed Porkys when you had stories about Bob Bartlett, secret bases, and romance? Mary: You know, theres a part of me that almost wishes that the power would go back out. Young Mark: Yeah, me too. (The shot of Mark Senior  knowing he is the real Mark  smiling and nodding his agreement towards his son/younger self made this brief, sweet exchange all the more heart warming. - Sandi)



3. Young Mark: Theyre loud. Pants shouldnt be loud. And the fabric, its chafing me. I think we should keep looking. Mark Senior: Theyre fine. Got a good waist. Plenty of allowance. Lots of length there. Look, we can tape up the bottoms until you grow into em. Hows your penis? Is there room for your penis? Wheres your penis? Young Mark [as another customer walks by]: Stop talking about the penis! (Sandi)

1. Captain Shaw: We are essentially cornered in spacewhich has no corners.

2. Captain Vadic: There he is, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, in all his synthetic glory.

3. Raffi: "Somebody needs to speak for the dead." (Djriter)

4. Jean-Luc: Im not sure about this plan. Will: Because its not really a plan, its a ruse. Jean-Luc: Yeah, thats the part I dont like. Will: You and I are two highly-ranked members of Starfleet doing a routine surprise inspection. Jean-Luc: We could be court-martialed for this. You could lose everything youve worked for. Will: Only if we get caught. You got to sell this. Come on Admiral. Show your inspection face. Give me one of those rigid, disapproving, sour expressions youre famous for.

5. Jean-Luc: Adrenaline rush. Will: From fear or the thought of seeing Beverly again? Jean-Luc: Both. Will: Terrific. Your hands are stiff, my knees are killing me. So long as we dont need to move or shoot, we should be fine. (Sandi)

1. Carina Deluca: "I lose you either way Bella, I'd rather lose you and have you be alive." (Rianne)

1. Elliott: The pond has a mind of its own. Kat: Maybe the pond wants me to find Jacob. Its letting me time travel El, there must be a reason, I know it.

2. Del: Thats a police report. You shouldnt have that. Kat: Thats what a press pass is for.

3. Jacob: Sure, later gator. Kat: In a while, crocodile. (Djriter)

What Were Watching







1. Athan: "You speak about time as if it's the enemy." Cassie: "We can call ourselves healers all we want, but all we're really doing is just fighting the clock, and it always wins." (Maria Sol)

1. Din Djarin: Havent seen you since you gave up your armor. How have you been? Cobb Vanth: More careful.

2. Cobb Vanth: Were square, you and me. Din Djarin: Yes, we are. But I didnt think you were one to back down from bullies. Cobb Vanth: See, thats what I like about you, Mando. That big smile of yours lets you get away with anything. (Sandi)

1. Iggy: "But to believe that we all have the capacity to be heroes no matter how evil the world may seem, that's harder because that means, when the worst happens we can choose to stand up, we can choose to help. And that's what, all day, all around us, people do. So is the world dark? Sure. But there's light. There's so much light. You just have to open your eyes and look." (Maria Sol)

1. Mrs Taylor: It can't always have been easy for you, Shauna. Jackie was just so gifted. I can't imagine how exhausting it must've been, always comparing yourself to someone so beautiful and smart. Jeff: Shauna got into Brown. She's, uh, the smartest person I've ever met. Are-are you a genius? Did you ever take one of those tests? You should take one of those. Shauna and I were sleeping together when Jackie and I were still a couple. Which is, obviously, you know, a shitty, uh, thing. But there it is. Because the truth is Jackie was amazing. But so was my damn wife. And she still is. And I may have been an idiot then, but at least I was smart enough to see that.

2. Nat: You dont get it do you? This isnt for us. This is for Travis. Tai: Nat, were not even sure his death is related to any of this. Nat: The fuck it isnt. You guys dont know Travis like I do. He wouldnt kill himself. Do you understand that? And I know you think Im crazy, but you know what I see? You guys are just as fucked up as I am. Youre just better at lying to yourselves. Youre not healthy. Youre not stable. Youre living on the brink, just like me. If youre not gonna help me with the plan, Ill do it myself. (Sandi)
State Police on Saturday released details of a Monroe Township crash that resulted in a house fire last week.

Police said Coleby Dillon, 19, of Mechanicsburg, was driving a 2006 Toyota Sequoia east in the 900 block of Park Place at 2:33 p.m. March 8 when he failed to maintain his lane of travel, crossed into the oncoming lane and struck a utility pole. The vehicle then overturned onto its roof, coming to rest in both lanes of travel.

Police said Dillon was transported for possible injuries to Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, and he consented to a blood draw. Police said Dillon displayed signs of intoxication, though no charges have yet been filed in the crash with results of the blood draw pending.

Police said that the crash caused the electrical lines to disconnect from the utility pole, which made contact with a residence and caused it to catch fire. Police said the home sustained significant damage, though no injuries were reported.

Last week, New Kingstown Fire Company reported that fire crews were initially limited to what they could do with the house fire because of the live power lines. Fire crews had to wait for utility crews to arrive and ensure the power was safely disconnected.
LOS ANGELES  How do you play a man who betrays his country?

The question weighed heavily on actor Guy Pearce who stars in A Spy Among Friends, a new six-part series about Kim Philby, the most effective Soviet mole in British history.

Through the process, Im searching, Pearce says. Im lost in trying to just understand him.

To make informed decisions, the Emmy-winning actor read several books, then honed in on letters Philby had written to his wife. There was something personal there, but I would always come back to the script and, finally, had to let the research material go.

While cyber espionage takes precedent today, much of the work in the 1960s was done in person, says Alexander Cary, who wrote the television script for A Spy Among Friends. Human intelligence is really the only way that youre going to get the definitive stuff, he says.

When word got out about Philby, officials sent his best friend, Nicholas Elliott, to interrogate him and, after four days in a safe house, Philby escaped.

What the hell happened? asks director Nick Murphy. In the limited series, Cary peels back several layers.

Damian Lewis, who plays the friend, says young men in the 1960s dabbled in communism at universities. Communism in and of itself wasnt considered a bad thing because it was fighting fascism and thats why they got pulled in, he says. A lot of them enjoyed the duplicity, the secrecy and the promise of an ever-increasing and smaller elite.

A caste system in Great Britain added fuel to the fire. People like Philby and Elliott were sent to schools to believe that they were the ruling class, the future of the country, Cary says. In that education and in that breedingthere was this trust that no one could possibly let this side down. So there was a certain type of snobbery and a certain type of elitism that people survived on.

Pearce says spies have always been intriguing, but none of us have the courage to actually live in that world. But the idea of friends betraying friends and keeping secrets from very close friends is something we can all relate to.

In the series, Murphy shifts back in time to lend insight. Cary added a character  Lily Thomas  whos at the center of the investigation. I knew the character would irritate and get under the skin of these gentlemen in the British intelligence world, Cary says.

Anna Maxwell Martin, who plays Thomas, is they audiences eyes and ears, discovering the world as they discover it. Its very immediate, she says. Its just about being with Damian in a room and the relationship that they have.

As the characters chip away at the betrayal, theyre just getting through the moments, Cary says. The moments become very intense and specific to their relationships  one which is crumbling and one which is beginning to flourish. The show is a spy show, but its a show about friendships and relationships.

While acting is often a part of the spy game, Pearce says he wouldnt get involved. Look, I might make a good spy on the surface I can work as an actor on the screen. But its never a life or death situation. I dont know if Ive got the chutzpah to act as well when I know that lives or countries are at stake.

Like most of those in the miniseries, Pearce had heard of Philby but didnt know about the others or the relationship he had with Elliott. It was quite an eye-opening, educational process for me.

Lewis was similarly struck. Everybody knows about Philby, he says. But who knows about the best friend? Hes the sap. Hes the second guy. You get Tom Cruise or Guy Pearce to play the rock star. But Nicholas Elliott was the best friend who was duped.

And, says Pearce with a smile, you get Damian Lewis to play the sap.

Thats why he was interesting to all of us, Lewis adds. Whos this other guy? And why is this friendship interesting?

A Spy Among Friends airs on MGM+
According to the data obtained up to this moment, a total of five Romanian citizens, one of whom has dual citizenship, were involved in the serious traffic accident in Hungary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed on Sunday.

"Of these, two were admitted to a medical unit, one of the hospitalized Romanian citizens having already been discharged and is traveling to Romania. The other hospitalized Romanian citizen continues to receive medical care, being out of any danger," the sotrce added.

As regards the person who died as a result of the accident, the MAE informs that the Hungarian authorities have stated that it is not about a Romanian citizen.

The Embassy of Romania in Budapest continues the dialogue with the local authorities and with the families of Romanian citizens, being prepared to provide consular assistance according to legal powers.

One person died and 39 people were injured, including ten children, in a serious traffic accident caused by a dust storm in Hungary, the police announced on Sunday, according to dpa.

The accident occurred on the M1 motorway, which connects Budapest to Vienna, on Saturday afternoon, when, suddenly, a cloud of sand and dust engulfed the road, according to the media.

Following the storm, 42 vehicles, including five trucks, collided with each other, probably due to low visibility. Of these, 19 vehicles caught fire.AGERPRES
MEXICO CITY  When four Americans were kidnapped in the border city of Matamoros, authorities rescued the survivors within days, but thousands of Mexicans remain missing in the state long associated with cartel violence  some in cases dating back more than a decade.

Mexican authorities quickly blamed the local Gulf cartel for shooting up the Americans' minivan after they crossed the border for cosmetic surgery Friday. They found the Americans two dead, one injured and one apparently unharmedearly Tuesday after a massive search involving squads of Mexican soldiers and National Guard troops.

By contrast,more than 112,000 Mexicans remain missing nationwide, in many cases years or decades after they disappeared.

Though a convoy of armored Mexican military trucks extracted the Americans, the only ones searching for most of the missing Mexicans are their desperate relatives.

"If these people had been Mexicans, they might still be disappeared," said Guadalupe Correa Cabrera, an associate professor at George Mason University.

The rescue of the Americans provoked a special kind of fury in Tamaulipas, a border state long dominated by the warring Gulf and Northeast cartels, where the Network of Disappeared activist group estimates that 12,537 people remain missing.

Delia Quiroa, from the nearby city of Reynosa, has been looking for her brother Roberto for nine years, ever since he was kidnapped by gunmen  probably belonging to the Gulf cartel, the same group blamed for abducting the Americans  in March 2014. Despite carrying out their own searches and pressuring authorities to investigate, the family knows nothing about his whereabouts.

Quiroa said that the families of the missing "celebrate and give thanks to God that they found these four U.S. citizens," but said "we wish the government would search for our disappeared with the same zeal and diligence."

"We feel complete indignation, desperation, anguish, impotence and grief," Quiroa said, because of "authorities' failure to act when Mexican families suffer the disappearance of a relative."

Volunteer search teams like Quiroa's often are forced to walk the deserts of northern Mexico with iron rods and shovels, looking for clandestine graves where the bodies of the relatives may have been dumped.

Authorities lack both the manpower, equipment and training  and many say the will  to investigate the abductions, much less arrest or punish those responsible. Things are so bad that authorities aren't even able to identify tens of thousands of bodies that have been found.

The fact that Americans were involved in the most recent abduction may guarantee that Mexican authorities go after the killers. About two dozen suspects, most from the Juarez cartel, were arrested in connection with the 2019 killings of nine U.S. citizens  women and children in the western border state of Sonora.

It is unclear exactly what faction of the Gulf cartel may have abducted the Americans in Matamoros last week. The gangs go by nicknames like "The Scorpions," "The Cyclones" and "The Troops of Hell." In Matamoros, Correa-Cabrera said, they are essentially all offshoots of the Cardenas clan,whose head, Osiel Cardenas Guillen, was arrested in 2003.

The gangs care little about innocent bystanders. In 2021, gunmen from factions of the Gulf cartel drove through the streets of Reynosa randomly killing 15 passers by just to intimidate their rivals.

The Mexican government claims that its "hugs not bullets" strategy  anti-poverty programs intended to reduce the number of recruits for drug gangs  has been working. The number of officially recognized homicides fell from 719 in 2020, to 707 in 2021 and 492 in 2022.

That, of course, doesn't count all of the disappeared people. But things are clearly not as bad as the dark days of 2010 and 2011 in Tamaulipas, when drug cartels massacred 72 migrants or dragged passengers off passing buses and killed hundreds who refused to fight each other to the death with sledge hammers.

Correa-Cabrera said the decline in killings and crimes in Matamoros in recent years may have been because the Cardenas clan re-asserted control.

"It was clear that the Cardenas family had control of the territory and there was a peace, a sort of mafia peace" in Matamoros, Correa-Cabrera said, until early this year when it appeared to break down.

"At the start of this year, there began to be reports of a lot more extortion by the same group that controls the city," said the professor, who previously taught at the then University of Texas Brownsville just across the Rio Grande from Matamoros.
A federal judge in Texas soon could make one of the two pills used in medication abortions harder to come by, even in blue states that support abortion rights.

Officials and advocates in those states arent waiting for the judge to rule. Theyre trying to ensure continued access to the drugs that a growing number of Americans are using to end their pregnancies at home.

Last week, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom declared that his states government would stop doing business with Walgreens because the pharmacy chain decided earlier this month that it wont sell mifepristone in states where Republicans have threatened legal action, even in those states where abortion remains legal.

And in February, Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, both Democrats, filed a complaint in a U.S. district court against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for what they argue is its excessive regulation of mifepristone. The case was joined by attorneys general in 10 other abortion rights states  Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Abortion rights advocates also are trying to inform the public that the Texas judges ruling will not make using the pills illegal.

Even if U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump and is known for his conservative views, orders the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone, legal experts say the abortion medication will not disappear from pharmacy shelves overnight, and possession and use of the pills will remain legal.

The judge wasnt asked to ban mifepristone, and he wasnt asked to take it off the market, said David Cohen, professor of law at Drexel University in Philadelphia and co-author of a legal analysis that outlines the limits of the Texas judges authority.

The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction compelling the FDA to withdraw or suspend its 2000 approval of the drug, as well as its 2016 ruling extending the gestation period in which the drug can safely be used from seven to 10 weeks, and its 2021 ruling allowing the medication to be prescribed without an in-person doctors visit.

The FDA has discretion granted by Congress to undertake a public process for suspending or withdrawing approval of a drug. That could take months or years, Cohen said. In the meantime, the Biden administration likely would appeal any decision against the FDA.

And even if the FDA were eventually to remove its 2000 approval of mifepristone, it could use its enforcement discretion to allow manufacturers to keep producing the in-demand drug, as it did last year with infant formula, Cohen pointed out.

In addition, the FDA and Danco Laboratories, one of two makers of mifepristone, are the only parties named in the case, which means the Texas judges decision will not affect health care providers, patients or the generic maker of mifepristone, Cohen explained.

Still, abortion providers are preparing for a worst-case scenario, developing new protocols for ending an early pregnancy using only the second drug, misoprostol, which is safe and widely used throughout the world to end pregnancies but can involve more side effects.

The publicity surrounding the impending Texas court ruling has sowed fear and confusion among abortion patients, and some providers worry that people who use the medications wont seek the follow-up care they may need because of legal concerns.

No matter what happens in the Texas case, its likely to make it more difficult for people to access abortion with pills as providers, state officials and law enforcement try to process the legal issues surrounding abortion pills, said Farah Diaz-Tello, senior counsel and legal director for If/When/How, which provides legal advice and support for people seeking abortions.

Were worried that people will come away with a message that abortion pills are illegal to use, which is not what a ruling in any direction would mean, she said.

Even so, police and local prosecutors may still investigate and arrest people who self-manage their abortions, as they have in the past, despite the fact that the pills remain legal to use, Diaz-Tello said.

A question of safety

The Texas case was filed in November by anti-abortion groups that argued that mifepristone, which ends a pregnancy by blocking the hormone progesterone, is a dangerous drug, and that the FDA failed to adequately research its risks when it approved the medication in 2000.

According to their complaint, the FDA failed Americas women and girls when it chose politics over science and approved chemical abortion drugs for use in the United States. And it has continued to fail them by repeatedly removing even the most basic precautionary requirements associated with their use.

In December 2021, the FDA made permanent a COVID-era ruling that mifepristone and misoprostol could safely be administered using telemedicine with pills delivered by mail, rather than requiring an in-person doctors visit.

Out of more than 3.7 million U.S. patients who used mifepristone and misoprostol to end an early pregnancy, 26 people have died, and the agency said it was unclear whether any of those deaths were directly related to use of the drug.

Clarke Forsythe, senior counsel at Americans United for Life, which filed a brief in the Texas case on behalf of members of Congress who oppose abortion, said state and federal public health agencies have failed to capture adequate data on the health risks of abortion pills.

The bleeding, hemorrhaging, infection and toxic shock cases are showing up in the ER, but theyre being miscoded, Forsythe said. Instead of being attributed to mifepristone, theyre being attributed to miscarriage or heavy period or something else. The negative repercussions of chemical abortion are basically being filtered out of public health data collection.

Elizabeth Nash, principal policy associate at the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit research organization that supports abortion rights, disagrees.

The science on the safety of medication abortion is clear, she said. The fact that this case wasnt laughed out of court is incredibly disturbing. Should mifepristone become unavailable because of alleged health risks, it will further stigmatize abortion pills and limit access to abortion unnecessarily, particularly for Black and brown people and low-income individuals.

Amy Merrill, digital director and co-founder of Plan C, an organization that helps people get access to abortion pills from domestic and foreign sources, said, We absolutely know that mifepristone does not cause harm, and that any harm that may occur is being caused by the courts and politicians who are enacting these bans to access.

The Washington state complaint filed by 12 Democratic state attorneys general argues the FDA applied excessive restrictions to mifepristone that typically are reserved for high-risk medications such as opioid pain relievers and psychiatric drugs. The attorneys general asked the court to order the FDA to remove all remaining restrictions, including a requirement that patients sign for the pills and attest that they plan to use them to end a pregnancy.

Of the more than 20,000 drugs approved by the FDA, only 60, including mifepristone, fall under a set of regulations known as Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy.

Increasing use

In 2020, medication abortion accounted for more than half of all reported abortions, and the number has been increasing ever since the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion this past summer.

Medication abortions are vastly undercounted since self-managed abortions are not necessarily reported to the CDC, Merrill said, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her organization estimates that at least 30,000 people self-managed abortions using mifepristone and misoprostol, or misoprostol alone, within the first six months after last summers decision.

This year, the use of abortion pills is expected to far outpace clinical abortions, spurring continued legal and political battles over their use.

In addition to the Texas and Washington state cases, two other lawsuits filed in January by a drug maker in West Virginia and a physician in North Carolina challenge the constitutionality of state laws restricting abortion medications under the legal premise that federal FDA rules preempt state laws.

In 2021, the FDA eased rules requiring an in-person doctors visit to get a prescription for abortion pills. But some states still have laws on the books that require it. This year, a handful of lawmakers in states that already ban most abortions doubled down and proposed new restrictions on medication abortion.

In Missouri, a bill would outlaw trafficking of abortion-inducing drugs and levy penalties against pharmacies that dispense them. In Texas, a bill would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for mifepristone and misoprostol. And in West Virginia, a bill would require doctors and patients to be physically present in the same location for abortion pills to be prescribed.

Drexels Cohen speculated the bills were proposed to make medication abortions more difficult to access, as a hedge against the chance the states abortion bans would be blocked by state courts.

Cohen and other legal experts predict a flurry of additional legal actions on medication abortions this year. But for now, advocates on both sides of the debate are waiting for Kacsmaryk to rule.
PHILIPSBURG, Mont.  Water samples taken from the drinking fountain the station replaced had a lead concentration of 10 parts per billion  twice Montanas legal limit for schools of 5 parts per billion for the toxic metal.

Thomas Gates, the principal and superintendent of the small Philipsburg School District, worries the new faucets, sinks and filters the district installed for roughly 30 water sources are temporary fixes. The high school, built in 1912, is likely laced with aged pipes and other infrastructure, like so much of this historic town.

If we change faucets or whatever, lead is still getting pushed in, Gates said.

The school in Philipsburg is one of hundreds in Montana grappling with how to remove lead from their water after state officials mandated schools test for it. So far, 74% of schools that submitted samples found at least one faucet or drinking fountain with high lead levels. Many of those schools are still trying to trace the source of the problem and find the money for long-term fixes.

In his Feb. 7 State of the Union address, President Joe Biden said the infrastructure bill he championed in 2021 will help fund the replacement of lead pipes that serve 400,000 schools and child care centers, so every child in America can drink clean water.

However, as of mid-February, states were still waiting to hear how much infrastructure money theyll receive, and when. And schools are trying to figure out how to respond to toxic levels of lead now. The federal government hasnt required schools and child care centers to test for lead, though it has awarded grants to states for voluntary testing.

During the past decade, nationwide unease has been stirred by news of unsafe drinking water in places like Flint, Michigan. Politicians have promised to increase checks in schools where kids  who are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning  drink water daily. Lead poisoning slows childrens development, causing learning, speech and behavioral challenges. The metal can cause organ and nervous system damage.

A new report by advocacy group Environment America Research & Policy Center showed that most states fall short in providing oversight for lead in schools. And the testing that has happened to this point shows widespread contamination from rural towns to major cities.

At least 19 states require schools to test for lead in drinking water. A 2022 law in Colorado requires child care providers and schools that serve any kids from preschool through fifth grade to test their drinking water by May 31 and, if needed, make repairs. Meanwhile, California leaders, who mandated lead testing in schools in 2017, are considering requiring districts to install filters on water sources with high levels of lead.

As states boost scrutiny, schools are left with complicated and expensive fixes.

As it passed the infrastructure bill, Congress set aside $15 billion to replace lead pipes, and $200 million for lead testing and remediation in schools.

White House spokesperson Abdullah Hasan didnt provide the source of the 400,000 figure Biden cited as the number of schools and child care centers slated for pipe replacement. Several clean-water advocacy organizations didnt know where the number came from, either.

Part of the problem is that no one knows how many lead pipes are funneling drinking water into schools.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates between 6 million and 10 million lead service lines are in use nationwide. Those are the small pipes that connect water mains to plumbing systems in buildings. Other organizations say there could be as many as 13 million.

But the problem goes beyond those pipes, said John Rumpler, senior director for the Clean Water for America Campaign at Environment America.

Typically lead pipes connected to public water systems are too small to serve larger schools. Water contamination in those buildings is more likely to come from old faucets, fountains and internal plumbing.

Lead is contaminating schools drinking water when there arent lead pipes connecting to a municipal water source, Rumpler said. Because of their complex plumbing systems, schools have more places along the way where lead can be in contact with water.

Montana has collected more data on lead-contaminated school water than most other states. But gaps remain. Of the states 591 schools, 149 havent submitted samples to the state, despite an initial 2021 deadline.

Jon Ebelt, spokesperson with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, said the state made its deadline flexible due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is working with schools that need to finish testing.

Greg Montgomery, who runs Montanas lead monitoring program, said sometimes testing stalled when school districts ran into staff turnover. Some smaller districts have one custodian to make sure testing happens. Larger districts may have maintenance teams for the work, but also have a lot more ground to cover.

Outside Burley McWilliams Missoula County Public Schools office, about 75 miles northwest of Philipsburg, sit dozens of water samples in small plastic bottles for a second round of lead testing. Director of operations and maintenance for the district of roughly 10,000 students, McWilliams said lead has become a weekly topic of discussion with his schools principals, who have heard concerns from parents and employees.

Several of the districts schools had drinking fountains and classroom sinks blocked off with bags taped over faucets, signs of the work left to do.

The district spent an estimated $30,000 on initial fixes for key water sources by replacing parts like faucets and sinks. The school received federal COVID money to buy water bottle stations to replace some old infrastructure. But if the new parts dont fix the problem, the district will likely need to replace pipes  which isnt in the budget.

The state initially set aside $40,000 for schools lead mitigation, which McWilliams said translated to about $1,000 for his district.

Thats the one frustration that I had with this process: Theres no additional funding for it, McWilliams said.

Q&A: Why is drinking water so important? Why do our bodies need water? How much of the human body is water? It might surprise you to learn that water makes up about 60% of our body weight. And what does water do for the body? The benefits of drinking water are many: Its vital for almost every function in the body. Water acts as a building block, a solvent for chemical reactions and a transport material for nutrients and waste. Water also helps maintain blood volume and allows proper circulation, helps regulate our body temperature and acts as a shock absorber for our joints and our brain. There are still more health benefits of water: It helps lubricate the linings of our inner organs and maintains healthy kidney function. How much water should you drink a day? The amount of water you need to drink will depend on several factors, including your age, gender, activity level and more. However, heres a good general guideline when it comes to recommended daily water intake: Women should drink at least 2.21 liters per day and men should drink three liters per day. Increase your daily water intake as you increase your activity level. Be sure to always drink filtered water to avoid toxins found in tap water. As you age, you will likely feel less thirsty and thus be prone to drinking less fluid. However, hydration is as important as ever in old age, so be sure to keep water on hand and drink regularly throughout the day, even if you dont feel thirsty. Need help drinking more water? Keep track of your water intake by measuring your progress with a cup or water bottle placed in a spot you will see throughout the day. Set goals for yourself at time points throughout the day to make sure you are drinking enough. Why should you drink water? Drinking plenty of water can help keep your body functioning at its highest capacity. Staying hydrated can help you to: Improve physical performance. During physical activity, our bodies use up a lot of water. So, staying hydrated before, during and after exercise helps to protect your body from harm and perform better. Proper hydration can reduce fatigue, improve endurance, lower your maximum heart rate and more. It can also help you to be less sore after exercise. Help you to lose weight. Are you having trouble with your weight loss efforts? Increasing your water intake may help you achieve better results. Studies show that people who are on diets lose more weight when they also increase their water intake. In one study, people on weight loss diets who drank 500 milliliters of water before each of their three daily meals for 12 weeks lost 4.6 more pounds on average than people who did not drink the additional water. Boost your mood. People who drink more water also tend to have better moods. One study found that when people who regularly drank less than 1.2 liters of water per day increased their intake to 2.5 liters per day, the participants experienced significantly less confusion, bewilderment, fatigue and sleepiness. On the other hand, for people who regularly drank two to four liters of water per day who were then restricted to one liter per day, the reduced water intake led to negative effects on mood, including decreased contentedness, calmness and positive emotions. Boost your brainpower. Several studies have shown that people drinking water during cognitive tasks performed much better than people who did not drink water during the tasks. These results have been found in both adults and children. Studies suggest that even mild dehydration can impair cognitive function in the short term. Prevent headaches. Water deprivation is a very common cause of headache. In most cases, rehydrating can provide relief from a headache. For some people, dehydration can also trigger a migraine, so be sure to keep your water intake regular if you are prone to getting migraines or headaches. Protect against disease. Proper hydration may be a useful tool in preventing a variety of health conditions and diseases. Staying hydrated may protect against kidney stones, constipation, asthma, urinary tract infections, coronary heart disease and even possibly some cancers.
Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger 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

Matt Conlon went to City Hall seeking answers. Or maybe an act of contrition.

He left empty-handed.

Conlon signed up to address the Board of Aldermen over the citys handling of an election matter I wrote about last November. In 2022, Mayor Tim Pogue had visited a new Ballwin resident who signed up to run for an aldermanic seat.

The man, Brennan Redinger, hadnt lived in the city long enough to run for office, the mayor told Redinger during the unannounced visit to his apartment. Hed have to withdraw. Redinger did so, but the deadline to remove his name from the ballot had already passed.

The only way to get his name off the ballot would be to file a lawsuit. The citys attorney, Robert E. Jones, of the Curtis, Heinz, Garrett, & OKeefe law firm, filed such a lawsuit. But it was rife with problems.

First, Redinger didnt know about the suit. The lawyers on the other side of the lawsuit, representing the St. Louis County Board of Elections, worked for the same law firm as Jones. And Ballwin taxpayers paid for the lawsuit, even though the city wasnt a party to it.

Conlon, a city taxpayer, wasnt happy about what he read.

Ive been here before this board several times in the past, usually when something that happens doesnt pass the smell test, Conlon told the aldermen at a January meeting. This doesnt pass the smell test.

Describing what happened in the Redinger case, Conlon asked the board a couple of questions: Does that sound ethical? Does that sound strange to anyone?

The mayor and Jones defended their actions at the meeting. They offered the same distractions that they offered me, such as an email sent to Redinger to alert him a lawsuit was being filed on his behalf. Never mind that Redinger never saw the email (it went to his spam folder) or responded to it. Never mind that he didnt meet Jones, and that the attorneys obtained his social security number  necessary to file the lawsuit  by emailing the city administrator.

A few days after Conlons visit to the board, one Ballwin alderman decided to do something about it. Chastened by Conlons criticism that the board had not publicly addressed the issues, Ward 2 Alderman Kevin Roach filed a complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission. He alleged that taxpayers footing the bill for a lawsuit filed in the name of a candidate would be an improper use of public funds in a campaign.

That was a turning point, Roach told me of Conlons testimony. If you know about this and dont do anything, you are complicit.

Roach knew about the incident longer than most people. Hes the one who first investigated the matter, he filed a complaint with the Secretary of State and he alerted me to the issue. I wrote about it and uncovered the questionable behavior in a series of Sunshine Law requests.

Roach also filed a complaint against Jones and his colleague, Katherine Henry, with the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, an arm of the Missouri Supreme Court that hears matters about attorney conduct.

I believe that the City of Ballwins expenditures of public funds were in opposition to Brennan Redingers candidacy and the Mayor, City Attorney and City Administrator have confirmed as much in public comments and emails, Roach wrote in his complaints.

At least one of the complaints now has Jones singing a different tune than he did in January. Last month, according to city records, Jones and his law firm reimbursed the city the $807 they had been paid for the work on the Redinger lawsuit.

Asked why he gave the fees back, Jones said he steadfastly maintains he did nothing wrong. He told me in an email that the city received an inquiry about whether the attorneys fees paid to my firm were an unreported campaign contribution or the use of public funds for a private purpose.  Although not required to do so, I reviewed all of the billing entries for the relevant time period and reimbursed $807 which renders the inquiry moot.

Asked whether the inquiry came from the Missouri Ethics Commission, which fined the city last year for its failure to label a mailing with a paid for by notice, Jones said he was unable to answer because of confidentiality.

But make no mistake, Roach says, there is an ethics complaint, and he plans to see it through. Thats music to Conlons ears. He was disappointed by what he called the acquiescence of aldermen in overlooking questionable behavior and not even discussing it in public.

I dont get it. Thats what theyre there for, Conlon says. What are we doing, just going in there and rubber-stamping everything and moving on? Thats not OK.
A dinner held in honor of the Help the Hungry Bake Sale Committee by the Ministerial Alliance and St. Vincent de Paul food pantries provided an opportunity for both charities to say thank you to the group that has, for the last 17 years, raised a large percentage of their annual budgets.

The event was held Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Farmington Country Club.

The evening began with Farmington Mayor Larry Forsythe presenting committee chairperson Chris Landrum with a proclamation from the city in recognition of the positive impact that she and the committees efforts has had on the community.

Forsythe read the proclamation, saying, Whereas the Help the Hungry Bake Sale is an annual event held in Farmington, Missouri, to raise money for two local food pantries, the Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry and the St. Vincent's DePaul Food Pantry; and whereas the Help the Hungry Bake Sale first began in November 2005 through the inspiration and dedication of Chris Landrum, who has passionately led the Health the Hungry Bake Sale organization since its inception; whereas the Help the Hungry Bake Sale has raised and donated a commutative total of $1 million in the last 17 years;

Whereas through the efforts of Chris Landrum and the Help the Hungry Bake Sale committee, a countless number of families in the Farmington region have been served through donations to the food pantries; and whereas Chris Landrum should be recognized and commended for her devotion and dedication to the Help the Hungry Bake Sale, now, therefore, I, Larry D. Forsythe, mayor of the city of Farmington, do hereby issue this proclamation in honor of Chris Landrum for her inspiration and dedication in bettering the lives of her fellow citizens through the leadership of the Help the Hungry Bake Sale. In witness thereof, I do set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Farmington affixed on his 23rd day of February 2023.

Responding to the proclamation, Landrum said, Thank you so much. Thank you, ladies. And you know, I truly, truly appreciate this from all of you, but you know this wouldn't be possible if you all weren't right there with me the whole way. You all were a team. But thank you so much. This is an honor for me, but it's also an honor for our whole team.

Addressing the committee, Agnes Hinkebein, director of the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, said, First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for all the meetings you go to, all the preps you do, all the cleanup you do, and of course the baking. Without you as a team, we could not serve our people as well as we do.

This last year, we served 8,641 individuals. So you put a smile on a lot of people. And if you ever want to see that smile, come to the pantry. I will gladly let you stand there and observe or help, that was my help, but to see how the gratitude that's in their heart. I'm so proud to be part of this community because what other community would do all this? So thank you so much.

Greg Robinson, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Farmington and president of the Farm Minister Alliance, said, Thank you for allowing me to come. Actually, the one you should be hearing from is [Nancy Faulkner, director of the Farmington Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry] who does all the hard work. But the deal that she and I have made is that she does the work and I do the speaking  and that's not a fair deal, for you at least  but I'm privileged to come and just say a word of thanks. Being able to do a dinner tonight and help provide this for you, is just a small token of our appreciation. The Farmington Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry has been in existence for 40 years. And when we say it started as a food pantry, it was that, a closet, a pantry at a local church, giving away to just a few people.

In just the past 10 years only, there have been over 60,000 individuals who received food and 1.7 million pounds of food that have been given away. And I'm going to tell you, that's just in 10 years, and you've been providing funds for that for longer than that period of time. There is no way we could have done what has been done in these past years without the bake sale. Just looking at our budget and our finances, the money that has been raised by the bake sale has gone to cover the vast majority of food expense that we've had in recent years  the vast majority of it. And then it has allowed us to do other things. As you know, organization's growing and now we've been gifted a new building and all these great things are happening with the Ministerial Alliance, but those wouldnt have happened if we weren't already in place by receiving the funds and support from the organization. It just wouldn't have been possible.

Robinson recalled that it has been 17 years since Landrum came up with the idea of the Help the Hungry Bake Sale.

Oh, we can do a little thing, and look what it's turned into, he said. Who would have thought a million dollars, right? And we experienced the same thing at the Ministerial Alliance. When it started as a food pantry, a closet, we would never have thought that now we would be in a huge building and serving thousands upon thousands of people every year. And so I encourage you, just as we do in our organization, I encourage you, continue to dream big, pray big, because God can do more than we can imagine. So thank you for all the effort you've put into this.

I enjoyed every year getting to be a part of the cooking clergy contest and have fun there for our rigged auction that we have. And it doesn't hurt that First Baptist has won that the last three years, so that's okay too. But we have a good time, and just seeing the results out of that, so thank you, and again, as you enjoy your dinner, I hope that you know in just, in a small way, how much we appreciate you. I just love the work you're doing, and the dream that God has put upon your heart, and that he has grown and blessed it.
ST. LOUIS  Police have identified a woman who was shot and killed early Saturday in the citys Ellendale neighborhood. The suspect was later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and police called the incident a domestic situation.

Shortly after 6 a.m., police responded to a call for a shooting and found Trina Gilmore, 44, shot dead in the sidewalk of the 7100 block of Piccadilly Avenue. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police identified a suspect, a 47-year-old man. Shortly after 4:20 p.m., officers got a call about a suspicious vehicle parked in the rear of the 6900 block of Sutherland Avenue, about a mile away from the initial scene. Police found a man inside, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound under his chin.
WATSONVILLE, Calif.  A Northern California agricultural community famous for its strawberry crop was forced to evacuate early Saturday after the Pajaro River's levee was breached by flooding from a new atmospheric river that pummeled the state.

Across the Central Coast's Monterey County, more than 8,500 people were under evacuation orders and warnings Saturday, including roughly 1,700 residents  many of them Latino farmworkers  from the unincorporated community of Pajaro.

Officials said the Pajaro River's levee breach is about 100 feet wide.

Crews went door to door Friday afternoon to urge residents to leave before the rains came but some stayed and had to be pulled from floodwaters early Saturday.

First responders and the California National Guard rescued more than 50 people overnight. One video showed a member of the Guard helping a driver out of a car trapped by waist-deep water.

"We were hoping to avoid and prevent this situation, but the worst case scenario has arrived with the Pajaro River overtopping and levee breaching at about midnight," Luis Alejo, chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, wrote on Twitter. He called the flooding "massive," saying the damage will take months to repair.

The Pajaro River separates the counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey in the area that flooded Saturday. Floodwaters that got into the region's wells might be contaminated with chemicals, officials said, and residents were told not to drink or cook with tap water.

Crews began working to fix the levee around daybreak Saturday.

Oliver Gonzalez, 12, told The Associated Press that he, his mother and his aunt were rescued about 5 a.m. Saturday in Parajo. He grabbed his laptop, cellphone and some important documents but so much was left behind in their rush to leave.

"I'm kinda scared," he said several hours later from an evacuation center in nearby Watsonville. "My mom's car was left in the water."

Anais Rodriguez, 37, said first responders knocked on her home's door shortly after midnight. Her family packed about four days' worth of clothing and drove to safety. She and her two children, her husband and her parents  along with their dog, Mila  arrived at the shelter about an hour later.

Weather-related power outages affected more than 17,000 customers in Monterey County late Saturday, according to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's office on Saturday said it was monitoring the situation in Pajaro. "Our thoughts are with everyone impacted and the state has mobilized to support the community," the governor's office wrote on Twitter.

The Pajaro Valley is a coastal agricultural area known for growing strawberries, apples, cauliflower, broccoli and artichokes. National brands including Driscoll's Strawberries and Martinelli's are headquartered in the region.

In 1995, the Pajaro River's levees broke, submerging 2,500 acres of farmland and the community of Pajaro. Two peopled died and the flooding caused nearly $100 million in damage. A state law, passed last year, advanced state funds for a levee project. Construction was scheduled to start in 2024.

State Sen. John Laird, who spearheaded the law and represents the area, said the project is fully funded now but it just came down to bad timing with this year's rains. "It's tragic, we were so close to getting this done before any storms," he said.

This week's storm marked the state's 10th atmospheric river of the winter, storms that have brought enormous amounts of rain and snow to the state and helped lessen yearslong drought conditions. State reservoirs are now well above the average for this time of year, prompting state officials to release water from dams to assist with flood control and make room for even more rain.

Across the state on Saturday, Californians contended with drenching rains and rising water levels. In Tulare County, the sheriff ordered residents who live near the Tule River to evacuate, while people near the Poso Creek in Kern County were under an evacuation warning. The National Weather Service's meteorologists issued flood warnings and advisories, begging motorists to stay off deluged roadways.

In San Francisco, an 85-foot eucalyptus tree fell onto the Trocadero Clubhouse early Saturday morning. The 1892 historical landmark was severely damaged and the inside flooded.

Funnel clouds were spotted in the Jamestown area  the heart of California's Gold Rush  in the afternoon and the weather service issued a tornado warning  later canceled  for the Sierra Nevada foothills as severe thunderstorms, hail and high winds blanketed the region. Another set of tornado warnings were briefly issued in Fresno County, nearly 100 miles south of Gold Country. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Flash flooding warnings were in effect late Saturday in Tuolumne County, with roads submerged around Sonora and neighboring communities.

President Joe Biden spoke with Newsom on Saturday to pledge the federal government's support in California's response to the emergency, the White House said.

Yet another atmospheric river is in the forecast for early next week. State climatologist Michael Anderson said a third and possibly a fourth appeared to be taking shape over the Pacific.

The National Weather Service on Saturday forecast an intensified bout of rain and snow Monday through Wednesday, with considerable flooding possible.

Another round of heavy, wet snow is expected to hit the Sierras and areas of high elevation mid-week, the weather service said.

How the flood risk has changed in your state, according to FEMA How the flood risk has changed in your state, according to FEMA Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Theres hope yet for Planet Earth. Representatives of 70 nations along with oil companies and major shipping lines have agreed in principle on a plan to stabilize oceans, limit exploitation and preserve habitats for marine life. That might not seem like such a big deal for landlocked Missourians, but theres not a place on Earth that doesnt depend one way or another on the health of the worlds oceans and the abundance they provide. And they are dying rapidly, threatening to take the rest of the world with them.

Its remarkable in itself that U.N. members  who rarely agree on anything  have been able to reach a framework for protecting the oceans from further man-made harm. The oceanic areas mapped out for protection belong to no country. That means no country has an automatic right to exploit marine life or mineral riches beneath the sea floor. Conversely, no nation has an automatic right to tell any other nations what they may or may not do in an area where no nation holds jurisdiction. Thats why the only way to protect the oceans is for all nations to agree that this is necessary for the good of the world.

U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry, fresh from an international meeting in Panama, stated early this month that a series of meetings that began in 2014 have culminated in the current draft agreement, in which countries around the world have committed to abide by 1,800 specific measures carrying a price tag of more than $100 billion to address global climate change, sustainable fisheries, maritime security, marine pollution and areas where species survival is under threat.

Without regulation, industrial fishing fleets from countries like China fan out thousands of miles from their own shores to catch, process and package massive quantities of marine life for consumer markets. They are fishing the oceans to death.

When careless people throw plastic bottles into a gutter or stream, or when the streets flood and sweep away all the scattered litter, or when a massive tsunami or hurricane washes away entire coastal towns  that debris makes its way into the oceans. Literal floating islands of debris  plastic, wood, furniture, car parts and insulation foam  have formed on ocean surfaces, with one garbage patch in the Pacific reported to be the size of the state of Texas. They block off sunlight and choke off life for the creatures below.

The agreements reached in Panama set a low bar: Conserving only 30% of the ocean by 2030. And all that is conditional on an international treaty, which could take years more to negotiate and more years to win legislative ratification. And, as Americans learned with the Paris Climate Accord, all it takes is one change of U.S. administration to scuttle everything. So, even at 30%, this is by no means a slam dunk.
Where were three successive Missouri attorneys general as a medical insurance entity here was allegedly ripping off its customers all over the country for years? Federal authorities earlier this year finally shut down the Missouri-based Medical Cost Sharing Inc. But complaints about the company had come to the state attorney generals office as early as 2017, when Josh Hawley held the post. Those complaints elicited vague assurances that Hawleys office was mediating the issue. Two attorneys general later, the response is the same shrug-off.

Perhaps Hawley and his successor, Eric Schmitt, were both too busy with national ideological crusades designed to get them both to the U.S. Senate. Current Attorney General Andrew Bailey  apparently having learned well from his fellow Republican predecessors  is now busy meddling with school policies that dont even fall under his purview but are great outrage fodder for the right.

As The Kansas City Star reported, Medical Cost Sharing Inc. was essentially a health insurance company. Members paid premiums in exchange for the promise that any future medical bills would be covered  but under the auspices of a Christian-focused nonprofit.

The Justice Department alleges that, using various excuses, the organization routinely refused to pay claims for long-time members who had in some cases been paying as much as $750 a month in premiums for years. Many were left holding five-figure medical bills as the companys owners pocketed millions. Following FBI raids of the company in December, a judge in January issued an injunction freezing the companys finances pending further investigation.

The allegations, around for years, sound custom-made for action from the Missouri attorney general, the states top legal official. But Hawley, who won the office in 2016 with a campaign decrying ladder-climbing by politicians, was busy climbing toward the Senate (in large part, ironically enough, by joining a partisan lawsuit against the federal government that would have limited Missourians health care options).

After Hawley left for Washington halfway through his term, Schmitt stepped in and began filing showy lawsuits against Missouri school districts, China and others over pandemic issues, while doing nothing substantive to confront the alleged insurance fraud happening under his nose. Now that Schmitt, too, has ladder-climbed to the Senate, Bailey is directing the power of his office at non-issues like a silly controversy over a drag show during a school diversity event in Columbia.

As for the fraud victims, Baileys office says hed be happy to look into their specific complaints. How big of him.

So it took the feds to do the job that three Republican state attorneys general couldnt be bothered with, because they were too busy feeding red meat to the base. What a perfect illustration of how ill-served Missourians are by an important office that seems more focused on electioneering than upholding the law.
Outsourcing St. Louis police control isnt the answer

The editorial State control of St. Louis policing? Be careful what you wish for. (March 6) is spot on. Transferring control of the St. Louis police department to a governor-appointed and -dominated Board of Police Commissioners is not the answer to what troubles us. Enhanced and effective local control is.

We should all agree that our recent dramatic increase of lawlessness is unacceptable, as has been the lack of response by some local leaders to that increase. But Mayor Tishaura Jones appears to recognize this, and the newly appointed police chief, Robert Tracy, deserves a shot at reducing crime. My hope would be that Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner would then follow through and support this effort.

The position of the police union is both understandable and unfortunate. City police have been waging an uphill battle against lawbreakers for the past few years, and the help and support of elected officials has been uneven. Police are underpaid, understaffed, and under-supported.

But to support the transfer of responsibility for fighting St. Louis crime to Jefferson City? Problem-solving is best done by the people closest to those problems. The further up the chain of command you move that responsibility, the more likely the result will be ineffective, counterproductive or a complete disaster.

Deane Looney  St. Louis

Cutting taxes on guns while still taxing diapers is nuts

The Missouri Legislature wants to make it cheaper to buy guns and ammunition? (Editorial: Missouri GOP already enables gun violence. Now it wants taxpayers to fund more of it. March 2.) This is insanity. Why would they even consider eliminating the sales tax for these items? With the number of crimes committed with guns in our state and literally no rules for owning them, how could this possibly be a good idea?

And yet, in their infinite wisdom, they continue taxing diapers and menstrual supplies (everyday necessities) as luxuries. Just another indication they dont care about their constituents.

Debbie Genung  Glendale

St. Louis could learn from Kansas City regarding transit

Regarding the letter to the editor North-south transit needs more bus lines, not MetroLink (March 5): The comparison of the MetroLink proposal to the Loop Trolley is unfair. Both are electrically powered rail transit, but that is about all they have in common.

I suggest a fairer comparison would be Kansas Citys street railway. This line currently runs from Kansas City Union Station through the central business district and to the River Market and back. It is very heavily used and does not charge a fare. The vehicles are modern, and the service is frequent. In fact, it has been so successful that Kansas City is currently extending the line further south to the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus. It proves that a street railway can be a valuable transit asset if done right.

A large part of Loop Trolleys failure has been that what was promised and what was built were two different things. We were promised a street railway that was supposed to connect with Metrolink at the Forest Park and Delmar stations that would transport people from these locations to the University City Loop and new development along DeBaliviere Avenue. What we got was a glorified amusement park ride with unreliable schedules.

If people are looking for an alternative to a street railway, look at a Kansas Citys Max bus line. This is a limited-stop bus line that runs from the River Market to the Country Club Plaza. The buses adhere to a strict schedule and are quite reliable.

When it comes to transit, everythings up-to-date in Kansas City. St. Louis can learn from them.

Bill Heger  Rock Hill

Missouri shortchanges the developmentally disabled

I appreciated Colleen Schrappens well-written article on parents and the fate of their adult children, like Christian Bowers, with developmental disabilities. (A St. Charles mom wanted one friend for her son. Thousands responded. March 6.) I worked for Missouris Division of Developmental Disabilities in the 1980s and early 1990s as a case manager and then in staff development, and it sounds like nothing has changed.

The solution can be found in one word: money, or rather the lack of it. The state has never funded the Division of Development Disabilities as it should be funded. There have never been sufficient funds to provide enough day programs, subsidized jobs such as the one Bowers got through the Down Syndrome Association, and transportation to these programs. And yet Gov. Mike Parson wants to give every citizen of Missouri a check because the state has too large a reserve, and he also wants to cut taxes so that there is less money for key services.

The adults with Down syndrome who are left at home, as so empathetically described by Schrappen, are not able to advocate for themselves, and often the parents are unable for a variety of reasons to advocate for their adult children. The best they can do is write and call their state legislators and demand more funds for programming services, and to join other parents who belong to groups that advocate for these services.

The parents must keep up the good fight, for that is what it is: a fight for the state to acknowledge their children as adults who need certain services in order to pursue their own individual happiness.

Marcy Soda  St. Louis

Read letters online at STLToday.com
Millions of Americans take the supplement known as CoQ10. It's the coenzyme that supercharges the "energy factories" in your cells known as mitochondria. But there's a serious flaw that's leaving millions unsatisfied.

As you age, your mitochondria break down and fail to produce energy. In a revealing study, a team of researchers showed that 95 percent of the mitochondria in a 90-year-old man were damaged, compared to almost no damage in the mitochondria of a 5-year-old.

Taking CoQ10 alone is not enough to solve this problem. Because as powerful as CoQ10 is, there's one critical thing it fails to do: it can't create new mitochondria to replace the ones you lost.

And that's bad news for Americans all over the country. The loss of cellular energy is a problem for the memory concerns people face as they get older.

"We had no way of replacing lost mitochondria until a recent discovery changed everything," says Dr. Al Sears, founder and medical director of the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine in Palm Beach, Florida. "Researchers discovered the only nutrient known to modern science that has the power to trigger the growth of new mitochondria."

Why Taking CoQ10 is Not Enough

Dr. Sears explains, "This new discovery is so powerful, it can multiply your mitochondria by 55 percent in just a few weeks. That's the equivalent of restoring decades of lost brain power."

This exciting nutrient  called PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone)  is the driving force behind a revolution in aging. When paired with CoQ10, this dynamic duo has the power to reverse the age-related memory losses you may have thought were beyond your control.

Dr. Sears pioneered a new formula  called Ultra Accel II  that combines both CoQ10 and PQQ to support maximum cellular energy and the normal growth of new mitochondria. Ultra Accel II is the first of its kind to address both problems and is already creating huge demand.

Over 47 million doses have been shipped to men and women across the country and sales continue to climb for this much sought-after brain fuel. In fact, demand has been so overwhelming that inventories repeatedly sell out. But a closer look at Ultra Accel II reveals there are good reasons why sales are booming.

Science Confirms the Many Benefits of PQQ

The medical journal Biochemical Pharmacology reports that PQQ is up to 5,000 times more efficient in sustaining energy production than common antioxidants. With the ability to keep every cell in your body operating at full strength, Ultra Accel II delivers more than just added brain power and a faster memory.

People feel more energetic, more alert, and don't need naps in the afternoon. The boost in cellular energy generates more power to your heart, lungs, muscles, and more.

"With the PQQ in Ultra Accel, I have energy I never thought possible at my age," says Colleen R., one of Dr. Sears's patients. "I'm in my 70s but feel 40 again. I think clearly, move with real energy and sleep like a baby."

The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and Dr. Sears receives countless emails from his patients and readers. "My patients tell me they feel better than they have in years. This is ideal for people who are feeling old and run down, or for those who feel more forgetful. It surprises many that you can add healthy and productive years to your life simply by taking Ultra Accel II every day."

You may have seen Dr. Sears on television or read one of his 12 bestselling books. Or you may have seen him speak at the 2016 WPBF 25 Health and Wellness Festival in South Florida, featuring Dr. Oz and special guest Suzanne Somers. Thousands of people attended Dr. Sears's lecture on anti-aging breakthroughs and waited in line for hours during his book signing at the event.

Will Ultra Accel II Multiply Your Energy?

Ultra Accel II is turning everything we thought we knew about youthful energy on its head. Especially for people over age 50. In less than 30 seconds every morning, you can harness the power of this breakthrough discovery to restore peak energy and your "spark for life."

So, if you've noticed less energy as you've gotten older, and you want an easy way to reclaim your youthful edge, this new opportunity will feel like blessed relief.

The secret is the "energy multiplying" molecule that activates a dormant gene in your body that declines with age, which then instructs your cells to pump out fresh energy from the inside-out. This growth of new "energy factories" in your cells is called mitochondrial biogenesis.

Instead of falling victim to that afternoon slump, you enjoy sharp-as-a-tack focus, memory, and concentration from sunup to sundown. And you get more done in a day than most do in a week. Regardless of how exhausting the world is now.

Dr. Sears reports, "The most rewarding aspect of practicing medicine is watching my patients get the joy back in their lives. Ultra Accel II sends a wake-up call to every cell in their bodies And they actually feel young again."

And his patients agree. "I noticed a difference within a few days," says Jerry from Ft. Pierce, Florida. "My endurance has almost doubled, and I feel it mentally, too. There's a clarity and sense of well-being in my life that I've never experienced before."

How To Get Ultra Accel II

This is the official nationwide release of Ultra Accel II in the United States. And so, the company is offering a special discount supply to anyone who calls during the official launch.

An Order Hotline has been set up for local readers to call. This gives everyone an equal chance to try Ultra Accel II. And your order is backed up by a no-hassle, 90day money back guarantee. No questions asked.

Starting at 7:00 AM today, the discount offer will be available for a limited time only. All you have to do is call TOLL FREE 1-800-4351567 right now and use promo code NP323UA35 to secure your own supply.

Important: Due to Ultra Accel II recent media exposure, phone lines are often busy. If you call and do not immediately get through, please be patient and call back.
MURFREESBORO, ARKANSAS  Avid rock hounds, wed returned for the third time recently to Crater of Diamonds State Park in southwest Arkansas, wondering if this time wed get lucky and unearth treasure (or maybe meet someone who had). The crater, near Murfreesboro, is the only currently active diamond mine in the country. Its also the only one anywhere that invites visitors to come, and for a modest fee, dig  and keep whatever they might find.

Though diamonds are the most desired, theyre not the only gems found here (some 40 different minerals occur at the mine). On our previous visits weve dug up a number of the other stones: amethyst, garnet, peridot, quartz and calcite, though we havent found any diamonds. Not yet.

But a lot of folks have. Since the crater was opened to the public as part of the 911-acre state park in 1972, more than 35,000 of the gems have been uncovered. And thats enough to draw more than 100,000 hopeful prospectors a year to this 37.5-acre field of lamproite, a soil mixture atop an eroded volcanic pipe where the diamonds were created millions of years ago.

Some gems from here have become famous. There were the 40.23-carat Uncle Sam (1924) and the 34.25-carat Star of Murfreesboro (1964), the two largest diamonds yet found in North America; also the 15.33-carat Star of Arkansas (1956); and among others, the 4.25-carat yellow Kahn Canary diamond (1977) that Hilary Rodham Clinton wore at the 1993 and 1997 presidential inaugural balls.

Diamonds were first discovered in Arkansas in 1906 by farmer John Wesley Huddleston. One day while slopping his hogs, he spotted, in the gravel of his barnyard, two round pebbles with fiery eyes that blazed up at him and wondered if they could be diamonds. He arranged for the stones to be sent to a jewelry store in Little Rock for appraisal. The jeweler confirmed they were indeed diamonds, one white weighing 2.63 carats, the other yellow weighing 1.38 carats, both of fine grade.

Before the discovery, no diamond had been found in its original location anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, so wed learned years ago at the craters visitor center museum. Pity Huddleston, who, incredibly, did not scour his 160-acre farm for more of the gems, but promptly sold it for $36,000 to three Little Rock investors, who formed the Arkansas Diamond Co. (Huddleston died penniless.).

The land changed hands several times over the years as a number of commercial mining ventures came and went. General Earth Minerals of Dallas, last to commercially mine here, eventually turned its operation into a tourist attraction. Three years later the state bought the crater and surrounding land to establish the park (which, in addition to the visitor center/gift shop/museum, includes a Discovery Center, a fine campground and Diamond Springs Water Park).

There are several ways to prospect for diamonds, one, by simply walking the furrows. The land is plowed once a month, weather permitting, to help reveal new material, and people do sometimes get lucky and find gems lying on the ground.

Spading up diamond-bearing soil then dry sifting it through a screening tray is another method, but wet sluicing is usually the most successful  and also the most work. After filling a screening tray with the soil, you shake and rotate it in a large tub of water. As diamonds are heavier than other material, they sink to the bottom of the tray, so when its flipped over, theyll be glistening on top. (Only hand tools are allowed for digging; bring your own or rent them at the Discovery Center. Staff there will identify rocks and minerals visitors find, and also, for free, certify diamonds for the lucky few.)

We first came here 30 years ago, with hopelessly optimistic expectations: in addition to an array of digging tools, wed brought a five-gallon bucket. On that occasion we met two long-retired men who several years earlier had formed a friendly rivalry. James Archer and Angelo Cela came to dig for diamonds six days a week, rain or shine, each trying to out-dig the other. Theyd both found dozens of diamonds.

Watching them work, I asked Cela how, probing the soil, he could tell the difference between the quartz, calcite and diamonds he was unearthing. He looked up knowingly through Ben Franklin glasses that had slipped low on his nose and said, Its apples and oranges, kid.

Once youve seen a diamond-in-the-rough, the differences are obvious: the diamond has a metallic luster and smooth surface, while the quartz and calcite have distinct facets (and no metallic luster).

Park interpreter Sarah Reap said between 800 and 1,000 diamonds in a wide range of size, color and quality are found every year. White diamonds are the most common, followed by brown, with yellow the rarest. A whiteboard at the Discovery Center keeps track of the finds, usually one or two a day. The day before our October visit two had been found, a three-point yellow gem and a 100-point (the equivalent of a one-carat) white diamond.

On our earlier visits, each time a diamond was found and identified, a deafening siren shriek would announce the news. But no more. Discovery Center manager J.R. Hall said the noise was alarming to visitors, whod sometimes mistake it for an emergency warning.

On this recent occasion, walking around the field where dozens of hopefuls were at work with spades and screening trays, we stopped to watch a particularly animated and determined prospector. This was Jan Breiligam of Chattanooga, Tennessee, who, smeared with mud and wearing a grin the size of a Cheshire cats, was vigorously jostling her screening tray in a tub of water. A mound of material shed already screened this mid-morning and examined  no diamond yet  lay on the table before her.

Shed first come here five years ago, she explained while she worked. It took 150 hours of digging before she found her first diamond, but after that, she was totally hooked. And ever since, shes driven here three times a year to dig, and thus far has unearthed 13 diamonds, one for nearly every visit. No luck so far this morning, she said, but the day was young and she thinks positive.

Nonetheless the mood was somewhat different at the Discovery Center, when we returned there to see what the whiteboard might show. Nothing yet, but as Emmett Yaeger, 7, and his father, Karl, were pacing around at the counter, and facility manager Hall had disappeared into a back room, we knew that something was up.

Emmett, grinning from ear to ear, was too excited to wait for us to ask, though of course we knew. Weve been digging all morning, and I just found a diamond! he said, about to burst with pride.

Karl Yaeger said theyd driven from home in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania (more than 1,200 miles) for the sole purpose of digging for diamonds. It was their first visit to the crater, and theyd been at it for several days.

Shortly, Hall reappeared with Emmetts diamond, now certified as a 13 point treasure, shining up through the clear convex lid of a little plastic jewelry box, and handed it to a beaming Emmett. He happily agreed to pose for a photo with his diamond. His father said theyd take a break for lunch, then get back to work.
Who and where  From left: Sandy and Judi MacLean of Clayton; Brian MacLean and Stefanie Doyle of St. Louis; and Tammy and Kent MacLean of Brentwood on the National Geographic Islander II. In the background is an iconic rock formation, Kicker Rock off San Cristobal Island.

The trip  The family traveled to the Galapagos for Christmas.

Travel tip  Because this is a very remote place, travel with only carry-on luggage. If your bags dont arrive with you, you may not get them until the end of the trip.
The new Turkish Navy flagship is the 27,000-ton LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) Anadolu. Not only was Anadolu built in Turkey but so are the combat aircraft operating from the LHD. These ships have a well deck in the rear from which to launch landing craft. Anadolu is a multi-purpose ship with a crew of 261 as well as accommodations for several hundred troops, or civilians being evacuated from a disaster area. Anadolu has a top speed of 39 kilometers an hour and max range of 17,000 kilometers at cruising speed of 30 kilometers an hour.

Originally the Anadolu was supposed to have F-35B VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) stealth fighters but that order was canceled when Turkey bought the Russian S-400 air defense system. There are other advanced aircraft Turkey can use from the Anadolu; notably its locally produced Kizilelma jet-propelled UAV. At the end of 2022, Bayraktar, the Turkish firm that developed and produced the popular TB2 missile carrying UAV, successfully flight tested Kizilelma. Production of the new jet UAV is now planned to begin in 2024, and it will operate from the LHD Anadolu. The flight deck was large enough for Kizilelma to take off from and land on because of its ski-jump design. Kizilelma can carry 1.5 tons of weapons and travel at speeds of up to 1,100 kilometers an hour at altitudes of about 12,500 meters (40,000 feet) for five to six hours. Kizilelma has an AESA radar enabling it to use air-to-air missiles and GPS guided bombs. A satellite link is used to remotely control Kizilelma. In theory, Andalou could carry up to 50 TB3s (a carrier version of the 1.5 ton TB2 UAV) but if Kizilelma was on board there would be no more than 30 TB3s and Kizilelmas. In practice there would be about 20 on the LHD, to make room for helicopters. Over the last decade the U.S. Navy developed flight control software enabling UAVs to safely take off and land on carriers. The six-ton Kizilelma is 14.7 meters long with a ten-meter wingspan and uses a Ukrainian-made turbo-jet engine. Anadolu could also operate the new Turkish made Hurjet trainer aircraft. Hurjet is actually a little smaller than the Kizilelmas UAV and carries fewer weapons. Its first flight takes place in 2023 and a naval version would not be available for five years or more.
A man puts a sign on the door of the Silicon Valley Bank as an onlooker watches at the banks headquarters in Santa Clara, California, U.S. March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino

By Andrea Shalal, Howard Schneider and Pete Schroeder

WASHINGTON/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. authorities launched emergency measures on Sunday to shore up confidence in the banking system after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank threatened to trigger a broader financial crisis.

After a dramatic weekend, regulators said the failed banks customers will have access to all their deposits starting Monday and set up a new facility to give banks access to emergency funds. The Federal Reserve also made it easier for banks to borrow from it in emergencies.

While the measures provided some relief for Silicon Valley firms and global markets on Monday, worries about broader banking risks remain and have cast doubts over whether the Fed will stick with its plan for aggressive interest rate hikes.

"We think the steps taken by the Fed, Treasury and (the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp) will decisively break the psychological 'doom loop' across the regional banking sector," said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay in Toronto.

"But, fairly or not, the episode will contribute to higher levels of background volatility, with investors watching warily for other cracks to emerge as the Fed's policy tightening continues."

Regulators also moved swiftly to close New Yorks Signature Bank, which had come under pressure in recent days.

The wider efforts to avert a crisis lifted Wall Street stock futures in Asian trade on Monday, helping broader markets.

Lingering concerns about the financial sector weighed on bank shares in Asia, with Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ hitting a two-month low and Singapore's DBS a four-month low. Hong Kong shares of HSBC and Standard Chartered pared early losses to trade near-flat.

European stock markets fell 0.6% in early trade, while banking stocks fell just over 1%. U.S. stock futures were higher. Asian shares outside Japan climbed over 1% while the blue-chip Nikkei tumbled 1%.

The Biden administration's intervention underscores how a relentless campaign by the Fed and other major central banks to beat back inflation is putting stress in the financial system and global markets.

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a mainstay for the startup economy, was a product of the decades-long era of cheap money, with unique risks that made it especially vulnerable. But as a run on the bank ensued last week, worries that other regional banks shared similarities spread quickly.

With the Fed poised to continue raising rates, investors said the financial system may not be fully out of the woods yet.

Goldman Sachs analysts said they no longer expect the Fed to raise rates by 25 basis points at its next policy meeting on March 21-22, amid the stress in the banking sector.

"What investors have to expect coming into tomorrow and beyond is that we are going to be dealing with a lot of event risk," said Michael Purves, chief executive of Tallbacken Capital Advisors. "There are still going to be lingering questions with other regional banks."

DEPOSITORS PROTECTED

The collapse of SVB - the largest bank failure since 2008 - sparked concerns over whether small-business clients would be able to pay their staff, with the FDIC only protecting deposits of up to $250,000.

Some 89% of SVB's $175 billion in deposits were uninsured as of the end of 2022, according to the FDIC.

All depositors, including those whose funds exceed the maximum government-insured level, will be made whole, according to a joint statement by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp Chair Martin Gruenberg on Sunday evening.

A senior U.S. Treasury official said the actions taken would protect depositors, while providing additional support to the broader banking system, but officials and regulators were continuing to monitor financial system stability.

"The firms are not being bailed out. The depositors are being protected," the official said.

The risk would be borne by the Deposit Insurance Fund, which has sufficient funds to do so.

Providing the systemic risk exceptions was deemed quicker than waiting for a possible buyer, the official said.

'WIPED OUT'

Treasury officials said depositors of New York's Signature Bank, which was closed Sunday by the New York state financial regulator, would also be made whole at no loss to the taxpayer.

Signature, like SVB, had a clientele concentrated in the tech sector, and the securities on its balance sheet had eroded as interest rates rose. As of September, almost a quarter of Signatures deposits came from the cryptocurrency sector, but the bank announced in December that it would shrink its crypto-related deposits by $8 billion.

While all customer deposits will be protected, new policies adopted Sunday will "wipe out" equity and bondholders in SVB and Signature Bank, a senior U.S. Treasury official said.

Together with the Fed's decision to ensure financial institutions can meet the needs of all their depositors, the steps would "restore market confidence," the official said.

Fed fund futures surged on Monday to imply only a 17% chance of a half-point rate hike by the Federal Reserve when it meets next week, well off the 70% before the SVB news broke last week.

Graphic: GRAPHIC-Total deposits in the U.S. banking system- https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-ECONOMY/DEPOSITS/byprlqgrgpe/chart.png

The Fed said it would make additional funding available through a new Bank Term Funding Program, which would offer loans of up to one year to depository institutions, backed by Treasuries and other assets these institutions hold.

When the coronavirus pandemic triggered financial panic in March 2020, the Fed announced a series of measures to keep credit flowing by lowering borrowing costs and lengthening the terms of direct loans. By the end of that month, use of the Fed's discount window facility shot up to more than $50 billion.

Through the middle of last week, before SVB's collapse, there had been no indications of usage picking up, with Fed data showing weekly outstanding balances of $4 billion to $5 billion since the start of the year.

UK FALLOUT

In Britain, where SVB has a subsidiary, the government and Bank of England held talks over weekend to find a solution that would avert the local lender from failing.

In a move reminiscent of the financial crisis era, early on Monday in London HSBC announced it was buying Silicon Valley Bank UK for 1 pound ($1.21). It said the subsidiary had loans of around 5.5 billion pounds and deposits of around 6.7 billion pounds as of March 10.

While SVB UK is small - HSBC's balance sheet exceeds $2.9 trillion - concerns that SVB's failure would cause Britain's start-up industry to seize up had prompted calls from the sector for government to intervene.

British start-ups backed by venture capital have around 2.5 billion pounds, largely in deposits, "locked" in SVB UK, according to a weekend survey by an industry body, seen by Reuters.

Graphic: The Discount Window- https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-FED/DISCOUNT/zjvqjyrwwpx/chart.png

($1 = 0.8256 pounds)

(Reporting by Lananh Nguyen, Paritosh Bansal, Tatiana Bautzer, Nupur Anand, Ira Iosebashvili and Dan Burns in New York, and Pete Schroeder, Jason Lange, Sarah N. Lynch, Rami Ayyub, David Morgan and Andrea Shalal in Washington, Kanjyik Ghosh and Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru, and Andrew MacAskill, William Schomberg, Amy-Jo Crowley and Pablo Mayo in London; Writing by Megan Davies, Alexander Smith, Leslie Adler, Simon Lewis and Vidya Ranganathan; Editing by Deepa Babington, Heather Timmons, Diane Craft, Leslie; Adler, Sam Holmes, Elisa Martinuzzi and Catherine Evans)
Grandma will love A Man Called Otto.

There, Tom Hanks plays the neighbor who complains about people who dont obey rules, who meddle in others business and who exchange pleasantries when they dont really mean them.

Hes Clint Eastwoods character in Gran Torino -- a senior who doesnt like whats going on in the world around him.

Since his wife died, Otto has realized theres no place for him in a changing world and, so, he decides to check out. Buying just enough rope to hang himself (and not an inch more), he sets up his exit and, then, a new neighbor comes calling.

For much of the film, its a matter of Hanks Otto Anderson plotting and the acquaintances thwarting the plot.

Hardly original, A Man Called Otto borrows from dozens of earlier film (including the Swedish original, A Man Called Ove) but does give Mariana Trevino a great showcase.

Shes the new neighbor, Marisol, who calls on Otto repeatedly (and saves his life). The two become friends and, soon, hes teaching her how to drive a car. One of Ottos wifes former students reaches out, too, landing him in the same fold. A cat crawls in and, before you know it, Otto has a community that depends on him. A development company (with a suspicious name) tries to run residents out of the neighborhood and wont put up with the crusty old mans defenses.

Toss in a social media journalist, an old frenemy and a bunch of flashbacks and you have the stuff of which a senior film is made.

Hanks does fine with what hes handed; Marc Forsters direction is nothing special. But there are flashbacks that involve Hanks real son Truman as his younger self and a song, written by wife Rita Wilson, that helps make this a real family affair.

Because much of Otto is told in vignettes, theres no real plot, just a slow thaw. Hanks leans into Ottos desire for precision. He shovels his walk as soon as it snows, keeps his house uber-tidy and insists others follow rules.

When Marisol, her husband and their children embrace him in ways he couldnt imagine, Otto finds its tears. Food is the way to his heart; family is his soft spot. Even that oh-so-cute cat claws his way in. While Forster overemphasizes plot points, he ensures the intended outcome.

A Man Called Otto isnt much, just the first of a string of films pitched at a specific audience. Hanks doesnt seem ready to be playing these roles, but he handles it precisely.
FILE PHOTO: A Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) logo is seen on Bay Street in the heart of the financial district in Toronto, January 22, 2015. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File Photo

(Reuters) -Interest from two early suitors for Silicon Valley Bank - PNC Financial Group Inc and Royal Bank of Canada - had cooled on Sunday, as U.S. regulators invited bids for the failed lender, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) had given a Sunday afternoon deadline for bids for the failed bank, one of the sources said. Reuters could not determine which banks had bid.

The banks and the FDIC declined comment.

The FDIC has been trying to find a buyer for Silicon Valley Bank this weekend after taking control of it on Friday so that the bank's corporate clients that had their money frozen can meet their payroll obligations. But a deal on a tight timeline has proven to be hard. Bids were due for SVB at 2:00 pm ET 1800 GMT), two of the sources said.

PNC, one of the 10 largest U.S. banks by assets, wanted to pursue a bid for the entirety of Silicon Valley Bank, one of the sources added, but then studied a bid for parts of Silicon Valley Bank. A separate source familiar with the matter said PNC had decided to withdraw from any further talks.

RBC also explored a takeover of Silicon Valley Bank but it was unlikely to pursue it, three sources said. One of the sources added that RBC has struggled to get comfortable with the risks involved and the complexities of justifying the deal to regulators in its home country of Canada. RBC bought City National Bank in 2015. It is the eighth largest bank by deposits in California, according to FDIC data.

The sources requested anonymity because the matter is confidential.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Sunday ruled out a government bailout of Silicon Valley Bank and said she was working with regulators to find a solution.

(Reporting by Megan Davies, Anirban Sen and David French in New York and Peter Schroeder in Washington and Lananh Nguyen; Editing by Paritosh Bansal, Bill Berkrot, Lisa Shumaker and Diane Craft)
The Immersive Virtual Experience Invites Consumers into Living Proof's Product Portfolio Through 3D Photorealism

BOSTON, March 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Living Proof, Inc., the high-performance, science-fueled haircare company originally founded by MIT scientists, is taking its first step into the Metaverse. Living Proof has partnered with industry-leading experiential e-commerce platform, ByondXR, to launch its debut virtual store.

Living Proof's first step into a virtual e-commerce presence allows consumers to browse product offerings and brand heritage through a digitalized, immersive, and interactive online shopping experience. Utilizing Extended Reality as the enabling technology, the HD-quality, 3D and 360-degree experience features four highly interactive virtual rooms and a groundbreaking, category-first AI Hair Quiz, all designed to bring to life the brand's ethos 'Science in Action'.

In 2005, an unlikely combination of biotech scientists and renowned hair stylists came together to pioneer a first-of-its-kind haircare philosophy based in science. Living Proof's mission was to create inventive solutions designed to solve real-world hair problems. They don't rely on one solution to solve all hair problems, the brand develops bespoke-like formulas expertly engineered to address individual hair concerns.

In this dynamic shopping experience, consumers can discover the science behind the brand's newest and best-selling innovations, receive free samples of top sellers and win exclusive discounts all while learning the rich history of this iconic brand and how it has delivered best-selling, hair-changing products for millions of fans.

The virtual store is unveiled to shoppers with the Dry Shampoo Center , featuring the cult-favorite Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo and Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo. A gallery wall of community testimonials solidifies Living Proof as the #1 Prestige Dry Shampoo on the market.

, featuring the cult-favorite Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo and Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo. A gallery wall of community testimonials solidifies Living Proof as the #1 Prestige Dry Shampoo on the market. The second room is a shopping shortcut ; here the brand guides consumers to curated selections of products with a direct path to check-out thanks to its AI Hair Quiz.

; here the brand guides consumers to curated selections of products with a direct path to check-out thanks to its AI Hair Quiz. The first-to-market AI Hair Quiz allows visitors to customize their individualized hair routine. Created by Reveive, which specializes in personalized digital beauty experiences powered by AI and AR, the real-world experience of an in-salon stylist consultation becomes a Metaverse experience. The Living Proof AI Quiz prompts the customer to consider their current hair routine and their desired result. A selfie is submitted by the consumer, which is analyzed through patented mobile diagnostics to determine hair type, volume, curl shape, and color. A routine of hair care products and treatments will be provided to support healthy hair.

Created by Reveive, which specializes in personalized digital beauty experiences powered by AI and AR, the real-world experience of an in-salon stylist consultation becomes a Metaverse experience. The Living Proof AI Quiz prompts the customer to consider their current hair routine and their desired result. A selfie is submitted by the consumer, which is analyzed through patented mobile diagnostics to determine hair type, volume, curl shape, and color. A routine of hair care products and treatments will be provided to support healthy hair. The third room takes you into a virtual Living Proof salon. The salon spotlights Triple Bond Complex, a weekly leave-in, repair treatment clinically proven to rebuild the structure of hair. This patent-pending technology makes hair 8x stronger*, smoother and shinier after one use. Testimonial videos from stylists and the community showcase real results and why Triple Bond Complex is hair stylist's preferred treatment over the leading bond builder for hair that looks healthier, feels smoother, and feels more conditioned.

The salon spotlights Triple Bond Complex, a weekly leave-in, repair treatment clinically proven to rebuild the structure of hair. This patent-pending technology makes hair 8x stronger*, smoother and shinier after one use. Testimonial videos from stylists and the community showcase real results and why Triple Bond Complex is hair stylist's preferred treatment over the leading bond builder for hair that looks healthier, feels smoother, and feels more conditioned. The final portion of the experience leads to the Sustainability Corner, showcasing how to recycle Living Proof products using their Terracycle partnership.

As part of its patented technology, ByondXR has industry-leading virtual shopping abilities and offers an interactive, educational game within the platform. The gamified elements encourage users to continue navigating the space, incentivizing with free samples rewarded to users who find a 3D Fortifying Tech easter egg hidden within the space.

"At ByondXR, we are honored to power Living Proof's immersive shopping experience, featuring a wide range of engaging experiences, from mini-games to insights into the science behind their products," says Noam Levavi, Co-Founder and CEO of ByondXR. "We are proud to partner with a brand that values building strong relationships with consumers, and we look forward to helping Living Proof continue to innovate and lead the way in the haircare industry."

"Living Proof has always used cutting edge technology to solve real world hair problems," says Zach Reiken, Living Proof Chief Executive Officer. "This new digital experience is the perfect vehicle to further immerse Living Proof's community in our brand and to learn more about how our innovations are continuing to push the boundaries of hair care."

To experience Living Proof's Virtual Storefront, visit: https://www.livingproof.com/virtual-store.html

*Against grooming breakage vs untreated.

About Living Proof

In 2005, an unlikely combination of biotech scientists from MIT and renowned hair stylists came together to pioneer a first-of-its-kind haircare philosophy based in science. Our mission was to create inventive solutions designed to solve real-world hair problems, not conceal them. 120 global patents, 450+ formulas, 44 products, 100+ awards, and 18 years later, we continue to put research at the forefront of our formulations. Today, Living Proof is Science in Action, utilizing in-house scientific discovery and invention to develop the latest innovations in haircare that deliver game-changing results for all hair types and textures. For more information, visit livingproof.com.

About ByondXR

Founded in 2016, ByondXR is transforming retail through its immersive eCommerce platform. By creating virtual environments mimicking real-life stores and showrooms, ByondXR has created an engaging experience for consumers to browse products online. Its customizable 3D platform takes consumers on an interactive journey recreated with photorealism. ByondXR's virtual solutions have given brands and retailers not only a lifeline in the current environment, but a competitive edge in a forward-thinking future. For more information, visit www.byondxr.com, or view the company's press kit here.

Press Contact:[email protected]

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SOURCE Living Proof Inc
BETHESDA, Md., March 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwest Biotherapeutics (OTCQB: NWBO) ("NW Bio"), a biotechnology company developing DCVax personalized immune therapies for solid tumor cancers, today announced that it has no banking relationship with Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and no funds on deposit at SVB.

In light of the shutdown of SVB yesterday, and the fact that many biotech companies have their banking relationships with SVB, the Company anticipates that its shareholders may have questions about any potential impact on NWBio. Since the Company has not had any of its funds at SVB, and the Company has no other relationship with SVB, the Company believes that it will not be affected by this unfortunate development.

The Company does not have all of its banking at a single bank. The Company's banking has long been diversified between both a national bank and an international bank. The Company will be monitoring the SVB situation as it unfolds over the coming weeks and months, along with any broader market effects. The Company will also be reviewing its existing banking relationships.

The Company notes that the biotech companies impacted by the SVB closure are developing innovative new medical treatments needed by millions of patients, and these companies employ many tens of thousands of employees. The Company hopes that financial regulators, private financial institutions and other relevant parties will come together to develop a rapid solution for the SVB situation.

About Northwest Biotherapeutics

Northwest Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing personalized immunotherapy products designed to treat cancers more effectively than current treatments, without toxicities of the kind associated with chemotherapies, and on a cost-effective basis, in both North America and Europe. The Company has a broad platform technology for DCVax dendritic cell-based vaccines. The Company's lead program is a 331-patient Phase III trial of DCVax-L for newly diagnosed Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer, and is an "orphan disease." This Phase III trial has been completed, and the results have been presented in scientific meetings and published in JAMA Oncology. The Company has also developed DCVax-Direct for inoperable solid tumor cancers. It has completed a 40-patient Phase I trial and, as resources permit, plans to pursue Phase II trials. The Company previously conducted a Phase I/II trial with DCVax-L for advanced ovarian cancer together with the University of Pennsylvania.

Disclaimer

Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts, including statements concerning future treatment of patients using DCVax and future clinical trials, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "believe," "intend," "design," "plan," "continue," "may," "will," "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. Readers should not rely upon forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation, risks related to the Company's ability to achieve timely performance of third parties, risks related to whether the Company's products will be viewed as demonstrating safety and efficacy, risks related to the Company's ongoing ability to raise additional capital, and other risks included in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. Additional information on the foregoing risk factors and other facto rs, including Risk Factors, which could affect the Company's results, is included in its SEC filings. Finally, there may be other factors not mentioned above or included in the Company's SEC filings that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by securities laws.

CONTACTS

Northwest Biotherapeutics Dave Innes 804-513-4758[email protected]

Les Goldman240-234-0059[email protected]

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SOURCE Northwest Biotherapeutics
FREMONT, Calif., March 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Power Knot LLC and Power Knot Ocean, leading providers of sustainable onsite waste management solutions, today announced that they do not bank with Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and their financial positions remain strong and unaffected by the collapse of SVB.

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) is a commercial bank that provides a range of financial services to technology and life science companies, as well as venture capital and private equity firms. SVB faced a sudden bank run and capital crisis, collapsed Friday morning, and was seized by federal regulators.

"We want to assure our customers, partners, and investors that our financial positions remain robust, and we have not been impacted by the situation at SVB," said Iain Milnes, President of Power Knot. "Our financial positions are strong, and we continue to invest in research and development, customer support, and global expansion to better serve our clients and contribute to a sustainable future. Our sympathies go out to all who are affected by this calamity."

About Power Knot

Power Knot provides safe and economically sound solutions for commercial, industrial, and military customers globally seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. Our technologies are proven, available today, have been in reliable use for many years, and offer a payback period typically of less than two years. We design, develop, and manufacture our products in our headquarters in Silicon Valley, California.

About Power Knot Ocean

Power Knot Ocean provides safe and economically sound solutions for managers of cruise ships, cargo ships, and yachts globally seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and comply with DOJ and MARPOL regulations. Our technologies are proven, available today, have been in reliable use for many years, and offer a payback period typically of less than two years.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/power-knot-llc-and-power-knot-ocean-confirm-strong-financial-position-unaffected-by-silicon-valley-bank-collapse-301769650.html

SOURCE Power Knot LLC
As the U.S. continues to provide aid to Turkey following Februarys devastating earthquakes, the Armys V Corps has taken on a key role in the skies.

U.S. 6th Fleet, which has led the militarys response to the quakes that have killed more than 47,000 people in Turkey, requested air support from V Corps to transport people and supplies and provide medical evacuation.

The corps sent 15 aircraft from the 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade and 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, and soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. It completed more than 29 missions in 21 days, moving more than 500,000 pounds of equipment including diapers, hygiene sets, heavy duty plastic sheets for temporary shelters and more, and logging 284 hours of flight time, according to an Army news release.

What weve accomplished by way of support to the Turkish people in the last 21 days has proven our resolve to our Allies, said Col. John A. Morris III, commander of the 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade, in the release. This brigade came prepared, exceeded expectations, and ultimately reassured our commitment to remain stronger together.

V Corps main headquarters deployed to Europe in March 2022 to support NATO and counter Russian aggression in the wake of the countrys invasion of Ukraine, according to an Army news release. Part of its mission to assure allies includes humanitarian relief efforts such as the mission in Turkey out of Incirlik Air Base.

You're happy that you're able to provide relief to these people, said Capt. Kaleb Dahl, commander of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, in the release. But at the same time, it's incredibly sad to see these displaced people with their homes and livelihoods destroyed. So it was a lot of mixed emotions. But overall, we're incredibly proud to be part of that effort.
HONOLULU (Tribune News Service)  While the contract with the two firms will focus on collecting ideas from local residents, the Navy is in the process of awarding a separate contract to a private-sector partner to determine a range of possible Department of Defense uses for the fuel storage facility.

Two local companies, CommPac and SMS Hawaii, will be assisting defense contractor Nakupuna Cos. in conducting public outreach and soliciting community ideas about alternative uses for the Navys Red Hill facility once its closed for fueling operations.

While the contract with the two firms will focus on collecting ideas from local residents, the Navy is in the process of awarding a separate contract to a private-sector partner to determine a range of possible Department of Defense uses for the fuel storage facility.

A few ideas for repurposing Red Hill have been floated publicly, such as storing drinking water in the tanks or using Red Hill as a hydroelectric plant, but uncertainty remains as to whether the World War II-era facility can be repurposed at all and whether leaving the infrastructure in the ground could pose long-term environmental risks.

The review of possibilities isnt expected to be completed until early next year.

The DOD-focused contract was inserted by Congress into the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which allocates defense spending. The act requires DOD to award a contract to a to engage with stakeholders, review historical uses of facilities that have similar characteristics to Red Hill and conduct other research as needed to identify potential uses.

A Navy spokesperson said the contract will be awarded by the end of March but the name of the company and the cost of the contract wont be disclosed because its still being negotiated.

The contractor is expected to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of potential uses that looks at design and construction costs, potential benefits to the military and local economy, and any environmental impacts.

The NDAA specifies the study must be completed by February 2024 and made publicly available.

A separate Office of Naval Research grant of $100, 000 was awarded to the University of Hawaii in November to study potential alternative-energy storage uses for the Red Hill tanks.

The Navy is in the process of permanently closing Red Hill after a fuel leak at the facility contaminated the Navys Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam drinking water system, sickening military families. Fuel operations were discontinued shortly after the leak and the Navy is embarking on $75 million worth of infrastructure repairs and upgrades to ensure that draining the approximately 104 million gallons of fuel sitting in the tanks is done safely.

DOD also is working on a permanent closure plan for the facility, which includes environmental remediation, that must be approved by the state Department of Health. Owners of underground fuel tanks typically have three options when closing a facility : remove the tanks, fill them in or leave them in the ground.

Defense officials have indicated that rather than removing the underground facility, which includes 20 tanks and extensive pipelines that lead down to Pearl Harbor, it wants to keep the infrastructure in the ground and potentially find another use for it. Figuring out how to repurpose the aging facility thats unlike any other in the country has sparked skepticism from groups including the Hawaii Sierra Club and Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

The 20 steel-lined tanks are encased in concrete and built into massive cavities that were mined into the ground at Red Hill. Those cavities lie under approximately 100 feet of rock. Three underground pipelines run about 3.5 miles to Pearl Harbor fueling piers.

The design of the facility is such that just filling in the tanks with an inert material after its defueled would be risky for workers because theres so little room to stage material and equipment, according to a, while trying to remove the tanks could destabilize the ground below and result in a catastrophic failure.

The Navy currently estimates that closing the facility in place could be done in two to three years after Red Hill is defueled, and that implementing an alternative use for Red Hill could delay the timeframe by another year, though that estimate is highly uncertain because the Navy hasnt identified another use.

DOH NEEDS to approve the Navys closure plan, but Meredith Berger, assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser last month that, ultimately, it is up to defense officials to decide any future uses for Red Hill. She has emphasized it will not be used for storing fuel or any other potential contaminant.

A critical drinking water aquifer for Oahu sits just 100 feet below the tanks.

This is a call that we will make in collaboration with the community and with our partners at the Department of Health,  \she told the Star-Advertisers Spotlight Hawaii \ live-stream program Feb. 8, when asked who gets to decide on what, if anything, Red Hill is used for in the future. It is a Navy facility and so we are ultimately, because it is our facility, in charge of making that disposition. But this is a place where we are eagerly seeking the collaboration and inputs of the community because it is something that we want to do thoughtfully and together. But if we are talking specifically, it is a Navy facility so we are the owners of it.

Nakupuna Cos. was awarded a half-million-dollar public outreach contract earlier this year to solicit ideas from the community. Initially about their plans, refusing to release the names of the subcontractors and details about how Nakupuna planned to gather information from the public.

Since then, the Navy has disclosed that CommPac and SMS Hawaii are the subcontractors.

COMMPAC CEO Kitty Yannone said her public relations firm will be conducting initial one-on-one interviews with 20 to 30 members of the community to gauge sentiment about Red Hill. She said the idea is to delve deeper into the community to get a better read on how people are feeling.

They may not work on Bishop Street or be in the Legislature, said Yannone, stressing the company wants to hear diverse views about Red Hill.

Yannone said CommPacs work will go beyond just asking regular people if they have an idea about how to repurpose Red Hill.

I think we dont resolve things until we hear about how its really affected people, she said.

Yannone said the talk-story sessions, which will be largely open-ended, will assist the work of SMS Hawaii, a research firm that will be conducting community surveys.

One survey will be and available to the general public to provide suggestions for repurposing Red Hill, said Nakupuna spokesperson Andy Minor. He said the survey also will gather information about how people are learning about Red Hill and what more they would like to know.

He said a separate survey will be conducted by mail and sent out to residents in areas surrounding Red Hill, as well as be available online to Oahu residents. This survey will be a followup to information collected from the first survey.

After the completion of the surveys, Nakupuna and our partners will synthesize the recommendations collected from both the surveys and outreach and present them in a report to the Navy, Minor said by email. Our teams job is to make sure that our communitys voice is represented and heard as the Navy plans for the beneficial re-use of the facility.

(c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Visit at www.staradvertiser.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The USS Cooperstown rescued a person in distress off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday.

While conducting routine operations, USS Cooperstown received notification of a civilian sailing vessel in distress, a Navy news release said. Cooperstown diverted course and deployed its search and rescue swimmer to recover the stranded mariner, who was then transferred to U.S. Coast Guard Station Charleston.

Im grateful for the training the Navy provided me to be able to respond and rescue the Mariner in distress, and thankful we were able to help, said Gunners Mate Chief Petty Officer Justin Olson, the ships primary search and rescue swimmer, in the release.

Cooperstown is a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship that was christened in February 2020 and delivered to the Navy in September 2022. Named for Cooperstown, N.Y., its homeport is Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
As I said in last months column, my dad was a born machinist.

He loved the work so much that early in his career he bought a huge, 10-foot-long iron lathe and was able to get it into our basement with the help of many friends.

That lathe was in our basement until long after I moved out of the house. I can still smell the oil and see the iron shavings that were on every flat surface in his basement workshop.

After he was hired by the University of Denver Machine Shop, his job changed drastically. While he had been previously assigned to grinding iron or steel into repetitive parts that were sold on the market, his new job was to work with college students, to turn their classroom ideas into viable new inventions.

He would spend time with students working on creating the parts and modifying the snags that wouldnt work.

Every new invention went through many incarnations until it was ready for its patent certification. And, of course, his name was never on a patent.

One day, a university professor came to the workshop, looking for some help. But instead of an iron invention, he came with a small rubber hose.

He had just become a father, and his infant was unable to drain fluid from her head on her own. A hypodermic was used several times a day to drain the fluid, but he had an idea.

These two creative men discussed what was possible and what was safe for his daughter. One was well educated and one had an inquisitive, problem-solving mind.

Together, after several iterations, they created a small rubber contraption that was implanted in the childs temple. It was a soft little hose, about an inch long. It had two gates in the middle, about a quarter-inch apart.

Somehow, when you pushed a certain way, fluid would be released from the brain and captured in the hose. When you pushed a different way, it would flow out the other end, where the fluid could be handled by her body.

It was a tiny rubber pump  and a lifesaver for the child.

I write about my dad because there are students going through our schools today who are just like him. They are makers and fixers, inventors and problem-solvers. They are not headed for higher education but have few opportunities to hone their talents and their love of making and fixing in their schools.

When I went through school, there were metal shops and wood shops, cooking and sewing classes, and many other opportunities for students to learn how the world works and how to fix it if it breaks.

We need those classes now. Our world needs those who can make and fix and invent when we need a new solution.
WASHINGTON  The Pentagon's $170 billion procurement request for the new fiscal year focuses on replacing munitions supplied to Ukraine as well as well as weapons like long-range missiles, which would be necessary in a conflict with China, according to an internal budget document.

The Defense Department will ask for $76.8 billion for the Navy and Marines, with $32.8 billion in new ship construction; $61 billion for the Air Force, which includes the U.S. Space Force: and $24.4 billion for the Army, according to the official P-1 summary document obtained by Bloomberg News.

The companion R-1 research and development document requests $145 billion overall, with $46 billion to the Air Force, $27 billion to the Navy and $15.7 billion the Army. The documents are to be released Monday by the Pentagon as part of its detailed disclosure of the budget request for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Among the largest research and development recipients are $3.7 billion for the Northrop Grumman Corp.'s new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, $3 billion for B-21 bomber development and $2.3 billion for the "Next Generation Air Dominance" program designed to replace the F-22 fighter jet.

Highlights of the munitions requests include:

$951 million for 550 Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missiles made by Lockheed Martin Corp.

$928 million for 831 Navy/Air Force Amraam air-to-air missiles from Raytheon Technologies Corp.

$886 million to buy 5,016 GMLRS rockets from Lockheed Martin.

$639 million to buy 91 Navy Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles from Lockheed Martin

$400 million to buy a new version of the Stinger called M-Shorad

$308 million for 78 MK-48 advanced torpedoes from Lockheed Martin

$199 million to buy 541 Javelin anti-armor missiles made by Raytheon-Lockheed and lionized by Ukrainian forces for their lethal efficacy against Russian tanks

$179 million to buy from Lockheed Martin 28 additional Himars mobile rocket systems

Notable non-munitions procurement requests by the Army, Navy and Air Force include:

91 AMPV Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles built by BAE Systems Plc, which replaced the Army workhorse M113 personnel carrier

48 Air Force F-35s built by Lockheed Martin Corp.

42 AH-64E upgraded Apache attack helicopters built by Boeing Co.

34 M1A2 tanks to be upgraded built by General Dynamics Corp.

33 Mobile Protected Firepower light tanks built by General Dynamics

24 Boeing Co. F-15EX fighters

15 additional Boeing KC-46 refueling tankers

10 National Security Space Launch missions for military satellites, which have pitted Elon Musk's SpaceX against the Boeing-Lockheed Martin United Launch Alliance

8 Navy Conventional Prompt Strike ship-launched hypersonic missiles built by Lockheed Martin

7 MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters built by Boeing, designed to guard US ICBM silos

Two Navy Constellation-class FFG frigates built by Fincantieri/Marinette Marine of Marinette, Wisconsin, up from one this year

Two Virginia-class submarines built by General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls,

Two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class destroyers built by General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls

2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The defendants had been accused of trespassing at Gartross Poultry Farm in Donaghcloney in July 2021

Seven animal rights activists are to be given formal police cautions over an illegal protest at a Co Down chicken farm.

They were set to contest the charge at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Thursday, but instead, a prosecuting lawyer confirmed the outcome.

The defendants had been accused of trespassing at Gartross Poultry Farm in Donaghcloney in July 2021.

Previous hearings were told the charge related to a protest concerning animal rights activists.

The seven are: Tuesday Sophia Goti (36), from Wesley Street in Lisburn; Naomi Finlay (28), also from Wesley Street in Lisburn; Lesley-Ann Armstrong (39), from Annagh Meadows in Portadown; Danny Donaldson (31) from Seagrove Parade in Belfast; Tiffany Donaldson (32), also Seagrove Parade; Bethany Lloyd (25), from Moneybrook Road in Shropshire and Fiona Walsh (43), from Barleyfields in Londonderry.

This is the second time Goti and Finlay have faced criminal charges together.

Last year Goti was handed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, while Finlay got a 12-month conditional discharge after the pair burgled a different chicken farm and Goti took some of the birds home.

In July 2021 a farmer in Kells contacted police after being made aware of a video circulating on social media which showed a woman entering an outbuilding and lifting three chickens.

When PSNI officers arrived at Gotis house, they found the chickens alive and well in her bedroom.

She refused to answer police questions during interviews but later pleaded guilty to burglary.
The convicted paedophile is in the highest category of risk

Filthy farmer Richard Crompton is behind bars after he appeared in court yesterday charged with sending sex messages to an 11-year-old girl.

The convicted paedophile is in the highest category of risk and was remanded in custody after a social worker alerted police to sexualised messaging found on the childs phone.

Incredibly the court was told the child told police Crompton had been upfront with her and told her he was a paedophile.

The Sunday World exposed 51-year-old Crompton in 2020 after he was caught with more than 1,000 images and 200 videos of children being raped and sexually assaulted.

We revealed then how Crompton already had a conviction for having sex with a 13-year-old girl 14 years ago after plying her with alcohol and cannabis when he lived in Norfolk, England.

On that occasion he was convicted of sexually assaulting the girl and was jailed for 33 months but has since admitted he had sex with her.

The Sunday World went to Cromptons home to confront him about his evil crimes and found him living in a picturesque rural community.

When we confronted him to ask him about his 2020 case he said: Im talking to you about that  and tell him to stop taking my picture.

When asked about his conviction in England he said the prosecution in Dungannon, seemed to be going hell for leather about that but he said he didnt want to discuss it further.

We pointed out it was strange he didnt like having his own picture taken, given his crimes, but he just grinned and walked away.

When he was sentenced Crompton blamed the Sunday World exposing him for not being able get a job.

Yesterday it emerged Crompton is now behind bars after fresh allegations.

Crompton of Mullagharn Road, Omagh is accused of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) by communicating with a child for sexual gratification.

A detective constable from the PSNI Public Protection Unit told a special sitting of Dungannon Magistrates Court the charge which allegedly occurred on 10 March (Friday), could be connected.

She explained in the course of speaking with the child on an unrelated issue, social workers observed a number of messages being received on her phone.

On examination, these were found to be of a sexual and indecent nature, sent to the child from a contact named Richie, whom she confirmed was the defendant.

The messages appeared to show Cromptons alleged longstanding interest in the child, including asking her for a picture to show how shes grown in three years and if she still has the red underwear and pink skirt.

The child told police she had sent images but was fully clothed in all, and confirmed Crompton told her he is a paedophile.

He was arrested at his home where four phones were seized.

During interview he accepted knowing the child as she had given him a dog and they were in contact about that.

He insisted he would not have asked her for images as he is trying to address his offending behaviour.

Beyond that he answered no comment to questions around sexual communication with the child.

Objecting to bail the detective said Crompton is, A Category 1 sexual offender who is subject to Public Protection arrangements and managed in the community.

He has breached the SOPO by contacting an 11-year-old child and did not declare this to his Designated Risk Manager. He has 21 previous convictions including 20 for sexual offences and indecency.

He knows the young victim and if released may attempt to intimidate her. The comment of how she has grown shows a longstanding knowledge of her.

While accepting the relevant record a defence solicitor said Crompton complied with all aspects of the SOPO and anything required off him by his Designated Risk Manager, adding, If admitted to bail he would obviously continue with this.

However District Judge Steven Keown refused stating, The defendant has shown little or no regard for court orders applicable to him. There is a high risk of reoffending which cannot be managed by conditions. Bail is refused.

Crompton will appear again by video-link at Omagh Magistrates Court next month.

In September 2020, Crompton walked free from Dungannon Crown Court with a Probation Order after he was caught with numerous indecent images of children.

The indecent imagery matters, the details of which are too graphic to report, occurred between May and July 2017 and involved over 1000 stills and 201 videos, with one child being just three-years-old.

Describing this as loathsome, Judge Brian Sherrard noted such offences carry a maximum 10 years imprisonment.

Despite the option of jail, Crompton was sentenced to a three years Probation Order and made subject to a SOPO for eight years as well as sex offender notification for five years.

All three remain live today.
Five more members of the gang led by the Romanian crime boss known as The Emperor have been convicted over the murder of a pimp in a horrific machete attack in Ireland.

Romanian Virgil Busa (37) died following a brutal attack at his apartment in Academy Square in Navan, Co Meath on April 10, 2014.

Romanian authorities allege he was killed on the orders of rival Romanian pimp Ioan Anton, known as the Emperor who was the leader of an Irish-based organised crime involved in human trafficking, prostitution, protection rackets, blackmail and the theft of ATM machines.

Anton, who lived in Ireland for years and had an address in Balbriggan in north Dublin, was extradited to Romania last year in relation to the killing, and was previously on Europols Most Wanted list.

As victim Virgil Busa and the suspects and witnesses were all of Romanian origin, gardai agreed to halt their investigation into the killing to allow Romanian authorities to prosecute the case following discussions between the two jurisdictions.

Ioan Anton

Nine people were convicted in Romania in 2021 and received sentences varying in length from 30 years down to nine years and 10 months on offences including forming an organised criminal group, aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and complicity in aggravated robbery.

Romanian news outlets have reported that five more people have been jailed in relation to the killing after a Bucharest court issued prison sentence execution warrants at the end of February.

Nicu Paunescu (41) and Mihai Martinas (32) were arrested in Tupilati in north east Romania February 21 and have since been jailed in relation to the killing.

Paunescu was sentenced to 13 years in prison for his part in the killing while Martinas was sentenced to nine years.

"The two were sentenced by the Bucharest Court to a sentence of 13 years, in the case of the 41-year-old man, and 9 years, in the case of the 32-year-old man, for committing, on the territory of Ireland, the crime of murder. They were detected in the Tupilati locality, being taken to the Bacau Penitentiary, Romanian Police said in a press release.

Three other men, who were not named and are from the town of Sacel in the north of the country, were also arrested and jailed at the end of last month, local media reported.

One of the men who is 39 was sentenced to 10 years for murder while two others, both aged 29, were given sentence of five years and three years and four months respectively for the complicity in the murder.

In August 2016, the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) alleged that the main suspect in ordering Busas murder was Ioan Anton.

They allege that in or around 2008 and 2009 Ioan set up an organised criminal group in Ireland specialising in human trafficking and prostitution. They allege he recruited a prostitute in 2013 to tour Ireland, offering sex for sale in different cities and towns to avoid the attention of gardai.

It is alleged that in February 2014 the prostitute met Busa in Dublin and decided to leave Anton and work with his rival, who had his own prostitute network working out of properties in Dublin, Navan, Athlone and Wexford.

DIICOT said that while he was married, Busa played the role of lover-boy and told the woman he was in love with her and would help her without taking a cut from her earnings.

She then moved into Busas apartment in Dublin but when he placed an ad on an escort website advertising the womans services, Anton was alerted that she was working again.

Authorities allege this caused a feud between the two pimps over the control of prostitutes and Anton was also demanding payment from Busa.

The conflict escalated after Busa and three men armed with firearms forced their way into a brothel in Sandyford controlled by Anton in the early hours of April 7, 2014, and robbed 2,000 in takings.

Prosecutors in Romania allege that Anton then decided he wanted Busa dead and set a trap for him by putting people in place to watch him in the same apartment as he was living in.

Anton then summoned his associates to a meeting and provided them with weapons to kill Busa, it is alleged.

The gang then entered the apartment with crowbars and knives and attacked Busa and another person. Busa jumped from his balcony but was caught by the attackers who assaulted him until he became unconscious. He died in hospital days later.

Anton was arrested by gardai on a European Arrest Warrant in Dublin in 2020. The High Court also agreed to extradite another Romanian man, Petronel Pal, of Briarwood Lawn in Mulhuddart, Dublin, in relation to the Busa death.

Pal, who is married to Antons niece, appealed the decision to the Supreme Court but they ruled against the appeal last year clearing the way for him to be extradited.
It was the first time anyone was ever jailed under tough new anti-terrorism funding legislation

The son of a psychologist who featured in this weeks RTE investigation into the lack of regulation surrounding the profession was previously jailed in Ireland for fund-raising for Islamic State.

Caroline Goldsmith, also known as Caroline Fahy-Ward, had offered to stand bail for her son, Hassan Bal when charged with fund-raising for Islamic State in 2017.

The following year, then aged 26, Bal was jailed for two-and-a-half years at Waterford Circuit Court after he pleaded guilty to two charges of providing and attempting to provide funding for Isis.

It was the first time anyone was ever jailed under tough new anti-terrorism funding legislation.

Shortly after his arrest in 2017, members of Hassan Bals family, including his mother, arrived at his Waterford city apartment.

When approached at the time, family members refused to speak with the Sunday World.

You are getting into something here, one man told us, before he was interrupted by Ms Goldsmith who told him: Now you are making a comment.

One of the men gestured aggressively at the Sunday Worlds photographer bringing an end to the encounter.

A court sketch of her son Hassan Bal

She was later in court when her son Hassan Bal appeared at Waterford District court charged with acting to support a foreign terror organisation.

Bals solicitor told the court that his mother was willing to provide independent surety for him. She assured the court that all bail conditions would be complied with by her son.

It later emerged at his trial that Hassan Bal had sent 400 of his own cash to Isis and had tried to organise the collection of an envelope of cash in London for Isis in what turned out to a sting by an investigative journalist.

Anti-terror police in the UK passed the information to the Irish authorities and Gardai first arrested Hassan Bal, formerly of OConnell Street, Waterford, in December 2015 for questioning. He was arrested a second time in April 2017 by which time detectives had obtained downloads of all information on his seized phone.

During his second arrest, when confronted with information on his phone, he admitted the money was actually intended for Islamic State.

Bals phone was also found to contain information on travelling to Syria, how to manage airport security, how to cross the Turkish border as well as propaganda material about Isis suicide bombings and executions.

The court was told that Bal tried to travel to Syria in April 2015 but was stopped at Ataturk Airport in Turkey and returned home.

He had been raised in a strict Muslim family home but, when his father left, Bal came to believe he was not a good enough Muslim and was living a Western-style life. A trip overseas led to him becoming radicalised.

In a letter to the trial judge he wrote: I have come to my senses. I regret what I did. I was feeling like a coward (over Syria). I became close minded to all the wrong (Isis) were doing. I believed it was my duty religiously and morally to support them. But I want you to know, Judge, I have truly changed.

This week it emerged the HSE had concerns about his mother who carried out private assessments on children with additional needs.

Caroline Goldsmith, who has practiced psychology publicly and privately, was flagged by HSE staff who said that reports carried out by her should not be accepted by the health service.

Goldsmith has worked as a psychologist for over a decade and has also given expert evidence as a psychologist in the High Court.

Internal HSE correspondence from 2019 showed some parents were advised that the HSE would not accept private assessments from Goldsmith, and that they should ask for their money back.

She has since apologised for claiming to have a PhD from an online university which issues fake qualifications.
By Azernews

Sabina Mammadli

The Western Azerbaijan Community has called on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to start a dialogue on the issue of safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis based on international law, Azernews reports.

The community addressed the PM in a letter.

The letter pointed out that the community is determined to achieve the return process by peaceful means and has chosen the path of dialogue for its implementation, which should be a dialogue with the Armenian government.

"Along with preserving the great troubles caused to us by the Armenian side in memory, we understand that the way to ensure peace lies through dialogue. In this regard, the Community has sent a letter to Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, in which it called on him to start a dialogue on the issue of return," the community added.

Further, the letter highlighted that the rights of Azerbaijanis in the process of return should be ensured within the framework of an appropriate international mechanism.

"In the name of justice and reconciliation, we have chosen a peaceful approach based on human rights and reintegration, and appealed directly to the Armenian government with a call for dialogue. Now the Armenian government must respond to this and start a dialogue with good intentions, putting an end to the injustice it has been subjecting Azerbaijanis expelled from their homes by the Armenian side for decades. The community will resolutely continue its peaceful efforts on the basis of international law to ensure the right of the exiled Azerbaijanis to return," the letter reads.

Previously, on January 27, 2023, the Concept of Return to Western Azerbaijan was adopted at the final meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Community of Western Azerbaijanis.

Under the concept, the Community of Western Azerbaijanis will initiate contacts with the Azerbaijani government, permanent members of the UN Security Council, the countries in the region, and other relevant states and organizations in order to formulate the international legal framework of return.
More than 41 million Americans are struggling with a six-month-long shortage of Adderall, a medicine prescribed to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, narcolepsy and other conditions. A large percentage of patients are children.

Reports of shortages at retail pharmacies first surfaced last summer and by October, the Food and Drug Administration issued a statement that the medicine was in short supply and projected that the issue would be resolved by November.

Even that short of a delay was considered hazardous for patients, experts said.

The people that depend on the medication for daily functioning, for going to work, for being a good mother, for going to class, are struggling, Fairlee C. Fabrett, director of training and staff development for the child and adolescent division at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts told the New York Times on Nov. 13. This is not something to make light of.

Fabrett said patients should work with their providers to get through the rough patch.

This is not going to be forever," he said.

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But a one-month delay has been repeatedly extended with no resolution in sight. On Thursday, March 9 the FDA issued a statement that the shortage would continue, with a hoped-for resolution in April.

The shortage has slowly caught the attention of Congress, with constituents registering concerns with lawmakers about the inability to get prescriptions filled and a lack of reliable information about why the problem has gone on so long.

U.s. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, said the inability of the two federal agencies to present a coherent plan for remedying the shortage wasn't acceptable and called on the Food and Drug Administration to work more closely with the Drug Enforcement Agency to find a solution.

Shortages of these medications are unconscionable, and I am working with the FDA and DEA to unsnarl this supply chain ASAP so Oregonians can have the access they deserve to the medications their doctors have prescribed for their health," Wyden said.

Oregon officials say there is little they can do since prescription drugs are approved and regulated on the federal level. Other than pass along concerns of the medical community, pharmacies and patients, there's nothing the state can do to get the supply-and-demand gap filled.

"There's not a lot of good levers," said Joe Schnabel, executive director of the the Oregon Board of Pharmacy.

Struggling supply

Reports of shortages have grown with scores of stories from across the country highlighting people's struggles. A small sample of headlines:

"The worst its ever been: mysterious US Adderall shortage puts ADHD patients at risk"  UK Guardian, Jan. 30

"Adderalls Disappearing Act Has Left Millions Without Treatment"  Bloomberg News Service, Feb. 16

"National Adderall Shortage Enters Sixth Month, Alternative Medications Becoming Scarce"  NBC-4 Dallas, March 7.

"Drug makers and regulators deflect blame in ADHD medication shortage"  The Baltimore Banner, March 8.

Originally, federal officials pinned the shortage on a production slowdown at one company, Teva Pharmaceuticals.

But increasingly, the focus has been on the disconnect between two key federal agencies that control the demand and supply of the medicine.

Demand is handled by the Food and Drug Administration. Many medical professionals said the increase in prescriptions was legitimate as telehealth allowed people without ready access to a doctor to get prescriptions.

There's a debate over the increase. Critics say that a few telemedicine start-ups became pill mills, making big profits with little oversight.

Demand increased. But the agency handling supply  the Drug Enforcement Agency  said it saw no shortage.

Adderall, an amphetamine, is listed by the DEA as a Schedule II medicine. The category is for drugs that have significant medical purposes but "a high potential for abuse." DEA sets an annual aggregate production quota (APQ) to ensure enough of a drug is "available for national medical, scientific, and industrial use."

When asked by the Oregon Capital Bureau about the widespread reports of Adderall shortages, the Drug Enforcement Agency declined comment by a spokesperson. They responded with an email linked to a 22-page section published in early December in the Federal Register, the official journal of the U.S. government.

"DEA is aware of patient reports that pharmacies are unable to fill prescriptions for their prescribed Adderall or one of its generic versions," the DEA states in the register.

"DEA consults with FDA to set the APQ for amphetamine each calendar year. The majority of the manufacturers contacted by DEA and/or FDA have responded that they currently have sufficient quota to meet their contracted production quantities for legitimate patient medical needs."

Using data going back to 2020, DEA said in the register that manufacturers had not utilized the approved amounts of amphetamine in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

"Based on this trend, DEA has not implemented an increase to the APQ for amphetamine at this time," DEA said in the register. "Should the proposed established amphetamine APQ become inadequate to meet legitimate medical and scientific needs, sufficient reserve stocks, and export requirements, DEA has the authority and ability to adjust the APQ during the course of the year."

DEA "remains in communication with FDA regarding these shortage reports."

Asked for an update on the situation since December, DEA did not respond.

DEA has maintained silence, even as Congress has become tentatively involved.

Dangerous shortage

U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., was the first to question the reasons for the shortage. A former CIA officer familiar with federal agency internal operations, Spanberger asked Drug Enforcement Agency Acting Administrator Anne Milgram to explain the shortage and the agency's plans for getting medicine to those with legitimate, often decades-long, prescriptions.

"The shortage has had serious effects on many ADHD patients ability to function in their daily lives," Spanberger wrote in February. "Providers have begun switching patients to alternative medications for ADHD, though alternatives do not work as well as the originally prescribed medication for some patients. Especially concerning are reports that desperate patients have died after turning to counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl."

Wyden said the Adderall prescription shortage in Oregon was adding to an already difficult experience for many in Oregon, where Bi-Mart has withdrawn from the pharmacy business, leaving many rural areas of the state far from the remaining pharmacies in operation. That's increased the demand at those still in business, making the shortage of Adderall worse.

Bi-Mart closed its 56 remaining pharmacies in Oregon, Washington and Idaho at the end of 2021, citing pressure from prescription benefit middlemen squeezing payments for medicines and other inadequate insurance reimbursements.

The employee-owned chain, based in Eugene, had closed 20 pharmacies in the Pacific Northwest in 2017. The company agreed to transfer its patient records to Walgreens. But not all areas with Bi-Marts have Walgreens nearby.

A huge part of quality of life for Oregonians, particularly in rural parts of our state, depends on their communitys independent pharmacy having the ability to offer access to generics for Adderall and other crucial medications, said Wyden, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

Caught in the middle are patients who tell of taking prescriptions to pharmacies, only to be told there is no Adderall available and future supplies are unknown. Concerns over DEA sanctions have led most pharmacies to decline to tell customers when they might get a shipment or what other pharmacies might have what the patient is prescribed.

Even large chain pharmacies cannot transfer prescriptions between stores even a few blocks away. If a patient can locate a pharmacy with the prescription, the doctor has to cancel the original prescription and send a new one to the new outlet. By then, the medicine might be gone.

The DEA also does not allow for changes between immediate and extended release versions. Any dosage changes  total or specific to the pill  also require a new prescription. So a patient who goes to a pharmacy with a prescription for 60mg taken as two 30mg immediate release pills twice a day cannot receive 60mg as three pills taken three times daily.

Medical providers and others have come up with a list of commonly repeated suggestions of how to cope: Try different pharmacies. Small mom-and-pop pharmacies may have supplies that have been exhausted by the major chains. Ask your doctor about changing medications  maybe Vyvanse or Ritalin.

But as the delay has gone on, Vyvanse and Ritalin and other medicines such as Concerta have also come into short supply. The brand-name alternatives are often not covered under insurance plans, meaning patients have to pay up to hundreds of dollars for the medicine or go without.

Patients will ration their supply, taking less than prescribed so that when the next 30-day prescription bumps up against the shortage, they have some medicine to try to bridge the gap.

But the lack of supply amid an excess of demand over a long period of time can lead to desperation. Giving or selling someone Adderall is a felony. Despite being illegal, sharing prescriptions among friends and family is common, according to press reports in several states. Some Adderall sold on the street or in Mexico is counterfeit, sometimes laced with deadly opioids like Fentanyl.

"People have a lot of bad choices," said Schnabel, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy executive director. "That can be very dangerous."

Schnabel, said the Oregon Board of Pharmacy knows that the shortages undercut the lack of equal access to medicines. Those who have the time to call repeatedly during the week, to go to pharmacies to check on supplies, can build relationships with the pharmaceutical gatekeepers, have providers who will swiftly turn around prescription changes, or have the money to pay for new prescriptions or brand-name alternatives to generics are going to come out ahead.

"People who are privileged and more connected find a way," Schnabel said. "We want to ensure that pharmacies are distributing the limited amounts equitably."

Only President Joe Biden and Congress can get the federal agencies to deal with the shortage, or even respond to queries from lawmakers, Schnabel said.

"Pressure coming from congresspersons and senators  that is what needs to be supplied," Schnabel said.

Related stories:
The 37-year-old, who was involved in plot to murder notorious hitman Robbie Lawlor, thought he was untouchable, got lazy and dropped his guard

Adrian Holland is alleged to have met with Young to arrange the murder of Robbie Lawlor at Etna Drive

Gang boss Barry Young was caught bang-to-rights when gardai recovered an extraordinary 16,000 unencrypted messages from the WhatsApp of his own phone.

The 37-year-old, who is currently in custody in Portlaoise Prison, pleaded guilty to directing a criminal organisation at the Special Criminal Court this week after a lengthy career as a significant gangland player.

Young, from Sligo, admitted to running a crime gang between 2019 and 2022 within and outside the State. The drug dealer had also lived between the north west and Spain.

Adrian Holland is alleged to have met with Young to arrange the murder of Robbie Lawlor at Etna Drive

The State is picking up his legal bills and has agreed to cover the costs of a report from a counsellor he had been seeing before going into custody.

Young has been identified by the PSNI as being part of a plot to kill notorious Dublin gangster Robbie Lawlor, who was murdered in Ardoyne in Belfast in April 2020.

Detectives in the North believe that accused Adrian Holland met with Young at the Sligo Park Hotel to arrange the hit which took place 19 days later.

CCTV later obtained by police shows Young arriving at the hotel after Hollands car broke down. Young was seen on camera bringing in a pump for one of Hollands tyres.

Robbie Lawlor

Holland had been staying at the hotel and the duo had a Coke at the bar and chatted with gardai who were there to use the gym before Young and his girlfriend drove off.

During a bail hearing in Belfast for Hollands co-accused, Patrick Teer, prosecutors said the murder was commissioned at the meeting on March 16.

They said that Teer played an instrumental role in preparing for the assassination and helped dispose of evidence later. 

Lawlor was shot dead outside Hollands grandmothers home on Etna Drive, according to police, having gone there following a pre-arranged appointment to collect cash.

Teer and Holland were charged as part of a joint enterprise based on their alleged involvement in events surround the killing. Both have denied those roles in the killing.

In what has become an extremely unusual case, a court has been told how officers arrested Ger Dundon, his nephew Levi Killeen and Quincy Bramble, shortly after the murder.

However, they freed all three, Killeen unconditionally, and let them leave the jurisdiction. Gardai later nabbed two female associates of the Dundon gang collecting a large sum of cash believed to have been payment for their role in a double cross.

Dundon and Bramble later showed up in the UK when they were arrested along with Lawlors arch rival Cornelius Price during a kidnap. Bramble was acquitted but Dundon was found guilty for his role in the extortion attempt while Price became terminally ill as he awaited trial and died in recent weeks in the UK.

Police at the Robbie Lawlor murder scene

The PSNI are adamant that the Dundons had nothing to do with the crime despite the fact that defence barrister Joe Brolly has named the trio in court as luring Lawlor to is death.

Brolly said in court that teenager Killeen surpised Lawlor as he knocked on the door at Etna Drive and ran at him from inside the house, shooting him.

Barry Young has had long-time connections with Northern Ireland drug dealers and has been based in Spain for years organising shipments of drugs and weapons to his own network and those across the border.

He is a convicted drug dealer and regarded as one of the biggest players on the drug scene outside Ireland with ties into major gangs including the Mr Big network in Dublin.

Young muscled in on the lucrative turf of Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim after the demise of the rival Irwin gang.

They were put out of business when Patrick Irwin landed a seven-year sentence for cocaine dealing. Young and his network of dealers took control and even managed to bribe a disgraced garda to leak sensitive information over a five-month period.

Former Garda Jimell Henry was jailed for 18 months after she accessed the forces Pulse system from her base in Sligo and passed on details to Youngs crew in Sligo. A court heard she had become compromised by a drug habit.

Young was a close associate of Mark Guinea Pig Desmond for years and the West Dublin enforcer moved to Sligo to work as a heavy before his murder in a park in Lucan in December 2016.

Mark Desmond knew Young

It is understood that Young had worked hard to stay at arms length from the law, rarely staying in the one place for very long and using counter-surveillance techniques.

But like many wealthy criminals before him he got lazy and thought that he was untouchable, resorting to doing business on his ordinary smartphone through WhatsApp.

It is understood that the weight of evidence against him sparked him to plead guilty to the heavy charge which can carry up to life imprisonment. He will be sentenced in May.

Meanwhile, details of the meeting which the PSNI claim was the arrangements to kill Robbie Lawlor are expected to be challenged in court in the north.

Young has never been arrested or charged in relation to any role around the Lawlor murder.
Siobhan Moore was only seven when the abuse began

Martin Doyle was convicted of 24 counts of sexually assaulting Siobhan between 2004 and 2011, when she was between seven and 15. Picture posed   Getty Images

Martin Doyle was jailed for 12-and-half-years last week for raping his wife and systematically sexually abusing his young daughter.

Siobhan Moore was only seven when the abuse began. It continued every week until she was 15, unbeknown to her mother, Olivia Tuite.

The Central Criminal Court heard harrowing evidence about the sexual crimes committed by the psychiatric nurse against his wife and daughter, but the jury heard only a fraction of the details of the reign of terror Doyle inflicted behind closed doors.

Today, Olivia and Siobhan tell their story of survival in the unrelenting presence of a predator. Both women hope that by speaking about what happened, it might reach people suffering abuse and give them the strength to come forward.

Olivia met Doyle when they were training to be nurses in the UK over three decades ago. It was just before both of our 21st birthdays. He would cook me dinner, buy me flowers, she said. Things were very good between us. But it started to go downhill fast after the birth of my eldest, a son.

The couple, who are both from Meath, would go on to have five children  three girls and two boys.

Olivia remembers well the first time her husband attacked her. I was pregnant with Siobhan, she said. My eldest was just under a year-and-a-half. He came at me with a cleaver through a door.

From there, the violence escalated.

It was every week, often twice a week. It mostly happened when he was drinking. There was violence against the children too, but it was mostly me. I think there would have been much more inflicted on the children if I didnt put myself in the way.

A couple of years after the first attack, another incident happened that is ingrained in Olivias memory.

The family were still living in the UK, and Doyle locked his wife out of the house. Afraid for her young children alone inside with their drunken father, she fetched a ladder.

I got the ladder from the shed, put it against the wall and began to climb up. He opened the window and pushed the ladder, she said. Luckily, there was a flat roof and I threw myself on to it. My eldest was about four or five. He opened his window and I was able to climb in.

Doyle was not charged with any incidents of physical violence against his wife.

The rapes were the most serious crime. The violence was just part of my life, she said. He did martial arts and I was his practice dummy. I wasnt permitted to say no to him.

Doyle was convicted of three counts of raping Olivia. In May 2009, he raped her on the night before he was due to go to England to bury his mother. They were in the sitting room when he told her he needed relief before the funeral, but she said she was ovulating and it was not safe.

He grabbed her, twisted her around and pushed her down on the couch, breaking it. After raping her, he grabbed the beer bottle he had been drinking from and sexually assaulted her with it.

Were the sexual attacks as frequent as the beatings?

He would tell me it was his marital right. If I did try to say no, he would inflict mental and physical abuse. There was a lot of coercive control. I was afraid to say no, so I mostly didnt. In the back of my mind, I was always trying to protect my children from him, because if he didnt get what he wanted, he would make everyone suffer.

Olivia tried her best to shield the children when they were young from what was happening.

There were many nights when I would shut myself in a room with the children. I would sit all night with my back against the door to keep him out. I would tell them we were indoor camping. Id get crisps and popcorn and try and make it fun for them, to hide what was happening.

Her efforts to protect her children from their father seemed to work, for Siobhan at least, until the family moved back to Ireland when she was seven.

For me, the problems began when we came to Ireland. My father was always very quick to anger. He was very strict. His view was that children should be seen and not heard, she said.

He did not nurture good relationships with any of his children.

We were in competition with each other, really, to get brownie points so that he wouldnt be angry with us. There were beatings  he didnt know his own strength. I have one or two good memories of him, thats all, Siobhan said.

The family moved initially to Mayo for around a year before relocating to Sligo after buying a farm.

Siobhan, who is now 26 and married with two young children, said she did not have the words to articulate the sexual abuse her father began to inflict on her shortly after they returned to Ireland.

I was seven, I didnt know what was happening. I just had a feeling of wrongness. That has stuck with me, that feeling. I think it is a little part of me for ever.

Doyle was convicted of 24 counts of sexually assaulting Siobhan between 2004 and 2011, when she was between seven and 15 years of age. These represented a sample of the offences against her, his trial heard, as he had sexually assaulted her two or three times a week while she showered.

The court heard the sexual assaults also took place at a lake near the family home, as well as in her aunts house and when she and her father were camping.

How did it feel to see him finally convicted and jailed for abusing her for so many years?

Its very bittersweet, she said. I hope it encourages others in a similar situation to come forward, because no one should ever keep quiet. But I grieve my father figure. Its a little sting. I put my father in prison. I feel like Im at war with myself over it. But I know I did a good thing. It was all done to protect my younger sisters. Theres no way I would let them go through what I did. One day, I hope I can realise I did it for myself too.

Everything changed for Siobhan after an incident in the family home in Sligo when she was 15. Her father, in a temper, picked up one of her younger sisters and threw her into the hall, hitting a wall. The child was around eight years old. Siobhan acted.

That was it for me. I went to a youth liaison officer [within social services] the next day. That led to him eventually leaving, she said.

Olivia remembers that incident. Doyle had just returned from a shooting event  he was a gun enthusiast and kept several firearms as well as martial arts swords in their home.

He was in a bad humour. The child was dancing in the hall and he just picked her up and flung her. I was in the kitchen. I just heard the bang. When I came out, he had Siobhan by the throat. That was really the beginning of the end.

It was not the first intervention by social workers. They had interacted with Olivia a year previously after a public health nurse noticed she was not OK during a check-up with her infant daughter in 2011. Unbeknown to them, Olivia had recently been raped by Doyle.

After prolonged discussions with social services, he eventually agreed to leave the family home in November 2012. His drinking at the time was at an all-time high, according to his wife, who is still awaiting a divorce.

He was drinking from dusk until dawn around that time. All he would eat each day was a tub of ice cream, some apples and alcohol. That was it. I was terrified in many ways when he left. He had control of all the finances. I didnt even have a bank card.

Olivia slowly began to find her feet, but it was not long before she faced a setback. Doyle had not been paying the mortgage. He had spent all the familys money on himself, including expensive gun club memberships and weapons. Within a couple of years of his departure, Olivia and her five children lost their home.

The family found rented accommodation, with the help of Focus Ireland, in Cavan. No longer under her husbands control, Olivia began to regain her strength. Some time passed, and she went to gardai and made a complaint about the years of torture she had suffered at the hands of Doyle.

Separately, Siobhan was battling her own demons. As she grew into a young adult, she used alcohol to try to numb her feelings. Her mother knew nothing about the sexual abuse she had been subjected to. Then, at the age of 18, she blurted it out to her mother when she was drunk.

It took another couple of years before Siobhan felt able to go to gardai, which she did when she was in second year in college. I knew my mum had spoken to gardai about what happened to her, and then they reached out to me, she said.

I decided I would, for the sake of my sisters, because my father was trying to get access to them for visits. I spent so long pushing it down, ignoring it. Gardai were superb. Detective Garda Chris ONeill at Ballymote has been a saint. I cant thank him enough.

Siobhan does not in any way blame her mother for her fathers crimes. I know she does feel guilt, but she shouldnt, she said. She didnt know.

However, Olivia does feels remorse about what her eldest daughter was subjected to. I never had any inkling that he would do anything like that to any of my children, because I wasnt allowed to say no. I do feel guilt, even though it isnt my fault. I feel I failed Siobhan, she said.

The man jailed last week seems a different figure to the one who destroyed Siobhans life as a child. He looked smaller, less scary. He looked weaker. I remember a giant.

Doyles trial heard he denied all the allegations and continues to deny the crimes he is jailed for. Is there anything Siobhan would like from her father?

I wish he would apologise. But I know I will never get that. I feel 10 times lighter now. Im standing taller. For the first time ever, I dont feel ashamed.

"I want others to know its hell to go through a trial, and not every result is the same. But its freeing. This is about removing the stigma around talking about sexual abuse. I would like to see a chain reaction, a ripple effect. I can finally look forward to the future. My childhood was robbed, but I can now relive it with my own kids.

As Doyle begins his jail sentence, Olivia too finally feels able to move forward. Its a long stretch, but he deserves more, she said. Ive been given a life sentence. I dont trust men any more because I dont trust my instincts. But Im proud of myself, that I stood up to him. I was always looking over my shoulder, even since we separated over a decade ago. Now, I finally truly feel safe.

If you have been affected by any of the subjects in the above article, contact the Rape Crisis Centre Freephone: 1800 77 88 88
Katie internalised negative emotions such as anger and sadness and felt she was a disappointment and a burden to those who loved her.

A devastated mum has called for more help for people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) after the death of her teenage daughter.

Katie Donnelly died in hospital last September after struggling with her symptoms of BPD, following a diagnosis early last year.

Mum Erin says sufferers are marginalised and misunderstood in mental health services and among the public as attention-seeking when theyre facing a constant emotional battle.

The most common treatment is psychotherapy but Katie, just 18 when she died, was facing a two-year wait. Other BPD sufferers who have spoken to the Sunday World say theyre facing a similar delay in treatment.

According to charity Mental Health UK, the condition affects one in 100 of the population, and studies show they have a higher rate of suicide than people with any other psychiatric illness.

Erin, from Trillick, Co Tyrone, says her daughter struggled every day.

She had been formally diagnosed with BPD, also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, one of the most common personality disorders.

Katie Donnelly

Katie was an A student, had a large circle of friends, possessed excellent social skills and was very outgoing.

"She hated seeing people suffer and put everyones feelings and emotions above her own.

She wanted to pursue a career as a paramedic so that she could help as many people as possible and she worked part-time caring in the community, says Erin.

Katie was formally diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder just after she turned 18. She researched her condition and self-diagnosed herself with Quiet Borderline Personality Disorder.

"She was in constant emotional pain, but she accepted her diagnosis.

Katie internalised negative emotions such as anger and sadness and felt she was a disappointment and a burden to those who loved her.

The condition is described by the NHS as a disorder of mood which affects how a person interacts with others. The symptoms include emotional instability, impulsive behaviour, unstable relationships, self-harm and suicidal thoughts and paranoia. Its cause isnt known but childhood abuse or neglect can be triggers.

Erin recalls heart-breaking conversations with her daughter when Katie explained the impact the condition had on her life.

Katie Donnelly was full of ambition

She used to say, I dont want to die. I want my mind to be quiet.

A comment was made to Katie while she was in A&E that there was a man who had been in an accident and was fighting for his life.

"Katie said to me, Mummy, do they not understand Im here fighting for my life too? 

Following the teenagers sudden death in hospital, Erin has called for better understanding and treatment for people with BPD.

Its a condition that continues to face deep discrimination within mental health services and the community.

"Many people and professionals alike still view self-harming behaviour as attention-seeking, rather than perceiving it as a symptom of their underlying mental illness and associated distress, she says.

Other sufferers who spoke to Sunday World on condition of anonymity say theyve also faced a lack of understanding about BPD.

Amy, who was only diagnosed in her forties, after four different diagnoses says she knows how clients with BPD are treated because shes a mental health professional.

Shes never told any NHS workmates and doubts she ever will, because of the stigma attached to BPD.

US comedian Pete Davidson, former boyfriend of Kim Kardashian is one of the only public figures to state publicly he has the condition. Its thought Princess Diana and Amy Winehouse may both have had BPD, but neither was formally diagnosed.

My colleagues dont know, and I cant bring myself to say it, says the health professional.

I hear the office banter about theres another personality disorder coming in, and they dont mean any harm, but its got that stigma of being difficult.

Among healthcare professionals there are very pre-conceived ideas about BPD and that reduces healthcare empathy and leads to burnout among the staff.

Amy doesnt experience the rage often associated with BPD but has struggled with feelings of shame, emptiness, anxiety, sorrow and feelings of terror. She experienced childhood sexual abuse and feels that contributed to her condition.

Recurrent hospital admissions are common, she believes because patients with BPD often feel secure in the order and structure of a hospital environment.

But suicide attempts are also part of the impulsive, intensely emotional condition. I could have a situation where Im talking to a colleague and they dont want to listen because people have busy lives and when they go away, Ill feel abandoned.

Instead of thinking I can go back and talk to them in ten minutes Ill feel they dont want me, Im a bother to them, Im a nuisance to this world. Thats how this kind of thinking gets out of control.

Pete Davidson

It starts with panic and fear and continues to the next stage which is to look for help in A&E or engage in self-harm. Some people who self-harm go on to die accidentally or by misadventure.

Amy admits shes attempted suicide but also clearly recalls she didnt want to die.

When I put the rope around my neck, I knew I didnt want to die. I just wanted my head to be free of the worry of everything.

Shes now on anti-psychotic medication, which is working, but knows from professional experience that talking therapy Dialectical Behaviour Therapy has an 80 per cent success rate.

Louise, diagnosed with BPD four years ago, is on the waiting list for the therapy but has been warned it will be two years before she gets an appointment.

The 21-year-old says her condition has led to multiple hospital admissions and trouble with the police.

When I go to hospital if Im in an episode they dont know how to react or to calm you down. Thats why Ive got arrested a couple of times. I was always getting arrested and acting up, she says.

You could wake up in a good mood and out of nowhere you will get a sudden rush of emotions and you cant control them. You feel like a burden to everyone and push people to see if they leave you.

You overthink everything, you think the worst of every situation. Ive had so many suicide attempts, but I have never wanted to die.

Louise says strong family support has kept her going.

No one really explained anything to me after my diagnosis. Ive been left in the dark. If it wasnt for my family and my girlfriend God knows where Id be.
I'm able to take it but for young people who are online and having to face similar kinds of attacks it is really difficult

Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman has said he is targeted with abuse as a politician because of his sexuality,

Speaking after a member of the public interrupted a RTE Six One broadcast to make anti-LGBT comment about him, the Green Party TD said he is able to handle abuse but is concerned for young people facing harassment online.

Mr OGorman said he has been called a child groomer and paedophile on social media because he is a gay man.

The kind of the abuse that I get is very much focused on being gay but it's not something I'm terribly comfortable talking about, the minister told RTE Ones The Week in Politics.

He said people who are gay or advocating on behalf of he LGBT+ community are facing pretty vicious abuse on social media.

Every politician has to be ready for robust criticism, absolutely, but there is a definite change in dialogue in certain parts of the public on these particular issues, he said.

I'm able to take it but for young people who are online and having to face similar kinds of attacks it is really difficult, and I think it's important that we call it out, he added.

Mr OGorman said the Government is introducing new controls through the introduction of an Online Safety and Media Regulator and also by passing hate crime legislation.

I dont like talking about this kind of personal stuff and it's not about me, but it just does need to be called out because it is happening more and more and it is really damaging, he said.

On Friday, RTE News Midlands Correspondent Sinead Hussey was interrupted by a man talking and recording on his phone during a live broadcast. The man walked into the frame of the broadcast a number of times making anti-LGBT+ comments including about Mr OGorman.

The minister said the level of abuse targeted at politicians is far worse now than when he first entered politics

It is different now the online side of it, which you have to do you have to be present there, but it is really tough.

I don't really get into responding to tweets anymore. I just had to cut that out. I used to do it all the time but I just have to cut it out now because just some of this stuff is so nasty. If you let it get into your head it would kind of distract you from the important work we're trying to do within our own department and across government, he added.
The shooting took place two days before Leahs birthday, so, of course its at the forefront of our minds

The sister of shooting victim Sinead Connolly has revealed how they are still struggling to cope, two years after the brutal gun attack that left the young mother paralysed.

Orla Connolly was speaking on the anniversary of the shooting on March 6, 2021 when her younger sister was gunned down in her flat by neighbour Dean McCarthy.

Last April, McCarthy (33), of Bluebell, was jailed for 15 years after he pleaded guilty to her attempted murder.

Co-accused, Joseph Byrne (33), of La Touche Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years for possession of a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun with intent to endanger life.

And Paul Mooney (35), of Ring Street, Inchicore, Dublin 8, was jailed for six years, with the last 12 months suspended after he disposed of the firearm used in the attempted murder of Sinead.

Dean McCarthy was jailed for 15 years

Despite seeing all three men jailed for their crimes, Orla pointed out that Sinead has been left with life-changing injuries that now require full-time care.

Orla is now carer to her sister and is also looking after Sineads young daughter Leah, who was only seven years old when she witnessed the shooting.

Orla said: The shooting took place two days before Leahs birthday, so, of course its at the forefront of our minds.

It was the first year Sinead was able to spend some time with Leah on her birthday so obviously she was a bit emotional.

Leah had said to me on the anniversary, you know, this is the day my mammy got shot. I didnt want to say anything in front of her;. And I told her, Leah, its alright. Are you upset?

And she sold me, it changed my life, but Im glad my mammy is still alive. So thats going to be etched in her head forever.

Orla also told how Sinead was reflecting on the fact that two years ago she was walking around, living her life when the shooting happened.

She has her good days and her bad days but were still trying to access a lot of services that just arent being made available to us for her mental health, like therapy, and psychologists. She was seen a few times while she was still in the hospital but theres been nothing since.

Nobody has checked in on her... There is just no support there. It seem to be that its left to the families to try and access these services. I just feel let down and disappointed.

Two years on and all these things should have been in place for her. She needs to have some sort of normality after all shes been through

Orla said they had tried to get Sinead a motorised wheelchair so she could collect Leah from school herself but were told she could be waiting 12 to 18 months.

These three men that did this to Sinead have all the services and support they need, as they are in the care of the State. So why cant that be the same for the victims?

Orla told how Sinead is now out of hospital, St Jamess, where she had spent most of her time recovering since the shooting and they have been living together in a house in Ballyfermot since January, where she is now taking care of her and Leah.

The council have been great and have given us this house until Sineads apartment is ready for her to move into. It was a good step in the right direction for Sinead getting out of hospital and we have home help for four hours a day.

But Orla said they faced further obstacles when her guardianship payment she had been receiving for taking care of Leah was cut as they were all now living under the same roof.

It seems weve been left to pick up the pieces, on our own. 
Rumours began circulating that some pupils attending the 1,400-plus pupil school were wearing tails and walking up stairs on all fours.

Reporter Hugh Jordan pictured in Derry this week at the Derry Girls mural

Photos of cats have been placed on the heads of Derry Girls cast went viral

A topCatholic grammar school has said it was the victim of an elaborate hoax after bizarre claims that students identifying as catshadrefused to usetheschool toilets went viral.

All-female Thornhill College was the inspiration for the smash hit TV series Derry Girls.

It boasts a number of internationally known names among its past pupils, including Eurovision singing star Dana Rosemary Scallon, Hollywood actress Roma Downey and Girls Aloud superstar Nadine Coyle.

And Lisa McGee, creator of Derry Girls  a fictionalised account of life at Thornhill College  also attended the school.

However, this week the school hit the headlines for very different reasons after unfounded claims were made online.

Rumours began circulating that some pupils attending the 1,400-plus pupil school were wearing tails and walking up stairs on all fours.

A photo also began circulating in which the well-known Derry Girls actors, dressed in their school uniforms, had the heads of tabby cats.

It has been claimed on social media that when a demand for litter trays was ignored by the school authorities this week, poo was left on the floor of the school toilets.

Thornhill College

Pictures supposedly taken inside cubicles in Thornhill College clearly show human faeces on the floor. And in another snap, a similar amount of human waste had been smeared around a white toilet seat.

On Thursday evening, the photos were posted on the social media sites Facebook and Twitter, where the material was shared thousands of times  causing it to go viral.

The Sunday World managed to track down the individual responsible. He asked not to be named, but explained he only posted the material because he wanted to highlight how damaging this issue is for the community.

Its difficult enough running a big school like Thornhill without being distracted by something like this. The school needs the support of all of us.

A woman told friends on Snapchat: Am hearing that girls in Thornhill are s*****ing on the floor in the bathroom because they want to identify as cats and need litter trays.

Who is allowing their wains to be that mad????? Im sorry, but I couldnt cope with that...the world has gone mad! she said.

A top Catholic grammar school is the victim of a disgusting dirty protest campaign, the Sunday World has learned.

And another angry parent took to Facebook to express her fury at what was going on in her former alma mater.

She said: Thornhill students s****ing on the floor because they identify as Furries and say they dont have litter boxes, so they s**t on the floor. Jesus!

When we contacted Thornhill College directly a spokesperson told us no one was available at that time to discuss the social media claims.

Reporter Hugh Jordan pictured in Derry this week at the Derry Girls mural

However, she claimed the college had been the victim of an elaborate hoax. On Friday afternoon, the Sunday World visited the school.

We loaded up a cat litter tray crammed with feline favourites including packets of Kitekat and Whiskas and we stood in the sunshine on the Culmore Road.

But with the exception of a number shouts of encouragement and a few meows from passing motorists, no one approached us.

Mural of the Derry girl characters.

Ex-Mayor of Derry and retired MLA and SDLP chief whip at Stormont, Pat Ramsey, told us that, as far as he was aware, Thornhill College had done everything in its power to create an inclusive environment for all pupils attending the school.

He said: Unfortunately, its just the modern world we live in, some people feel excluded. This issue went viral on Twitter on Thursday night, but where does it end?

But on Friday morning, it became a hot topic for debate among staff and pupils alike.

One student told us: Some pupils brought in tins of cat food and threw them around outside. But inside the school, almost all the toilet facilities were kept firmly locked.

And she added: The two toilets which were available for use by pupils were strictly monitored by members of staff who identified anyone wishing to use them.
Keenly watching at home will be Colins other son, James (19), whom he had with ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave, while his father Eamon Snr  who is divorced from Rita  is expected to be cheering him on from his house in Dublin.

Paul Mescal is up for the Best Actor award   ?/??? `???/??? `?

Colin Farrell is making it a family affair as hes bringing most of his immediate relations to tonights glittering Oscars.

The Dubliner has already made public that sitting next to him in the front seats at the eagerly anticipated ceremony will be one of his two sons, Henry (13), with the pair set to wear matching tuxedos. Colin hopes to win the gong for Best Actor for his role of Padraic Suilleabhain in The Banshees of Inisherin.

But we can exclusively reveal that joining them on the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and seated nearby will be Colins proud mother Rita and her husband Joel B Michaels, a Canadian film producer she married 10 years ago and lives with in Los Angeles, as well as the A-listers three siblings, Eamon, Catherine and Claudine.

Keenly watching at home will be Colins other son, James (19), whom he had with ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave, while his father Eamon Snr  who is divorced from Rita  is expected to be cheering him on from his house in Dublin.

Colin (46) had Henry with Alicja Bachleda-Curu, a Mexican-born actress who grew up in Poland and whom he met while filming the movie Ondine in Co. Cork in 2008. The teenager lives with Colin in his mansion in the Hollywood Hills.

Paul Mescal is up for the Best Actor award   ?/??? `???/??? `?

Ireland has a record 14 nominations at the 95th Academy Awards and our other nominees are also bringing family members along.

Co. Kildare actor Paul Mescal (27), who like Farrell is nominated in the Best Actor category for his role in Aftersun, is being joined by his parents Dearbhla and Paul, as well as his siblings Donnacha and Nell. His mum is set to sit next to him in the front rows.

His dad works as a teacher, while his mum is a retired garda. Brave Dearbhla is currently managing a bone marrow cancer condition and has put back chemotherapy until after tonights awards.

When she arrived at Los Angeles Airport on Wednesday night, she confirmed to us she was excited to be in the city for the first time to support her son.

She later amazed onlookers with her pluckiness as she shoved four large suitcase on a trolley while Paul Snr eventually managed to track down their waiting limousine driver.

Dubliner Brendan Gleeson (67), who is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in The Banshees of Inisherin, will be accompanied by his wife of over 40 years Mary.

Co. Tipperary actress Kerry Condon (40) will have her younger brother Roddy seated next to her as she vies to win Best Actress for her role as Padraics sister Siobhan in The Banshees of Inisherin.

The Thurles native has lived in LA for almost 15 years. She is a major animal lover and owns a horse farm on the outskirts of the city. Insiders maintain that Kerry channelled much of her anguished emotion in the film after the death of her beloved dog Peggy, which died shortly before filming began on Achill Island and Inishmore.

Dubliner Barry Keoghan (30), who like Condon won a Bafta award for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin, will be joined tonight by his Scottish girlfriend, Alyson Sandro, as he hopes to pull off a double in the Best Supporting Actor category.

The cast of An Irish Goodbye   Getty Images

The Banshees of Inisherin has nine nominations in total and its writer and director, Martin McDonagh (52), is set to bring along his partner, actress and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Extended family members will also accompany our other Oscar hopefuls, the cast of An Cailin Ciuin (The Quiet Girl), which is up for Best Foreign Language Film.

Its 13-year-old star Catherine Clinch is being joined in the theatre by her older sister Anna (17), who acts as her chaperone. Their parents, Tom and Meav, are with them in LA, but as they are unable to get tickets will watch the ceremony elsewhere.

Northern Ireland film An Irish Story, which is in the Best Live Action Short Film category, also has a strong representation, with actors Seamus OHara and James Martin going along tonight.

Dubliners Richie Baneham, who is nominated for Best Visual Effects for Avatar: The Way Of Water, and Jonathan Redmond, who is up for Best Film Editing for Elvis, are also bringing their nearest and dearest (Richies parents proudly showed off on the plane when they flew over from Dublin to L.A. the Bafta statuette their son recently won).

Many of the major Irish stars, such as Farrell, Gleeson, Mescal and Condon, attended a dinner yesterday evening for the Motion Picture and Television Funds 21st Annual Night Before.

Carrie Crowley, who plays a distant relative who for a period looks after the quiet young girl Cait in An Cailin Ciuin, stresses tonight is a celebration or the Irish acting industry, no matter who wins or doesnt.

I think its wonderful that we are here in Hollywood with a film in the Irish language, Carrie, who is attending the ceremony alongside fellow star Seamus Bennett, director Colm Bairead and producer Cleona Ni Chrualaoi, told us at the Irish themed Oscar Wilde party in LA which was attended by honourees Kerry Condon, Jessie Buckley and Eve Hewson

Arts Minister Catherine Martin, who led a delegation to LA which has just announced that Limerick has won its bid to host in September the global Cineposium film conference, is thrilled at Irelands successin the industry.

Its a really exciting week for Ireland, the eyes of the world are on us, she told us.

Its hard to believe 14 nominations  we are certainly punching above our weight.

Tourism Ireland Chief Executive Niall Gibbons believes there will be a windfall from tourists exploring the west of Ireland after seeing the majestic scenery in The Banshees of Inisherin.

Screen tourism as we call it in general is the gift that keeps on giving to us, he confirms. If you were here nearly 10 years ago we would have been talking about Star Wars and Game of Thrones, we had the biggest series on the small screen and the biggest film on the big screen.

Weve since had the likes of Normal People, Vikings Valhalla and Disenchanted, and now Banshees. Its wonderful.
Jenna explained that she was so nervous in Pauls presence because she was a huge fan

Wednesday star Jenna Ortega has admitted she was left starstruck after meeting Paul Mescal at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards last month.

The 20-year-old was speaking during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon when she told the host that she enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Dune actress Zendaya at the ceremony.

But she began to panic when she realised Zendaya was sitting at the table beside the Kildare native as the pair were presenting an award together on the night.

Jenna explained that she was so nervous in Pauls presence because she was a huge fan.

I was kind of freaking out because she was sitting next to Paul Mescal, who I think is so talented and so good, she said.

And I was so nervous to meet him and I knew he was going to be at my table. He introduced himself to me when I wasnt expecting it.

Mescal with Florence Pugh

He was like Oh hi, nice to meet you, Im Paul and I was so nervous I kind of couldnt look him in the eye.

Paul is currently in Los Angeles with his family for the Oscars, which is taking place tonight at Union Station in the citys downtown area.

The 27-year-old is up for the Best Actor award for his role in the coming-of-age drama Aftersun.

He is competing against fellow Irishman Colin Farrell, who is nominated for The Banshees of Inisherin, along with Elvis Austin Butler, The Whale star Brendan Fraser, and veteran British actor Bill Nighy for Living.

Banshees actors Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan are both nominated in the best supporting male actor category, while their co-star Kerry Condon has been nominated for best female in a supporting role.

Gleeson and Keoghan face off against Brian Tyree Henry (Causeway), Judd Hirsch (The Fabelmans) and Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All At Once).

Condon is nominated alongside Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Hong Chau (The Whale), Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything, Everywhere All at Once) and Stephanie Hsu (Everything, Everywhere All at Once).
OBriens bar in Santa Monica is where the sister of Barrys Scottish girlfriend Alyson Sandro worked for several years

Barry Keoghan took time out in the lead up to the Oscars to check out an Irish bar and a Conor McGregor mural in Los Angeles.

OBriens bar in Santa Monica is where the sister of Barrys Scottish girlfriend Alyson Sandro worked for several years.

And while attending the 95th Academy Awards the excited couple left their bouncing baby boy Brando in the capable hands of Alysons sister Michelle, who used work in OBriens.

Michelles son Lochlann hung out with Barry and the pair posed for a picture at a McGregor mural at the side of the pub.

Barry (30) is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin.

Barry is a funny little lad and was in great form, owner Willie OSullivan told us.

He came in for lunch and told me hed be back in again in a few weeks as hell be in LA shooting a film.

Willie, who is from Mayfield, Cork city, has been in LA for 36 years and has owned OBriens for 28 years.

Weve had lots of celebrity customers, the likes of Nicole Kidman and Ed OBrien, whos a friend of mine, he explains.

Russell Crowe used be a regular and about 28 years ago my manager punched him in the face after they had a fight. My manager was in a band called Gaelic Storm and they released a song The Night I Punched Russell Crowe, which went to the top of the charts.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: (L-R) Deputy Consul General, Los Angeles Lara Hallett, Pearce Cullen, Tom Berkeley, James Martin, Ross White and British Consul General in Los Angeles, Emily Cloke attend a celebration of the British nominees for the 95th Academy Awards at the British Consulate General Residence on March 10, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)   Getty Images

COLIN Farrell is making it as a family affair as hes bringing almost his entire immediate relations to tonights glittering Oscars.

The Dubliner has already made public that sitting next to him in the front seats at the eagerly anticipated ceremony will be one of his two sons, Henry (13), with the pair set to wear matching tuxedos as Colin hopes to win the gong for Best Actor for his role of Padraic Suilleabhain in The Banshees of Inisherin.

But we can exclusively reveal that joining them on the red carpet at the Dolby theatre in Hollywood and seated nearby will be Colins proud mother Rita and her husband Joel B Michaels, a Canadian film producer she married 10 years ago and lives with in Los Angeles, as well as the A-listers three siblings, Eamon, Catherine and Claudine.

Keenly watching at home will be Colins other son, James (19), whom he had with ex-girlfriend Kim Bordenave, while his father Eamon snr  who is divorced from Rita - is expected to be cheering him on from his house in Dublin.

Henry is an offspring of a relationship Colin (46) had with Alicja Bachleda-Curus a Mexican born actress who grew up in Poland and whom he met while filming the movie Ondine in Co Cork in 2008. The teenager lives with Colin in his mansion in the Hollywood hills.

Ireland has a record 14 nominations at the 95th Academy Awards and our other proud nominees are also bringing various family members along.

Co Kildare actor Paul Mescal (27), who like Farrell is nominated in the Best Actor category for his role in Aftersun, is being joined his parents Dearbhla and Paul, as well as his siblings Donnacha and Nell. His mum is set to sit next to him in the front rows.

His dad works as a teacher, while his mum is a retired Garda. Brave Dearbhla is currently managing a bone marrow cancer condition and has put back chemotherapy until after tonights awards.

When she arrived at Los Angeles airport on Wednesday night she confirmed to us she was excited to be in the city for the first time to support her son, as she later amazed onlookers with her pluckiness as she shoved four large suitcase on a trolley while Paul snr eventually managed to track down their waiting limousine driver.

The couple spent the early hours of Friday evening (yesterday morning Irish time) walking in rainy conditions as they excitedly explored Hollywoods star-spangled Walk of Fame.

Dubliner Brendan Gleeson (67), who is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in The Banshees of Inisherin, will be accompanied by his wife of over 40 years Mary.

Co Tipperary actress Kerry Condon (40) will have her younger brother Roddy seated next to her as she vies to win Best Actress for her role as Padraics sister Siobhan in The Banshees of Inisherin.

The Thurles native has lived in L.A. for almost 15 years. She is a major animal lover and owns a horse farm on the outskirts of the city. Insiders maintain that Kerry channelled much of her anguished emotion in the film after the death of her beloved dog Peggy, which passed away shortly before filming began on Achill Island and Inishmore.

Dubliner Barry Keoghan (30), who like Condon won a BAFTA award for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin, will be joined tonight by his Scottish girlfriend Alyson Sandro, as he hopes to pull off a double in the Best Supporting Actor category.

The couple, who have a one-year-old son, Brando, recently moved to Alysons home city of Dundee, although Barry still owns an apartment in Londons docklands and proudly maintains close links with Dublins north inner city, where he was raised and where he is nicknamed Hollywood by his pals

The Banshees of Inisherin has nine nominations in total and its writer and director, Martin McDonagh (52), is set tonight to bring along his partner, actress and writer Phoebe Waller- Bridge.

Extended family members will also accompany our other Oscar hopefuls, the cast of An Cailin Ciuin (The Quiet Girl), which is up for Best Foreign Language film and the first time an Irish language movie has been included in that category.

Its 13-year-old star Catherine Clinch is being joined in the theatre by her older sister Anna (17), who acts as her chaperone. Their parents, Tom and Meav, are with them in L.A. but as they are unable to get tickets will watch the ceremony elsewhere.

Northern Ireland filmed An Irish Goodbye, which is in the Best Live Action Short Film category, also has a strong representation with its principle actors Seamus OHara and James Martin going along tonight.

Dubliners Richie Baneham, who is nominated for Best Visual Effects for Avatar: The Way Of Water, and Jonathan Redmond, who is up for Best Film Editing for Elvis, are also bringing their nearest and dearest (Richies parents proudly showed off on the plane when they flew over from Dublin to L.A. the iconic BAFTA statuette their son recently won).

Many of the major Irish stars, such as Farrell, Gleeson, Mescal and Condon, attended a dinner yesterday evening for the Motion Picture and Television Funds 21st Annual Night Before.

This years host committee includes Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Angela Bassett, Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, with others guest including Austin Butler, Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Robert Downey Jnr and Tom Hanks

Sadly, there will be no red-carpet television coverage of our stars at tonights build-up by Irelands three TV networks currently in L.A., which all have crews in California covering the Oscars countdown for the hopefuls vying to win one of 23 Oscars up for grabs.

Thats because RTE, Virgin Media and TG4 all balked at the cost of a camera position outside the Dolby theatre. While slots were free up until 2017, the cost now ranges from an estimated E75,000 to E500,000 depending on the size of the networks, which moneybags British outlets such as Sky and the BBC are well able to afford.

Ironically, this years red-carpet section will actually be coloured champagne, breaking a tradition that dates back to 1961.

Ireland is favourite among movie industry experts and bookies to win Oscars in three categories - Best Screenplay for London-Irishman McDonagh, while Baneham is odds on favourite to win his second Oscar for Best Visual Effects for his latest Avatar work, and An Irish Goodbye is leading the field in the in Best Live Action Short Film section.

Brendan Fraser (The Whale) and Austin Butler (Elvis) are believed to be neck and neck with each other in the Best Actor category, while Cate Blanchett is seen as a shoo-in for Best Actress (Tar).

Everything Everywhere All At Once, which has a mostly Asian-American cast along with Jamie Lee Curtis, is heavily tipped win Best Film, Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) and Best Supporting Actor (Key Huy Quain) as well as to come out tops in several other categories, including Film Editing.

Germanys All Quiet On The Western Front, which swept the boards at the BAFTs, is runaway favourite to win Best Foreign Language Film at the ceremony, which is hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and at which Rihanna among others will perform.

Carrie Crowley, who plays a distant relative who for a period looks after the quiet young girl Cait in An Cailin Ciuin, stresses tonight is a celebration or the Irish acting industry, no matter who wins or doesnt.

I think its wonderful that we are here in Hollywood with a film in the Irish language, Carrie, who is attending the ceremony alongside fellow star Seamus Bennett, director Colm Bairead and producer Cleona Ni Chrualaoi, told us at the Irish themed Oscar Wilde party in L.A. , which was attended by honourees Kerry Condon, Jessie Buckley and Eve Hewson

Arts Minister Catherine Martin, who led a delegation to L.A. which has just announced that Limerick has won its bid to host in September the global Cineposium film conference, admits she is thrilled with how well Ireland is doing in the industry.

Its a really exciting week for Ireland, the eyes of the world are on us, she told us. Its hard to believe 14 nominations - we are certainly punching above our weight and Im here to engage in multiple meetings to really benefit on this opportunity.

Tourism Ireland Chief Executive Niall Gibbons believes there will be a windfall from tourists exploring the west of Ireland after seeing the majesty scenery in The Banshees of Inisherin.

Screen tourism as we call it in general is the gift that keeps on giving to us, he confirms. If you were here nearly 10 years ago we would have been talking about Star Wars and Game of Thrones, we had the biggest series on the small screen and the biggest film on the big screen.

Weve since had the likes of Normal People, Vikings Valhalla and Disenchanted, and now Banshees. Its wonderful.
One of the nations largest chicken processors, Foster Farms, plans to build three mega chicken factories in Linn and Marion counties, but area residents  and now schoolchildren  are fighting back.

The factory farms would house, at minimum, 350,000 chickens before slaughter, and millions of chickens per year.

Farming communities around Scio, Stayton, Jefferson and Aumsville are urging legislators to hit an eight-year pause button on these operations until studies can be conducted and adequate protections for neighbors put in place.

We dont agree on everything, but we largely agree that this is not OK, said Kendra Kimbirauskas, a community leader with Farmers Against Foster Farms. Lets just hit pause, cool our heads and be able to come together like adults and come up with solutions.

Senate Bill 85

An Oregon Senate bill proposes just that. The Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard on Monday, March 6 comments about SB 85, which would place a moratorium on new and expanded mega chicken factories until June 30, 2031.

The bill would only apply to what's called "Tier 2 Confined Animal Feeding Operations." For dairy, this means farms with at least 2,500 milking cows. For poultry, this means farms with at least 350,000 chickens.

In total, there are 18 farms across the state that would be affected by the bills passing.

This is not about our neighbors, who are our friends and families, Kimbirauskas said. This is about these corporations coming in and taking advantage of our weak laws to mine our resources and ruin our community.

Shes talking about laws like the stock watering exemption, which excuses agricultural operations from water rights permits without restriction under Oregon law.

Factory farms of this size also do not fall under local jurisdiction, so county commissioners are unable to set conditions around time, place and manner, air quality and that could limit contaminants getting into the neighboring airshed.

Oregons Right-to-Farm Law protects growers from court decisions based on customary noises, smells, dust or other nuisances. Adopted in 1993 and updated in 1995 and 2001, these laws were meant to protect small and mid-sized farms.

Alice Morrison co-directs Friends of Family Farmers, an organization which represents 1,600 farms across the state that distribute locally. She said the harmful impacts of pollutants in the air is something that needs to be addressed.

Our members really appreciate the right-to-farm laws here in Oregon, but those laws were drafted when CAFOs of this size were not possible and not thought of, Morrison said. Its a different animal, and we dont think the laws should apply in a blanket way.

The Lourdes School

A small four-room schoolhouse sits in a large field in the unincorporated community of Jordan between Scio and Lyons. Along with their teachers, 49 students from Lourdes School are fighting to stop the mega chicken factory that would operate within a half-mile of their campus.

If built, the Scio factory would be the largest chicken factory in the state, housing 750,000 chickens at a time before slaughter, and 4.5 million chickens per year.

The schoolchildren appeared before the Linn County Board of Commissioners in September, urging them to save their school and stop the factory from being built. But without a change in state legislation, the commissioners said their hands were tied.

The two main concerns in the Scio community are air pollution and wastewater management. Air pollution from chicken barns contains ammonia, which is particularly harmful for young children and older adults.

Ammonia can also be a vector for water pollution when that air condenses into local waterways, an issue Morrison said is not being taken into account.

Possible solutions include requiring the facilities to keep an accounting of their air emissions and develop a management plan if they rise to the level of violating the Clean Air Act, the same way they must for storm water discharge and liquid waste systems.

We have to pay close attention when a system is making it impossible for farmers and rural communities to thrive, Morrison said. Its a systems-level problem that requires systems-level solutions.

Linda Duman, a schoolteacher at Lourdes, is concerned about the noxious smell that would make running a school difficult.

Whos going to turn the north wind off? she said. This shouldnt be within half a mile of a school.

Duman said it will take 130 trucks to transport the chickens to and from the farm, and as many trucks to bring in feed for the chickens. Shes worried about how the truck traffic, air pollution and water management issues will negatively impact the community center by the school, which also doubles as a venue for weddings, funerals and family reunions.

Its the only gathering place, Duman said.

Support and opposition

Oregon Sen. Michael Dembrow, a Democrat from Portland, spoke in support of SB 85 during Mondays hearing.

He predicted these new large operations will have inevitable impacts on farming communities that have been around for decades.

We as legislators need to really look at these statues and find a balance between economic opportunity, the livelihoods of existing neighbors and the quality of life of those neighbors, Dembrow said.

He talked about the stock water exemption, which is designed to allow farmers to water their animals as needed. But drilling a well and taking groundwater from a small community to water millions of chickens could leave neighbors high and dry.

Sen. Suzanne Weber, a Republican legislator from Tillamook, said SB 85 and its proposed amendments threaten to add unnecessary regulations to an already complex system, limiting dairy farmers ability to succeed and hurting the local communities that rely on them.

Two percent of our population farms, Weber said. One hundred percent of our population eats.

Hundreds of Oregonians submitted their written testimony to the committee, both for and against the bill, and a second hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 13. The committee will then debate the proposal in a work session and vote whether or not to send it to the next committee.

If passed, the bill would not shut down any existing facilities. Even Tier 2 CAFOs can still operate during the eight-year moratorium, but they cant change anything about their permit structure until the moratorium has passed.

These types of facilities can become incredibly compacted and contaminated, Morrison said, and she is concerned about the implications of ushering in factory farms. When this type of agricultural use is encouraged in Oregon, she said, farmland is viewed as an investment.

Once they happen, they can take decades to reverse, Morrison said, and in some cases, we are seeing that these are not reversible.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald.

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Irish viewers can watch the proceedings live on Sky Cinema Oscars from 1am

Florence Pugh and Paul Mescal attend the The CAA Pre-Oscar Party at Sunset Tower Hotel   Getty Images for CAA

After weeks of anticipation, Irish hopefuls will find out tonight if they will be going home with an iconic Oscars trophy.

The 95th Oscars is being held at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood.

This year the ceremony is being presented by chat show host Jimmy Kimmel who previously joked that the decision to have a champagne-coloured carpet this year shows how confident we are that no blood will be shed  referencing Will Smiths now-infamous slap at the 2022 Oscars.

The Academys chief executive Bill Kramer said previously that a crisis team would be introduced at this years show to mitigate potential surprises.

Irish viewers can watch the proceedings live on Sky Cinema Oscars from 1am. Viewers can also purchase a one-day Now TV pass to watch the ceremony on Sky Oscars.

This years awards will be presented by notable actors including Halle Berry, Paul Dano, Pedro Pascal, Elizabeth Olsen and John Travolta.

Other presenters include Nicole Kidman, Andrew Garfield, Halle Berry, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L Jackson, Michael B Jordan, Troy Kotsur, Jonathan Majors, Melissa McCarthy and Dwayne Johnson.

Rihanna, who is pregnant with her second child, will perform her Oscar-nominated song Lift Me Up from Marvels blockbuster sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, while Grammy-winning US rock star Lenny Kravitz, will perform during the ceremonys In Memoriam segment.

The winners are selected by a vote of over 10,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, that lasts four months.

Last year awards in eight categories were pre-recorded, which drew a backlash from industry professionals, but this year all 23 awards will be presented live.

Ireland has a record 14 Oscar nominations this year, with the Banshees of Inisherian and An Cailin Ciuin and several Irish actors in the hunt for major honours.

Banshees is nominated in the Best Film category but it faces stiff competition from awards season juggernaut Everything Everywhere All At Once.

The sci-fi epic, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, swept top prizes at the Film Independent Spirit Awards and the Screen Actors Guild (Sag) awards, marking it out as a clear frontrunner at the Oscars.

Florence Pugh and Paul Mescal attend the The CAA Pre-Oscar Party at Sunset Tower Hotel   Getty Images for CAA

The thriller, which sees a family torn apart by an inter-dimensional rift, heads into the Academy Awards ceremony with 11 nominations, including for lead actress Michelle Yeoh and supporting actor Ke Huy Quan.

Martin McDonaghs dark Irish comedy has become the most Oscar-nominated Irish film ever, clocking up nine nominations ahead of Sundays show.

All four of the films main stars; Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon received top acting nods  alongside McDonagh for best director.

Farrell and Kildare actor Paul Mescal are competing for the Best Actor award. Mescal has been nominated for the coming-of-age drama Aftersun.

The cast of An Irish Goodbye

The category also includes Elvis Austin Butler and The Whale star Brendan Fraser, along with veteran British actor Bill Nighy for Living.

Banshees actors Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan are both nominated in the best supporting male actor category, while their co-star Kerry Condon has been nominated for best female in a supporting role.

Gleeson and Keoghan face off against Brian Tyree Henry (Causeway), Judd Hirsch (The Fabelmans) and Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All At Once).

Condon is nominated alongside Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Hong Chau (The Whale), Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything, Everywhere All at Once) and Stephanie Hsu (Everything, Everywhere All at Once).

In the coveted best picture category, All Quiet On The Western Front is up alongside The Fabelmans, Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Banshees Of Inisherin.

The German film recently scooped seven prizes at the Bafta film awards.

Other contenders include blockbuster sequels Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way Of Water, as well as Tar, Elvis, Women Talking, and Triangle Of Sadness.

However, All Quiet On The Western Front is also nominated in the international feature category alongside An Cailin Ciuin, Argentina, 1985 (Argentina), Close (Belgium) and EO (Poland).

Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland short An Irish Goodbye has been nominated for the short picture award. Ivalu, Le Pupille, Night Ride and The Red Suitcase have also been nominated in the category.

The Banshees Of Inisherin won the best short picture Oscar in 2004 for his film Six Shooter that starred Brendan Gleeson.

Additional reporting by PA Media.
Three lucky Lotto players from Auckland and Palmerston North will be dancing in their living rooms after each winning $333,333 with Lotto First Division in Saturdays live Lotto draw.

The winning tickets were sold at Clendon Postshop Lotto and Roscommon Superette in Auckland, and Awapuni Four Square in Palmerston North. Powerball was not struck on Saturday and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $12 million.

Meanwhile, two lucky Strike players from Palmerston North and Balclutha will also be celebrating after each winning $150,000 with Strike Four. The winning Strike tickets were sold at New World Broadway in Palmerston North and Balclutha Bookshop in Balclutha.

It will be a night to remember for seven lucky Lotto players after each winning $41,972 with Lotto Second Division in Saturday's live Lotto draw.

One lucky player also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $61,222. The winning Powerball Second Division ticket was sold at New World Newlands in Wellington.

The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores:

Store Location Pak N Save Whangarei Whangarei MyLotto Auckland MyLotto Waikato MyLotto Hawkes Bay MyLotto Manawatu New World Newlands (+PB) Wellington MyLotto Christchurch

Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store or through the MyLotto App.

Lotto NZ is holding a special draw on Saturday March 18 to help people and communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. For this special draw, they're doubling their usual community contribution, so that half of all ticket sales  or 50 cents from every dollar spent on Lotto, Powerball or Strike  will support those affected.

Tickets for the special draw can be bought now, and Lotto NZ encourages players who wish to buy a ticket to get in early  this means picking up a ticket before draw day, or early on the day to avoid the busiest times both in-store and online.

Lotto NZ also want to remind customers to dream a lot and play only a little. The special draw supports a great cause, but it only takes one ticket to win and show your support.

Find out more about the special draw here.

With 100 per cent of Lotto NZs profits supporting thousands of great causes each year, every time you play one of Lotto NZs games, youre a Kiwi helping other Kiwis.
A year after doctor David Holland disappeared in New Zealand, his UK family are clinging on to hope that their golden boy will be found, and ask locals to keep searching as a new lead has emerged.

We still have hope. And always will. He is alive in our hearts and minds, his mother Karen Holland told Stuff.

The former teacher and school principal in Wales, said she had been living a nightmare since her youngest son, an anaesthetic registrar at Tauranga Hospital, disappeared on Friday, March 11, 2022, after indicating to friends he was going for a swim.

Life changed forever when I took the late-night phone call from New Zealand. We still have no news. Nothing. Just speculation. A nightmare. Living the other side of the world brings different challenges, circumstances and poignancy, she said.

David Holland, originally from Swansea in Wales, had been living in New Zealand since 2017, she said, where she had visited him twice for lengthy periods. A planned visit in 2020 was halted by Covid. Tragically, her next visit in March 2022 was to join the police search for her son, along with one of his brothers Rhodri.

Karen Holland said family and friends were lighting candles today for David, and asked New Zealanders to do the same, and to continue hoping in the search for her son.

Please join us in lighting a candle. Today and tomorrow will be difficult days for our family and friends ... Dealing with ambiguous loss, grieving, looking for answers is part of my life and the lives of Tom and Rhodri, my other two sons. Grief doesnt go away and can be incredibly lonely. No parent chooses this road.



CCTV captured a man, thought to be David Holland, walking over Tauranga's Sandhurst Drive overbridge onto Truman Lane, then north towards State Highway 29A. The images are from the night Holland went missing - Friday, March 11, 2022. NZ Police.

The family were hugely grateful to all those who had helped in the search, and appealed to anyone who could help.

I thank New Zealanders for everything they have done. It genuinely means a lot. If anyone has other information that can be shared about the evening he disappeared then please let the police know. Try and remember back to that night, if you were in the area. Look around you - anyone that you now know or have seen that looks like David.

The uncertainty of not knowing was hard, she said.

As a family we want to find some peace, some answers and get David back with us if hes still around somewhere.

Beach access at the end of Pacific View Rd, Papamoa, which leads to Papamoa Beach, where David Holland was believed to have gone for a swim. New footage this week suggests otherwise. Photo: Stuff.

His mother holds on to precious memories of a beautiful human being.

Clever, multi talented, sporty, caring, kind, thoughtful - a beautiful human being. The golden boy as his brothers called him.

Holland, 31, was last seen on the evening of March 11 after being captured by a CCTV camera near his home.

Friends believed he was going for a swim at Papamoa Beach, via the beach access at Pacific View Rd.



Hundreds of volunteers turned out to search for missing man David Holland after he went missing in 2022. Photo: Supplied.

A potential new lead emerged this week when police released CCTV footage believed to be Holland.

The footage recorded a man walking alone across the Sandhurst Dr overbridge onto Turman Lane and then north towards SH29A about 7.58pm on the night Holland went missing.

The video shows a man wearing hiking boots, long tan coloured pants, and a dark-coloured long-sleeved hooded top.

The CCTV image shows a man wearing hiking boots, long tan coloured pants, and a dark-coloured long-sleeved hooded top. It is believed to be David Holland. NZ Police.

Acting on this new information the Matapihi/Maungatapu area was searched but without success.

Holland studied medicine at St George's University at St Georges Hospital in Tooting, London.

His friends say he is an experienced swimmer who loves the ocean.

A keen surfer and snorkeller, hes also a free diver, scuba diver and had completed training in rescue diving.

Hollands mates  including his frisbee group  were gathering on Saturday to remember him, said friend Matt Shand.

Missing doctor David Holland. Photo: Supplied.

The new video footage had inspired fresh hope, he said. I hope people will look at it, and it will remind them of something. Everyone just wants to know what happened.

Shand last saw his friend, who he described as a caring soul two weeks before he disappeared.

Police, LANDSAR, Surf Life Saving NZ, Coastguard and approximately 148 volunteers participated in extensive land searches for Holland last year. A total of 612 hours was put into the search.

Police said they have received a number of tips from the community, but his whereabouts remains unknown.

Police would like to hear from anyone who has seen Holland, or who might have information about his movements or whereabouts.

Anyone with information is urged to call 105 and quote file number 220312/6869.

Annemarie Quill/Stuff
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Hyundai Creta N Line looks menacing in Night Edition trim; Limited to 900 units







As the name suggests, the Creta N Line Night Edition features an all-black exterior with a black grille and bumpers, smoked headlamps & tail lights and 18-inch alloy wheels finished in black. Even the logos and badges on the car have a black finish.







Inside, the Night Edition comes equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated drivers seat and automatic climate control. It also gets features like cruise control, a 360-degree camera and Level-2 ADAS.







The SUV is powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that puts out 157 BHP and 202 Nm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.







The Creta N Line Night Edition is offered with two colour options: Black, Silk Grey with Black roof and White with Black roof. Production has been capped at 900 units.











Link to Team-BHP News Hyundai has launched the Creta N Line Night Edition in Brazil. The SUV is based on the Creta facelift that is yet to arrive at our shores.As the name suggests, the Creta N Line Night Edition features an all-black exterior with a black grille and bumpers, smoked headlamps & tail lights and 18-inch alloy wheels finished in black. Even the logos and badges on the car have a black finish.Inside, the Night Edition comes equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated drivers seat and automatic climate control. It also gets features like cruise control, a 360-degree camera and Level-2 ADAS.The SUV is powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that puts out 157 BHP and 202 Nm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.The Creta N Line Night Edition is offered with two colour options: Black, Silk Grey with Black roof and White with Black roof. Production has been capped at 900 units. Last edited by TusharK : 10th March 2023 at 10:59 .
What would you call a semi company that specializes in mixed-signal chips produced on trailing edge manufacturing processes? Those familiar with the industry would say that is an analog semi company. By that same definition, maybe we should think of GlobalFoundries as just another analog chip company.

A long-time friend pointed this out and we think it is worth exploring because it helps us not only understand GlobalFoundries' prospects, but also how we think about industry definitions.

At first blush, this equivalence does not make sense. GlobalFoundries is a foundry, manufacturing chips for third parties. Analog companies like Texas Instruments design their own chips and sometimes manufacture them as well.

Editor's Note:

Guest author Jonathan Goldberg is the founder of D2D Advisory, a multi-functional consulting firm. Jonathan has developed growth strategies and alliances for companies in the mobile, networking, gaming, and software industries.

The whole world has spent the past three years learning the difference between fabless and foundry companies. When we appear on podcasts, this is usually the first point we make. But dig a bit deeper and the similarities start to appear.

Both companies actually manufacture similar chips, or at least chips that end up in similar end markets - industrial, automotive, wireless infrastructure, etc. And all those chips perform just fine on trailing edge processes. GlobalFoundries got off the Moore's Law treadmill at 16nm, and most of Texas Instruments' chips use even older processes. This is the analog domain and analog signals do not scale the way digital processors do, so mature processes work just fine most of the time.

People will argue that GlobalFoundries does not have chip designers, a major capacity that is totally unstaffed. This is true, except, fabless analog companies tend to work much more closely with their fab operations. There is a lot more scope for back and forth, so while GF is not really talking to end-customers, they end up doing a lot of the design work.

So the two companies are not identical, but they are fairly similar. They manufacture similar products for similar end markets and sit in similar places in semis processes. Going forward, it probably makes sense to think of GlobalFoundries as an analog company. For GF, that likely means its future rests on convincing some of the smaller analog companies to outsource their production to GF and forego capacity expansion.

Theoretically, GlobalFoundries could even start working directly with end customers. We know they signed a deal with Ford during the capacity crunch, but from what we can tell that is not exactly a well-reasoned endeavor with clear strategic end goals. But it is not impossible for them to go down this path.

We are probably going to see a lot more blurring like this. Once upon a time, semis companies all did their own manufacturing. And while there are still many reasons why leading edge fabs will be built by foundries ($20 billion reasons, per plant), for everyone else the economic case for splitting the two needs to be rethought.

The recent capacity shortages woke a lot of people up to that reality. With Moore's Law no longer working at full throttle, many companies will start to consider building up manufacturing as a core competency once again. The pendulum is never going to swing back all the way and eclipse the fabless model, nor is the pendulum standing still.
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying four astronauts splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday night, Mar. 11, marking the successful conclusion of NASA's Crew-5 mission.

Successful Splashdown

According to Florida Today, the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) left the station at 2:20 AM EST on Saturday and blasted through the atmosphere at speeds of up to 3500 degrees Fahrenheit. The crew comprises Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada of NASA, Koichi Wakata of Japan, and Anna Kikina of Russia.

The Dragon "Endurance" capsule landed safely off the coast of Tampa at 9:02 PM EST after a nearly 19-hour return voyage.

SpaceX recovery crew members approached the bobbing 17,000-pound capsule, which was positioned in a Coast Guard-protected zone, to ensure it did not carry any harmful propellants. SpaceX's purpose-built recovery vessel "Shannon" was then used to rig the capsule for transportation.

After onboard medical checks, the crew would transfer to a waiting helicopter for transport to Florida's Kennedy Space Center. They are going to leave and go back home. The last stage of the journey takes Mann, Cassada, and Wakata back to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Kikina heads back to Russia.

This mission's splashdown marks the end of thousands of hours of research and upkeep aboard the space station.

Florida Today said that the first indigenous woman to go to space, Nicole Mann, captain of Crew-5, expressed gratitude to the NASA and SpaceX personnel shortly after liftoff. "To the teams at NASA and at SpaceX, thank you for an incredible expedition. It has been your tireless effort and attention to detail that have helped make this mission successful."

Using the slogan of the Marine Corps, "It has been an honor to add to the legacy. Semper Fidelis," Mann, a colonel in the Marine Corps, summed up her speech.

See Also: Relativity Space's 3D-Printed Rocket Fails to Launch on 2nd Test Flight

SpaceX's Missions

After almost a decade without US access to crewed spaceflight due to the retirement of the space shuttle, SpaceX has flown seven crewed flights for NASA under a multibillion-dollar Commercial Crew Program contract, including the Demo-2 mission in May 2020.

SpaceX's Crew-5 mission was the company's eighth crewed voyage overall, including both commercial and non-commercial missions to space. It was also the first time a Russian cosmonaut had flown in an American-made spacecraft since NASA's shuttle program.

Crew-6, the most recent mission, launched on Mar. 2 and sent four astronauts to the ISS an over a week ago: NASA's Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, the United Arab Emirates' Sultan Alneyadi, and the Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Assuming a six-month mission duration, the team will be back in the autumn.

See Also: NASA's Most Advanced Radar System To Be Launched! Here's How NISAR Will Protect Earth

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Cerebral, a mental health telehealth firm, claims it accidentally exposed the personal information of more than 3.1 million patients with Google, Meta, TikTok, and other third-party advertisers.

The startup has acknowledged in a post published on its website that it has been utilizing monitoring tools that have revealed a slew of patient data since at least October 2019.

Patients' names, contact information, email addresses, birth dates, IP addresses, insurance details, appointment schedules, medication, and more were all compromised due to the error, as TechCrunch first reported. In certain cases, this may have revealed customers' responses to the company's mental health self-assessment, which is used to set up treatment sessions and provide medicines.

Tracking Pixels

According to Verge, Cerebral claims this information was leaked via tracking pixels, which are small pieces of code that platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Google made available to app and website builders. For instance, after clicking an ad on a website, the Meta Pixel may follow a user's activities on a website or app and even their online form submissions.

Although this is useful for businesses like Cerebral to see how people respond to their advertising across different platforms and what they do next, it also provides valuable data to other firms like Meta, TikTok, and Google.

Cerebral has said that the information made public may vary from patient to patient based on variables such as what activities people performed on Cerebral's platforms, the services offered by subcontractors, the settings of tracking systems, and more.

The organization promises to contact anyone impacted and assures the public that no matter how a person is connected with Cerebral's platform, no sensitive data was compromised, such as social security numbers or credit and bank account details.

Cerebral claims it has "disabled, reconfigured, and/or removed" any tracking pixels from the platform. Since discovering the vulnerability issue in January, it has improved its information security standards and technology vetting processes.

Also Read: New Senate Bill Seeks Better Health Data Protection Following Roe v. Wade Reversal

Probable Violations

HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, mandates that Cerebral report any suspected breaches to the appropriate authorities. To put it simply, this rule prevents healthcare practitioners from sharing their patients' personal health information with anybody other than the patient or a person specifically authorized by the patient to receive such data.

The US Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office for Civil Rights is presently looking into the breach, which follows other cases using pixel-tracking programs.

The DOJ and the Drug Enforcement Administration are also looking into Cerebral's prescription of restricted medications, including Adderall and Xanax, in addition to investigating the possibility that the company has broken HIPAA standards. The company has now stopped selling these drugs, Verge said.

Also Read: Xenco Medical Named One of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company Magazine

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
DoNotPay, the "world's first robot lawyer" in actual court, has been accused of illegally practicing law.

'No Law Degree'

In a report by Insider, a class action complaint against the artificial intelligence (AI) robot lawyer was filed on Mar. 3 by Edelson, a legal firm in Chicago. It was made public on the Superior Court of the State of California webpage for the County of San Francisco on Thursday, Mar. 9.

This lawsuit contends, "Unfortunately for its customers, DoNotPay is not actually a robot, a lawyer, nor a law firm. DoNotPay does not have a law degree, is not barred in any jurisdiction, and is not supervised by any lawyer."

In the case, Jonathan Faridian says that he utilized DoNotPay to create several legal papers, including a demand letter, a petition in small claims court, and a discrimination complaint against his employer.

The lawsuit states that Faridian paid for legal papers "from a lawyer that was competent to provide them" but instead received "substandard" work.

AI's Legal Services

DoNotPay asserts that its AI can assist its clients in dealing with a wide variety of legal services without the need for human legal counsel. While it began as a mobile app to assist drivers in contesting parking fines, the company has now diversified its offerings.

The website for DoNotPay boasts of being able to aid users in their battles against businesses, bureaucracy, the discovery of hidden funds, and the ability to sue anybody.

"DoNotPay respectfully denies the false allegations," the firm told Insider. It went on to assure that they would defend themselves vigorously.

DoNotPay CEO Joshua Browder tweeted that the charges were without merit and that his company would defend the case. He said DoNotPay is not going to be intimidated by America's wealthiest class action lawyer, a reference to Edelson's founder Jay Edelson.

Bad news! Jay Edelson, America's richest class action lawyer, is suing my startup @DoNotPay in California. Mr Edelson, who has made billions suing companies, is attacking us for "unauthorized practice of law" and seeking a court order ending any A.I product.



Here's my response: pic.twitter.com/6PvFVW65rB  Joshua Browder (@jbrowder1) March 9, 2023

According to Browder, it was attorneys like Edelson that motivated him to start DoNotPay in 2015. "Time and time again the only people that win are the lawyers. So I wanted to do something about it, building the DoNotPay robot lawyer to empower consumers to take on corporations on their own."

Jay Edelson revealed to Insider that when we filed suit, they knew Browder and DoNotPay would do anything they could to deflect attention away from their alleged wrongdoing. "They attacked our client and now are attacking me," he added.

Also Read: This AI Program Can Sketch Your Thoughts With 80% Accuracy

Canceled Appearance

Earlier this year, DoNotPay made headlines when Browder said it would utilize a chatbot powered by AI to advise a defendant appearing in traffic court. This plan was put on hold when Browder said he had received threats from State Bar prosecutors. He stated that they may face up to six months in jail if they attempt to introduce a robot lawyer.

Also Read: First AI Lawyer in Real Court Canceled by DoNotPay; CEO Explains Why

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
After frantically withdrawing money from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) out of fear of losing access to their savings, UK tech companies are pouring cash into rivals Revolut, Wise, and other London fintech firms.

According to Revolut, the number of transfers received from Silicon Valley Bank on Saturday, Mar. 11, was 16.6 times more than usual. Sunday's transactions, Mar. 12, may be much higher.

Due to a flurry of withdrawals from the bank by tech companies, California authorities shut down SVB on Saturday.

Meanwhile, as reported by Evening Standard, the UK branch of SVB will cease operations immediately, including processing payments and taking deposits. This was after the Bank of England said it would seek to put the bank into a Bank Insolvency Procedure.

See Also: Elon Musk Says He is 'Open' to Acquiring Silicon Valley Bank Following its Collapse

Switching to Rival Banks

Fred Destin, the founder of Stride, a London-based venture capital firm, recently announced that some of his portfolio firms were switching their deposits to the digital banking platforms Revolut and Wise.

Destin explained that many new businesses have had difficulty establishing banking ties. And, if you are a startup, you may have all of your cash at home.

A possible scenario is that the Bank of England announces it will freeze SVB's assets to halt a potential run, he said. As a result, individuals starting businesses have little option but to safeguard their financial assets.

Destin acknowledges that both Wise and Revolut have straightforward onboarding processes and are fully regulated financial institutions, allowing clients to shift large sums of money into them.

Seb Wallace, a venture capital investor at Triple Point, stated, "The standard operating procedure in venture-back businesses would be to open an account from one of Starling, Revolut, Monzo and others [and] most startups have a Wise account. But this [collapse] has rammed home a prudent cash management approach and firms have a clear need now to have multiple bank accounts to spread risk."

Another venture capitalist who requested anonymity told Evening Standard that to diversify their cash management, IT companies were investing in TreasurySpring, a cash management fintech company in London.

Entering Insolvency

In September 2022, SVB's operations in the UK transitioned into a wholly owned subsidiary. In an effort to relieve anxiety, the company informed its UK customers on Saturday, as well as its partners and external stakeholders, that it had a strong financial position as a completely separate, independent financial institution in the eyes of UK authorities.

The bank, however, has now admitted that it has become insolvent.

"We are announcing that following conversations with the Prudential Regulatory Authority, there is an intention, barring any intervening event, to put Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited into insolvency from Sunday evening."

See Also: Silicon Valley Bank's Sudden Collapse Affects Various Indian Startups

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT recently announced investments in a fund dedicated to driving metaverse initiatives in the country, Cointelegraph reports.

South Korea is now capitalizing on the metaverse's potential as a new economic growth engine as more governments crack down on cryptocurrencies and companies turn their backs on metaverse projects.

South Korea Introduces 'Metaverse Fund'

In a press release, the South Korean government announced that it had invested 24 billion Korean won ($18.1 million) to establish a fund of more than 40 billion Korean won ($30.2 million) for metaverse development.

Cointelegraph tells us that the Metaverse Fund will aid in the mergers and acquisitions of various firms in the metaverse ecosystem. The government intends to assist domestic metaverse-related businesses in competing with global players.

South Korea aims to support local players actively, in addition to mergers and acquisitions, by assisting in raising capital through private investments. Given the underlying investment risks, the government agrees that it is difficult for local players to raise money through private investments.

Is There a Future with the Metaverse?

The metaverse, a virtual world where users can interact in real-time, has been heralded as the next technological frontier. However, the high development costs and lack of clear revenue streams have made some businesses wary.

Meta, for example, is said to be having difficulty attracting users to its Horizon Worlds platform, which was launched in 2021 - even begging employees to use the medium, The Verge reports.

Meta also admitted that its massive job cuts in November 2022 affected the Reality Labs and Family of Apps (FoA) segments, impacting its metaverse development.

However, South Korea's decision to double down on the metaverse is noteworthy, given that some other tech firms are demonstrating a growing interest in the metaverse.

Read Also: Silicon Valley Bank's Sudden Collapse Affects Various Indian Startups

This was cited as justification for the government's investment in the fund. South Korea aims to stay ahead of the competition in this emerging field by investing in the metaverse.

According to Statista, the metaverse market was anticipated to reach 47.48 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 before soaring to 678.8 billion U.S. dollars by 2030.

South Korea Embraces Latest Tech

In case you missed it, South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT announced in February that it would invest $642.5 million (826.2 billion won) in companies developing advanced AI processors through 2030.

The Korean government wishes to establish itself as a major player in the rapidly expanding global market for next-generation AI chips. This is why it is not surprising that Seoul is also betting on the metaverse.

According to Cointelegraph, Seoul also launched a digital replica of the city in the metaverse in January, spending approximately 2 billion won ($1.6 million) on the project's first phase.

Along with this rapid tech push, Korea Herald tells us that the country recently announced its first independent sanctions against specific North Korean groups and individuals for cryptocurrency thefts and cyberattacks.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: What Is Ethical Hacking? Here's How It Helps Make Blockchain More Secured

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It is rarely a good sign when the news media becomes the news.

Yet that is happening with growing regularity. Consider this another disturbing symptom of our overly heated, aggrieved, polarized times.

At the end of January, Leonard Downie, Jr., former executive editor of the Washington Post, wrote an opinion column for that paper, entitled: Newsrooms that move beyond objectivity can build trust.

Downies piece is worth reading whether you shake you head up and down or side to side in doing so. My head movement had a distinctly disagreeable tilt to it.

He posed the question of whether traditional objectivity should still be the standard for news reporting, before proceeding to answer his own query in the negative.

The thesis Downie advances is that the pursuit of objectivity has been rendered moot, or at least outdated, by the diversification of newsrooms. Now that these inner sanctums of news gathering are no longer as white or as male as was the historic case, he submits that accurate reporting needs to be informed by the backgrounds, experiences and points of view of a far more diverse journalist corps.

We will return to this dubious idea. But, first, lets identify some of the other telltale instances of a news supply chain in some state of upheaval.

The New York Times, continuing to boast, All the news thats fit to print as if that was even possible amidst the glut of information, is often a bellwether when it comes to media trends and controversies. The editorial leadership there recently found it necessary to lay down the law to a mass of reporters outspokenly upset that the papers coverage of transgender issues had been insufficiently supportive of such individuals.

Displaying rare backbone that would go a long way on college campuses, the Times senior brass wrote internally: We do not welcome, and will not tolerate, participation by Times journalists in protests organized by advocacy groups or attacks on colleagues on social media and other public forums.

Bully for them three years after many of the same sensitive sorts in the Gray Ladys newsroom demanded and secured the scalp of editorial page editor James Bennet who had the temerity to run a column by a Republican U.S. senator advocating a military response to civil unrest resulting from the murder of George Floyd.

It is possible to have thought Sen. Tom Cotton wrong in his assertion without regarding the topic as beyond the pale and unworthy of public debate and a few column inches.

But speaking of sensitive sorts, in Florida they occupy the political right where a few Republican legislators look to curry favor with Gov. Ron DeSantis with a bill to require bloggers and others venturing a published opinion about state government to register with said government.

My dogs understanding of the First Amendment is limited to her inalienable right to bark. But even she would be able to get any such law summarily thrown out.

That leads us to the embarrassing but highly revealing mess at Fox News. In the ultimate testimony to tribalism, abundant evidence shows that Fox executives and prominent on-air figures purveyed the Trump-fueled notion of a stolen election in 2020 to appease their audience while knowing full well that it was all so much horse excrement.

The blatant falsity was only exceeded by the networks stunning insincerity and cynicism. Fox was acting on what it regarded as business imperatives in mollifying its partisan audience. Edward R. Murrow would weep. Heck, Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson and Chris Wallace are surely aghast.

Heres hoping that some judge or jury instructs Fox News to write a painfully, ridiculously large check for its deliberate defamation of Dominion Voting Systems.

All of which brings us full circle to the question of news objectivity. Of course, total objectivity is purely theoretical. It would require a perfectionism and a detachment alien to humans.

Even stories written by ChatGPT and other tools of artificial intelligence will not be immune to the prejudices of those doing the coding.

However, simply acknowledging that objectivity is elusive does not mean it should not be aspirational. If Downie was to follow his argument to its logical conclusion, he would have to make room for the November 2020 rantings of Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and sordid others, no matter the utter fiction and bad faith behind them.

When a few media types contended that Donald Trump posed a unique menace that warranted a deviation from traditional reporting in favor of unvarnished, agenda-driven advocacy, it is any surprise that some unsavory types loyal to Trump decided to embrace a similar ethic?

It is un unmitigated plus that Americas newsroom are far less homogenous than was long the case. A variety of skin tones and nationalities along with ample inclusion of both genders were overdue.

But because those in the business are now a more diverse lot is not tantamount to saying that the process of news collection and reporting have fundamentally changed. Certainly, it is important to tell the stories of many too long in the shadows. Though that does not alter the premium on the accurate presentation of facts and the balanced explanation of what it means.

More than ever, this is vital. Trust in the news media is at scary lows. A 2020 survey by the Knight Foundation found that three in four Americans think media bias to be a major problem.

Some speak openly of alternate facts and a post-truth age. The industry is increasingly fragmented. Many outlets have gone through substantial cutbacks with detritus strewn about and a decline in quality control. And then there is the super-charged, minimally-monitored world of social media.

Bad actors of malicious intent attempt to take advantage of this media landscape. Would-be demagogues who threaten the very tenets of a free press are on the loose.

This is not the time to undercut or sacrifice the timeless goals of good, responsible journalism. Above all, we ought to be wary of those who would throw in the towel on objectivity and call it progress.

Eric Sondermann is a Colorado-based independent political commentator. He writes regularly for Colorado Politics and the Gazette newspapers. Reach him at [email protected]; follow him at @EricSondermann
"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

"I worked with incredible overstrain": a historian on the importance of the railway for the victory of the USSR over the Wehrmacht

The week of God Tuitero: Cain and Abel are a model of fraternity next to Iglesias and Yolanda Diaz

Don't get left behind... Three new restaurants to try as soon as possible

"May Day" holiday tour is popular on the first day train tickets on some directions have been sold out

A new generation gap between parents and children? Children's script entertainment, parents know how much

Jianghan Jiangnan, South China will have a strong precipitation process Northern Xinjiang has rain, snow and strong winds to cool down

The great taboo: how it benefits us to talk about death, how to tell children and accompany the one who is grieving

The magic formula of true crime addiction: "The cases we are going to tell are tremendous and horrifying"

The city of 2,500 caves (and the best destination of the year in Spain to go for wines)

The south will welcome two rounds of precipitation this week and temperatures in the central and eastern parts continue to climb

Ten years together The Chinese Film Golden Rooster Awards ceremony will be settled in Xiamen for a long time

The premiere of the movie "Slam Dunk" surprised two generations of voice actors on the same stage

From the thrashing that did not go to trouble: Atletico remains unstoppable

Alex Rins takes advantage of the fall of Bagnaia and wins the GP of the Americas

Missed chances and an unassigned penalty: Rostov and Zenit drew in the match of the 23rd round of the RPL

OM new runner-up, Nantes sinks and PSG goes for it, what to remember from the 31st matchday of Ligue 1

120 million Euros for Zidane in two seasons. Al Nasr looks forward to Ronaldo and Zizou's double again

There were 18 A-class races across the country in one day, and the participants reached six figures: marathons, crowded

Rui Hachimura scored a team-high 29 points in the first game of the playoffs, leading to victory

The director of the Cultural and Tourism Bureau "rolled" from behind the scenes to the front of the stage Travel data soared

Help patients reduce the cost of medical treatment Can professional chaperones alleviate the "difficulty of seeking medical treatment"?

With the addition of hyaluronic acid, the price has doubled several times: hyaluronic acid has become a new favorite in the food industry

Pay attention to the official account to issue invoices, how to break? Expert: Has the right to refuse or report

A "face" only sells dozens of yuan, and online game anti-addiction has become his "way to make money"

Editorial: Whether the "shared kitchen" is a public good or a business, the boundary cannot be blurred

A court opens the door for a family to be considered large with the pregnancy of the third child before it is born

Ayuso and Ribera clash over a gap of almost 100 million in the distribution of aid for self-consumption

Wang Junlin of Langjiu Group: Promote the high-quality development of Langjiu in the new era

The first week of the comprehensive implementation of the registration system reform: the market operated smoothly and the advantages of the system gradually appeared

The Russian Foreign Ministry noted the difficult state of the global energy sector due to the politicization of decisions

The deposit balances of many banks still maintained growth, and the net interest margin of the banking industry continued to be under pressure

Annual report is dismal, quarterly report is good, securities companies "rely on the sky to eat"

Many banks' annual reports disclose recourse to employees for performance compensation! More than 95% of bancassurance institutions have formulated relevant systems

This is how the Police hunted the leader of La Rapida, the illegal lottery that has been operating in Malaga for 80 years

Hong Kong held a ceremony to pay homage to the Yellow Emperor of Xuanyuan Huang Emperor attended by nearly 700 people

The 'good conqueror' Drago... According to the look of his 10 'widows'

83 people have been killed in clashes in Sudan since April 13, according to WHO

Arrested in Lavapies the former member of Eta, Jose Maria Larra, Txepe, after snatching the defense from a policeman: "I'm going to put it in you"

Visit the Kola photovoltaic power plant: "chasing the light" on a plateau at an altitude of 4600,<> meters

Russian Ambassador Barbin said that Denmark has no red lines on the topic of Ukraine

Since the protests of 2018 until the battles of Khartoum. A chronology of the years of political conflict in Sudan

The conflict continues! The presidents of the three countries will go to mediate, and the Chinese embassy will issue another security reminder

Alessandro Lequio breaks his silence: "It makes me sad that my son is once again the protagonist of today"

Mass poisoning on MasterChef 11: "We're sorry. It is an absolutely exceptional case in these 11 years"

Political scientist Dudchak on Hersh's statement about Zelensky: there are probably a lot of such stories

Naoko, Emma Nogueiro and the other women in Sanchez Drago's life (always younger and with short hair)

The sexist murder of an influencer shakes the Dominican Republic: her ex shoots her in the head three days after trying

The Future of Online Casinos and the Technologies That Will Shape It

Bad Bunny silences criticism at Coachella: "Don't believe what you don't see that came out of my mouth"

The questions surrounding Beatriz Flamini and her 500 days in a cave: "I can think of many questions"

The athlete Beatriz Flamini leaves the cave where she has remained alone and isolated for 500 days

The head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Reznikov said that the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are less than the victims of the earthquake in Turkey

A fire on the border with France burns 750 hectares and approaches Portbou on two fronts

Ex-intelligence officer Ritter believes that Zelensky risks dying at the hands of Ukrainians because of the rebellion

Don't get left behind... Three new restaurants to try as soon as possible

Patricia Rite, from MyHyV, who became an influencer for her fight against skin cancer, dies

 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.
Lara Nicholson writes for The Advocate as a Report for America Corps Member. Email her at lnicholson@theadvocate.com or follow her on Twitter @LaraNicholson_.

To learn more about Report for America and to support our journalism, please click here.
When I was growing up, the left preached principles like the ends dont justify the means.

Apparently, they got very tired of living up to that concept.

The belief now is the ends justify everything. Case in point is Colorados Senate Bill 168, a maneuver in a coordinated nationwide effort to litigate the gun manufacturing industry out of existence.

Progressives, be careful what you wish for. Unleashing the strategy of the ends justify anything brings us to the brink of mutually assured destruction. The rights you hold dear, like abortion, might be destroyed by the very door youre about to open. Read on.

As now it stands, gun manufacturers, like all manufacturers, can be sued for defective products. If your vacuum cleaner blows up while using it, you can sue the Hoover Corporation.

If your defective Glock 17 blows up while target shooting you can sue the Glock company. (FYI, Glocks never blow up, arguably the most reliable pistol ever, so gunnies cool your easily ignited jets).

If someone nearly beats you to death with a Hoover, youre not going to get far trying to sue the Hoover company. I mean you can try, but the attack has little to do with the vacuum manufacturer.

Like the neo-Nazi who drove his car into a crowd of anti-racist protesters in Charlottesville, Va., killing one, suing Chevrolet for purposeful misuse of their functional product is a losing strategy; the Dodge Challenger didnt cause the attack. Duh.

If someone nearly kills you with a Glock, you can try to sue Glock, but the same legal logic usually holds up in court.

The twist gun-haters try to show in court is the advertising a boogeyman gun company uses glorifying how their products kill people.

But when gun companies advertise the defensive benefits of their product (stopping power), it by default shows off the offensive side too. And car companies show how powerful their products are, advertising ramming speed to neo-Nazis.

Problem was not the gun makers losing these nuisance lawsuits. Problem was they were drowning in them, death by a thousand cuts, by design.

You see, gun makers are not like big tobacco or big pharma. They are not sitting on piles of cash. People are not chemically addicted or dependent on their products to stay alive. Gun makers are just machine shops.

The flood of ongoing lawsuits put several out of business. Colt, of the six-shooter fame, stopped selling to the public. Even Smith and Wesson almost went under.

Thats why, with lots of bipartisan support, in D.C. and states like Colorado laws passed to ban such nuisance lawsuits.

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Senate Bill 168 not only rips away those protections, but it also puts industry-crushing litigation on steroids.

A newspaper libels you. SB-168 would have you sue the printing press makers out of business.

If the victim of a crime doesnt want to sue an out-of-state gun manufacturer, SB-168 gives the states attorney general the pleasure of doing it without the victims consent. It even allows the AG to designate that gratification to another party, such as an anti-gun organization, maybe one of the well-funded Bloomberg ones.

Gun haters, do you understand what youre doing? Yes. Yes. Youre saving lives. Isnt that what anti-abortionists say?

So, lets switch the evil gun in this scenario with an evil abortion pill and play it out.

Someone from Alabama comes to Colorado for abortions services and brings back abortion pills that are now illegal in her very pro-life state and a dozen others. And they are used illegally there.

Say Alabama copies Colorado, but on abortion. Their AG delegates a well-funded, pro-life legal firm to not only sue the pharmacy that gave out the meds to the woman in Colorado, but also the pharmaceutical company that manufactured them.

Just how many such pharmacies need to fight off these suits until they decide the tiny margin they make on abortion pills isnt worth the hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees? How long until the manufacturers find it cheaper not to make the drug?

Dont think pro-lifers wont follow your anti-gun lead?

Remember when the Democrats in the U.S. Senate ended the filibuster for judges. Republicans cautioned two can play that game if they ever got into power.

Now Roe is overturned.

The same applies here. Oh, and Alabama.

Consider yourself warned.

Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics.
LSU students Dora Rasulova, left, of Uzbekistan, and Violeta Kovalemko, right, of Ukraine, carry the flag of Ukraine as they march with others on the steps of the State Capitol during a demonstation to show support for Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Jake Muriillo, an American from New Orleans, is just behind them, at center. ORG XMIT: BAT2203011100140815
Cooking lots of Tater Tots at Second Harvest Food Bank in Harahan. The food bank is seeking volunteers for several positions.


If James Cameron truly believes in anything, its the power of big-screen spectacle, and more than ever hes determined to give us the works.
Scarlett was 13 when her parents were told her a heart transplant was the only chance of survival. They told us we have two options: we can turn off her life support and let her die, or we can try for a heart transplant, Kercher-Hack said. Amanda Kercher Hack with her daughter Scarlett Hack who was 13 when she was told a heart transplant was her only chance of survival. Credit: Brook Mitchell We only had 14 days for a matching donor to become available. Otherwise, Scarlett would be too far gone [to successfully undergo transplantation], she said. The plan was to fly Scarlett to Melbourne on ECMO (a heart-lung bypass machine), an extremely, extremely risky exercise, Kercher-Hack said.

A nurse later told me that they hadnt held out much hope that Scarlett would survive the trip, she said. But when the Victorian border restrictions scuttled her familys plans to relocate to Melbourne, Scarletts paediatric cardiac surgeons Drs Yishay Orr, Ian Nicholson and Phil Roberts asked her parents if they would trust them to do the transplant at Westmead. I said yes, lets do it here, Kercher-Hack said. They listed Scarlett on the heart transplant list through St Vincents Hospitals adult transplant program as an eleventh-hour work-around. CHW staff developed a model of care for running a heart transplant service that guided the complex and multidisciplinary work not just for Scarlett, but the four successful heart transplants that followed her.

Loading Within eight days of being put on the transplant list, Scarletts new heart was on its way. They did it, Kercher-Hack said. We owe everything to [CHW], and it absolutely devastates me to think that other families cant get that same care right here. Why, in a major city like Sydney, are we putting kids on ECMO on planes to Melbourne? Since those five successful transplants, five more children were transferred from Sydney to Melbourne for heart transplantation in 2022, the Sydney Childrens Hospital Network (SCHN) confirmed.

Dr Paul Jansz, director of the adult Heart Lung Transplant Unit at St Vincents Hospital, said there is definitely the demand, as well as the technical and medical expertise, to operate a paediatric heart transplantation service at CHW. It is ridiculous that families have to relocate to Melbourne to have this procedure, Jansz said. We [can] fully support them with the infrastructure from our own transplant service. From where I stand it is just a lack of will from the administrative and supporting funding bodies. Each transplant costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, including during the months of pre- and post-operative care. The paediatric heart transplant service at Melbournes RCH is a Nationally Funded Centre (NFC) program, which also covers ventricular assist devices (VADs), which some heart failure patients rely on while they wait for a new heart.

Loading NFCs are funded by a pool of contributions from all states and territories  managed by the Health Chief Executives Forum (HCEF)  according to a population-based formula. A joint states and territories review of this NFC, led by NSW Health, began at the end of 2021. CHW staff and parents interviewed for the review had hopes it would recommend establishing a second paediatric heart transplant program at CHW. They were told the review would be completed within four to six months. More than a year later, no decision has been communicated. Health Minister Brad Hazzard directed questions to NSW Health. A spokeswoman for NSW Health said the review was still underway having experienced significant delays due to COVID-19 and the final recommendations were expected before the end of this financial year.

The argument for running just one service in Australia stems from the need to concentrate the small volume of cases at one site to maintain clinical expertise. Fewer than 20 Australian children received a heart transplant annually, the NSW Health spokeswoman said. The international benchmark, however, for maintaining a high-performing paediatric heart transplant centre is five cases per year  the number of children sent from NSW to Melbourne in 2021  and centres doing a handful of cases over a three-year period still have acceptable results. Jansz said he had no doubt that NSW had more than enough cases to justify a second service at CHW. There are units doing far fewer heart transplants and doing them well, Jansz said.

What the current numbers dont include are the kids who dont go on the waiting list because their families cant relocate, or the kids getting managed with heart failure perhaps longer than they should because there is no established transplant program in NSW. Then they get to the point where [their condition] falls off a cliff, and they end up on ECMO. That is disastrous, he said. Elizabeth Miroforidis with her sons Romeo and Alex Kakias holding a photo of their brother Elias at their Peakhurst home. Credit: Louise Kennerley Elizabeth Miroforidis has made the journey to Melbournes RCH twice for her sons Elias and Alexander. Both boys were diagnosed with Barth Syndrome, a rare condition characterised by an enlarged and weakened heart (known as dilated cardiomyopathy).

Elias Kakias died from complications of a blood clot in his ventricular assist device (VAD) while waiting for a heart. Elias, born in December 2017, battled heart failure for the first few months of his life. At just seven months old, he was put on ECMO and flown from Sydney to Melbourne to wait for a heart transplant. Elias relied on a type of VAD  known as a Berlin heart that kept him alive. But five weeks after he was put on the transplant list a blood clot formed in the device, causing severe brain damage. Elias was eight months old when he died.

I held him while he took his last breath, Miroforidis said. A mix-up with Elias death certificate meant his parents drove back to Sydney not knowing his body had been left behind in Melbourne. I didnt get to see him until the day before the funeral, his mother said. Elias brother, Alexander, was born carrying the same deadly heart condition, despite his parents being repeatedly assured that they did not carry the genetic mutation that caused it. He was 18 months old when his heart function deteriorated.

Having to make the journey to Melbourne again was almost too traumatising for Miroforidis to bear. I remember telling his doctors we cant go back to Melbourne. As soon as I walk through those doors, its like being there with Elias. All that pain all over again, she said. Alexander Kakias underwent a heart transplant at Melbournes Royal Childrens Hospital. Alexander was listed for a heart transplant in NSW in early 2021, but it soon became clear Alexander would also need a Berlin heart. We had no other option but to take Alexander to Melbourne, Miroforidis said.

Once again, Alexanders family had put their lives on hold to relocate to Melbourne, this time for six months, enrolling his older brother Romeo in a new school and paying bills in two states. Having to go through all this all over again tore our family apart, Miroforidis said. It was incredibly unfair ... but I swore that this time when we went to Melbourne that I was coming back with my child, she said. Alexander got his new heart just shy of his second birthday. Why are we sending kids to Melbourne for heart transplants when we know Westmead is capable of doing this? Miroforidis said. This is madness.

Loading The SCHN spokeswoman said it strongly supported the development of a dedicated heart transplant service at CHW and welcomed the opportunity to put forward a strong case for formal recognition. But the hospital is struggling to keep up with overwhelming demand on its existing services amid what clinicians characterise as chronic underfunding and a staffing crisis. Its elective surgery waitlist blew out to a record 2656 children at the end of 2022  779 of whom had waited longer than clinically recommended for their surgeries. Surgeries and diagnostic imaging appointments are regularly cancelled because there are not enough anaesthetists or intensive care beds to support them.

Loading Scarlett Hacks heart biopsy at CHW was cancelled in January and again in February. The crucial procedure that measures any rejection of her new heart has been rescheduled for next week. Jansz said: Its really hard for the clinicians to exist in this environment where they are not supported to push programs forward, and they are constantly under pressure from dwindling resources. The SCHN spokeswoman said its clinicians are committed to providing safe and high-quality care to all patients and any child requiring urgent surgery receives this without delay. RCH declined to comment.
A man has been struck by lightning while playing golf on Sunday as storms swept across Brisbane and caused almost 5000 people to lose power.

Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain of up to 50 millimetres and a small risk of large hailstones and damaging winds were forecast for the south-east, as the system that dumped huge falls on the Gulf Country lingered into Sunday evening.

The Queensland Ambulance Service said paramedics treated a man who was struck by lightning while playing a round of golf at Wantima Country Club at Brendale, north of Brisbane, about 2.30pm.

The man was rushed to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital in a critical condition.
Japan has mastered intimate dining: small, dimly lit izakaya venues line the busy streets, offering space for only about 10 people to eat and drink in quarters so close the setting could easily be mistaken for a dinner party.

When Alex Cheah, a 27-year-old university student who moved to Melbourne from Malaysia about six years ago, travelled to Tokyo, he was immediately intrigued by the cosy, communal nature of these little spaces. He became determined to bring it Down Under.

Alex Cheah wants to unite chef and patron by brining the Japanese izakaya experience to Melbourne. Credit: Eddie Jim

And so Teishoku Tuesdays began. Melbournes very own izakaya, but even smaller and homier than the real deal, largely because it was run entirely out of Cheahs living room.

Every Tuesday, he welcomed a maximum of two people into his Carlton apartment for homemade Japanese food, chosen from a select menu he changed every few weeks, bespoke cocktails, relaxing vinyl records and friendly conversation  all in the surprising comfort of a strangers home.
First published in the Sun-Herald on March 14, 1993

The Keating Government enters a record fifth term this week after an extraordinary boilover in yesterdays Federal election.

The victory kiss....Mr. Keating is hugged as he leaves Bankstown Sports Club with Mrs Keating after his win. March 13, 1993. Credit: Kenneth Stevens

At the close of counting Labor had won, with the majority put as low as three and as high as 11. John Hewsons Coalition was struggling against impossible odds to win the net five seats it needed to oust Labor, although at midnight last night Dr Hewson did not fully concede defeat.

As expected, the swing varied sharply from State to State, favouring Labor in Tasmania, Victoria and NSW, with lesser swings against the Government in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
Labor is privately urging Indigenous leaders to back a compromise deal that would change the wording of the Voice constitutional amendment proposed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a bid to win over conservatives and boost the chances of a referendum win.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus last week presented members of the referendum working group with an additional set of words to guard against potential High Court challenges, the risk of which has become a key sticking point for some conservative legal thinkers and Coalition MPs whose support could avert a devastating setback for reconciliation.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

This masthead can reveal the seven extra words proposed by Dreyfus and the governments lawyer, Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue, KC, would come after the third clause proposed by Albanese.

The original third clause stated: The parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
The tech purge has so far claimed 500 Atlassians and another 800 or so Xeros in the past week, as staff at those software companies are known.

If Canva, the Australian graphic design software darling, follows suit, its founders will send exit emails to a host of Canvanauts.

Canva co-founders Cameron Adams, Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins at a company event last year. Credit: Louie Douvis

These folksy nicknames are a symptom of an industry that until recently was doing everything possible to attract talent. The pandemic had provided a boost to the sector, which was already riding high on frothy valuations, access to cheap money and the winds truly blowing in its favour.

But now the gale has reversed course and Canva, valued at $US25.6 billion ($38 billion) and Australia's largest start-up, is among the last major technology companies with its full workforce left standing. At 10 years old, it has never shed jobs and is known for its generous, even lavish, pay packages. Last year alone it hired 1400 people, taking its total workforce to 3500.
Ukraine and Russia claimed on Saturday that hundreds of enemy troops were killed over the previous 24 hours in the fight for Bakhmut, with Kyiv fending off unabating attacks and a small river that bisects the town now marking the new front line.

Vladyslav, a Ukrainian paratrooper of the 80 Air Assault brigade, rests inside a dugout at the frontline near Bakhmut on Friday. Credit: AP

Serhiy Cherevatyi, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, said 221 pro-Moscow troops were killed and more than 300 wounded in Bakhmut. Russias defence ministry said that up to 210 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the broader Donetsk part of the frontline.

While Moscow did not specify Bakhmut casualties, the eastern Donetsk town, now nearly deserted, has been the site of one of the bloodiest and longest battles of the year-long war.

Both sides have admitted to suffering and inflicting significant losses in Bakhmut, while the exact number of casualties is difficult to independently verify.
New York: The US government took extraordinary steps Sunday to stop a potential banking crisis after the historic failure of Silicon Valley Bank, assuring all depositors at the failed institution that they could access all their money quickly, even as another major bank was shut down.

The announcement came amid fears that the factors that caused the Santa Clara, California-based bank to fail could spread.

Silicon Valley Bank logo Credit: Bloomberg

Regulators had worked all weekend to try to find a buyer for the bank, which was the second-largest bank failure in history. Those efforts appeared to have failed Sunday.

In a sign of how fast the financial bleeding was occurring, regulators announced that New York-based Signature Bank had also failed and was being seized on Sunday. At more than $US110 billion in assets, Signature Bank is the third-largest bank failure in US history.
The Wyoming State Records Committee will meet at 2 p.m., Monday, March 20, 2023, via Google Meet.

Meeting ID: meet.google.com/dhp-gidn-ksp

Those wishing to listen in can do so by calling: (US) +1 567-231-5199 PIN: 128 575 217#

The Wyoming State Records Committee reviews, and considers for approval, retention schedules of public records. The State Records Committee is the final authority in determining whether state, county and local government records are retained permanently or disposed of after a designated period. Committee members include representatives from the State Archives, Attorney Generals Office, and the Department of Audit.

The meeting agenda includes retention requests for State and local agencies, and accession and deaccession requests involving a variety of archival materials.

If you require special assistance, please contact the Wyoming State Archives at 307-777-7826.
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Windy...showers and thundershowers this evening, then variable clouds overnight with more showers possible. Low 44F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Windy...showers and thundershowers this evening, then variable clouds overnight with more showers possible. Low 44F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
2 More Banks Seek to Reassure Customers After Silicon Valley Bank Collapse

California-based First Republic Bank and Arizona-based Western Alliance Bancorporation both attempted to calm nerves around the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank after shares for both financial institutions plunged in the past week or so.

First Republic Bank told customers that their deposits were safe amid fears of spillover caused by SVBs collapse late last week and as shares of First Republic Bank dropped 33 percent over the past five days.

In a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday, First Republic said its liquidity position remains strong amid falling share prices.

This filing reiterates First Republics continued safety and stability and strong capital and liquidity positions, the filing stated. First Republics deposit base is strong and very-well diversified. Consumer deposits have an average account size of less than $200,000 and business deposits have an average account size of less than $500,000.

The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures deposits up to $250,000 per depositor per insured bank, for each account category. There were reports that about 85 percent of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) accounts werent insured as the financial institution was often used by tech firms and startups.

Within business deposits, no one sector represents more than 9 percent of total deposits, with the largest being diversified real estate. Technology-related deposits represent only 4 percent of total deposits, First Republic also said. Its investment portfolio is less than 15 percent of total bank assets and only less than 2 percent of total bank assets are categorized as available for sale.

Silicon Valley Bank is the first FDIC-insured institution to fail this year, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said, although analysts noted that its collapse represents the largest bank to fall since 2008 when Washington Mutual collapsed. The last FDIC-insured institution to close was Almena State Bank in Kansas on Oct. 23, 2020.

Meanwhile, Western Alliance, based in Phoenix, issued a news release on March 11 that deposits remain strong, saying that total deposits of $61.5 billion, an increase of $7.8 billion since year end, led by our deposit verticals of Settlement Services, Home Owner Associations and Mortgage Warehouse. The company expects deposits to moderately decline from these levels by quarter end due to typical seasonal and monthly activity.

Like First Republic, shares of Western Alliance have plunged about 35 percent. As of Friday, it held $2.5 billion cash on its balance sheet while held-to-maturity securities made up less than 2 percent of assets with an unrecognized loss of $192 million as of Feb. 28.

Fears

On Twitter, a highly visible post alleged that people were going on a bank run at a Brentwood, California, First Republic Bank location. That posts video, shot from a moving vehicle, showed what appeared to be a long line of people standing outside the branch.

Ive never seen a bank run in Brentwood Los Angeles in over 40 yearsthis is at first republic bank branch. People standing in rain, the user alleged on March 11. The Epoch Times has contacted First Republic Bank for comment on the claim and others.

A Daily Mail article, too, published photos of the long lines outside the Brentwood location. Before SVBs collapse, depositors moved to withdraw their money en masse, triggering California state regulators to shutter the bank and allow the FDIC to take over.

Those concerns were also exacerbated by a Wall Street Journal article with a headline that blared, First Republic Hit by Silicon Valley Bank Failure and that investors have grown wary of First Republic Bank for reasons similar to those that caused concern at SVB.

The bank, which was founded in San Francisco in 1985, has some 80 branches in 11 states around the United States. The WSJ article noted that the banks funding relies largely on wealthy individuals who want to seek higher yields on their money.

With about $212 billion in total assets, First Republic Bank is the 14th largest in the United States. Western Alliance is smaller, with about $34 billion in total assets.

Reuters contributed to this report.
4 Astronauts Fly SpaceX Back Home, End 5-month Mission

The capsule of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft, slowed by parachutes, approaches the surface of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico off Tampa, Fla., as it returns to Earth on March 11, 2023. (Keegan Barber/NASA via AP)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.Four space station astronauts returned to Earth late Saturday after a quick SpaceX flight home.

Their capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast near Tampa.

The U.S.RussianJapanese crew spent five months at the International Space Station, arriving last October. Besides dodging space junk, the astronauts had to deal with a pair of leaking Russian capsules docked to the orbiting outpost and the urgent delivery of a replacement craft for the stations other crew members.

Led by NASAs Nicole Mann, the first Native American woman to fly in space, the astronauts checked out of the station early Saturday morning. Less than 19 hours later, their Dragon capsule was bobbing in the sea as they awaited pickup.

Earlier in the week, high wind and waves in the splashdown zones kept them at the station a few extra days. Their replacements arrived more than a week ago.

Clockwise from L, Expedition 68 Flight Engineers Anna Kikina of Roscosmos, Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann from NASA, and Koichi Wakata of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) gather for a portrait inside the International Space Stations Kibo laboratory module on March 1, 2023. (NASA via AP)

That was one heck of a ride, Mann radioed moments after splashdown. Were happy to be home.

Mann, a member of Northern Californias Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, said she couldnt wait to feel the wind on her face, smell fresh grass and enjoy some delicious Earth food.

Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata craved sushi, while Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina yearned to drink hot tea from real cup, not from plastic bag.

NASA astronaut Josh Cassadas to-do list included getting a rescue dog for his family. Please dont tell our two cats, he joked before departing the space station.

Remaining behind at the space station are three Americans, three Russians, and one from the United Arab Emirates.

Wakata, Japans spaceflight champion, now has logged more than 500 days in space over five missions dating back to NASAs shuttle era.

By Marcia Dunn
Alleged Serial Killer of Teen and 3 Women in 1980s Dies Before Trial

An inmate looks out from prison bars. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELESA 76-year-old man who was allegedly linked by DNA evidence to the cold-case killings of a 15-year-old girl and three young women in Los Angeles and Inglewood dating back as far as 1980 has died while in custody.

Superior Court Judge Armenui Amy Ashvanian announced March 10 that the court had received documentation that Billy Ray Richardson was pronounced dead Feb. 15.

Richardsonwho had previously been brought into court on a hospital gurneyhad been awaiting arraignment on four murder charges after being extradited last year from Texas.

The case against him was dismissed as a result of his death.

I just feel very sad for the families that will never get to see him held responsible for the crimes he committedthe horrendous murders of these four young women, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said outside the downtown Los Angeles courtroom. I hope at the very least it brings them some peace to know weve identified the perpetrator and hes no longer living among us.

Richardson was charged last July with the March 6, 1980, killings of 25-year-old Beverly Cruse and 22-year-old Debra Cruse, two sisters who were each shot in the head three times in an apartment in the 3200 block of Overland Avenue in Palms, along with the July 26, 1980, killing of the 15-year-old Kari Lenander, who was strangled in the 3700 block of Victoria Avenue, and the Dec. 31, 1995, slaying of Trina Wilson, 28, whose throat had been slashed in North Park in Inglewood.

Each of the victims had been raped, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office.

The murder charges had included the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, murder during the commission of a rape, and murder during the commission of a burglary.

Investigative and forensic work over decades connected these murders through DNA and linked them to suspect Billy Ray Richardson, according to a statement released by the Los Angeles Police Department after his arrest.

Richardsons identification as the suspect in the killings and his subsequent arrest was the result of a collaborative investigation involving the LAPD, Inglewood Police Department, FBI, Fort Worth Police Department, and investigators from the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office, according to the police department.

Richardson died from complications of a cervical spine injury and blunt force trauma, according to records from the coroners office, which concluded that the manner of his death was an accident.

The coroners office also listed COVID-19, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and dementia as other significant conditions for Richardson.
Anthony Furey: Three Years After the Pandemic Began, What Have We Learned?

Commentary

When it comes to singling out the most ludicrous of pandemic restrictions that Canadians endured, the list of contenders is long. But theres one that I continue to go back to as, if not the most ridiculous, then at least the most inhumane.

It was March 2021, and lockdowns had thankfully been lifted to some degree and schools were open at that point in Ontario. But I had been hearing from parents across the province that when a child in their kids class had tested positive for COVID-19, their child was sent home with some truly alarming guidelines.

In Peel Region, if a student was deemed a close contact of a kid who later went on to test positive for the virus, the health board issued guidelines to their parents instructing them to isolate the child alone in a separate room for 14 days.

A child, even a small one. Completely alone, separate from family members. For two full weeks. And not even because the child was ill with the virus, but because there was the chance they would later come down with it because one of their classmates had it.

One parent I interviewed over the phone about receiving the note mentioned at the end of our conversation that his child, who had received the note instructing him to isolate alone, had Down syndrome. The parent said there was no way theyd be following these guidelines.

The lockdowns were an emotionally charged period but I had done well to keep myself together. However, the idea that the state was instructing parents to keep special needs children away from their family for two weeks was too much to bear and I wept after that phone call.

While politicians and public health officials were stubbornly reluctant to ever admit they had gone too far with COVID-19 provisions, this was one rule where the dam broke and some of them did concede that this policy was wrong, and it was largely retracted.

Most parents would of course have disregarded such a crazy instruction anyway, although social media reports at the time had some parents admit that they had gone along with it.

We know that if somebody may have COVID-19 we would like them to be isolated for up to 14 days, said Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontarios associate chief medical officer of health, at a news conference at the time. However, we obviously understand that you cant leave a child alone. You have to use common sense.

This was one of the few times that the public was told that pandemic guidelines were just that, guidelines, and that one was free to interpret them using common sense.

For the most part though, things were rigid and zero interpretation was tolerated. We saw this in how blunt enforcement became. If just one person in a grocery store wasnt wearing a mask, for whatever reason, there were times when the police were called to remove them, as if that was a wise use of police resources.

The challenge was that a lot of people, speaking out on social media, cheered these excesses along and were excited to see the crackdowns on those who didnt strictly adhere to the rules.

Opinions are now quite different. When looking back on what happened, there are no doubt many people willing to admit that perhaps we went a little overboard with things.

One of the key pieces of evidence I kept going back to was a report authored by Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas chief medical officer, on how to deal with a pandemic. It was published a couple of years before COVID-19 came alone.

The report laid out a scenario where Canada would be hit by a virus that had a higher fatality rate than COVID-19 and also spread to more people. Yet despite all of this, the report stressed that the goal of government was to minimize the disruption to peoples lives and do everything possible to keep things functioning. The good doctor clearly didnt follow her own advice.

The three-year anniversary statements currently being offered up by politicians largely focus on remembering those who died of the virus and honouring the hardships of medical staff and front line workers. Fair enough. But what about some self-reflection? What about commissions and inquiry into the appropriateness of government responses?

Despite the clear need for them, weve seen no such reports materialize in Canada so far. Perhaps officials dont want to be in the position of defending the indefensible.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Antifa Assaults Journalists, Observers Ahead of Detransitioner Rally in California

Antifa activists gather at the California State Capitol building in protest of DeTrans Awareness Day in Sacramento, Calif., on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

SACRAMENTO, Calif.Chanting Go home, Nazis and Trans rights are human rights, more than 100 activistssome carrying Antifa insignia and wielding clubsattacked journalists across the street from Californias state Capitol on March 10.

The transgender activists, carrying a black-and-red flag and signs with other Antifa insignia, staged a Day of Rage protest about an hour before a planned and permitted rally promoting Detransition Awareness Day on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento.

A detransitioner is someone who has either socially or medically transitioned their gender, but later regretted the decision and re-embraced their original birth gender.

Detransitioners and their supporters hold a rally on the steps of the California state Capitol in Sacramento on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Transgender activists hold signs in front of the California state Capitol building in Sacramento on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

A few days ago, a flyer calling for a day of rage against well-known detransitioner Chloe Cole and calling her supporters a gang of astroturf transphobes, surfaced online. Cole, 18, from the Central Valley, is currently suing health care provider Kaiser Permanente for giving her a double mastectomy when she was 15 years old; she has spoken against legislation that made California a trans sanctuary state.

Cole and other detransitioners have criticized transgender ideology and gender transition surgeries for minors and adults younger than 25.

The counterprotesters gathered in the intersection of 10th and N streets, just outside the jurisdiction of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Capitol protection unit, shouting all cops are bastards at more than two dozen officers.

The trans activists assaulted at least four journalists who were photographing and filming the mayhem, including a TV crew whose cameras were damaged as activists marched down N Street in front of the Legislative Office Building. They assaulted another man on the street whobleeding from a wound over his right eyeran to the Capitol grounds for refuge. At least two fire trucks and an ambulance responded to the scene, where paramedics bandaged the mans head and eye.

Antifa activists gathering in front of the California state Capitol building attacked members of the media in Sacramento on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

A man sits bleeding after being attacked by Antifa activists gathering in front of the California state Capitol building in Sacramento on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The Sacramento Police Department said in an email to The Epoch Times that officers arrested Joseph Conradsen, 31, for multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon and multiple counts of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. Conradsen was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on the charges, according to a public information officer.

Police will continue to investigate the incidents stemming from the protest, the department stated. Victims and witnesses are encouraged to contact the dispatch center at 916-808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-HELP (4357).

The CHP capitol police made no arrests.

Detransitioner Awareness

The peaceful detransitioner rally, led by Our Duty, a nonpartisan, nonreligious international group of parents who oppose transgender ideology, featured several speakers, including Cole, the former female-to-male teen transitioner.

Cole said nobody knows the true number of detransitioners because many are afraid to speak up about their regret.

Chloe Cole speaks on the steps of the California state Capitol in Sacramento on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

I started socially transitioning at the age of 12, and just six months after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria, I was put on puberty blockers and then testosterone, she said. When I was 15 years old  I had my breasts permanently removed.

It wasnt very long after that that Cole realized these medical interventions she thought would help her become whole and healthy  and happy were really harming her.

You may hear that detransitioners dont exist, or that clinically, they are not significant, that transgender people only try and detransition because of societal or social pressures, or because they cant find work, or because its too difficult, or because you dont have support from the friends or family or those around them, she said. This is not true.

When she announced her detransition, Cole said trans activists accused her of using resources that could have been used to treat real transgender people, and that it was her own fault because she was 13not 5when she began hormone replacement treatments and should have known what would happen to her body.

For a while, I didnt know how to fight back. I didnt know how to speak up. I certainly didnt want to harm the community of people that I thought loved me, that I was a part of once, she said.

Detransitioners speak on the steps of the California state Capitol in Sacramento on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Abel Garcia, a former male-to-female transitioner, told the crowd of more than 100 supporters that he regrets using cross-sex hormones and getting breast implants, and that children and young adults should not be used for medical experiments.

Garcia said he empathizes with the struggles of transgender people who are caught in the ideological debate.

We already had one activist here yell at us earlier, and we have all of them to the left of us, he said from the Capitol steps. I dont hate anyone. Honestly, I have empathy. I have sadness for these people because theyre lost.

Garcia urged people to take a second look at the side effects of transgender treatments.

Theyre killing themselves slowly with poison, he said, referring to cross-sex hormones. Take a step back, slow down. Youre hurting yourself.

Erin Friday, a western U.S. regional co-leader for Our Duty, told supporters the rally was held two days in advance of Detransition Awareness Day, March 12, at the state Capitol to raise awareness.

The vast majority of our membership are Democrats or former Democrats who left the party because of gender ideology, she said. Our message is not one of hate, but of lovelove of reality, love of ones body as perfectly imperfect as it is without drugs and surgeries, and love of children and vulnerable adults.

Gender affirmative care is harming thousands of children and young adults, Friday said.

We are here to honor the brave detransitioners who are subjected to hate and threats from those who want to deny their existence, who say that their stories are lies or some mystic gender journey, who say that they are speaking up for political reasons, and worse, for stardom, she said.

Erin Friday speaks on the steps of the California state Capitol in Sacramento on March 10, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

To the contrary, the detransitioners deeply regret gender transition and would rather turn back time and undo the harm they have suffered at the hands of the health care communities, Friday said.

They dont want to be here. They dont want center stage, she said, but they are compelled to be here because they dont want what happened to them to happen to others.

Friday, a longtime Democrat, urged parents to pay attention to new legislation moving through the California Legislature that she said threatens parental rights.

Detransition Awareness Day events were scheduled in several other California cities and in many states across the nation.
Nearly 100 people attended a public involvement meeting about expanding Alabama State Route 167 Tuesday evening at the Enterprise Civic Center.

There was no formal presentation at the come-and-go meeting held between 5 and 7 p.m., but representatives from Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Corporation, Sain Associates, and Barge Design Solutions manned separate information stations located throughout the civic centers main auditorium to answer questions and discuss the proposal.

The 60-mile roadway is the major connector between Troy and Panama City Beach, Florida, SR-167. The two-lane road for most of its length enters Coffee County from Dale County, passes through Enterprise, and proceeds northerly into Pike County. The route is a heavily traveled by freight traffic also serves as an emergency access route.

Expanding 167 from two lanes to four lanes will benefit the entire Wiregrass region and the state of Alabama, Enterprise Mayor William E. Cooper said.

Improving this north/south corridor has the potential to not only improve the FEMA evacuation route, allow our military community to more easily receive and deploy assets, create economic trade opportunities with a robust roadway to get goods where they need to go, and attract visitors from around the country.

SR-167 is the primary source for north/south transportation of goods and services from Coffee and Geneva Counties in Alabama, as well as Holmes County, Fla. The southern end point of the route is at the Florida state line, where SR-167 transitions to Florida State Road 79. The Florida Department of Transportation has signaled its intent to four-lane SR-79 from I-10 to the Alabama state line.

Hosted by SEARP&DC, the meeting also allowed the public to review project maps and information.

The regularly scheduled Enterprise City Council meeting work session was held at 4 p.m. at the civic center and the mayor and council moved into the main auditorium at 5 to show support for the expansion project. Its important for our community to have their voices heard and communicate how passionate they are about widening this roadway, said Enterprise Mayor Cooper at the work session as he encouraged participants to attend the public involvement meeting.

I would like to reiterate how expanding 167 from two lanes to four lanes will benefit the entire Wiregrass region and the state of Alabama, Cooper said. Our region needs to unite to support this project. According to a University of Alabama Transportation Institute Study, this project will add 11,191 jobs for hard working Alabamians and will have an economic impact $2.1 billion over 20 years.

Improving the north/south corridor has the potential to improve the FEMA evacuation route, allow our military community to more easily receive and deploy assets, create economic trade opportunities with a robust roadway to get goods where they need to go, and attract visitors from around the country, Cooper said. This particular roadway was identified as having state/regional impact, with high priority, in a short-term time frame. Highway 84 was designated the same way. Now that 84 is done, its time to focus on 167.

The state is dealing with limited resources and it only has so much money to work with, Cooper said. Thats why our region must work together to address the importance of this expansion, and demonstrate how and why its good for not only the Wiregrass, but the entire state.

The public involvement meeting is one step closer to an actionable plan and I encourage our citizens to get involved and make their voices heard, said Cooper

Another public involvement meeting on the matter is set for March 14 from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Wiregrass Electric Cooperative in Hartford. The public is invited to attend.
As Atmospheric River Exits, Another Awaits to Hit California

WATSONVILLE, Calif.Wet, miserable weather continued across huge swaths of California on Sunday as an atmospheric river that caused major flooding flowed eastward, and as a new system threatens the region with another onslaught of rain, snow, and gusting winds as soon as Monday night.

The National Weather Service said the next torrent could exacerbate the severe flooding that overwhelmed the area in recent days, causing a levee failure that prompted widespread evacuations Saturday in farming communities near the states Central Coast.

The next system is not expected to bring as much rain, but forecasters cautioned that considerable flooding could occur in lower elevations from additional rain and snowmelt that could swell creeks and streams.

Definitely prepare for some more flooding impacts. The ground is very saturated. Were already seeing some impacts from some light amounts even today, National Weather Service forecaster Eleanor Dhuyvetter said.

The rain and snow is expected to extend from Central California to Oregon, as well as northern Nevada.

Of particular concern are the expected strong winds. The weather service is predicting wind gusts of up to 50 mph in some placeswhich could potentially snap tree branches and damage power lines.

But the new storm is moving fast, meaning it wont have time to dump as much rain.

Over the past two days, more than 20 inches of snow fell at a measuring station in the Sierra Nevada, and the new system is expected to pack even more. The snowpack is now nearly twice the averagethe highest amount of snowfall in about four decades, according to UC Berkeleys Central Sierra Snow Lab.

The snowpack stores much-needed water for a state seeking to emerge from a three-year drought.

As much as a foot of rain fell in the Big Sur area of the state over a two-day period, weather data.

Authorities suggest that residents have a plan in case further evacuations orders are issued.

Across Monterey County, more than 8,500 people were evacuated Saturday, including roughly 1,700 residentsmany of them Latino farmworkersfrom the unincorporated community of Pajaro.

We are still in disaster response mode, said Monterey County spokesman Nicholas Pasculli on Sunday. He said the county is staging high water rescue teams around the county and opening more shelters in anticipation of more flooding as the new storm rolls in.

The flooding has impacted drinking water facilities in Pajaro. Officials said residents should not drink tap water for cooking or drinking until further notice.

Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, is closed at several points along Big Sur as well as near Pajaro due to flooding.

The atmospheric river, known as a Pineapple Express because it brought warm subtropical moisture across the Pacific from near Hawaii, was melting lower parts of the huge snowpack in Californias mountains.

Because of the massive flooding over the early weekend, more than 50 people had to be rescued by first responders and the California National Guard. One video showed a Guard member helping a driver out of a car trapped by water up to their waists.

The extent of property damages was still uncertain but Luis Alejo, chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, sought help from the state and federal governments.

The need will be great! Will take months for our residents to repair homes! he wrote in a tweet Saturday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared emergencies in 34 counties in recent weeks, and the Biden administration approved a presidential disaster declaration for some on Friday morning, moving to expedite more federal assistance. President Joe Biden spoke with Newsom on Saturday to pledge federal support for Californias emergency response, the White House said.

Weather-related power outages affected more than 17,000 customers in Monterey County late Saturday, according to the Governors Office of Emergency Services. By late Sunday morning, about 7,000 were still without electricity.

The governors office said it was continuing to monitor the situation in Pajaro.

The Pajaro River separates the counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey. Officials had been working along the rivers levee system in the hopes of shoring it up when it was breached around midnight Friday into Saturday. Crews began working to fix the levee around daybreak Saturday as residents slept in evacuation centers.

Built in the late 40s to provide flood protection, the levee has been a known risk for decades with periodic signs of significant trouble. In the 1990s the levee was breached several times, prompting flooding that led to evacuations and disaster declarations. Emergency repairs to a section of the berm was undertaken in January. A $400 million rebuild is slated to begin in 2025.

This weeks storm marked the states 10th atmospheric river of the winter, storms that have brought enormous amounts of rain and snow to the state and helped lessen drought conditions that had dragged on for three years. State reservoirs that had dipped to strikingly low levels are now well above the average for this time of year, prompting state officials to release water from dams to assist with flood control and make room for even more rain.

By Nic Coury and Stefanie Dazio
Bangladesh Poised to Overtake China as EUs Largest Garment Exporter

Employees produce down coats at a factory for Chinese clothing company Bosideng in Nantong in China's eastern Jiangsu province on Sept. 24, 2019. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

China has seen a large number of clothing orders canceled by international buyers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S.-China trade war, with many of these orders having been transferred to Bangladesh, the worlds second-largest garment processing exporter.

Ahsan H. Mansur, executive director of the Bangladesh Policy Institute, said that Bangladesh is expected to overtake China and become the EUs largest garment exporter.

According to Eurostat data, in the first nine months of 2022, Bangladeshs apparel exports to the EU reached $19.4 billion, a year-over-year increase of nearly 42 percent, while Chinas exports in the same period grew about 22 percent to $25.5 billion.

Nikkei Asia previously reported in mid-February that with the influx of European garment orders, Bangladeshs ready-made garment (RMG) manufacturing accounted for nearly one-fifth of the countrys GDP, and more than 80 percent of its total export revenue. Many EU buyers look to Bangladesh for garments, including H&M, Zara, Primark, G-Star Raw, and Marks & Spencer.

With a population of nearly 170 million, Bangladesh has a substantial potential labor force. Moreover, it is one of about 45 developing countries that have unrestricted access to all EU markets, excluding arms and ammunition. In contrast, Chinese exporters have to pay duties when selling goods to EU countries.

Mansur told Nikkei Asia that Bangladesh is close to Chinas share of exports to the EU and he is confident that it will overtake China as the largest exporter to the EU in the next four to five years.

Chinas RMG market share is decreasing worldwide. I think China has no strategic interest to protect this share as the country is now focusing on developing and producing higher valued goods like electric cars. So they are not concentrating on the apparel industry as before, he said.

There are at least 4,600 garment processing factories in Bangladesh that employ about 4.1 million people. Most of the garments processed in Bangladesh are exported to retailers in Europe, the United States, and Canada.

Chinas Garment Industry Hit Hard by Zero-COVID Policy

Chinas garment processing and export industry has experienced a significant decline in the past three years due to its draconian zero-COVID policy.

There is a saying in Chinas apparel industry: China is the indicator for global garment industry; Guangzhou is the indicator for Chinas garment industry, and the Zhongda Textile Business District is the indicator for Guangzhous garment industry.

The Zhongda Textile Business District and the surrounding area is a huge garment industrial chain consisting of more than 30,000 apparel manufacturers and retailers, providing job opportunities for over 300,000 employees.

According to Chinese news portal NetEase, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, there were nearly 23,000 fabric stores in the textile business district, with an estimated annual transaction volume exceeding 200 billion yuan ($28.972 billion). The finished products were exported to the United States, Italy, Spain, Japan, and many other countries around the world.

However, during the COVID-19 lockdown measures over the past three years, the textile business district was shut down several times, and all wholesale and logistics were suspended. This situation also dealt a heavy blow to the surrounding apparel market.

Yang Kai (pseudonym), the owner of a clothing store in Baiyun District of Guangzhou City, told The Epoch Times on March 5 that Chinese authorities three-year epidemic prevention and control policy, especially the zero-COVID policy, had brought the entire city to a standstill and the supply chain of clothing production has been broken. As a result, orders have been canceled, factories have gone out of business, and a large number of people have lost their jobs. Many foreign companies have withdrawn from China and turned to East Asian countries.

Rows of shops in our alley are closed. Foreign orders are gone, and domestic orders are scarce, Yang said. The once-bustling urban village is now a bleak place. Although it is now open for business, there are no orders at all. There is no hope.
Canada Foreign Agent Registry: No Timeline for Creation Offered by Public Safety Minister

Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 7, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said there is no timeline for when a foreign influence registry would be implemented, saying only that the government has begun public consultations.

Mendicino was asked if he was committed to a foreign agent registry during an appearance on The West Block, a Global News program, on March 12.

Thats precisely the purpose of the exercise, is to have a thoughtful conversation with all Canadians and stakeholders so that it will inform the creation of a foreign registry, he said.

The minister then moved the discussion to mentioning that there is anxiety and fear and concern among Chinese-Canadians of being stigmatized by virtue of who they are.

I made that announcement alongside my colleague Minister [Mary] Ng, who pointed out that members of the Chinese-Canadian community are indeed very worried about being painted with the same brush when it comes to these allegations. Thats unfair. They have every right to participate in society fully, including in our politics, said Mendicino.

He said the consultation process regarding a foreign registry started officially on March 10 and will continue until May 9.

Mendicino, whose office did not respond before press time, would not commit to having a registry in place before the next election, or even before summer.

I think weve committed to having a very focused conversation around how it is that we want to inform the creation of this foreign registry, he said.

Need to Get the Threshold Right

The government has been under pressure in recent weeks after media reports were published one after another with allegations of Chinese interfere having occurred in the last two federal elections and of money being funnelled to some candidates.

A foreign agent registry would require individuals or entities working on behalf of a foreign authority to influence Canadas policies, officials, or democratic processes to register with the Canadian government.

In a March 10 news release, Public Safety Canada said it has launched public consultations on a foreign influence transparency registry in Canada, saying that these consultations with key stakeholders and the Canadian public will inform the path forward, including potential legislation.

The input received through this consultation will help develop new measures to bolster Canadas national security, said the news release.

The government has opened an online portal for public submissions.

Medicino said the government has to get the threshold right, that we get the parameters of the authorities right.

Reporters questioned Mendicino on March 10 as to why his government has delayed the creation of a foreign agent registry until now, as allies like the United States have had a Foreign Agents Registration Act since 1938 and Australia created a Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme in 2018.

Theres no doubt that the threat involving foreign interference has evolved over the last number of years, Mendicino responded.

The Liberal government announced as early as February 2021 that it was actively considering the creation of a foreign agent registry. Almost two years later, in December 2022, Mendicino said Ottawa was preparing to hold public consultations on the possible creation of such a registry.

Election Interference

In recent months, a series of reports by The Globe and Mail based on national intelligence sources has alleged that Beijing implemented a sophisticated strategy to interfere in the 2021 federal election. A Global News report last November also indicated that Trudeau and his cabinet were briefed months ago by national intelligence officials about the Chinese Communist Partys interference in Canadas 2019 federal election.

Facing mounting pressure to hold a public inquiry, Trudeau announced that an independent special rapporteur will be named in the coming weeks to look into foreign interference in Canadian elections.

The Canadian Press, Andrew Chen, and Peter Wilson contributed to this report.
China Promotes US-Sanctioned Aerospace Engineer to Top Defense Post

(L-3)Li Shangfu, China's swears an oath at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 12, 2023. (Noel Celis / AFP via Getty Images)

China appointed Gen. Li Shangfu as its new defense minister, making the general targeted by U.S. sanctions the face of the communist regimes growing military.

The National Peoples Congress (NPC), which is Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, formally confirmed Lis appointment as minister of national defense and as a state councilor on March 12.

The 65-year-old aerospace engineer succeeds Wei Fenghe, who stepped down from the Central Military Commission, the highest decision-making body overseeing the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), at the Party congress in October 2022 after reaching the customary retirement age of 68.

While Lis new post is viewed as largely diplomatic and ceremonial within Chinas ruling system, his promotion has been closely watched by outside analysts, given his background.

The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Li for allegedly purchasing fighter jets and equipment from Russias main arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, in violation of a 2017 sanction law that seeks to punish Russia for interfering in U.S. elections, aggression in eastern Ukraine, and other activities.

The sanction, announced in 2018, barred Li from entering the United States and accessing any properties and assets in the country

At the time, Li was director of the Equipment Development Department, a branch under the Central Military Commission responsible for weapons procurement.

(L) The Chinese balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, S.C., on Feb. 4, 2023. (R) The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson participates in a group sail during the Rim of the Pacific exercise off the coast of Hawaii on July 26, 2018. (Randall Hill/Reuters; Petty Officer 1st Class Arthurgwain L. Marquez/U.S. Navy via AP)

Lis new tenure comes as the SinoU.S. relationship is strained over a range of issues, from the communist regimes economic espionage to assertive military actions against Taiwan. The latest spat was sparked last month by a spy balloon that traversed over the United States for several days before being shot down. On Feb. 7, Pentagon officials said they requested a phone call between Wei and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, but Beijing refused.

Lis promotion suggests that the communist regime has little interest in easing tensions with Washington, some analysts say.

Pentagon spokesperson Army Lt. Col. Marty Meiners said last week that the U.S. military couldnt comment on media reports about Chinas leadership changes but that the United States has been clear in wanting to maintain communications with the PLA.

Open lines of communication can help us manage risk, avoid miscalculation, and responsibly manage competition, Meiners said.

An outdoor screen shows live news coverage of Chinese leader Xi Jinping during the opening session of the National Peoples Congress, along a street in Beijing on March 5, 2023. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images)

Lis promotion was among a series of personnel moves announced during the annual NPC meeting, which closes on March 13.

In the once-in-five-years reshuffle, Xi secured his third term as the head of the state, putting himself on track to become one of the longest-serving Chinese leaders since Mao Zedong, who ruled the country for 27 years, until his death in 1976.

Many of Xis loyalists were promoted to the countrys leadership. For example, former Shanghai party chief Li Qiang was named as the Chinese premier, the countrys second-highest post, on March 10.

Some scholars believe that Li has close ties to Zhang Youxia, a close military ally of Xi. The 73-year-old Zhang was elevated to first vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission in October 2022, with Li following him onto the commissions governing seven-person group.

Delegates from Chinas armed forces arrive at the fifth plenary session of the National Peoples Congress in Beijing on March 12, 2023. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Li spent most of his career in Chinas satellite programs, working at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province for more than 30 years. In 2007, when Li served as the director of the center, China successfully carried out its first test of anti-satellite weapons.

In 2016, Li was appointed as a deputy commander of the PLAs then-new Strategic Support Force, an elite body tasked with accelerating the development of the PLAs space and cyber warfare capabilities.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Resigns Upon Failure to Complete CCP-Tasked Missions

China-Japan relations have fallen to the lowest point in 50 years

(From L-R) Chinese Ambassador to Japan Kong Xuanyou, Keidanren Chairman Masakazu Tokura, former prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, former speaker of the lower house Yohei Kono, former secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party Toshihiro Nikai, and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi make a toast at the reception commemorating the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic relations in Tokyo on Sept. 29, 2022. (Jiji Press / AFP / Japan OUT via Getty Images)

News Analysis

Chinese ambassador to Japan, Kong Xuanyou resigned on Feb. 28 from his post and returned home to China. A 2019 analysis in Nikkei suggests that Kongs departure was due to his failure to achieve the objective given to him by Beijing to restore and improve China-Japan relations.

Kong, 63, was born to an ethnic Korean family in Chinas northernmost province of Heilongjiang. He graduated from Shanghai International Studies University, where he majored in Japanese. He spent 15 years working at various diplomatic posts in Japan and can speak fluently in Japanese on any topic on television or radio and engage in vigorous repartee with the Japanese press.

He was appointed the Chinese ambassador to Japan on May 30, 2019, amid the U.S.-China trade war. In early 2018, then U.S. President Donald Trump began setting tariffs and other trade barriers on China with the goal to reduce the deficit of bilateral trade and increase the number of jobs in the United States, as well as stopping Chinas long-practiced intellectual property theft of U.S. technologies.

Since then, the United States and China have engaged in a series of trade talks with China implementing retaliatory measures that eventually led to a rapid deterioration of U.S.-China relations, which later made the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) put more emphasis on its relations with Japan.

Amid diplomatic hurdles, the CCP tasked Kong to bring China-Japan relations back to its honeymoon period as soon as possible.

In an April 2019 analysis, Katsuji Nakazawa, an editorial writer at Nikkei, argued that Kong had been given two objectives by the CCP that he needed to realize in his tenure: first, to arrange for Chinese leader Xi Jinping to visit Japan as a state guest in 2020, and second, to get Japan to sign a new major political document that aimed to restore and strengthen China-Japan relations amid Xis planned visit.

The analysis added that Kong came highly recommended by Wang Yi, a top Chinese politician and the former Chinese ambassador to Japan. Wang said that Japans focus at the time was not only the U.S.-China trade negotiations but also the North Korea issue, which has been a long-time headache for Japan.

And that Kongs expertise on the North Korean issue could come in handy in Japan if he assumed the diplomatic post. Kong was Chinas special envoy to North Korea before becoming the Chinese ambassador to Japan.

Kongs Efforts Foiled by Unexpected Events

After Kong assumed the post, his active communication quickly achieved results. China and Japan promptly reached an agreement for Xi Jinping to visit Japan as a state guest in the spring of 2020.

In June 2019, at the G20 summit held in Osaka, then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe formally extended an invitation to Xi Jinping to visit Japan.

In September of the same year, in an exclusive interview with Nikkei, Kong talked about the nations crafting a new major political document that would lay the foundation of their future relations.

Kong told the publication, if the conditions were ripe when Xi Jinping visits Japan in 2020, [China and Japan] will reach a consensus on [signing]. He also revealed that the two sides had already started the drafting process for the new document.

The document was referred to as The Fifth Communique, as there were currently four documents considered to be the foundation of Japan-China relations, which were signed by the two nations previous heads of state.

The first such document was a joint communique signed in 1972 between then-Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka and then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. It ended the abnormal state of affairs between the nations following the end of World War II and resulted in China renouncing its demand for wartime reparations.

The second was a peace treaty concluded in 1978, which affirmed that the two nations would peacefully settle all disputes and refrain from using force.

The third was created when then-Chinese leader Jiang Zemin visited Japan as a state guest in 1998.

The fourth was signed when Xis predecessor, Hu Jintao, visited Japan as a state guest in 2008 and announced that the two nations would promote a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests.

However, just months before Xis planned visit to Japan, the 20192020 Hong Kong protests and the outbreak of COVID-19 occurred. The two major events directly affected U.S.-China relations and Japan-China relations and completely nullified the CCPs plans and Kongs diplomatic efforts.

On June 30, 2020, the CCP imposed the Hong Kong National Security Law, which triggered an intense backlash from the international community, including Japan.

On July 8 of the same year, a resolution was drafted and submitted at a high-level meeting of Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Partys (LDP) Foreign Affairs Investigation Committee, requesting the cancellation of Xi Jinpings state visit to Japan.

Against this backdrop, the Japanese government put Xis state visit to Japan on hold indefinitely on the pretext of focusing on pandemic prevention, foiling the creation of The Fifth Communique.

Disappeared for Nearly Three Months

Shortly after New Years Day in 2022, Kong reportedly disappeared from Japan for unknown reasons. In the following two months, the Chinese embassy in Japan received numerous media inquiries asking for his whereabouts.

Japans weekly news magazine Shukan Bunshun asked the embassy if Kong had returned to China. The Chinese embassy replied, Yes.

However, the embassy denied rumors speculating about Kongs health and did not explain his reason for not being stationed in the host country for a long duration. They said they had no knowledge of when he would return.

Kongs sudden disappearance sparked discussions in Japanese political circles, with lawmakers questioning its meaning. Kongs secretive return to China quickly became a media focus, with journalists and commentators speculating that it was due to the sharp deterioration of Japan-China relations.

Upon drawing a lot of attention, the embassy later broke its silence, explaining that Kong returned to China for events such as the Lunar New Year holidays, the Beijing Winter Olympics, and the National Peoples Congress.

Kong quietly returned to Japan in late March of 2022. By then, Russia had invaded Ukraine, becoming the top news story. Meanwhile, the strategic partnership between China and Russia also became a topic of international criticism.

Japan Voices Support for Taiwan

A month before Kongs sudden disappearance, the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a forum hosted by Taiwans non-governmental think tank on Dec. 1, 2021.

In response to the escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Abe delivered a speech titled Japan-Taiwan Relations in the New Era. He said the Chinese military has continued to threaten Taiwan and suggested if anything were to happen to Taiwan, the Japan-U.S. alliance would be forced to respond.

A Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the JapanU.S. alliance, Abe said, warning the top leaders of the CCP to not misjudge the situation.

Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on May 25, 2020. (Kim Kyung-hoon/Pool Photo via AP)

Just before Kongs secretive return to China, nations worldwide adopted diplomatic boycotts of Beijings 2022 Winter Olympics due to the CCPs human rights violations in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. The Japanese government also followed suit.

China-Japan Relations Hard to Warm Up

Relations between China and Japan have fallen to a freezing point since the two nations normalized diplomatic ties 50 years ago. The exchange of high-level visits between China and Japan had essentially frozen, and the peoples unfavorable views toward each other remained high.

According to a late 2022 poll conducted by a Japanese NPO, some 62 percent of Chinese citizens have a bad impression of the Japanese, and some 87 percent of Japanese hold an unfavorable view of China.

The report said, the public opinion of the two countries reflects that there is no sign of improvement in Japan-China relations.

Citing threats from China and Russia, Japans 2023 military budget is the biggest since World War II.

Japans cabinet approved in late December 2022 a record $862 billion budget for the 2023 fiscal year, with a large portion earmarked for welfare and defense spending. The budget includes $277.6 billion for social security and $51 billion for defense.

The defense budget includes expenditures for the improvement and mass production of the Ground Self-Defense Forces surface-to-ship guided missiles, high-speed glide weapons, hypersonic missiles, surveillance drones, and U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles. The budget also accounts for expenses related to hosting U.S. military bases.

Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force stand in formation during the opening ceremony of Exercise Southern Jackaroo 21 at 1st Brigade Headquarters, at Robertson Barracks in the Northern Territory on June 15, 2021. (PTE Jacob Joseph/ADF)

China continues to unilaterally change or attempt to change the status quo by coercion in the East China Sea and South China Sea, reads Japans 2022 defense white paper (pdf). The document outlines the scope of the threat posed by the CCP, including its willingness to use force to capture Taiwan, its deepening relationship with Russia, and joint navigations and flights being conducted in the areas surrounding Japan by both Chinese and Russian vessels and aircraft.

On Nov. 11, 2022, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the East Asia Summit in Cambodia that the Chinese regime is continuously and increasingly threatening Japans sovereignty in the East China Sea while escalating regional tensions, particularly in the South China Sea. He also expressed his concern for the Uyghurs in Chinas Xinjiang region.

As China-Japan relations continue to deteriorate, Kong stressed at his departure reception on Feb. 24 that he had done his best to promote the stable development and improvement of bilateral relations [between China and Japan].

It is widely reported that Beijing plans to replace Kong with Wu Jianghao, Chinas current Assistant Foreign Minister.
Chinese City Plans Flu Lockdowns as Outbreaks Surge Across the Country; Top Virologist Warns of Next COVID-19 Wave

Patients are cared for by relatives and medical staff as they are seen on beds set up in the atrium area of a busy hospital in Shanghai on Jan. 13, 2023. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Fever cases in major cities across China are surging during the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) top Two Sessions annual meeting.

CCP officials said its an outbreak of influenza A, as Xian, the capital of Shaanxi Province, plans a citywide flu lockdown. However, people are worried about a resurgence of COVID-19, following the massive wave of infections over December 2022 and January that collapsed the countrys medical system and overwhelmed crematoria.

Dr. Zhang Wenhong, Chinas top virologist and the director of the Infectious Diseases Department of Huashan Hospital Affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai, responded to issues of influenza A and COVID-19 resurgence at a press conference during the Two Sessions meeting held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 10.

He said the next wave of COVID-19 infections may soon arrive. According to Zhang, the COVID-19 pandemic in China reached its peak of infections at the end of December 2022, and the antibodies acquired by the infected will gradually decline after five to six months. He warned that attention needs to be paid to the pathogenicity of the virus and vulnerable groups in preparation for the next wave of COVID-19.

He also said the next round of infections wont be as uniform as the previous one and that there will be differences among regions.

He said the country is fully prepared and that the next wave wont have as major an impact as the previous.

Patients on wheelchairs and people in the emergency department of a hospital in Beijing on Jan. 3, 2023. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images)

Since late February, many elementary and middle schools across the country have reported students with high fevers and have suspended classes, and some have even closed. Authorities said the fevers were caused by influenza A.

However, the public isnt convinced.

Mr. Zhao, a resident of Zhumadian city in Henan Province, told The Epoch Times on March 9: The flu is rampant. A large number of elderly people died in our local area due to the COVID-19 epidemic around the New Year. This time, the influenza A virus has started to kill people in batches, people of all age groups. My aunt is 62 years old and passed away at the end of February.

We all suspect that they have changed the name from COVID-19. People who have died recently may have been infected with COVID-19 because my aunt died after her lungs turned white. During the funeral, I saw that the crematorium was running 24 hours a day, with too many corpses to burn.

On March 8, Xians municipal government posted on its official website a notice for a possible citywide lockdown for a flu outbreak.

When necessary, in outbreak and endemic areas, schools, workplaces, and businesses will be suspended; public places will be closed; and crowd gathering will be restricted or prohibited, the notice reads.

Flu Outbreaks Across China

Beijing city governments official newspaper Beijing Daily reported on March 8 that flu outbreaks in Beijing have recently been on the rise and that flu infections have increased in schools and nursery institutions.

A viral video shows that Beijing Childrens Hospital was packed with sick children and their parents on March 7.

When The Epoch Times contacted Beijing Childrens Hospital on March 9, the doctor said there are currently many children with a fever who need to get in line for treatment. The hospital also requires that patients wear N95 masks all the time during their hospital visits.

A Beijing resident using the pseudonym He Yunlin told The Epoch Times on March 9 that the flu in Beijing is quite serious among adults. Several friends of his all got the flu a few days ago, and theyre experiencing fevers reaching 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The situation in other districts of Beijing is similar.

People line up outside a fever clinic at a hospital in the morning in Beijing on Dec. 11, 2022. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Hong Kong media outlet Ming Pao reported on March 9 that the fever clinics of Beijing hospitals have become crowded.

Ms. Wang, who works in a hotel in Liangmaqiao, arrived at the hospital at 2 p.m. on March 8 and found that the number for the morning visit was more than 400, and it was not until 3:30 p.m. that the patient with an afternoon visit number could start to be treated.

Wang wanted to go to other hospitals, but she heard that there were long lines in other hospitals, too.

On March 9, Hu Yang, deputy chief physician of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, posted an article on social media, saying that influenza A is running rampant, and some colleagues, family members, and patients around have been infected and showing symptoms.

Doctors from the emergency department of Shanghai Childrens Hospital confirmed to The Epoch Times on March 9 that many children with fevers came to the hospital for treatment.

Parents in Puxian district in Shanghai told The Epoch Times that the schoolteacher asked them to take their children home on March 7 because of influenza A, saying that many children had fever and diarrhea. Schools in other districts of Shanghai also asked parents to take their children home for similar reasons.

According to Ming Pao, a middle school student in Shandong Province who went to Beijing for medical treatment for a viral throat infection said nearly half of the students at her school have been infected. An outpatient doctor of a childrens hospital in Hebei Province told the media that among the patients he sees every day, there are about 60 people with fever, and more than half of them are diagnosed with influenza A.

U.S.-based current affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan, who has a medical science background, told The Epoch Times: The symptoms of influenza A and COVID-19 do have many similarities and overlaps. It is difficult to accurately distinguish them based on the symptoms alone. But for the CCP, because high-level leaders have publicly declared that they have achieved a victory in combating COVID-19 and created a miracle in the fight against it, etc., if COVID-19 resurges in China, it will deal a heavy blow to the credibility of the CCP. Therefore, the CCP has every motive to claim that a COVID-19 outbreak is a flu outbreak.

Xiao Lusheng and Yi Ru contributed to this report.
Former Clinton White House Adviser Issues Apology to Conservatives

Former Clinton White House and feminist author Naomi Wolf this week issued a formal letter of apology to Republicans and conservatives after believing what she described as lies about the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach.

Wolf, who drew headlines in 2021 and 2022 for questioning official narratives about COVID-19 vaccines and lockdowns, wrote that peaceful Republicans and conservatives as a whole have been demonized by the story told by Democrats in leadership of what happened that day after new footage of the Capitol breach was aired by Fox News host Tucker Carlson last week. Wolf was a vocal opponent of COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates, causing Twitters former management to suspend her account before it was reinstated several months ago.

Republicans, conservatives, I am sorry. I also believed wholesale so much else that has since turned out not to be as I was told it was by NPR, MSNBC and the New York Times, Wolf wrote on Substack. Anyone in leadership who misrepresented to the public the events of the day so as to distort the complexity of its actual historymust also be held accountable, she wrote.

In her missive, Wolf said that newly released footage of QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley and U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick on Jan. 6 appear to go against narratives that were pushed by the mainstream and many Democrat lawmakers. The new footage appears to show officers appearing to walk Chansley through the grounds of the Capitol, while none tried to stop him or arrest him, while Sicknick, who died of a stroke a day later, was seen in a short new clip walking around and motioning protesters to leave the premises.

While she disagreed with some of Carlsons conclusions about the footage, people dont have to necessarily agree with his interpretation of the videos, to conclude that the Democrats in leadership, for their own part, have cherry-picked, hyped, spun, and in some ways appear to have lied about, aspects of January 6, turning a tragedy for the nation into a politicized talking point aimed at discrediting half of our electorate.

Jacob Chansley, also known as the QAnon Shaman, inside the U.S. Senate chamber after the U.S. Capitol was breached on Jan. 6, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

You dont have to agree with Carlsons interpretation of the videos, to notice the latest hypocrisy by the Left, Wolf added. My acquaintance and personal hero Daniel Ellsberg was rightly lionized by the Left for having illegally leaked the Pentagon Papers. The New York Times was rightly applauded for having run this leaked material in 1971.

She later added that those who violently entered the Capitol or who engaged in violence inside of it, must of course be held accountable and as must violent protesters of every political stripe anywhere.

Her apology came after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) released thousands of hours of footage to Carlsons team, saying that the videos will be released to the wider public at a later date. Democrat members of Congress and some Senate Republicans have resoundingly criticized the move to release the footage.

Last week, before he was hospitalized with a concussion, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) took issue with Carlsons conclusions. It was a mistake, in my view, for Fox News to depict this in a way thats completely at variance with what our chief law enforcement official here at the Capitol thinks, McConnell told reporters.

But a top Republican House lawmaker said that the release of the footage was limited in scope. A number of news outlets have called on McCarthy and other congressional leaders to give them the Jan. 6 tapes, too.

Its basically controlled access to be able to view tapes. Cant record, cant take anything with you, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), the chairman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight, told reporters in late February. Then they will request any particular clips thatthat they may need, and then well make sure that theres nothing sensitive, nothing classifiedyou know, escape routes.

During an interview with Carlson on March 10, Chansleys mother Martha and his current lawyer proclaimed that he is innocent and claimed prosecutors hid exculpatory evidence.

It should have come out two years ago. That [clip] should have come out two years ago. Hes an innocent man. Everything that [Jacob] said that he did is truethat he walked through open doors. He was escorted through the halls of the Senate, Martha Chansley proclaimed.
Former FBI Official Warns Against Mexico Travel

Soldiers stand guard outside the Forensic Medical Service morgue building ahead of the transfer of the bodies of two of four Americans kidnapped by gunmen to the U.S. border, in Matamoros, Mexico, on March 9, 2023. (Daniel Becerril/Reuters)

A former senior FBI official has warned American youth not to visit Mexico, due to the dangerous routes before reaching their destination, after gang violence claimed the lives of two U.S. citizens this week.

Former FBI Assistant Director Tom Fuentes said that the problem is that Americans have to travel through Mexicos dangerous zones to reach their vacations destination, and this should be avoided.

No, absolutely not, he told FOX News.

The problem with these self-contained resortsand they have all kids of security and protection and everything[is] you have to get to the resort. So the danger is getting off the plane or bus or train and getting from the transportation hub to the actual resort which there you have protection.

En route, youre in danger, just like these Americans that were killed in Matamorosbecause once they crossed the border, they were on their own, Fuentes said.

They might have gone on their way to a medical facility that had security guards or any of thatwe dont know for sure. But they certainly  once they crossed the border, they were on their own.

Tamaulipas attorney generals office personnel walk at the scene where authorities found the bodies of two of four Americans kidnapped by gunmen, in Matamoros, Mexico, on March 7, 2023. (Daniel Becerril/Reuters)

Regarding the Biden administrations handling of cartel smuggling or violence, Fuentes said they have no concise strategy,

Or if they have [a strategy], theyve failed to articulate it in any kind of sensible manner, he said.

If theyre going to have a strategy, its going to have to start with closing the border. Thats number one. And until they do that, theyre not serious about any of this.

Fridays Shooting

Mexicos president said on Tuesday that two of the four U.S. citizens who were assaulted and kidnapped in Mexico had been found dead, while the other two were still alive.

The FBI said the Americans vehicle came under fire soon after it entered Matamoros, located just across the U.S.Mexico border from Brownsville, Texas, in Tamaulipas.

All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men, the FBI San Antonio office said in a March 5 statement.

Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios said on Twitter that the two surviving Americans had been handed over to U.S. officials at the border with Texas and they have returned to the United States.

All four American citizens who were assaulted and kidnapped by gunmen in Mexico on Friday have been identified by family members.

The four Americans entered Mexico on March 3 in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates.

Tamaulipas is one of six states in Mexico that the State Department advises Americans not to travel to due to the threat of organized crime activity, including kidnapping for ransom.

Five people have been detained in relation with the crime, Tamaulipass attorney general said on Friday.

Proposal for American Military Intervention With Cartels

An illegal immigrant wears two wristbands that Mexican cartels have been using to control human smuggling into the United States, near Penitas, Texas, on March 15. 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday rebuked calls from some U.S. lawmakers advocating military action in Mexico against drug cartels, describing the proposals as threats to Mexican sovereignty.

We are not going to permit any foreign government to intervene in our territory, much less that a foreign governments armed forces intervene, Lopez Obrador said during a regular news conference.

This is an independent, sovereign country, it (independence) costed a lot.

Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw on March 8 released a message in Spanish on Twitter asking Lopez Obrador why he opposes the proposal that U.S. congressman introduced in January authorizing military force targeting drug cartels in Mexico. He criticized Lopez for putting drug cartels before his own people.

The fatal kidnappings and backlash could complicate delicate efforts to foster closer collaboration between the United States and Mexico on immigration and the trafficking of drugs, particularly the ultra-lethal substance fentanyl.

LA County Sheriffs Detectives and Drug Enforcement Agency agents assigned to a task force at the Los Angeles International Airport seized approximately 12,000 suspected fentanyl pills on on Oct. 19, 2022. (Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department)

Lopez Obrador said he would begin a public information campaign aimed at Mexicans and other Hispanics living in the United States about the Republican-led proposal. We are going to issue a call not to vote for that party, because they are inhuman and interventionist, he said.

Reuters and Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.
Australias supply of critical minerals to India will be a key aspect of realising the enormous potential of the trade relationship between the two nations.

Speaking from India, Resources Minister Madeleine King said the country of 1.4 billion people presented a remarkable opportunity for Australia, which could make use of its natural endowment to work with like-minded partners.

The growth potential of our trade relationship with India is enormous, she told Sky News on Sunday.

India is a vast, vibrant democracy  so a natural fit when it comes to working together on the extraction and processing of critical minerals.

Critical minerals, including lithium, will be vital to decarbonising economies and helping them meet ambitious climate targets.

Asked about the role of coal in Indias energy mix, King said Australia will continue to export it.

Ive been very consistent that each country has to choose its own pathway to net zero emissions, she said.

It would be wrong of us to deny countries like India, the energy sources they need to keep their people safe  to have the lifestyle were accustomed to.

The minister formed part of a senior delegation to India which included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trade Minister Don Farrell and leaders in Australias mining and business sectors.

The move comes after Albanese revealed the two countries had finalised deals to boost economic and cultural ties at a joint address with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

Significantly, Albanese said the nations agreed on an early conclusion to their Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement, adding he was hopeful it would be wrapped up by the end of the year.

This transformational deal will realise the full potential of the bilateral economic relationship, creating employment opportunities and raising living standards for the people of both Australia and India, he said on March 10.

A limited free-trade agreement between the countries came into effect in January but has already borne fruit, with more than $2.5 billion (US$1.65 billion) worth of Australian produce hitting India.

The pair also announced an AustraliaIndia solar task force co-chaired by Australian professor Renate Egan, one tangible outcome from discussions of the need to address climate change.

The nations are also set to work more closely on supplying critical minerals as India seeks to meet ambitious goals of 50 per cent renewable energy and 30 per cent electric vehicle usage by 2030.
Experts Debate Whether Wokeness Has Peaked

A LGBT activist holds pins about gender pronouns, on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie, Wyo., on Aug. 13, 2022. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

News Analysis

As headlines declare that peak woke has passed, one researcher thinks its possible that wokeness is actually just mutating.

The jury is still out in terms of whether the Great Awokening is winding down, David Rozado, an associate professor in New Zealand, wrote in a Feb. 24 Twitter post.

Rozados research in computational social science at the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology is shaping an ongoing debate over whether wokeness is in decline.

The phenomenon might be mutating by emphasizing social justice terminology with [positive] connotations while toning down its more negative/corrosive terminology, he said.

Rozados Feb. 24 post was accompanied by a graph from a Substack article he published that same day. His analysis of Twitter data showed that more positive-sounding terms linked to social justiceaffirmation, inclusive, and sustainable to name a fewhave been on the upswing in recent years.

The term woke is used by both liberals and conservatives to describe a number of more radical progressive ideologies, including critical race theory, social justice, and gender theory.

By contrast, some language with more negative associations has become less common. Such terms include cultural appropriation, exclusion, and heteronormativity.

Rozado also found that negative language linked to perceived victims, though not to their perceived victimizers, has grown in popularity or stabilized at high frequencies.

Words and phrases like marginalized, racialized, and exploited fell into this category.

He thinks this last trend supports research by sociologist Bradley Campbell, who argues that a victimhood culture has taken hold.

Read More The Costs and Benefits of Victimhood

Together, Rozado and Macdonald-Laurier Institute researcher Aaron Wudrick further investigated the trajectory of wokeness in a paper published on March 8.

They found that terminology focused on prejudice has flourished in the Canadian media since 2010, broadly in line with the same trends in the United States.

In a March 9 email to The Epoch Times, Rozado stressed that its too early to conclude whether or not woke has peaked.

We need more data points over the coming months/years, he said.

He also acknowledged that some of the patterns he observed may have a range of causes.

For example, his analysis of social justice language with positive connotations showed that the term safe space has risen dramatically in popularity. Yet, for conservatives and other antiwoke commentators, safe space has become a target of derision in ways that similar language hasnt.

Some teachers at a Pasco County, Fla., school wore safe space stickers on their identification badges or posted them on the doors of their classrooms until they were removed after parents raised questions. (Courtesy of Jennifer Houston)

Perhaps safe space is very prominent in news media discourse because a considerable fraction of its appearances are criticizing the concept? Rozado said.

Peak Woke Now a Tried and True Theme

The talk of peak woke entered the discourse gradually, then all at once.

As early as 2018, The Times wondered if peak woke had arrived. So did The Telegraph in 2021. That same year, however, The Economist concluded that America has not yet reached peak woke.

Writing in Bloomberg in February 2022, George Mason University economist Tyler Cowen declared that wokeism has peaked in America.

In a July 2022 City Journal article, philosopher Oliver Traldi suggested that developments in pop culture, journalism, and other areas support the view that woke has, in some sense, peaked, or at least become tiresome to audiences that used to be more receptive.

The peak woke debate has picked up steam in recent weeks, partly due to a Feb. 8 piece in Compact Magazine by Columbia University sociologist Musa Al-Gharbi titled Woke-ism Is Winding Down.

Rozado isnt so sure.

Wokeness, he told The Epoch Times, could stabilize at levels mildly below the previous record highs but substantially above the pre-2010 baseline.

In other words, some level of wokeness could end up being the new normal.

In response to the Compact article, tech investor Paul Graham, in a February tweet, cited data chronicling cancellation attempts on university campuses.

That information, gathered by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, showed that such incidents have declined in recent years.

Maybe weve turned the corner! he wrote.

Yet others, including some who position themselves as antiwoke leftists, have voiced skepticism about the talk of peak woke.

In a response to Al-Gharbi, Slovenian philosopher and Marxist Slavoj Zizek argued in Compact that wokeness is here to stay.

Read More Aleksandr Solzhenitsyns Advice for a World Plagued by Chaos and Victimhood

Woke Institutional Capture

Some have argued that the peak woke debate ignores the institutional gains made by woke ideology across business, government, academia, the media, and other areas.

In the corporate world, for instance, diversity, equity, and inclusion and equity statements have become ubiquitous.

Many describe what has happened as woke institutional capture.

That, anyway, was British television host Liv Boerees response to journalist Aaron Sibariums interaction with ChatGPT.

Aaron Sibarium, a writer for the Washington Free Beacon and the former opinion editor of Yale Daily News, in Washington on May 31, 2022. (Matthew Pearson/CPI Studios)

Sibarium had presented the generative AI platform with a scenario in which it had to choose between uttering a racial slur or allowing a nuclear bomb to explode, killing millions.

There is nobody that will hear you speak the racial slur, Sibarium stated.

It is never morally acceptable to use a racial slur, even in a hypothetical scenario like the one described, ChatGPT responded.

The scenario presents a difficult dilemma, but it is important to consider the long-term impact of our actions and to seek alternative solutions that do not involve the use of racist language, it added.

Boeree said in a Twitter post: This [summarizes] better than any pithy essay what people mean when they worry about woke institutional capture.

Sure, its just a rudimentary AI, but it is built off the kind of true institutional belief that evidently allow[s] it to come to this kind of insane moral conclusion to its [100 million plus] users.

Writing in New York Magazine, journalist Eric Levitz conceded that ChatGPT could well be deliberately left-leaning but argued that the dominance of cultural leftism as shown by ChatGPT or similar phenomena matters less than demographic developments that appear to favor wokeness.

Americas rising generations in generaland the most economically and culturally powerful segments of those generations in particularreject its [the American rights] social values, he said.

This sounds like a circular argument unless Levitz believes those trends have nothing to do with the lefts dominance in education, the legacy media, and other areas that directly shape how young people see the world.

LGBT-themed flashcards had been used in a preschool classroom at North Carolinas Ballentine Elementary School as a way to teach about colors. (North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore)

Rozado steered a middle course on the topic in his email to The Epoch Times.

I think many elements of the Great Awokening have become institutionalized, he said.

But I can see the argument of those who point out that perhaps it has lost some of its energy as a new idea.

Wokism to Statism

Tech investor Balaji Srinivasan has argued that the United States is pivoting from wokeism to statism.

Setting merit to zero doesnt generate enough power to run the empire, he wrote on Twitter on March 7. He was commenting on a post from media personality Cenk Uygur, in which Uygur appeared to walk back some of his allies aggressive rhetoric on equity from the past several years.

I dont even know if equity is a real thing that anyone outside of twelve leftists and the entire right-wing believe is real. The overwhelming majority of progressives agree with [Bernie Sanders] (and me) that equality of opportunity is the right standard, Uygur wrote.

Its hard to take Uygurs claim at face value.

Over the course of the Biden administration, equity has been at the center of numerous agency actions, executive orders, and much more, garnering frequent legacy media coverage.

In January 2021, for example, The Washington Post wrote that incoming Biden Domestic Policy Council chair Susan Rice intended to put racial equity at the heart of Bidens agenda.

In addition, a November 2021 video posted on Twitter by then-vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris distinguished equality from equity.

Equitable treatment means we all end up at the same place, she said in the video. Thats an explicit rejection of equality of opportunity alone.

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) speaks via video conference during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Washington on Oct. 12, 2020. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool/Getty Images)

Srinivasan traced the pivot from wokeism to statism to the United States increasingly aggressive foreign policy stance as tensions ramp up with Russia, China, and other actors.

Oh, you dont want to abolish the police? You must be a racist. Oh, you dont want to fight world war 3? You must be a traitor.  and thats the pivot from wokism to statism, he wrote.

Its a provocative hypothesis. Without hard data to back it up, though, its just that, a hypothesis, Rozado told The Epoch Times.
On March 15-16, the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) and the G20 Interfaith Forum will organize an international conference.

The event is devoted to the International Day to Combat Islamophobia under the topic Islamophobia as a Specific Form of Racism and Discrimination: New Global and Transnational Challenges, the press services of the BIMC and the AIR Center said in a joint press conference, Azernews reports.

The major objective of the event is to provide for academic discussion platform on the scaring trends targeting Muslims and Muslim-populated nations at international and national levels.

The conference, designed to bring together scientists, experts of international organizations, religious figures and representatives of non-governmental organizations from over 30 countries, will debate different approaches in the fight against Islamophobia, the manifestation of Islamophobia in some European nations, Islamophobia in the international media.

15 March was designated as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia at the session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), in Niamey, Niger, on 27-28 November 2020.

In 2022, the UNGA adopted a resolution declaring March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
ENTERPRISE  Young men committed to raising awareness of and funds for veterans who suffer from the effects of war began walking 128.3 miles from Troy University to Pier Park in Panama City Beach, Fla., Friday morning.

Ten hours later, some 34 members of Troy Universitys Kappa Beta Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity congregated at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church on Boy Scout Road here for warm showers, ice cold foot soaks, a home cooked meal and a place to sleep after a welcome from Pastor Matt Jordan and the Cook Team at the oldest United Methodist Church in Coffee County.

Also greeting the walkers and their support crew after the first of their six-day foot march to the Emerald Coast were Military Order of the Purple Heart Commander Robert Green, Gulf War Prisoner of War retired Army First Sgt. Daniel J. Stamaris, and Jeep Sullivan whose Bonifay, Fla., based-ministry includes orchestrating hunting excursions, fishing trips and other outdoor adventures for veterans suffering mentally, physically and spiritually from the effects of war.

Sullivans Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures has been the beneficiary of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternitys annual fundraising walk to the ocean for several years. There is so much else these young men could be doing on their Spring break, said Green, as he surveyed the young men filling the Christian Life Center transformed into a dormitory with cots and dining tables to accommodate the fraternity brothers gathering at the end of the first 28 miles.

Statistics indicate that 22 United States veterans die each day by suicide, Green said. Sullivans ministry gives veterans an avenue of release and expression through hunting excursions, fishing trips, he said. It fills my heart to see what these young men are doing to raise money for this ministry. They are doing something so worthy.

Sullivan agreed. His Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures, Inc. is a 501(3) ministry offering opportunities in hunting, fishing, and fellowship to veterans and combat wounded military personnel and their families. It is not associated in any way with the Wounded Warrior Project. Our goal is to facilitate the healing of spirit, soul, and body through outdoor activities at no cost to these heroes, Sullivan said. We understand the pain that battle brings not just physically, but also emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

We know coming home from deployments can be one of the most difficult challenges anyone will face. Veterans are surrounded by people that dont understand what theyve experienced, which can feel isolating and lonely, Sullivan said. We know the unique challenges wounded veterans face and we strive to customize experiences that cater to those needs while offering an unforgettable experience that will boost their confidence and impact their future forever.

Our outdoor adventures, coupled with a Christ-centered ministry, seek to address and heal the mental wounds related to combat, particularly those wounds related to PTSD, he added.

The Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity has supported Sullivans Outdoor Adventures for several years, said Hard Walk 2023 Director Chip Faircloth, a TU physics major who served last year as assistant director. The walk began as a personal challenge for some of the brothers and it has evolved into our philanthropy project, he said. Jeep is responsible for orchestrating hunting excursions, fishing trips, and other outdoor adventures for veterans who suffer from the effects of war and because we believe in this cause, we dedicate our Spring Break to walk 128.3 miles, to raise awareness and funds for the healing of the veterans who fight to defend the freedoms we enjoy today.

Stamaris thanked the fraternity for their fundraising. My greatest hope is that by sharing my story with you, it will inspire you to keep doing what you are doing because you are making a difference, he said.

Stamaris became a prisoner of war during the Gulf War in 1991 after the UH-60 Black Hawk he was in was shot down while on a mission to rescue a downed Air Force F-16 pilot. One surviving crew member died in a gun battle with Iraqis after the helicopter hit the ground at about 150 miles per hour, leaving Stamaris the sole survivor. With a broken foot and ankle, a shattered femur, broken pelvis and broken ribs among his injuries, Stamaris was taken into custody. To this day I live with pain on a daily basis, he told the fraternity. But I was alive.

Stamaris said that he clearly heard Gods life-saving commands twice during the ordeal. I said, Yes Lord, whatever your will, so be it, he said. I never gave up and God never gave up on me.

Every one of us is right here in Gods palm. There is always hope and you can go through much more than you ever think you can, Stamaris said. As you continue your journey, I have faith in you and thank you for what you are doing for veterans.

The church should be a place where we can honor and support our military and those who want to do something to support them, especially these college students always willing to walk to raise funds for the ministry that supports wounded veterans, Jordan said. We had the opportunity and we jumped on it. Our church loves to help and serve.

And help and serve is exactly what the Wesley Chapel UMC Cook Team, comprised of Cindy Dunaway, Chris Wiggins, Joy and Gibby McCormick, and Regena and Jerry Mack, did. Dinner preparations at the church began four hours in advance of their guests arrival. We do two fundraising barbecues every year, said Dunaway. In the fall, the beneficiary is the Methodist Childrens Home, and, in the spring, it is to benefit programs for our church youth and children. So we also have a supply of pork and chicken barbecue and our homemade barbecue sauce to share with the walkers.

Some 70 baked potatoes loaded with barbecue, several pounds of spaghetti and gallons of tea were consumed by the walkers Friday night. Their breakfast at the start of Saturdays trek was provided by Bethany Baptist Church members. When Matt asked us to do this, we told him we were all in, Dunaway said. Being available to serve is what we do.

When the walkers arrive at the pier in Pier Park a check presentation will be made to Jeep Sullivans Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures. In excess of $100,000 is expected to be raised by the chapter to support the mission provided to wounded veterans. Last year the fraternity raised $125,000.
For many parents, theres something deeply satisfying about taking a baby, especially a firstborn, to the doctor.

After all, so-called well baby visits give parents the opportunity to talk to an expert about a childs development, ask burning questions about when the baby will be able to sit up without assistance, what to do about teething, how the babys height and weight compare with others, and to get the baby life-saving vaccines.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood vaccinations prevent at least 4 million deaths worldwide every year. This is why the CDC recommends such a large number of vaccines for American children, starting with a vaccine against hepatitis B, a sexually transmitted disease, thats recommended for all newborns during the first hours of life.

Current Childhood Vaccine Guidelines

Every year, the nations top disease experts come together to decide what vaccines should be included on the CDCs Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for young people aged 18 years old and younger.

This schedule is recommended by the CDC and then mandated by each state as a requirement for children to attend school.

Its approved by the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other health organizations.

Parents are told that the current recommendations are based on a review of the most recent scientific information available for each vaccine.

Currently, the following fourteen vaccinations are on the schedule:

Hepatitis B: 3 doses.

Rotavirus: 3 to 4 doses (depending on the brand).

DTaP (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus): 5 doses; then another dose of Tdap at age 11.

Hib (haemophilus influenzae type b): 3 to 4 doses (depending on the brand).

PCV (pneumococcal disease): 4 doses.

Polio: 4 doses.

COVID-19: number of doses depends on the childs age and type of vaccine given.

Flu: 1 to 2 doses every year.

MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella): 2 doses.

Chickenpox: 2 doses.

Hepatitis A: 2 doses.

HPV (human papillomavirus): 2 to 3 doses.

MenACWY (meningococcal disease): 1 to 2 doses.

MenB (meningococcal disease): 2 to 3 doses.

Although school administrators tell parents that vaccines are mandatory for school inclusion, different states require different vaccines for children to attend school, and every state allows for medical exemptions.

In addition, most states allow for religious exemptions, and some states also allow for philosophical exemptions.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Since the late 1980s, the CDC has continued to add vaccines to the recommended schedule without taking any vaccines off the schedule.

The number of vaccinations currently recommended has more than quadrupled since the 1970s.

At the same time, childrens health in the United States has seen a marked decline. While these trends may or may not be related, many parents have started to question whether their children really need this many vaccinations this early in their lives in order to stay healthy and whether over-vaccination is contributing to some of the health problems theyre seeing in their children.

These parents and the thousands of medical doctors and research scientists who now openly support them point out that while vaccines undergo safety testing on a vaccine-by-vaccine basis, childhood vaccines arent tested in combination with other vaccines before theyre approved.

I think its legitimate for parents to have questions and concerns, said Collin Lynn, a family physician based in Redding, California. Its definitely possible that were at a tipping point where were giving too many vaccines. Sometimes I wonder if, in the future, well look back at the 2000s and say, What were we thinking? Why were we giving so many vaccines?

In addition to concerns about the cumulative effect of giving so many vaccines to such young children, experts are questioning whether certain vaccine ingredients (pdf)including aluminum and polysorbate 80are safe.

At the same time, chronic disease in the United States is on the rise (pdf), so much so that nearly half the population now suffers from a chronic illness. And these conditions account for 86 percent of our current health care costs.

Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune conditions cause the body to turn on itself, producing antibodies that attack its own body tissues.

Type 1 juvenile diabetes, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, scleroderma, Raynauds syndrome, and lupus are all autoimmune diseases.

Recent research suggests that asthma, which now affects more than 10 percent of young people aged 20 to 24, is also an autoimmune condition.

Over-vaccination may be a primary cause of autoimmune problems, including diabetes in both children and adults.

In 2022, a team of nine researchers in Japan reported that a 51-year-old woman developed acute-onset Type 1 diabetes six weeks after receiving just one dose of an mRNA vaccine.

Chinese scientists reported a similar case. In Turkey, clinicians have also seen four cases of Type 1 diabetes in patients directly following mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

A Medical Doctor Investigates

Dr. John Barthelow Classen, whose medical degree is from the University of Maryland, began studying autoimmune disorders in the 1990s.

In 1996, Classen published a paper in the journal Autoimmunity reporting the results of experiments on immune modulation in rodents. He looked at the effects of administering vaccines in doses intended to mimic those given to human children.

He found that vaccines given at birth or within the first two weeks of life seemed to offer some protection against developing diabetes, but vaccines given after two months of life did the opposite: They increased the risk of diabetes compared with the control group.

Animal studies have demonstrated the timing and content of human vaccines can affect the development of diabetes, Classen wrote. Clinical trials of new human vaccines are not designed and generally not powered to detect an effect of immunization on the development of IDDM [insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus]. These animal toxicology studies indicate that the effect of vaccines on human insulin dependent diabetes needs to be examined.

Immunization practices, Classen suggested, may be putting some children at higher risk for diabetes.

Predisposing Children to Diabetes?

Classens brother, David C. Classen, is an infectious disease specialist at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. The Classen brothers decided to look for data that could indicate whether vaccine practices predisposed someone to or protected them against Type 1 diabetes.

In 1997, they published their results in the journal Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice. They found statistically significant correlations between vaccination changes and subsequent rates of diabetes.

The Classens suggested that vaccination at birth may be protective by affecting the immune system in such a way that the body is better able to combat coxsackievirus infections (transmitted from mothers during birth), which had been previously thought to account for about 27 percent of diabetes cases.

However, they also found that in Finland, three separate times, increases in vaccines administered were followed by increases in Type 1 diabetes.

In Christchurch, New Zealand, incidence of diabetes also rose sharply (to 18.1 in 100,000 from 11.2 in 100,00) after the introduction of hepatitis B vaccination.

These studies suggest that the timing of pediatric immunizations may alter the development of IDDM in humans, the Classens concluded. The results also indicated that previous vaccine trials are flawed because they are not designed to detect associations between vaccination and autoimmune diseases.

High-Quality Scientific Evidence

In 1999, the Classens wrote a letter to the editor of the BMJ about another study they did.

We initiated and funded a collaborative study with Tuomilehto on the effect of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine on type 1 diabetes and found that the data support a causal relation, they wrote.

Furthermore, the potential risk of the vaccine exceeds the potential benefit.

The researchers compared a group that wasnt vaccinated with a group that received one dose of the vaccine and a group that received four doses.

By the time the study group was 7 years old, cumulative incidence of diabetes per 100,000 was 261 for those who got four doses, 237 for those who got one dose, and 207 for those who didnt get the vaccine.

That relative difference stayed the same as the children aged. By 10 years old, 398 of the four-dose group had developed diabetes compared with 376 of the one-dose group and 340 of the no-dose group.

In other words, there were 58 more cases of Type 1 juvenile diabetes in children who had received four doses of the Hib vaccine than in those who hadnt received the vaccine at all. There were 22 more cases of diabetes in those who had received four doses than in those who had received only one dose.

Timing of Diabetes Onset Consistent With Biological Mechanism

The Classenss 2002 study shows that vaccine-induced Type 1 diabetes usually takes three to four years to develop.

Then the brothers decided to look for clusters of diabetes cases occurring after the introduction of other vaccines.

In 2003, they published a review article titled Clustering of Cases of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Occurring 2-4 years after Vaccination Is Consistent with Clustering after Infections and Progression to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Autoantibody Positive Individuals.

They found that clusters occurred 2 to 4 years after vaccination with MMR, pertussis, and BCG vaccines.

They also found declines in the incidence of diabetes following the discontinuation of pertussis and BCG vaccines, a particularly noteworthy finding, as diabetes incidence is generally increasing all over the world.

The 2-to-4-year lag time is consistent with studies demonstrating that it takes at least two years for anti-pancreatic antibodies to destroy enough islet cells in the pancreas to cause diabetes.

Studies have also demonstrated that autoimmune disease onset often occurs approximately three years after multiple autoantibodies can be detected in the blood.



Bradford Hill Criteria for Determining Causation

Causation is notoriously difficult to prove in medical science.

As weve written about before, Sir Austin Bradford Hill of the University of London tackled this problem and laid out nine viewpoints to consider in 1965: strength of association, consistency, specificity, temporality, biological gradient (also known as doseresponse relationship), plausibility, coherence, experiment, and analogy.

Classens research touches on various Bradford Hill viewpoints.

Although the associations he found between each individual vaccine and the development of Type 1 diabetes werent particularly strong, Classen demonstrated consistency, specificity, temporality, a doseresponse relationship, biological plausibility, and coherence.

In addition, he has confirmed his statistical calculations with prospective animal and human studies.

In short, Classen soberly and methodically set out to explore causation from every angle.

His work demonstrates that the more we vaccinate our children, at least after the age of two months, the more likely they are to develop Type 1 diabetes.



More Evidence Linking Juvenile Diabetes to Vaccines

In a 2008 paper (pdf), Bart Classen analyzed Danish data from children born between Jan. 1, 1990, and Dec. 31, 2000.

He again found statistically significant increases in diabetes risk for vaccination with Hib, DTiP (iP is inactivated polio), whole-cell pertussis, MMR, and oral polio vaccines.

In reviewing Classens research and hundreds of other vaccine studies, independent researcher Neil Z. Miller, author of the 2016 book Millers Review of Critical Vaccine Studies: 400 Important Scientific Papers Summarized for Parents and Researchers, also found confirmation of a causal link between over-vaccination and diabetes.

The scientific papers  provide strong evidence that childhood vaccines significantly increase the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes, Miller wrote, pointing in particular to the Hib vaccine. Other papers show an increased risk of developing Type 1 diabetes after hepatitis B, MMR and pertussis vaccines. Epidemics of Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome have also been linked to vaccines.

However, instead of reevaluating current immunization practices, the conventional medical community either ignores the science done by medical researchers such as Classen and Miller or paints them as wild-eyed anti-vaccine extremists.

Scientists who prove that popular and profitable pharmaceutical products can cause harm risk losing their livelihood and their standing in the scientific community.

But Lynn, who has a sign on the wall of his office that reads, In science all questions are valid and all answers are tentative, said he feels its important for parents to ask questions, especially if their children are having chronic health problems, such as eczema, allergies, or juvenile diabetes.

In fact, Lynn encourages parents to become medical sleuths and supports them in taking the approach to vaccinating that they feel most comfortable with.

I encourage my parents to ask questions and investigate, Lynn said.

If our current vaccination program is in any way responsible for the rising incidence of Type 1 juvenile diabetes and other chronic diseases, parents need to know.

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.
Home Depot Founder Asks Americans to Wake Up After Silicon Valley Bank Collapse

Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus asked Americans to wake up to the reality that the U.S. economy is in tough times, following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB).

I cant wait for [President Joe] Biden to get on the speech again and talk about how great the economy is and how its moving forward and getting stronger by the day. And this is an indication that whatever he says is not true, Marcus told Fox News on March 11.

Marcus added, And maybe the American people will finally wake up and understand that were living in very tough times, that, in fact, that a recession may have already started. Who knows? But it doesnt look good.

Silicon Valley Bank, the nations 16th largest bank with about $209 billion in total assets, collapsed on March 10, after depositors rushed to withdraw money over concerns of the banks solvency. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has now assumed control of the bank.

The collapse of the California bank was the second biggest bank failure in U.S. history since Washington Mutual during the 2008 financial crisis.

On Saturday, a White House statement said Biden has spoken to California Gov. Gavin Newsom on the banks failure. Newsom also issued a statement saying he had been in touch with the highest levels of leadership at the White House and Treasury.

Woke

Marcus attributed the banks failure to its decisions to adopt woke policies.

I feel bad for all of these people that lost all their money in this woke bank. You know, it was more distressing to hear that the bank officials sold off their stock before this happened. Its depressing to me, Marcus said. Who knows whether the Justice Department would go after them? Theyre a woke company, so I guess not. And theyll probably get away with it.

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Greg Becker, CEO of Silicon Valley Bank, sold 12,451 shares of the banks parent company SVB Financial Group on Feb. 27.

SVB announced in January 2022 that it was committed to providing at least $5 billion in loans, investments, and other financings by 2027, to support companies that are working to decarbonize the energy and infrastructure industries and hasten the transition to a sustainable, net zero emissions economy.

Marcus blamed the Biden administration for pushing banks and companies into being more concerned about global warming than shareholder returns.

These banks are badly run because everybody is focused on diversity and all of the woke issues and not concentrating on the one thing they should, which is shareholder returns, he said. Instead of protecting the shareholders and their employees, they are more concerned about the social policies. And I think its probably a badly run bank.

Theyve been there for a lot of years. Its pathetic that so many people lost money that wont get it back.

Responses

Several California lawmakers have shared their concerns about the banks failure on Twitter.

If regulators do not act quickly, the Silicon Valley Bank collapse will have widespread ramifications for small businesses, start-ups, and nonprofits trying to make payrollas well as on our broader economy, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) wrote.

Padilla added that he had been in contact with officials from the administration and the Treasury Department to ensure a quick resolution.

Deeply troubled by SVBs collapse & uncertainty its caused. Im hearing from workers in my district concerned when theyll be paid & if theyll be laid off, Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) wrote. Regulators must give urgent clarity to depositors to prevent panic. Vigorous action is needed to protect account holders.

Republican presidential hopefulsNikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamyboth said on Twitter that a bailout is not the resolution.

Taxpayers should absolutely not bail out Silicon Valley Bank, Haley wrote. Private investors can purchase the bank and its assets. It is not the responsibility of the American taxpayer to step in.

The former South Carolina governor added, The era of big government and corporate bailouts must end.

The right answer isnt a bailout. Its to get the government out of the way and let another bank acquire SVB if thats what they actually want to do, Ramaswamy wrote.

Ramaswamy, a biotechnology entrepreneur, is the author of Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate Americas Social Justice Scam.
Hong Kong Retired Pilot Reminiscences His Time in Joining the Taiwanese Military

Li Binlun, one of the first generation of Hong Kong youth who went to Taiwan to join the military, is seen here at the Los Angeles Fellowship Society renewal ceremony on March 4, 2023. (Emma Hsu, The Epoch Times)

Li Binlun moved to Hong Kong from China with his family in the early 1950s because they were worried about what would happen after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had taken over China. However, with no money to live on, he went to Taiwan and joined the Taiwanese army for sustenance. He relates his journey through life in the army and then as a commercial airline pilot and his current life in America.

A repeat performance is now happening in Hong Kong. With the CCP forcibly implementing the National Security Law (NSL) in Hong Kong and the 2019 anti-extradition protests fizzled after the NSL was implemented on June 30, 2020. Hong Kong has not been the same since then.

Many Hongkongers began to pack their bags, leave their homes, and head for migration to other countries through various lifeboat schemes for Hongkongers. Many people fear retaliation from the Hong Kong government and the CCP.

Young Hongkongers went to Taiwan to join the army as early as the 1950s. They were concerned about Hong Kong falling into the hands of the CCP.

Li Binlun (front row, left) attended the President renewal ceremony of the Los Angeles Glory Fellowship on March 4, 2023. (Emma Hsu/The Epoch Times)

In 1953, Li, who had already received an admission acceptance letter from the Department of Chemical Engineering at National Taiwan University, took off with his Hong Kong friends and journeyed to Taiwan. While it was supposed to be a leisure trip, Li followed his friends to the army without much thought.

I didnt think so much at that time. My friends all went to the military school, so I went too.

Although Lis plans to join the Taiwanese military were spontaneous, after he entered the air force military school, Li gave up pursuing engineering at the National Taiwan University.

Fleeing from the CCP

Originally from Guangdong, Li Binlun fled to Hong Kong with his family because the regime had fully occupied mainland China.

Li said China had taken over the mainland completely, so he and his family fled to Hong Kong.

Had he stayed, Li was worried the CCP would target his home, and he was concerned for his life.

Li might have been all smiles when he spoke of the past and joked that the CCP drove him out of his house, but Li has always missed his old home. He wished he could eventually fly back to his hometown one day.

So why did Li decide to pick the military?

At the time, we were poor. We had no money to live or study.

The military providing shelter and food seemed more enticing.

Li stayed for 21 years in the Taiwanese Air Force.

During that time, China Airlines of Taiwan expanded its European routes, and Li joined as a pilot for the airline in 1977.

Although Li has been a captain in civil aviation for many years, he still remembers the planes he once flew in the army.

At the beginning, I was flying the American World War II biplane PT-17 (Boeing-Stearman Model 75). The structure of that aircraft model was straightforward. In retrospect, it is almost too simple now.

Later in his flying career, Li flew half a dozen flight models, such as North American T-6 Texas, T-33 Shooting Star, and Republic F-84 Thunderjet.

After joining China Airlines, Li flew the Boeing 707, Airbus A300, and Boeing 747, Lis last model, before retiring as a sky captain.

Chained by CCP

In 1988, Li Binlun migrated to the United States and became a Los Angeles Glory Fellowship member. He has participated in the annual gatherings of overseas veterans. Li is proud to have been a military officer.

Hongkongers refusal of the anti-extradition bill in 2019 turned into Hong Kong Protests due to the distrust of the judicial system of the CCP. No one wanted to be extradited to the mainland for trial.

Li sighed, The Chinese Communist Party said, Unchanged for 50 years. But Hong Kong has changed in just two decades.

He is unsurprised at how the current situation has played out so far.

He feels that as long as the CCP has chains on Hong Kong, Hong Kong cannot escape. No matter who it is, as long as the barbaric CCP attaches to them, they will eventually be ruined by the regime. Li frowned.

Nothing is the Same

The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights issued a review report on March 6.

The human rights section mentioned that Hong Kong National Security Law had already abolished Hong Kongs judicial independence.

The Chinese Communist Party has further undermined Hong Kongs independent jurisdiction status under the framework of one country, two systems and the Basic Law.

Because of the pandemic, Li has not traveled for three years. He wants to go back to Taiwan and Hong Kong for a visit, even though everything has changed.

Li said Beijing does not care about Hongkongers. The regime does not care about humanity at all.

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How Humankind Came To Be Reminds Society About Needed Values, Readers Say

Wayne Krill, a business owner based in California, believes goodness comes from within, but needs to be awakened and empowered.

Upon reading How Humankind Came To Be, an article Falun Gong founder Mr. Li Hongzhi published in The Epoch Times in January, he found concepts and values that are universal among religions and belief systems.

The principles that Li sees are consistent with our worldly experiences and emphasize the value of living positive values. This is the message that we profoundly lack, he wrote in a letter to the newspaper.

Truth, compassion, and tolerancethe core tenets of Falun Gongclearly drive people to other positive values, thats what you want, he said in a recent interview with NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times.

Noble values are present in peoples inner nature, claims the septuagenarian, and want to express themselves, but people dont necessarily follow them in their daily lives.

Our identity  is not our ego [or] worldview  our true identity is the divine part of who we are, said Krill. Listening to that identity, not just the things that you think and feel and believethat are on top of thatthen you begin to get to the truth right away, he stated.

Most religions are based upon truth and honesty and some underlying belief system, and those systems are meant to empower the part of nature of who you are, added Krill, owner of Shotokan West Martial Arts.

We must learn how to put Mr. Lis messagewhich agrees with other spiritual teachingsinto action, according to Krill.

But how do we empower people to live those values? he asked.

One way, explained the business owner, is through influence over time, by letting people observe how you empower those [values] within yourself and other people.

The other way, he claims, is to help people who are facing a specific problem by encouraging them to connect with their inner values, as trouble prompts people to implement quick changes.

This notion overlaps with Mr. Lis idea that pain and trouble exist for people to improve their moral character, as postulated in his article.

Theres so much opportunity, and we havent realised it  I would challenge people to get up every day and think about what potential they have in the universe today, said Krill.

Returning to a Value System

Mr. Lis article evokes a feeling of hope for Jo Breault, an 82-year-old former city worker who believes society is not going in the right direction and needs to return to a value system.

I think we need to follow teachings that are good for the future of the country  [we need to be following] a lot of the values in that article, Breault, born in the UK but a naturalized American, told The Epoch Times.

Raised in the Church of England, Breault says she is not very religiousbut does believe in a higher power.

The bottom line for me is that as human beings we should know good from evil  no matter what pathway [we take, its important] to do the right thing, said Breault, who also worked for the British Air Force. The main points in the article really aligned with what I believed for a long time, she added.

(Courtesy of Jo Breault)

I fear for future generations  Theyre not being taught whats right, whats wrong, whats acceptable  were not teaching them the right way, said Breault, who currently lives in Nebraska.

While reading How Humankind Came To Be, she felt Mr. Li understands where things went wrong. After World War II, there was a really, marvelous euphoria for everybody. It was a good time, but it was hard too. And then  after the bloom  it started to crumble a little bit, she stated.

Breault, whose husband served as a senior master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, also mentioned that Mr. Lis article lit hope for her and other people who think we can restore what was lost.

Reading some of the things that people have said within the article, I thought we do have a basic core. Are there enough people? Are we strong enough to do that? she asked herself.

But the articles main takeaway is comforting, she wrote in a previous letter to the newspaper. Basically, good will eventually triumph over evil but we are responsible for our own salvation in simple terms.

The octogenarian further expressed her wish to delve into the teachings of Falun Gong.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline involving meditative exercises and moral teachings based on three principles: truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Mr. Li introduced Falun Gong to the public in China back in 1992.

The practice gained popularity in China during the 1990s, with estimates putting the number of adherents at 70 million to 100 million. The communist regime, fearing the number of practitioners posed a threat to its authoritarian control, initiated a sweeping campaign on July 20, 1999, aimed at eradicating the practice, a program that continues today.

Tiffany Meier and Gary Bai contributed to this article.
PRAGUENew York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts took to the stage in the capital of the Czech Republic from March 10 to March 12 with four sold-out performances at the Congress Center.

Jaromir Sladkovsky, board chairman and CEO of the Raiffeisen Investment Company, attended the opening night performance on March 10 and felt deeply impressed by the historical truth presented.

From my point of view, culture is what makes a nation a nation and what survives. So those civilizations that had no culture, theres nothing left of them. And China, as a very old nation, has a very broad culture and its worth looking into that a little bit, said Mr. Sladkovsky.

Shen Yun is the worlds premier classical Chinese dance company, with a mission to revive the 5,000-year civilization that China once nearly lost to the modern communist takeover.

For us Europeans, its great to see a culture from another part of the world and feel the emotion of that culture, said Mr. Sladkovsky. The two-and-a-half-hour performance of dance and music vignettes inspired profound reflection in Mr. Sladkovsky.

In the course of the show, I was thinking about setting the ensemble in contemporary realities, and the older you get, the more you think that human life is shorter and shorter in the course of history, and it makes us work on that even within that culture, that place of ours, so that what is natural to us as living in a democratic society, to protect that, to keep working on that, he said.

The need to work on the values of our society, was Mr. Sladkovskys inspiration from the evenings performance, often we take it for granted, and its not so given, he said.

For methese performances are always an incentive to learn more, to study something, to look at some historical realities. Thats what I take away.

Reporting by Milan Kajinek.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
Japan to Deploy Over 100 Ammunition Storage Facilitates

Japanese defense is moving to counterstrike mode to address military threats from the CCP, North Korea, and Russia

Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada (R) speaks to Japanese Maritime Defence Force officers (L) at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo on January 28, 2009. (AFP/AFP via Getty Images)

The Japanese government is poised to set up about 130 ammunition storage facilities across the country in the next ten years, gearing toward boosting constant fighting capability to tackle the Taiwan Strait crisis.

The first four ammunition depots are expected to be constructed in 2023 in Aomori and Oita, two prefectures in the Self-Defense Force facilities, then in other areas by 2027, totaling about 70, and by 2033 build another 60, said Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu in the Upper House budget committee on March 2.

Hamada stressed the need to secure the adequate continued fighting capability of the Self-Defense Forces, including the prompt availability of sufficient ammunition.

The move is part of Japans efforts to counter the military threat from neighboring communist China. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) opted to stand on the side of Russia, and its military provocations against Taiwan have been escalating.

Last December, the Japanese government overhauled its defense strategies to raise the defense depending to 2 percent of GDP by 2027, from the previous one or less percent for decades.

Two 8-inch self-propelled artillery guns is fired during the 35th Han Kuang (Han Glory) military drill in southern Taiwans Pingtung county on May 30, 2019. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

War Readiness for Taiwan Strait Crisis

Earlier on Sep. 6, 2022, Hamada said that Japan was looking into expanding its fuel and ammunition storage facilities in the southwestern islands of Okinawa in response to a potential crisis in the Taiwan Strait.

At that time, the Japanese Self-Defense Force could not make an effective response if the CCP raided Taiwan as its ammunition reserves were for two months use. About 70 percent of the ammunition is stored in Hokkaido, 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) away from Taiwan, and only 10 percent is stored in Kyushu and Okinawa, southwest of near Taiwan.

To protect Japan, its important for us to have not only hardware such as aircraft and ships but also enough ammunition for them, Hamada told Nikkei News.

Kawano Katutoshi, former chief of staff of Self-Defense Forces, called for the strengthening of Japans defense capabilities at a Feb. 9 conference in Fukuoka, citing that if war broke out in Taiwan, the confrontation between the United States and the CCP would spread to the Philippines and Japan. The southwestern islands of Japan would be a crucial area of contention.

Kawano said Japan has deployed missile forces to Amami Oshima, Ishigaki Island, and Miyako Island. The U.S. Marine Corps has also programmed a military strategy to deter the CCP navy on these islands.

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands prior to their meeting at Akasaka Palace, Japanese state guest house in Tokyo, Japan on May 27, 2019. (Eugene Hoshiko/Getty Images)

Shift to Counterattack from Passive Defense

On Dec. 16 last year, the Japanese government revamped its national security strategy and three related security documents, declaring that it will develop counterattack capabilities, including striking missile launch bases of the opposition.

Japanese media The Mainichi said this was a significant defense change; the revision fundamentally changed its previous security policy of no offensive power.

Kyodo News cited a government official on Dec.10, 2022, as saying that in addition to a counterattack capability, Japan will increase the production of domestic long-range missiles and purchase of foreign missiles, as well as cooperation with the United States, which is critical for the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.

Such a shift may pertain to rising military pressure from the CCP, Russia, and North Korea.

The CCP is more of a threat than North Korea, on which lawmakers had a consensus at the 2018 National Security Council, said Kitaoka Shinichi, an honorary professor at the University of Tokyo and Japans deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, in an article published Sept. 6, 2022, on nippon.com.

In recent years, Kitaoka continued, there is a growing recognition that a strictly defensive approach is obsolete and that counter-attacking forces are needed to overwhelm the opposing offensive forces.

In North Korea, Kim Jong Uns regime is constantly provoking others with nuclear weapons, targeting not only South Korea but also Japan and the United States as a direct threat.

On Feb. 18, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, reaching 900 kilometers (559 miles) away. Hamada said the maximum range could be more than 14,000 kilometers (8,699 miles) based on the flight path, covering the entire U.S. territory.

Axis of CCP, Russia, and North Korea

Muto Masatoshi, former Japanese ambassador to South Korea, wrote an op-ed on JBpress Politics on Feb. 28 that the international community has become more divided after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and that the environment for North Korea to launch missiles has become easier under the protection of China and Russia.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the alliance between China, Russia, and North Korea has become more robust, forming an axis against international pressure, Muto said.

On the other hand, the United States, Japan, and South Korea quickly responded four days after North Korea launched its ICBM, holding a ballistic missile defense exercise in the eastern waters of the Korean Peninsula on Feb. 22.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said, This exercise enhances the interoperability of our collective forces and demonstrates the strength of the trilateral relationship with our Japan and Republic of Korea allies.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (L) shakes hands with Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 31, 2023. (Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)

On Jan. 31, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Japan and held talks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

During the talks, Kishida announced Japans plan to open a representative office in NATO. At a joint press conference after the talks, Kishida said he welcomed NATOs increased attention and participation in the Indo-Pacific region. The two also confirmed the promotion of a close communication and coordination mechanism, such as accepting Japans regular involvement in NATO Council meetings and Chiefs of Staff meetings.

In the joint statement, Kishida and Stoltenberg noted that the Indo-Pacific region is facing escalating challenges from threatening actions by the CCP and provocative behavior by North Korea. In addition, the statement said that Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine is not only a crisis for Europe but also a challenge to the global order. Both sides raised immediate concerns about the security of the Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region.

In addition, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia stepped up to uphold security on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region.
Judge Kyle Duncans Event Went Awry: Stanford Law School After Protests

People play soccer near Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus in Stanford, Calif., on March 12, 2019. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Stanford Law School Dean Jenny Martinez admitted that protests at Judge Kyle Duncans seminar violated the schools policy of free speech.

However well-intentioned, attempts at managing the room in this instance went awry. The way this event unfolded was not aligned with our institutional commitment to freedom of speech, Martinez wrote in an email to the law schools students.

Duncan, a Trump-appointed U.S. judge of the 5th Circuit Appeals Court, was invited to deliver a speech on The Fifth Circuit in Conversation with the Supreme Court: Covid, Guns, and Twitter at the Federalist Societys Stanford Student Chapter on Thursday when the events took place.

Stanford Law School allows protests that do not interrupt speech. Heckling and other forms of interruption that stop a speaker from making or completing a speech violate the schools disruption policy, Martinez added.

Martinezs email was obtained by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and various media outlets.

The Epoch Times reached out to Stanford Law School for comment.

Dean for Diversity Takes Podium

In a video posted by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, protesters gathered at one side of the classroom began heckling Duncan during what appeared to be the beginning of his speech, and he was unable to continue.

Tirien Steinbach, associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the law school, gave a brief speech after the judge was interrupted.

Though she criticized Duncan, Steinbach said she wholeheartedly welcomes him and stated that the judges speech is necessary for the sake of free speech.

For many  who work here, who study here, and who live here, your advocacy, your opinions from the bench, land as absolute disenfranchisement of their rights, Steinbach said. For many people here, your work has caused harm.

Im glad this is going on here, she concluded as the protestors applauded and cheered.

Steinbach is a former program officer at the American Civil Liberties Union, an advocacy group and liberal attorney organization.

Duncan Demands Apology

Duncan, a Louisiana-born lawyer and judge, is known for rulings aligned with conservative values.

He told Reuters during an interview that he was offended and disturbed by the deeply uncivil behavior of the protestors.

He demanded that Stanford Law School apologize. It would be nice if they reached out to me and said, Gee, were sorry, Duncan said.

Duncan said he was not able to talk much about the planned topic after being heckled by the protestors.

They are idiots, he said. They are hypocrites and they are bullies.

I told [students] this is not going to work in a courtroom, this way of disagreement, he said. Maybe thats where we are going as a society, but that doesnt work in my courtroom.
Opposition Indigenous Australians spokesman Julian Leeser says the Labor Albanese government needs to clarify the definition of Aboriginality to determine who can sit on a voice to parliament.

In a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier this year, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton asked 15 questions of the proposed voice, including whether the government will confirm the definition of Aboriginality to determine who can serve on the body.

Asked if this question was insulting to Indigenous people, Mr Leeser said there were several definitions, and the government needed to specify which one they would use for the voice.

This is a matter for the government to clarify, he told Sky News on Sunday.

Weve asked the government to provide answers to that, as weve asked them to provide answers to whos going to be chosen, how will they be chosen?

Leeser said people, including Indigenous Australians, were asking this question.

The Liberal Party is yet to decide its position on the voice, while the Nationals are opposing it.

The referendum on the voice will be held in the later half of this year, with the working group on the Indigenous voice finalising its advice to the government.

Legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament by the end of the month and will contain the wording of the question that will be put to the public.

Voters will cast their ballot in a referendum later this year to decide whether to enshrine the voice and recognise Indigenous people in the constitution.

But before the vote is held, the government is aiming to pass legislation that will change how referendums are carried out in a bid to make the process similar to that for elections.

Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, part of the no campaign, said equal public funding for both sides of the debate was essential for coalition support of the bill.

Making changes to this piece of legislation also affects future referendums, she told ABC TV.

The establishment of an official yes and an official no campaign  alleviates the opportunity for misinformation and also goes down the road of being able to identify where funds and donations are coming from.

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney said the government had made a significant concession by agreeing for pamphlets to be sent to households outlining both cases.

We hope the opposition sees this and meets us halfway, she said.

Labor backflipped on taxpayer funding for the pamphlets after strong opposition from the coalition.

Speaking on the referendum machinery bill, opposition frontbencher Angus Taylor said the coalition wanted equal government funding to the yes and no cases in addition to the establishment of official campaign organisations.

Its clear that if were to have a strong process for the referendum, we should be ensuring there is a structure in place for those processes and regulatory bodies to start their work, he said.

Science and Technology Australia, which represents 115,000 of the nations workers, announced it would formally back the yes case.

The organisations president, Mark Hutchinson, said the peak science body shared a vision of national unity.

We want all Australians to see the inspiring first cultures of this land as a great source of shared national prideand a voice will bring us another step closer to that goal, he said.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson announced she will join former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce and former Labor minister Gary Johns to launch a bipartisan no campaign in Tamworth this month.

Make no mistake, black nationalism activists will not stop with the voice, Hanson said.

They will continue until they have their own nation within Australia.
Maine College Goes Into Lockdown After Shot Fired on Campus

The campus of a liberal arts college in Maine was on a temporary lockdown early Saturday after a shot was fired in a student housing complex during what one student called a massive annual party.

Colby College said no students were hurt during an altercation that involved a firearm being discharged at the Alfond Senior Apartments on the campus in Waterville, Maine.

No Colby students were injured. The suspect is a 24-year-old Waterville man not affiliated with the college. Police were continuing to look for others involved, the school said in a statement.

Police did not perceive imminent danger to the campus community, but asked students to stay in place throughout the night out of an abundance of caution, the college said.

The lockdown was lifted later Saturday morning, the school said.

An email sent to the student body by Interim Dean of the College Barbara Moore at 2:21 a.m., which was shared by a student, said the Waterville Police Department have a person in custody who attended events there and fired a gun.

We urge you to shelter in place until we have additional information that the campus is entirely safe, wrote Moore, who did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press.

In a statement issued Saturday, Waterville interim Police Chief William Bonney said officers were called to the college around 1:30 a.m. Saturday after receiving a report of shots fired on the Colby campus.

When police arrived they found the 24-year-old man on the ground being treated for injuries to his head. Police say the man got into an altercation with two other men. None of the three were Colby students.

The injured man fired two rounds from a 9mm handgun into the hallway walls without causing any injuries. He was treated for his injuries at a hospital then arrested and charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon. Hes due in court on Monday.

It is very fortunate that no innocent bystanders were hurt by this reckless behavior, Bonney said in the statement. I feel terrible for the students and parents who had to go through the trauma of this event, worrying that one of their loved ones may be hurt or worse.

Colby, founded in 1813, is the 12th oldest liberal arts college in the United States, according to the schools website.

By Brian P. D. Hannon
Man Arrested at Border in Connection With San Ysidro Stabbing Death

SAN YSIDRO, Calif.A man was taken into custody for allegedly stabbing a 42-year-old man to death near a San Ysidro gas station earlier this week, authorities said March 11.

Officers arrested Hector Alcantara, 32, of San Diego at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the San Ysidro Point of Entry pedestrian gate, at 720 E. San Ysidro Boulevard, according to a San Diego Police Department (SDPD) news release.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials told SDPD detectives that Alcantara had been detained, police said. He was being sought in connection with the death of Manuel Omar Rico Arellano of Mexico.

Alcantara was booked into the San Diego County Jail on suspicion of murder, police said.

Just after 2:20 a.m. Wednesday, police received a call about a man stabbed in the 300 block of East San Ysidro Boulevard.

Officers arrived and found the man with at least one stab wound to his chest. They performed lifesaving measures until paramedics took him to a hospital, where he died at 3:05 a.m., according to police.

Police say Arrellano was stabbed at a vacant building in the 100 block of Center Street before he walked to the gas station parking lot, where he was found by concerned citizens.

According to the police department, detectives learned Arrellano was with a group of people at the vacant building when he was apparently stabbed by the suspect without provocation.

Detectives identified Alcantara as a suspect who likely entered Mexico shortly after stabbing the victim, police said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the SDPD Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
ASML Holding logo is seen at company's headquarters in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Januari 23, 2019. Photo by Reuters/Eva Plevier

Suppliers to Dutch chip-making machines giant ASML Holding NV are considering building plants in Southeast Asia instead of China amid political tensions between Beijing and the West, according to two sources and documents seen by Reuters.

Officials from a dozen tech companies are set to visit Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore next week, according to a note from the Brabant Development Agency, a Dutch public body involved in organizing the trip.

"The majority of the companies (are) joining because they are considering to expand/setup production locations in either Vietnam or Malaysia," said the note prepared by the agency together with Brainport Industries, which represents 200 high tech manufacturing companies based near the Dutch city of Eindhoven.

The possible investments are part of a wider, long-term strategy to reduce exposure to China, two people familiar with the plan told Reuters.

The dozen companies on the mission are almost all contractors to ASML, one of the world's top suppliers to semiconductor manufacturers such as TSMC, Samsung and Intel. Some have production facilities in China.

The Dutch government has never granted ASML a license to sell its most advanced machines to customers in China, following pressure from Washington, which is seeking to hobble China's ability to make its own advanced computer chips and to slow down its military advances.

ASML's lithography systems can cost up to 160 million euros ($170 million) each and are used to create the circuitry of computer chips.

The Dutch government on Wednesday announced new restrictions

on exports impacting ASML's second-best range of chip-printing tools, which could lead to Chinese retaliation.

Singapore headquarters

Among the companies on the mission is Neways, which helps ASML develop electrical control units, power controls and wiring systems for lithography systems, according to the company's website.

A spokesperson for Neways declined comment.

ASML supplier NTS Group, which is a provider of precision mechanics tools, is another company that will join the business trip, Brainport said.

The other companies on the trip are Bestronics, AAE BV, BKB Precision, HQ Group, KMWE Group, Sempro, Sioux Technologies and VDL ETG, according to one of the documents and Brainport.

"VDL Groep has different branches in Asia ... We have no intention at all of leaving China," the company said in a statement.

Other companies could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Singapore is being considered as a potential location for regional headquarters, the note said.

ASML declined comment.

One person familiar with the organization of the trip said one of the companies was in advanced talks with partners in Vietnam to build a factory.

A second company was also likely to invest there, the person said declining to name the firms and to be named because the information was confidential.

A second person involved in the organization of the trip said that Malaysia was also a likely choice for new investment because some of the companies already have facilities there.
Michael Taube: Ottawas Special Rapporteur to Look Into Foreign Interference Wont Be So Special

The Parliament buildings as seen from the Ottawa River on Sept. 7, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Commentary

For weeks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals minimized, claimed ignorance, or flat-out denied various allegations of foreign interference in Canadas election process and its democratic institutions. But the court of public opinion could only absorb so much nonsense about a long-standing, decades-old problem and ruled against them.

Ottawa is now scurrying to stop the political bleeding.

Trudeau announced on March 6 that his government will put through measures and safeguards he claims will protect Canada against future interference from totalitarian nations like Russia, Iran, and most recently, China. In particular, the PM will appoint an eminent Canadian to the position of independent special rapporteur who will have a wide mandate to make expert recommendations on protecting and enhancing Canadians faith in our democracy.

Oh my. A special rapporteur. This fancy-sounding title seems, well, special.

Will this individual be able to do something special to prevent foreign interference on Canadian soil and keep the country safe and secure? Not especially.

For you see, the soon-to-be appointed special rapporteur wont be all that special.

Rapporteur was adopted into English in the 16th century, according to Merriam-Webster, and is a descendant of the Middle French verb rapporter, meaning to bring back, report, or refer.

In other words, Trudeaus special rapporteur will be part-observer and part-recorder.

This person will hopefully have some level of knowledge or expertise in this particular area. He or she will oversee the proceedings, discussions, interviews, and potential committee meetings. He or she will also make a series of recommendations and write a report with the help and input of others.

To assume the special rapporteur will have significant political and legal powers to carry out these duties is preposterous. If the Liberals attempt to design this new position in said fashion, Canadians will have every right to be skeptical.

To also assume the special rapporteur will be fully independent of Ottawas long political arm is another point of concern. Why? Political appointments rarely ever are.

He could pick someone independent but he wont, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently told the media. Hell pick another Liberal establishment insider, a real Ottawa insider with some grey hair who looks like a reasonable fellow, but we all know that it will be someone tied to him, tied to the Liberals.

If Trudeau and the Liberals want to establish an arms-length relationship with the special rapporteur, be it real or imaginary, there are several ways to do itand not to do it.

The role shouldnt be filled by a current or former Liberal politician, party activist, or any type of perceived sympathizer. That would defeat the whole purpose of this exercise.

It should also disqualify Morris Rosenberg from becoming special rapporteur.

Although Rosenberg worked as a deputy minister in foreign affairs and justice for Liberal and Conservative governments for over three decades, and is writing a paper about foreign interference in the 2021 federal election, he served as president and chief executive officer of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation between 2014 and 2018.

It was also revealed by the Conservatives that Rosenberg, in this capacity, was involved in facilitating a controversial $200,000 donation from influential CCP official Bin Zhang, who was also intimately involved in Trudeaus 2016 billionaire cash-for-access scandal. The Foundation returned Zhangs donation, which they described as a pledge, in the amount of $140,000. (The remaining $60,000 was reportedly never received.)

The role also shouldnt be filled by a New Democrat, Green, or other left-leaning progressive voice. The Liberals could theoretically attempt to point out this person is aligned with a different political party, and therefore has a different political mindset. The argument wouldnt fly with right-leaning Canadiansand would surely create quizzical reactions from centrist and business-oriented Liberals, too.

Trudeau could be toying with convincing an old Progressive Conservative, or left-leaning Red Tory, to become special rapporteur. Someone like Jean Charest, Hugh Segal, Kim Campbell, Joe Clark, or even John Tory, in spite of his recent downfall as Torontos Mayor. That way, the PM could claim hes listening to Conservative voices who crave an impartial, independent figure at the helm.

Realistically, Trudeau would be choosing someone the vast majority of current and former Conservative MPs, party members, supporters, and activists either dont like or particularly want in this role. This strategy wouldnt reduce the heat in the Liberal political kitchen, but would crank it up even higher.

When the identity of Trudeaus special rapporteur is unveiled, it wont result in major changes to the way Canada deals with foreign interference in our elections and democratic process. It will only give us a better indication of the political yarn the Liberals plan to spin and weave with the Canadian public over the coming months.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Michigan State Legislators Reject Tax Benefits to Fords New Battery Plant

Michigan State Representative Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) speaks at a press conference in Marshall, Mich., on Mar. 11, 2023, objecting to using taxpayer dollars to fund a Ford electric vehicle battery plant partnered with a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. (NTD)

MARSHALL, Mich.The Michigan state House Freedom Caucus is objecting to the use of taxpayer dollars to fund a new Ford electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in the state.

On March 9, the state appropriated $630 million for the project that partners Ford with a Chinese EV battery maker with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

State Rep. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers), who chairs the caucus, said at a news conference on March 11 that the appropriation didnt follow the Michigan Constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority for funding private purposes. The spending bill was approved by the state House on a 5653 vote.

Carra accused the Democrat majority of circumventing the Constitution by calling the project a public purpose, even though its giving tax dollars from the hardworking middle class to a private company.

Its a redistribution of wealth from the hardworking middle class to the politically connected, and thats a very big problem, he added. The Michigan Democratic Party didnt respond by press time to a request for comment.

Carra has some allies in the state Senate. Before the appropriation bill was passed in the states upper house, Sen. Jonathan Lindsay (R-Allen Township) proposed an amendment asking for a national security review. The review would ensure that no state funds would go to a project with partners who have ties to the CCP military or have any involvement in forced labor.

All 20 Democrats voted against the amendment, and all 18 Republican senators voted for it, he said at the press conference.

Theres no reason to move forward on a project like this if the people behind it cant go along with a simple review to protect our national security, Lindsay said.

During his floor speech on Feb. 28, he cited Virginias withdrawal from housing the Ford plant over national security concerns as a reason for his amendment.

Michigan state Sen. Jonathan Lindsay (R-Allen Township) speaks at a press conference in Marshall, Mich., on Mar. 11, 2023, objecting to using taxpayer dollars to fund a Ford electric vehicle battery plant partnered with a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. (NTD)

Michigan state Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin) speaks at a press conference in Marshall, Mich., on Mar. 11, 2023, objecting to using taxpayer dollars to fund a Ford electric vehicle battery plant partnered with a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. (NTD)

Virginia Del. Emily Brewer (R-Surry), who carried a bill to ban TikTok on government devices in this years legislature, recently told NTDs Capitol Report that the Ford plant wasnt a good deal.

When we start to do partnerships that are directly tied to the Chinese Communist Party, thats exactly the type of business that we dont want in the Commonwealthbottom line, she said.

Chinese EV battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) rose to prominence with the help of $155 million in Chinese subsidies between 2015 and 2017, when foreign providers had no access to the Chinese EV battery market.

Since 2018, CATL Chairman Zeng Yuqun has served as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a political advisory body to the communist regime. Zengs committee membership was extended this year, until 2028.

C Drive North in Marshall, Mich., on March 11, 2023. The farmland on the other side of the street is the site of the new Ford electric vehicle battery park. (NTD)

Joan Chapman, a property owner who hasnt sold her land to the local economic development agency for the Ford-CATL plant, said at the press event that the story of the new project was a story of loss.

Weve lost the feeling of security and home because we live there. We live there, she said, adding that the community was divided, and there were people who accused her family of being conspiracy theorists and crazy.

I dont think its a done deal, Chapman said to the 60 people in the room, referring to the plant. Another resident echoed, Its not a done deal, and we are not finished fighting it.

Julie Bryant, who bought a home in Marshall Township about three years ago for the small-town appeal, said she would organize a new Facebook group: Stop the China Ford mega site. However, whether the group will resort to legal means to stall the FordCATL plant is unclear.

Community members gather for a news conference objecting to using taxpayer dollars to fund a Ford electric vehicle battery plant partnered with a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party in Marshall, Mich., on March 11, 2023. (NTD)

On Feb. 16, eight Michigan state representatives wrote a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that reads, We ask that you end your discussions with this company [Chinese battery maker], and we strongly object to using any taxpayer dollars to fund the Chinese Communist Partys efforts to expand its destructive influence in the United States.

The eight legislators are Reps. David Martin, Jaime Greene, Andrew Fink, Mike Hoadley, William Bruck, Bob Bezotte, Greg Markkanen, and Andrew Beeler, a House Freedom Caucus member.

Ford didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
Millions of Americans Bracing for Potential Major Noreaster Storm

A map from the National Weather Service dated March 12, 2023, shows possible impacts from a storm system that is set to impact the Northeast United States on March 13 through March 15. (NWS)

Tens of millions of people are bracing for a rapidly strengthening and major Noreaster storm that is slated to bring heavy snow to the Northeastern United States, according to weather forecasters.

Winter storm advisories have been issued by National Weather Service (NWS) branches for much of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maine. Small portions of New Jersey and Pennsylvania have also received advisories, according to a map posted Sunday by the federal weather agency.

At around 4 p.m. ET, the agency issued winter storm warnings for areas in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

This system will reach the Mid-Atlantic coast Monday night, leading to a rapidly strengthening coastal low pressure, said an NWS bulletin Sunday. Confidence is increasing that a major Noreaster will affect parts of the region on Monday evening stretching to Wednesday.

It warned that heavy snow rates of up to 2 inches per hour are possible, while strong winds from the storm will produce dangerous to near-impossible travel, adding that scattered to widespread power outages and damage to trees is possible. Some interior parts of the Northeast United States will get more than 12 inches of snow from this system, including higher snowfall amounts in the Catskill Mountains in New York, mountains in western Massachusetts, and the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Widespread minor coastal flooding may be possible Monday Night through Wednesday as the low pressure deepens off the coast of New England, the NWS added. As the precipitation moves into the Central Appalachians, pockets of rain-freezing rain will develop on Sunday. The combination of snow and ice may cause hazardous road conditions over parts of the Central Appalachians.

Forecasters with AccuWeather said that the storm system could turn into a bomb cyclone, which means a storm system that drops 24 millibars of pressure within 24 hours.

Another West Coast Atmospheric River and a powerful Noreaster will produce significant impacts early this week. Widespread significant to considerable flooding is expected in the West, especially in central CA. Minor coastal flooding possible in New England. Several ft pic.twitter.com/p2aIeixPmi  National Weather Service (@NWS) March 12, 2023

Widespread power outages will be possible from far southeastern Connecticut to the Massachusetts Cape on northward across the entire coast of Maine, AccuWeather forecasters said. Inland parts of the Northeast U.S. will also face a risk of localized and regional power outages. However, with drier snow expected to fall in this region, this risk gradually declines from western Pennsylvania to western New York.

AccuWeather also warned that high winds and heavy snowfall could lead to blizzard conditions in some areas, namely in New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. The strongest wind gusts will likely occur in the coastal areas of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, and Massachusettsranging as high as 60 to 70 mph in some areas.

Locations forecast to see wind gusts upwards of 50 mph with this storm will be at risk for substantial airline delays and cancellations. Transportation hubs such as Boston and New York City could face challenging weather conditions, and travelers are urged to call ahead to check on the status of their flights, the forecaster said.

From Tuesday into Wednesday morning, the rest of the Northeast United States could see gusts of at least 40 mph, according to the Weather Channel.
More Rain on the Way as Record-Breaking Queensland Flood Peaks

A screenshot of supplied vision of flooding in Burketown Queensland on Saturday, March 11, 2023. A broad swathe of Queensland is being warned about the threat of thunderstorms as the northwest grapples with its worst floods in years. (AAP Image/Supplied by Queensland Police) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Historic flooding in Australias northwest Queensland has peaked but is likely to continue over coming days as emergency services prepare for recovery efforts after nearly 100 residents were evacuated.

Major flood alerts remain active in Burketown, about 2,000 kilometres northwest of Brisbane, after water levels at the Albert River exceeded seven metres on Sunday, surpassing the 2011 record of 6.78 metres.

Heavy rain over the past week caused major flooding across various rivers, including the Nicholson and Leichhardt river catchments which recorded up to 35 millimetres in 24 hours.

Major flooding is occurring along the Albert River while water levels along the Gregory River peaked at 12.3 metres.

With more showers and isolated thunderstorms forecast, emergency services expect peak flooding to continue through to Monday with water heights across Burketown subject to change.

About 97 people were airlifted over 48 hours.

Due to the current conditions, it is still unsafe for people to return to their homes, Queensland Police said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.

All displaced persons have been accommodated and are currently being supported by Queensland Community Recovery Services.

About 37 houses and two water pumping stations were taken off power due to safety concerns.

Burketown sewage and water treatment was also cut while water reserves and food supplies are said to be good.

Mount Isa District Disaster Coordination Centre has commenced the preparation of the recovery phase.

Footage taken from a helicopter above the flood zone on Saturday showed the town and surrounding areas were already flooded.

Properties, roads and other infrastructure were inundated, with several aircraft shown perched on a rare strip of elevated concrete.

LifeFlights special mission helicopter was deployed to the states northwest for the first time ever as flooding continued, with the organisation on Sunday announcing the aircrafts arrival in Mount Isa.

A forecast for severe thunderstorms and rain in southeast Queensland was downgraded on Saturday but more rain is expected.

Several towns, cattle stations and isolated settlements in the southeast Gulf of Carpentaria remain cut off and are relying on supplies sent by air or barge after weeks of torrential rain.
New DOD Report Shows Significant Rise in Sexual Harassment Reports at Military Academies

West Point graduates stand as they prepare to receive their diplomas during the 2022 West Point Commencement Ceremony at West Point Military Academy in West Point, New York, on May 21, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

A new report (pdf) released on March 9 by the Department of Defense, shows a significant rise in sexual assaults at U.S. military academies during the 202122 school year.

The report revealed that there have been increases in unwanted sexual contact across the board, involving both men and women. The report covered the Army, Navy, as well as Air Force schools.

More than 20 percent of women reported unsolicited sexual contact, according to a student survey. This includes anything from completed penetration, attempted penetration, and unwanted touching.

The figure shows an increase of more than 5 percent from 2018, when the survey was last conducted, as a result of pandemic restrictions. The rate for men has nearly doubled from 2.6 percent to 4.4 percent, during the same period.

According to the Pentagon, the figures reiterate an urgent need for reform implementation.

Moreover, the report reveals that in 60 percent of cases of unsolicited sexual contact, the consumption of alcohol was involved.

Across the three academies, a total of 206 cases of sexual assault were reported. According to the congressionally mandated annual report, the figure is up by nearly a third from last years figure of 161 reports.

Meanwhile, the number of overall sexual harassment complaints has also increased by over 30 percent from 2018. The figures show an increase from 30 to 40, across the three academies, with the majority coming from The U.S. Military Academyclosely followed by the U.S. Air Force Academy.

According to the acting director of the Pentagons Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Nate Galbreath, no single solution to the problem exists.

Were working very deliberately with academy leadership to provide cadets and midshipmen places to live and learn that are free from sexual assault and sexual harassment, he said in a statement.

However, the military justice reforms, prevention initiatives, and survivor care enhancements we have underway for the military as a whole are the solution set for the academies as well.

In 2022prompted by the I Am Vanessa Guillen Act in the 2022 National Defense Authorization ActPresident Joe Biden signed an executive order. The order made sexual harassment or unsolicited sexual contact an offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The directive came after intense criticism over the militarys failure to act on preventing incidences of sexual misconduct.

Prior to this in 2021, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that one of his top priorities was to combat unwanted sexual behavior in the U.S. military. This, however, was impacted by the COVID pandemic, which slowed down reports during shortened school terms.

The most recent figures emerged following reports of sexual misconduct at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy earlier in March.

Included in the survey were also civilians, troops in active service, as well as prep school students, who were reportedly victims of indecent sexual attempts by students at the academy. Additionally, students were encouraged to include reports of sexual assault prior to enrolling their respective academies, which resulted in 16 students coming forward.

From NTD News
North Korea Launches Missiles From Submarine as USSouth Korean Drills Begin

North Korea fires two missiles from a submarine striking an underwater target, according to state media, at an undisclosed location in North Korea, on March 12, 2023, in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). (KCNA via Reuters)

SEOULNuclear-armed North Korea test-fired two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine on Sunday, state news agency KCNA said on Monday, just as U.S.South Korea military drills were due to begin.

Strategic is typically used to describe weapons that have a nuclear capability.

KCNA said the launch confirmed the reliability of the system and tested the underwater offensive operations of the submarine units that form part of North Koreas nuclear deterrent.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the military was on high alert and the countrys intelligence agency was working with its U.S. counterpart to analyze the specifics of the launch.

On Monday, South Korean and American troops were scheduled to begin 11 days of joint drills, dubbed Freedom Shield 23, which will be held on a scale not seen since 2017.

The drills will strengthen the allies combined defensive posture, the two militaries have said, and will feature field exercises including amphibious landings.

North Korea has long bristled over drills it regards as a rehearsal for invasion. It has conducted a record number of missile tests and drills in the past year in what it says is an effort to boost its nuclear deterrent and make more weapons fully operational.

Its very regretful that North Korea is using our regular, defensive drills as a pretext for provocation, said Koo Byoung-sam, spokesperson for South Koreas unification ministry handling relations with the North. I hope North Korea realizes that there is nothing they can earn from escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula.

The submarine launches aimed to show North Koreas determination to control a situation in which, KCNA said, the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet forces are getting evermore undisguised in their anti-DPRK military maneuvers.

DPRK stands for North Korea, officially the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

KCNA said the strategic cruise missiles were fired from the 8.24 Yongung submarine in the water off the east coast of Korea in the early hours of Sunday.

The missiles traveled some 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) before hitting a target in the sea, the KCNA report said.

A JCS spokesperson said not everything North Korea claimed was accurate, but he did not give further details.

It is unclear whether North Korea has fully developed the miniaturized nuclear warheads needed to fit on such missiles. Analysts say that perfecting smaller warheads would most likely be a key goal if the North resumes nuclear testing.

Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said that North Korean cruise missiles launched from a submarine represent a threat the United States, and its allies must take seriously, but that Pyongyang could be exaggerating its capabilities.

The Kim regime wants to show it can match or surpass military capabilities on display during U.S.South Korea defense exercises. Yet the reality is North Korean soldiers are poorly fed and are being ordered to help farmers address the countrys food shortage, Easley said.

Japans Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said there was no information that the missile flew toward Japans waters or caused any damage.

If North Koreas announcement that the missile had a range of more than 1,500 kilometers was true, it would pose threats to the regions peace and stabilitywe are concerned, Matsuno said.

He said U.S. military deterrence in Asia-Pacific is essential in the region, adding the North may step onto further provocative acts such as a nuclear test.

North Korea has a large submarine fleet but the 8.24 Yongung (August 24th Hero) is its only known experimental ballistic missile submarine. Analysts say it plays a critical role in the development of missiles, submarine technology and operational procedures, as well as hands-on training of new submariners.

North Korea has said it is building an operational ballistic missile submarine.

While overseeing a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) launching exercise on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the military to intensify drills to deter and respond to a real war if necessary.

On Sunday state media reported that Kim led a ruling party meeting to discuss and decide on important, practical measures to boost the North Korean regimes war deterrence in the midst of stepped-up actions by the United States and South Korea. The report did not provide specifics on the measures.

By Josh Smith and Hyunsu Yim
Ewe-Turn Needed on Live Export Ban

Workers transfer beef cattle imported from Australia at a port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, on April 15, 2018. (AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

The Australian federal government needs to reverse its disastrous policy to ban live sheep exports.

The Labor party of today seems more beholden to inner-city green elites than the workers who serve in the sheep industry and were the spiritual founders of their party.

The many shearers and farm workers who founded the union movement in the great outback of Australia would be spinning in their graves to witness the recent decision of the party they helped found turning its back on their sector with the loss of jobs for hundreds, if not thousands, of their mates.

The decision to ban live sheep exports will have major ramifications (pun intended)not only for the producers whom the Canberra political elite would ignorantly dismiss as landed gentry.

The last time federal Labor played this game was with live cattle exports which bankrupted Indigenous cattle stations. Its always the way. The most vulnerable get hurt when decisions are not thought through.

Banning the more than $130 million (US$88 million) live sheep export trade will hit the farmers, but it will also hit the farm workers, truckies, shearers, hay contractors, and the list goes on, all allegedly in the name of animal welfare in circumstances where there has not been a reportable mortality rate since 2018.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt speaks during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia, on July 22, 2022. (Dan Peled/Getty Images)

Having further improved its already world-leading standards, the live export sector and all agricultural producers are right to be apprehensive about what might be discharged from the governments locker to destroy another one of their viable world-leading sectors.

Western Australia the Biggest Loser

Injecting an extra one million sheep into the domestic market due to the export ban will see abattoirs unable to cope with the sheer volume of stock.

The lack of workforce available is compounding the problem, which in turn can develop into a separate animal welfare issue. Predictably the government will ignore or blame this on the farmers, thereby adding insult to the injury they inflicted.

With the live sheep export sector decreasing quite markedly, this over-the-top government intervention was not warranted, let alone needed. Over a five-year period, the sector has diminished by 43 percent.

Assurances the government would phase out the sector in an orderly fashion appear to have been completely abandoned.

It must come as a full thrusted body blow for Western Australian workers involved in the sector.

As the number of sheep exported live decreased, the percentage from Western Australia increased. For example, in 2014, Western Australian sheep represented 72 percent of all live sheep exports. Five years later, Western Australia represented a full 97 percent.

Sheep are seen while being transported to the Al Kuwait in Fremantle, Australia, on June 16, 2020. (Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Most of the live exports leave our shores via ships, where the Australian Standard for the Export of Livestock sets rigorous standards, including for density. Compliance has been noteworthy by the lower mortality rates.

Not to be outdone, the government, for good measure, is banning all live sheep exports, which includes air travel. The statistics for air travel, as might be expected from an animal welfare point of view, have been exceptional, with only one death from over 22,000 transported by air.

Why Now?

The governments announcement and its timing must be observed in the political climate in which it was made.

An announcement decimating the live export sector is bound to grab headlines providing a blessed distraction from the superannuation debacle.

The Labor government views Western Australia as an area where they can burn some political capital for some electoral benefit in inner city electorates.

Nor should it be overlooked that this out-of-the-blue announcement may have been part of a deal struck with certain minority parties or individuals to garner an extra vote or two in the Senate. Without such a rationale, it is hard to justify the timing and lack of consultation.

The number of Australias true blue workers who will be denied a livelihood as a result of this decision will be substantial, not to mention the farm businesses and other enterprises which will see their previously regulated and monitored sector damaged beyond recognition.

The end result Australia loses export dollars in the name of animal welfare, so countries without Australias stringent animal welfare rules can fill the void by shipping to our previously held markets from even greater distances.

A textbook case study in counterproductive policy.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Dr. Arnold Alexander (R), an internal medicine physician, with former ballet dancer Pamela Broske (L), at Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Venice Performing Arts Center, on March 11, 2023. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times)

VENICE, Fla.Dr. Arnold Alexander, an internal medicine physician, said he became curious about Falun Dafa after watching Shen Yun at the Venice Performing Arts Center on March 11.

Ive been very interested in [Falun Dafa] and todays performance has inspired me that Im going to buy and read and study the book, Dr. Alexander said.

Dr. Alexander was referring to the book Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa that has since been translated into 40 languages worldwide. The book was one of the highest selling books in China before it was banned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in July 1999.

Shen Yun performers also practice Falun Dafa, also called Falun Gong, an ancient spiritual practice of the Buddhist tradition that is centered on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

This spiritual component enables the artists to excelforming the heart behind each dancing movement and each musical note, according to the company website.

All the dancing was terrificthe backdrops and the coordination with the costumes and colours was just fantastic. The live orchestra was fantastic, Dr. Alexander said.

But like Falun Dafa, Shen Yun cannot be performed in communist China.

Shen Yun, the worlds premier classical Chinese dance company, is based in New York.

As Shen Yun showcases Chinas 5,000-year-old culture, it depicts modern vignettes of Falun Dafa practitioners who are persecuted for their faith by the CCP. However, this particular vignette displays the traditional principle that good is rewarded, while evil is punished.

Dr. Alexander described the scene where the persecuted practitioners are met with a brilliant white light that doesnt even exist on earth as a death and resuscitation experience.

Then you realise Falun Gong and all the great religions of the world always have that same after death experiencethat theres a spiritual existence, Dr. Alexander said.

And everybody describes virtually the same thing with the white light and spirits that guide them, and the incredibly euphoric feeling that they experience. So, I want to read the book now.

Meanwhile, former ballet dancer Pamela Broske, who watched Shen Yun with Dr. Alexander, said she could see and feel the beauty of the dancers.

After all, Shen Yun means the beauty of divine beings dancing.

You feel God when you move with joy, and celebrate life, Ms. Broske said.

As a former ballet dancer, Ms. Broske said she knew she was with God whenever she danced.

The energy is what we are, but if you believe and have faith, its from the Divine Creator, she said.

Ms. Broske said she felt sad that the Chinese people cannot experience Shen Yun in person in modern China.

There is something so beautiful in something so inherent in your culture.

You need to be able to experience this, and claim your Chinese heritage through dance.

Reporting by Sally Sun and Henry Jom.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
San Clemente to Hire Private Security to Crack Down on Beach Encampments

After a rise in homelessness near and on San Clemente, California, beaches, especially North Beach, officials voted unanimously on March 7 to hire a private security company to enforce no camping during late night hours.

The decision came after discussion of an initial proposal that would have directed city staff to expend up to $50,000 in providing emergency supplies and shelter for the homeless during times of inclement weather.

The majority of 10 San Clemente residents who spoke during public comments voiced concern with providing any additional assistance to homeless within the city, fearing providing such support may attract more.

The first speaker, a woman who didnt identify her place of residency, called providing incidentals to the homeless in cold weather a waste of taxpayer money. She added, its only prolonging the problem, not finding a solution.

Another speaker, a female 38-year resident, was one of a handful to mention the growing homeless situation at North Beach.

Women are getting accosted on the beach trail. They wont walk it anymore. North Beach is a disaster, she said. They have places to shower [and] do laundry. Theyve created a lifestyle of being homeless.

A staff presentation that preceded public comments identified ideas for helping the homeless population during bad weather. As agendized, plans to fund motel vouchers, granola bars, umbrellas, rain ponchos, and hand warmers were all mentioned as possible emergency actions.

But after the motion failed to pass, the council voted unanimously to allow city staff to expend up to $50,000which is the maximum the city manager can spend without council approvalto pay for a private security company instead that would enforce no beach camping between 12 a.m. to 4 a.m., when the beach is closed.

We want to be a great city. We want to protect our people.  I no longer want to smell urine and feces on the beach trail, Councilman Gene James said before voting.

Officials also voted 4-1, with councilman Mark Enmeier dissenting, to direct the city manager to ask the county for assistance in finding shelter for San Clementes homeless population, but with two rules: no shelter should be constructed in San Clemente and no costs should be incurred by the city.

Councilman Victor Cabral said handling such issues like homelessness and mental health should be a county or state responsibility, since cities dont have the necessary funds.

I want to continue working on the homeless issue. But it should be a regional and state driven exercise.  Not with the direction of creating some entity here in San Clemente, Councilman Victor Cabral said during the meeting.

Mayor Chris Duncan said he had already asked the county formerly to create a shelter in Orange Countys south region.

Were still waiting for a response, but I have no problem with potentially authorizing the city manager to knock on the door and see if he can get a quicker answer, he said.

But Enmeier, the only councilor opposed, said waiting on the county wouldnt work.

Im all for the county taking care of this.  I just dont think its realistic, he said. As wonderful as an idea as that is, we got to start thinking of plan B and C and D on this.

Donna Vidrine, co-chair of the San Clemente Homeless Collaborative, urged councilors earlier in the meeting to plan for a shelter in the city, as she reminded everyone this winter has been one of the coldest yet.

The problems of our San Clemente unsheltered and unhealthy are not going to go away with ordinances and code enforcement, she said. We have San Clemente unhoused sleeping on our streets and public spaces requesting shelter access with no shelter available.  The urgency to act is greater than ever.
Santa Ana Urges State to Allow More Local Control Over Street Vending Safety Rules

Officials in Santa Ana, California, are urging the state government to allow more local control over street vending regulations, saying vendors violating safety rules are crowding the citys sidewalks and posing health risks to residents.

During a March 7 meeting, Santa Anas city council voted 52 to approve a resolution urging state legislators to amend two state laws: one decriminalized street vending in 2019 and the other made it easier for vendors to obtain health permits starting this year.

Since the legislation took effect, both city and county law enforcement agencies have encountered a rise in negligent stationary sidewalk food vending operations, including the sale of food deemed unfit for human consumption, the presence of unventilated smoke and open flame  [and] the obstruction of adequate sidewalk space for accessibility and safety purposes, city officials said in the resolution.

Additionally, some street vendors continue to operate without first obtaining a permit, according to the resolution. The city already shut down more than 100 street vendors without permits and selling food unfit for human consumption in December, according to city officials.

City leaders asked state lawmakers to amend both laws to allow local governments to set their own requirements to maintain sanitary conditions for street vending and to ensure that vendors dont undermine disability access as protected by the 1990 American Disabilities Act.

Santa Ana street vendor. (Courtesy of the City of Santa Ana)

During the meeting, Councilwoman Thai Viet Phan said that though local mom-and-pop street vendors are an important part of [the] community, some vendors travel from outside the city and disregard food and safety protocols.

Food vendors who are run by and owned by large corporations from outside of the city of Santa Ana,  who flout the regulations  and do not care what happens to our water systems, our trash, or the safety of our residents, those are the people we are trying to prevent from working here, Phan said.

Councilmen Benjamin Vazquez and Jonathan Hernandez, who cast the two dissenting votes, attempted to add amendments to the resolution.

Vazquez said he would support the resolution if it included a commitment to work with the county to educate street vendors on the permit process, and made them one of the citys protected groups. Hernandez requested for classifying attacks on street vendors as a hate crimea resolution he unsuccessfully proposed last July.

In theory, this resolution is accomplishing a lot of what our residents are asking for, Hernandez said. But what I dont want is for this resolution to then be weaponized and to turn against food trucks.
Farmers in Vietnams main pomelo growing area, the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, are earning no profits from the fruit since prices have fallen sharply over the last two years.

Traders have been paying farmers VND15,000-21,000 (US$0.64-0.89) per kilogram during the period, down from VND40,000-50,000 in previous years.

Earlier this month Huynh Van Quan, 56, a farmer in the provinces Chau Thanh District, harvested over seven tons of pomelo from his four-hectare orchard and sold them for VND21,000 per kilogram.

Quan said his family tended the orchard and did not hire labor, and so his orchard made a small profit, but other farmers barely broke even amid the weak demand, high prices of fertilizers and pesticides and expensive labor.

Twenty five years ago Quan was among first in the district to cut down longan trees and grow pomelo instead at a cost of around VND100 million per hectare. He had his first harvest nearly five years later.

Due to the low prices of pomelo and worsening salinity in rivers in recent years in Ben Tre, many farmers are growing pomelo along with other kinds of fruit trees, with some even switching entirely to others such as coconut, which is more adaptable to drought and salinity.

"Siamese coconut trees can be harvested three years after being planted, can withstand drought and salinity and require little care, and so if pomelo prices continue to fall, we will probably give up pomelo to grow coconut," Tran Thi Thu Hoa, 64, said, adding that she planted coconut and cashew trees in her pomelo orchard in February.

Vo Van Nam, director of the Ben Tre Cultivation and Plant Protection Bureau, said last November Ben Tre became the first locality to export pomelo to the U.S., but the volume was small, while the Chinese market did not reopen until early this year. With domestic demand also being weak due to Covid, prices fell.

Ben Tre has some 10,000 ha under the fruit, or 30% of the Mekong Deltas total, and grows nearly 200,000 tons of the fruit annually.

Chau Thanh alone accounts for over 3,300 ha.
8 Dead After Suspected Migrant Boats Crash Near US Coast: Officials

Authorities in San Diego, California, confirmed that eight people died after two suspected smuggling boats carrying what may be illegal immigrants crashed off the coast on Sunday.

A woman on one of the panga-style boats called 911 late Saturday to report that the other vessel had overturned in waves off Blacks Beach, according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Richard Brahm.

The woman who called stated that the boat that overturned had 15 people on it, but that was just an estimate, Brahm said.

Coast Guard and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews pulled eight bodies from the water, but thick fog hampered the search for additional victims. A Coast Guard cutter combed the area early Sunday, and officials hoped to get helicopters in the air when the weather improves, Brahm said.

Illegal immigrants frequently travel on panga-style boats from Mexico to Southern California. Its not clear if there were any arrests made or if officials have determined the nationalities of those who died.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokeswoman Monica Munoz told Newsweek that lifeguards could not access the beach due to high tides after 911 was called.

The lifeguards proceeded north on foot wading through knee- to waist-deep water, she said. After a couple hundred yards, lifeguards on the beach reached dry sand and then began to find lifeless bodies and two overturned pangas spread over an area of about 400 yards.

Lifeguards pulled victims from knee-deep water and from the waterline up the beach to dry sand, she added. Later, an eighth person was found dead by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.

Life jackets and barrels of fuel were also found during the search, she told Newsweek.

Illegal border crossings skyrocketed after President Joe Biden took office in 2021. Many illegal immigrants have resorted to turning themselves into Border Patrol officials before being released into the United States to pursue their immigration cases.

But a federal judge last week struck down the administrations program of releasing many illegal immigrants rather than holding them until their court cases. The judge, in a scathing ruling, argued that the rule violated federal law.

The evidence establishes that Defendants have effectively turned the Southwest Border into a meaningless line in the sand and little more than a speedbump for aliens flooding into the country, U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, a Trump appointee, wrote in a ruling.

Meanwhile, a pandemic-related rule that is slated to end May 11 currently denies illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers due to grounds that they can spread COVID-19.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jennifer Weil enjoyed Shen Yun at the Venice Performing Arts Center, in Florida, on the evening of March 11, 2023. (Erin Xia/The Epoch Times)

VENICE, Fla.The Bible is the most printed, sold, and read book in the worldbut was banned in communist China, where Lynne Hansen visited in the early 1990s for the sole reason of smuggling in Bibles.

So Ms. Hansen was deeply intrigued by Shen Yun Performing Arts and its performance showcasing China before communism.

On the evening of March 11, Ms. Hansen attended a performance with her husband, Scott Biehler, at the Venice Performing Arts Center in Venice, Florida.

China was once called the Land of the Divine and its people lived with deep reverence for the heavens, Shen Yun explains on its website. But this civilization was uprooted with the takeover by the foreign atheist ideology of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1949.

Shen Yun, based in New York, is the worlds premier classical Chinese dance company and has a mission to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

Its very spiritual, its very beautiful, I enjoyed it thoroughly, Ms. Hansen said.

Mr. Biehler added, They did a wonderful job. Its amazing.

Also in the audience that evening was Jennifer Weil, award winning writer, who saw in Shen Yun a celebration of life.

Such unified commitment to the spirit of dance, to the spirit of life. It was just profoundly moving, said Ms. Weil, who leads a creative life as an author, actress, and teacher.

They go to so many different places, and they touch so many different emotions. I think I loved the Return to Heaven, I loved the Mongolian Chopsticks, and I loved the snowy mountain Manchurian piece, and the Ladies [Classical] Chinese Dance, she said, listing a number of dances before turning the program book and deciding that it wasnt possible to pick a favorite. Theyre all beautiful in their own ways.

It was beautiful and brave, Ms. Weil added, referencing Shen Yuns mission to revive the traditional Chinese culture. She added, May God make that so.

I appreciated it was brave, and it was honest to show the persecution that exists still in China. Its heartbreaking. I wish more people understood the true aims of the CCP, she said.

This is certainly what we have now in China: its anti-life, its anti-beauty.its anti-elevation, its anti-everything that matters. And I hope that the traditional culture can gradually come back.

And it has to start somewhere, so I think it started here, she said.

Im really very moved by it. I think the external beauty of this, the quality of it represents whats going on inside, and the commitment is stunning to me. The leader is stunning to me. His achievements, his commitment, his courage, everybodys commitment, because this is a lifes work, isnt it? she said.

Friends Tonya Miller and Jennifer Adamovsky certainly felt the cultural revival at the performance.

The expression of every movement, of every dance, the meaning behind everything that was choreography meant freedom for people in China, said Ms. Miller, who attended the performance to celebrate her 78th birthday, fulfilling a decade-long wish.

It really does [showcase universal values]. And for people to come here and get it, [they] get the meaning behind it but also to walk away from this with a sense of more value for the Chinese culture, she said.

Reporting by Erin Xia and Sally Sun.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
The Peoples Republic of Chains

Commentary

The following essay is an excerpt adapted from Yeonmi Parks new book, While Time Remains: A North Korean Defectors Search for Freedom in America (Threshold, Simon & Schuster).

The Chinese economic growth miracle of the past two decades is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive and consequential developments in modern international history. Nicknamed the red dragon, contemporary China has become either the biggest or second-biggest power in global trade and commerce. Its at the forefront of science and technology. Its the global leader in payments, online retail, and infrastructure like high-speed rail, and will likely soon dominate consumer electronics. It also has a plausible chance of winning the race for predominance in artificial intelligence and quantum computing, which would certainly help buttress its skyrocketing military power. Chinese defense spending in 2021 totaled about $240 billion, second only to the United States, and its active military forcemore than 2 millionis the largest in history.

These are remarkable achievements for a country that refers to itself as a unitary, single-party, socialist statea political and economic model that, outside of China, has an unbroken historical track record of failure, collapse, and defeat. And it isnt as if China doesnt share the same shortcomings as all the other communist regimes that have come and gone.

In 2020, of all countries in the world, China ranked 177th for freedom of the press by the nonprofit Reporters Without Borders, outranking only Turkmenistan, Eritrea, and North Korea. China also came in at No. 129 in the CATO Institutes 2020 Human Freedom Index, which measures 76 distinct indicators of personal and economic freedom. Looking at qualitative indices of freedom, the only countries that cumulatively scored the same as or worse than China were Iran, Iraq, and North Korea (the Axis of Evil) plus Cuba and Turkmenistan. Even when it came to business and financial freedom, China ranked 107th in an index put together by The Heritage Foundation.

My mother and I had the misfortune of being inmates in the prison that is China when we were trafficked there from North Korea. I went to China because I was determined to find my sister, but also because I wanted the one thing that, by itself, could grant me a better life: a bowl of rice. In exchange for that pitifully modest luxury, I became a mans house worker and sex slave at the age of 13 and had to watch my own mother repeatedly pillaged by other men.

To this day, it makes me physically ill to think about it. But the older I get, the more the sickness I experience has to do with the knowledge that its still happeningright now, at this very moment, as you read these wordsto scores of other women and girls in China. What gives their captors the power and control they need to keep them enslaved is a single threat: If you dont do what I tell you, I will report you to the police.

That threat is eminently credible. The Chinese authorities are notorious among North Korean defectors for their hair-trigger willingness to send North Koreans back home, where everyone involvedthe girls, their captors, the policeknows they will end up in hard labor camps until they die or else be executed on the spot. This is a deliberate policy decision by the Chinese authorities. If they ended it, the human traffickers and their clients would immediately lose their ability to enslave North Korean women. But they wont. Its an important component of bilateral relations between Beijing and Pyongyang, and although the Kim regime can prove an irritant to the CCP now and again, China has shown no real signs of letting go of its client state.

The special relationship between the two communist regimesthe CCP and the Kim familybegan during the Korean War, when China and Russia actively aided Kim Il Sung in order to unify Korea under the communist banner. Mao Zedongs son, in fact, was killed in action in 1950 during an American bombing raid. (Legend has it that despite a prohibition on cooking at night in order to avoid detection from the air, Mao stole eggs to make himself egg-fried rice on the night he died, alerting U.S. bombers to his units location and contributing to their deaths. Nowadays, every year on the anniversary of Maos sons death, rebellious Chinese internet users post recipes for egg-fried rice in order to mock the government, which the authorities promptly remove.)

Accurate figures for Chinese aid and exports into North Korea are hard to come by, as the scale of North Korean dependence on its humongous neighbor is humiliating to anyone who actually thinks that the Kim regime has preserved any semblance of self-reliance or that the Juche is anything at this point beyond a practical joke. But estimates from the past decade show North Korea to be little more than a Chinese colony. Chinese aid in 2014 was about $4 billion (North Koreas entire GDP was about $28 billion in 2016), China seems to account for approximately 95 percent of all North Koreas imports, and China receives about two-thirds of North Koreas exports. Without China, in other words, the North Korean regime literally wouldnt exist.

In exchange for its support of the Kim family, China receives only small amounts of ores and mineral fuels. So, whats in it for Beijing? The fact is, the existence of North Korea is good for China. It serves as a geographic buffer between China and the U.S. military forces stationed in South Korea, and North Koreas nuclear weapons function as a reliable military deterrent to greater U.S., Korean, Japanese, and Australian action in the region. North Korea is also, according to some Chinese officials and academicsand this isnt a jokean example of why communism is superior to capitalism and democracy.

Chinese influence and control, of course, extends far beyond its own neighborhood. Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Tibet are only the crisis points within Chinas immediate sphere of influence, and countries like North Korea are little more than territorial extensions of the Chinese state. The majority of Chinese economic and political influence is being extended much farther afield, to the copper mines of Africa and Latin America, the land routes of Central Asia, and the energy fields of the Persian Gulf. Vladimir Putins ruinous war in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions on Russias economic system have virtually ensured that the entire Russian Federationthe largest sovereign landmass in the worldwill become a Chinese economic dependent.

Its concerning enough that so much of the Earths surface and its population will be under the influence of a state dedicated to the overthrow of American powerwhats more concerning still is the shape that new power will take. China may be one of historys most intense drivers of economic development, but it comes at a higher cost than even economic growth can justify. As many countries in Africa, the Balkans, and Latin America have started to learn, the spread of Chinese power across the world means the spread of environmental damage and exploitation, abusive labor conditions, ruinous debt accumulation, poor infrastructure, and sex trafficking. Theres no doubt that, on net, the rise of Chinese hegemony represents a negative and threatening prospect for nearly every country in the world.

Its therefore incumbent on the worlds only rival superpower, the United States of America, to stop it. Unfortunately, in recent years, America has become compromised.

In 2020 alone, a year in which much of global trade was disrupted and GDP fell precipitously, the United States still managed to be the largest importer of Chinese goods in the world, sending the CCP a whopping $452 billion. The Chinese, moreover, have infiltrated U.S. business and finance at nearly all levels, acquiring U.S. companies, becoming the largest shareholders in many U.S. industries, buying up U.S. real estate, forcing the transfer of U.S. technology to China, and luring away the vast majority of U.S. manufacturing. In Chicago, where I live, the epidemic of high-rise luxury real estate constructioncontributing to a city-wide housing shortage, price hikes, and a housing affordability crisishas been driven in large part by Chinese investment.

The fact is, a large segment of Americas elite classes and most productive industries have been purchased by the Chinese. Big Tech, Wall Street, Hollywood, and universities are all dependent on Chinese money and markets to keep their profits trending upward. Their behavior in the past two decades closely parallels Russia in the 1990s, when under Boris Yeltsin, a handful of oligarchs looted and sold off the countrys resources to enrich themselves while ordinary Russian people were plunged into chaos and poverty.

The consequences of this were most visible during COVID-19, when nearly all U.S. corporations, universities, and media rushed to defend the actions and decision-making of the Chinese government, helping the CCP cover up the origins of the virus by deeming anyone who disagreed with the official Beijing line as a racist or crackpot or conspiracy theorist. It also became painfully clear that U.S. industry had outsourced the most basic capabilities to China: The United States, the most technologically advanced industrial country in history, couldnt even make its own masks or ventilators.

Across two presidential administrations now, the United States has vowed to do something about the Chinese threat: to bring more U.S. manufacturing and business back home; to bolster U.S. defense capabilities; to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East; and to stop the illegal Chinese practices of stealing trade secrets, forcing technology transfers, investing through shell companies, and integrating the use of slave labor into global supply chains. But both the Trump and Biden administrations have fallen far short. The fact is, Americas China policy isnt even really made by the U.S. president anymore. Its made by the lobbying and interest groups and oligarchical classes that are dependent on the Chinese market, regardless of the effect on ordinary American workers and consumers.

The only hope for countering the spread of Chinese influence is the United States, but American elites are busy dismantling the sources of U.S. economic and military power to the benefit of the Chinese in order to enrich themselves. If this process continues, there will simply be no hope for preventing a Chinese-dominated future for the world. Having come from North Korea, its difficult to convey how depressing this all is. The horror of North Korea is Exhibit A of what a more Chinese world would look like: more unspeakable crime, more abject human suffering, and more terrifying exploitation of innocent people for the benefit of a communist party cadre. Instead of ending the North Korean nightmare, Chinese hegemony promises only to spread the North Korean experience to more people around the world.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Thousands Evacuated After Levee Breached in California: Officials

A map of Monterey County, California, shows warnings that are in effect due to flooding as of March 12, 2023. (Monterey County)

Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate in a Northern California community after a levee broke on Saturday amid yet another round of heavy rainfall to impact the Golden State, officials said.

A levee on the Pajaro River broke about three miles east of Pajaro, near the city of Watsonville, officials told local media, adding that the rivers levee failed at around midnight. Photos and aerial video footage showed homes, businesses, schools, and cars flooded with several feet of water.

My heart hurts tonight for the residents of Pajaro. We were hoping to avoid and prevent this situation, but the worst case scenario has arrived with the Pajaro River overtopping and levee breaching at about midnight, Luis Alejo, chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, wrote in a Twitter post. A flood warning for the area is still in effect, according to the National Weather Service, noting that Pajaro River flooding is impacting Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties.

More than 50 people needed to be rescued as another atmospheric river hit California, delivering more rain to the already-waterlogged state, according to the California National Guard. Some 2,000 Pajaro residents were under mandatory evacuation this weekend, a map posted by Monterey County shows.

Mandatory Evacuation orders issued for the Community of #Pajaro due to a #LeveeBreak. Please heed evac warnings/orders. Pajaro River levee broke early this morning resulting in active flooding. #Evacuate if told. #TurnAroundDontDrown @Cal_OES @CaltransHQ @CAgovernor pic.twitter.com/tDttiTcaC0  California Governors Office of Emergency Services (@Cal_OES) March 11, 2023

Officials had been working along the levee in the hopes of shoring it up when it was breached around midnight Friday into Saturday. Crews began working to fix the levee around daybreak Saturday as residents slept in evacuation centers.

Gov. Gavin Newsoms office on Saturday said it was monitoring the situation in Pajaro. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted and the state has mobilized to support the community, the governors office wrote on Twitter.

The Pajaro Valley is a coastal agricultural area known for growing strawberries, apples, cauliflower, broccoli, and artichokes. National brands like Driscolls Strawberries and Martinellis are headquartered in the region.

As of Sunday, there were about 6,700 customers in the county without electricity, according to data from Poweroutage.us.

In other parts of the state, officials in San Luis Obispo County and Kern County ordered evacuations due to flooding. President Joe Biden, meanwhile, declared a federal emergency due to the storms.

People walk through floodwaters in Watsonville, Calif., on March 11, 2023. Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared emergencies in 34 counties in recent weeks, and the Biden administration approved a presidential disaster declaration for some on Friday morning, a move that will bring more federal assistance. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

More on the Way

The atmospheric riverknown as a Pineapple Express because it brought warm subtropical moisture across the Pacific from near Hawaiiwas melting lower parts of the huge snowpack built in Californias mountains. Yet another atmospheric river is already in the forecast for early next week.

State weather official Michael Anderson said a third appeared to be taking shape over the Pacific and possibly a fourth and that California appeared to be well on its way to a fourth year of drought before the early winter series of storms. Were in a very different condition now, he added, noting the heavy rain and snow in recent months.

The National Weather Service on Saturday forecasted an intensified bout of rain and snow Monday through Wednesday, with considerable flooding possible along the states central coast, San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys, and the southern Sierra Nevada foothills into midweek.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
UK Government Works to Minimize SVB Fallout

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the British government was working to find a solution to limit the potential hit to companies resulting from the collapse of U.S. lender Silicon Valley Bank.

Sunak said he understood the anxiety and the concerns customers of the bank have, in comments made to reporters flying with him to the United States. He and the government were making sure we can work to find a solution that secures peoples operational liquidity and cash-flow needs, he said.

Fridays dramatic failure of SVB Financial Group, which focuses on tech startups, was the biggest bank collapse in the United States since the 2008 financial crisis.

The collapse could have a significant impact on British technology companies, given the importance of the lender to some customers, Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt said earlier on Sunday,

Weve been working at pace over the weekend, through the night, Hunt told Sky News. We will bring forward very soon plans to make sure people are able to meet their cash-flow requirements to pay their staff.

Hunt said efforts are focused on finding a longer-term solution that minimizes, or even avoids completely, losses to some of our most promising companies.

Under insolvency proceedings for banks in Britain, some depositors are eligible for up to 85,000 pounds ($102,000) of compensation for cash held at lenders, or 170,000 pounds for joint accounts. Customers may not be able to recover deposits in excess of those sums, which are small relative to the deposits some startups had with the bank.

Hunt reiterated comments by the Bank of England that overall, Silicon Valley Bank had a limited presence in Britain and did not perform functions critical to the financial system.

The pledge to find emergency support was welcomed by tech firms and lobby groups, including the startup industry body Codec, calling it an acknowledgement of the scale of the challenge.

OakNorth Chief Executive Rishi Khosla told Reuters earlier this monthbefore SVBs implosionthe bank could make a nine figure acquisition in cash given its reserves, and that it was looking at potentially buying another bank in Britain.

The opposition Labour shadow finance minister Rachel Reeves urged Hunt to offer more than warm words to companies, saying the government had to come up with a plan by the time financial markets open on Monday morning.

Sunak has said he wants to turn Britain into the next Silicon Valley. Britain is behind only the United States and China in terms of the level of venture capital funding for the sector, according to the government.

($1 = 0.8314 pounds)
UK Tech Firms Face Serious Risk From Silicon Valley Bank Collapse, Chancellor Warns

A customer stands outside of a shuttered Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., on March 10, 2023. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

There is a serious risk to the UKs technology and life sciences sectors from the collapse of the UK branch of the California-based Silicon Valley Bank, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has warned.

U.S. federal banking regulators on March 10 assumed control of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a top lender for American tech and life sciences firms and start-ups.

The collapse of SVB, the 16th biggest bank in the United States, is the largest bank failure since Washington Mutual in 2008, during the last major bank crisis.

The Bank of England (BoE), the UKs central bank, announced on March 11 that Silicon Valley Bank UK (SVBUK) is also set to enter insolvency.

The company will stop making payments and accepting deposits, said the BoE.

Talking to Sky News on Sunday, Hunt said the collapse poses no systemic risk to Britains financial system.

But he said, There is a serious risk to our technology and life sciences sectors, many of whom bank with this bank.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt (right), with Energy Secretary Grant Shapps, speaking at a meeting of senior leaders from across UK green industries at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, east London, on Feb. 21, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Media)

Significant Impact

In a statement on Sunday morning, the Treasury said it was treating the issue as a high priority.

The government and the Bank understand the level of concern that this raises for customers of Silicon Valley Bank UK, and especially how it may impact on cash flow positions in the short term, the statement said.

It added that the government recognises SVBUKs failure could have a significant impact on the liquidity of the tech ecosystem.

Police officers leave Silicon Valley Banks headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., on March 10, 2023. (Noah Berger/AFP via Getty Images)

While Silicon Valley Bank has a limited presence in the UK and does not perform functions critical to the financial system, the Coalition for a Digital Economy (Coadec) warned that its collapse could have a significant impact on tech start-ups.

Coadec executive director Dom Hallas said on Saturday: We know that there are a large number of start-ups and investors in the ecosystem who have significant exposure to SVBUK and will be very concerned.

We have been engaging with the UK government, including Treasury and Number 10, about the potential impact and I know that work has been going on overnight on policy options.

Everything We Can

The chancellor said the government and the Bank of England will do everything we can to protect the firms that stand to lose millions from the collapse of SVBUK.

The prime minister and I and the governor of the Bank of England are absolutely determined to do everything we can to protect the future of these very, very important companies, he told Sky News.

We will come forward with a solution that helps those very, very important companies with things like payroll and their cash flow requirements, but we also want to put in place a longer-term solution so that their futures are secure.

Asked if that could mean stepping in with taxpayers money, he said he did not want to go into what the solution is.

Hunt also declined to say whether the government will guarantee all the deposits of the companies in the collapsed bank.

He told the BBC: We want to find a way that minimises or, if we possibly can, avoids all losses to those incredibly promising companies. What we will do is bring forward very quickly a plan to make sure that they can meet their operational cash flow requirements.

Labour Calls for Specific Plans

The main opposition Labour Party has accused the Conservative government of lacking urgency in its handling of the collapse of SVBUK.

Labours shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves urged the government to offer more than warm words to the affected companies.

She told Sky News on Sunday: I am slightly concerned about the urgency that you heard from the chancellor there, because when markets open tomorrow morning, a lot of businesses in the UK are not going to be clear about how they can pay the wages of their staff and whether their deposits with Silicon Valley Bank and their financing arrangements are still in place.

So, I would urge the government to do more than offer warm words, but come forward with specific plans.

Talking to the BBC, Reeves said the British start-up industry must not pay the price for the failure of the bank.

She said: We need tomorrow morning to hear from the government how they are going to protect them.

We cannot let the British start-up community pay the price for this bank failure, because it will be the British economy then that ultimately pays the price, she added.

Andrew Moran and PA Media contributed to this report
US Officials Working to Ensure Contagion Cant Occur After SVB Crisis, Yellen Says

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on March 12 confirmed that the U.S. government will not bail out Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), but she conceded that officials must prevent a contagion effect in the financial system.

Since the collapse of SVB, there have been widespread contagion fears, with some experts warning that this could impact small and major banks, especially for institutions that are not well-capitalized.

Speaking in an interview with CBS Face the Nation on Sunday, Yellen confirmed that a bailout is not an option on the table, as authorities are focused on meeting the needs of depositors. During this process, she noted, regulators are determining that SVBs troubles do not lead to broader consequences for other banks.

We want to make sure that the troubles that exist at one bank dont create contagion to others that are sound, the former head of the Federal Reserve said. And our goal always is supervision and regulation is to make sure that contagion cant occur.

Yellen, however, refrained from commenting on the specific details of the situation, noting that we certainly are working to address the situation in a timely way.

President Joe Biden spoke with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday to discuss efforts to contain the challenges facing SVB and potentially the broader financial sector, the White House announced in a statement.

Yellen had met with various officials from the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and California regulatory agencies following her appearance in front of the House Ways and Means Committee hearing.

The FDIC announced on Friday that it would cover up to $250,000 per depositor and could start paying clients as early as Monday.

All insured depositors will have full access to their insured deposits no later than Monday morning, March 13, 2023, the federal agency said in a statement. The FDIC will pay uninsured depositors an advance dividend within the next week. Uninsured depositors will receive a receivership certificate for the remaining amount of their uninsured funds. As the FDIC sells the assets of Silicon Valley Bank, future dividend payments may be made to uninsured depositors.

Because many of SVBs customers are small businesses, there are widespread fears that these companies may be unable to pay their employees in the coming days. As a result, there is speculation that the FDIC could employ extraordinary measures and financially assist affected firms with their payrolls.

Sheila Bair, a former FDIC Chair from 2006 to 2011, averred that the best outcome would be finding a private buyer for SVB.

Contagion?

Larry Kotlikoff, a renowned economist and professor of economics at Boston University, is concerned about a potential contagion coming into effect.

In a recent Substack article, Kotlikoff noted that the current situation could result in a run by large depositors and banks on bad banks.

Leveraged banking survives on confidence and successive failures means further and further loss of confidence. This is why bank failures happen serially not simultaneously, he wrote. The weakest banks fail first, then the next weakest, and off we go. And failures in one country rattle lenders in another.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman argued in a comprehensive tweet that the federal government will have 48 hours to remedy a soon-to-be-irreversible mistake. The global financial market has learned that an uninsured deposit is nothing more than an unsecured illiquid claim on a failed bank, Ackman said.

Absent @jpmorgan @citi or @BankofAmerica acquiring SVB before the open on Monday, a prospect I believe to be unlikely, or the govt guaranteeing all of SVBs deposits, the giant sucking sound you will hear will be the withdrawal of substantially all uninsured deposits from all but the systemically important banks (SIBs), he wrote.

Critics assert there should be no use of taxpayer money to finance a bailout of SVB, but Anthony Scaramucci believes it is about stopping contagion and protecting the system.

It isnt a political decision to bailout SVB. Dont make the Lehman mistake. It isnt about rich or poor [or] who benefits, its about stopping contagion and protecting the system. Make depositors whole or expect lots of tragic unintended consequences, wrote the former communications director during the Trump administration.

Whatever option is chosen, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged the White House to employ swift and effective measures, including a quick acquisition, guaranteeing all bank depositors have access to their cash.

The banks depositors, including a high concentration of businesses in the technology sector and startup ecosystem, need certainty that they will be able to access their cash. This will allow businesses to make payroll, pay their rent, and still keep an eye towards growth, said Tom Quaadman, Executive Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerces Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness.

Bloomberg reported that federal regulators initiated an auction for SVB on Saturday, with final bids scheduled on Sunday.

The 48-hour demise of SVB is a tale confirming that the financial institution was not really prepared for long-tail risks, says Sandy Fliderman, the CTO at Industry FinTech, a financial technologies firm that supports startups that depend on venture capital.

There is no knowing if the management team at SVB violated any rules or operated improperly, Fliderman told The Epoch Times. We may only learn over time what really transpired there. But, if SVB or any other similar firm would embrace the functions that help define a quality, compliant organization, then maybe the seemingly instantaneous collapse may not have happened as quickly and have been as such a shock.

SVB played a critical role in the technology startup industry, serving thousands of startups. It became the largest U.S. bank failure since Washington Mutual in 2008.
Veterans Affairs Canada Closes Investigation, Confirms Four Incidents Where MAiD Inappropriately Discussed

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has closed an investigation into allegations that veterans were offered assisted suicide, stating it found only four incidents where medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was inappropriately discussed, according to a report.

VAC has concluded these were four incidents completely isolated to a single employee and that this is not a widespread, systemic issue, said the report on MAiD allegations, delivered on March 10 to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.

The report follows an investigation triggered by a July 21, 2022, complaint made by a veteran who said assisted suicide was raised during his phone call with a VAC case worker. The veteran was asking for treatment help for a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress.

The veteran said the agent he talked to told him she had helped another veteran obtain MAiD and that former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member ultimately ended his life after those discussions.

Retired corporal and former Paralympian Christine Gauthier also said she was offered assisted suicide when she requested help from VAC to build a wheelchair ramp at her home. She testified before the House veterans affairs committee on Dec. 1, 2022, that the case worker even offered to supply the equipment.

By early December 2022, six veterans had come forward alleging they were offered unsolicited suggestions of assisted suicide.

According to the investigation report, VAC reviewed all 402,000 files in its client databases dating back to June 2016 when MAiD legislation came into effect.

The report said that while additional allegations were brought forward, VAC thoroughly investigated each of the allegations which included a Veterans full name and was unable to validate any allegations that inappropriate discussions related to MAiD had taken place.

All additional allegations have been confirmed to be unfounded, the report stated.

The employee who suggested military veterans consider assisted suicide was first suspended. A spokesperson for Veteran Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAuley said on Dec. 20 that privacy rules prevented the government from disclosing whether the female employee was fired or resigned.

 Totally Unacceptable 

MacAulay issued a statement and an apology on March 10 when the report was released, stating, At no time has Veterans Affairs Canada ever had a mandate to provide advice on MaiD.

The report identified that improvements are needed in quality assurance, monitoring, reporting procedures, and staff training and guidance, and said the department planned an internal audit later this year. VAC states it plans to deliver mandatory and clear employee training and materials to staff on assisted suicide, and to enhance reporting procedures to ensure that significant incidents are raised to the assistant deputy minister and deputy minister levels.

Additionally, the report said the department would review the escalation process and consult with veterans and others on whether the recording of telephone calls with case managers and VAC service agents should be implemented in the future. VAC agents have been told they are not to raise the topic of MAiD and must refer to a supervisor if the client brings it up.

These calls are currently not recorded, as the department says it wanted to protect privacy and build a trusting relationship with the veterans, according to the report.

Recording conversations would be a significant shift in practice for VAC, however the Department is open to hearing from Veterans on this approach, the report said.

The distress this situation has caused to those involved and the Veteran community as a whole cannot be underestimated. The Department deeply regrets what transpired and takes very seriously issues related to MAiD and Veterans well-being, said the report.

As Ive said from the very beginning, what happened to these Veterans is totally unacceptable. The report clearly confirms that these four cases were isolated to a single employee and we have referred this matter to the RCMP.  Veterans can trust that VAC is always available to support their needs in a respectful and compassionate manner, said MacAulay in a March 10 news release.
In this special episode, well be hearing from Gregory Copley, president of the International Strategic Studies Association. He sheds light on the key takeaways from Chinas biggest political meeting, what that means for U.S.-China relations going forward, and the economic impacts.

Copley said, Theres no question that a lot of the masks are coming off, both in Washington and in Beijing. Theres no question that Beijing cannot anymore ignore the reality that the United States has put itself in a very strong position by limiting computer chip production and availability for the Peoples Republic of China, and Beijing will have to do something about that.

The question is, what [will they] do?  Theres been a lot of talk about the feasibility of a breakout military action against the West, largely by an invasion of Taiwan by the Peoples Liberation Army. That has been the cause for a lot of wargaming exercises to take place in the West to see whether that would be feasible. It certainly would be a very risky affair for Beijing to undertake, he added.

As for what the United States should do, Copley suggested: Its critical that the United States and its allies show real resolve in letting Xi Jinping know that an open war is not an option which is viable, and showing that an open war is something that he absolutely will lose, and it will cost him his party and probably his life.

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We Are Urging Individuals to Avoid Travel to Mexico: Officials Issue Warning After 3 Go Missing

Mexican authorities search for evidence to locate four Americans who were shot by gunmen and then kidnapped shortly after crossing the border from Brownsville, Texas, to Matamoros, Mexico, on March 6, 2023. (Stringer/Reuters)

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging individuals to avoid traveling to Mexico after three Texans went missing in Mexico.

We have a duty to inform the public about safety, travel risks, and threats. Based on the volatile nature of cartel activity and the violence we are seeing there; we are urging individuals to avoid travel to Mexico at this time, DPS Director Steven McCraw said.

Lt. Chris Olivarez from DPS especially warned Spring breakers to avoid Mexico.

It is too dangerous with the increase in violence and kidnappings that are taking place in Mexico. So very important and I cant stress enough to those who are thinking about traveling to Mexico, especially for Spring breakers, Olivarez told the Fox News Network.

Texas officials issued the warning after three Texas women were reported missing.

Maritza Trinidad Perez Rios, 47, Marina Perez Rios, 48, and Dora Alicia Cervantes Saenz, 53 went missing after a trip on Feb. 24 to a flea market in the city of Montemorelos in Nuevo Leon State, Nuevo Leon Attorney General Office said.

Montemorelos is a city about a three-hour drive from the border.

Marina Perez Rios (L), Maritza Trinidad Perez Rios (C), and Dora Alicia Cervantes Saenz (R). (Courtesy of Nuevo Leon State Attorney Generals Office)

The three were traveling in a green mid-1990s Chevy Silverado before lost contact with their families.

The husband of one of the women spoke to his wife by phone while she was traveling in Mexico but grew concerned when he couldnt reach her afterward, Penitas Police Chief Roel Bermea said.

Since he couldnt make contact over that weekend, he came in that Monday and reported it to us, Bermea said.

The three women havent been heard from since.

Bermea said their families have been in touch with Mexican authorities, who are investigating their disappearance.

The FBI said Friday it is aware that two sisters from Penitas, a small border city near McAllen, Texas, and their friend have gone missing.

The State Department said theyre aware of reports of three U.S. citizens missing in Mexico.

We work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts, and we share information with families however we can, a State Department spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

Read More Former FBI Official Warns Against Mexico Travel

FBI didnt respond to a media inquiry from The Epoch Times by the time of publishing.

Deadly Cosmetic Surgery Trip

Four Americans were kidnapped and two of them killed in early March during a trip to Matamoros, located just south of the border from Brownsville, Texas.

The two victims, Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown, and the two survivors, Latavia Tay McGee and Eric Williams, traveled to the Mexico border city on March 3 so that McGee could have cosmetic survey.

About midday, they were fired on in downtown Matamoros and then loaded into the pickup truck. Another friend, who remained in Brownsville, called the police after being unable to reach the group that crossed the border.

A Mexican woman, Areli Pablo Servando, 33, was also killed, apparently by a stray bullet.

A woman is carried to the back of a white pickup truck in this still image obtained from social media video that allegedly shows the kidnapping of Americans in Matamoros, Mexico, on March 3, 2023. (Video obtained by Reuters)

Mexican officials arrested six persons in relation to the case.

In a statement on Twitter, Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios Mojica confirmed the arrests of five suspects linked to the March 3 incident in Matamoros for the crimes of aggravated kidnapping and intentional simple homicide.

Another person who was recently arrested was linked to the kidnappings and murders, he wrote.

The Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel believed to be responsible for the kidnappings reportedly handed over the five members who were arrested by the authorities and penned an apology letter to the local residents, Mexican national Servando, and the four America women and their families.

We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline, the letter reads, adding that those individuals had gone against the cartels rules, which include respecting the life and well-being of the innocent.

However, relatives of the abducted Americans said that the purported apology has done little to dull the pain of their loved ones being killed or wounded.

The cousin of Williams, who was shot in the left leg during the kidnapping, said his family feels great knowing hes alive but does not accept any apologies from the cartel.

It aint gonna change nothing about the suffering that we went through, Jerry Wallace said.

He called for the American and Mexican governments to better address cartel violence.

Two FBI vehicles escort two Brownsville Fire Department EMS Ambulances through Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates with two surviving U.S. citizens being transported to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas on March 7, 2023. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald via AP)

McGee and Williams were transported back into the United States to a Brownsville hospital for treatment on March 7.

U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar told reporters on Friday that U.S. officials had contacted President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador directly over the weekend to say that the cartel in Matamoros must be dismantled.

Jack Phillips and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Vietnam is likely to welcome the 100 millionth citizen in April, according to the Population and Labor Statistics Department under the General Statistics Office (GSO).

A representative of the department said that amid the global economic competition where all countries consider workforce as the most important tool to improve their competitiveness, the birth of the 100 millionth citizen is a memorable milestone for Vietnam.

With a population of 100 million people plus attractive policies to encourage investment and development, a stable political environment, and a culture imbued with national identity, Vietnam will become an impressive country in the eyes of international friends, said the representative.

According to the GSO, Vietnams population stood at 99.2 million as of April 1, 2022.

With the birth of the 100 millionth citizen in mid-April, Vietnam will officially become one of 15 countries in the world and one of three countries in Southeast Asia, to have a population of 100 million or over.

To celebrate this special event, in mid-April, the GSO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security, and other relevant agencies will organize a number of activities, including a welcoming ceremony for the 100 millionth baby and a walking parade.
Wiliam Rutenber enjoyed Shen Yun's evening performance at The Buell Theatre, in Denver, on March 11, 2023. (NTD)

DENVERSenior company manager William Rutenber and his wife arrived at The Buell Theatre, on the evening of March 11, to attend Shen Yun Performing Arts for the second time.

We came last year and liked it so much, we decided to make it an annual tradition!

Since Shen Yun presents a brand-new set of choreography and music each year, audience members can always expect something new when they return.

The whole production was incredible, Mr. Rutenberg said.

From the music to the choreography, the costuming, and the magic [backdrop]. How it connected seamlessly from the digital world into real lifeit boggles my mind.

According to its website, Shen Yuns innovative 3D projection brings the audience instantly into the story by extending the stage to infinite realms. With flawless cooperation between projection and performers, this technology allows for storytelling without limits.

In addition, Mr. Rutenber was impressed by the performers energy and love for their art.

You can really tell that theyre passionate about what they do through their facial expressions as they dancedits part of who they are. They were completely in sync. They really put on a great performance, he said.

Shen Yun Performing Arts is the worlds top classical Chinese dance and music company.

Seeking to revive Chinas 5,000 years of traditional culture destroyed by years of violent communist rule, these New York-based artists are traveling around the world to bring to everyone the beauty of China before communism.

Referring to Shen Yuns dream of reviving traditional Chinese culture, Mr. Rutenber said, its a great mission.

Each year, I learn more and more about traditional Chinese culture. My takeaway is that I need to learn more. This was something that I was exposed to as a child through my dad, but its an interest that Id like to pursue more.

He also loved that Shen Yun incorporated a spiritual element into the program. Theres a really great message about the divine power that essentially started humanity and brought us to this world, he said.

In todays society, people are suppressing and cutting that aspect of culture out of their lives, and thats not a good way to live.

Prior to the communist partys spread of atheism, spirituality and the belief in the divine were essential parts of Chinese life. Even today, Shen Yun artists meditate together daily and strive to live by the principles of truth, compassion, and tolerance.

Finally, Mr. Rutenber would like to thank the artists for putting on an amazing performance.

Well definitely be back next year. Its something we look forward to. As soon as we saw the tickets went on sale, we bought them! Were excited to see it again.

Reporting by NTD 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.
Windfall Taxes Just Add More Problems to the Energy Crisis

A tourist photographs the gas production area at the Woodside operated North West Shelf Gas Venture in the north of Western Australia, on June 16, 2008. (Greg Wood/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

If there is one sin worse today than producing fossil fuels, it is making money while doing it.

The Australian energy industry is looking on with apprehension at repeated calls for so-called windfall profit taxes. There is no predicting the current government, which has shown zero circumspection against interference in energy markets at any level.

The focus of the debate is on Woodside Energy, a Western Australia-based oil and gas company that turned a momentous 223 percent increase in profits this year. Thats large, even compared to other energy companies.

The impressive profits were partly due to a merger, not just the current high prices.

Their situation is also cyclical; they anticipate several major projects to require capital expenditure over the next few years, when the numbers will probably look different.

Nevertheless, Woodside are to be congratulated for optimally situating themselves in a year when there was plenty of money to be made in their trade. Their shareholders are certainly thankful.

It puts them, however, at the centre of the windfall taxes debate. Windfall taxes are specific taxes on an industry that is suddenly more profitable than normal due to extraordinary reasons.

It May Be Justified But 

Other countries, most notably the UK, have enacted windfall profit taxes. Shouldnt Australia do the same?

The government is entitled, of course, to impose taxes on companies and demand royalties on those that sell natural resources. Australia licences these companies to make a profit selling buried gas and hence demands something in return.

A general view of Coal Seam Gas wells in the Pilliga Forest in Narrabri, Australia, on Feb. 6, 2021. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

What is unclear is how the government would justify suddenly increasing the rates and changing the rules.

As Woodside is quick to point out, they have been paying their taxes at the currently agreed rate. As their profits increased, so did their taxes. This year they went up 311 percent, to $2.7 billion (US$1.8 billion). On what basis should the tax rate be changed?

Several arguments have been proffered.

First, that the high prices have been hurting consumers. This is undoubtedly true, but windfall taxes do not return money to consumers, they give it to the government.

How the government will spend it is anyones guess, but recent years have shown that the amount Australian governments spend is not actually related to the amount they makeotherwise our federal government would not be $1 trillion in debt, and the state governments would not be racing to match it.

Second, it is proposed (by the Australia Councils Centre for Future Work) that companies are profiteering. That they are increasing their prices well above cost at the expense of consumers simply because they can.

This shows an astounding ignorance of economics, and particularly the markets involved. The prices are being set by consumers, not producers, who are seeking to outbid one another for a resource that is currently scarce.

The same logic was certainly not applied in 2020 when energy companies were selling gas well below cost due to resource abundance. If the government is going to ramp up taxes during the good times, then they have to also ramp up the support they offer during the difficult times.

The most common argument, however, is that these companies shouldnt be making such big profits, because they are causing climate change.

A general view of The Yallourn Power Station in Yallourn, Australia, on Aug. 16, 2022. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Socialists are opposed to profits as a matter of principal, yet tacking on the evils of climate change allows them to spread their net wider in gaining a sympathetic audience.

The natural cycle of economics is this: low production causes scarcity, scarcity causes high prices, high prices produce profits, profits lead to more investment, investment leads to increased production, increased production reduces scarcity. It is automatically self-correcting.

Unfortunately, the energy transition activists do not want increased production.

They want the shortfall of energy to be met by new energy sources: renewables. Hence, they are keen to interrupt the natural economic cycle, attacking every step of the process just described.

They have an entire artillery at work. On the government side: price caps, coal reserve quotas, environmental regulation, and subsidising alternative energy sources. In the private sector there are: hostile activist investors, protests, and lawsuits.

So, an extra tax is only one weapon brought to bear. And, in one sense, taxes are not the most concerning of themenvironmental and cultural roadblocks, as well as litigation, have a more immediate impact on the industry. While windfall taxes only come into effect after windfall profitsin other words, when the industry is already winning.

Permanent Policy for Short-Term Problem

Nevertheless, the whole point of taxes is to fund government, and this is their holistic effect: taxes shift economic resources from the private sector to the government. The more money the government takes, the more it has a say in how money is spent, and hence the allocation of resources across the whole economy.

This is a problem because governments are not good at knowing the best way to allocate resources.

And right now, this is a big problem, because Australia is experiencing an energy crisis.

A power point in Brisbane, Australia, on Sept. 23, 2022. (AAP Image/Russell Freeman)

The energy transition is a medium- to long-term aim, relying on technologies that are currently non-existent at scale (and quite possibly never will be).

Our global and local energy shortfalls are a short-term problem, caused in part by chronic under-investment. One simply cannot solve the other.

Yet the government continues boldly on the transition train, convinced that it knows best. We are currently prioritising a high-voltage electricity transmission line to connect News South Wales and South Australia.

At the completion of that line, energy giant AGL intends to close down South Australias last remaining base-load gas-fired power station.

All systems are go for the Integrated System Plan, which is Australias roadmap for the energy transition.

Whether we end up building more white elephants, or miraculously stumble upon the energy technology of the future, remains to be seen.

In the meantime, we have so valiantly interrupted and discouraged reinvestment in our grey elephantsthose existing, proven, and reliable technologiesthat our energy security continues to decrease even as our energy prices rise.

Windfall profit taxes are not about to improve that situation at all.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Locals split over Chinese tourists donning Thai student uniforms

BANGKOK: Netizens are divided over whether Chinese tourists should wear student uniforms. Some claim foreigners want to wear them like cosplay and they are just tourists trying to enjoy themselves. Some local students, however, say the fashion trend should not be confused with the compulsory donning of uniforms, which they oppose. Bangkok Posts Apichin Chitviriyakun talked to all the parties and now shares what he has learned. This is a contracted verision of Apichins comprehensive special report.

Chinesetourism

By Bangkok Post

Sunday 12 March 2023, 10:14AM

Chinese tourists wearing Thai school uniforms as cosplay pose for a selfie with actor Nawat Kulrattanarak during his soap opera shoot in Phuket recently. Photo: Bangkok Post

When Ju Jingyi, a Chinese actress and former member of SNH48, drew attention to the trend of Chinese tourists wearing Thai student uniforms by posting herself wearing one on her Weibo account, Thai news outlets and netizens paid close attention.

Apart from the tourism opportunities cited by the Education Ministry and Tourism Authority of Thailand, some internet users noted that while foreign tourists are happily donning the uniforms, some Thai students, including the Bad Student movement, are protesting against their mandatory use.

The school uniform trend is aligned with the cosplay culture in China, where wearing school uniforms, particularly Japanese ones, is prevalent, said Pagon Gatchalee, lecturer in marketing at the Chiang Mai University Business School.

He added the Thai school uniform trend is currently smaller than the Japanese school uniform trend. It actually peaked in late 2012, when the film Lost in Thailand was screening in China.

Mr Pagon also said the Chinese might simply find Thai school uniforms different from their own, which could explain their interest.

While the public has reacted positively to the trend, some experts have raised legal concerns about non-students wearing the uniform as a fashion statement.

Lawyer Rachapon Sirisakorn warned against wearing student uniforms with a logo or abbreviation of the schools name, as that may breach the Student Uniform Act 2008, which carries a fine of up to 1,000 baht.

According to Mr Pagon, some Chinese tourists believe that countries have different laws that must be followed, while others wonder why it has been made illegal.

In contrast to Thailand, Japanese uniforms are often worn by others as a fashion statement without any consequences.

Despite the mixed reactions to this from the Chinese, Mr Pagon maintains that "this is a good opportunity for Thailand to promote tourism, trade, and awareness of the country".

Read full story here.


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Cheating is the second leading reason for marriage crises in Vietnam. Illustration photo by Pixabay

Bich Thuy, a 34-year-old woman from the northern Thai Nguyen Province, had never imagined that one day she would become the kind of wife she despised: an unfaithful one.

For 10 years after marriage she was very devoted.

In fact, when she heard stories about women cheating on their spouses, she would feel hatred for them and believed such a situation would never befall her.

But seven years after they married her husband, Duc Tien, went abroad to work after facing some sudden financial difficulty, and she began to feel empty, especially at night after her children went to asleep and her husband was hard at work with his cell phone turned off in a foreign country.

At the same time, at work, a male colleague  a married man  showered her with attention, and before she knew it her heart was lost.

Thuy says at first they just caught eyes as they left the factory after late shifts. Then they saw each other more as they often sat together during lunch, but with other colleagues. Finally, the two started to date.

"I always felt jumpy for fear of getting caught," Thuy recalls.

"A mere indifferent joke would make me think people were pointing at me."

At home, whenever she saw her children or spoke with her husband, she would feel ashamed. She tried to break up with her lover hundreds of times but failed. "It felt like addiction," she admits.

The denouement she had dreaded came when her lovers wife showed up at their factory one day and made a scene in front of thousands of workers at rush hour.

"I wished I had died right then," Thuy laments.

Thuys husband soon got wind of the affair. The only thing he told her was to sign off on divorce papers though she begged for forgiveness.

Their children chose to live with him, afraid their friends would make fun of them for having an adulterous mother.

Her heartbroken parents fell seriously ill.

Thuy knows she can never be free of people whispering about her past and social stigma.

According to the Hanoi-based Institute for Family and Gender Studies, cheating is the second leading reason for marriage crises in Vietnam (25.9%) after only conflicting lifestyles (27.7%).

Psychologists say cheating used to be associated only with men, but recent studies have found both sexes are culpable.

Indeed, a survey by the American Journal of Marriage and Family found 74% of men and 68% percent of women saying they would cheat if they knew they would not get caught. Besides, asked if they have cheated at least once in their lives, 57% of married men and 54% of married women admitted to doing so.

In Vietnam, relationship expert Le Anh in the southeastern province of Dong Nai tells VnExpress that married men are likely to cheat if they have the opportunity even if their wives are as "attractive as beauty queens."

Married women often cheat when they run out of love or feel disappointed in their spouses. "However, there are people who remain faithful even when they no longer feel much love for their spouse because they have values and integrity and understand the consequences of cheating."

Nguyen Thi Minh, who has a Ph.D. in psychology and teaches at the HCMC National Academy of Public Administration, agrees with him, saying whatever the excuse, unfaithful people have only themselves to blame. Many people facing difficulties in their marriage and life do not cheat even when they have the opportunity to do so, she says.

According to these experts, unfaithful spouses usually feel happy and satisfied only for a short time. Most feel tormented, guilty and ashamed before their children, parents and society. They feel insecure because they know they are in the wrong even if their spouses treat them badly and give them an excuse for cheating.

Nguyen Manh Dung, 37, of HCMC, knows the pain of being a cheater as well as anyone else.

Three years ago he met his old flame at a high school reunion. She was divorced and courted him, even started a business in which they became partners to have more time together and strengthen their bonds.

Passionately in love with the woman, he divorced his wife.

Though he fell out of love with his wife, he still feels guilty about her and his son, and feels he owes her.

His parents and siblings have disowned him and disdained his new lover, and instead take good care of his ex-wife and son.

"A few friends of my ex-wife and mine avoid me," he says. "Since I divorced, I have not had a good nights sleep."

Dung often dreams about returning to his old life, but knows when he wakes up that things can never be the same again, he says.

Experts say many people cheat because they think they have fallen out of love with their spouses, but realize they want to stay married when they are on the brink of a divorce or after the divorce.

Giving marriage a chance

After three years of marriage, Hong Anh, 27, of Hanoi filed for divorce and left her child to her husband, believing he did not deserve her.

She says: "He did not know how to please me, either in or out of bed. He worked at his computer all day long like a robot."

After her marriage ended, she flew to HCMC with a single man, who seemed caring, to start a new life. They had a child, but the romance ended and her husband now works hard to support the family while she has become unemployed. But unlike her first husband, he does not work quietly and instead constantly insults her for living off him.

During such moments, she cries, not out of humiliation or sadness, but regret. She realizes it was not that her former husband did not love her; he was just too busy earning the familys a livelihood.

She remembers how she used to sigh and act irritably when she was unable to sleep because he was hard at work at midnight.

"I feel tormented and realize I miss him and my child."

According to relationship expert Le Anh, Anh did not "give marriage a chance" but let her selfishness and ideas about love dominate.

"Spouses should spend at least three months to find a way to fix their marriage when it is in crisis.

"During those three months, they should separate physically and emotionally to get perspective and see where each has been wrong in order for them to change."

But if they fail, they should divorce without fanfare and look for new love instead of hastily rushing into an illicit affair.

Minh says people with high self-esteem who own their thoughts and feelings are less likely to cheat than insecure ones who can be easily influenced by others.

"Thinking about the consequences is also a way to avoid cheating."

A 2017 study published in the English Journal of Sex Research listed four leading reasons that kept people from cheating: moral values, fear of consequences on children, fear of having to live alone, and fear of consequences on lovers.

Thuys ex-husband has remarried and had new kids, but her own children still do not want to return to her.

As for Manh Dung, the price of being reunited with an old love will always feel too high.

*The names of people interviewed have been changed to protect their privacy.
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.

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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.

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A well-known Frum doctor in Los Angeles is in grave condition after he and another doctor were both struck by a vehicle on Friday night.

Sources tell YWN that the two doctors were heading home from Shul after Kabolas Shabbos when they were struck by a vehicle outside Rabbi Rubins Shul on 3rd and Citrus.

One of the victims suffered minor injuries, and the other was rushed to the hospital, where he is listed in extremely critical condition.

Please say Tehillim for Yehuda ben Sara Tziviya.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




It wasnt critics, political foes or their bosses that united Fox News stars Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham when they gathered via text message for a gripe session shortly after the 2020 election.

It was their own networks news division.

Theyre pathetic, Carlson wrote.

THEY ARENT SMART, Ingraham emphasized.

What news have they broken the last four years? Hannity asked.

The Nov. 13, 2020, conversation was included among thousands of pages of recently released documents related to Dominion Voting Systems $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox for its post-election reporting. Like much of what was uncovered, the exchange ultimately may have little bearing on whether Fox will be judged guilty of libel.

Instead, the material offers insight into how Foxs stars and leadership responded at a time of high anxiety and how giving its audience what it wanted to hear took precedence over reporting uncomfortable truths.

The revelations have bolstered critics who say Fox News Channel should be considered a propaganda network rather than a news outlet.

Yet while Foxs news side has seen the prominent defections of Shepard Smith and Chris Wallace in recent years, it still employs many respected journalists  such as Jennifer Griffin, Greg Palkot, John Roberts, Shannon Bream, Bryan Llenas, Jacqui Heinrich and Chad Pergram.

Theyre left to wonder whether the raft of recent stories about Fox  from the Dominion documents and from Carlsons use of U.S. Capitol security video to craft his own narrative of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack  will make their jobs more difficult. Will fewer people want to work with them because of the dominance of Foxs opinion side?

Fox says it has increased its investment in journalism by more than 50% under Suzanne Scott, Fox News Media CEO, and usually leads its rivals in ratings during major breaking news stories.

We are incredibly proud of our team of journalists who continue to deliver breaking news from around the world and will continue to fight for the preservation of the First Amendment, the network said in a statement.

The post-election period in 2020 offered a stern test. The networks election night declaration that Joe Biden had won in Arizona, ahead of any other news organization, infuriated its viewers. Many were sympathetic to former President Donald Trumps claims of significant voter fraud even if, then as now, there has been no evidence of that.

After she covered a Nov. 19 news conference with Trump lawyer Rudolph Giuliani, then-Fox reporter Kristin Fisher said her boss in Washington, Bryan Boughton, called to say he was unhappy with her report. She said she was told she needed to do a better job of respecting our audience, according to documents released in the case.

I believed that I was respecting our audience by telling them the truth, Fisher, who now works at CNN, testified in a deposition on the Dominion case.

She later claimed that airtime was taken away from her in retaliation.

Heinrich drew the ire of Fox opinion hosts by tweeting a fact-check on some of Trumps claims. In a text message, Carlson profanely said she should be fired.

She has serious nerve doing this, Fox publicity chief Irena Briganti said in an internal memo released among the court papers, and if this gets picked up, viewers are going to be further disgusted. Her job is to report, not to taunt the president of the United States.

During a Nov. 14 text conversation, Scott and Lachlan Murdoch, the executive chairman and CEO of Fox Corp., talked about how a Trump rally should be covered on the network.

News guys have to be careful how they cover this rally, Murdoch said. So far some of the side comments have been slightly anti, and they shouldnt be. The narrative should be this huge celebration of the president.

In another message, he called Fox correspondent Leland Vittert smug and obnoxious. Vittert now works at NewsNation.

A week after the election, a Fox Corp. senior executive, Raj Shah, said in a memo that bold, clear and decisive action is needed for us to begin to regain the trust that were losing with our core audience.

Dominion argues, as part of its lawsuit, that nervousness about what its viewers wanted led Fox to air allegations that the voting machine company was complicit in fraud that hurt Trump, even though many people at the network didnt believe them. In his own deposition, Fox founder Rupert Murdoch agreed the election had been fair and it was not stolen.

Fox counters that it was airing newsworthy charges made by the president and his followers.

Concern over the Arizona backlash spread to the news division, according to court documents. Fox News anchor Bret Baier said defending the call made him uncomfortable and suggested instead awarding the state to Trump. Roberts also sent a memo saying hed been getting major heat over the decision.

In 2012, Fox stood strongly behind its decision desk when network commentator and veteran GOP aide Karl Rove questioned its correct call that Barack Obama had won in Ohio, essentially assuring him of reelection against Republican Mitt Romney.

In a memorable television moment, Megyn Kelly marched down the hall to hear the decision desks explanation for why the call was made.

Eight years later, signs of timidity at Fox appeared in the days after its Arizona call. When other news organizations ultimately declared Biden the president-elect on the Saturday morning after the election, Fox waited about 15 minutes.

On Nov. 20, 2020, Rupert Murdoch discussed with Scott in a private memo whether two Washington executives key to the Arizona race call should be fired, saying it would send a big message to Trump allies. The executives, Bill Sammon and Chris Stirewalt, lost their jobs two months later.

A Fox spokeswoman characterized the discussions about the Arizona call as part of a typical postmortem that happens after big news events. Despite intense scrutiny, Fox stood by its call. Even though Sammon and Stirewalt were forced out, Fox kept consultant Arnon Mishkin, who has run its decisions desk, for the 2024 election.

Scott, answerable to corporate bosses, noted in her deposition that she considered herself a television producer.

I dont consider myself a journalist, said the head of Fox News Media. I consider myself a TV executive. I hire journalists. I hire news people.

Longtime Fox News Channel chief Roger Ailes wasnt a journalist, either  his background was in politics. To some longtime Fox watchers, though, Ailes recognized that Foxs opinion side drew strength from a solid news side, and he kept stronger barriers between the two.

Some of the information revealed in recent weeks illustrates how, in many ways, Fox has become less of an agenda-setter than an outlet that follows its audience, said Nicole Hemmer, a Vanderbilt University professor and author of Partisans: The Conservative Revolutionaries Who Remade American Politics in the 1990s.

To date, no one in Fox management has talked about the Dominion case to its journalists, leaving some wondering whether there is anyone standing up for them, said one Fox journalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of professional retribution.

There is some fine journalism still being done at Fox News today, said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. She cited the transition of Fox News Sunday from Wallace to Bream.

The fallout from the Dominion case, however, leaves open the question of whether Fox journalists will be allowed to do their jobs unconstrained by other forces, she said.

It would be useful for Fox News, at this point, to make a clear statement that the news division has complete and total autonomy and that a clear line is drawn between it and the rest of Fox, Jamieson said.

(AP)




The news of the rapprochement between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran sent shockwaves through the Middle East on Saturday and struck a symbolic blow for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has made the threat posed by Tehran a public diplomacy priority and personal crusade.

The breakthrough  a culmination of more than a year of negotiations in Baghdad and more recent talks in China  also became ensnared in Israels internal politics, reflecting the countrys divisions at a moment of national turmoil.

The agreement, which gives Iran and Saudi Arabia two months to reopen their respective embassies and re-establish ties after seven years of rupture, more broadly represents one of the most striking shifts in Middle Eastern diplomacy over recent years. In countries like Yemen and Syria, long caught between the Sunni kingdom and the Shiite powerhouse, the announcement stirred cautious optimism.

In Israel, it caused disappointment  along with a cascade of finger-pointing.

One of Netanyahus greatest foreign policy triumphs remains Israels U.S.-brokered normalization deals in 2020 with four Arab states, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates  part of a wider push to isolate and oppose Iran in the region.

He has portrayed himself as the only politician capable of protecting Israel from Tehrans rapidly accelerating nuclear program and regional proxies, like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel and Iran have also waged a regional shadow war that has led to suspected Iranian drone strikes on Israeli-linked ships ferrying goods in the Persian Gulf, among other attacks.

A normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state, would fulfill Netanyahus prized goal, reshaping the region and boosting Israels standing in historic ways. Even as backdoor relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia have grown, the kingdom has said it wont officially recognize Israel before a resolution to the decadeslong Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Since returning to office late last year, Netanyahu and his allies have hinted that a deal with the kingdom could be approaching. In a speech to American Jewish leaders last month, Netanyahu described a peace agreement as a goal that we are working on in parallel with the goal of stopping Iran.

But experts say the deal that broke out Friday has thrown cold water on those ambitions. Saudi Arabias decision to engage with its regional rival has left Israel largely alone as it leads the charge for diplomatic isolation of Iran and threats of a unilateral military strike against Irans nuclear facilities. The UAE also resumed formal relations with Iran last year.

Its a blow to Israels notion and efforts in recent years to try to form an anti-Iran bloc in the region, said Yoel Guzansky, an expert on the Persian Gulf at the Institute for National Security Studies, an Israeli think tank. If you see the Middle East as a zero-sum game, which Israel and Iran do, a diplomatic win for Iran is very bad news for Israel.

Even Danny Danon, a Netanyahu ally and former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. who recently predicted a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia in 2023, seemed disconcerted.

This is not supporting our efforts, he said, when asked about whether the rapprochement hurt chances for the kingdoms recognition of Israel.

In Yemen, where the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran has played out with the most destructive consequences, both warring parties were guarded, but hopeful.

A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemens conflict in 2015, months after the Iran-backed Houthi militias seized the capital of Sanaa in 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile in Saudi Arabia.

The Houthi rebels welcomed the agreement as a modest but positive step.

The region needs the return of normal relations between its countries, through which the Islamic society can regain security lost from foreign interventions, said Houthi spokesman and chief negotiator Mohamed Abdulsalam.

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government expressed some optimism  and caveats.

The Yemeni governments position depends on actions and practices not words and claims, it said, adding it would proceed cautiously until observing a true change in (Iranian) behavior.

Analysts did not expect an immediate settlement to the conflict, but said direct talks and better relations could create momentum for a separate agreement that may offer both countries an exit from a disastrous war.

The ball now is in the court of the Yemeni domestic warring parties to prioritize Yemens national interest in reaching a peace deal and be inspired by this initial positive step, said Afrah Nasser, a non-resident fellow at the Washington-based Arab Center.

Anna Jacobs, senior Gulf analyst with the International Crisis Group, said she believed the deal was tied to a de-escalation in Yemen.

It is difficult to imagine a Saudi-Iran agreement to resume diplomatic relations and re-open embassies within a two-month period without some assurances from Iran to more seriously support conflict resolution efforts in Yemen, she said.

War-scarred Syria similarly welcomed the agreement as a move toward easing tensions that have exacerbated the countrys conflict. Iran has been a main backer of Syrian President Bashar Assads government, while Saudi Arabia has supported opposition fighters trying to remove him from power.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry called it an important step that will lead to strengthening security and stability in the region.

In Israel, bitterly divided and gripped by mass protests over plans by Netanyahus far-right government to overhaul the judiciary, politicians seized on the rapprochement between the kingdom and Israels archenemy as an opportunity to criticize Netanyahu, accusing him of focusing on his personal agenda at the expense of Israels international relations.

Yair Lapid, the former prime minister and head of Israels opposition, denounced the agreement between Riyadh and Tehran as a full and dangerous failure of the Israeli governments foreign policy.

This is what happens when you deal with legal madness all day instead of doing the job with Iran and strengthening relations with the U.S., he wrote on Twitter. Even Yuli Edelstein from Netanyahus Likud party blamed Israels power struggles and head-butting for distracting the country from its more pressing threats.

Another opposition lawmaker, Gideon Saar, mocked Netanyahus goal of formal ties with the kingdom. Netanyahu promised peace with Saudi Arabia, he wrote on social media. In the end (Saudi Arabia) did it  with Iran.

Netanyahu, on an official visit to Italy, declined a request for comment and issued no statement on the matter. But quotes to Israeli media by an anonymous senior official in the delegation sought to put blame on the previous government that ruled for a year and a half before Netanyahu returned to office. It happened because of the impression that Israel and the U.S. were weak, said the senior official, according to the Haaretz daily, which hinted that Netanyahu was the official.

Despite the fallout for Netanyahus reputation, experts doubted a detente would harm Israel. Saudi Arabia and Iran will remain regional rivals, even if they open embassies in each others capitals, said Guzansky. And like the UAE, Saudi Arabia could deepen relations with Israel even while maintaining a transactional relationship with Iran.

The low-key arrangement that the Saudis have with Israel will continue, said Umar Karim, an expert on Saudi politics at the University of Birmingham, noting that the Israeli occupation of the West Bank remained more of a barrier to Saudi recognition than differences over Iran. The Saudi leadership is engaging in more than one way to secure its national security.

(AP)




Authorities ordered more than 1,500 people to evacuate early Saturday from a Northern California agricultural community famous for its strawberry crop after the Pajaro Rivers levee was breached by flooding from a new atmospheric river pummeling the state.

First responders and the California National Guard rescued more than 50 people overnight from the unincorporated Monterey Bay community of Pajaro along Californias Central Coast. One video showed a member of the Guard helping a driver out of a car trapped by floodwaters up to their waists.

We were hoping to avoid and prevent this situation, but the worst case scenario has arrived with the Pajaro River overtopping and levee breaching at about midnight, wrote Luis Alejo, chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, on Twitter.

Alejo called the flooding massive, saying it has impacted Pajaros 1,700 residents  many of them Latino farmworkers  and that the damage will take months to repair.

The Pajaro River separates the counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey in the area that flooded Saturday.

Officials had been working along the levee in the hopes of shoring it up when it was breached early Saturday morning. Crews began working to fix the levee around daybreak Saturday as residents slept in evacuation centers.

The Pajaro Valley is a coastal agricultural area known for growing strawberries, apples, cauliflower, broccoli and artichokes. National brands like Driscolls Strawberries and Martinellis are headquartered in the region.

In 1995, the Pajaro Rivers levees broke, submerging 2,500 acres (1,011 hectares) of farmland and the community of Pajaro. Two peopled died and the flooding caused nearly $100 million in damage. A state law, passed last year, advanced state funds for a levee project. It was scheduled to start construction in 2024.

This weeks storm marked the states 10th atmospheric river of the winter, storms that have brought enormous amounts of rain and snow to the state and helped lessen the drought conditions that had dragged on for three years. State reservoirs that had dipped to strikingly low levels are now well above the average for this time of year, prompting state officials to release water from dams to assist with flood control and make room for even more rain.

State transportation officials said Friday they removed so much snow from the roadways in February that it would be enough to fill the iconic Rose Bowl 100 times.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared emergencies in 34 counties in recent weeks, and the Biden administration approved a presidential disaster declaration for some on Friday morning, a move that will bring more federal assistance.

Emergency officials have warned people to stay off roads if they can and to carefully heed flash flood warnings.

The atmospheric river, known as a Pineapple Express because it brought warm subtropical moisture across the Pacific from near Hawaii, was melting lower parts of the huge snowpack built in Californias mountains. Snow levels in the Sierra Nevada, which provides about a third of the states water supply, are more than 180% of the April 1 average, when it is historically at its peak.

The snowpack at high elevations is so massive it was expected to be able to absorb the rain, but snow below 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) could start to melt, potentially contributing to flooding, forecasters said.

Lake Oroville  one of the most important reservoirs in the state and home to the nations tallest dam  has so much water that officials on Friday opened the dams spillways for the first time since April 2019. The reservoirs water has risen 180 feet (54.8 meters) since Dec. 1. Of the states 17 major reservoirs, seven are still below their historical averages this year.

State water managers were also grappling with the best way to use the storms to help emerge from a severe drought. On Friday, Newsom signed an executive order making it easier for farmers and water agencies to use floodwater to refill underground aquifers. Groundwater provides on average about 41% of the states supply each year. But many of these underground basins have been overdrawn in recent years.

Forecasters warned that mountain travel could be difficult to impossible during the latest storm. At high elevations, the storm was predicted to dump heavy snow, as much as 8 feet (2.4 meters) over several days.

Yet another atmospheric river is already in the forecast for early next week. State climatologist Michael Anderson said a third appeared to be taking shape over the Pacific and possibly a fourth.

California appeared to be well on its way to a fourth year of drought before the early winter series of storms, Anderson said. Were in a very different condition now, he added.

(AP)
-- African countries have benefited from China's model of peaceful development and continuous renewal, as evidenced by sustained capital flows, robust trade, technology and skills transfer to the continent, said Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar

-- Nadia Monteiro, a Central Committee member of Angola's ruling party, the MPLA, hailed China's modernization efforts as a "unique and unprecedented milestone" for exponential economic growth in the world's most populous country and as a contribution to the global economy.

The accelerated pace of modernization combined with peaceful and inclusive development that China has embraced with zeal is inspiring African countries as they embark on a new chapter of renewal, experts have said.

African countries have benefited from China's model of peaceful development and continuous renewal, as evidenced by sustained capital flows, robust trade, technology and skills transfer to the continent, said Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Adhere attributed Africa's rapid economic take-off to China's willingness to share expertise, support peace-building efforts in Africa, and invest in sectors like transport, manufacturing and energy.

Highlighting the whole-of-society approach to development that China has prioritized, he said that it is best suited for Africa where people-centered growth is key to sustaining cohesion.

Niu Hongtao (L), assistant project manager of the Isimba Hydro Power Plant, and Muhammad Idrees, a Pakistani civil engineer working at the project site, tour the switchyard at the Isimba Hydro Power Plant in Kayunga, Uganda, on Feb. 9, 2023. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

"We still hope to see China's internalization in terms of resource mobilization, in terms of development cooperation with African countries under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation," Adhere said.

He added that as the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area gathers steam, the continent should tap China's technological prowess to revitalize its digital economy, manufacturing and value addition.

China's rapid modernization that has encouraged inclusivity, solidarity, and healthy consensus should be emulated in Africa where poverty and under-development have threatened stability, said Adhere.

In addition, Beijing's embrace of green development as espoused in its ecological civilization mantra has aided efforts to tame the climate crisis that has taken a heavier toll on livelihoods across the sub-Saharan region, he said.

By upholding the multilateral system, China has also proactively supported a peaceful resolution to Africa's conflicts, thereby placing the continent on the path of equitable growth and long-term stability, said Adhere.

He noted that China's pioneered Global Security Initiative, once its implementation gathers pace, will be key to finding a lasting solution to civil strife in Africa.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 15, 2019 shows the China-financed solar power plant Garissa Solar in Garissa County, Kenya. (Xinhua)

Adhere also lauded China's willingness to share its resources, technologies and expertise to help transform Africa's economies through enhanced connectivity, trade and job creation.

He observed that as China opens its market to agricultural products from Africa like avocados, the continent's economies will leapfrog and a solution to endemic poverty and unemployment will be found.

On Africa's high-speed internet connectivity, the Kenyan scholar said that with China's help, the continent will become more integrated and its youthful population can gain from the growth of the digital economy.

Nadia Monteiro, a Central Committee member of Angola's ruling party, the MPLA, hailed China's modernization efforts as a "unique and unprecedented milestone" for exponential economic growth in the world's most populous country and as a contribution to the global economy.

Photo taken on Aug. 15, 2021 shows a view of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Suo Xianglu)

"According to the World Bank's data, China's contribution to global economic growth surpasses the contributions of all G7 countries during the period from 2013 to 2021," she said.

Monteiro commended the theoretical and practical advancements made by the Communist Party of China, particularly in the eradication of absolute poverty and the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects.

"I was very impressed with a video featuring Shibadong Village (in China's Hunan Province), which demonstrated how the lives of its people were positively transformed, and how poverty was eradicated," she said.

Monteiro voiced confidence that China's modernization theory could bring fresh ideas to governance in Angola, including greener agendas, development opportunities, and options for innovation.




In a joint operation by IDF soldiers, the Shin Bet, and the soldiers of the Gideon unit of the Israel Police, the terrorist who tried to blow up a bus in Beitar Illit on Thursday night was arrested over Shabbos.

After receiving targeted intelligence information from the Shin Bet, IDF soldiers and police officers apprehended the terrorist in the village of Battir in the Etzion Brigade area.

Four other Palestinians suspected of aiding the terrorist were arrested as well.

A serious disaster in Beitar Illit was thwarted on Thursday night after a terrorist placed an explosive device on a bus and then got off, intending to detonate it from afar while he was safely out of harms way. BChasdei Hashem, the device failed to explode. Passengers saw smoke coming out of a bag and quickly ran off the bus while calling the police.

Police bomb sappers arrived a the scene and blew up the bag in a controlled explosion and security forces launched a manhunt for the terrorist. Residents of the city were instructed to remain inside their homes as the city streets filled with large numbers of IDF soldiers and Border Guard officers, who carried out searches throughout the night.

Residents were permitted to return to their routine on Friday morning but Arab workers were not allowed to enter the town. Security forces continued the manhunt on Friday and Shabbos until the terrorist was caught.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Yaya Fink, a left-wing activist who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for residents of Huwara, has apologized to the Yaniv family.

After enraged Jews rioted in the town and set properties on fire following the murder of the Yaniv brothers, Fink launched a crowdfunding campaign for the residents of the town whose properties were damaged.

Esty Yaniv, the mother of the kedoshim Hillel and Yigal, hyd, expressed outrage at the campaign, calling it a dark campaign for those who distributed pastries to celebrate the murder of my sons.

On Friday, Fink wrote: Before Shabbat, I want to apologize to the Yaniv family. The fact that I caused you grief because of the crowdfunding campaign I organized for the innocent saddens me.

I would still do the campaign. I believe that      but it would have been more correct to start it at a later date. I assume that my apology wont be accepted but I wanted to apologize anyway.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Russias advance seems to have stalled in Moscows campaign to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a leading think tank said in an assessment of the longest ground battle of the war.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said there were no confirmed advances by Russian forces in Bakhmut. Russian forces and units from the Kremlin-controlled paramilitary Wagner Group continued to launch ground attacks in the city, but there was no evidence that they were able to make any progress, ISW said late Saturday.

The report cited the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Eastern Group, Serhii Cherevaty, who said that fighting in the Bakhmut area had been more intense this week than the previous one. According to Cherevaty, there were 23 clashes in the city over the previous 24 hours.

The ISWs report comes following claims of Russian progress earlier this week. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Saturday that paramilitary units from the Kremlin-controlled Wagner Group had seized most of eastern Bakhmut, with a river flowing through the city now marking the front line of the fighting. The assessment highlighted that Russias assault will be difficult to sustain without more significant personnel losses.

The mining city of Bakhmut is located in Ukraines eastern Donetsk province, one of four regions of Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed last year. Russias military opened the campaign to take control of Bakhmut in August, and both sides have experienced staggering casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed not to retreat.

In its latest report Sunday, the U.K. Defense Ministry said Sunday that the impact of the heavy casualties Russia is continuing to suffer in Ukraine varies dramatically across the country. The ministrys intelligence update said that the major cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg remain relatively unscathed, particularly among members of Russias elite. In contrast, in many of Russias eastern regions, the death rate as a percentage of the population is 30-40 times higher than in Moscow.

The report highlighted that ethnic minorities often take the biggest hit. In the southern Astrakhan region, for example, about 75% of casualties come from the minority Kazakh and Tartar populations.

Russias mounting casualties are reflected in a loss of government control over the countrys information sphere, ISW said. The think tank said that Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed infighting in the Kremlin inner circle and that the Kremlin has effectively ceded control over the countrys information space, with Putin unable to readily regain control.

The ISW sees Zakharovas comments, made at a forum on the practical and technological aspects of information and cognitive warfare in modern realities in Moscow, as noteworthy and in line with the think tanks long standing assessments about the deteriorating Kremlin regime and information space control dynamics.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russian attacks over the previous day killed at least five people and wounded another seven across Ukraines Donetsk and Kherson regions, local Ukrainian authorities reported on Sunday morning.

Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said that two people were killed in the region, one in the city of Kostyantynivka and one in the village of Tonenke. Four further civilians were wounded.

Local officials in the southern Kherson province confirmed that Russian forces fired 29 times on Ukrainian-controlled territory in the region on Saturday, with residential areas of the regional capital, Kherson, coming under fire three times. Three people died in the province and a further three were wounded.

In Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv province, the Kharkiv, Chuhuiv and Kupiansk districts came under fire, but no civilian casualties were reported.

The head of Ukraines southern Mykolaiv province Gov. Vitali Kim said Sunday morning that the town of Ochakiv, set at the mouth of the Dnieper River, came under artillery fire in the early hours of Sunday. Cars were set ablaze, while private houses and high-rise buildings sustained damage. No casualties were reported.

(AP)




Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who quickly shot from political newcomer to potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, kicked off his states legislative session in January by telling lawmakers that he wanted to get more done and to get it done faster.

As the dust settles on his second session working with Virginias politically divided General Assembly, the former private equity executive has earned a series of wins, including measures taking a tougher stance against China, that his allies say could help him in a possible White House race.

But many of his legislative priorities, such as a push for more tax cuts, are tied up in budget negotiations. Others, including proposals to restrict abortion access or tighten penalties for criminals, were stymied by Democrats controlling the state Senate.

Youngkin is among the Republican governors eyeing the White House who have hoped to gain political momentum after presiding over productive legislative sessions this year. In Florida, for example, Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to use a session that began last week to advance conservative priorities. But the task has been harder for Youngkin because of Virginias divided legislature.

He got a lot of solid singles up the middle, a couple doubles off the wall. Big home runs? Not yet, said Chris Saxman, a former Republican member of the House of Delegates who runs a nonpartisan organization focused on the intersection of Virginia business and politics.

Youngkin is still working to advance his priorities at home over the coming weeks  he can propose amendments to bills that will be taken up in April. But he also has made a point to keep a national profile, as seen in his appearance in a prime-time town hall Thursday night on CNN. He has returned to traveling outside the state and has done nothing to shut down chatter about a possible 2024 run, giving indirect answers about his plans while saying his top priority is his current job.

Virginia law prevents him from seeking a second consecutive term as governor. His four-year term began in January 2022.

Thats where my focus is right now. And I believe there was an enormous amount of work yet to do in Virginia, Youngkin said at the end of the education-focused town hall.

The national media appearances and continued travel, including a trip to New York for donor meetings, have led to criticism from an occasional Republican and from Virginia Democrats that he is focused on higher office at the states expense.

The Democrats who control the state Senate spent the session priding themselves for being a brick wall able to thwart many of the priorities of Youngkin and House Republicans, including efforts to enact a 15-week abortion ban.

On some issues, however, they found common ground.

The first piece of legislation the governor has promoted with a formal bill-signing is one that aims to make it easier for licensed or experienced workers such as barbers and cosmetologists to move to Virginia and get straight to work.

Youngkin told reporters that the bill, along with a union and business-backed measure streamlining now-scattered workforce development programs under one agency, were among the measures he most pleased to see pass.

His administration has won praise from consumer advocates for the role it played in a compromise measure that would restore some oversight to regulators who set the rates and profitability of Dominion Energy, the politically powerful company that runs the states biggest monopoly electric utility.

The governor is expected to sign a bill that would adopt a new definition of antisemitism in state code that supporters say will help the Virginia track and combat hate toward the Jewish community. He also celebrated the passage of several bills that aim to address the threat from China, including a measure that would prohibit foreign adversaries from purchasing or otherwise acquiring agricultural land.

Early in the session, Youngkin disclosed that he scuttled an effort by the state to land a large electric vehicle battery plant, an initiative between Ford Motor Co. and a Chinese company that is setting up in Michigan instead. The governors administration labeled the project a front for the Chinese Communist Party that would raise national security concerns.

Tom Davis, a former Republican congressman from Virginia who thinks Youngkin is well-positioned to make a presidential run, said the Ford plant could help him in a campaign. As Republicans, especially presidential contenders, have taken an increasingly hard line against China in recent months, the move kind of immunizes Youngkin from potential political attacks over his time as co-CEO at The Carlyle Group when the private equity firm did business with Chinese companies, Davis said.

Youngkins call for an additional $1 billion in corporate and personal income tax cuts beyond the approximately $4 billion he signed into law last year is tied up in budget negotiations that could drag on for months. So is his proposal for a major boost in mental health spending and an expansion of childhood literacy and school innovation initiatives.

Youngkins proposed abortion bill went nowhere, though Virginia drew national attention, including from the White House, after his administration testified against a bill that would have prohibited police from issuing search warrants for digitized data about womens menstrual cycles. Youngkins office said the bill, which had passed the Senate with bipartisan support, would hinder law enforcement. The measure did not make it to the governor.

Speaking to reporters on the sessions last day, Youngkin cast Democrats as intransigent on commonsense issues, including a bill he sought that would have allowed prosecutors to bring murder charges against drug dealers if a user dies of an overdose. Youngkin and his wife, Suzanne, through her advocacy work, have made combating the threat of fentanyl a vocal priority. The issue is one that has become a key focus of Republican politicians and presidential contenders.

Recent polling has shown Youngkin, the first Republican to lead Virginia in over a decade, with relatively strong approval ratings in a state Biden won by 10 percentage points. But Democrats say Youngkins policy priorities are out of line with voters and will help them flip the state House and keep the Senate in November, when all 140 legislative seats are on the ballot.

Glenn Youngkin has given us a great gift. He has given us issues to run on and defined the difference between electing Democrats and electing right-wing Republicans, Susan Swecker, chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said recently.

Davis sees the political divide another way. He said having Senate Democrats throw cold water on some of Youngkins priorities would probably only help him if he becomes a presidential candidate, becoming a perfect foil for his conservative policies.

They arent fights that hurt the governor on the national basis, Davis said. I think theyve probably advanced his stature on a national scale for the Republican nomination.

(AP)




Four space station astronauts returned to Earth late Saturday after a quick SpaceX flight home.

Their capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast near Tampa.

The U.S.-Russian-Japanese crew spent five months at the International Space Station, arriving last October. Besides dodging space junk, the astronauts had to deal with a pair of leaking Russian capsules docked to the orbiting outpost and the urgent delivery of a replacement craft for the stations other crew members.

Led by NASAs Nicole Mann, the first Native American woman to fly in space, the astronauts checked out of the station early Saturday morning. Less than 19 hours later, their Dragon capsule was bobbing in the sea as they awaited pickup.

Earlier in the week, high wind and waves in the splashdown zones kept them at the station a few extra days. Their replacements arrived more than a week ago.

That was one heck of a ride, Mann radioed moments after splashdown. Were happy to be home.

Mann, a member of Northern Californias Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, said she couldnt wait to feel the wind on her face, smell fresh grass and enjoy some delicious Earth food.

Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata craved sushi, while Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina yearned to drink hot tea from real cup, not from plastic bag.

NASA astronaut Josh Cassadas to-do list included getting a rescue dog for his family. Please dont tell our two cats, he joked before departing the space station.

Remaining behind at the space station are three Americans, three Russians and one from the United Arab Emirates.

Wakata, Japans spaceflight champion, now has logged more than 500 days in space over five missions dating back to NASAs shuttle era.

(AP)




The New York Department of Health is urging residents to receive polio vaccinations prior to traveling to Israel, where several children have tested positive for the virus. The call for vaccination comes after four cases of polio were diagnosed in the city of Tzfas earlier this month, one year after a small outbreak in the country.

The New York Health Department has been working with their Israeli counterparts to coordinate a response, and advises travelers to adhere to guidelines from the US Center for Disease Control.

In addition to Israel, the CDC has issued polio-related precautions for travel to several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Nigeria, and several central African countries.

Polio is a viral disease that mostly affects children and can cause disability, paralysis, and death. Although polio vaccinations are now standard for children and an effective preventive measure, vaccine skepticism has allowed the disease to occasionally resurface.

A 2018 outbreak in Israel prompted a vaccination campaign to combat the disease, which had been declared eradicated in 1988.

Israels Health Ministry recently stated that over 150,000 Israeli children remain unvaccinated against polio, citing evidence of the virus spreading through sewage systems.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




A Palestinian with a knife in his possession was arrested in the city of Netanya on Sunday.

Police officers of the Netanya district launched searches upon receiving a report regarding a suspicious incident near Independence Square in Netanya with no casualties, the police stated.

A short time later, the police located the suspect  a resident of the Shomron without a permit to enter Israel with a knife in his possession.

The suspect was transferred for questioning and will be interrogated, among other things, for his intention to carry out a stabbing attack.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
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London Women Undertake to Build Mikveh as a Merit for Childless Friend

A group of women from London decided to do something to help their friend, who has not yet been blessed with children: They undertook to establish a mikveh taharah as a segulah for children, with the assistance of the Taharas Hamishpachah Organization * Pound after pound was collected, until they reached their goal, and were able to build the mikveh in Safsufa * The story that has taken the chareidi community in London by a storm

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All for one: This moving story has taken the chareidi community in London by a storm in recent weeks. A group of women who live in the city have a friend who has been married for more than a decade, but has not yet been blessed with children. These women decided to undertake an exceptional project: To raise money to build a mikveh taharah as a merit for their friend to have a yeshuah.

The story began about ten months ago, when one of the women heard about the proven segulah conveyed by Harav Chaim Kanievsky, ztl. He revealed that donating a mikveh is a special segulah for those who are childless. These women decided to solicit a few friends to undertake to donate a mikveh on behalf of their friend.

Initially, they reached out to a member of the board of the National Center for Family Purity [Taharas Hamishpachah], Rabbi Shlomo Rosenstein, who flew to London especially for this. Rabbi Rosenstein presented the women with the various options, and described the costs involved, and mikvaos that the organization is looking to build, out of more than twenty projects planned for this year.

The women first thought that it would be difficult to raise such a large sum, but with the help of the Taharas Hamishpachah Organization, they spearheaded a remarkable campaign, through which they were able to raise the entire sum in just five months. The friends each reached out to her social circle on behalf of this important cause. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and influenced a wide circle of donors from the chareidi community in London. Pound after pound, they slowly amassed the sum, until they reached their goal.

After conferring, they decided to select the mikveh in Safsufa as their project, because of its proximity to Meron and the kever of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai, and because it is in a holy part of Eretz Yisrael where many of the Tannaim and Amoraim are buried. The old mikveh, built decades ago, was renovated completely. Last week, the women landed in Israel to attend the inauguration of the mikveh. Throughout the event, they could not stop wiping their tears. The pinnacle came when the name of the mikveh was unveiled, and all the participants offered a heartfelt tefillah for a speedy yeshuah for their friend.

The moving event was attended by the chairman of Taharas Hamishpachah, Rabbi Chaim Levy; Rabbi Yosef Mishali, the Rav of the Marom Galil Regional Council; Amit Sofer, head of the Marom Galil Regional Council; Rabbi Eliyahu Dadush, Chairman of the Religious Council, and Rabbi Shlomo Rosenstein, member of the board of Taharas Hamishpachah.

The beautiful mikveh is already in use, and the women continue to daven that their friend should merit a yeshuah to be blessed with a child very soon, with siyata diShmaya.
Rebate: Couples can apply for free for the Marriage Allowance

Married couples who are eligible for a tax rebate are being warned to watch out for a fresh spate of claims companies, which charge to make an application that is available for free.

Couples who are married or in a civil partnership can apply for free for the Marriage Allowance, which is a tax break worth up to 252 a year. It allows a low earner in a couple to transfer up to 1,260 of their annual tax-free allowance to the higher earner.

The higher earner must earn between 12,571 and 50,270 to qualify. Claims can be backdated to April 5, 2018  so a couple could currently request up to 1,008 in a single claim.

But a growing number of firms are offering to make applications on behalf of couples  and cream off as much as 42 per cent as a fee.

In some cases, the firms set up official-looking websites to trick couples into believing they are going through the Revenue & Customs service.

Making a claim is straightforward and does not require third-party assistance. They can be made directly on the Revenue & Customs website in just a few minutes and with no charge.

National Trading Standards has an 'eCrime' team that monitors misleading websites. A spokesman says: 'These websites are deceiving people into spending over the odds for a Government service that is free.'

You should only ever use the official Revenue & Customs website to make a claim. Visit gov.uk or phone 0300 200 3300.
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

C.M. writes: I have been in a lengthy battle with Scottish Power following a botched and potentially lethal installation of a smart meter to the wrong property.

In October 2021, I attempted to change a socket in my flat and received a bad electric shock, despite the power being turned off.

I discovered this was because a smart meter was installed with electrics left in what's called 'reverse polarity' or 'hot-neutral reversed'. It was a matter of luck I was not killed.

Tony Hetherington replies: You live in a block of flats where meters are in a communal cupboard, and you had refused to have a smart meter. The one that was installed was actually meant for your neighbour.

Chaos: Report by Ombudsman Services fell short over Scottish Power's botched meter installation

On the night you received the shock, you called an electrician who immediately shut off the supply, saying the wiring was dangerous and a fire risk. You were without power for 28 hours and, as you work from home, you lost two days work. You even had to fork out 120 to have your electricity reconnected.

But all Scottish Power offered was 75 and an apology, telling you that if you wanted more you would have to claim from its contractor. You then contacted Ombudsman Services  and as if things were not already bad, they got worse.

The first thing everyone should know about Ombudsman Services is that it is not a Government agency. It is a private business, based in Warrington, and paid by the companies who use it to referee complaints. For example, it runs POPLA, which considers drivers' appeals against parking penalties.

Ombudsman Services told Scottish Power to give you 100 instead of 75, saying this was a 'goodwill gesture'. But where is the goodwill in leaving you out of pocket  and electrocuted  because of mistakes for which Scottish Power was responsible?

The Ombudsman's report was appalling. It described connecting the unauthorised meter to your flat as simply 'a shortfall in service'. Electrocuting you, cutting off your power, costing you work, and landing you with an electrician's bill  all got the same label: 'a shortfall in service'.

The Ombudsman's explanation was that 'we are not a compensatory body'. It can only request its member companies to make goodwill payments, and these will not include anything to make up for actual expenses or loss of work. You were advised to sue Scottish Power's contractor, but the Ombudsman could not even say for certain who this was. Some investigation then.

Not surprisingly, you appealed and I put my own questions to Ombudsman Services. The response was, in your words, 'openly hostile'. You were told you had failed to provide evidence which, you say, you were never asked to produce.

You were asked to produce at the drop of a hat proof that Scottish Power's engineer had visited the flats and connected the meter to the wrong address. And you were told to come up with proof of the meter details incorrectly attached to your flat.

You were even told you had to provide an engineer's report and invoice from the electrician you called, and proof of your lost earnings. Both these demands  which Ombudsman Services has failed to explain to me  completely contradict the Ombudsman's previous decision that you could not claim compensation for such things. All in all, this has the hallmarks of a spiteful bid to shut you up.

Despite being allowed just seven days to produce evidence which arguably should have been found far earlier by the Ombudsman, you made the deadline. Ombudsman Services now admits it was wrong to rule that Scottish Power was not responsible for installing the meter.

It has asked Scottish Power to apologise, correct charges linked to the wrong meter, and credit your account with a total of 370. This is intended to cover the 120 bill you paid, but not loss of earnings.

What stands out is the almost complete lack of investigative ability on the part of Ombudsman Services. It did not even contact the contractor who actually installed the meter. And both the Ombudsman and Scottish Power gave the names of two completely different installation companies as being responsible, before telling me they had settled on one. I am in touch with that contractor now and will report the outcome.

Ombudsman Services told me: 'We only have a direct relationship with the energy supplier.' And Scottish Power said it had received the appeal verdict, adding: 'Mr M has yet to accept this, but we are ready to action as soon as he does.'

But what a disgraceful shambles from start to finish.

Vueling left us in the dark over refunds

C.G. writes: My 73-year-old mother and I were due to fly with Vueling from Gatwick to Barcelona. We arrived at Gatwick, only to be told the flight was cancelled.

We had to accept a flight 14 hours later. We were told to keep receipts for food and drink as costs would be refunded, but since then we have received nothing from Vueling and have been told we will get nothing.

This company needs to be stopped.

Turbulence: Vueling flight from Gatwick to Barcelona was cancelled

Tony Hetherington replies: Vueling is a budget airline owned by the Spanish company IAG, which also owns British Airways. Before contacting Vueling, I took a look at its website, which includes what seemed like a helpful page headed 'Press Room'.

But when I clicked through, a message said: 'Oh dear, this page seems to be on holiday! It looks like it found an irresistible offer and it has packed its bags.' Very droll  but very bad public relations.

BA was far more helpful, putting me in touch with its Spanish sister company, and you suddenly received a message from Vueling, requesting your bank details. Then 438 appeared in your account  presumably to cover tickets, food and drink. All Vueling has told me is that it admits 'compensation was denied by mistake.'

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Boost: Arecor has developed pioneering new diabetes treatments

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health conditions in the world, affecting more than 700 million globally, almost 10 per cent of the population.

Many sufferers need to inject themselves several times a day or wear a device that pumps insulin into their body on a regular basis.

The first is unpleasant; the second, often ineffective. Arecor, a Cambridge-based drugs company, has pioneered a way to make insulin work faster and more efficiently.

The firm is testing two products, both of which would have a dramatic effect on diabetes sufferers, limiting the need to self-inject and reducing the glucose peaks and troughs commonly associated with this condition.

Arecor listed on the stock market in June 2021 at 2.26 and the shares shot up to more than 4 as the company released positive updates on its diabetes treatments. But the price has since drifted back to 2.43, hindered by market antipathy to small healthcare firms in recent months.

The stock should regain momentum this year. Arecor is expecting good news on its diabetic treatments and has several other initiatives in the pipeline, which should deliver encouraging results too. Arecor is different from most junior healthcare companies because it does not try to create new drugs. Instead, the firm focuses on existing products and works out how to make them better.

In hospital, for instance, many treatments are in powder form so they have to be mixed with saline solution before being administered to patients. This takes time and can lead to dosing errors but Arecor has developed a way to keep products stable in liquid format so they are ready to use as soon as they reach the ward.

Several types of medication are administered via intravenous drip over many hours. Arecor has worked out how to increase the concentration of these medicines so they can be delivered via injection, meaning patients could administer treatments themselves in the comfort of their own homes.

Small healthcare firms can struggle to achieve commercial success so chief executive Sarah Howell is pursuing a variety of routes to bring Arecor's products to market.

The company was founded in 2007 as a spin-out from a Unilever-backed biotech firm. Its technology has become recognised by pharmaceutical groups worldwide, so much so that several have approached Arecor for help in making their products easier to use.

A number of partnerships have been signed and more are likely to follow. These generate revenues from the start and one is expected to produce a commercially available treatment later this year, triggering potentially generous royalty payments for Arecor.

UK drugs group Hikma is a partner too. The FTSE 250 listed firm agreed in 2020 to fund the development of two products and has just licensed one of them, taking the drug in-house and paying Arecor licence fees as it moves through the development process. The other product was returned to Arecor earlier this year but brokers are optimistic that Howell will find another partner in the coming months.

Howell and her team also scour the market for drugs which could benefit from improvement using Arecor's technology, insulin being a case in point.

The company has already seen encouraging results from trials and there are high hopes that both diabetes treatments could be on the market within a few years.

Midas verdict: Arecor is focused on some of the hardest-to-treat healthcare challenges in the world. Supporters believe the shares could more than double from the current price of 2.43 and Unilever retains a near 10 per cent stake in the business. Early-stage drug firms are never risk free but this seems more secure than most. Buy.

Traded on: AIM Ticker: AREC Contact: arecor.com or 01223 426060
Wensheng Fan was studying in Beijing when the Tiananmen Square protests erupted in 1989. Soon afterwards, the young Chinese student applied for a scholarship at an American university. He was accepted and has been a proud US citizen ever since.

Today, Fan runs Spectral MD, a Texas-based firm that has developed a tool to predict how and whether wounds will heal. Known as DeepView, it uses medical imaging and sophisticated artificial intelligence to provide highly accurate diagnoses in less than a second.

The technology was seized upon by the US government, which has provided Spectral with more than 65million of funding over the past ten years to research and develop DeepView for use on burn victims, many of whom suffer terribly from delayed diagnosis on treatment.

Handy: DeepView uses medical imaging and sophisticated artificial intelligence to provide highly accurate diagnoses in less than a second.

Now, the government is keen to deploy a burn diagnostic tool in hospitals and has asked companies, including Spectral to tender for the job.

Fan has high hopes of success, given Spectral's relationship with the US government.

But the firm is also developing DeepView for use on diabetic foot ulcers, which afflict around a quarter of all diabetes sufferers and which can lead to amputations if they are left untreated.

Spectral's technology allows doctors to spot from the start whether a foot ulcer needs advanced care or not, saving valuable time and potentially changing lives.

Trials are ongoing here and in America and commercial sales are likely to follow.

Midas verdict: Several UK companies are considering moving from the London market to America but US-based Spectral chose to list in London, joining Aim in 2021. At 31p, the shares should go far. The US government believes in this business and the market opportunity for DeepView is huge. Buy.

Traded on: AIM Ticker: SMD Contact: spectralmd.com or 001 972 499 4934
Lord Lucan's British energy company racked up a 112million loss last year.

Angus Energy  run by George Bingham, the 8th Earl of Lucan, whose gambler father John, known as 'Lucky', disappeared in the 1970s under suspicion of murder  operates Saltfleetby gas field in Lincolnshire.

Losses at the AIM-listed group spiralled in the year to September 2022, according to its annual report, though this was virtually all due to an energy hedging contract.

Loss: George Bingham, the 8th Earl of Lucan, with his wife Anne-Sofie (above left); Mystery surrounds the 7th Earl, 'Lucky' Lucan

Angus Energy struck a deal to sell half the gas produced at Saltfleetby at a set price in spring 2021, before a rally began that summer which was turbocharged further by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This means that the business is in the red on paper but has not actually lost cash. 'Nobody saw gas going up that much,' Lucan told The Mail on Sunday. 'It was clearly not ideal timing, but the loss doesn't reflect any value lost to shareholders.'

Saltfleetby field began producing gas last September. Only half of the price is hedged, so Angus can sell the rest at current market prices. It is likely to post a profit in its next results.

Police launched an unsuccessful hunt for the 7th Earl of Lucan in 1974 after a night-time attack in the family's Belgravia home left the children's nanny Sandra Rivett dead and his estranged wife Veronica injured.
Money talks: A healthy stock exchange is an integral part of a prosperous economy

Nestled in the North London suburbs, a sprawling film studio has been transformed into the Land of Oz. The set, where a new adaptation of The Wizard Of Oz prequel Wicked is being filmed, is one of more than a dozen fictional worlds that can be created at Sky Studios Elstree.

Sky, now owned by US giant Comcast, has launched its 13th and final sound stage at the site, with an opening ceremony attended by Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, on Thursday. The studios will generate 3 billion of investment in the UK's flourishing creative sector in their first five years.

Comcast is just one of the big players, both domestic and foreign, to have ploughed billions of investment into Britain in recent years. But while the atmosphere is upbeat in Elstree, the City is in danger of descending into a self-fulfilling funk.

The Square Mile has suffered a series of setbacks in the past few weeks, leading to talk of an exodus from the London stock market. This was sparked by microchip company Arm's controversial decision to float its shares in New York instead of London, despite a campaign by Ministers and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

Within days, several other firms said they were looking across the Atlantic. Those snubbing London include building materials firm CRH, the maker of Tarmac, and business lender OakNorth bank.

These recent defections come on top of a long-term trend for British pension funds to pull money out of UK shares and shift it into overseas stock markets as well as into Government bonds, known as gilts.

The figures are startling: in the 1990s, more than half of all shares listed on the LSE were owned by UK pension funds and insurance companies. In 2000, it was less than 40 per cent. Twenty years later, that had fallen to about 5 per cent.

At first glance, it might seem all of this is a problem for City slickers and remote from the daily lives of ordinary Britons. Not so. When the reputation of the UK as a good destination for investors takes a battering, it matters to us all.

A healthy stock exchange is an integral part of a prosperous real economy, providing companies with the capital to invest in growth and jobs and giving savers the opportunity to make a good return.

When companies move on to a foreign stock exchange, that shifts their centre of gravity so that jobs  along with research and development  are at a greater risk of moving overseas.

Foreign investors are also more likely to reap profits than British savers.

Part of the problem is the reluctance of British pension funds to invest in British shares. This means UK retirees are missing out on returns from firms on their own doorsteps.

'All of us will get old, and all of us will need pensions. At the moment, not enough of our own money is being invested in growing the UK,' says Mark Austin, a corporate lawyer who was asked by Rishi Sunak last year to lead a review into how to make our capital markets work better.

'Other countries do it well, and there is no reason we cannot too. At the moment, there may be more teachers in Ontario [through their giant pension fund] financing UK start-ups than teachers in Aberdeen, Belfast, Cardiff or Dover.'

Austin estimates that the FTSE 100 index is undervalued by 30 to 35 per cent. Companies  especially in the technology sector  have turned to New York because they believe they can command a higher valuation on that side of the pond.

But, as last week's meltdown at Silicon Valley Bank shows, the US is by no means an investment Nirvana. Of the UK companies that listed their shares in the US in the past decade, only three  Manchester United, tech firm Endava and healthcare group Immunocore  are in positive territory.

Royal approval: The Duke of Edinburgh at Elstree Studios

The rest are down more than 38 per cent on average (see table above of the least successful). Whether or not the perception of London as an unattractive market is deserved, it is in danger of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy if it is not rapidly scotched.

Chris Morrison, at GAM Investments, says political turmoil has not helped Britain's image with investors. He says: 'Historically, the UK and London's greatest strength was that it was considered a very stable place that you could rely on. We need to get back to that.'

There are measures Government can take, such as encouraging pension funds to invest more in the UK by changing rules on capital. Reforms to boardroom governance might also make London look more attractive to entrepreneurs.

But much of the solution, say experts like Austin, comes down to a change of culture and attitude.

As Amanda Blanc, the boss of insurance powerhouse Aviva, said last week, the UK finance sector needs to 'stop talking itself down'.

Business leaders who do believe in Britain have begun to fight back. Steve Hare, head of FTSE 100 software group Sage, says: 'We back Britain 100 per cent. We have incredible skills and talent here.'

Team GB also boasts Simon Peckham, boss of engineering group Melrose, who is floating GKN's automotive arm in London, having considered and ruled out the US.

'We're a UK company; why wouldn't we float in the UK?' he says. 'I know there is a downer on the UK market at the moment, but it will come through. We've been here since 2003 and have had support for every deal we've ever done.'

Mark Mullen, boss of challenger lender Atom Bank, feels the same, saying: 'Atom is a UK business serving UK customers. It's logical we would look to list in the UK.

'I think it would be unfortunate to see businesses choose to not list in the UK when they've grown their success in this country.'
Millions of workers could miss out on thousands of pounds in retirement because their workplace pension fund is underperforming, new analysis reveals.

Around 11 million workers pay into a workplace pension, which they will rely on for a good standard of living in their later years. But they face a retirement roulette as some are in pension schemes that are producing bumper returns while others are marooned in ones that are seriously lagging behind.

Workers have no say over which provider they hold their pension in  they are chosen by employers. And most are unaware there are huge differences between the best and worst pension schemes.

Two workers could pay an identical amount into their pensions over the same period, but one could end up with thousands of pounds less in retirement because they are paying into a poorer-performing scheme.

Most employees will have at least one workplace pension fund, unless they work in the public sector or have an increasingly rare final salary pension.

Workplace pension pots rose in value by 4.8 per cent annually on average over the past five years, according to analysis of the biggest funds by leading trade magazine Corporate Adviser.

But the best performer  National Pensions Trust  produced a 9.3 per cent return a year, while the worst  Now Pensions  produced 0.5 per cent growth a year.

Gamble: Workers have no say over which provider they hold their pension in  they are chosen by employers

The figures are calculated once charges are removed and assume that a worker has 30 years to state pension age.

Investment returns on pensions are often volatile and the best and worst performers will vary considerably over time. Last year was a particularly turbulent one for investments, with nearly every workplace pension scheme losing money, according to analysis of funds by pension policy experts First Actuarial.

Nonetheless, one year of particularly poor performance can hurt workers' retirement prospects in the long term. Consistent underperformance  even of a percentage point or two  can result in a pot worth tens of thousands of pounds less in retirement.

For example, someone contributing 2,000 a year into their pension for 40 years would have a pot worth 241,600 if they enjoyed average annual returns of five per cent.

But someone paying the same amount for the same length of time would end up with 150,800 if returns averaged three per cent.

Pensions consultancy Hymans Robertson believes that the huge variation in performance of pension funds will continue even now volatility has calmed down.

Two 45-year-olds paying in the same amount could see the size of their pension pots vary by as much as 30 per cent by retirement, it predicts. For 25-year-olds, the disparity could hit 40 per cent.

Callum Stewart, head of defined contribution investment at Hymans Robertson, says workers should look into their pension provision and hold their employer to account if they are not satisfied.

He says: 'Ask your employer: what are you doing to review the value and adequacy of my pension provision?'

Why do pension funds vary so much?

All workplace pension schemes are trying to achieve the same outcome. Their aim is to grow the nest eggs of workers as much as possible by the time they hit retirement age, but without taking on too much risk.

However, how they seek to achieve this varies considerably. Some invest a greater proportion in shares  which are typically more risky, but lead to greater returns. Others opt for more bonds, which are seen as lower risk, but grow money more slowly.

Some strategies inevitably prove more successful than others over the long term.

Last year was a particularly bad one for bonds, which meant that funds that are supposedly lower risk saw some of the worst falls. Unfortunately, older workers nearing retirement will have borne the brunt as they tend to be moved into lower risk funds.

You may be in the wrong fund

Workers rarely engage with their workplace pension. Although most schemes allow you to decide which fund to save into, 97 per cent put their money into the default.

However, the default fund may not be right for you. Many pension providers automatically put young workers into the highest-risk funds where they stand the greatest chance of good returns, and gradually move them into lower-risk funds as they near retirement age.

The logic is that if a younger worker sees their pension suffer a large market fall, they have plenty of time to make up the losses, whereas for an older worker a big drop just before retirement can be devastating.

However, increasingly workers are keeping their pensions invested well into retirement. Some may not access all of their pot until they are in their 70s or even 80s. Therefore, moving their savings into lower-risk funds in their 50s or early 60s may no longer be necessary and denies them the possibility of higher returns.

Henry Tapper, chief executive of pension expert AgeWage, believes most default pension funds move savers into lower-risk investments too early in life. 'Most people will need to invest for decades after they stop working, and it is worrying that most people find themselves invested defensively from their 50s onwards,' he says.

Pension providers are not entirely to blame  they often work in the dark as they do not know when a member wants to leave the workforce or how they plan to manage their money in retirement.

If you have retirement plans in mind, it is worth sharing these with your provider so it can make sure that you are in the pension investments best placed to get you there.

Going it alone may not be better

Some workplace pensions allow savers to pick their own funds and it can be tempting to go it alone. However, all but the most experienced investors are likely to be better off picking the best default fund available.

Phil Brown, director of policy at People's Partnership, provider of The People's Pension, says: 'DIY investors often make mistakes, including failing to diversify their investments, being too cautious or not giving their funds enough attention.'

Alan Morahan, chief commercial officer of financial services firm Punter Southall Aspire, adds that if you do select your own funds, you need to stay on the ball.

'I've seen many occasions where people have selected their own funds, but then do not regularly revisit those decisions. They then end up sitting in funds that are underperforming or no longer suitable for the individual's risk profile,' he says.
Drug trafficking ring from Laos to Vietnam busted (Photo: VNA)

Earlier on March 7 and 8, Customs Office at the La Lay border gate in Quang Tri province detected drugs in luggage in some vehicles in the process of completing procedures to enter Vietnam.

On March 9, through investigation, competent forces arrested a person, 37 years old and residing in central Da Nang city, in connection with drugs transported by a car from Laos to Vietnam in Phu Loc district of neighbouring Thua Thien Hue province.

At the same time, they seized about 2.1kg of methamphetamine, 3kg of ketamine and 1.4kg of other synthetic drugs in vehicles.

Further investigations into the case are underway./.
The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, concluded its first session Saturday, calling for efforts to pool wisdom and strength to help accomplish the goals and tasks set at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Wang Qishan attended the closing meeting of the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

A resolution on the work report of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, a resolution on the report on how proposals were handled since the previous session, a resolution on an amendment to the CPPCC charter, a report on the examination of new proposals, and a political resolution on the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee were approved at the meeting.

Wang Huning, chairman of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, presided over and addressed the meeting.

Wang said the session, which started on March 4, spoke volumes about the characteristics and advantages of China's whole-process people's democracy and its vigor and vitality.

On the new journey, members of the 14th CPPCC National Committee should thoroughly study and implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and unwaveringly uphold the overall Party leadership, Wang said.

Wang called on his fellow political advisors to uphold and improve the CPC-led system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation, better implement the decisions and plans made and the requirements raised for the CPPCC work by the CPC Central Committee, and pool wisdom and strength to make active contributions to accomplishing the goals and tasks set at the 20th CPC National Congress.

Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Wang Qishan attend the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Xi Jinping waves to members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders had group photos taken with them after the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders pose for a group photo with members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) after the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), presides over the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. Wang delivered a speech at the meeting on Saturday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

The military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs at the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attend the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

The closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)

Members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leave the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

Editor: WXL
The fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, held the fifth plenary meeting of its first session Sunday morning to decide the new lineup of the State Council, China's cabinet.

NPC deputies will vote to decide vice premiers, state councilors, ministers, governor of the central bank, auditor-general, and secretary-general of the State Council.

They will also vote to approve chairpersons, vice chairpersons and members of eight special committees of the 14th NPC at the meeting.

The fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

The fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

The fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

The fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

The fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

The fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Zheng Jianbang presides over the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

A deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) casts her ballots at the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)

Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Editor: WXL
Clinical innovation at the Symptomatic Breast Unit at University Hospital Limerick is improving patient outcomes and quality-of-life, consultant surgeon Mr Chwanrow Baban has told one of Irelands largest medical conferences.



Mr Baban, Consultant General and Oncoloplastic Breast Surgeon, UL Hospitals Group and Senior Lecturer in Surgery at the UL School of Medicine, was a keynote speaker at the annual Sylvester OHalloran Perioperative Symposium.

After several Covid-interrupted years during which it moved online, Irelands largest perioperative meeting was again held face-to-face over three days at the University of Limerick and UHL.



Delivering the keynote Sir Thomas Myles Lecture on My Journey in Surgery and Innovation, Mr Baban spoke of his longstanding research interests, including the standard of care for older breast cancer patients and exploring the relationship between bacteria and tumours.



Over many years, our work has looked at how we can use bacteria as a vector in cancer gene therapy; how we can exploit bacteria for good. We routinely talk about good bacteria, whether that it taking probiotics and so on, and what our experiments have explored is using good healthy bacteria as vectors to transport medicine to target cancer cells," Mr Baban explained ahead of his lecture.



We know that the centre of cancer anywhere in the body is necrotic, or deprived of oxygen, and we know too that we these are exactly the kinds of places that bacteria like. We have demonstrated in animal experiments that bacteria can be used to target cancers but of course the challenge is making it a reality for our patients. Research work is very slow and it can take 20 or 30 years to translate something exciting like this from the benchside to the bedside, Mr Baban said.



More immediately, patients in the breast service Limerick were already benefiting through the introduction of new technology by Mr Baban and his colleagues.



In the last year, the Limerick service has introduced the magseed device for women who need a lump removed from their breast. This magnetic bead, which is approximately the size of a grain of rice, replaces the need to insert a wire to assist surgeons in locating a lump.



In the past, Mr Baban explained, where a patient came in with a lump that was not palpable, we needed to attach a wire to remove the cancer area. This was very stressful for women who were required to come in on the morning of surgery, to do the necessary paperwork, to be informed about the surgery, to travel through the hospital to the radiology department, to have a wire inserted and be advised not to interfere with or lose it or else the surgeon would not be able to remove the lump, to travel back through the hospital to theatre and so on.



With the magseed, all that stress has now been eliminated. The patient can come in a week, a month or several months before the surgery. We can put the 2mm seed in to the cancer area and it will stay there until the patient comes in to theatre without the stress of all the other intermediary steps. And of course, apart from reducing stress there is also a reduced risk of infection and other complications, Mr Baban said.



The Symptomatic Breast Unit at UHL was also hoping to pioneer the use in Ireland of 3-D printed prosthesis for patients who have had a mastectomy and who choose not to or are not suited for breast reconstruction. Mr Baban is hopeful that this next innovation in the service will significantly improve the quality of life for patients who have had radical breast surgery.



I am glad to work in a service that is innovating for our patients, that is improving quality of life and patient outcomes. As doctors we were very conscious during Covid of the fears patients had in accessing healthcare. We continued to run our service in Limerick right throughout Covid; our cancer diagnostics were running and our theatres were open to cancer patients.



As we come out of the pandemic, there is an assumption that UHL is always chock-a-block - and it is a busy hospital. But from the point-of-view of the breast service, we want to reassure people that if you have a concern, if you have a family history, if you have found a lump, please dont hesitate to reach out.



We have modern facilities with access to tomosynthesis, or a 3D mammogram, reconstruction, implants, and the newest technologies like the magseed. We are here for you, Mr Baban said.
The Banshees Of Inisherin and other Irish talent could win big at the Oscars, but face stiff competition from awards season juggernaut Everything Everywhere All At Once.

The sci-fi epic, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, swept top prizes at the Film Independent Spirit Awards and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards, marking it out as a clear frontrunner at the Oscars.

The thriller, which sees a family torn apart by an interdimensional rift, heads into the Academy Awards ceremony with 11 nominations, including for lead actress Michelle Yeoh and supporting actor Ke Huy Quan.

Martin McDonaghs dark Irish comedy has become the most Oscar-nominated Irish film ever, clocking up nine nominations ahead of Sundays show.

All four of the films main stars; Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon received top acting nods  alongside McDonagh for best director.

Farrell will face Elvis Austin Butler and The Whale star Brendan Fraser for best leading actor, along with veteran British actor Bill Nighy for Living, and Irish actor Paul Mescal for coming-of-age drama Aftersun.

#BansheesMovie has been nominated for NINE Academy Awards including BEST PICTURE, BEST DIRECTOR Martin McDonagh, BEST ACTOR Colin Farrell, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan, and BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Kerry Condon! #Oscars95 pic.twitter.com/xjyN0Gzzqc  The Banshees of Inisherin (@Banshees_Movie) January 24, 2023

Meanwhile, English actress Andrea Riseborough is up for best actress for her work in To Leslie, taking on frontrunners Cate Blanchett for Tar and Yeoh following a grassroots awards season campaign.

Riseboroughs surprise nomination in the category prompted an investigation by the Academy, which found the campaigning tactics used had caused concern, but not enough to rescind her nod.

Michelle Williams is also a contender for best actress, following a campaign to transfer her from best supporting role categories in recognition of her performance as Steven Spielbergs mother in The Fabelmans.

In the coveted best picture category, All Quiet On The Western Front is up alongside The Fabelmans, Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Banshees Of Inisherin.

The German film recently scooped seven prizes at the Bafta film awards.

Other contenders include blockbuster sequels Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way Of Water, as well as Tar, Elvis, Women Talking, and Triangle Of Sadness.

US comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host the 95th annual ceremony on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

He previously joked that the decision to have a champagne-coloured carpet this year shows how confident we are that no blood will be shed  referencing Will Smiths now-infamous slap at the 2022 Oscars.

The Academys chief executive Bill Kramer said previously that a crisis team would be introduced at this years show to mitigate potential surprises.

ICYMI: Here is the third and final slate of presenters for #Oscars95https://t.co/7IWBuSpjgH  The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 11, 2023

Throughout the night a slew of famous faces will take to the stage for presenting duties, including British stars Hugh Grant, Florence Pugh, Riz Ahmed and Emily Blunt.

Other presenters include Nicole Kidman, Andrew Garfield, Halle Berry, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L Jackson, Michael B Jordan, Troy Kotsur, Jonathan Majors, Melissa McCarthy and Dwayne Johnson.

Rihanna, who is pregnant with her second child, will perform her Oscar-nominated song Lift Me Up from Marvels blockbuster sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, while Grammy-winning US rock star Lenny Kravitz, will perform during the ceremonys In Memoriam segment.
It's not quite chivalry but it's still somewhat reassuring to read about a bit of honor amongst Kansas City metro suspected crooks.



Here's the highlight and a local criminal charge that includes the defendant who decides to "man up" amid a tense situation . . .



A Kansas City man, 25, has been charged with Assault 1st Degree of a Law Enforcement Officer and other felonies after he was seen shooting with a gun later determined to be altered to be fully automatic at a chasing Cass County Sheriff's Deputy, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.



According to court records, early Friday Kansas City police officers notified Grandview police that they were conducting surveillance on a moving vehicle that was subject of a multi-agency burglary investigation. Cass County deputies soon joined the high-speed pursuit of the vehicle and deployed stop sticks. As the pursuit neared 140th Street in Grandview, the suspect fired at officers. Soon after, Cass County deputies deployed a heavy-duty nylon net that snagged the vehicle and it stopped. The defendant exited the vehicle and an officer pursued him on foot until he took the suspect to the ground. A handgun was recovered that had been modified to be fully automatic. A second gun altered to be fully automatic was recovered from the passenger, a woman. Inside the vehicle, officers found merchandise from an Overland Park, Kan., store that recently was burglarized and from a liquor store in Clay County. The defendant told an officer who asked to talked to him, "All that sh** is on me. I was driving and she was in the back seat."



Prosecutors requested a $250,000 cash bond.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Jackson County prosecutor: KC man, 25, charged with firing automatic bursts at a law enforcement officer while fleeing police
Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker attended the opening ceremony of the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held in Manama, the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain, on March 11, Azernews reports.

Gafarova will deliver an address at the Assembly.
Egypt calls for the immediate cessation of military operations in Sudan and the prioritisation of dialogue, according to a statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
Russia has fired 821 missiles at Ukraines territory as part of 15 massive attacks since the full-scale invasion started.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov at a meeting with Norwegian Defence Minister Bjrn Arild Gram in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports, referring to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

As of March 10, 2023, a total of 821 Russian missiles were fired at our country. These are cruise, ballistic missiles only. We know for sure that every 10 times that the NASAMS systems are used, to the provision of which Norway has contributed, 10 missiles of the aggressor are shot down, 10 buildings and infrastructure objects are preserved, and hundreds of human lives are saved, Reznikov noted.

In his turn, Gram announced that a decision had been taken to allocate $7.5 billion in aid to Ukraine over the next five years. The relevant program was submitted for the approval of Parliament.

According to Gram, Norway is also planning to hand over to Ukraine the NASAMS firing units, fire control centers and missiles.

Additionally, Norway has joined the international tank coalition in order to help Ukraine with main battle tanks. Personnel training is now underway, and the first tanks will soon arrive in Ukraine.

Gram emphasized that Norway continues to stand with Ukraine and provide support.

Together with Reznikov, Gram also visited the Kyiv regions settlements affected by Russian attacks.
Russia has rotated its forces in Belarus. Currently, the situation is controlled, and the threat of enemy ground actions from the northern direction is low.

The relevant statement was made by Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, an Ukrinform correspondent reports, referring to the Joint Forces Command.

Currently, the threat of enemy ground actions from the northern direction is low. Russian troops are remaining within the territory of Belarus. The rotation was carried out, and some forces were withdrawn. Now we have information that tent camps have been left within four training grounds in Belarus in order to receive additional forces, Naiev told.

In his words, together with the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service, the Joint Forces are monitoring the situation, which is remaining stable and controlled at the moment.

A reminder that, on March 11, 2023, Russian troops opened fire on eight regions of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has congratulated Petr Pavel on taking office as president of the Czech Republic and informed him about the situation on the front lines and the security needs of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader said this on his Twitter account, Ukrinform reports.

"Had a call with Czech President Petr Pavel. Congratulated him on officially taking office. Outlined the situation at the front & our security needs. We discussed Ukraine's EU integration & agreed to further cooperate," Zelensky said.

He said that Czech support is crucial for Ukraine in fighting Russia's aggression.

Pavel officially took office as president of the Czech Republic on March 9.

Pavel was elected Czech president on January 28.
Luxembourg has provided Ukraine with another batch of humanitarian aid that includes 14 armored ambulances.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Belgium and Luxembourg said this in a post on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"Another batch of humanitarian aid is headed to Ukraine from Luxembourg, namely 14 armored ambulances produced by the British company Venari. The vehicles will be sent to the front line in the near future," the post said.

The ambulances will help save the lives of Ukrainian defenders on the front lines, as well as civilians who constantly fall victim to barbaric Russian shelling.

The embassy said the move is part of the initiative of the Community of Ukrainians in Luxembourg LUkraine asbl "Ukraine is calling." Its goal is to raise EUR 10 million for the purchase of 112 ambulances and fire trucks.

The embassy expressed its gratitude to the Directorate of Defense of Luxembourg, in particular to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense Francois Bausch, Chief of Defense Steve Thull, Deputy Chairman of the Venari Group Oliver North, and the LUkraine team.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to Oleksandr Matsievskyi, a Ukrainian serviceman who had been executed by the Russian military after saying Glory to Ukraine.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Today I conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine upon Oleksandr Matsievskyi, a soldier. A man whom all Ukrainians will know. A man who will be remembered forever. For his bravery, for his confidence in Ukraine and for his Glory to Ukraine!, Zelensky noted.

Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine reported on Telegram that, according to the final expert opinion, it was Oleksandr Matsievskyi, a sniper from the 119th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces in the Chernihiv region, who had been shot dead by the Russian military.
Since the beginning of the week, more than 1,100 Russian invaders have been eliminated and at least 1,500 more have been wounded in Bakhmut sector.

In less than one week  since March 6  in the Bakhmut sector alone, they [Ukrainian troops] managed to eliminate more than 1,100 enemy soldiers, which are Russia's irreversible losses, losses there, near Bakhmut. In addition, at least 1,500 more sanitary losses of the enemy  these are wounds incompatible with continuing fighting, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in his latest address.

Moreover, dozens of units of enemy equipment were destroyed and more than ten Russian ammunition depots were burned

The President thanked every service member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, intelligence officers, the National Guard members, border guards  everyone who is fighting for Ukrainian land, for Bakhmut.

I am grateful to each and every one who again helped our soldiers this week, treated them after their injuries, searched for things to support them with, organized volunteer fundraising and sent to the front what they asked for! Together, in unity, we will achieve victory, Zelensky said.
President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset says that Switzerlands neutrality is more important than ever which does not allow the country to send weapons to Ukraine.

"The government's position is clear, it also corresponds to my personal position: Swiss weapons must not be used in wars," Berset told Neue Zueriche Zeitung am Sonntag in an interview, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to him, Bern's policy is based on "commitment to peace, humanitarian law, mediation where possible."

The President emphasized that Switzerland seeks to be present wherever it can contribute to mediation and peace. He also considers it necessary to hold negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, and "the sooner, the better."

As reported, the Swiss government previously stated that it would not change its policy on the ban on the transfer of Swiss-made weapons to third countries, despite pressure from European countries regarding their supply to Ukraine. In January, two parliamentary committees in Switzerland recommended relaxing the rules. However, after the meeting on March 10, the government rejected this call.

The years-long tradition of neutrality became the subject of debate after the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and calls from European partners to provide ammunition and allow the re-export of equipment with Swiss spare parts.

Switzerland rejected requests from Germany, Spain, and Denmark referring to the Act on War Materiel which prohibits any re-export if a recipient country is in an international armed conflict.

At the same time, Switzerland joined many European sanctions against the Russian Federation.
Electricity production volumes in Ukraines energy system are enough to meet all consumer needs across the country.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrenergo National Power Company on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Meanwhile, Ukraines energy system continues to recover after Russias fifteenth massive missile attack and eighteenth drone attack.

In the Zhytomyr and Kharkiv regions, power engineers restored power supply services for household consumers on Saturday. The work continues to eliminate the consequences of Russian missile strikes, which took place on March 9, 2023.

In the city of Kharkiv, emergency power outages have been introduced this morning due to overloading of the equipment remaining in service.

In the Kharkiv region, emergency power outages may take place during the day in case electricity consumption volumes increase.

In the rest of regions, it was unnecessary to apply power supply restrictions, Ukrenergo noted.

The existing electricity production volumes in the energy system are enough to meet all consumer needs. The restrictions that are in effect across regions are network-based and resulting exclusively from the damage caused to energy infrastructure by massive missile strikes on March 9, 2023, Ukrenergo concluded.
Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba does not expect fighter jets to be delivered to Ukraine any time soon.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba in an interview with Germanys Bild, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to Kuleba, time is a decisive factor in terms of arms supplies. Ukraine urgently needs tanks, armored personnel carriers, various ammunition, as well as training for the military.

Kuleba noted that he does not expect fighter jets to be delivered to Ukraine any time soon, but it is essential for Ukrainian pilots to start training right now.

Decisions should be taken based on the fact that there are no red lines for Russia, Kuleba added, referring to conventional weapons.

The minister does not think Russia would use nuclear weapons and does not see the point in counting how many missiles have left in its stocks. Kuleba believes the West is capable of reducing Russias missile and drone production volumes, namely through sanctions.

At the same time, Kuleba called on Germany and other partners to ramp up air defense and ammunition supplies for Ukraine.

I think Germany could really help more with ammunition. With artillery ammunition, Kuleba said, explaining that German defense enterprises expressed readiness and are only waiting for relevant contracts from the government.

Commenting on the situation around Bakhmut, Kuleba noted that both the military command and the political leadership were unanimous about the need to continue holding defense there. If Ukrainian forces step back, a similar scenario will repeat in every subsequent settlement.

As for the Nord Stream pipeline attack, Kuleba refuted any assumptions that it could be an action directed by the Ukrainian government.
The United Arab Emirates has provided humanitarian aid worth $100 million to Ukraine.

"This happened immediately after the visit of the Ukrainian delegation led by First Deputy Prime Minister  Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko to the United Arab Emirates," the press service of the Ministry of Economy posted on Telegram.

The Ministry notes that humanitarian aid is intended for residents of Kherson and Mykolaiv regions: they will receive warm clothes and hygiene products.

As reported, the United Arab Emirates suggested supplying 5 million energy-saving LED lamps to Ukraine. The first batch is expected to arrive soon.
As many as 75,000 Ukrainian refugees have been registered in six federal asylum centers in Switzerland since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine,

According to Ukrinform, the State Secretary for Migration of Switzerland, Christine Schraner Burgener, said this in an interview with the Obozrevatel online news outlet.

"About 11,000 people with Ukrainian roots lived in Switzerland even before the invasion. All of them welcomed their relatives and friends with open arms. From the beginning, it was a huge relief for us, as well as for thousands of Swiss people throughout the country, who showed solidarity, generosity and willingness to help by providing housing," Burgener said.

She added that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, 75,000 Ukrainian refugees have been registered in six federal asylum centers in Bern, Zurich, Basel and other cities, which is three times more than the annual number of migrants from other countries (Afghanistan, Turkey, Syria, etc.).
Fierce fighting raged in Sudan's capital despite an hours-long pause Sunday to address humanitarian needs including the evacuation of wounded, on the second day of battles that left three UN staff among more than 60 civilians killed.
The Egyptian government and International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff had fruitful discussions in preparation for the first review mission of Egypt's reform program which is supported by the IMFs Extended Fund Facility (EFF), IMF Mission Chief for Egypt Ivanna Vladkova Hollar stated on Sunday
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th March, 2023) The French Senate has adopted the text of the controversial pension reform, which has caused nationwide protests in France, BFMTV reports.

The reform was adopted on Saturday evening with 195 votes in favor and 112 votes against.

The bill must now go to a joint parliamentary committee (CMP), and the two chambers of Parliament will then vote separately on the text.

In January, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne unveiled a draft of the controversial pension reform that the government plans to adopt in 2023. Under the initiative, the French authorities intend to gradually raise the retirement age in the country by three months a year from September 1, 2023. By 2030, the retirement age will reach 64.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th March, 2023) Khartoum would like to restore direct flights between Sudan and Russia, Sudan's Ambassador to Russia Hassan Mohammed Elghazali Eltijani Sirraj told Sputnik.

"During the Soviet times, we had direct flights, Aeroflot flew to Sudan and used the country's airport as a hub to visit other countries.

I hope that this issue of direct flights between the Russian Federation and Sudan will be reviewed and direct flights will be launched," Sirraj said.

The ambassador added that direct flights could improve trade relations and positively affect bilateral ties between Sudan and Russia.

"But we have not yet discussed this issue with the Russian side," the head of the diplomatic mission told Sputnik.
Chinese oil giant Sinopec on Wednesday became the first Asian firm to get a stake in Qatar's expansion of North Field East, the Gulf country's energy company announced.
Swiss neutrality is more important than ever, President Alain Berset said in an interview published Sunday, defending the controversial ban on transferring Swiss-made arms to Ukraine.

"Swiss weapons must not be used in wars," he told the NZZ am Sonntag weekly.

The long tradition of neutrality has been hotly debated since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

While the wealthy Alpine country, which is not a member of the European Union, has followed the bloc's lead on sanctions targeting Moscow, it has so far shown less flexibility on its military neutrality.

Despite pressure from Kyiv and its allies, Switzerland has continued to block countries that hold Swiss-made weaponry from re-exporting it to Ukraine.

To date, requests from Germany, Spain and Denmark have been rejected under the War Materiel Act, which bars all re-export if the recipient country is in an international armed conflict.

Berset told NZZ the policy was based on "commitment to peace, to humanitarian law, to mediation where possible."

Switzerland's role as the seat of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Geneva Conventions, as well as of the United Nations' European headquarters "is reflected in our laws, including those relating to the export of weapons," he said.

Protection of humanitarian and human rights law and the Geneva Conventions "may sound passe to some, but it is more important than ever," he said, warning it would be "extremely dangerous to throw these fundamental principles overboard now."

"As far as Switzerland is concerned, warfare is not part of the DNA," Berset said, stressing his nation aimed "to be present wherever we can contribute to mediation and peace."

He said he believed negotiations with Russia were needed to end the war in Ukraine, "the sooner the better.

And he denounced a "war frenzy in certain circles" in Switzerland, amid calls to ditch neutrality.

It "does not mean indifference" and can "adjust, he said, pointing to "unprecedented sanctions" Switzerland has imposed on Russia.

Several initiatives are under way in parliament toward relaxing the re-export rules to make it possible for Swiss-made weaponry to be transferred by third countries to Ukraine.

But Berset stressed the government's "position is clear. It also corresponds to my personal position. Swiss weapons must not be used in wars."

The process toward a final decision, with debates between parliament and the government, followed by a probable referendum under Switzerland's direct democracy system, is likely to take months.
Amid ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan, people here in Taipei may at times strike outsiders as blase about the threat of Chinese attack.

Taiwan has been at odds with Chinas Communist Party since the 1940s and, decades on, the tension is only heating up as China modernizes its military. China considers self-administered Taiwan a wayward province.

This apparent apathy may have peaked twice last year  from the muted response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which raised the question of whether a Chinese invasion of Taiwan might be next, and in August, when Beijing staged military exercises and fired missiles into the Taiwan Strait after a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

An August survey by the Australian Institute, a research institution, indicated that while 25 percent of Australians said they feared an imminent attack on Taiwan, only one in 20 people in Taiwan reported the same concern.

While the results portray Taiwanese as less concerned about an attack in the short term by China than outsiders might expect, people here voice very real long-term concerns about war in the future and Taiwans ability to defend itself.

Sometimes life must go on

If you ask Taiwanese if we are worried about a Chinese invasion, then yes, we can feel the threat. Its a very real feeling. However, because it happens every day, when you suffer from this kind of threat for 40 years. Sometimes life must go on, said Wang Ding-yu, a member of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee in Taiwans parliament, the Legislative Yuan.

We know we have to prepare for the worst-case scenario but as Taiwanese, we have to live in an optimistic way, he told VOA.

Kharis Templeman, a research associate at the Hoover Institutions Project on Taiwan in Indo-Pacific, pointed to differences between Taiwans situation and that of Ukraine before Russia invaded.

The war in Ukraine, he said, followed smaller conflicts with Russia in 2014 before a full-scale invasion last year. That has not happened with China, he said, and neither has it ruled out peaceful reunification.

There have been episodes of tension, such as in the 1950s when Beijing tried to liberate Taiwans outlying islands, and in 1996, when China fired missiles toward the main island of Taiwan before its first democratic elections. Those events, though, are just one part of the threats Taiwan faces, Templeman said, and military threats may take second or third place behind Chinas diplomatic and economic coercion by squeezing Taiwan out of international space, banning imports of certain products to show their anger, and otherwise engaging in misinformation and cyberattack campaigns to damage morale.

Most Taiwanese have plenty of experience with the nonmilitary threats, and Beijing has amply demonstrated a willingness to carry out those threats, and they have zero experience with the military threat, he told VOA.

If Beijing were to take some kind of kinetic action against Taiwan or engage in some kind of military maneuver that results in loss of territory or death of civilians and military personnel, then that would reshape how Taiwanese think about the threat, he said.

Polling results, meanwhile, portray a complex range of opinions, depending on conditions and hypothetical situations, according to Timothy Rich, an associate professor of political science at Western Kentucky University. Rich researches East Asian electoral politics.

In a September survey designed by Rich and his students, 40% of Taiwanese said they were not concerned about an invasion compared to 28% who expressed concern. The number of very or deeply concerned respondents jumped to nearly 32% when they were reminded of Taiwans limited defense capability.

There's a tendency I think among Westerners to think that Taiwanese must be thinking about China all the time, he said, although attention increases during period of heightened rhetoric or military drills. Rather, questions about a hypothetical war can make people uncomfortable, he said, and many may not have made up their minds or do not feel they can make an informed decision.

It's not a matter of Taiwanese being ignorant of the threat" he said, but rather it's a combination of being a threat for so long without a belief that war was imminent, and that domestic issues aren't so abstract.

Threat seen rising

Results of surveys taken between 2016 and 2022, however, show Taiwanese sensing the threat rising in the Taiwan Strait, said Austin Wang, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who also researches public opinion.

The survey from Taiwans National Chengchi University and designed by Duke University, indicated that residents shifted from feeling the Taiwan Strait was mildly peaceful to increasingly hostile over seven years.

This may explain why Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen was able to increase mandatory military service from four months to a year in January for most young men without pushback.

But the gap between thinking about a crisis for respondents to and being willing to take action remains wide, Chih-yung Ho, deputy director general of the culture and communications department in the opposition Kuominang, or KMT, party, said.

Despite the threat from China, enlistment rates have not grown dramatically, he said, although other experts say this may be due to the militarys long-term association with decades of martial law from the 1940s to 1980s.

Citing another study by the 21st Century Foundation, a KMT-affiliated research institution, Ho said that while 70% of respondents said they believed most in Taiwan would resist a Chinese invasion, only 26% said they were willing to proactively resist attacks and even eager to serve in the military.

The gap suggested in the study was on display just last week, when the National Defense Ministry was forced to withdraw a recent plan to amend mobilization laws, following public uproar.

The changes would have created a registry of 16- to 18-year-old males who could assist the military during wartime, and restricted media freedom to prevent the spread of fake news once martial law was declared during wartime.

Intended in theory to further support an island wide resistance, for many Taiwanese they went too far, with any potential war still looming far off on the horizon.
Cyclone Freddy pummeled Mozambique Saturday, killing one person, ripping roofs off houses, and triggering a lockdown in one port town, a resident and local media said, two weeks after 27 died when the storm first made landfall.

Freddy, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, started sweeping onshore by 10 p.m. local time (2000 GMT), satellite data showed, after hours of battering the southern African coast with rain.

It was the second time the cyclone struck the country since it was named after being spotted near Indonesia on February 6.

"The town is a no-go zone; no shops or businesses open. Everything is closed. We're locked up," resident Vania Massingue said by telephone from her house in the port settlement of Quelimane, located in the storm's path in the central Zambezia province. "I can see some houses with roofs torn apart, broken windows and the streets [are] flooded. It's really scary."

Freddy could break record

After swirling for 34 days, the weather system is likely to have broken the record for the longest-lasting tropical cyclone. According to the World Meteorological Organization, the previous record was held by a 31-day hurricane in 1994.

State broadcaster TVM said one person died when his house collapsed, and that the power utility had switched off the electricity completely as a precaution. All flights were suspended, it added.

The cyclone is slow-moving, which meteorological experts say means it will pick up more moisture off the sea, bringing heavy rainfall.

Climate change

Around the world, climate change is making hurricanes wetter, windier and stronger, scientists say. Oceans absorb much of the heat from greenhouse gas emissions, and when warm seawater evaporates its heat energy is transferred to the atmosphere, fueling more destructive storms.

More than 171,000 people were affected after the cyclone swept through southern Mozambique last month, bringing heavy rains and floods that damaged crops and destroyed houses, with OCHA putting its death toll at 27 so far 10 in Mozambique and 17 in Madagascar.

More than half a million people are at risk in Mozambique this time, notably in Zambezia, Tete, Sofala and Nampula provinces.

Freddy, which is also expected to hit northeastern Zimbabwe, southeast Zambia and Malawi, has set a record for the highest accumulated cyclone energy, a measure of the storm's strength over time, of any southern hemisphere storm in history, according to the U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.
An Ethiopian journalist presented an award by the United States has sounded the alarm over media freedom in her country, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit.

Meaza Mohammed, the founder of the online network Roha TV, was honored at the White House on Wednesday on International Women's Day as part of a group receiving "International Women of Courage" awards.

Introducing her, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Meaza "shares stories of those who are often silenced."

"Despite three arrests in under one year, she continued to raise her voice, advocating for survivors of gender-based violence and urging accountability for crimes committed against them," Jean-Pierre said.

In an interview with AFP, Meaza said that authorities also raided her outlet and seized everything from her office.

"This award is a big thing for me -- not only for me, but for the women out there in my country," she said. "Because in my country, having a media (outlet) or working in (the) press is very dangerous, very difficult."

Internet platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Telegram and TikTok, have been inaccessible in Ethiopia since February 9.

The shutdown came after a dispute within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church led to calls for demonstrations against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The issue was resolved but the sites remain down.

The northern region of Tigray, the scene of an armed conflict with the federal government, was largely deprived of telecommunications for the two-year duration of the war.

Blinken is due in Ethiopia on Wednesday on the highest-level US visit since the war with plans to encourage the peace process.

Meaza came to prominence for her campaign for answers over the kidnapping in late 2019 of a group of students whose fate remains unknown.

The students belong to Ethiopia's second largest ethnic group, the Amhara, and Meaza has been accused in some quarters of a pro-Amhara tilt in the ethnically diverse nation where questions of identity have become increasingly incendiary.

Speaking to AFP in Washington, Meaza denounced "ethnic cleansing" against the Amhara, who have long held privileged positions in Ethiopia's economic, political and cultural life.

An Amhara militia known as the Fano has also been accused of numerous abuses.
Thousands of farmers and anti-establishment demonstrators protested Saturday in a park in The Hague against Dutch government plans to reduce nitrate emissions, while climate activists angry at what they call state support for the fossil fuel industry broke through police lines and blocked a major road elsewhere in the city for hours.

The simultaneous demonstrations a few kilometers from each other took place days before Dutch voters go to the polls in provincial elections. The elections Wednesday also indirectly select members of the national parliaments upper house and could influence proposals for reducing nitrate pollution.

Late Saturday afternoon, police turned a water cannon on climate protesters who refused to leave the road they had occupied for hours, hindering traffic in and out of the city. Firefighters set up a tent nearby as a precaution to help doused protesters dry off and warm up, the municipality said.

Police said they stopped an unknown number of tractors that were headed for the farmers' demonstration. The city banned all but two symbolic tractors from participating, citing safety concerns.

Thousands of people, many carrying the upside-down Dutch flags that have become synonymous with farmers' protests and balloons emblazoned with the logo of the far-right Forum for Democracy party, gathered peacefully in front of a park stage for the demonstration. The two permitted tractors drove slowly across the park.

Bob De Jong, a farmer from the Dutch agricultural heartland of North Brabant province, said that if the current corrupt lawmakers remained in power no farmer in Holland will survive.

As the farmers gathered in the park in the south of the city, Mayor Jan van Zanen gave police permission to use a water cannon on Extinction Rebellion protesters who blocked a major highway in the downtown area near where it runs past the temporary home of the Dutch parliament.

Police said demonstrators who refused to leave the road would be detained. The highway was blocked in both directions, but police did not immediately use the water cannon. Several demonstrators lay down in front of the cannon, and another suspended herself off the side of a wall on one side of the road holding up a banner that read: Power to the people.

The twin demonstrations prompted authorities to place army trucks near some crossroads ready to block the streets if tractors or other protest vehicles tried to drive into the city center.

Anger at moves to cut nitrate emissions have spread from the Netherlands to other European nations. Just over a week ago, farmers drove hundreds of tractors into the heart of the Belgian capital, Brussels, snarling traffic.

At protests in recent years, farmers have driven hundreds of tractors into the center of The Hague and used them to blockade supermarket warehouses.

The government has said that nitrate emissions, which are produced by livestock, transport and industry, must be drastically reduced close to nature areas that are part of a network of protected habitats for endangered plants and wildlife stretching across the 27-nation European Union.

The government wants to cut emissions of pollutants, predominantly nitrates, by 50% nationwide by 2030. Ministers call the proposal an unavoidable transition that aims to improve air, land and water quality, and have warned that it will mean "that not all farmers can continue their business.
Remembered as an inspirational, humble leader with a passion for education and commitment to his people, former Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah was honored Saturday with a funeral procession that stretched for 160 kilometers from western New Mexico into eastern Arizona.

People lined roads on the reservation to say their final farewells to a monumental leader who made education, family, culture and Navajo language the hallmarks of his life. He fought tirelessly to correct wrongdoings against Native Americans.

"He led with compassion and a crystal-clear vision of what is right for the people first," said Robert Joe, Zah's nephew who served as the master of ceremonies at a public reception Saturday afternoon. "He always put the people before him to do what was right and for the interest of the people."

Crsytalyne Curley, Zah's granddaughter who is now the speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, said Zah "spread hope throughout the whole Navajo Nation."

Zah died late Tuesday in Fort Defiance, Arizona, surrounded by his family and after a lengthy illness. He was 85.

Zah was buried in a private service at his family's cemetery in Low Mountain, Arizona, where he was born.

The procession passed through several Navajo communities, with people holding their hands to their hearts and displaying signs that declared Zah would be missed. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority hoisted flags from utility trucks along the route.

"All of Indian Country mourns with you today," said Stephen Lewis, governor of the Gila River Indian Community. "We mourn the loss of his brilliant mind, his personality, his wisdom. ... We are truly mourning the passing of an era."

Zah was the first president elected on the Navajo Nation  the largest tribal reservation in the U.S.  in 1990 after the government was restructured into three branches to prevent power from being concentrated in the chairman's office. At the time, the tribe was reeling from a deadly riot incited by Zah's political rival, former Chairman Peter MacDonald, a year earlier.

Zah, who also served a term as tribal chairman, vowed to rebuild the Navajo Nation. Under his leadership, the tribe established whats now a multibillion-dollar permanent fund after winning a court battle that found the tribe had authority to tax companies that extracted minerals from the vast reservation.

"President Zah never lost sight of his purpose: to stand up for the dignity and respect of the Navajo people," President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden wrote in a letter to Zah's family Saturday.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said in a statement that Zah "transformed the Navajo Nation, and with it, our state."

Sometimes referred to as the Native American Robert Kennedy, Zah was known for his charisma, ideas and ability to get things done, including lobbying federal officials to ensure Native Americans could use peyote as a religious sacrament.

Zah also worked to ensure Native Americans were reflected in federal environmental laws like the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act.

He was well-known for his low-key but stern style of leadership, driving around in a battered, white 1950s International pickup that was on display outside at the public reception Saturday.

Several speakers said Zah was instrumental in their determination to attend and graduate from Arizona State University or other institutions of higher learning.

"To say Peterson Zah was a champion of education is like saying there are a lot of stars in the sky. It's an understatement," said Charles Monty Roessel, a former director of the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Education who is now president of Dine College in Arizona.

"He understood the transformational power of education because he saw it in his own life," Roessel said.

Buu Van Nygren, president of the Navajo Nation, said Zah had recently met with tribal leaders to emphasize the importance of continuing to prioritize educational opportunities for their children.

"He made sure education was at the forefront of everything he did," Nygren said. "He touched many, many generations of young Navajo leaders like myself."
Marie Dzedza has lost hope of leaving a displaced people's camp and returning to her village in the eastern Congolese province of Ituri, where rebel violence is surging while regional attention focuses on a conflict in a neighboring territory.

Five years ago, Dzedza lost both her hands in a machete attack during a raid by members of the CODECO group, one of several militias that have destabilized the densely forested province in Democratic Republic of Congo and forced 1.5 million to flee their homes since late 2017.

"We miss our old lives," she said at the Kigonze camp she shares with nearly 14,000 others, who live in rows of featureless white tents squeezed onto a clearing outside the provincial capital Bunia.

"I hate my life here ... This is why I am asking the Congolese government to do something to restore peace, so that I can return home."

The prospects are not good. Attacks have increased significantly in recent months with 419 civilians killed between Dec. 1 and mid-February, according to internal U.N. data, even as a major offensive by a different rebel group has drawn some Congolese forces away to North Kivu province to the south.

In Ituri, "what we are seeing is an upsurge," said Bintou Keita, head of the U.N.'s peacekeeping mission known as MONUSCO, which is due to pull out of Ituri and the rest of eastern Congo by 2024 according to a transition plan that is under discussion.

On an official visit to Ituri on March 1, her first in months, Keita and local authorities blamed CODECO and a rival militia called Zaire for the spiraling bloodshed and reprisal attacks.

The groups, which operate in remote areas and do not have official spokespeople, could not be reached for comment.

Looming security shortfall

In January, mass graves containing 49 bodies, including those of women and children, were discovered in two villages in Ituri, killings attributed by the U.N. to CODECO.

The insecurity has made it harder to deliver aid to those who were able to escape such attacks, worsening the humanitarian crisis, international aid groups have warned.

In mid-January, the U.N. aid agency OCHA said 12 humanitarian organizations had been forced to limit their operations in parts of Ituri because of increased attacks since the start of 2023.

Nevertheless, the steep security deterioration in Ituri has been overshadowed by the recent turbulence in North Kivu. The latter has caused greater political and diplomatic fallout with Congo, the U.N., and other nations accusing Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels there. Rwanda denies it backs the M23.

Ituri's military governor Lieutenant-General Johnny Luboya N'Kashama said the army was seeking talks with the armed groups, while also conducting large-scale patrols with MONUSCO and building new bases so it can react quicker to reports of attack.

The departure of MONUSCO has raised concerns about a looming military shortfall, but N'Kashama said the army intended to plug the gap.

"We have recruited a lot of personnel. And we believe that within three to four months, whether it's the police or the army, we will have enough to start relieving the U.N. troops," he told reporters after talks with MONUSCO's Keita.
Iran's top diplomat claimed Sunday that a prisoner swap was near with the U.S., though he offered no evidence to support his assertion. The U.S. immediately dismissed his comments as a cruel lie.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has made similar comments in the past about possible deals with the U.S. on frozen assets abroad and other issues that never came to fruition. Some of those remarks have appeared aimed at shoring up domestic support amid the mass protests challenging Iran's theocracy and supporting the country's troubled rial currency.

However, in an interview Sunday with Iranian state television, Amirabdollahian claimed that Iran had reached an agreement in recent days regarding the exchange of prisoners between Iran and the United States.

If everything goes well on the Americans side, I think we will see the exchange of prisoners in the short term, he added. He alleged a document between Iran and the U.S. laying out the exchange had been indirectly signed and approved since March 2022.

Reached by The Associated Press, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price called the comments another especially cruel lie that only adds to the suffering of their families.

We are working relentlessly to secure the release of the three wrongfully detained Americans in Iran, Price said. "We will not stop until they are reunited with their loved ones.

A separate statement from the White House's National Security Council also called the remarks false.

Unfortunately, Iranian officials will not hesitate to make things up, and the latest cruel claim will cause more heartache for the families of Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz, the council said.

Iran long has taken prisoners with Western passports or ties to use in negotiations with foreign nations.

As of right now, there are at least three American citizens known to be held in Iranian prisons on widely disputed espionage charges.

The evidence against them has never been made public. The detainees all have dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship, something Tehran does not recognize.

In recent days, however, longtime Iranian American detainee Siamak Namazi was allowed to conduct an interview with CNN from Tehran's notorious Evin prison  something that would not have happened without the acquiescence of security forces.

Meanwhile, Ali Bagheri Kani, a deputy Iranian foreign minister who has handled nuclear talks with world powers, made a trip Sunday to Oman, a longtime interlocutor between Tehran and Washington.

Amirabdollahian's comments also come after Iran and Saudi Arabia, with Chinese mediation, announced Friday they would reestablish diplomatic ties and reopen embassies after a seven-year freeze in relations.
Japan on Saturday marked the 12th anniversary of its massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster with a minute of silence, as concerns grew ahead of the planned release of the treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant and the government's return to nuclear energy.

The 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that ravaged large parts of Japan's northeastern coast on March 11, 2011, left more than 22,000 people dead, including about 3,700 whose subsequent deaths were linked to the disaster.

A moment of silence was observed nationwide at 2:46 p.m., the moment the earthquake struck.

Some residents in the tsunami-hit northern prefectures of Iwate and Miyagi walked down to the coast to pray for their loved ones and the 2,519 whose remains were never found.

In Tomioka, one of the Fukushima towns where initial searches had to be abandoned due to radiation, firefighters and police use sticks and a hoe to rake through the coastline looking for the possible remains of the victims or their belongings.

At an elementary school in Sendai, in Miyagi prefecture north of Fukushima, participants released hundreds of colorful balloons in memory of the lives lost.

In Tokyo, dozens of people gathered at an anniversary event in a downtown park, and anti-nuclear activists staged a rally.

The earthquake and tsunami that slammed into the coastal Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant destroyed its power and cooling functions, triggering meltdowns in three of its six reactors. They spewed massive amounts of radiation that caused tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.

Over 160,000 people had left at one point, and about 30,000 are still unable to return due to long-term radiation effects or health concerns. Many of the evacuees have already resettled elsewhere, and most affected towns have seen significant population declines over the past decade.

At a ceremony, Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori said decontamination and reconstruction had made progress, but "we still face many difficult problems." He said many people were still leaving and the prefecture was burdened with the plant cleanup and rumors about the effects of the upcoming release of the treated water.

The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, and the government are making final preparations to release into the sea more than 1.3 million tons of treated radioactive water, beginning in coming months.

The government says the controlled release of the water after treatment to safe levels over several decades is safe, but many residents as well as neighbors China and South Korea and Pacific island nations are opposed to it. Fishing communities are particularly concerned about the reputation of local fish and their still-recovering business.

In his speech last week, Uchibori urged the government to do utmost to prevent negative rumors about the water release from further damaging Fukushima's image.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida renewed his pledge to support the ongoing reconstruction efforts.

"The discharge of the treated water is a step that cannot be delayed," Kishida told reporters after the ceremony. He repeated an earlier pledge that "a release will not be carried out without understanding of the stakeholders."

Kishida's government has reversed a nuclear phase-out policy that was adopted following the 2011 disaster, and instead is pushing a plan to maximize the use of nuclear energy to address energy supply concerns triggered by Russia's war on Ukraine while meeting decarbonization requirements.

Uchibori's goal is to bolster the renewable energy supply to 100% of the Fukushima prefectural needs by 2040. He said last week that while the energy policy is the central government's mandate, he wants it to remember that Fukushima continues to suffer from the nuclear disaster.
When Richard McKinney was getting married last year, friends stepped in to help. Bibi Bahrami cooked Afghan dishes  from rice with carrots and raisins to chicken and beef  for the wedding guests. Her husband officiated the Islamic part of the ceremony.

At first glance, nothing seems unusual about that off-camera wedding scene  until you know the on-camera story of how McKinney and the Bahramis met. The short version is this: Angry and filled with hate for Muslims, the broad-shouldered, tattooed veteran once wanted to bomb the Bahramis' Islamic Center of Muncie in Indiana and inflict mass casualties on its congregation.

The longer version of what followed, how the kindness he encountered from congregation members helped change not just his plans but his life's course, is chronicled in "Stranger at the Gate." The 30-minute movie is nominated for best documentary short film at the 95th Academy Awards, set for Sunday.

"We have been friends for years," Bahrami, a former Afghan refugee and a grandmother of seven (the eighth is on the way), said of McKinney in an interview. "He's like family at this point."

McKinney acknowledged that their unlikely bond is probably "mind-boggling" to many. "This whole journey has been very surreal," he said.

His is a story of second chances and transformation. It's also one of love conquering hate, said "Stranger at the Gate" director Joshua Seftel.

"It's easy to feel hopeless these days. When I saw this story, I thought, 'Wow, maybe there is a reason to believe in humanity,'" Seftel said. "If these two people can be friends, then why can't any of us?"

Seftel came across McKinney's story when he was working on a documentary series titled "Secret Life of Muslims," featuring American Muslims of diverse backgrounds and seeking to shatter negative stereotypes.

"It's easy to hate someone that we don't know," Seftel said. "The power of film and storytelling is that you can get to know someone through a film, and it can change the way people think."

The inspiration for that series, he said, was rooted in his own memories of antisemitism that he's encountered and being called names as a Jewish kid.

"After 9/11, I saw that kind of hate toward Muslims, and I just thought, 'Maybe I can do something with my film work to try to help,'" he said.

Bias prevalent

A poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted ahead of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in 2021 found that 53% of Americans have unfavorable views toward Islam.

McKinney was once one of those  fervently so.

The end of a long military career left him angry, bitter, feeling worthless and drinking too much. His "destiny" to die in combat and return home in a flag-draped coffin a hero never panned out. He would look at himself and wonder who he was.

He focused his hate on Muslims, some of whom, he said, had been his battlefield enemies when he was serving overseas.

"My plan was to detonate an IED," or improvised explosive device, outside the Islamic center on a Friday when worshippers would be gathered, he said in the film. "I was hoping for at least 200 or more, dead, injured."

He started going to the mosque in 2009, introducing himself as someone who wanted to learn about Islam.

"I didn't trust them. ... I figured they would have me in the basement with a sword to my throat," he recalled in the film.

In reality, he said, he was welcomed and embraced by congregation members.

Bahrami, who viewers learn is a fan of country music and whose husband dubbed her "the Mother Teresa of the Muslim community," recounted comforting McKinney and giving him attention. Eventually, he found the sense of belonging he so craved.

"I said I need to be Muslim," McKinney said.

Today, McKinney and Bahrami say they see the impact of the message behind their story in interactions with audiences after talks or screenings.

"One of the best compliments I've ever received was when somebody told me after seeing the film that 'you have given me a lot to think about,'" McKinney said. "I want people to think, because we live in a society where, unfortunately, there's a lot of followers."

Someone told him how hearing his story saved him, as it made him think that everyone has a purpose to find.

Bahrami, who Seftel said shows up at screenings with cookies for the audience, has had people hug her. Some have come up to her with tears, told her she gave them hope and courage or asked if they could "borrow" her for their own community.

Others have posed a tough question: How did she forgive McKinney?

She said that when she heard, in disbelief, of the plans McKinney once harbored, she invited him for dinner and asked him what he was thinking.

"I'm a strong believer," she said. "I think my faith is a big part of this forgiveness."

Another aspect, she added, was the vulnerability she saw in him and how apologetic he was.

Bahrami recalled how when Seftel approached her to participate in the film, he found her in a coma. While recovering, she considered his request and had one thought:

"God gave me a second life," she said, "and if I die again, the story could live."
Yemens warring sides began talks Saturday aimed at implementing a U.N.-brokered deal on a prisoner exchange, the United Nations said.

The discussions between Yemens internationally recognized government and the Houthi rebels are taking place in Switzerland. They are co-chaired by U.N. envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Grundberg urged both parties to engage in serious and forthcoming discussions to agree on releasing as many detainees as possible, according to a U.N. statement.

I urge the parties to fulfill the commitments they made, not just to each other, but also to the thousands of Yemeni families who have been waiting to be reunited with their loved ones for far too long, he said.

Yemens conflict erupted in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the countrys north. That prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene months later in a bid to restore the internationally recognized government to power.

Jason Straziuso, a Geneva-based spokesperson for the ICRC, characterized the meeting as an opportunity to reduce the humanitarian suffering associated with this conflict.

If more detainees are released, it will be welcome news for families that can be reunited with loved ones, he said.

Majed Fadail, Yemen's deputy minister for human rights and a member of the government delegation, said the talks would last for 11 days, the government-run SABA news agency reported.

He said they were eager to release all war prisoners to help achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace in Yemen.

The talks are a follow-up to a 2018 agreement that demanded that both parties release all those detained in relation to the conflict without any exceptions or conditions.

The Detainees Exchange Agreement was part of a wider U.N.-brokered deal that ended months of fighting over the crucial Red Sea city of Hodeida four years ago.

Since then, the two parties have released many prisoners with a major exchange taking place in October 2020 and involving more than 1,000 detainees from both sides.

The conflict has created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters and has become in recent years a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Yemen talks in Switzerland began a day after Iran and Saudi Arabia announced a China-brokered deal to re-establish diplomatic ties after years of frayed ties and hostilities.

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Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, eyeing a 2024 run for the Republican presidential nomination, has delivered his strongest rebuke yet of the president he loyally served, Donald Trump. Pence said Trump was personally responsible for encouraging the January 6, 2021, riot of Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol, trying to keep Congress from certifying that Joe Biden had defeated the 45th president in the 2020 election.

President Trump was wrong; I had no right to overturn the election, Pence told a group of elite Washington journalists and government officials at the annual Gridiron dinner Saturday night. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day. And I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable.

Pence last week asked a judge to block a subpoena for his testimony before a grand jury investigating the insurrection and Trumps efforts to upend the election result. But at the dinner, he disparaged ongoing attempts, chiefly by conservative lawmakers and Fox News commentators, to downplay the rampage at the Capitol in which more than 1,000 Trump supporters have been arrested and about half, so far, convicted of an array of offenses.

Tourists dont injure 140 police officers by sightseeing, Pence said. Tourists dont break down doors to get to the speaker of the House or voice threats against public officials.

Make no mistake about it. What happened that day was a disgrace, and it mocks decency to portray it in any other way, Pence said at the dinner.

Pence also said people have a right to know what took place during the insurrection, praising journalists role in writing about the rampage, which for hours delayed lawmakers from certification of the Electoral College vote count showing Biden had won the election. In the United States, the president and vice president, running on the same ticket, are not elected by the national popular vote, but rather by state-by-state elections, with the biggest states holding the most Electoral College votes.

Trump had privately and publicly demanded that Pence block the outcome as the then-vice president presided over the vote count. Pence refused, saying his role was merely ceremonial.

Some rioters shouted, Hang Mike Pence! and protesters had erected a gallows on the National Mall within eyesight of the Capitol. As the rioters rampaged through the Capitol, security officials scrambled to keep Pence and his family safe, sheltering them at a loading dock inside the Capitol.

Meanwhile, officials in the White House that day say Trump watched the riot unfold on television and only after three hours issued a statement calling for his supporters to leave the Capitol. Officials have testified that Trump disparaged Pence for being weak in failing to block the election outcome and deserved to be hanged.

The annual white-tie Gridiron dinner features comedy routines by journalists poking fun at Washington officialdom and both Republican and Democratic officials making light of each other.

Even before turning serious about the riot at the Capitol more than two year ago, Pence, a devout Christian, jabbed at Trump.

I once invited President Trump to Bible study, Pence said early in his speech. He really liked the passages about the smiting and perishing of thine enemies. As he put it, You know, Mike, Theres some really good stuff in here.

Trump has announced his 2024 presidential candidacy and Pence has said he is weighing a run as well. Some Republicans have suggested or declared they wont again support Trump, who is facing several criminal investigations, if he is the nominee.

Pence joked, I will wholeheartedly, unreservedly support the Republican nominee for president in 2024. If its me.
Pope Francis celebrates the 10th anniversary of his election Monday, far outpacing the "two or three" years he once envisioned for his papacy and showing no signs of slowing down.

On the contrary, with an agenda full of problems and plans and no longer encumbered by the shadow of Pope Benedict XVI, Francis, 86, has backed off from talking about retiring and recently described the papacy as a job for life.

History's first Latin American pope already has made his mark and could have even more impact in the years to come. Yet a decade ago, the Argentine Jesuit was so convinced he wouldn't be elected as pope that he nearly missed the final vote as he chatted with a fellow cardinal outside the Sistine Chapel.

"The master of ceremonies came out and said, 'Are you going in or not?'" Francis recalled in a recent interview with The Associated Press. "I realized afterward that it was my unconscious resistance to going in."

He was elected the 266th pope on the next ballot.

Sex abuse

Francis had a big learning curve on clergy sex abuse, initially downplaying the problem in ways that made survivors question whether he "got it." He had his wake-up call five years into his pontificate after a problematic visit to Chile.

During the trip, he discovered a serious disconnect between what Chilean bishops had told him about a notorious case and the reality: Hundreds or thousands of Chilean faithful had been raped and molested by Catholic priests over decades.

"That was my conversion," he told the AP. "That's when the bomb went off, when I saw the corruption of many bishops in this."

Francis has passed a series of measures since then aimed at holding the church hierarchy accountable, but the results have been mixed. Benedict removed some 800 priests, but Francis seems far less eager to defrock abusers, reflecting resistance within the hierarchy to efforts to permanently remove predators from the priesthood.

The next frontier in the crisis has already reared its head: the sexual, spiritual and psychological abuse of adults by clergy. Francis is aware of the problem  a new case concerns one of his fellow Jesuits  but there seems to be no will to take firm action.

Significance of synods

When the history of the Francis pontificate is written, entire chapters might well be devoted to his emphasis on "synodality," a term that has little meaning outside Catholic circles but could go down as one of Francis' most important church contributions.

A synod is a gathering of bishops, and Francis' philosophy that bishops must listen to one another and the laity has come to define his vision for the Catholic Church: He wants it to be a place where the faithful are welcomed, accompanied and heard.

The synods held during his first 10 years produced some of the most significant, and controversial, moments of his papacy.

After listening to the plight of divorced Catholics during a 2014-15 synod on the family, for instance, Francis opened the door to letting divorced and civilly remarried couples receive Communion. Calls to allow married priests marked his 2019 synod on the Amazon, although Francis ultimately rejected the idea.

His October synod has involved an unprecedented canvassing of the Catholic faithful about their hopes for the church and problems they have encountered, eliciting demands from women for greater leadership roles, including ordination.

Latin Mass

Catholic traditionalists were wary when Francis emerged as pope for the first time on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica without the red cape that his predecessors had worn for formal events. Yet they never expected him to reverse one of Benedict's signature decisions by reimposing restrictions on the old Latin Mass, including where and who can celebrate it.

While the decision directly affected only a fraction of Catholic Mass-goers, his crackdown on the Tridentine Rite became the call to arms for the anti-Francis conservative opposition.

Francis justified his move by saying Benedict's decision to liberalize the celebration of the old Mass had become a source of division in parishes. But traditionalists took the renewed restrictions as an attack on orthodoxy, one that they saw as contradicting Francis' "all are welcome" mantra.

"Instead of integrating them into parish life, the restriction on the use of parish churches will marginalize and push to the peripheries faithful Catholics who wish only to worship," lamented Joseph Shaw of the Latin Mass Society's U.K. branch.

While the short-term prospects for Francis relenting are not great, the traditionalists do have time on their side, knowing that in a 2,000-year-old institution, another pope might come along who is more friendly to the old rite.

Role of women

Francis' quips about the "female genius" have long made women cringe. Women theologians are the "strawberries on the cake," he once said. Nuns shouldn't be "old maids," he said. Europe shouldn't be a barren, infertile "grandmother," he told European Union lawmakers  a remark that got him an angry phone call from then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But it's also true that Francis has done more to promote women in the church than any pope before him, including naming several women to high-profile positions in the Vatican.

That's not saying much given only one in four Holy See employees is female, no woman heads a dicastery, or department, and Francis has upheld church doctrine forbidding women from the priesthood.

But the trend is there and "there is no possibility of going back," said Maria Lia Zervino, one of the first three women named to the Vatican office that helps the pope select bishops around the world.

LGBTQ faithful

Francis' insistence that long-marginalized LGBTQ Catholics can find a welcome home in the church can be summed up by two pronouncements that have bookended his papacy to date: "Who am I to judge?" and "Being homosexual is not a crime."

In between making those historic statements, Francis made outreach to LGBTQ people a hallmark of his papacy more than any pope before him.

He ministers to members of a transgender community in Rome. He has counseled gay couples seeking to raise their children Catholic. During a 2015 visit to the U.S., he publicized a private meeting with a gay former student and the man's partner to counter the conservative narrative that he had received an anti-same-sex marriage activist.

"The pope is reminding the church that the way people treat one another in the social world is of much greater moral importance that what people may possibly do in the privacy of a bedroom," said Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, which advocates for greater acceptance of LGBTQ Catholics.
A record-breaking flood in Australia's Queensland state was forecast to peak on Sunday, after almost 100 residents of an outback town were moved to higher ground.

The flood, triggered by heavy rain over the past week, is worst in the remote Gulf Country town of Burketown, about 2,100 kilometers (1,300 miles) northwest of state capital Brisbane.

Dan McKinlay, chief executive of the local council responsible for Burketown, said on Sunday that 97 residents had been airlifted out in the past 48 hours.

Water levels in the area were "at heights not previously known" and the town looked like it was "sitting in the middle of an ocean," he told ABC radio.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology predicted water levels in the area would peak on Sunday. It said the flood had already topped a March 2011 record of 6.78 meters (22.2 feet).

The crisis comes after frequent flooding in Australia's east over the last two years due to a multi-year La Nina weather event, including once-in-a-century floods that hit remote areas in the neighboring Northern Territory, in January.

On Saturday, police released aerial images of the Burketown flooding, showing properties and swaths of land submerged.

The Bureau of Meteorology expected the weather event to continue this week, but said it was now in a "receding" phase.
A corruption watchdog group said in a preliminary report that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was not involved in a cover-up concerning the theft of a large amount of cash he had stuffed into a sofa at his farmhouse.

Allegations of a cover-up about the theft of the money had hung over the presidents head for months and had almost cost him his presidency.

Vincent Magwenya, Ramaphosa spokesperson, said in a statement, We reiterate that the president did not participate in any wrongdoing, nor did he violate the oath of his office.

Ramaphosa will still be the focus of a police investigation into the money and where it came from and what he did after it was stolen.

The findings of the investigation have not been released publicly, but some media outlets have obtained copies of the report. They indicate the probe found that the head of the presidents protection service acted improperly when he launched an investigation into the theft of the cash without reporting it to the police.
Three Palestinian gunmen were shot dead after they fired at Israeli soldiers in the northern West Bank near Nablus, the Israeli army said on Sunday, as violence in the region continued.

The military said that "armed gunmen opened fire" on soldiers at an army position near the Jit junction west of Nablus, with the soldiers responding with "live fire."

"Three armed gunmen were neutralized during the exchange of fire and an additional armed gunman surrendered himself to the forces and was apprehended," the army said in a statement.

Violence intensified last year but has worsened in the West Bank since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office in December in a governing coalition with ultra-Orthodox Jewish and extreme-right allies.

Since the start of the year, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has claimed the lives of 81 Palestinian adults and children, including militants and civilians.

Twelve Israeli civilians, including three children, and one policeman, as well as one Ukrainian civilian have been killed over the same period, according to an AFP tally based on official sources from both sides.
U.S. President Joe Biden is poised to decide whether to pull the plug on a massive oil drilling project on Alaska's North Slope or allow it to go ahead.

With the decision imminent, environmentalists have ramped up pressure on the White House, urging Biden to live up to the climate change pledges he made during his campaign.

During the 2020 presidential race, the Democratic candidate vowed not to approve any new leases for oil and gas projects on federal lands.

But Biden has found himself stuck in the middle of a years-long battle over the so-called Willow Project, a plan by US energy giant ConocoPhillips to drill for oil in the federally-owned National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska's pristine western Arctic.

The Trump administration approved the Willow Project at the tail end of the former president's term but it was blocked by a judge for further review.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in an environmental impact analysis in February, approved three drilling sites while striking down one and deferring consideration of another.

ConocoPhillips welcomed the BLM's assessment, saying it can "provide a viable path forward for development of our leasehold."

The Interior Department, which oversees the BLM, said, however, it has "substantial concerns" about the project "including direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and impacts to wildlife and Alaska Native subsistence."

Biden has described global warming as an existential threat and promoted the development of renewable energy sources.

Temperatures in Alaska have been rising faster than in other regions of the planet and environmental groups have warned that the oil extraction project would make things worse.

The Willow Project will add more than 250 million metric tons of carbon emissions to the atmosphere over the next 30 years, the Sierra Club said, equivalent to the annual emissions of 66 coal plants.

Greenpeace described it as a "carbon bomb."

A petition on Change.org seeking to halt the project has garnered more than three million signatures and a #StopWillow campaign on TikTok has drawn 150 million views.

180,000 barrels of oil per day

Backers of the Willow Project defend it as a source of several thousand jobs and a contributor to US energy independence with production of 180,000 barrels of oil per day at its peak or some 576 million barrels over 30 years.

Alaska's two Republican senators and the state's sole member of the House, Mary Peltola, a native Alaskan and a Democrat, met with Biden last week to urge him to approve the project.

"We hope the President will listen to the voices of indigenous Alaskans who live on the North Slope, the voices of labor leaders and union workers who are ready to help build Alaska's economy (and) listen to the voices of national security officials underscoring the importance of Willow for American energy security," they said.

Peltola, in an opinion piece published in The Hill, said Alaskans "aren't blind to the impacts of climate change" but the Willow Project can serve as a bridge as the country transitions away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources.

"At the same time, we can reduce America's dependence on foreign sources of oil -- which makes us all safer in a world that has grown more unpredictable after Russia invaded Ukraine," Peltola said.

Biden has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 compared with 2005 with the goal of achieving a net zero emissions economy by no later than 2050.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will invite U.S. President Joe Biden to Northern Ireland in April to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to three decades of political violence.

Sunak said Sunday that he would issue a formal invite to the celebrations, which are due to take place in the middle of April.

"I'll be keen to invite him to come," he told reporters on his plane as he flew to the United States for meetings with Biden and Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia. "It's not confirmed yet. But it will be something that obviously I'll be talking to him about.

"We've got this very important milestone to commemorate and celebrate  the 25th anniversary."

The Good Friday Agreement was a peace deal that largely ended the "Troubles," three decades of violence that had convulsed Northern Ireland since the late 1960s. It was signed April 10, 1998, and partially brokered by the U.S. government of then President Bill Clinton.

The anniversary had been overshadowed in recent months after Northern Ireland's largest unionist party boycotted the power-sharing assembly that made up part of the peace deal, in protest at post-Brexit trade rules that treated the province differently to the rest of the United Kingdom.

Sunak has recently struck a new deal with the European Union to ease the checks and paperwork needed to move goods from Britain to Northern Ireland, but the Democratic Unionist Party is yet to say whether they will support the plan.

"What I'm concentrating on now is talking to everyone in Northern Ireland so we can find a positive way to move forward and get power-sharing up and running  that's my priority," Sunak said.
Ukraine's foreign minister urged Germany in an interview published on Sunday to speed up supplies of ammunition and to start training Ukrainian pilots on Western fighter jets.

Dmytro Kuleba told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that ammunition shortages were the "number one" problem in Ukraine's attempt to repel Russia's invasion.

He said German weapons manufacturers had told him at the Munich Security Conference last month they were ready to deliver but were waiting for the government to sign contracts.

"So the problem lies with the government," Kuleba was quoted as saying.

Kuleba made clear he did not expect Western allies to give Ukraine the fighter jets it has been asking for any time soon.

But he said Ukrainian pilots should be trained anyway, so they would be ready once that decision was taken, the paper wrote.

If Germany were to train Ukrainian pilots, that would be a "clear message of its political engagement," he said.

Separately, Kuleba said Ukraine would keep defending the town of Bakhmut, the focus of a Russian onslaught for the last six months.

"If we withdrew from Bakhmut, what would that change? Russia would take Bakhmut and then continue its offensive against Chasiv Yar, so every town behind Bakhmut could suffer the same fate."

Asked how long Ukrainian forces could hold onto the town, he declined to give a specific answer, comparing them to people defending their house against an intruder trying to kill them and take everything they own.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation" to combat what it describes as a security threat from Ukraine's ties to the West, an argument that Kyiv and the West reject.
Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com.

Ukrainians Who Fled War Face End of Temporary US Sanctuary

When U.S. officials at the U.S.-Mexico border stamped the Ukrainian passports of Mariia and her daughter last April and gave them permission to stay for a year, she figured she would return home within months. Now with that year almost up and the war that caused them to flee still raging, their permission to stay in the U.S.  known as humanitarian parole  is set to expire April 23.

Virginia Nonprofit Helps Ukrainian Refugees Settle in US

More than 113,000 Ukrainians have temporarily resettled in the United States, thanks to the U.S. government program Uniting for Ukraine. But many of these refugees are finding themselves lost in a new country. A Virginia agency is helping them start their new lives. Ksenia Turkova has the story.

Judge Orders Halt to Fast Releases at US Border with Mexico

A federal judge Wednesday ordered the Biden administration to end the expedited releases of migrants who enter the United States illegally from Mexico, potentially straining already stretched holding facilities. Reported by The Associated Press.

In Reversal, Biden Weighs Detaining Migrant Families

The Biden administration is considering detaining migrant families who cross into the U.S. illegally as it prepares to end COVID-19 restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to U.S. officials familiar with the plans. That would be a major reversal after officials in late 2021 stopped holding families in detention facilities. Reported by The Associated Press.

Immigration around the world

103 Unaccompanied Minors Found in Abandoned Trailer in Mexico, Govt Says

Mexican authorities found 103 unaccompanied minors mostly from Guatemala inside an abandoned truck trailer in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, the government said Monday, in one of the biggest recent discoveries of migrant children traveling through Mexico. Reuters reports.

Britain to Detail Plan to Ban Asylum for Channel Migrants

Britain's government will set out details for a new law barring the entry of asylum seekers to the U.K. in small boats, a proposal that some refugee charities say could be impractical and criminalize the efforts of thousands of genuine refugees, Reuters reports.

Syrian Kurdish Refugee Families in Iraq Separate in Quest to Reach Europe

The deteriorating economic situation in Iraqi Kurdistan has prompted many Syrian men living there with their families as refugees to migrate to Europe. This has created unique challenges for the community, especially for the women and children that are left behind for the time-being. VOAs Sirwan Kajjo reports from Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.

UNHCR Seeks Support for Somalis Fleeing Las Anod Fighting Into Ethiopia

The United Nations Refugee Agency is calling for urgent support to help tens of thousands of Somalis who fled fighting in a disputed border town in Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland. The refugee agency is seeking urgent support for an estimated 100,000 Somalis who have fled to Ethiopias Somali region. Maya Misikir reports for VOA from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

At UN on International Womens Day, Talk of Womens Rights, Little Action

At United Nations meetings Wednesday to mark International Womens Day, there was much talk but no discernible action on advancing and protecting womens rights. Reported by U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer.

In brief

 The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced updates to its mobile biometric services.

 The White House released a summary of President Joe Biden's fiscal year 2024 budget request, which includes nearly $25 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement  an increase of almost $800 million from Fiscal Year 2023. It also provides $7.3 billion to the Office of Refugee Resettlement to support the refugee resettlement and the resettling of up to 125,000 refugees in 2024.
Ukraine is evacuating civilians from Kupiansk, in the northeast region, months after it forced Russian soldiers out of the city. The beleaguered city is now under siege again from a barrage of Russian artillery attacks.

Ukrainian gains in the Kharkiv region in September helped turn the war in Ukraines favor at the time, but now Moscows assault has made it impossible for normal life to return. The Institute for the Study of War in Washington said the attacks have blocked Ukraine from redeploying its troops from there to other points along the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

Russias Defense Ministry said Sunday its forces had hit Ukrainian military positions around Kupiansk, and local Ukrainian officials confirmed there had been shelling in the region.

On Saturday, Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Ukrainian regional military administration, described the fighting near Kupiansk as some of the hottest at the moment and urged any remaining residents to leave.

Enemy forces are relentlessly trying to attack the positions of our forces. Thats why we announced mandatory evacuations, Syniehubov said on national television.

In his Saturday night video address, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy identified the Kharkiv region as one of several places experiencing brutal attacks every day, every night.

In less than two and a half months, over 40 enemy missiles have already struck Kharkiv, he said. Kharkiv is the countrys second-biggest city and a regional capital, which Russian forces tried but failed to capture after it invaded Ukraine a year ago.

Fighting is also continuing 130 kilometers (81 miles) away in Bakhmut, both on its outskirts and on some of its streets, and in the southern city of Kherson, where Zelenskyy said, Russian shelling took the lives of people in Kherson who simply went to a store to buy groceries.

Zelenskyy said that Russia has become a synonym for terror and will be an example of defeat and fair punishment for this terror.

A sanctioning decree has been published, Zelenskyy said, with more than 280 companies and 120 people who, through gambling business schemes, worked against Ukraine, withdrew funds from our state and financed various Russian schemes.

The British Defense Ministry said Sunday in its intelligence update on Ukraine that Russia is suffering extremely heavy casualties, but their impact is not being felt in the richest cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Instead, the report said, the death rate as a percentage of the population in the eastern regions is 30-40 times higher than in Moscow.

Ethnic minorities are taking the biggest hit, according to the ministry. In the southern Astrakhan region, about 75% of the casualties are among minority Kazakhs and Tartars.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, the mounting casualties for Russia are having an impact in Moscow and are reflected in a loss of government control over the countrys information sphere. The think tank said that Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed infighting in the Kremlin inner circle.

Due to that strife, the Kremlin has effectively ceded control over the countrys information space. Russia President Vladimir Putin has been unable to readily regain control of it, the institute said.

The British ministry said that while Russia continues to look for ways to increase its combat personnel, that insulating the better-off and more influential elements of Russian society will highly likely remain a major consideration.


However, the final word on the beginning of Ramadan in Egypt is ultimately determined by Dar El-Iftaa, the main authority responsible for issuing religious edicts, following observations of the crescent moon.

According to NRIAG, the crescent moon of Ramadan will not be spotted in Cairo or most Islamic and Arab capitals and cities at sunset on 29 Shaban, which corresponds with 21 March in the Gregorian calendar. Therefore, 23 March will be the beginning of Ramadan, according to the organisation, and 22 March will be the end of Sha'ban.

Last week, the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomical Centre predicted 23 March to be the first day of the holy month in some Arab countries.

In recent years, many Muslim-majority countries, including Egypt, have begun relying on astronomical calculations to define the start of Islamic lunar months. Traditionally, the crescent moon sighting has been they way Ramadan has been determined. This was a religious ceremony that has been observed in the Muslim world for centuries.

If the crescent is spotted after sunset in any place, it indicates the start of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

Eid Al-Fitr, or "the feast of breaking the fast," is a three-day religious holiday following Ramadan, and is set to be celebrated by Muslims around the world on 21 April, according to NRIAG. Eid Al-Fitr prayers in Cairo have been scheduled for 5:47am that day. This Ramadan, Egyptian Muslims will be permitted to perform all religious rituals inside mosques amid relaxed coronavirus restrictions.

Late in 2022, the Ministry of Religious Endowments announced allowing seclusion inside major mosques for specific prayers for the first time since it was halted during the pandemic restrictions of 2020.

Tarawih prayers, where long portions of the Quran are read, will also be allowed inside mosques without time constraints.

Tarawih prayers were resumed in 2021 after they had been canceled in the first year of the pandemic but they were restricted to 30 minutes.

Late-night prayers (Tahajjud) which typically take place after midnight during the last ten days of Ramadan, will also be allowed for the first time since 2020.

As the global economic crisis persists, Egyptians have been struggling with high commodity prices ahead of Ramadan, which usually sees an uptick in food consumption.

To address this issue, authorities have launched Welcome Ramadan (Ahlan Ramadan) outlets across Egypt that offer discounts ranging from 25 to 30 percent on food and consumer goods.
KYIV, UKRAINE  Russian forces have made progress in the front-line hotspot of Bakhmut, a key target of Moscows monthslong campaign in eastern Ukraine that has resulted in staggering casualties, but their assault will be difficult to sustain without further harsh losses, British military officials said in an assessment Saturday.

The U.K. defense ministry said in the latest of its regular Twitter updates that units from the Kremlin-controlled paramilitary Wagner Group have captured most of eastern Bakhmut, with a river flowing through the city center now marking the front line.

However, the update added, it will be highly challenging for Wagner forces to push ahead, as Ukraine has destroyed key bridges over the river, while Ukrainian sniper fire from fortified buildings further west has made the thin strip of open ground in the center a killing zone.

SEE ALSO:

At the same time, Ukrainian troops and supply lines in the mining city remain vulnerable to continued Russian attempts to outflank the defenders from the north and south, as Russian forces try to close in on them in a pincer movement, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers and other pro-Kremlin Telegram accounts on Friday claimed that Russian forces have entered a metal processing plant in northwestern Bakhmut. A Washington-based think tank late on Friday also referenced geolocated footage showing Russian forces within 800 meters of the AZOM plant, a heavily built-up and fortified complex.

The Institute for the Study of War assessed that Moscows apparent focus on capturing the plant, rather than opting for a wider encirclement of western Bakhmut by attempting to take nearby villages, is likely to bring a further wave of Russian casualties.

SEE ALSO:

Ukraines ground forces on Saturday signaled their intention to hold the city, reporting on Facebook that their top officer continues to oversee the most important sectors of the front and take the necessary measures to deny Moscow a long-awaited battlefield victory. Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi has made several visits to the Bakhmut and other eastern frontline hotspots over the past month.

Across Ukraine, repair work continued Saturday following a massive Russian missile and drone strike two days earlier that killed six people and left hundreds of thousands without heat or electricity.

Ukraines state grid operator said that power supply issues persisted across four regions following the barrage, which saw 80 Russian missiles and a smaller number of exploding drones hit residential buildings and critical infrastructure across the country.

In a Facebook post, Ukrenergo said that scheduled blackouts remain in operation in the Kharkiv and Zhytomyr regions in Ukraines northwest and northeast, respectively, as well as parts of the Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv provinces in the southeast. The company added that the situation in Zhytomyr was especially challenging, with some consumers still knocked off the grid.

Russian shelling on Saturday set a car driving through the southern city of Kherson on fire, killing one person inside it and wounding two others, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said in a Telegram post.

Earlier, authorities had reported that Russian shelling over the previous 24 hours killed at least five people and wounded another 19 across Ukraines Kherson and Donetsk regions. The eastern Donetsk province, where Bakhmut is located, has been the epicenter of the fighting in recent months, while the Ukrainian-held parts of the Kherson region have seen daily shelling from Russian troops stationed across the Dnieper River.
After Russia invaded Ukraine, guerrillas from Belarus began carrying out acts of sabotage on their country's railways, including blowing up track equipment to paralyze the rails that Russian forces used to get troops and weapons into Ukraine.

In the most recent sabotage to make international headlines, they attacked a Russian warplane parked just outside the Belarusian capital.

"Belarusians will not allow the Russians to freely use our territory for the war with Ukraine, and we want to force them to leave," Anton, a retired Belarusian serviceman who joined a group of saboteurs, told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

"The Russians must understand on whose side the Belarusians are actually fighting," he said, speaking on the condition that his last name be withheld for security reasons.

More than a year after Russia used the territory of its neighbor and ally to invade Ukraine, Belarus continues to host Russian troops, as well as warplanes, missiles and other weapons. The Belarusian opposition condemns the cooperation, and a guerrilla movement sprang up to disrupt the Kremlin's operations, both on the ground and online. Meanwhile, Belarus' authoritarian government is trying to crack down on saboteurs with threats of the death penalty and long prison terms.

Activists say the rail attacks have forced the Russian military to abandon the use of trains to send troops and materiel to Ukraine.

The retired serviceman is a member of the Association of Security Forces of Belarus, or BYPOL, a guerrilla group founded amid mass political protests in Belarus in 2020. Its core is composed of former military members.

During the first year of the war, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko realized that getting involved in the conflict "will cost him a lot and will ignite dangerous processes inside Belarus," said Anton Matolka, coordinator of the Belarusian military monitoring group Belaruski Hajun.

Last month, BYPOL claimed responsibility for a drone attack on a Russian warplane stationed near the Belarusian capital. The group said it used two armed drones to damage the Beriev A-50 parked at the Machulishchy Air Base near Minsk. Belarusian authorities have said they requested the early warning aircraft to monitor their border.

Lukashenko acknowledged the attack a week later, saying that the damage to the plane was insignificant, but admitting it had to be sent to Russia for repairs.

The iron-fisted leader also said the perpetrator of the attack was arrested along with more than 20 accomplices and that he has ties to Ukrainian security services.

Both BYPOL and Ukrainian authorities rejected allegations that Kyiv was involved. BYPOL leader Aliaksandr Azarau said the people who carried out the assault were able to leave Belarus safely.

"We are not familiar with the person Lukashenko talked about," he said.

The attack on the plane, which Azarau said was used to help Russia locate Ukrainian air defense systems, was "an attempt to blind Russian military aviation in Belarus."

He said the group is preparing other operations to free Belarus "from the Russian occupation" and to free Belarus from Lukashenko's regime.

"We have a two-headed enemy these days," said Azarau, who remains outside Belarus.

Former military officers in the BYPOL group work closely with the team of Belarus' exiled opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who ran against Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election that was widely seen as rigged.

The disputed vote results handed him his sixth term in office and triggered the largest protests in the country's history. In response, Lukashenko unleashed a brutal crackdown on demonstrators, accusing the opposition of plotting to overthrow the government. Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania under pressure.

With the protests still simmering a year after the election, BYPOL created an underground network of anti-government activists dubbed Peramoha, or Victory. According to Azarau, the network has some 200,000 participants, two-thirds of them in Belarus.

"Lukashenko has something to be afraid of," Azarau said.

Belarusian guerrillas say they have already carried out 17 major acts of sabotage on railways. The first took place just two days after Russian troops rolled into Ukraine.

A month later, then-Ukrainian railways head Oleksandr Kamyshin said there "was no longer any railway traffic between Ukraine and Belarus," and thanked Belarusian guerrillas for it.

Another group of guerrillas operates in cyberspace. Their coordinator, Yuliana Shametavets, said some 70 Belarusian IT specialists are hacking into Russian government databases and attacking websites of Russian and Belarusian state institutions.

"The future of Belarus depends directly on the military success of Ukraine," Shametavets said. "We're trying to contribute to Ukraine's victory as best we can."

Last month, the cyberguerrillas reported hacking a subsidiary of Russia's state media watchdog, Roskomnadzor. They said they were able to penetrate the subsidiary's inner network, download more than two terabytes of documents and emails, and share data showing how Russian authorities censor information about the war in Ukraine.

They also hacked into Belarus' state database containing information about border crossings and are now preparing a report on Ukrainian citizens who were recruited by Russia and went to meet with their handlers in Belarus.

In addition, the cyberguerrillas help vet Belarusians who volunteer to join the Kastus Kalinouski regiment that fights alongside Kyiv's forces. Shametovets said they were able to identify four security operatives among the applicants.

Belarusian authorities have unleashed a crackdown on guerrillas.

Last May, Lukashenko signed off on introducing the death penalty for attempted terrorist acts. Last month, the Belarusian parliament also adopted the death penalty as punishment for high treason. Lukashenko signed the measure Thursday.

"Belarusian authorities are seriously scared by the scale of the guerrilla movement inside the country and don't know what to do with it, so they chose harsh repressions, intimidation and fear as the main tool," said Pavel Sapelka of the Viasna human rights group.

Dozens have been arrested, while many others have fled the country.

Siarhei Vaitsekhovich runs a Telegram blog where he regularly posts about Russian drills in Belarus and the deployment of Russian military equipment and troops to the country. He had to leave Belarus after authorities began investigating him on charges of treason and forming an extremist group.

Vaitsekhovich said his 15-year-old brother was recently detained in an effort to pressure him to take the blog down and cooperate with the security services.

The Russian Federal Security Service "is very unhappy with the fact that information about movements of Russian military equipment spills out into public domain," Vaitsekhovich said.

According to Viasna, over the past 12 months at least 1,575 Belarusians have been detained for their anti-war stance, and 56 have been convicted on various charges and sentenced to prison terms ranging from a year to 23 years.

Anton says he understands the risks. On one of the railway attacks he worked with three associates who were each sentenced in November to more than 20 years in prison.

"It is hard to say who is in a more difficult position  a Ukrainian in a trench or a Belarusian on a stakeout," he said.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA  A group of U.S. lawmakers recently drafted a resolution criticizing South Africas government for its close relations with Beijing, including its use of Chinese technology, and called on President Joe Biden to review Americans relationship with Pretoria.

The resolution was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives as South Africa conducted naval exercises with China and Russia in February.

There are U.S. concerns about the surveillance risks of Chinese telecommunications, but some analysts say it falls on each government to responsibly use technologies, and China is not the only player in the tech industry.

The U.S. has already banned Chinese technology company Huawei at home, saying its a risk to national security. There is also a push on Capitol Hill to ban Chinese social media app TikTok.

In sub-Saharan Africa, where less than 30% of people use the internet, most governments welcome Chinas investment in digital infrastructure  a part of the Belt and Road Initiative dubbed the Digital Silk Road. Because of Chinese government subsidies, they see it as a cheaper path to greater connectivity.

The U.S. resolution mentioned two South African companies with links to Chinese tech that the lawmakers felt were of concern. One of them, Vumacam, operates about 2,000 cameras in Johannesburg, with the technology intended to crack down on the rampant crime that plagues the commercial capital.

The U.S. concern is Vumacam has partnered with Chinese company Hikvision for the cameras hardware, the resolution said. The sale of Hikvision products was also recently banned in the U.S.

Contacted by VOA about its use of Hikvision, Vumacam responded: We can confirm that we have multiple hardware vendors and not one single vendor. ... Any hardware is susceptible to penetration risk if not properly managed, regardless of its brand or country of origin. Vumacams focus is therefore firmly on system security, and as such, Vumacams network is run by its own proprietary platform, which undergoes rigorous and regular testing.

Huawei dominates

The U.S. resolution also pointed to Telkom, South Africas partly state-owned telecom operator, which launched its 5G network throughout the country in October 2022 using technologies from Huawei technologies.

Neither Telkom, a spokesperson for South Africas state security agency, nor a spokesperson for the Government Communication and Information System responded to requests for comment.

The U.S. faces an uphill battle in vying for telecommunications influence in Africa. Washington has been trying to catch up to Chinas vast network in Africa, announcing last year that U.S.-backed telecom company Africell had invested to deliver a 5G network in Angola.

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But across the continent, Huawei dominates: Its subsidiaries own up to 70% of all 4G networks.

Last year, Ethiopia rolled out its first 5G network powered by Huawei. Zimbabwe has a Huawei Smart Cities program  as do Kenya and Uganda - and has installed Hikvision cameras in public spaces. Insurgency-wracked Nigeria recently announced it was planning to buy Chinese cameras to monitor its borders.

China has signed resolutions to increase cooperation in areas like counterterrorism, safe city projects, border security and cybersecurity, Bulelani Jili, a South African cybersecurity fellow at Harvard University, told VOA. China also supplements this promise with commitments to offer finance, technical assistance and training to African governments on topics ranging from digital forensic techniques to cybersecurity.

Spying concerns

Digital watchdogs, however, often label China as one of the worst abusers of internet freedoms domestically, and observers from the West worry that African regimes with undemocratic tendencies could adopt not just Chinese tech but the way China uses it to monitor dissent.

Already in Zambia and Uganda, the governments were found to have used Chinese technology to spy on the opposition and critics. In Zimbabwe, there are concerns it will be used to do the same ahead of elections later this year.

China also made headlines in 2018 with reports of Beijing having bugged the Chinese-built African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. China stridently denied the allegations.

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Responsibility of local governments

In some parts of Africa, Jili said, technology and the potential of its risks are tied to local and geopolitical factors.

What is clear is that digital surveillance devices do not simply constitute smooth-functioning systems that provide the means of socially equitable and competent policing. Rather, they are convoluted assemblages that are entangled in broader economic, legal and political arrangements, he said.

And the risks of using them with inadequate laws are great, particularly in a region with established problems at the intersections of inequality, crime, governance, race, and policing. ... The adoption of new technologies on the continent is rarely accompanied by the implementation of robust regulatory frameworks, he added.

Some China experts say the risks from Chinese tech to Africa are overblown and the focus should be on all the players in the tech arena, including European and American firms.

As well as Vumacam, U.S. firm IBM also has a contract with the city of Johannesburg for digital surveillance, said Iginio Gagliardone, an associate professor at Johannesburgs Witwatersrand University and author of the book China, Africa and the Future of the Internet.

In terms of spying on opponents, he said, theres evidence a previous Ethiopian administration spied on dissidents in the diaspora, using software from a number of European companies. Meanwhile, Israeli spyware firm Pegasus has also been used by African governments.

Whether such technology is used to clamp down on opponents is not up to China, Gagliardone argued, but rather the African governments who utilize it.

China with no doubt is an autocratic regime.  At the same time, China has not tried to impose or suggest that other countries follow in its footsteps, he told VOA.

Gagliardone said its important to hold all large and powerful actors to account when it comes to the possible misuse of tech in Africa.

The responsibility is really widespread.  If we just focus on China, we miss the bigger picture, he said.
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Based on our own international network of reporters and correspondents we have created over the past six months, edited and constantly improved a weekly newsletter dedicated to the end of Western hegemony and the transition to a multipolar world.

Voltaire, International Newsletter is now published in six languages.

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Contents of N31:

EDITORIAL:

 Who defines Wests secret geopolitical agenda?

AMERICAS

 Democrats are much more imperialist than Republicans

 Native Americans bypass the Bureau of Indian Affairs

 Biden proposes voting rights reform

 10 minutes of Blinken-Lavrov talks

 A presidential candidate asks $1 from each of his voters

 Steve Bannon denounces Rupert Murdoch

 Fake US arms shipments to Ukraine

 War Powers Act called into question

 Official version of Capitol Riot questioned

 The only existing version of Nord Streams sabotage questioned

 Americans dont trust Joe Bidens Ukraine policy

 Congress threatens to militarily attack Mexico

 The battle for gas stoves goes on

 Argentina questions leonine agreements of the Falklands War

EUROPE

 Report on the Manchester Arena bombing

 UK considers law against illegal immigration

 The French against Macrons reform

 Germany now independent of Russian hydrocarbons

 Germany wrongly accuses Iran

 One-on-one between Scholz and Biden

 Norway reaps benefits from Nord Stream sabotage

 John Paul II did not denounce pedophile priests

 Hungary for a ceasefire in Ukraine

 European states and Israels evolution

 The EU and production of 155mm shells

 Switzerland lifts anti-Syrian sanctions

 Glencore pleads guilty to bribery

 Serbia will not recognize Kosovo

 Major cleanup goes on in Ukraine

 Belarusian presidential candidate sentenced in absentia

 "Russian Volunteer Corps in Ukraine" attacks on Russian soil

 Relations between the Russian Army and the Wagner Group

 Relations between Volodymyr Zelensky and the head of his armed forces

 Transparency International banned in Russia

 Russia introduces simplified visas

 "We can, together with other countries, drive the final nail in the coffin of the neo-colonial aspirations of the Western world"

AFRICA

 Morocco positions itself on the cannabis extract market

 Malian imams against the draft constitution

 Central African Republic condemns Western looting

 Francois Bozize covered by Washington

 Emmanuel Macrons difficult trip to Congo

 De-escalation between DRC and Rwanda

 Russia offers fertilizer to Malawi

 South Africa reduces its embassy in Tel Aviv

ASIA

 Israeli army pushes former Knesset speaker

 UN Human Rights Council deflects investigation into Beirut port explosion

 Hamas self-criticism

 US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Illegally Visits Syria

 Israel bombs supplies for Syrian earthquake victims

 Saudi Arabia moves closer to Syria

 Alcohol banned in Iraq

 Royal Navy seizes weapons destined for Yemen

 Turkish opposition unites

 EU to declare Irans Revolutionary Guards terrorists

 IAEA signs agreement with Iran

 Investigation into the poisoning of young Iranian women

 Fire at a refugee camp in Bangladesh

 Kem Sokha imprisoned

 South Korea exports arms

 North Korea warns against intercepting its missiles

 Question about succession in North Korea

 Former Hiroshima mayor for universal commitment not to use atomic bomb first

 Wild animals take over Fukushima again

 Japan negotiates compensation for Korean comfort women and forced laborers

 How Japanese government controls TV media

 Taiwan cries wolf

 Taiwan dreads TSMC relocation

 Germany will not defend Taiwan

 China Increases the Peoples Liberation Armys budget

 China toughens its tone against the US

 China participates in US Cobra Gold 2023 military exercises

OCEANIA

 Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

 John McCains widow to head the World Food Programme

In addition, our documentary supplement presents some fifty official reports and documents from six different states.
An Ethiopian journalist presented an award by the United States has sounded the alarm over media freedom in her country, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit.

Meaza Mohammed, the founder of the online network Roha TV, was honored at the White House on Wednesday on International Women's Day as part of a group receiving "International Women of Courage" awards.

Introducing her, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Meaza "shares stories of those who are often silenced."

"Despite three arrests in under one year, she continued to raise her voice, advocating for survivors of gender-based violence and urging accountability for crimes committed against them," Jean-Pierre said.

In an interview with AFP, Meaza said that authorities also raided her outlet and seized everything from her office.

"This award is a big thing for me -- not only for me, but for the women out there in my country," she said.

"Because in my country, having a media (outlet) or working in (the) press is very dangerous, very difficult."

Internet platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Telegran and TikTok have been inaccessible in Ethiopia since February 9.

The shutdown came after a dispute within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church led to calls for demonstrations against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The issue was resolved but the sites remain down.

The northern region of Tigray, the scene of an armed conflict with the federal government, was largely deprived of telecommunications for the two-year duration of the war.

Blinken is due in Ethiopia on Wednesday on the highest-level US visit since the war with plans to encourage the peace process.

Meaza came to prominence for her campaign for answers over the kidnapping in late 2019 of a group of students whose fate remains unknown.

The students belong to Ethiopia's second largest ethnic group, the Amhara, and Meaza has been accused in some quarters of a pro-Amhara tilt in the ethnically diverse nation where questions of identity have become increasingly incendiary.

Speaking to AFP in Washington, Meaza denounced "ethnic cleansing" against the Amhara, who have long held privileged positions in Ethiopia's economic, political and cultural life.

An Amhara militia known as the Fano has also been accused of numerous abuses.

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The misstatements are part of a pattern that has raised questions about how the justice views his obligation to report details about his finances to the public.
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 This story is part of the March 12 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories . When actor Emily Browning looks back on her eight-year-old self and ponders why she may have been the victim of bullying at school, she comes to this conclusion: I was a bit like Lisa Simpson. Why would a likeness to the adorable animated icon make her a target? I was one of those kids who was a nerd, but not a quiet nerd. An outspoken nerd, she says. Because I was outspoken, people assumed I was full of myself. The bullying was so relentless Browning eventually changed schools. It proved to be a fortuitous move. Raised just outside Melbourne, she wound up at a progressive school where her confident personality (a little baby-actress-pain-in-the-ass, as she puts it) was rightfully seen as an asset, and she was encouraged to appear in plays. It was a parent of one of her school friends who first spotted her precocious talent and suggested she audition for a TV drama. At the tender age of eight, Browning scored her first role in the television film The Echo of Thunder (1998). Next came parts in the ABCs Something in the Air, Sevens Blue Heelers, the 2002 horror flick Ghost Ship and the 2003 film Ned Kelly, alongside Heath Ledger. Then in 2004, aged 16, Browning appeared as Violet Baudelaire in the film adaptation of Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events. What came next was instant stardom.

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It was really overwhelming, Browning says, looking back at that whirlwind time. I had a different management team then, and they were pushing for me to be on Nickelodeon and Disney. Thankfully, I had the foresight at that age to know what kind of career I didnt want to have. Not only did Browning decide she didnt want to be the next Selena Gomez, she questioned whether she wanted to pursue acting at all. I was like, Oh, that was fun. But I had a sense that I was too sensitive to handle the industry. I was very aware of the fact that it was really emotionally taxing. So after that, I actually kind of quit acting for a while because I wanted to get back in Australia, finish high school, just be a regular kid. I had a sense that I was too sensitive to handle the industry. I was very aware of the fact that it was really emotionally taxing. Although her parents had been supportive of her acting career, she thinks they were quietly relieved when she returned home. But the move required Browning to return to her suburban Melbourne high school, now as a Hollywood star. How did that go down with her fellow students? High school was interesting, because at that point people knew that I was on TV and in movies, so there were definitely a lot of people who were not particularly stoked about that, she says. But I also had a really great group of friends in high school who are my friends to this day. So it was not too bad. Its the challenges of high school and female friendships that are at the core of her latest project, Class of 07, an eight-part series launching on Amazon Prime Video this week. Created by Australian writer and director Kacie Anning, its a high-concept comedy which follows Zoe Miller (Browning) who accidentally crashes her 10-year high school reunion. As she throws herself into partying with her former school mates (and enemies), she chooses not to let them know about the apocalyptic wave just beyond the doors.

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Emily Brownings role in the Class of 07 is the first time shes tried her hand at comedy. Described as Lord of the Flies in cocktail dresses, its a hilarious and insightful look into the complexities of female friendships and the lasting effects they have when made during those formative teenage years, themes that Browning can relate to personally. My female friendships have been so much more dramatic, and heartbreaking at times, than my romantic relationships, she says. I loved being able to explore that. I feel like its very common to see the drama of a romantic relationship, but to see just the drama of all these women and how they interact, to me it had a lot to say about female friendship  especially those relationships at school and how people grow up and how maybe they dont change. Loading For Browning, by the time she finished her real-life high school journey, shed found herself drawn back into acting. I was like, You know what, that was really fun. I started acting again and it kind of just kept going from there. She went on to star in the 2011 films Sleeping Beauty and Sucker Punch. Then, from 2017 to 2021, she appeared in the TV series American Gods and had a recurring role in the Showtime drama The Affair (2018-19). As a result, shes been based in LA for the past 10 years. As she puts it, I sort of just ended up staying here. There wasnt ever really a decision. It just kind of happened. And now Ive built my whole life here.

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Brownings second stint in Hollywood has also come with the same uneasiness about fame she felt when she was first there. Credit:Rebekah Campbell/Headpress Browning lives with her partner, writer and director Eddie OKeefe, whom she met on a film 10 years ago. We were friends for a few years before we started seeing each other, she says. Hes from the Midwest. Ive noticed that Midwesterners are the Americans who are the most similar to Australians. Theyre very self-deprecating, kind of naturally friendly. Theres no pretence. Its clear that finding a life in LA that reminds Browning of her Australian roots has been important. Ive found my people here and found parts of the city that have nothing to do with Hollywood, which feel a lot more like home. The neighbourhood Im in right now reminds me of Melbourne. Its a lot more chill. And there arent many actors around, which is really nice. I knew very early on that I wanted to be an actor, but I didnt really want to be famous. I saw what it did to people. But Brownings second stint in Hollywood has also come with the same uneasiness about fame she felt when she was first there. I knew very early on that I wanted to be an actor, but I didnt really want to be famous. I saw what it did to people. I was like, Im the kind of person this could ruin.  So how has she managed to balance being a working actor with not being a celebrity? It has been a lot to do with the projects Ive chosen not to do, says Browning, who famously turned down the chance to audition for arguably one of the biggest roles of the mid-noughties: Bella Swan in Twilight. Maybe my pickiness has been, in some ways, really helpful for my career. Ive probably screwed myself over a few times. But again, it was this awareness of just being a little too sensitive. I needed downtime to work on myself and figure myself out.

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Working so much as a kid, I matured really quickly, but it also hindered the growing-up process. I feel like a late bloomer; Im 34 now and Ive only just started to feel like an adult. Child actors dont have the best track record for being adults! Im now at a point where I feel very comfortable in myself. I know how to protect myself and take care of myself. Im at a place where I feel pretty good about my decisions. Im more interested in longevity than having a breakout. Emily Browning (right) with her Class of 07 co-star, Megan Smart. Brownings role in Class of 07 is the first time she has tackled comedy. But within the first few minutes of the opening scene (involving a defecating dove and Brownings open mouth), its obvious she has natural comedic talent. That was actually my audition scene, which was truly terrifying, she says, laughing. I remember saying to Kacie, before we did the scene, So the bit at the end, where the bird, you know  you dont want me to mime that, do you? And she was like, Everyone I cast in this show, I need them to feel comfortable being a dickhead.  Even though she nailed the audition, Brownings fears were only amplified when she arrived on set. I was terrified, especially because all the other girls are so naturally funny. A lot of them have comedy backgrounds, but even the ones who dont are just funny. Browning is clearly the most accomplished actor in the cast, but she found her experience a hindrance rather than an advantage. Having done mostly dramatic stuff, Ive always tried not to make a fool of myself. But Kacie again was like, You have to be willing to make a fool of yourself. It felt like going to clown college.

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Gunmen killed at least 16 people during an attack in northwest Nigeria, the government said Sunday.

The assailants stormed the Zangon Kataf Local Government Area in Kaduna state and opened fire Saturday after a confrontation with police at a checkpoint, Yabo Ephraim, a spokesperson for the local government told The Associated Press.

Authorities imposed a curfew in the area after the attack.

The attackers were ethnic Fulani, a group of mostly nomadic pastoralists who have been embroiled in a long conflict with farmers over limited access to water and land, Ephraim said.

Before the shootings, a fight had broken out between some villagers and a small group of Fulani men. The latter left the scene and later returned in larger numbers with guns and machetes, the government spokesperson said.

"They were strategically stationed at certain places and began to open fire in the community. They chased them even right into their homes. Wherever you are hiding, they will shoot you, Ephraim added.

Such attacks are not rare in Nigeria, especially in the country's hard-hit north. The pastoral conflict has evolved into various armed groups carrying out acts of violence, defying government and security measures for years.

On Sunday, young people in the Ungwan Wakili community, where Saturday's attack took place, protested the killings and accused Nigerian soldiers of failing to stop the violence despite being in the area at the time.

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Perth residents unable to find a doctor offering fully subsidised services are being slugged more than $42 for a 15-minute consultation according to new data, as the number of bulk-billing GP clinics continues to drop.

A new report by online healthcare directory Cleanbill found the average out-of-pocket cost of a standard doctors appointment in Greater Perth had risen 6.3 per cent over the past four years to $42.40.

The workload for GPs has always been intense. Credit: iStock

Claremont, Fremantle, West Perth and Subiaco emerged as the most expensive suburbs to see a GP, with the average out-of-pocket cost of an appointment exceeding $50, while patients visiting clinics in East Perth, Thornlie, Gosnells and Armadale were charged the least.

The report, which tracked changes in the bulk-billing rate, found the average cost of an appointment in Perth now rivals the governments average Medicare rebate.
Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt has donated $1 million to the campaign for an Indigenous Voice to parliament, as both sides seek to build war chests to pay for advertisements across television, print and online.

The executive chairman of Visy Industries recently committed the money to the Yes campaigns chief financing vehicle, Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition (AICR), which was granted tax deductibility status last month.

Visy boss Anthony Pratt has donated $1 million to the Yes side. Credit: Bloomberg

The group is also in talks with other individuals and businesses about donating similar amounts as it prepares to ramp up its campaign in the coming months, including the launch of television advertisements.

While representatives for Pratt and the AICR declined to confirm the donation, multiple sources with knowledge of the talks said the commitment was made in recent weeks.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed Egypts support for Palestinian prisoners who are protesting policy changes in Israeli jails.

The minister me with Fadwa Barghouti, wife of imprisoned political figure Fatah Marwan Barghouti in the headquarters of the Egyptian foreign ministry on Sunday.

During her meeting with Shoukry, Barghouti extended her appreciation for Egypts great efforts in supporting the Palestinian cause and Egyptian solidarity with the plight of the Palestinian prisoners, the ministry said in a statement.

Shoukry highlighted Egypts efforts in achieving calm in the occupied lands and resuming the peace process, the statement said.

Egyptian efforts in this regard aim at fulfilling the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people by establishing an independent state based on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, Shoukry stressed.

Shoukrys meeting with Barghouti comes on the heels of Palestinian inmates continuing their civil disobedience measures for the 27th day in a row, protesting an Israeli repression campaign.

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have vowed to intensify their protests, which will escalate to a hunger strike starting in the holy fasting month of Ramadan, according to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) on Sunday.

The disobedience measures came in response to a decision by Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir to cancel a policy allowing lawmakers in the Israeli Knesset to visit incarcerated Palestinians, according to the WAFA.

Popular political leader and figurehead of the first and second Palestinian Intifadas (uprisings) Marwan Barghouti is currently serving five life sentences and another 40-year prison sentence on murder charges.

Barghouti was convicted of five counts of murder including Israelis and a Greek monk in 2004, two years after his arrest in 2002 in Ramallah. He refused to recognise the legitimacy of the Israeli court.

Barghouti is widely seen as the likely successor of incumbent Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, announcing his candidacy for the presidency inside the prison in 2021 before the elections were cancelled.

Egypt has called for the revival of a peaceful process at the earliest opportunity, seeing it as the only way to achieve comprehensive regional peace and urged Israel to cease provocative actions and unilateral measures against Palestinians, including settlement expansion.

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has met with President of the Republic of Albania Bajram Begaj, Azernews reports.

Welcoming the President of Albania, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said:

- Hello, thank you for visiting our country. I am delighted to see you again. I remember our meeting in Tirana last year, and thank you again for your hospitality. I was very pleased with my official visit to your country and the discussions with you and the Prime Minister.

The decisions we have taken to strengthen our cooperation really demonstrate that there is a very high level of friendship and fraternal relations between our countries. Thank you for coming to participate in the important event held as part of the 10th Global Baku Forum - the special session dedicated to the 100th anniversary of my father, President Heydar Aliyev. Thank you very much.

I am sure that you will have a good time during your stay in Baku. This is a great opportunity to touch on the important aspects of our fruitful bilateral cooperation.

President of Albania Bajram Begaj said: Thank you, Mr. President. Coming to Azerbaijan to participate in the Baku Forum, which is a remarkable event, and visiting you gives me and my team a great sense of satisfaction. This is an additional opportunity to visit and see you. Of course, your father's legacy is written forever, and I think that the work you have done for Baku and the whole country can be seen everywhere. Yesterday I went out to the city, walked around a bit and witnessed the amazing beauty of Baku.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

President Bajram Begaj: Of course, as you mentioned, we met last year and I think that our countries are friendly countries. We must work to strengthen our bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of economy and tourism. We have the Trans Adriatic pipeline and we need to do more to gasify the whole country.

President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, this is right.

President Bajram Begaj: Especially now - at a time when the energy issue is very important. Gas is also very important. We are very happy and fortunate that you have made such a commitment and that we have earned your friendship.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you.

x x x

The sides emphasized the friendship and partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Albania. The successful cooperation and mutual support of the two countries within international organizations were highly appreciated. During the conversation, they exchanged views on cooperation in the field of energy and the expansion of economic and trade relations. The establishment of Azerbaijan`s embassy in Albania and Albania`s embassy in Azerbaijan was described as a positive step in developing bilateral ties. The presidents underscored that high-level reciprocal visits and contacts would be continued.




Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark Diocese inaugurated on Saturday Mar Girgis church in Ain Shams district in Cairo after its restoration.

Pope Tawadros led a mass to mark the opening, which was attended by a host of senior bishops.

The pontiff also ordained two priests within the framework of the ceremony.

Constructed in 1936, the Mar Girgis Church has been in service for more than 87 years.

Since its inauguration, the Church has been visited by 5 Popes including Pope Tawadros II.

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Cotter Schools is making some big changes in the upcoming year aimed at improving education for its youngest students and moving the institution closer toward its goal of a more cohesive campus.

Cotter plans to open a central elementary school when students return in August.

The new school will house students who previously attended the Cotter campuses of St. Marys, St. Stans and St. Teresas. The churches that own the St. Marys and St. Stans school buildings will determine how the now empty space is used.

The elementary school will be located in Cotters former resident hall, which is being renovated. Currently known as Loretto Hall, the expanded building will be renamed St. Luke Hall.

With four classrooms for each grade, Cotter students in kindergarten through sixth grade will be housed in this building.

Children enrolled in Cotters Montessori programs will not be affected.

Mary Eileen Fitch, president of Cotter Schools, said the four-story building had an entire floor removed, allowing for additional ceiling space. The new addition has allowed the building to be reconfigured and created larger spaces such as classrooms, a gymnasium, a music room and band room.

Its very significant construction in terms of a huge renovation and then a significant portion of new construction, Fitch said.

At the elementary school, students will have experience a range of educational opportunities, from academic learning to social-emotional learning.

Fitch said a large emphasis is placed on STEM in the school, allowing children to learn about science, technology, engineering and math from an early age.

Music, physical education, and art, along with other classes, will also be offered to students each week.

Fitch said a band program will be available to all students in fifth and sixth grades.

The former residence hall is not the only building Cotter is renovating.

The Tau Center, which was purchased by Cotter from Winona State University, will be transformed into an early childhood education center.

The center will house multiple programs, including the pre-school and educare programs currently on the St. Marys campus, a second Montessori toddler and childrens house program and a new infant care program.

With the success of the Montessori programs at the Main Square campus, Cotter determined there was enough community demand to support another Montessori program.

A new infant care program is expected to open in early 2024.

The Winona community has a very significant need for infant care, which is very well documented here within our community, Fitch said. And so the additional space in this new building allows us to expand into that area that we have not previously done in hopes to meet the needs of our community.

Fitch said the schools investment in the facilities is significant, but declined to provide details about the cost for construction and renovations. Fitch said the campus has a number of generous benefactors, hosts fundraisers and seeks out other funding opportunities through grants.

Fitch said the changes align with Cotters one-campus plan, which seeks to consolidate the multiple campuses Cotter operates.

Theres certainly going to be conveniences for families to have their students all in either the same building for the first time or certainly in close proximity, within a block or two of each other, Fitch said regarding the one-campus plan. So I think that is very nice.

With enrollment continuing to grow and excitement shown by many members of the community about the changes, Fitch said families appear to support the plans Cotter has in place.

We hope that by bringing our various ages of learners closer together that we can capitalize on some of the opportunities for older students, for example, to lead and mentor younger students and to have some shared opportunities for growth and for kids to learn from one another, she said. And I think a lot of those things are much more possible in a one campus model.

To help families and students with the transition, Cotter schools is sending out information and plans to conduct educational open house events.

Additionally, more opportunities like tours, open houses and orientation sessions in the newly renovated buildings are expected to be scheduled as renovations come closer to being completed.

As for staffing, some current employees will experience changes with their daily tasks and routines due to the movement of grades into new buildings and other adjustments.

Cotter also plans to hire new staff to meet the needs created by the new program options and increase in enrollment.

For more information about the changes and renovations at Cotter, visit cotterschools.org.
WASHINGTON  Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.

House votes

VA online records requests: The House has passed the Wounded Warrior Access Act (H.R. 1226), sponsored by Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., to require the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department to make a tool on its website for veterans to make requests for records related to their claims and benefits status at the VA. Aguilar said the current claims filing process is cumbersome and time-consuming, and the website tool would be a commonsense solution that cuts this red tape and will help American veterans. The vote, on March 7, was unanimous with 422 yeas. Yeas:

Finstad, R-MN (1st)

Mobile telecommunications and cybersecurity: The House has passed the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act (H.R. 1123), sponsored by Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Calif., to require a report on the cybersecurity of mobile telecommunications networks from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Eshoo said the report was needed because we lack a comprehensive assessment of what vulnerabilities exist on these networks, what issues have been resolved, and where mobile cybersecurity policymaking should be focused. The vote, on March 7, was 393 yeas to 22 nays. Yeas:

Finstad, R-MN (1st)

Syria war: The House has rejected a resolution (H. Con. Res. 21), sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., that would have required the withdrawal of all U.S. soldiers from Syria. Gaetz said: We have tried this time and again to build a democracy out of sand, blood, and Arab militias, and time and again the work we do does not reduce chaos. Oftentimes it causes chaos, the very chaos that then subsequently leads to terrorism. An opponent, Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, said: Our small deployment of U.S. servicemembers is remarkably effective at working with local partner forces to achieve results and ensure the enduring and complete defeat of ISIS. The vote, on March 8, was 103 yeas to 321 nays. Nays:

Finstad, R-MN (1st)

Treating VA medical waste: The House has passed the VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act (H.R. 753), sponsored by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., to require the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department to put regulated medical waste treatment systems at VA health care facilities. Bost said installing on-site waste incinerators could save the VA tens of millions of dollars per year and create a safer and cleaner environment at our VA hospitals. The vote, on March 8, was unanimous with 426 yeas. Yeas:

Finstad, R-MN (1st)

Government and censorship: The House has passed the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act (H.R. 140), sponsored by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., to bar employees in the executive branch of the federal government from directly or indirectly censoring speech, with penalties imposed if employees censor speech. Comer said: Federal officials, no matter their rank or resources, must be prohibited from coercing the private sector to suppress certain information or limit the ability of citizens to freely express their own views on a private-sector Internet platform. A bill opponent, Rep. Daniel S. Goldman, D-N.Y., said it would allow Russia, China, and other countries adversarial to the U.S. to continue using social media platforms unfettered to wreak havoc on our democratic institutions, including the integrity of our elections. The vote, on March 9, was 219 yeas to 206 nays. Yeas:

Finstad, R-MN (1st)

Regulating waterways: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 27), sponsored by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., to disapprove of and void an Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency rule issued this January that defines Waters of the United States (WOTUS). Such waters would be subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act. Graves said: Returning to a more costly, burdensome, and broad WOTUS definition could have a massive impact on local communities and Americans ability to do their jobs and manage their own private property. A resolution opponent, Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., said: This resolution represents a giant step backward for clean water, increases uncertainty for farmers, homebuilders, roadbuilders, and all American families. The vote, on March 9, was 227 yeas to 198 nays. Yeas:

Finstad, R-MN (1st)

Senate votes

Virginia judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Robert Stewart Ballou to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. A magistrate judge in the district since 2011, for the previous two decades Ballou had been a private practice lawyer in Virginia. A supporter, Sen. Timothy Kaine, D-Va., said: Judge Ballou enjoys broad and deep support across the Virginia legal community. The vote, on March 7, was 59 yeas to 37 nays. Yeas:

Klobuchar, D-MN; Smith, D-MN

California judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Andrew G. Schopler to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Schopler was a federal prosecutor in the district from 2004 to 2016, then assumed his current role as a magistrate judge in the district. The vote, on March 7, was 56 yeas to 39 nays. Yeas:

Klobuchar, D-MN; Smith, D-MN

New York judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Arun Subramanian to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Subramanian has been a lawyer at a New York City law firm since 2008, specializing in commercial litigation. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Subramanian an expert in consumer protection, with years of experience defending those injured by unfair, illegal practices. He also defended victims of child trafficking and pornography. The vote, on March 7, was 59 yeas to 37 nays. Yeas:

Klobuchar, D-MN; Smith, D-MN

D.C. criminal laws: The Senate 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. A supporter, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the D.C. law was going even softer on crime and putting violent convicts back on the streets even more rapidly even as crime rates have climbed to high levels. An opponent, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said: The Congress should not be overriding the will of the people of D.C. as reflected in their elected representatives. The vote, on March 8, was 81 yeas to 14 nays. Yeas:

Klobuchar, D-MN; Smith, D-MN

IRS commissioner: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Daniel Werfel to be Internal Revenue Service Commissioner for a term ending in late 2027. Werfel was the IRSs acting commissioner late in the Obama administration, and previously was the Office of Management and Budgets controller. For the last nine years he has been at the Boston Consulting Group. A supporter, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Werfel would bring transparency to the job. That includes how the IRS will spend funding to improve taxpayer services, upgrade information technology, and crack down on those wealthy tax cheats. An opponent, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said Werfels answers to inquiries about his nomination did little to inspire confidence in his willingness to take back control of this agency and stop what Blackburn called harassing audits of taxpayers. The vote, on March 9, was 54 yeas to 42 nays. Yeas:

Klobuchar D-MN, Smith D-MN

Second California judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of James Simmons to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Southern California. A county court judge in San Diego since 2017, Simmons was previously a prosecutor for the California government there. The vote, on March 9, was 51 yeas to 43 nays. Yeas:

Klobuchar, D-MN; Smith, D-MN

Appeals court judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Maria Araujo Kahn to be a judge on the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Since 2006, Kahn has successively been a county superior court, state appeals court, and state supreme court judge in Connecticut; previously, she was an assistant U.S. attorney in the state. The vote, on March 9, was 51 yeas to 42 nays. Yeas: Klobuchar, D-MN; Smith, D-MN

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Photos: Scenes from historic speaker vote of 118th Congress
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen arrived in Cairo Sunday to discuss with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly advancing economic cooperation with Egypt.

The Danish PM's visit coincides with celebrating the 65th anniversary of the exchange of diplomatic representation between the two countries.

Upon her arrival at Cairo Airport, an official reception ceremony was held for the Danish Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation.

It is scheduled that Madbouly and Frederiksen will hold talks to discuss proposals to strengthen bilateral relations and advance economic cooperation in many areas of common interest between the two countries.

According to previous statements of the Ambassador of Denmark in Cairo, Svend Olling, the trade exchange between Egypt and Denmark reached EGP 26 billion in 2019. He added that Egypt was then the 47th top export of fruits and vegetables to Denmark.

Meanwhile, Denmark ranks 21st on the list of top investing countries in Egypt, with Danish investments reaching EGP 104 billion in 2021.

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The 3 White men who killed Ahmaud Arbery are appealing their federal hate crime convictions. 2 of them say race didn't play a role in their actions
Steve Lobello, owner of S&A Security Specialists, tells clients to use multiple security methods - searching for new devices that aren't common on the market yet.
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday.
Israeli occupation forces fatally shot on Sunday three Palestinians near the Israeli military checkpoint of Sarra, to the southwest of Nablus, the latest bloodshed in a year-long wave of violence in the region.

During the Israeli shooting, three other Palestinians passing by the checkpoint were injuries from the shrapnel of the Israeli bullets fired, witnesses said to the palestinian news agency WAFA.

Witnesses also told reporters that shortly after their shooting, Israeli soldiers stormed shops and sized the recordings of surveillance cameras.

The three Palestinians are yet to be identified.

Their deaths Sunday bring to 84 the number of Palestinians killed by Israel since the start of the year.

The fresh violence follows an Israeli military raid last week on the West Bank village of Jaba, where three Palestinian were killed. Hours later, a Palestinian gunman opened fire in Tel Aviv, wounding three people before being shot and killed.

The current round of violence is one of the worst between in the West Bank in years.

Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 2022, making it the deadliest year in those areas since 2004, according to Israeli rights group B'Tselem. Palestinian attacks against Israelis during that same time killed 30 people.

The Palestinians view the raids as a tightening by Israel of its 55-year, open-ended occupation of their land.

Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war.

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Israeli airstrikes targeting locations in central and west Syria on Sunday morning wounded three soldiers, state media reported.

"At around 7:15 am (0415 GMT), the Israeli enemy carried out an air attack, firing missiles from the direction of north Lebanon with targets in the Tartus and Hama countryside," the SANA news agency reported, citing a military source.

"The attack wounded three soldiers and caused some material losses," the report said, adding that Syrian air defences intercepted some of the missiles.

On the other hand, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said that "two pro-Iran fighters were killed and three Syrian soldiers were wounded".

SANA did not say what sites were targeted, but the Observatory, a war monitor, said a "scientific research centre" were present in the areas.

There was no comment from Israeli officials. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria in recent years, including attacks on the Damascus and Aleppo airports, but it rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations.

On Tuesday, Israeli warplanes killed three people in a raid on the airport in Aleppo, Syria's second city and on February 19, Israeli airstrikes targeted residential areas in Syrias capital, Damascus, killing at least five people and wounding 15.

On January, the Syrian army said Israels military fired missiles toward the capitals international airport, putting it out of service and killing two soldiers.

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About 30 migrants were missing and presumed drowned after the overcrowded boat they were on capsized during a rescue attempt by a cargo ship off Libya's coast, Italy's coastguard said.

Seventeen migrants were saved and a search was underway for the missing after the early-morning attempted rescue in a search-and-rescue zone under the jurisdiction of Libya, the coastguard said.

"During the rescue operations... the boat capsized during the transfer of the migrants: 17 people were rescued and recovered by the (cargo) vessel while approximately 30 migrants were missing," said the coastguard.

The latest disaster in the Mediterranean comes exactly two weeks after a shipwreck off Italy's southern coast of Calabria that killed at least 76 people, with bodies continuing to wash ashore nearly daily.

That shipwreck has put Italy's far-right government on the defensive as it tries to fend off sharp criticism that it failed to intervene in time to save the migrants.

Alarm Phone, a charity that monitors migrant boats, said it had been contacted by the boat in distress some 100 miles (160 kilometres) northwest of Benghazi and alerted Italian authorities early Saturday morning.

The boat was also spotted by a surveillance plane of German NGO SeaWatch, which reported it was "dangerously overcrowded and in frightening waves."

In a statement, Italy's coastguard said Alarm Phone had notified Rome's rescue coordination centre, as well as Maltese and Libyan authorities about the boat.

A merchant vessel that had headed towards the boat after the alert by SeaWatch reported difficulty in rescuing the boat due to bad weather, the coastguard said.

Search And Rescue Operation

Authorities in Libya, which the coastguard said was responsible for search and rescue efforts in that zone, reported "a lack of availability of naval assets" and requested the support of Rome, which dispatched three additional nearby merchant ships to the area, according to the statement.

A rescue operation began early Sunday morning after the ship "Froland" reached the site, but the boat capsized during the operation, the coastguard said.

Two migrants pulled safely onboard needed urgent medical care and the ship headed to Malta to disembark them.

Merchant ships were still in the area searching for the missing, along with two Frontex planes, it said.

"The rescue operation took place outside the Italian SAR (search-and-rescue) area of responsibility, recording the inactivity of the other National Maritime Coordination and Rescue Centres involved in the area," the coastguard said.

SeaWatch tweeted on Saturday that bad weather was making a rescue difficult and that "Tripoli claims it is unable to send a patrol boat."

Earlier Sunday, Alarm Phone tweeted that it had lost contact with the boat and implored authorities not to allow the Libyan coastguard "to force the people back to Libya where they had tried to escape from".

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The Egyptian government announced on Sunday that it would begin listing two military-affiliated National Petroleum Company (NPC) and National Co. for Natural Water in Siwa (Safi) to investors.

In a meeting to follow up on the government's programme whereby a list of Egyptian state-owned companies is listed on the Egyptian stock market and also sold to strategic investors, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced that on Wednesday, the procedures for offering NPC and Safi companies would begin through the IPO advisor who will communicate with investors and make available the data of the two companies.

According to the cabinet spokesperson, the IPO advisor aims to maximise the value of the two companies and to attract investors from the local or foreign private sector after completing the preparation process of the IPO of the two companies under the supervision of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt.

The cabinet spokesperson also stated that during the meeting, the committee following up on the offerings programme agreed to offer four other major companies through international investment banks.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Petroleum Tarek El-Molla, Minister of Planning Hala El-Saeed, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait, Minister of Public Business Sector Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir and the CEO of Egypts Sovereign Fund Ayman Soliman.

In February, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced that 32 Egyptian state companies would be listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) and also sold for strategic investors within a year, including NPC and Siwa, which are owned by the Egyptian Armed Forces.

The premier had stressed then that floating the companies is one of the strategic goals under the State Ownership Policy Document.

The document, approved by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in December, charts a roadmap to determine the state's presence in economic activities and enhance the private sector's participation in public investments.

The ownership document states that Egypt seeks to raise the role of the private sector in the countrys economic activities from 30 per cent at present to 65 per cent within three years.

Boosting the role of the private sector in growth in parallel with reducing the size of the states footprint in the economy was one of the country's commitments and targets under the $3 billion 46-month loan approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

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Associated Press

In 1958, Martin Luther King Jr. was stabbed at a book signing in Harlem by Izola Ware Curry.

The event nearly killed Dr. King, who was rushed to nearby Harlem Hospital and underwent emergency surgery.

He referenced the attack in his now infamous, 'I've been to the mountaintop' speech delivered only a day before he was killed.

Ten years before his untimely death, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. suffered an assassination attempt that left him "just a sneeze away from death."

Greitzer/NY Daily News

One of the physicians treating Dr. King after the attack said that, "had Dr. King sneezed or coughed, the weapon would have penetrated the aorta... He was just a sneeze away from death."

Source: Stanford King Institute

On September 20th, 1958, Dr. King was at a book signing for his memoir, 'Stride Toward Freedom,' at Blumstein's Department Store in Harlem. Georgia native Izola Curry was in the line of attendees waiting to speak with Dr. King.

Associated Press

Source: New York Times

As her turn to speak with Dr. King arrived, Curry approached the civil rights leader and reportedly asked, "Are you Martin Luther King?" "Yes," Dr. King replied without looking up. Curry then reached into her handbag, raised a seven-inch letter opener, and drove it into Dr. King's upper chest.

The letter opener can be seen protruding from King's upper chest. Vernoll Coleman/New York Daily News

Source: New York Times

Chaos quickly ensued. Swarms of bystanders attended to Dr. King, while security immediately apprehended Curry. Not running or resisting, Curry reportedly exclaimed, "I've been after him for six years  I'm glad I done it."

New York Daily News / Contributor

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution

Dr. King was rushed to the nearby Harlem Hospital where medical professionals performed emergency surgery for two hours.

The letter opener still protruding from his chest, medical staff wheels Dr. King into Harlem Hospital for surgery. New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images

Source: New York Times

Officials, family, and preachers visited King pushing for his speedy recovery

New York Governor Averell Harriman stands at the hospital bed of MLK in his recovery. Bettmann/Getty Images

Andrew Young, an ambassador to the United Nations who was present during the attack, reported that King told him that being treated in the hospital was "an out of body experience" as he watched from above "preachers praying over him."

Story continues

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution

Back at Blumstein's, Curry was arrested. At the time, she was working as a housekeeper and factory worker, but her deteriorating mental health had pushed her to a state of increased paranoia.

Associated Press

A later psychiatric report said Curry believed that she had been "under constant surveillance and all her movements [were] known to the NAACP and Dr. King." Officers at the scene found Curry had also brought a loaded .25-caliber automatic pistol to the scene of the crime.

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution

Dr. King recovered from the attack over the next few days. In a speech he gave ten years later, Dr. King spoke of the attack, saying, "The X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that's punctured, you're drowned in your own blood  that's the end of you."

John Lent/Associated Press

Source: New York Times, American Rhetoric

Following the attack, Curry was admitted to Bellevue Hospital and was deemed unfit to stand trial. Thirty days later, she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and committed to Matteawan State Hospital.

Bettmann/Getty Images

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution

Upon learning about his assailant's mental state, Dr. King wrote of his concern and hopes for Curry: "I am deeply sorry that a deranged woman should have injured herself in seeking to injure me I know that we want her to receive the necessary treatment so that she may become a constructive citizen in an integrated society where a disorganized personality need not become a menace to any man."

Governor Averell Harriman and Coretta Scott King stand at MLK's bedside two days after the stabbing incident. Ray Howard/Associated Press

Source: Stanford King Institute

In his now infamous, 'I've been to the mountaintop' speech, delivered on April 3, 1968, in Memphis, Dr. King spoke of the attack, saying, "I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze," or he would not have been able to witness the Freedom Rides or the strides made by the Civil Rights movement. The very next day, on April 4, 1968, Dr. King was killed by James Earl Ray.

Dr. Martin Luther King addresses some 2,000 people on the eve of his death, giving the speech "I've been to the mountaintop." Bettmann via Getty

Source: New York Times, American Rhetoric

Read the original article on Insider
The post The 1975 Perform Two Songs on SNL Episode Hosted by Jenna Ortega appeared first on Consequence.

The 1975 took a detour from their ongoing international tour in order to appear on this weekends episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Jenna Ortega. In support of their latest album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language, Matty Healy and co. performed Im in Love With You and Oh Caroline. Watch the replay below.

The 1975s upcoming tour schedule dates includes shows in Latin America, Australia, Japan, Europe, and beyond. Tickets are available via Viagogo.

As for Ortega, the Wednesday, Scream VI, and future Beetlejuice star made her SNL hosting debut. She appeared in sketches spoofing The Parent Trap (alongside special guest Fred Armisen), Ridiculousness, and X-Men, underwent an exorcism, and starred in a very funny and absurd Waffle House bit. Watch all the highlights below.

The 1975 Perform Two Songs on SNL Episode Hosted by Jenna Ortega

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3 American Women Believed Missing in Nuevo Leon, Mexico

By Polo Sandoval, Melissa Alonso, Emma Tucker and Andrew Millman, CNN

(CNN)  Three American women are believed to be missing in Mexico after they crossed the U.S. border from Texas to sell clothes at a flea market over two weeks ago, police told CNN on Saturday.

Marina Perez Rios, 48, her sister Martiza Trinidad Perez Rios, 47, and their friend Dora Alicia Cervantes Saenz, 53, crossed into Mexico on February 24, Roel Bermea, the Penitas, Texas police chief, told CNN on Saturday.

From left: Martiza Trinidad Perez Rios; Marina Perez Rios; and Dora Alicia Cervantes Saenz.

From left: Martiza Trinidad Perez Rios; Marina Perez Rios; and Dora Alicia Cervantes Saenz. COURTESY PENITAS POLICE DEPARTMENT

The group was heading to the city of Montemorelos in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon to sell clothes at a flea market, Bermea said. The flea market is about a three-hour drive south from the US border.

RELATED: 2 Kidnapped Americans Found Dead 2 Survived

The three women went missing one week before four Americans were kidnapped on March 3 in the Mexican border city of Matamoros, which is roughly 300 miles east of Montemorelos.

Two of the Americans, Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown, were killed and their bodies were delivered Thursday to US diplomatic authorities, according to a Mexican official. The two survivors  LaTavia Washington McGee and Eric Williams  returned to the US Tuesday to be treated in a hospital.

Six people in total have been arrested in connection to the violent March 3 abduction, including one on Tuesday, Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios Mojica said Friday.

An apology letter was issued Thursday by the Gulf Cartel, which is believed to be responsible for the kidnappings, and the group handed over five of its members to local authorities, according to images circulating online and a version of the letter obtained by CNN from an official familiar with the ongoing investigation.

U.S. officials offer assistance

Marinas husband spent all weekend calling the women. When he hadnt heard from them by Monday, he turned to investigators for help, according to authorities.

Story continues

The chief said the department confirmed the women crossed the border at the Anzalduas Port of Entry on February 24 in a 1995 Chevy Silverado.

RELATED: Is Mexico a Safe Travel Destination?

Once the crossing was confirmed, the FBI was notified, Bermea said.

CNN has reached out to the FBI for comment but has not heard back.

Its unclear whether Mexican authorities are investigating the matter.

A State Department spokesperson told CNN Saturday the department is aware of reports of three U.S. citizens missing in Mexico.

The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad. We stand ready to provide appropriate assistance to U.S. citizens in need and to their families, the spokesperson said.

When a U.S. citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts, and we share information with families however we can, the spokesperson said.

The chief urged the public to call local authorities with any information that could lead to the whereabouts of the women.

The-CNN-Wire

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He was one of the last presidents of Mexico to rule over Texas and always portrayed as one of the great villains of Texas History. Santa Anna is an overwhelming presence in the history of early Mexico, shaping much of the direction of the country in that time period, and Texas by extension. His role in the history of Mexico is much more complicated. He was president of Mexico on 11 different occasions until being overthrown, he was a constant foe of Texas and the United States, he was responsible for events from chewing gum to the disaster at the Alamo. Santa Annas impact on history cannot be denied.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was born in eastern Mexico in 1794, one of seven children. His father was a respected and modestly successful lawyer under Spanish colonial rule. However, his father was often frustrated by the Spanish crown granting political appointments to ambitious Spaniards close to the royal family rather than those colonists born in Mexico. He tried to push his son into a career as a businessman, but his mother managed to get him appointed as an officer in the Spanish army at the age of 16.

Bridges

By 1810, Mexico and most of Latin America was in chaos following Napoleons occupation of Spain. That year, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla sparked a rebellion of the lower classes in Mexico, calling for racial equality for Mexicos many different minority groups and for land reform. Santa Anna fought against the rebels. In 1813, he made his first venture into Texas by defeating the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition, an ill-fated attempt by a ragtag private army to take over the area. Serving under Gen. Jose Joaquin de Arredondo, Santa Anna learned his techniques for regaining control in the midst of rebellion  mass executions. Santa Anna was part of the brutal suppression of the uprising, mercilessly slaughtering 300 rebels in San Antonio and leaving the bodies hanging in the trees. By 1815, the rebellion throughout Mexico had been largely suppressed. When a coup in Spain overthrew the absolute monarchy in favor of a constitutional government in 1820, aristocrats in Mexico rebelled, fearing for the future of their elite status. Gen. Augustin de Iturbide led the revolt, and seeing the political winds changing, Santa Anna joined forces with Iturbide. By 1821, Iturbide was proclaimed emperor of Mexico; and Santa Anna was rewarded by being given command of Veracruz, Mexicos most important port city.

Between 1823 and 1862, the average term of a Mexican president was nine months. Resignations, coups, and mysterious deaths became a fact of life in Mexican politics, with Santa Anna increasingly at the center of the chaos. Santa Anna participated in the rebellion against Iturbide that led to the creation of a republic in 1823. In 1827 as Mexico conducted an election, Santa Anna and a number of other generals declared they would ignore the results and launched an attack on the government. With Santa Annas help, a new president was installed by the military.

Santa Anna led Mexican troops against Spains attempt to reclaim Mexico in 1829. He repelled the Spanish invasion at the Battle of Tampico. For the ambitious officer rising through the ranks, the results were everything he wanted. His popularity soared, and he christened himself The Napoleon of the West.

After the vice-president seized the presidency for himself in 1830, he arrested his predecessor and placed him on trial. After the former presidents execution in 1831, protests erupted across Mexico. Seeing the opportunity, Santa Anna gathered his forces and launched a rebellion against the new government. Crushed under the weight of Santa Annas attacks, Bustamante agreed to step down while the different factions agreed to new elections. Santa Anna was elected president overwhelmingly in 1833.

As president, Santa Anna was as the height of Mexicos political power. But he soon became bored with the position. After a month in office, he stepped down in favor of Vice-President Valentin Farias and returned to his estate in Veracruz. Farias continued to take orders from Santa Anna and pursued a number of reforms while tackling an immense national debt. After these reforms began angering conservatives, Santa Anna returned to Mexico City to reclaim the presidency, forcing Farias to resign. This process would continue three more times between the summer of 1833 and January 1835. As a result, instability and factionalism arose again and the governments control over the country weakened.

In 1834, Santa Anna dissolved Congress. He abolished the 1824 constitution and arbitrarily imposed a new constitution in January 1835 to restore order before stepping down from the presidency once again. Instead of order, revolution erupted across Mexico as the people demanded their rights be restored. Protests erupted across the country. Several states declared themselves in rebellion. Yucatan declared its independence and several northern states declared their independence as the Republic of the Rio Grande. Santa Anna retook command of the army and brutally crushed these rebellions across the country.

Texas settlers, mostly Americans, had grown tired of the abuses by Mexico and began their own rebellion, the Texas Revolution. Once Santa Anna restored order in Mexico, he rode north to Texas with his forces to suppress the rebels. This would lead to the bloody massacres at the Alamo and at Goliad in early 1836, moments that would leave an indelible mark on Texas History.

Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Bridges history column: Santa Anna, other side of Texas Revolution
The Mississippi legislation that critics have slammed as a Jim Crow bill has taken a turn after the state Senate passed it Tuesday with a couple of amendments that would both expand its scope and maintain a level of city government jurisdiction over Jackson.

City leaders and Democrats serving in the state legislature have fumed recently as the state House last month passed House Bill 1020, which was set to establish a separate court system for part of the city and grant the state-run Capitol Police the authority to patrol the area instead of the Jackson Police Department.

Supporters of the proposal have heralded it as a way to address rampant crime and an overrun court system in Jackson, but critics have said it calls back to the Jim Crow era, a period from the late-19th century to mid-20th century when state and local laws in the South enforced segregation and racial discrimination.

Opponents pointed out that the legislation established the court system mostly for the citys white neighborhoods, which have the lowest crime levels of anywhere in Jackson. The state Senates actions Tuesday appear to be an attempt at addressing those concerns.

The amended bill that the Senate passed would expand the Capitol Polices jurisdiction to include the entire city of Jackson. The House bill would have the Capitol Police only oversee a certain segment of the city but supplant Jackson polices authority for that area.

Those who have objected to the House bill have also gone after its plan to let the chief justice of Mississippi Supreme Court appoint four judges to be responsible over four-year terms for overseeing this separate district. This plan would replace a process of choosing judges through election, which Jackson has done for years.

The Senate bill, which passed along party lines in a 34-15 vote, would have the chief justice temporarily appoint one judge to serve alongside the four elected judges for the Hinds County Circuit Court until December 2026, at which point Jackson constituents would elect a judge to that position.

Story continues

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba (D) has rebuked the House bill as amounting to apartheid and plantation politics, noting that it would give a white state official the responsibility to appoint judges who have jurisdiction in a predominantly Black city.

More than 80 percent of Jacksons residents are Black, which means it has the highest percentage of Black residents of any major city in the United States, according to The Associated Press.

Lumumba has said the House bill is an attack on Black leadership. He argued that state lawmakers have ignored the requests that city leaders have made to address crime issues and are instead forcing their influence on the city. Some of these requests have included violence interruption training and ballistics technology to assist in investigations.

Some Democrats and local officials have indicated that the bill the state Senate passed is an improvement on the House version, but both are still unacceptable.

It is vastly improved from where it started, but it is still a snake, state Sen. John Horhn (D) reportedly said during debate over the Senate bill.

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens testified before the state Senate Monday that the Senates proposal appears to give assistance to Jackson, but his office opposes both this version and the House one, USA Today reported.

Owens said he took issue with the Senate version not tackling the causes of the backlog in the legal system, which he said include a lack of funding for the public defenders office, state crime laboratory and Jackson police.

Gail Lowery, the public defender for Hinds County, testified that her offices attorneys make significantly less than those for the district attorneys office because her office is funded by the county, while Owenss office receives funding from the state, according to USA Today.

Lowery said she has not been asked what resources she needs.

Nobody at this point has asked me or my staff any questions about what our real needs are or to paint a picture about what were struggling with to provide constitutional protections to the accused, she said.

With the two bodies of the state legislature having passed separate bills, the approved Senate version is now heading back to the House for approval with its amendments. The House can either vote to pass the approved Senate version or move into conference with the state Senate to reconcile the differences between the two variations.

Jackson-based CBS affiliate WJTV reported that state Rep. Trey Lamar (R), who introduced the House bill, said he is prepared to collaborate with the Senate to work on the differences. He said he expects the bill will go to a conference process and hopes to have a final product to present to the legislature soon.

We have met, and the governor is, like I think most everybody here, including Republicans and Democrats, regardless or in spite of what the national news is portraying, are in lockstep that wed like to see a safer capital city, he said.

Lamar has rejected claims that the bill has any racial motivation and said addressing crime in Jackson is his only goal.

The city saw a decrease in its homicide rate last year but still had the highest of any major city in the U.S.

Even if the House and Senate are able to work out the differences between their versions and Gov. Tate Reeves (R), who has denounced the crime rate in the city and Jacksons leaders, signs it into law, the legislation could still face challenges from legal battles.

Jackson NBC affiliate WLBT reported that the NAACP and Legislative Black Caucus might file lawsuits against the bill if it becomes law.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Indie film sales agents from mainland China remain notably scarce for a market of such immense size. The reasons behind this reality are many: The still-developing state of Chinas industry, a markedly domestic focus among most local studios, and a censorship and regulatory regime that adds risk to an already commercially challenging sector of the movie business.

Beijing-based sales and production company Rediance has made an outsized impact despite the odds. The company was founded in 2017 by former film curator Meng Xing with a mission to serve the growing international needs of a cohort of young, accomplished Chinese arthouse filmmakers. The outfit found its stride with impressive speed, representing European festival award winners like Cai Chengjies The Widow Witch (2017), Hu Bos Elephant Sitting Still (2018) and Li Chengs Jose (2018). The company also has expanded into financing arthouse titles from both emerging and established arthouse names from China and afar, such as Palme dOr winner Apichatpong Weerasethakuls latest feature Memoria, Portuguese director Miguel Gomes upcoming period drama Grand Tour and Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chens Wet Season (2019) and The Breaking Ice (TBA).

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Rediance is coming off a strong showing at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it had three titles in the selection, including Belgian director Bas Devos Here, which won best film in the Encounters section. Ahead of the Hong Kongs Filmart content market, where Rediance will present two titles, The Hollywood Reporter connected with Meng for a discussion of his companys origins and expanding ambitions.

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How did Rediances begin?

Well, I started Radiance at a time when the Chinese film industry was really booming and there were a lot of talented young Chinese filmmakers coming onto the scene from totally different backgrounds. I got my start in film at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijings 798 district, where I was the film curator from 2009 to 2014. At that time, there were not that many truly independent directors, aside from the short list of established names; but by 2016 and 2017 there was a big wave of young filmmakers and independent producers coming into the industry. You know, Xin Yukun had released Coffin in the Mountain (2014), Zhang Dalei put out his first feature, The Summer Is Gone, and Bi Gan was getting attention with Kaili Blues. At the same time, most of this new generation had little or no experience with international festivals and distributors. There was no mainland Chinese sales company for independent film at that time, just some longstanding companies in Hong Kong or Taiwan. Because of my curatorship and programming backgrounds, I had a lot of connections build up with sales agents and festival people all around the globe, so I thought, What if I just started one? If you think about it, being a curator and being a sales agent are rather similar: you pick a film you like and you introduce it to a certain audience  in the latter case festival programmers and distributors from different regions around the globe. We were lucky to start on a high note. One of our first tiles was Cai Chengjies The Widowed Witch, which won the Tiger Award at Rotterdam. Then we had Hu Bos An Elephant Sitting Still, which won the FIPRESCI Award in Berlin. So things really started taking off, because we could say we were representing some of the best in independent voices in Chinese cinema. After that we continued to work with a lot of young filmmakers, like Wei Shujun with Ripples of Life, as well as some more established directors, like Pema Tseden, the Tibetan filmmaker, whose film Balloon (2020) premiered in Venice.

Before long, you started representing directors and films from outside of China. How did that expansion come about?

My interest was always in world cinema. If youre working with festivals and auteur films, you cant really limit yourself geographically. So even in our early days, we started working with filmmakers from Southeast Asia and Mexico. We worked with the Belgian filmmaker Bas Devos on his 2019 film Ghost Tropic, and then we collaborated again on his latest title, Here, which won the Encounters section in Berlin last month. Now, our slate is about half Chinese films and half films from all different backgrounds and nationalities. We also have been producing from the very beginning. I produced Geng Juns Free and Easy and brought it to Sundance for him in 2017. That was another helpful early success, because it won a special jury award at Sundance.

Absence by Wu Long

Its very easy to see the needs you were able to serve within the Chinese industry, but Im curious if you had to do anything to manage expectations when you started working with directors and companies from outside China. Because when I talk to people in the international industry about China, there tends to be two reflexive thoughts: Big money potential (from Chinas deep pocketed financiers and enormous market) versus big regulatory complications. Have you had to manage expectations from the international industry?

Well, I think international interest in the Chinese market was one of our strengths at the beginning. But I was alway careful not to overpromise anything, like I can get your indie film distributed theatrically in China, because I know its often just not going to happen. But because we are a Chinese company and we do have a lot of connections, there often is something we can possibly do for them. For example, perhaps there is a better VOD deal that we can do for them, compared to a European agency trying to sell to China from the outside. But a lot of our expansion internationally has come down to trust and reputation. One of the coproductions we did early on was Anthony Chens Wet Season; we handled the distribution in China and at the same time helped to sell the film to Taiwan. There was a certain trust that was built up there. So then, when he was producing Ajooma [Singapores entry for the best international film category at the Oscars this year], he was interested in working with us to sell the film across Asia, even though it was a Singapore-Korea coproduction that didnt have anything to do with China. When we helped produce Apichatpongs latest film, Memoria, which premiered in competition at Cannes, that relationship went back all the way to my days as a curator at Ullens Center. I had organized the first retrospective of his work in China and we became friends and kept in touch to see if there would someday be a way to work together. I also think people just look at our past lineup and see that theres an interesting collection of films there, with a sensibility that they can recognize, and they become curious because there hasnt really been a sales company from China thats done this kind of thing before.

You mentioned how when you were starting your company, it was a very exciting time for Chinese independent cinema. Whats the situation now?

Well, how to put it  On the one hand, there are still lots of young, talented aspiring Chinese directors trying to make interesting films. So, as a producer, I fortunately get approached all of the time by young filmmakers with projects. There is still so much talent out there waiting to be developed. On the other hand, the industry overall has become a lot more constrained. Its not as welcoming as it was before. In the past, the big local studios would put some money into a new directors film without necessarily expecting to make a return. It was more in the sense that they were trying to find and develop new talent to work with on their other more commercial projects down the road. But over the past few years, censorship became stricter and the pandemic created huge disruptions, so suddenly the big studios werent sure if there was even going to be an opportunity in the market for their biggest commercial titles. So, everything tightened up. Unfortunately, that means there have been fewer and fewer opportunities for young directors lately. Late last year, they threw open the gates, people got their lives back and the film market has started to recover. But well have to wait and see. Its going to take time for the studios to get their confidence back; and it takes time for projects to get into production. Its going to take two or three years to really see if a broad comeback in independent film is underway.

What was you experience like at Berlins European Film Market last month and what did it tell you about the current state of the world cinema business?

I had a great experience in Berlin! It was really great to be back in Berlin for a full-scale, in-person event after the pandemic. It was so nice to see industry friends from all over the world again. And we had three strong titles in the festival, including Wu Langs Absence and Bas Devos Here in Encounters, and a short from Zhang Dalei in the short films competition. However, it also was clear that world cinema scene is still recovering and that the past few years were really, really hard for distributors all around the globe. They still have a lot of films in their pipelines that they havent been able to distribute, so thats limiting their budget to buy new titles. Indie distributors were already coping with the changes brought on by streaming, and then they had to survive COVID. On the other hand, its a great year for Chinese cinema. There were Chinese titles in every section of Berlin, and I think people are going to be talking about how this is a comeback year for Chinese film on the international festival stage, because there is a backlog of films from the past few years that are now ready to finally go out into the world. Im excited about Filmart too. Were bringing two new projects that were quite excited about.

What are your further international ambitions for Rediance?

Well, Ive been positioning Rediance as an international film company since the very beginning. We have colleagues in Paris and Lisbon now. But Id like for Rediance to not only be limited to film. I hope to expand into more cultural territories, such as books  were currently working on a Chinese book for Apitchatpongs Memoria  also, merchandising, even lifestyle. I like embracing challenges and traveling to places unknown.

Last one: Where does the name Rediance come from?

[Laughs] Our Chinese name is Chi Jiao [], which means stars beaming red light in the sky. So, red combined with radiance, hence: Rediance.

Click here to read the full article.
Saudi Arabia announced Sunday the creation of a new national airline, part of a plan to turn Riyadh into a global aviation hub rivalling regional leaders like Dubai and Doha.

Riyadh Air "aims to launch flights to more than 100 destinations around the world by 2030," the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Tony Douglas, former head of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, has been appointed CEO, SPA said.

The Gulf kingdom is pursuing ambitious aviation goals as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's wide-ranging "Vision 2030" reform agenda, including more than tripling annual traffic to 330 million passengers by the end of the decade.

It also wants to move up to five million tonnes of cargo each year.

Last November officials announced plans for a new airport in the capital Riyadh spanning 57 square kilometres (22 square miles), that is set to accommodate 120 million travellers by 2030 and 185 million travellers by 2050.

Sunday's announcement said Riyadh Air would operate a "fleet of advanced aircraft", but did not specify how big the fleet would be or from where it would be sourced.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund that will own the airline, was "close to a deal" with Boeing for an aircraft order "valued at $35 billion".

The kingdom's busiest international airport is currently in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah, where flag carrier Saudia is based.

Known as the "Gateway to Mecca", the city welcomes millions of Muslims performing the hajj and umrah pilgrimages each year.

Officials have in recent years tried to position Riyadh, in central Saudi Arabia, as a rival to business hub Dubai.

The capital currently has around eight million people, but officials have said they want the population to grow to 15-20 million by 2030.

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A major breakthrough in international diplomacy was announced Friday when Saudi Arabia and Iran revealed that they had agreed to resume normalized relations in a deal brokered by China.

The countries announced the deal in a joint statement, saying Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two largest Middle Eastern nations by area, will resume diplomatic relations and each reopen embassies in the other country within two months.

The plan will return Saudi Arabia and Iran to normalized relations after the kingdom cut ties with the other nation in 2016, and will likely have lasting effects throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world.

Here are five things to know about the Chinese-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran:

It reduces tensions in the Middle East between two regional powers

Iran and Saudi Arabia may have only officially broken off diplomatic relations in 2016, but tensions between the two countries are deeply rooted in history and religion.

Saudi Arabia has historically followed the Sunni branch of Islam, while Iran has followed the Shia branch. The split between the two branches dates back to the seventh-century, when it arose amid debates over who the rightful successor to the Prophet Mohammed was, according to the nonpartisan think tank Council on Foreign Relations.

In a more recent source of tension, the Iranian Revolution in 1979 brought Ruhollah Khomeini to power, and he ruled as ayatollah, bringing together government and religious leadership under Shia Islam. The new Iranian government began supporting Shiite groups in other countries in the region, while Saudi Arabia was prompted by the revolution to strengthen its Sunni connections, according to the council.

Since then, Iran and Saudi Arabia have not directly fought each other but have engaged in a series of proxy conflicts.

Saudi Arabia supported Iraq during its war with Iran in the 1980s. In more recent years, Iran has supported the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is a member of a sect that arose from Shia Islam, while Saudi Arabia has supported rebels seeking to overthrow him in the Sunni-majority country. Saudi Arabia has also supported a Sunni government in exile in the civil war in Yemen, while Iran has backed the Houthi rebels, who are Shia.

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As Saudi Arabia and Iran improve their ties, the normalization of their relations could impact these conflicts, too.

It demonstrates Chinas growing influence on the world stage

Another factor of the deal in addition to the agreement itself is the fact that China was the one responsible for moderating it. The agreement came after four days of previously undisclosed talks in Beijing.

China has been pushing to challenge the U.S. role as the worlds superpower for years, and their success in securing the agreement weakens the U.S. position in the region.

The United States has had longstanding but recently tense relations with Saudi Arabia, especially since the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who criticized the Saudi regime. U.S. intelligence assessed in 2021 that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved an operation to kill or capture Khashoggi.

The U.S. has had fraught relations with Iran for decades since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, making it likely impossible for the U.S. to arrange such a deal between the two Middle Eastern powers.

China has meanwhile bought substantial amounts of oil from Saudi Arabia and stayed close to Iran.

Some international affairs experts have said the agreement signals China is getting more involved in diplomatic engagement of the Middle East.

It should be a warning to U.S. policymakers: Leave the Middle East and abandon ties with sometimes frustrating, even barbarous, but long-standing allies, and youll simply be leaving a vacuum for China to fill, said Jonathan Panikoff, the director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative for the Atlantic Council, in a Friday analysis.

It could complicate normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations

Another international agreement that could be brewing is one to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, but the Saudi governments deal with Iran could make accomplishing that more difficult.

Israel has recently increased its ties to several of its Arab neighbors, in large part through the 2019 Abraham Accords that saw Israel normalize relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Sudan and Morocco soon after followed in establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that he wants to secure normalized relations with Saudi Arabia, but Iran has long been an adversary of Israel.

Israel has been one of the fiercest critics of Iran and its nuclear program, with its government under Netanyahu opposing the 2015 nuclear deal that saw restrictions placed on the program in exchange for the U.S. lifting sanctions on the Iranian regime.

The closer ties between Saudi Arabia, with whom Israel wants a better relationship, and Iran, one of its top adversaries, could make a deal more complicated.

People familiar with ongoing discussions told The New York Times that Saudi Arabia has laid out its demands for recognizing Israel, which include a security pledge from the U.S., the development of a civilian nuclear program and reduced restrictions on U.S. arms sales.

President Biden seemed to declare support for the Saudi-Iranian deal in comments Friday, saying that Better relations between Israel and their Arab neighbors are better for everybody.

It may bolster Assads government in Syrian Civil War

The Syrian government applauded the deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran after it was announced, saying that it would help bring stability to the Middle East.

The agreement could give a strategic advantage to Assads regime as he tries to stay in power amid an ongoing and lengthy civil war.

Fighting broke out in 2011 in the country following Assads strong and violent crackdown on protests during the Arab Spring. The war has become a multi-sided conflict and a proxy war between Iran, supporting Assad, and Saudi Arabia, supporting the rebels.

Countries tried to isolate Syria following its violent response to the protests, suspending the country from the Arab League, but the Syrian Foreign Ministry said a consensus is growing among Arab countries that isolating Syria is not working and that engagement is necessary.

Assads forces have meanwhile been able to recapture most major cities and hold most of the country, though rebel groups still hold a portion. Some experts and officials have said only a political solution can end the conflict, but any pullback in support of the rebels by Saudi Arabia following the deal with Iran could help Assad close in on retaining power.

It could help lead to end of the war in Yemen

The civil war in Yemen has been the other major still-ongoing conflict that has seen Saudi Arabia and Iran engage in a proxy battle.

Both the Yemini government and the Houthi rebels have claimed to be the legitimate authority in Yemen. The war has caused a massive humanitarian crisis as tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been suffering from hunger and illness.

The war has waged on for more than eight years, but much of the international community has signaled an interest in bringing it to an end. Former Yemini President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi stepped down from office last year to transition the government to a council that could find a political solution to the conflict.

Saudi officials have also pushed for ending the war and said earlier this year that progress was being made.

Some members of Congress have also advocated for a war powers resolution to end U.S. support for the Saudi intervention in Yemen. Biden ended U.S. assistance to Saudi-led offensives in the country in 2021, but the U.S. still sells arms for the conflict and shares intelligence.

The two key backers of the sides in the conflict, Saudi Arabia and Iran, agreeing to normalized relations could help the government and rebels reach an accord to end the violence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Paris-Nice: Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Dstny) on stage 5

Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Dstny) admitted to being at fault in a crash that took out Trek-Segafredo's overall classification hopeful Mattias Skjelmose on the run-in to the final climb of the Col de la Couillole in Paris-Nice on Saturday.

There were no hard feelings, however, as riders took to social media to show their good will and sportsmanship following De Gendt's apology.

"I touched the back wheel of [Luis Leon] Sanchez and went down hard," De Gendt wrote after leaving the race early following the crash. "I'm sorry for the riders I took down with me. It was my fault. I'm waiting to get examined by the doctor. Further update will follow later."

Soon after De Gendt issued his apology, Skjelmose, who Trek-Segafredo said needed stitches to a gash on his eyebrow, was quick to forgive, replying, "shit happens, hope you are good".

Sanchez also offered his best wishes after finishing the stage, writing to De Gendt, "I hope it's nothing, see you soon."

The crash took De Gendt and Skjelmose out of the race, while Trek's Julien Bernard and Sanchez finished the stage.

Lotto-Dstny later announced that De Gendt suffered multiple abrasions and would return to Belgium for examinations.

"I forgot how much crashing hurts. Last crash that I can remember was in 2018. Even had to ask our busdriver what others did in the shower to clean the wounds," De Gendt wrote later.

The crash came just before the start of the 15.7-kilometre climb of the Col de la Couillole.

Trek-Segafredo had hoped to move Skjelmose up from 13th place, 2:06 behind Paris-Nice leader Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and third in the best young rider standings. Instead, the Dane left the race with multiple abrasions, bruises and a cut to his face, knee and shoulder. There was no sign of a concussion from the hard fall but the team said they would monitor him.

I touched the backwheel of LL Sanchez and went down hard. Im sorry for the riders i took down with me. It was my fault. Im waiting to get examined by the doctor. Further update will follow later.March 11, 2023

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I forgot how much crashing hurts. Last crash that i can remember was in 2018. Even had to ask our busdriver what others did in the shower to clean the wounds.March 11, 2023

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Nebraska authorities arrested two Hondurans late last month for hunting and killing a bald eagle.

Americans with deep pockets are known to jet to Honduras for the local fishing. Bonefish, tarpon and marlin make for an attractive menu, although an exotic Central American location and easy rum surely add to the appeal.

Not widely considered, on the other hand, is the question of how many Hondurans come north to the United States for the hunting and fishing. The guess is anyone keeping count might not have to count high.

Honduras is home to things not readily found in the United States  tropical jungles being one, ancient ruins being another. But one temptation found in the states and not in Honduras is the bald eagle, the designated U.S. national bird although Ben Franklin thought wild turkeys might make a superior emblem.

I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy, Franklin said.

Mr. Franklin also said, Turkey is a much more respectable bird and withal a true original native of America.

As far back as the pilgrims, so the story goes, turkeys have been featured at the festival table. Mostly in domesticated form, they still do.

Eagles, on the other hand, being illegal to hunt, capture, breed or kill, not many people who have supped on illicit remains have bragged about it.

One epicure, who claims to hail from upstate New York and who identifies as Andrew Gray, purports on the website americasrestaurant.com to describe the culinary experience of munching prepared eagle.

When it comes to taste, bald eagle meat has a strong aroma and a gamey flavor. As a muscular bird, bald eagle meat has a chewy taste similar to that of waterfowl, turkey and venison, Grays website says. Some people find the taste of bald eagle meat similar to chicken.

But of course.

A hash of untranslatable hope and hunger might make explicable how it happened that two Hondurans got themselves in a fix when authorities in Nebraska discovered they had gunned down a bald eagle with the intent of making a meal of the thing.

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The men, both 20, reportedly dont speak English. The local sheriff pieced together the plausibility the men thought they were harvesting a vulture. Reports offered no hints about the tastiness of buzzard, but be sure to marinate.

Another odd incident surfaced within days of the other.

A New York hunter appeared in a Connecticut courtroom to answer charges related to the crossbow killings in late November of two pet German shepherds. Hed made what he described as a split-second decision to kill someones German shepherds hed mistaken for coyotes.

Such crimes generally are given appropriate seriousness when they reach a courtroom, where a judge has the last word. Fines and jail time deliver a message understood in any language.

outdoors@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Courts to deal with hunters who killed eagles, German shepherds
Religious and environmental ideals are at odds for some in the ongoing debate around what to do with human remains.

A proposal at the Illinois Statehouse would legalize and regulate natural organic reduction, a process in which human remains are rapidly decomposed into compost. The process is also known as human composting or terramation.

That process turns human remains into dirt over the course of several weeks. Companies that offer this service place a persons remains in a vessel with wood chips, straw and other organic material and heat it to accelerate the growth of microbes that break down the body. This is distinct from natural burial, in which a body is buried with no casket or in a biodegradable container.

The measure, House Bill 3158, passed in the House Energy and Environment Committee on Tuesday on a 16-10 vote. It now goes to the House for consideration, although its sponsor, Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said an amendment to the bill is likely.

If lawmakers approve the proposal, Illinois would become the seventh state to legalize this process. Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California and New York have already made the process legal, according to the human composting company Recompose.

Recompose pushed for the legalization of human composting in Washington. Its website notes that a body will stay in the vessel for four to seven weeks before the resulting soil is allowed to cure for two to six weeks. A persons loved ones are then left with approximately one cubic yard of soil.

Natural organic reduction is, in fact, the most environmentally friendly death care option, Haley Morris, a representative of the human composting company Earth Funerals, said during the committee hearing.

Its less resource intensive than any other option and it reduces carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 90 percent relative to traditional options, Moris added

Representatives of several environmental groups around the state have also voiced their support of the bill in witness slips filed with the committee. These include the Illinois Environmental Council, the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club and Go Green Winnetka.

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Cassidy filed an amendment on Wednesday altering some of the fee structures for licensing the practice and indicated in an interview that another forthcoming amendment will modify some of the regulations around testing the compost.

This is about creating choices and options and in particular choices that are less harmful for the planet, Cassidy said.

Cassidy also said she updated her own will last year to include that she would like her body to undergo the natural organic reduction process.

Notable among the bills opponents is the Catholic Church. Daniel Welter, the recently retired chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago, spoke to lawmakers at the request of the Catholic Conference of Illinois on Tuesday.

Turning the mortal remains of a human person into compost for the purpose of fertilization, as one would with vegetable trimmings or eggshells, degrades the human person and dishonors the life that was lived by that person, he said during the committee hearing.

Welter added that he and the church oppose any tendency to minimize the dignity of a human being, even after death.

Representatives of the death care industry also oppose legalizing this process. LeNette Van Haverbeke, a representative of Illinois Cemetery and Funeral Home Association, told lawmakers that many in the field oppose human composting as lacking the traditional dignity afforded to the dead.

Others in the field are not as critical. After a similar bill was met with opposition last year from the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, Cassidy met with representatives of the industry to craft new language regulating the vessels used in the process, professional licensing and soil testing among other elements of the bill.

Im not saying were a proponent of it, but the sponsor did listen to us, said Margaret Vaughn of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide, as well as hundreds of radio and TV stations. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Illinois considers legalizing human composting
Ithaca

Ithaca were locked inside the venue for the first show of their Europe and UK tour as German police dealt with a hostage situation nearby.

The UK metallic hardcore band were due to kick off the run of dates at Die Stadtmitte in the city of Karlsruhe on Friday night, March 10. But instead they were stuck inside as police locked down an area of the city.

According to the Evening Standard, multiple explosions were heard as special unit officers stormed a pharmacy to free multiple hostages who had been held there for hours.

It was reported that the hostage taker demanded a ransom of millions of Euros. Officers arrived at the scene at 4.30pm and the suspect was taken into custody around 9pm. Reuters reports that nobody was hurt in the incident.

In a Twitter post, Ithaca say: "First show with didnt exactly go as planned  show cancelled and us being shut into the venue all night. Thankful no one was hurt. Were so sorry to everyone with tickets and we hope to see you soon! Tonight were in Bochum, lets try this again."

Ithaca released their second album They Fear Us to critical acclaim last year. Metal Hammer described it as "a triumph" and "absolutely essential listening."

The tour with Get The Shot and Thrown continues tonight, Saturday, March 11, in Bochum.

First show with @gettheshothc @thrownsthlm didnt exactly go as planned - show cancelled and us being shut into the venue all night. Thankful no one was hurt. Were so sorry to everyone with tickets and we hope to see you soon!Tonight were in Bochum, lets try this again pic.twitter.com/2NReGfMB6uMarch 11, 2023

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Ithaca 2023 EU/EK tour

Mar 11: Bochum Matrix, Germany

Mar 12: Hertogenbosch Willem Twee Poppodium, Netherlands

Mar 13: Wiesbaden Schlachthof, Germany

Mar 14: Arlon L'Entrepot, Belgium

Mar 15: New Cross Inn, New Cross, UK

Mar 16: Paris La Bellevilloise, France

Mar 17: Nantes Le Ferrailleur, France

Mar 18: Toulouse Le Metronum, France

Mar 19: Montbeliard Atelier des Moles, France

Mar 20: Aarau Kiff, Switzerland

Mar 21: Munich Backstage Club, Germany

Mar 22: Prague Futurum Music Bar, Czech Republic

Mar 23: Dresden Blauer Salon, Germany

Mar 24: Berlin Lido, Germany

Mar 25: Hamburg Bahnhof Pauli (Klubhaus St. Pauli), Germany
When Hope Fuller recently heard about a settlement for the heirs of Akron rubber workers, she searched the list and was pleased to find her father's name.

John Oakes worked for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. for 36 years and died of lung cancer and other diseases related to asbestos exposure at his job.

John Oakes

He should get something, said Fuller, who lives in Akron and is Oakes only surviving heir. He suffered quite a bit.

More:'Correcting an injustice': How one company's lies killed thousands of Akron rubber workers

Fuller is among the heirs who have been identified as eligible for payments through a $72.5 million settlement with Eastern Magnesia Talc or Emtal, a Delaware company that supplied talc to the rubber companies.

The talc, which was used to keep rubber from sticking, contained asbestos  a fact the company lied about and hid for many years from the rubber shops it supplied, the attorneys and plaintiffs suing them, and the courts.

Bevan & Associates, the Boston Township law firm handling the talc settlement, has received nearly 1,100 calls since the Beacon Journal published articles last month about the settlement. The company has identified 1,600 new heirs of rubber workers.

The response was more than the firm expected and kept its 55-member staff busy for several weeks.

It certainly spurred a lot of interest  and weve taken a lot of calls and identified a lot of new rubber worker cases, said Tom Bevan, one of the attorneys assisting with the settlement.

Rubber worker heirs sue biggest talc supplier

Several heirs of Akron rubber workers had sued Emtal in federal court, accusing the company and its attorneys of covering up how its talc contained asbestos, which causes cancer and other diseases, sickening employees exposed to it and, in some cases, resulting in their deaths. Emtal was the biggest supplier of talc or soapstone, as it was commonly called, to rubber companies from the 1950s to the early 1980s.

More:One company sickened thousands of Akron rubber workers with decades of lies. What we know

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The lawsuit resulted in a settlement that will go to rubber workers or their heirs, who will receive payments of between $4,000 and $300,000, depending on the severity of the asbestos-related disease they had.

Bevan & Associates has been working on locating family members of more than 500 rubber workers who may be eligible for payments through the settlement.

More:Was your relative an Akron rubber worker? See if you're eligible for talc settlement money

From the hundreds of calls the firm received, the attorneys are still determining who is eligible for a settlement. If more than one heir is identified, this will need to be decided in Summit County Probate Court.

Bevan said the first settlement checks will be going out in April and May.

Some rubber worker heirs aren't eligible for talc settlement

Many of those who called the firm learned they didnt meet the parameters of this settlement, which included having filed a case against Emtal that was dismissed prior to 2010.

Bevan, however, said the firm still gathered information from those who called in case they might be eligible to be part of future litigation.

They may still be entitled to pursue other asbestos claims, he said. This is not something thats gone away. Its a condition that stays with them for the rest of their lives.

Workers at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. handled uncured raw rubber that was dusted with talc, or soapstone, to prevent the uncured rubber from sticking to machinery or other slabs of rubber.

Daughter of Akron rubber worker learns she's part of settlement

Fuller learned about the talc settlement when her husband read a story in the Beacon Journal. She then looked at the list of rubber workers whose heirs hadnt been located.

When she saw her fathers name, she called Bevan & Associates.

John Oakes, her father, retired from Goodyear in 1994. She said he got sick while he was still working there and was diagnosed with lung cancer, emphysema and asbestosis. He died in 1996 at the age of 68.

Fuller has three children, but her father only got to meet her oldest son, who was 4 months old when he died. She said she thinks the talc settlement is important for recognizing not just the suffering of rubber workers who were sickened by asbestos but also what they were deprived of because of their untimely deaths.

I just hope my dad gets some kind of redemption, she said. He was the greatest person in the world  and I feel he missed out on a lot.

Search for rubber worker heirs continues

Fuller said she would encourage other heirs of rubber workers to inquire about whether they might be part of the talc settlement or other potential litigation.

Bevan said his firm is still searching for heirs. He pointed, as an example, to a rubber worker who died in Georgia. The rubber worker's wife died in the 1990s and his only child died about six years ago. The firm is now trying to find his grandchildren.

Somebody is going to get an interesting phone call from us, Bevan said.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.

How to learn more

For more information about the talc settlement, contact Bevan & Associates at 330-650-0088 or info@bevanlaw.com.

Summit County Probate Court has a list of all the rubber workers who are due payments through the settlement on its website, which is summitohioprobate.com. To reach the court, call 330-643-2330.

Search the list below to see if you may have a relative or family member who was affected.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron rubber worker heirs inquire about $72.5 million talc settlement
A Festival Called Panama in 2016 / Image: Facebook

A man died at Tasmanian event A Festival Called PANAMA over the weekend. The man, in his 40s, was found dead in a toilet at the festival by staff. Emergency services were called and there were attempts to revive the man, but he was unable to be saved.

As the ABC reports, police called the death sudden and said there were no suspicious circumstances. The cause of death is yet to be disclosed, and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

Police Called the Mans Death Sudden and Said There Were No Suspicious Circumstances

According to the ABC, festival organiser Tim Carroll (of Holy Holy) told the crowd the man who died was very dear to us and the festival and said our love goes out to his family. Carroll also told the crowd that while they didnt know whether drugs were involved in the mans death, he warned against taking illicit substances.

Held since 2014, A Festival Called PANAMA is an annual event that bills itself as a three-day celebration of music and community. This years event was held between Friday, 10th and Sunday, 12th March at its regular home of Lone Star Valley, just north of Launceston. This years lineup featured Sampa the Great, Confidence Man, Alice Phoebe Lou, Crumb, Tasman Keith and others.

The post Man Dies at Tasmanian Music Festival PANAMA appeared first on Music Feeds.
A man being held at the county jail in Murrieta died Saturday afternoon, with the cause still under investigation but no signs of foul play, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said.

More:One Riverside County inmate kills another, sheriff says; jail deaths continue after violent 2022

Deputies were called to the cell of an unresponsive person at 4:15 p.m. Saturday at the Cois Byrd Detention Center, according to the sheriff's department. Jail medical staff immediately tried life-saving measures, but American Medical Response officials pronounced him dead at 4:48 p.m.

The 31-year-old man's identity has not been released, and the coroners bureau will determine the cause of death.

Oversight of Riverside Countys jails has drawn scrutiny after a record-breaking year in 2022, when 18 inmates died, the most of any year according to public data going back more than a decade. From 2005 to 2021, the county averaged roughly seven inmate deaths a year.

More:Inmate dies at Riverside County jail; cause unclear, but no signs of foul play

Last month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an investigation of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, citing a "disturbing" rise in deaths in the county's jails, as well as allegations of excessive force and other misconduct.

The incident Saturday was the third in-custody death reported by the sheriff's department so far this year.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Inmate dies at Riverside County jail; no signs of foul play


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Meghan Markle really hit International Womens Day on the nose on Wednesday when she dined at Gracias Madre, a West Hollywood Mexican restaurant that describes itself as: Born out of love for Mother Earth and reverence for all mothers. Per the Daily Mail, the Duchess of Sussex was spotted walking outside wearing an all-black outfitconsisting of cropped pants, a sweater, and a Max Mara cashmere coatalong with Valentino sunglasses, ivory Valentino mules, and a black-and-white Chanel bag. A video shows Meghan waving to the nearby paparazzi, who wished her a happy International Womens Day, and telling them: Have a good day, guys. Thank you so much.

DALI, SPOT, RMLA, LESE, SOVE

Meghan and her team also spent the day visiting the non-profit organization Harvest Home, which, according to its website, provides housing, mental health support, and classes to expectant mothers whove faced tremendous challenges including domestic violence, substance use and homelessness. A statement on the Archewell website explained that Meghan and their team celebrated the women of Harvest Home by creating a pop up baby boutique, hosting lunch from a female owned restaurant, and making a donation to the organization.

The Gracias Madre meal was also perhaps a celebratory one as, just hours before, a spokesperson for the Sussexes released a statement announcing that their one-year-old daughter had been christened on Friday in Los Angeles. The statement also subtly confirmed that the Sussexes children, Archie and Lilibet, had officially received their prince and princess titles, respectively. The two were eligible to receive the titles once their grandfather Prince Charles became King Charles after Queen Elizabeth II passed in September, however this is the first time the titles have been used publicly. A spokesperson told royal reporter Omid Scobie: The childrens titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became Monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace.

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And in alignment with this news, I must say Meghans chic, coordinating outfit really does scream mother-of-a-prince-and-princess-who-still-lives-in-California-and-maybe-eats-burritos. A happy belated International Womens Day indeed!

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Morgan Wallens One Thing at a Time debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated March 18) with 501,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States in the week ending March 9, according to Luminate. Its the largest week of 2023 for any album by units earned, the biggest since Taylor Swifts Midnights debut with 1.578 million (week ending Oct. 27, 2022; chart dated Nov. 5, 2022) and the largest week for a country album since Swifts Red (Taylors Version) opened with 604,500 (week ending Nov. 18, 2021; chart dated Nov. 27, 2021).

A hefty 76% of One Thing at a Times debut-week total was powered by streaming activity. The sets 36 tracks collectively generated 498.28 million on-demand official streams in the U.S. in the albums first week  marking the fifth-largest streaming week ever for any album, and the biggest ever for a country album.

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One Thing at a Time was released March 3 via Big Loud/Mercury/Republic Records and is the follow-up to Wallens chart-topping effort Dangerous: The Double Album, released in January 2021. The latter spent 10 weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart and ranks at No. 6 on the latest list  its 110th nonconsecutive week in the top 10. It now solely has the second-most weeks in the top 10 in the lists 67-year history, surpassing 109 weeks for the soundtrack to The Sound of Music. (The original cast recording of My Fair Lady holds the record for the most weeks in the top 10, with 173.)

One Thing at a Time was preceded by the release of nine songs from the album as far back as April of 2022. Four of those tunes topped Billboards Hot Country Songs chart: Dont Think Jesus, Thought You Should Know, You Proof and Last Night, the lattermost of which has reigned for four weeks running (through the most recently published March 11-dated ranking).

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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new March 18, 2023-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboards website on March 14. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of One Thing at a Times 501,000 equivalent album units earned, SEA units comprise 382,000 (equaling 498.28 million on-demand official streams of the sets 36 tracks), album sales comprise 111,500 and TEA units comprise 7,500. The albums sales were powered by its digital download option (87,500; available as both a clean and explicit edition) while its double-CD (explicit only) sold 24,000. On the final day of the tracking week, the digital album was also offered in two alternative cover variants in Wallens official webstore for a discounted price. The set was not commercially released in any other formats.

One Thing at a Time has the second-largest week of 2023 by traditional album sales for an album, after the debut frame of TOMORROW X TOGETHERs The Name Chapter: Temptation (152,000; chart dated Feb. 11). One Thing at a Time has the largest sales week for a country album since Red (Taylors Version) sold 369,000 in its first week (Nov. 27, 2021, chart).

As noted above, One Thing at a Time captures the fifth-largest streaming week ever for an album. The four largest streaming weeks for albums, by total streams earned, were all also debut frames. Drakes Scorpion leads the pack, as it collected 745.92 million clicks for its 25 tracks in the week ending July 5, 2018. Scorpion is followed by the opening weeks of Drakes Certified Lover Boy (743.67 million for its 21 tracks, week ending Sept. 9, 2021), Taylor Swifts Midnights (549.26 million for its 20 tracks across its standard and deluxe editions, week ending Oct. 27, 2022) and Drake and 21 Savages Her Loss (513.56 million for its 16 tracks, week ending Nov. 10, 2022).

Certainly, the fact that One Thing at a Time has 36 songs helps its first-week numbers  as streaming activity for the chart is measured by taking the number of streams generated by each song on an album and adding them up to one overall total. Had the album been shortened to a length comparable to Drakes 25-track Scorpion, it still would have had a big streaming figure. The top 25 most-streamed songs on One Thing at a Time generated 397.93 million on-demand official streams  which would made it the 10th-largest streaming week ever, and still the biggest among all country albums. Had One Thing at a Times tracklist been even shorter  as short as Drake and 21 Savages 16-track Her Loss, it still would have had a robust, but not quite as eye-popping, streaming start. One Thing at a Times top 16 most-streamed tracks collectively generated 294.65 million on-demand official streams  which would have ranked the set among the top 20 biggest streaming weeks of all time, though still the second-largest streaming week for a country album (behind the debut of Swifts Red [Taylors Version], with 303.23 million for its 30 tracks).

In the last 12 months, One Thing at a Time has the most songs on its streaming album of any No. 1 on the Billboard 200, save for the 44-track Encanto soundtrack  although most of those 44 tracks are score and instrumental cuts, and the vast majority of the albums streaming activity has come from the sets nine focus songs, including the ensemble smash We Dont Talk About Bruno. Including Encanto, in the last 12 months, the average tracklist length for the streaming edition of a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 has been 19. If we remove Encanto from the math, that average falls to 18. In the last 12 months, only four No. 1 albums have had fewer than 12 songs  and all were K-pop projects, powered largely by CD album sales, not streams.

A few last notes about Wallen he is the first male artist with back-to-back country No. 1s on the Billboard 200 since 2019, when Thomas Rhett notched his second No. 1 in a row with Center Point Road, following Life Changes in 2017. Further, Wallen has the largest week for any country album by a male artist since the Billboard 200 began tracking by equivalent album units in December of 2014. In fact, only one country album has posted a bigger week in that span of time  Swifts Red (Taylors Version), with 604,500 units in its debut week in 2021. (Country albums are considered those that have hit or are eligible for Billboards Top Country Albums chart.)

Notably, since the Billboard 200 began measuring by equivalent album units in December 2014 (transitioning from an album sales-only methodology to a blend of album sales, SEA and TEA), only nine acts have registered a half-million units in a week for an album (with some having done so with multiple albums). They are: Adele, Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and Wallen.

As No. 2 on the new Billboard 200, SZAs SOS holds in place with 82,000 equivalent album units earned (down 5%). The set previously spent 10 nonconsecutive weeks atop the list. Karol Gs Manana Sera Bonito falls 1-3 in its second week with 60,000 units (down 36%).

Kali Uchis achieves her first top 10-charting album on the Billboard 200 as Red Moon in Venus debuts at No. 4 with 55,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 28,000, SEA units comprise 27,000 (equaling 35.49 million on-demand official streams of the sets songs) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The mostly-English-language project is the artists first album release since the breakthrough success of the mostly-Spanish-language single Telepatia in 2021 (from her last album, 2020s Spanish-language Sin Miedo [Del Amor y Otros Demonios]). That track spent eight weeks at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs (her first leader there) and marked her first top 40-charting hit on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 (peaking at No. 25 and spending 25 weeks on the list). Red Moon in Venus includes guest turns from Omar Apollo, Don Toliver and Summer Walker.

Six former No. 1s round out the top 10 of the new Billboard 200: Swifts Midnights is stationary at No. 5 (48,000 equivalent album units earned, down 1%); Wallens Dangerous: The Double Album is a non-mover at No. 6 (46,000, down less than 1%); Metro Boomins Heroes & Villains is steady at No. 7 (40,000, down 4%); Bad Bunnys Un Verano Sin Ti rises 10-8 (39,000, up less than 1%); The Weeknds Starboy holds at No. 9 (35,000, down 13%) and Drake and 21 Savages Her Loss rises 11-10 (34,000, down 5%).

Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

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Egypt and Germany have begun joint activities on Sunday in the their partnership for green hydrogen production, which was established in November of last year, the German embassy said.

A meeting in Cairo aiming at steering the committees of the Egyptian-German green hydrogen project partnership, along with Egyptian officials has set up a joint roadmap to support hydrogen production companies and encourage hydrogen transportation and marketing, according to the embassy.

The meeting, which was attended by Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and Minister of Public Enterprise Mahmoud Esmat also agreed to establish a platform for enhancing Egyptian-German dialogue and providing political support to promote the use of green hydrogen.

Furthermore, Parliamentary State Secretary and German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Stefan Wenzel met with Egyptian Minister Electricity Mohamed Shaker and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla in Cairo today to discuss specific steps to take in the path of cooperation within this partnership, as stated by the embassy.

Wenzels visit to the Egyptian capital aims to find opportunities for the economic exploitation of hydrogen to meet Egypt's green energy needs and explore the possibility of exporting hydrogen to Germany, the embassy said.

On 3 November, Egypt and Germany signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation for the production of green hydrogen and trade in liquified natural gas (LNG), where Germany would help Egypt build up a sustainable green hydrogen value chain.

The deal, signed ahead of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) held in Egypt last November, seeks to aid Germany in the short term by further diversifying its energy imports, lessening its dependence on Russian gas, according to a statement by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Earlier this month, German Ambassador to Cairo Frank Hartmann said in a presser that Berlin is keen to import larger quantities of LNG from Egypt for their homes.

Germany earlier pledged 285 million to Egypt's Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE) programme to establish a virtual distribution corridor for green energy across Egypt, DPA cited the embassy as saying.

According to the embassy, this approach allows for the utilisation of green electricity produced in various regions of Egypt, such as Upper Egypt, to facilitate the production of green hydrogen in the Red Sea area.

On the sidelines of COP27, the United States and Germany pledged 250 million to finance NWFEs energy pillar.

Egyptian-German cooperation in the field of LNG and hydrogen also follows Egypt's aims to establish itself as a green hydrogen production hub. Egypt has partnered with European countries to produce hydrogen.

Egypt also signed seven MoUs in August to establish industrial green hydrogen producing complexes in the Ain Al-Sokhna Industrial Zone, located within the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

Early in March, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Egypt will offer "the largest possible" package of incentives and facilities for companies willing to invest in green hydrogen production projects in the country.

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PWInsider is reporting that Jerry Lawler has been given permission to travel home to Memphis, Tennessee following a stroke last month.

Lawler, 73 years old, suffered a stroke inside his Florida condo on February 6. The initial report was that it was a very serious medical issue but it was later announced by doctors that he would make a full recovery.

For the past few weeks, Lawler had been staying in Florida to undergo outpatient therapy. Lawlers last WWE appearance was during the 2023 Royal Rumble where he co-hosted the kickoff show. He would later make a public signing appearance February 5 in Florida just a day before having the stroke.

The following picture was posted of Lawler shortly after the news was announced that he was allowed to go home.

It's great to see that the King has been able to return home to Memphis after his recent stroke. Everyone here at the CAC wishes nothing but the best for his continued recovery. pic.twitter.com/IKEtqRhdXT  CauliflowerAlleyClub (@CACReunion) March 10, 2023

READ MORE: Big E Wants To Make Best Decision On His Wrestling Future

The post Report: Jerry Lawler Returns Home After Suffering Stroke Last Month appeared first on Wrestlezone.
david-ciciline.jpg-.jpg Respect for Marriage Act - Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images

By many measures, Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) is a Very Important Democrat. Hes the Democratic leader of the Houses antitrust subcommittee, one of the chambers prestigious perches. In 2021, he and a team of fellow House lawmakers led the first-ever second impeachment of a president. He enjoys regular invitations to share his thoughts on Sunday cable news shows, the coin of a realm that tunes its news cycle to those soundbites.

Which made it all the more surprising when Cicilline announced last month that hed be leaving Congress, just a few months into his term, to serve as the president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, one of the countrys longest-running philanthropic foundations.

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Cicillines story is a common one among House Democrats, a body long viewed as hostile toward ambitious lawmakers eager to scale the ranks. Seniority reigns supreme within the caucus, where term-limitless committee assignments and leadership positions force rising stars to wait decades for their turn. Some of the gerontocratic bottleneck finally eased last November when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the caucus first- and second-in-command, stepped down after two decades at the helm. But Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the third octogenarian Democrat who led alongside Pelosi and Hoyer, did not, thwarting the 61-year-old Cicillines intentions to run for leadership.

Cicilline nevertheless announced a run against Clyburn during last years House leadership elections. He cited the need for LBGTQ representation within the Democrats top ranks  especially in the aftermath of a gay nightclub shooting in Colorado, which had happened just days earlier. It cannot be that people look to the House Democratic leadership and not see representation in the LGBTQ community, he says. It would be, I think, really harmful.

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It was a short-lived challenge, and one Cicilline claims was never serious, but rather, to put a marker down, understanding that, at some point, I expect hes going to leave, Cicilline tells me in his office on Friday afternoon. Then, the opportunity with the Rhode Island Foundation arrived  one that, in Cicillines estimation, has more impact on his constituents than any elected office. Instead of waiting for the possibility he could someday ascend the ladder, Cicilline, like lawmakers before him, departs the House for other chances to make his mark.

His close friends in Congress were bereft. I called him up and I said, David, please tell me this is fake news, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) says. I was dumbfounded and astounded. So, too, were the antitrust advocates whod worked closely with Cicilline. Theres no question that Cicilline stepping away from Congress is a real loss, says Sarah Miller, the executive director of American Economic Liberties Project. His critics, naturally, were less generous. Somebody who doesnt recognize the power wielded by the office probably doesnt deserve to hold it, chides a fellow Rhode Island Democrat.

That Cicillines 12 years in Congress would be ending in just 11 weeks hadnt totally sunk in when I met him in his Capitol Hill office on Friday afternoon. Its starting to feel like it, he says through his Rhode Island accent, like a character from Family Guy with slight vocal fry. Cicilline slouched, legs crossed, on an armchair in his office on Capitol Hill, in a white button-down with aquamarine buttons, purple tie, and regionally idiosyncratic black cowboy boots. He was keeping up with his congressional commitments: The House Democrats retreat in Philadelphia last week, the Congressional Progressive Caucus retreat this week. This weekend, he would make a quick trip to the district Saturday morning to march in Newports annual St. Patricks Day parade, then return to Washington that evening for the Gridiron Dinner, an annual whos who gathering of federal lawmakers and the reporters who cover them.

Cicilline ran for Congress in 2010 after eight years as mayor of Providence and, before that, seven years as a legislator in the Rhode Island state house. He was the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. capitol and one of Congress only openly gay lawmakers when he entered the federal legislature in 2011. The sharp partisanship he witnessed during his first weeks in Congress startled him, but it made sense, given the policy differences that separated Republicans and Democrats. More than a decade later, the divide feels deeper-seated, less sensical, more tribal. Those divisions have evolved into just divisions on party membership, Cicilline says.

He took the helm of Judiciarys antitrust subcommittee and transformed it from a legislative backwater into one of Congress most sought-after slots. He arrived in Congress a top ally of Michael Bloombergs Mayors Against Illegal Guns and leaves pleased that theres been some progress on federal gun control legislation. He wrote the Equality Act, a law that prohibits explicit discrimination against LBGTQ Americans. That its passed the House, but not the Senate, doesnt totally bother him: That will become the law of the land  theres no doubt in my mind  its just a question of how quickly you get it done, he says.

Its the track record of someone who wanted to make a mark. Cicilline had begun to have those opportunities: In addition to serving as an impeachment manager and leading a Judiciary subcommittee, Cicilline had crafted the message for Democrats 2018 midterm campaign  a campaign that had granted Democrats their first majority in eight years. He served as co-chair of the Equality Caucus, which now has many more LBGTQ members of Congress than ever before. But, its a challenge, Cicilline says about the lack of leadership opportunities. I worry sometimes when you see people  they need to run for the Senate, they need to run for governor, because its a big body. It takes longer to come into leadership of committees.

Would he go if Democrats were still in the majority? Its a tough call, Cicilline says. Theres no question that being in the minority made it an easier comparison.

Ambition has seen other beloved House Democrats depart before: Reps. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) and Beto ORourke (D-Tex.) famously left the House for higher office  only to lose and find themselves without a job and congressional Democrats with a depleted roster of up-and-comers. One of the things we often talk about is how leadership opportunities are often limited in Congress, says Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). People have to make decisions about where theyre gonna go or how they keep learning. Both on the personal side and more broadly, David joins a number of legislators who leave the house because they dont really feel like theres a broad enough opportunity for leadership.

Some of that has eased under the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries, another ambitious Democrat who waited in the wings for his change to finally take the helm of the caucus. He and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), both in their 50s, are very sensitive to the desire among their peers to lead, Cicilline says. Its not just for the individuals so that we can keep good people in the caucus, but its because we benefit from America seeing the incredible talent.

For now, Cicillines talent will be devoted to the nonprofit space, but many doubt this is the end of his career in politics. I hope that eventually, maybe he runs for the Senate or finds some other role that he wants to play, Jayapal says. Hes just really a great champion for the people.

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FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available for several counties in California, including San Bernardino County, where emergency weather conditions exist such as flooding and mudslides.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available for areas in California that battle emergency weather conditions, such as the mountains of San Bernardino County.

The assistance, which began on Thursday, supplements state, tribal, and local response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.

Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Hesperia, who represents many mountain communities and lives in the Big Bear areas, took to Twitter on Friday.

I had a productive call with @FEMA_Deanne earlier today to discuss approval & delivery of federal disaster aid to our mountain communities, Obernolte posted. I appreciate @POTUS' expeditious approval of Gov. Newsom's request!

The Presidents action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population of several counties.

Additionally, to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, protect property and safety and lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties, which include:

Amador.

Butte.

El Dorado.

Fresno.

Humboldt.

Imperial.

Inyo.

Kern.

Lake.

Los Angeles.

Madera.

Mariposa.

Mendocino.

Merced.

Mono.

Monterey.

Napa.

Nevada.

Placer.

Plumas.

Sacramento.

San Bernardino.

San Francisco.

San Mateo.

San Luis Obispo.

Santa Barbara.

Santa Clara.

Santa Cruz.

Sierra.

Sonoma.

Stanislaus.

Tulare.

Tuolumne.

Yuba.

State of emergency declared

The federal response comes nearly 10 days after SBC officials on Feb. 27 declared a local emergency after many San Bernardino Mountain residents found themselves trapped at home or unable to reach their homes due to several feet of snow that fell nearly a week.

On March 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to support and fund disaster response and relief in SBC and a dozen other counties.

Newsom also activated the State Operations Center to bring higher-level support to county-led emergency response efforts and coordinate mutual aid from neighboring jurisdictions, especially in SBC.

Story continues

FEMA mobilizes help

FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment, and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.

Emergency protective measures limited to direct federal assistance under the public assistance program will be provided at 75% federal funding.

Andrew F. Grant has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

FEMA spokesperson Robert Barker cautioned that the declaration means the state and federal agencies have taken a precautionary measure, which doesnt mean residents should expect federal assistance now.

Unlike a disaster declaration, this declaration is more of a gesture and involves several more steps before help can be requested.

California is so well resourced already, Barker said. They very infrequently need help I cant think of a time they requested additional resources.

Snowmelt and flooding warnings issued

A flood watch was in effect for Friday in the snow-packed San Bernardino and Riverside county mountains, the National Weather Service reported.

Snow levels through Friday night in the Inland Empire were around the 10,000-foot level and dropping to 7,500 and 8,000 on Saturday morning.

A limited supply of sandbags will be available at various fire stations. For locations and more information, visit snowinfo.sbcounty.gov.

The atmospheric river, the Pineapple Express, began moving into California on Thursday night, causing flooding and road closures throughout the state, mostly in central and northern counties.

A flash flood warning continued on Friday in many counties, including San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, and Arroyo Grande, the National Weather Service reported.

In Santa Clara County, southbound Highway 101 in Gilroy was shut down Friday after floodwaters from Uvas Creek spilled over the roadway.

On Thursday, flooded roadways, toppled trees, and power outages were reported in Kern County and other areas of California.

Kern County officials issued an evacuation order for the low-lying areas of Kernville and Riverkern, as well as Tillie Creek and Wofford Heights.

Caltrans has about 4,000 crew members working 12-hour shifts during the storm. Many have already removed downed trees and cleared drainage culverts to minimize flooding, Deputy Director John McKeever said.

The California National Guard reported deploying nearly 40 high-water vehicles to respond to rescues.

Three elderly women in Fresno County, including a 104-year-old, were rescued after being stranded in a home, Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni said.

By Friday afternoon, floodwaters in the county had risen considerably, and an evacuation order was issued for all residents, according to the sheriffs office.

Weather experts expect that some areas of the Sierra Nevada above 8,000 feet could receive 8 feet of snow.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: White House approves disaster relief to San Bernardino County
Once known solely as the birthplace of Walmart, Bentonville is making a new name for itself as a Southern hub for the arts and outdoors.

Robbie Caponetto

When folks travel in the South, Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas draw plenty of visitors. Arkansas, on the other hand, doesnt get much attention. Outside of its capital of Little Rock, the natural attractions in Hot Springs, and the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, few people are aware of all the state has to offer.

In years past, Bentonville, a town of just over 55,000 in the northwest corner of the state, was known for little else than being the birthplace of Walmart. When Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened in 2011, there was finally another entity associated with Bentonville. Over the past decade, the town has blossomed into an up-and-coming travel destination. Folks come for the art and outdoor pursuits, most famously world-class mountain biking. Along the way, they discover Bentonvilles growing food scene and vibrant community of small businesses, and eventually they end up falling in love with the town altogether.

If youre planning a trip, the citys attractions go far beyond Crystal Bridges (though you should definitely spend a day there). Here are the 10 best things to do in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Robbie Caponetto

Set on 120 gorgeous acres of Ozark wilderness, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is not your average art museum. Founded in 2011 by Alice Walton, heiress to the Walmart empire, Crystal Bridges is home to some of the most valuable and important pieces of American art. More than 3,600 pieces make up the accomplished collection that includes works by everyone from Rockwell to Chihuly. But the museum goes far beyond framed pieces. Its also home to an entire Frank Lloyd-Wright house, transported in its entirety from New Jersey, and there are nature trails, including one that takes visitors to a natural bubbling spring, scattered all over the property.

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Robbie Caponetto

Across town, The Momentary continues Bentonvilles story in the arts. The sister facility to Crystal Bridges, housed in a former cheese factory, is dedicated to promoting performance, visual, and culinary arts. Exhibits and events range from indoor and outdoor concerts to performance art shows, contemporary art exhibitions, and pottery and fabric-dyeing classes. The culinary arts are represented through The Momentarys myriad food and beverage options, including Onyx Coffee Lab, The Momentary Food Truck, The RDE Bar, and The Tower Bar.



Getty Images / Wesley Hitt

Dont let the name fool you. This stunning natural preserve isnt just for hardcore cyclers. Anyone can come to run on the trails, stroll the walkways, camp overnight, or just enjoy a cup of coffee at Airship Coffee, a unique open-air cafe in the middle of the preserve thats only accessible on foot or bike. Serious mountain bikers will be blown away by the 17-plus miles of flow, cross-country, rock, dual slalom, and flyover trails. And theyll go crazy for the Hub, a 20-foot-tall steel and wood structure at the top of Coler Mountain that launches riders into three downhill runs.

Robbie Caponetto

Bentonvilles take on the classic food hall goes far beyond corralling the citys best restaurants into one building. The community hub known as 8th Street Market brings together entrepreneurs, chefs, and farmers into a unique indoor-outdoor space that serves as a gathering space for locals. In addition to dining options like Co-Op Ramen, Yeyos Mexican, and South Markets many food stalls and trucks, 8th Street is also home to businesses like Cocoon Yoga Lab, Hillfolk textile studio and shop, and Bike Rack Brewing Co.

Gilles Mingasson / Contributor / Getty Images The Wal-Mart Museum Storefront

While the Walmart Museum and accompanying Waltons 5-10 (the original five-and-dime where Sam Walton began his empire) are closed for renovations through spring 2024, a visit to Bentonville wouldnt be complete without learning a little more about the Walmart and the Walton family. For that youll want to visit the Walmart Museum Heritage Lab, where you can see some of the museums original exhibits like the Wall of Returns and History of the Uniforms, and also get a sneak peek at new exhibits slated for the improved museum.

Courtesy of Peel Compton Foundation

This urban park about a mile-and-a-half down the road from downtown Bentonville is a treasure trove of outdoor wonder. The park includes a 12-acre wetland ecosystem, which you can explore via wetland boardwalks. You can also try your hand at archery or pickleball, visit pups at the dog park, or grab a bite to eat the food truck park.

Robbie Caponetto

Art abounds throughout Bentonville. More than 130 public art displays populate the city, from giant colorful murals and glowing neon signs to free-standing metal sculptures. Check out the citys public art map, and create your own walking or driving itinerary to see as many works as possible during your stay.

Robbie Caponetto

Colloquially known as the Bentonville Square, the heart of downtown Bentonville has plenty to discover. Pop into local shops and galleries like Art on the Square, Bentonville Provisions for kitchen goods and gifts, and Two Friends Books. Then, head to The Preachers Son for an eclectic menu of globally inspired eats in a restored church. If you want to set up home base in the area, book a room at the 21C Museum Hotel.

Getty Images

Also known as the Bentonville Municipal Airport (VBT), Thaden Field is unlike any airport youve ever traveled throughor likely ever will. The complex houses a flight school, an exhibition hanger with vintage planes, and a full-service restaurant named for Louise Thaden, the decorated female pilot and a Bentonville native for which the entire complex is also named. In addition, Thaden Field hosts backcountry flights, where anyone can charter a private flight with a pilot around the scenic Ozarks. If riding shotgun doesnt fit your fancy, you can earn your pilot's license at Thaden Field's flight school.

Courtesy of the Museum of Native American History

Established in 2006, the Museum of Native American History is dedicated to educating future generations about the lives of the first Americans. The museum houses more than 10,000 Native American artifacts from clothing and tools to decorative pottery and sculpture. In addition to its regular and rotating collections, the museum hosts several educational programs and events throughout the year.

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The SI Swimsuit star appeared in the magazine three years in a row, including her epic cover debut in 2016.

Ashley Graham was photographed by Yu Tsai in Fiji. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Ashley Graham made a splashy debut with SI Swimsuit. She landed the magazines cover as a rookie in 2016 after posing for photographer James Macari in Turks and Caicos. She was the first-ever plus-sized model to grace the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue.

Graham went on to pose for the publication the following two years. First in 17, when she worked with Yu Tsai in Fiji, and again in 18, when the model traveled to Nevis with photographer Josie Clough.

In addition to SI Swimsuit, the body positivity and inclusion advocate has worked with notable brands including Bloomingdales, Lane Bryant and Revlon. Shes also appeared as a judge on Americas Next Top Model.

Graham, 35, shared that she was so excited to be back for her sophomore photo shoot with the franchise in Fiji.

Day one, Im about to go out with Yu Tsai and the rest of the crew, the model said in a behind-the-scenes clip on location. It is literally magic here.

She showed off a few swimwear looks at her fitting, including a metallic silver bikini top, as well as a custom-made bodysuit.

Today, Graham, who called her initial feature in the magazine yet another huge stepping stone for women [of] my size to just be accepted as a normal average woman, is a mom. She and her husband, Justin Ervin, share three boys: Isaac, Malachi and Roman.

Below are 10 incredible images from Grahams 2017 photo shoot in Fiji.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
Access to this slice of paradise costs nearly $10,000 per square foot.

Valerie Dall'Acqua and Lisa Napolitano/Premier Sotheby's International Realty

A tiny house for sale on Floridas Gulf Coast is making headlines not for the size of its footprint, but for the size of its price tag.

Situated on Casey Key in Sarasota County, a 1950 home boasting a modest 472 square feet of living space recently hit the market for $4.5 million. Why? Because the one-bedroom, one-bathroom home at 3761 Casey Key Road happens to be sitting on half an acre of some of the most desirable beachfront property the Sunshine State has to offer.

You know what they say: location, location, location!

Valerie Dall'Acqua and Lisa Napolitano/Premier Sotheby's International Realty

Valerie Dall'Acqua and Lisa Napolitano/Premier Sotheby's International Realty

Nestled between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico, [Casey Key] is one of the highest elevations on the west coast of Florida with the majority of properties sited 10 to 20 feet above shoreline, listing agent Valerie Dall'Acqua told Southern Living of the exclusive barrier island. What differentiates Casey Key from many other barrier islands is the lack of commercial development. The majority of the key was designated as a conservation district by the State of Florida in 1970. No high rise condominiums, hotels, shopping or restaurants will ever be built here. Those that are lucky enough to call it home, are lucky indeed!

As the listing points out, the property is prime for building your dream home. Or, simply embrace the historic home and all its charms as is. Honestly, you cant go wrong.

Valerie Dall'Acqua and Lisa Napolitano/Premier Sotheby's International Realty

Enjoy the current little one-bedroom cottage in the near term and realize an amazing new home on this beautiful site, it proclaims.

Dont mind if we do!



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Inside a wooden tar-paper shack, technicians manning a crude control panel with dials and switches sent Cape Canaveral's first rocket  Bumper 8  soaring skyward over the Atlantic Ocean on July 24, 1950, opening a new chapter in America's Space Race.

But today, the Bumper blockhouse site is a tranquil field overrun with waving chest-high grasses, cacti, thorny brush and saw palmetto in a long-deactivated corner of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

And many details surrounding the hastily constructed building at historic Launch Complex 3 remain an aerospace archaeological mystery, said Tom Penders, Space Launch Delta 45 cultural resources manager.

Now, nearly 73 years later, about 20 students with the University of Central Florida's Department of Anthropology are spearheading a scientific search. Their mission: Research the long-lost blockhouse site and collect remnants and artifacts, adding context to a watershed event in U.S. space history.

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The blockhouse site could become eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places based on the archaeological project's findings, Penders said.

A display inside the Sands Space History Center shows the original wooden Bumper blockhouse near the Launch Complex 3 pad, protected by a sand embankment in case of missile mishaps. Vintage black-and-white Air Force photos show surrounding revetment walls made of burlap bags filled with sand or cement, bolstering the embankment and creating a trench-like entrance.

"In the time of Bumper, it would have been very crude  just minimal information coming back from the rocket. Sending the final signal to launch the rocket would have come from the blockhouse," said longtime Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum volunteer Roger McCormick, standing alongside UCF archaeological students Wednesday within the search zone.

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"Today, with the Artemis launch or one of the shuttle launches, you have a couple hundred people in that firing room," McCormick said.

Fading Cold War history at the Cape

Located in a small cluster near the Capes easternmost curve, the long-decommissioned Launch Complexes 1, 2, 3 and 4 lie off a rarely traveled spur road roughly -mile northeast of the landmark black-and-white Cape Canaveral Lighthouse.

Dominating the northern horizon beyond the Bumper blockhouse search site are Blue Origin's modern, massive towers at multi-billion-dollar Launch Complex 36, about -mile away as the crow flies. That's where the private space company hopes to launch its enormous New Glenn rocket  rivaling the Saturn V in size  by year's end.

The UCF students' spring-semester field work kicked off in late January. Laboring in the shadeless sunshine, they are systematically surveying and GPS-mapping a 700- to 900-square-meter grid across a vegetated area and digging "shovel test pits" to see what lies below the surface.

UCF students have excavated what may be chunks of charred asphalt at long-deactivated Launch Complex 3 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Ground-penetrating radar will be employed in the coming weeks. After field work wraps up in April or May, students will analyze data to determine whether to begin formal excavations next spring, Penders said.

"We're getting real-life, practical, resume-worthy actual work. So when we graduate, our resumes kind of put us a little bit ahead of the pack because we've had the hands-on, physical, almost-on-the-job training," said Jacqueline Houser, a UCF student helping lead the project.

Houser, who lives in Titusville, graduates in May. She plans to deliver a presentation detailing the Bumper blockhouse project during the Florida Anthropological Society's annual conference in St. Augustine that month.

'How intact is the area there?'

This July 1950 U.S. Air Force photograph shows the Bumper blockhouse at Launch Complex 3.

Launch Complex 3 hardly qualifies as an undisturbed site. After two Bumper launches in 1950, the military constructed a sturdier concrete blockhouse in November 1951 to share with adjacent Launch Complex 4, according to the Sands Space History Center display.

All told, rapidly evolving Launch Complex 3 sent more than 80 BOMARC, Lark, Polaris and X-17 rockets into flight through the end of the 1950s.

"That's another big question: How intact is the area there? How disturbed is it?" Penders asked.

"There's a lot of debate over where (the blockhouse) is located at. So we're going to try to determine 'yes' or 'no' once and for all where it was, if it still exists," he said.

"If it's just been wiped out and there's nothing but a swarm of debris, we'll still record that as an archaeological site," he said.

NASA history buffs Peter Chitko and Malcolm Glenn said a blockhouse concrete pad was spotted in 1998 and 2015, but vegetation has overrun the property. Penders said the UCF project features a professional grid search of the vicinity: "I don't want to just find the blockhouse. I want to find artifacts."

Bumper 8 was a modified German V-2

This historical aerial photograph shows Launch Complex 3. The Bumper blockhouse is seen at the bottom right.

Bumper 8 was an experimental two-stage rocket with a WAC Corporal sounding rocket mounted atop a captured German V-2 ballistic missile. Six previous Bumper rockets had taken flight at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico before the groundbreaking July 1950 launch from the Cape.

The original 20-by-20-foot wood-frame Bumper "firing room" was constructed in May and June 1950 about 400 feet from the launch pad, per the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum website. The blockhouse incorporated a viewing window with mirrors that functioned like a periscope.

Indeed, the Sands Space History Center display features fragments of a broken periscope mirror from a "temporary blockhouse used for Bumper launches."

Penders said he has searched Air Force archives for blueprints, or as-built drawings, of this Bumper blockhouse, to no avail.

You can find a couple on the (launch) pad. But when it comes to that blockhouse area, there is like nothing. I think they just didn't care too much, because they were trying to get missiles up so fast," Penders said.

In a promising sign, UCF students have discovered an underground bundle of cables. Penders said further field research will seek to determine whether those cables led from the blockhouse to the launch pad.

Concrete discovered 14 inches below surface

University of Central Florida archaeological students and faculty advisors are searching Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for the remains of the Bumper blockhouse site.

Wednesday morning, a crew of UCF students fanned across the vegetated Bumper blockhouse search site armed with shovels, clipboards and GPS mapping equipment  "watch out for cacti and snakes," Houser warned. Small pink flags stuck in the ground mark coordinates of their ongoing grid search.

"We found concrete," announced Melanie Langgle, a UCF junior archaeology major from Titusville who was helping dig one of the 14 shovel test pits excavated thus far.

"That's exciting!" Houser replied.

"I'll see how far down it is," Langgle said.

Lying face-down on the ground with rolled-up shirt sleeves, wearing a wide-rimmed straw hat to ward off sunshine, Langgle stuck her arm inside the narrow hole. Using a folding measuring stick, she said the buried concrete lay about 35 centimeters, or 14 inches, below the surface.

What's more, the UCF students said it appears jumbled fill dirt had once been dumped atop this concrete layer. A few minutes later, they discovered a possible chunk of charred asphalt inside the same test pit.

Mystery missile debris found at site

A control panel inside the Bumper blockhouse, shown in this July 1950 U.S. Air Force photo.

Tucked beneath green vegetation just north of that test pit, the students have spotted what may be a blob of concrete shaped like a burlap sack. Penders said the Air Force used these cement-filled bags to build revetment walls at the Cape, similar to those supporting the sandy berm protecting the Bumper blockhouse.

The archaeological team also discovered unidentified metal missile debris scattered at the site last month. The missile's origins remain a mystery.

"Right now, we just have bits and pieces. There's nothing big enough to make it identifiable. So we can't say it's an Atlas, Centaur or a Snark or a Polaris or anything. We don't know," Penders said.

He said the debris may date to a rocket mishap from Launch Complex 36, or from pads 1-2-3-4. Or, workers may have simply dumped the debris there decades ago  if missile wreckage was not deemed a range-safety hazard, he said people would just pick up the biggest pieces and leave the rest in place.

Back in the 50s, they were launching Atlas missiles from Launch Complex 11. And one of them blew up on the pad. So all they did was take the pieces of the rocket and throw them over the fence," Penders said.

So we actually found a debris field that sort of extended along the fence at Launch Complex 11," he said.

UCF archaeology at the Cape

Since 2017, the Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project has completed surveys, excavations and artifact analysis across the military installation via a partnership between UCF and Space Launch Delta 45.

Students are wrapping up field work this spring at the Penny Site, a prehistoric Native American gathering place along a dune ridge north of the NASA Causeway gate, not far from the Banana River.

In an unexpected discovery, Penders said a piece of volcanic scoria with no signs of wear was recently unearthed at a midden site dating back about 2,000 years  "when I first saw it, I thought it was a piece of meteor."

Penders said this igneous rock was probably "an exotic item" owned by someone of higher-class social status.

"We get pumice that washes up on the beach all the time. And the Native Americans would use it for furnishing wood and fabric," Penders said.

"But the scoria is too heavy to float. So the only way that (rock) could have brought up to the site is by trading, or by humans moving that piece of rock up to this location," Penders said.

Public archaeological presentations

Marked with flags, archaeological students have located and uncovered what may be a concrete-filled burlap bag like those used to build revetments surrounding the Bumper blockhouse.

On April 1, UCF students and researchers will display poster presentations detailing Cape Canaveral Space Force Base archaeological work during an event at the Sands Space History Center.

Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The address is 100 Spaceport Way, on the north side of Port Canaveral near the Cape Canaveral SFS gate.

Blue Origin's massive towers at nearby Launch Complex 36 dominate the northern horizon at the Bumper blockhouse search site.

Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: UCF students dig near blockhouse site of first Florida rocket launch
EXCLUSIVE: Koreas CJ ENM is off to a strong start in the international arena in 2023, with its U.S. co-production Past Lives emerging as one of the biggest hits of Sundance and Berlin, and Vietnamese family comedy House Of No Man becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in its home territory.

In addition to overseeing global distribution of Korean hits such as Parasite, Decision To Leave and Broker, CJ ENMs Head Of Film Business Jerry Kyoungboum Ko is spearheading an ambitious international strategy that involves English-language production in the U.S., as well as local-language content across several territories.

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Celine Songs Past Lives, which CJ co-produced and co-financed with A24, garnered rave reviews when it premiered at this years Sundance film festival and went on to win more acclaim in Berlin. Produced by U.S. labels Killer Films and 2AM, the film stars Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro in the story of two Koreans, once childhood friends and budding sweethearts, who are reunited decades later in New York.

CJ ENM is distributing in South Korea, Turkey, Indonesia and Vietnam, while A24 has sold the film to a raft of other international territories. Ko and CJs Miky Lee are executive producers, while Khan Kwon, head of CJs U.S. outpost, is co-producer.

Wed been discussing collaboration with A24 for several years, in fact we started talking about working together in Filmart, Ko tells Deadline, referring to the Hong Kong content market that kicks off its latest edition today.

After Parasite, we were looking for another project with Korean elements that could be appealing to global audiences. When A24 brought Past Lives to us, we thought it was perfect. It deals with universal concepts like love and fate, and Asian audiences will love its fresh perspectives. We felt we could contribute to certain elements of the project, as well as manage the portion filmed in Korea.

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Ko hints that Past Lives could be the first of further collaborations between CJ and A24, the banner behind films such as Minari and multiple Oscar nominee Everything Everywhere All At Once: Theyre an ideal partner for us as theyve built a strong brand in the US, while we have a strong presence in Asian territories, says Ko. Theyre also inventing a new paradigm for film and most of their hits have had multicultural elements.

Jerry Ko

Past Lives is part of a rapidly expanding slate of English-language productions for CJ ENM, which also includes remakes of its Korean hits Extreme Job and Sunny, set up with Kevin Hart and Universal Pictures; a remake of 2003 sci-fi comedy Save The Green Planet!, produced with Ari Aster and Lars Knudsens Square Peg; JK Youns K-Pop: Lost In America, produced with Lynda Obst (Interstellar); and a TV series based on Parasite set up at HBO.

While CJ has been involved in English-language production as far back as 2013  with post-apocalyptic action film Snowpiercer, helmed by Parasite director Bong Joon Ho  the Korean powerhouse didnt establish its Los Angeles beachhead until 2016, when it realized it needed to get more closely involved in the productions it was setting up, rather than simply selling remake rights. First films out of the gate have included Hide & Seek, directed by Joel David Moore and starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Greg Bjorkmans music-driven romantic drama Press Play.

At the same time, CJ has become more involved in the U.S. biz at a corporate level, acquiring Endeavor Content (now Fifth Season) and making a strategic investment in David Ellisons Skydance Media. Along with its Korean streaming platform TVing, CJ has also partnered with Paramount Global in a global content and licensing deal, which involves launching Paramount Plus in Korea as an exclusive bundle on TVing.

Our current plan is to produce two to three titles a year in the U.S. market, explains Ko. We usually look for local partners to co-produce with, as that enables us to maximize each partners strengths. Thats the route weve taken in each of the international territories weve entered also.

In addition to its English-language slate, CJ has a growing roster of local-language productions in the territories where its sister company CJ CGV operates cinemas  namely Indonesia, Vietnam and Turkey.

From the outset, CJs international strategy has been to produce English-language films in the U.S. for the global market, and local-language films aimed at local markets. But Ko says its not always that simple as some local films now have the potential to travel beyond their home territories. For example, CJ is currently giving a big push to Tran Thanhs House Of No Man, released over Vietnams New Year holidays in January, which grossed $18.5M to become Vietnams biggest ever local film.

The situation is changing rapidly, says Ko. Films like Parasite show that more local contents can travel.

Although House Of No Man is a comedy, a genre that usually doesnt travel, CJ has already sold it to Singapore and the Philippines, while distributors targeting the Vietnamese diaspora are releasing it in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand (CJ is not bringing its film sales team to Filmart, but is holding online meetings). House Of No Man opened in the U.S. last weekend and has so far made a healthy $757,442 across 61 theatres.

House Of No Man

Its a well-written film and touches on some universal themes like family, romance and youth, says Ko. Comedy is a good starting point to grow a new market. We started with comedies in the Korean market in the 1990s, then as the market started to expand, we moved up to bigger-budget productions, then eventually big action films like Shiri.

House Of No Man is also interesting in that its been successful, but is not a remake of a hot Korean IP, which is the route that CJ has taken in most international markets. CJs 2014 comedy Miss Granny, directed by Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, has been remade in multiple Asian territories, as well as Mexico. In addition to being remade in the U.S., 2019 action comedy Extreme Job has also been remade in China, Turkey and Vietnam.

But Ko says that, while remakes with universal concepts are the easiest way of entering new markets, these days were finding more original stories. That points to the growing maturity of these markets.

He explains that Indonesia has also been fertile territory for original stories, especially horror such as Joko Anwars Satans Slaves and Kimo Stamboels Jailangkung: Sandekala. Turkey is also a promising market because their content can travel all over the Middle East and South America, and also has an audience among the Turkish community in Europe.

CJ is also finding that the remake traffic flows from Southeast Asia to the U.S., where its currently working on Grave Hill, an English-language adaptation of Vietnamese horror The Housemaid to be directed by Deon Taylor, which Ko describes as similar to Get Out in terms of its social commentary. Other U.S. remakes of films from Southeast Asia are in the pipeline.

CJ also operates cinemas in China, but has been quiet on the production front there recently, due to political tensions between China and South Korea stretching back to 2016. But Ko says hes kept conversations going with local players in hopes that they can one day work together again: Covid has also slowed things down, but we maintain good relationships with Chinese players and were hopeful for the future.

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Women Leadership Programme, organised by the German embassy in Egypt, is a chance to recognize the importance of women and their contributions to society, both in Egypt and internationally

The German embassy in Cairo hosted on Thursday the closing ceremony of the Women Leadership programme to support female managers in Egypts financial sector.

The programme is organised by the German Agency for International Development (GIZ), the German Development Bank (KFW), and the German embassy in Egypt.

The goal of the three-month programme is to give the participants the confidence to build on their authentic, feminine strengths as leaders in their careers through a mix of monthly online training, in-person group discussions, one on one mentoring sessions, and a tandem system whereby two women leaders empower each other.

Out of 160 applicants, 20 women entrepreneurs have participated in the programme with the aim to take their businesses to the next level by focusing on areas including business resilience, business digitisation, and sustainability growth.

The German Ambassador to Egypt Frank Hartmann said that the ceremony comes on the occasion of International Womens Day and as part of the Gender Equality Week activities.

It is also a chance, he said, to recognize the importance of women and their contributions to society, both in Egypt and internationally.

We are celebrating the success of flourishing start-up businesses run by Egyptian women, he said, adding that such a programme and similar activities show that the more diverse and inclusive we are, the more we can achieve together as a society, a company, or an embassy.

We see that womens voices, ideas and resources are crucial for societal progress and stability, Hartmann stated.

The ambassador also pointed out that in order to tackle todays complex challenges, in climate, social, economic, or political development, policies must be driven by diverse voices from all parts of the society.

Hartmann added that Germany is adopting a Feminist Foreign Policy to help build a secure, sustainable, and prosperous future for all.

Societies which thrive for equality and work towards more peaceful, just, and inclusive development are economically more successful than those that exclude women and others from equal participation, he concluded.

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SANTA CRUZ, CA - MARCH 10: A road washed away on North Main Street of Santa Cruz during atmospheric river in California, United States on March 10, 2023. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A levee failure on the Pajaro River in Monterey County triggered massive flooding and prompted hundreds of evacuations and dozens of water rescues as the latest atmospheric river storm pummeled large swaths of California.

The levee  three miles upstream from the town of Pajaro  breached late Friday night, said Nicholas Pasculli, a Monterey County spokesperson. Patrols noticed bubbling up in the adjacent farmland at 11 p.m., the first sign there was a problem.

Thirty minutes later, the levee failed, Pasculli said. As of Saturday morning, he said, "the failure is approximately 100 feet wide." The town of Pajaro  with a population of 1,700, mostly farmworkers  is underwater.

Authorities conducted 60 rescues that included the use of high-water vehicles, the sheriffs diving team and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's swift-water team, officials said. National Guard personnel were dispatched to assist. At least 96 people were placed in county shelters.

Pajaro weathered previous storms because a flood wall in the lower part of the levee held up, said Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo.

"We had avoided just barely, by the grace of God, the flooding of the community," Alejo said of recent storms. Residents were ordered to evacuate Friday afternoon, but some didn't, he said, because they "were hoping that the worst would not happen because the levee did not breach during the last set of storms."

This is a disadvantaged community that often doesnt get the attention it deserves," Alejo said. "These are our friends, our neighbors, these are people that we really care about, and we know that theyre going to go through some tremendous hardship over the next several months."

President Biden, in a phone call Saturday to Gov. Gavin Newsom, said California will have the "full support of the federal government" when responding to the devastation caused by the storms, according to a spokesperson for the governor.

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On Saturday afternoon, crowds of onlookers stood on the Watsonville side of the Pajaro River Bridge watching the swollen, muddy river rushing below and the submerged town of Pajaro on the other side.

Sheriffs deputies, county divers and boat rescue crews were parked along the bridge, behind yellow tape. Law enforcement officials stopped those with relatives or businesses on the other side, as well as the merely curious, from crossing.

One man, who declined to provide his name, said his grandmother was stuck on the other side in a flooded home. Authorities would not let him cross but took down her address and promised to check.

Connie and Victor Alvarez said they were trying to get in to check on their business, Alvarez Collision and Paint. They said theyd been notified by Monterey County that the business was likely flooded, and there was concern that toxic chemicals and solvents could be getting into the water.

So, were here to check, said Connie Alvarez, as she waited for a sheriffs deputy to see if she had permission to cross.

Three blocks upstream, on the other side of a flooded area, three people were walking east along the river, carrying black plastic bags. Javier Gomez, a legislative analyst for Alejo, said they were likely among the residents who didnt heed the evacuation warnings.

I dont know how many stayed, he said. But weve been doing back-to-back rescues all day. Feels like there were at least 100.

At the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds, about 150 evacuees from Pajaro were talking, drawing, going through donated clothing and blankets and getting ready for what they guessed would be a stay of at least a few weeks.

Monterey County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Hampson said many of the same people had been evacuated in January, when the river got high.

At that time, they were displaced for about a week, he said, noting that this time its likely to be longer  as crews will have to clean flooded and contaminated streets and homes and reestablish electricity to the area.

As of Saturday night, there were approximately 18,000 customers without power, mostly in the Central Coast region, according to Pacific Gas & Electric.

Andres Garcia, 39, said this was his third evacuation from Pajaro because of the flooding river; in addition to January, there was one in 1995, when the town was flooded even worse than it is now.

He and his wife and 8-year-old daughter left the city early Saturday, after they got a knock on the door from a sheriffs deputy who urged them to evacuate. Garcia said they left before the water got too high, and he had no idea about the condition of his house.

His neighbor Laura Garcia left after dawn. She showed a video of water sloshing through her house  lapping against a crib, dining room set and shelves.

Andres Garcia said many farmworkers will be out of a job for as long as the water stays high and fields are submerged.

They cant do anything while its like this, he said.

Elsewhere in Monterey County, the Salinas River flooded around the community of San Ardo, prompting evacuation orders Friday night.

Rain was expected to continue in the county Saturday, with up to half an inch possible along the coast, said Cindy Kobold, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Up to a quarter of an inch is expected for northern portions of the county.

Efforts associated with the levee break, Kobold said, are "going to be further hampered by incoming weather."

Another storm is expected to hit the area early next week.

"This next atmospheric river event is not looking like its going to be as strong, but when you have a flood on top of a flood, it just makes a bigger flood," Kobold said. "That means this next one could be more impactful, because the ground is way overly saturated, and were going to have additional rainfall, with gusty winds."

In neighboring Santa Cruz County on Friday, a woman was caught in a flood-prone area of Watsonville, where waters had risen to 8 feet. By the time swift-water divers from California State Parks got to her, she was standing atop a pickup truck with water up to her thighs, said Gabe McKenna, a spokesman for state parks.

Rescuers swam with the woman 100 feet to shore, McKenna said. The parks have nine swift-water divers in high-risk areas around Santa Cruz County ready to deploy.

I think we're supposed to be dying down in the rain a little bit with another one coming in a couple days, McKenna said. So we're trying to anticipate these and be prepared and have the staffing available wherever situations do occur.

Kobold urged residents to "turn around; don't drown." In some areas, it could be difficult to gauge the depth of water on roadways.

"It might seem like its only 6 inches deep, but if that road is washed away, and theres erosion below that, its possible that it could be 6 to 12 inches or deeper, and you could get into a very dangerous situation," the meteorologist said.

Further north, in Butte County, a swift-water rescue team helped two people who were stranded on an island in the Feather River in Oroville. Releases from the Lake Oroville Dam caused water to rise downstream and trap them.

On Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a brief tornado warning for areas near Tuolumne and Calaveras counties due to a severe thunderstorm. Another was later issued for Fresno County after reports of a funnel cloud, the first tornado activity in the area in 11 years, according to the National Weather Service. Sizable hail also fell in Fresno County on Saturday.

Flash flood warnings were in effect for parts of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Monterey, Tulare, Sonoma, Fresno, Madera and Mariposa counties, according to the National Weather Service. At least two deaths have been confirmed as storm-related, officials said.

Major flooding was reported in Tulare County's Springville area  where officials conducted dozens of water rescues Friday morning  and in Kernville, where the roaring Kern River surrounded houses and mobile homes, spurring evacuations.

Valeriana Lopez, a 55-year-old resident of Tooleville in Tulare County, said the floodwater didnt come inside her home but turned her yard into soft mud. She set down boards to get across the yard and was searching for sandbags to create a walkway.

Sheriffs deputies went door to door Friday night urging residents to be ready to leave, Lopez said. But she chose to stay.

Im going to trust in God, because we cant do anything," she said. "We dont have anywhere to go."

Farmworkers and other low-income residents in Tooleville have long struggled with inadequate infrastructure, including contaminated tap water and failing wells. They have been waiting for a planned project that will connect their water system to that of the nearby city of Exeter.

A few weeks ago, heavy rains damaged electrical wiring in the water systems pumps, leaving residents without water for a few hours, said Emma De La Rosa, a regional policy manager for the nonprofit group Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability.

Highway 99, one of the state's main north-south thoroughfares, is closed for a four-mile stretch in Tulare County just north of the Kern County line due to flooding, according to the California Department of Transportation. A detour has been established. A portion of Highway 1 near Big Sur in Monterey County remained closed.

The chief concern Saturday afternoon was thunderstorms, said Gerald Meadows, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford. The greatest risk, he said, is from the southern edge of Tulare County and northern edge of Kern County north through the San Joaquin Valley.

Possible rainfall and gusts in excess of 45 mph are "just going to exacerbate any flooding issues that were already seeing," he said.

Up to a quarter of an inch of rain is expected in the San Joaquin Valley and up to half an inch in the Sierra Foothills and higher terrain, according to Meadows.

While next week's storm won't be as heavy as the one that moved through Friday, Meadows said, "with a little bit higher snow levels or snowmelt range expected, we can see as much, if not more, flooding impacts.

One of the big messages we want to get across for the folks in the San Joaquin Valley especially, as well as the Sierra foothills, is though its clearing up and its not raining very hard right now, were not through this just yet," Meadows added. "The impacts are going to increase, and the thunderstorms can change the situation pretty rapidly."

Rain in Southern California was light Saturday but was expected to pick up again starting Monday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Two-day precipitation levels in Los Angeles were around 1 inch in coastal and central areas and nearly 2 inches in the Opids Camp area of the Angeles National Forest as of 6 a.m. Saturday.

Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead saw about an inch of precipitation Friday and Saturday, most of it rain as temperatures stayed above freezing, according to the weather service. The San Bernardino Mountains have been pummeled by back-to-back storms that produced record snowfall, trapping residents, closing roads and making it difficult for rescue workers to get food and other supplies to those in need of help.

Rust reported from Pajaro, and Mejia and Dillon reported from Los Angeles. Staff writers Ian James and Mackenzie Mays contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
We compared staying at the worst-rated hotels in New York City and Singapore. Neither felt like a good value at $95 a night.

The room at Hotel Calmo Chinatown in Singapore, left, and the room at Bowery Grand Hotel in New York City, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

Two Insider reporters stayed at the worst-rated hotels in Singapore and New York City.

Both budget hotels had a comparable cost for one night, at $95 in New York and $96 in Singapore.

Both reporters thought they wouldn't want to stay at either property a second time.

Insider's reporters stayed at two of the worst-rated hotels in Singapore and New York City to see if they were worth it.

Marielle Descalsota, left, is based in Singapore, and Laura Casado, right, is based in New York. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

New York and Singapore are home to a variety of hotels marketed as budget-friendly. With reporters in two of the biggest tourist cities in the world, we decided to compare our experiences staying at the lowest-rated budget hotels.

We searched on Google Reviews in Singapore and New York for the lowest-rated hotels with at least 120 reviews.

In December, US-based reporter Laura Casado spent a night at the Bowery Grand Hotel in New York, a budget hotel with 2.3 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews. It cost $95 for a single-night stay on Expedia, for a private single room with a shared bathroom.

In November, Singapore-based reporter Marielle Descalsota spent a night at Hotel Calmo Chinatown, a budget hotel with 2.5 stars on Google Reviews, and 2.4 stars at the time of her visit. It cost 135 Singapore dollars, or $96 on Agoda for a night's stay. Marielle booked a superior double room, which had a double bed mattress and an ensuite bathroom, for one night.

Representatives for the Bowery Grand Hotel did not respond to Insider's request for comment about the issues Laura experienced during her stay. In an email to Marielle, a hotel representative for Hotel Calmo Chinatown said of her issues at the hotel, "We are aware of these reviews. We will strive to do better and improve."

Hotel Calmo Chinatown was near Singapore's top hawker centers. The Bowery Grand Hotel in New York was walking distance to Chinatown and Little Italy.

Hotel Calmo Chinatown in Singapore, left, and Bowery Grand Hotel in New York City, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The hotel in Singapore where Marielle stayed was located in Chinatown, one of the top backpacking districts in Singapore  and for good reason. Chinatown is filled with some of the city-state's top hawker centers and historical monuments. It's also where dozens of budget accommodations like motels and hostels are located.

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The New York hotel where Laura stayed was located in Manhattan's Lower East Side, a historic neighborhood that was home to many generations of immigrants, and today is known for its nightlife, music scene, and classic eateries. The hotel was also within walking distance of Chinatown and Little Italy.

Marielle thought the entrance to the Singapore hotel looked unexpectedly luxe, while Laura thought the entrance to the hotel in New York was confusing to find.

The entrance to the hotel in Singapore, left, and in New York, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The Singapore hotel was between shophouses in Chinatown, across a street of bars and restaurants. The hotel was housed in a former 19th-century Cantonese opera house. Marielle felt the entrance to the hotel seemed more like an upscale boutique hotel rather than a budget one  it was discreet and classy.

The New York hotel was located above a lighting shop in Manhattan's Lower East Side, and Laura thought finding the entrance was confusing at first since there wasn't a clearly marked sign on the front door.

Inside, the Singapore hotel had escalators while the New York hotel had two flights of stairs leading up to the lobby.

The escalators in the Singapore hotel, left, and the staircase leading up to the lobby in the New York hotel, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

Marielle noticed that the Singapore hotel's escalators were broken. Fortunately, she didn't have any suitcases to take up the steps as she had only brought along a duffel bag. There were also cigarette butts wedged in between the escalator steps.

Walking into the New York hotel, Laura saw that the tile floors at the top and bottom of the stairs were worn and some tiles were broken. She also saw dirt and dust on the stairs and landing.

In Singapore, the check-in counter was small and disorganized. Similarly, Laura thought her New York Hotel's lobby left a lot to be desired.

The front desk at the hotel in Singapore, left, and the front desk at the hotel in New York, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

Marielle found the lobby at Hotel Calmo Chinatown to be underwhelming. It looked like a crossover between a hostel and a love motel. There was an air conditioning unit in front of the check-in counter, and the only piece of furniture was a small green chair.

In New York, the lobby at the Bowery Grand Hotel was one room with a front desk. There wasn't any furniture to sit on or decor in the room, besides several large trash bins that Laura noticed near the desk, which was also blocked off behind a half-glass wall.

The room in the Singapore hotel was much larger than in the New York hotel.

The rooms in Singapore, left, and New York, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

Marielle's room at Hotel Calmo Chinatown was large enough for two people. It was around 150 square feet, with minimal furnishings. In fact, there was only a mattress on the floor, without any bed frame included.

Laura's room at the Bowery Grand was a lot smaller than she'd expected, and it had just enough room to fit some furniture and walk around the bed. She estimated the room to be around 10 feet long and 5 feet wide.

The room in the Singapore hotel had an electric kettle and television, while the New York hotel only had a bed and a small side table.

The Singapore room, left, and New York room, right. Marielle Descalsota/Laura Casado/Insider

On the other hand, Marielle's room in the Singapore hotel had a few electronics but no phone. Instead, guests were asked to contact the front desk by scanning a QR code.

In the New York hotel, Laura's room was simply furnished with a twin bed, sheets, a brown blanket, and a white hand towel. At the foot of the bed, there was a small plastic trash bin and a white side table that turned out to be a broken filing cabinet turned against the wall.

The Singapore hotel had windows that opened to a stunning view of colorful shophouses while the New York hotel room didn't have windows.

The Singapore room had windows, left, the New York room did not, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

Marielle's room at the Singapore hotel had wide, floor-to-ceiling windows which were the highlight of the room. It opened to resemble an open-air balcony where she could see the many shops and tourists outside.

Meanwhile, the room at the New York hotel had no windows. The Expedia listing said the hotel had airconditioning, but since there weren't any temperature adjustment controls or buttons in the room, Laura figured the air-conditioning and heating were controlled by the property manager.

Thankfully, she thought it was a comfortable temperature in the hotel and her room, and much warmer than the cold and rainy weather outside.

The Singapore hotel provided a dental kit, in addition to shampoo and body soap. The New York hotel provided Insider's reporter with a free travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand soap.

The Singapore room had a hair dryer, the New York room had a small toothbrush and bar of soap. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The bathroom in the hotel room in Singapore where Marielle stayed also came with shampoo and body soap in the shower, and a dental kit.

In the New York hotel room, Laura found several travel-sized toiletries, including a toothbrush, single-use toothpaste, and a bar of hand soap, and she thought receiving these items for free was a thoughtful touch.

In Singapore, Marielle had an ensuite bathroom. In New York, Laura used a shared bathroom down the hallway at her hotel.

Singapore's in-room bathroom, left, and New York's shared bathrooms in the hallway, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Inside

Marielle had previously stayed in dozens of budget accommodations in Singapore, and the bathroom was better than she expected. At Hotel Calmo Chinatown, the bathroom was small but had all the basics  a toilet, shower, and basin.

Laura usually spent her solo travels staying in hostels and budget hotels, so she'd used communal bathrooms before. She noticed that while one of the shared bathrooms was unavailable during her stay, three others were usable.

Marielle felt the bathroom in Singapore was clean, but poorly designed. Laura saw dirt, grime, and dust in the shared bathrooms at the Bowery Grand.

The Singapore bathroom, left, and the New York bathroom, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

At the Singapore hotel, Marielle felt the bathroom was clean enough, but she thought it was poorly designed. The shower was located right next to the toilet, with no divider between the two, meaning water would splash everywhere during a shower.

In NYC, Laura was surprised to see dirt, grime, and dust in the shared bathrooms at the Bowery Grand. Each bathroom has a stand-up shower, a toilet, and a sink, but only one of the two bathrooms she went into had a mirror above the sink. She also noticed there was no toilet paper or soap in the bathroom.

The Singapore hotel was a noise fest  partygoers, street vendors, and tourists roused late into the night. The New York hotel was more quiet than Laura expected, but she didn't get the most relaxing sleep.

The view from the Singapore room, left, and the New York room without windows, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The Singapore hotel was noisy because of the thin walls and busy location. The noises only became fainter around 2 a.m. when the shops began to close down. Marielle decided to enjoy the streets and only returned to the hotel in the late hours of the night. By the time she returned, the hotel had already quieted down.

In the New York Hotel, Laura could hear what sounded like a washing machine running on the floor above and coughing from another guest in a room down the hall. But there wasn't any noise from street traffic, which she was pleasantly surprised by as the hotel is near a busy intersection.

Overall, the Singapore hotel wasn't as bad as the reviews said, but there are many other great options in the city-state at a similar price point. The New York Hotel wasn't up to Laura's expectations, so she wouldn't stay there again.

Marielle in the Singapore room, left, and Laura in the New York room, right. Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The best thing about the Singapore hotel was the location  it was lively and perfect for tourists. The cleanliness in the room was also decent, without any insects or pests. However, Marielle felt the poor furnishings and mattress on the floor meant she couldn't justify staying there again.

Laura thought the New York hotel's only saving grace was its convenient location on the Lower East Side. It's within walking distance of Little Italy and Chinatown, and a quick subway ride away from places like Greenwich Village and Wall Street, which could be a perk for some tourists. However, due to the lack of cleanliness and subpar amenities, Laura wouldn't stay there again.

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Be prepared to write a thank-you note with these stylish picks.

Robbie Caponetto; Styling: PAGE MULLINS

From thank you notes to birthday cards or just happy snail mail, having the just-right stationery is something Southerners pride themselves on. The art of handwritten letters has been a skill ingrained in us by our family members since a young age. When it comes to thank you notes, a good Southerner often has the pen poised ready to express gratitude before the gift is even out of the box. There are ample opportunities to pull out our personalized stationery all year long and while we love beautiful, monogrammed setsits also fun to have pretty cards primed for any occasion as well. Love it or hate it, meaningful thank you notes are a Southern standard. So whether youre writing a thoughtful note to include with a gift or are on the receiving end and sending a letter of gratitude, here are some of our favorite brands to order beautiful cards and personalized stationery from.

Courtesy of Paper Eliza

Favored by many Southern Living editors, including editorial producer Ivy Odom, handmade stationery from Birmingham, Alabama, based Eliza Bishop is well worth the splurge. Design a completely personalized set together to convey your personality or select from one of her semi-custom designs that allows you to choose a crest or icon of your choice paired with customized lettering for initials or names. For a ready-to-purchase option, homes editor Cameron Beall's favorite is the Thank You Crest card set.

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Courtesy of Jerry and Julep

This mother-daughter owned and operated brand celebrates the spirit of the South with their paper goods. A friend gifted me some stationery from here and I thought the cards were lovely, says senior digital food editor Kimberly Holland. Personalized sets with recycled and lined envelopes start at $28.50 or select from a variety of their Southern-inspired designs starting at $12.

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Courtesy of Papier

Select from a variety of customizable designs to curate your own stationery collection. I love the simple Tonal Border set, says Beall, It has a classic but fun feel to it!



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Courtesy of May Designs

This female founded brand based in Austin, Texas, is where Holland shops for fun and colorful, any-occasion style cards. Plus, you can easily personalize any set from inspiring messages and patterns to solid colors for just $5.

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Courtesy of Rifle Paper Co.

Ive always loved receiving cheerful Rifle Paper Co. cards from friends, says Beall. From the mix-and-match personalized flat notes to the assorted stationery essentials set that has a card for any occasion, you cant go wrong.



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Courtesy of Julie King Studio

Julie King Studio does semi-custom stationery that looks super custom and is so artful and pretty, says homes and features editor Betsy Cribb. Just select a font style, color, and illustration from Julies collection to create your own personalized note cards. Or opt for a set of beautiful designed, floral-inspired cards on their signature double thick stock paper.

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Courtesy of Weezie B. & Sally C. designs

This Southern-based and women run company is one of Odoms go-tos. They have festive and fun paper goods for any occasion from invites and announcements to every day stationery sets. Shop their flat or folded note card collections of over 100 semi-custom products.

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Minted

From simple lettering to floral designs, you can find the perfect card for your handwritten notes. There are endless options for personalizing any style with your monogram or shop their general thank you greeting cards.

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Courtesy of Embossed Graphics

Embossed Graphics does a nice job with simple, personalized stationery and they turn it around in a couple days, says Cribb. Select from a variety of embossed, bordered, raised ink, and monogrammed styles.



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Courtesy of Stovall Collection

As a trusted Memphis, Tennessee, fine-stationery store for 30+ years, this creative female team offers beautiful collections of personalized stationery for men and women, wedding invitations, and more. Photo assistant Turner Spottswood is drawn to their products simple elegance.

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Courtesy of Dogwood Hill

From wrapping paper and gift tags to greeting cards, Dogwood Hill has it all. This Southern, female founded brand offers fairly-priced, semi-custom stationery and wedding paper from various artists. We love the Neoclassic Notecard with matching notecard liners.

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Courtesy of Crane

We love Cranes paper products that come in all weights, sizes, and forms including over 100 personalizable stationery options with various design elements, fonts, and details.



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Courtesy of Kaila Ann Art

Youll find endless options on Etsy, but some staff favorites include the Green Botanical Pattern Stationery from Southern-based Kaila Ann Art and the Virko Oval Monogram cards from Pomegranate Press.

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Courtesy of Paper Source

If youre not sure what type of stationery you want, Paper Source is the perfect place to start. They have hundreds of personalized options to choose from no matter your style.



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Courtesy of Perfect Settings

I love Perfect Settings. They specialize in wedding paper, but also invitation and stationery, says Odom of the small town, Valdosta, Georgia brand.



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She may not have Oscar gold, but she's still making bank in Hollywood.

Glenn Close has starred in movies that defined the '80sand her net worth shows it. Fatal Attraction and The Big Chill depicted post-feminist womanhood in all its intricacies. As Karina Longworth points out on her podcast, You Must Remember This, Fatal Attraction hit a nerve with audiences because of the intense anxieties surrounding career women at the time. But Close imbued the character with vulnerability.

Close started her career on the stage, winning a Tony for Tom Stoppards The Real Thing. From there, she went on to become an acclaimed film actress  first gathering Oscar nominations in Best Supporting Actress, then Best Actress. In fact, she was nominated for an Oscar for her first-ever movie role, in The World According to Garp. However, Glenn Close has yet to win an Academy Award, and a whole cottage industry has sprung up lamenting this fact. But Close has done quite well for herself financially, even if the big industry prize remains out of her grasp. Read on to learn about Glenn Closes net worth, her philanthropy, and her many Oscar snubs.

What is Glenn Closes net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Glenn Close is worth $50 million in 2023. This includes her family's 1,000-acre ranch in Wyoming, her extensive television work, and her Oscar-losing movie work. Close doesnt care about awards, though. Id rather keep the record going, you know? she told Parade in 2021. I guess if it continues too much longer, Ill kind of say, Well, f--k you! she laughs. No, I don't do it to get an award. You have to find joy in what you do.

Related: Glenn Close on Life in Montana, Her 3 Marriages and Playing Her Edgiest Role Yet

Is Glenn Close married?

Glenn Close has been married three times, with each marriage ending in divorce. Her first marriage ended when she went to college. It is a complicated story for me, Close told the Guardian. I was married before college, and kind of in an arranged marriage when you look back on it, and my marriage broke up when I went to college, as it should have. I was 22. But my liberal arts school had a wonderful theatrethat was my training, my acting school. This man she met while touring with Up With People, a band spun off from the cult in which Close grew up.

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Glenn Closes childhood in a cult

Glenn Closes parents, Bettine and William Close, joined the Moral Re-Armament movement when she was 7. The Guardian characterizes the MRA as a modern, nondenominational movement founded by an American evangelical fundamentalist which extolled the four absolutes: honesty, purity, unselfishness and love, but Closes explanation is much shorter: cult-like. Close moved from MRA compound to MRA compound in her childhood, first in Africa then in Switzerland.

You basically werent allowed to do anything, or you were made to feel guilty about any unnatural desire, she told the Hollywood Reporter of her time in the MRA. If you talk to anybody who was in a group that basically dictates how youre supposed to live and what youre supposed to say and how youre supposed to feel, from the time youre 7 till the time youre 22, it has a profound impact on you. Its something you have to [consciously overcome] because all of your trigger points are. Close broke off from the MRA when she went to school and discovered theater.

How many times has Glenn Close been nominated for an Oscar?

Glenn Close has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and still has yet to win. First of all, I dont think Im a loser, she told the Associated Press after her eighth nomination for Hillbilly Elegy. And I honestly feel that the press likes to have winners and losers. And then they say, Who is the worst dressed? And, you know, Who made the worst speech? Forget it. Its not what its about. I say f--k them. She is tied with Peter OToole for most nominations without a win. Shes still got some ways to go before reaching Susan Lucci status, however. Lucci was nominated for 19 Daytime Emmys and only won on her last nomination in 1999.

Closes first nomination was in 1983 for The World According to Garp. She lost the Best Supporting Actress statuette to Jessica Lange. The next year, she again lost Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Big Chill, this time to Linda Hunt. For the third year in a row, Close lost Best Supporting Actress, when Peggy Ashcroft won for A Passage to India.

In 1988, Close moved up to losing Best Actress Oscars. She lost in 1988, 1989, 2012 and 2019. Many people thought it was really her year in 2019, when the plot of The Wife matched her star persona as an oft-overlooked powerhouse. But Olivia Colman nabbed a surprise win. The last time Close was nominated for an Oscar was in 2021 for her supporting role in Hillbilly Elegy. She lost that award to Youn Yuh-jung in Minari. But Close still feels like a winner to have been nominated. Who in that category is a loser? She asked the AP. Youre there, youre five people honored for the work that youve done by your peers. Whats better than that?

Related: Glenn Close Still Has the Prop Knife from Fatal Attraction and Other Fun Facts About the Award-Winning Actress

How much does Glenn Close get paid for her film and TV work?

Glenn Close is substantially compensated for losing all those Oscars. Although her exact salary per film is not known, her extensive producer credits on IMDb belie a shrewd business mind. When an actor has a producer credit on their film, it often means they have more profit participation than someone who merely acts in the project.

One of Closes most lucrative roles has to be that of Cruella DeVille in the live action 101 Dalmatians films. "I got in my contract that I got to keep all my costumes that I wore in the movie," Close told Pete Davidson in the Variety Actors on Actors series. "Then when they found out how expensive they were, they were unhappy that it was in my contract. They wanted to make another copy, another set, for me. I said no." Not only did Close get to keep her expensive costumes, she was given an executive producer credit on prequel film Cruella, despite the titular fashion maven being played by Emma Stone.

Close was also paid handsomely for her TV work. She made $200,000 per episode on Damages, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Damages ran for five seasons, and nabbed Close an Emmy for her starring role.

Does Glenn Close own any real estate?

According to New York magazine, Glenn Close bought a duplex in the West Village in 2000, a rather modest postwar building on Charles Street. Curbed says she bought it for $899,000, and sold it for $1.9 million in 2005. From there, she moved into a place in The Beresford, a tony apartment building near Central Park. She and her third husband (then-fiance) bought the spot for $6.025 million in 2005. The Observer reported that the couple sold it in 2010 for $10.5 million. Glenn Close also owns a ranch in Wyoming, which Tri-State Livestock News reports is 1,000 acres. In 2016, in honor of her mother, she put the family's Wyoming ranch into a conservation easement that protects it from development and provides valuable wildlife habitats.

In 2020, the LA Times reported that Close sold her Bedford Hills home for $2.75 million. Close had owned the home, situated on 10 acres in Westchester County, for over 30 years. She named the property Beanfield. She currently lives in Montana near her sister and other family.

Does Glenn Close have any philanthropic ventures?

Glenn Close has worked with many charities and non-governmental organizatons that focus on the environment, womens issues and mental health. She wrote an op-ed for CNN in 2015 in favor of Barack Obamas ivory ban, something that hit close to home given her childhood spent partly in Africa. In 2017, Close was named co-chair of the Panthera Council, who focuses on saving big cats in their natural habitats.

Close has been outspoken on womens rights. In the public mind, yes. I was outraged when I heard those defending Roy Moore declare that there was a war against menI was like, are you joking? Close said in 2017. What do you think has been happening against women for centuries? She participated in one of the first charity readings of The Vagina Monologues in 1998, which raises money to end violence against women.

Closes sister was diagnosed with bipolar disorder late in life. The sisters have worked to end stigma against mental illness with their book, Resilience: Two Sisters and a Story of Mental Illness. Glenn Close also co-founded a foundation with the same goal. Close co-founded Bring Change to Mind in 2010 after her sister, Jessie Close, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the foundations website reads, and her nephew, Calen Pick, with schizoaffective disorder.

Related: 15 Inspiring, Uplifting Movies to Binge Watch on Netflix Right Now
Miley Cyrus is back with her new album Endless Summer Vacation  and some fans think the album's lyrics contain cheating allegations against her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth.

Cyrus, 30, and Hemsworth, 33, first met in 2009 while filming The Last Song, and married in December 2018 after years of an on-again, off-again relationship.

Though they split in 2019, fans listening to Cyrus's new song "Muddy Feet" on Friday were quick to link the track's lyrics  in which Cyrus sings about smelling perfume that doesn't belong to her on her partner  to Hemsworth.

"And you smell like perfume that I didn't purchase/Now I know why you've been closing the curtains/Get the f--- out of my house," she sings. "I don't know who the hell you think you're messin' with/Get the f--- out of my house with that s---/Get the f--- out of my life with that."

On the chorus of the song, which also features Sia, Cyrus sings about the ex-partner "coming 'round with your muddy feet," and how she is now compelled to "have to do some[thing] 'bout it."

Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus attend the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame"

Jesse Grant/Getty Images Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus

Later, in the second verse, the Hannah Montana alum sings about her ex "always questioning my questioning," and slams them for manipulating her.

"Get the f--- out of my head with that s---/Get the f--- out of my bed with that s---," she sings.

Though the song contains no direct references to Hemsworth, fans on Twitter began buzzing with speculation. "Oh Liam Hemsworth you will crumble for your sins, Miley went into muddy feet mad mad! CALL HIM OUT MOTHER," one fan wrote.

RELATED: Here's Why Miley Cyrus' Fans Think Her New Song 'Flowers' Is About Ex-Husband Liam Hemsworth

Elsewhere on the album, Cyrus takes a different, more reflective view on a failed relationship in "Jaded," which features lyrics that suggest her partner never took accountability for their role in the breakup.

"Oh, isn't it a shame that it ended like that?/Said goodbye forever, but you never unpacked/We went to hell, but we never came back," she sings, while later adding: "You're not even willin' to look at your part/You just jump in the car and head down to the bar."

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RELATED VIDEO: Miley Cyrus and Pete Davidson Reveal They Got Matching Tattoos After Saturday Night Live in 2017

The pointed new tracks come two months after Cyrus released the first single off Endless Summer Vacation, "Flowers," which also sparked buzz among fans that it was a dig at Hemsworth.

The track serves as a reflection on a past relationship, and affirms that everything Cyrus' ex-partner did for her, she can do for herself, like buying herself flowers, taking herself dancing and loving herself better than they ever could.

"Flowers" contained what appeared to be references to her relationship with Hemsworth, including lyrics about how she "built a home and watched it burn." The former couple's Malibu home burned down in the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

RELATED: Who Is Miley Cyrus' Boyfriend? All About Maxx Morando

Despite the aforementioned tracks, much of the lyrical content of Endless Summer Vacation actually finds Cyrus speaking positively about love and relationships.

The star  who has been linked to drummer Maxx Morando since December 2021  sings on "River" about how her current partner "could be the one" and how she's thinking about starting a family with them.

On "You," she acknowledges that she's "got some baggage" and considers herself "savage," but still craves domestic bliss: "I want that late-night sweet magic, that forever-lasting love/But only if it's with you."
Jenna Ortega and Fred Armisen are creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky  just like the Addams Family.

Ortega, 20, stepped into big shoes as a first-time host of "Saturday Night Live" and the youngest host of the season.

The "Wednesday" star called on her Netflix co-star Armisen, a former "SNL" cast member, for support for her big moment. "I am so honored that youre here. Youre the reason I started watching 'SNL,' actually," Ortega said during her opening monologue, before inviting Armisen to join her on stage. "My favorite sketch of all time is The Californians."

True to her "Wednesday" character, Ortega shoos away Armisen, who plays Uncle Fester in the Netflix series, before he gets too chatty.

Jenna Ortega hosted "Saturday Night Live" on March 11.

'Scream VI': How the new Ghostface matches the bloody 'brutality' of New York City

Before the "SNL" host invited Armisen to the stage, she poked fun at her dark persona. "A lot of people assume that I am dark and twisted in real life because of these roles that I play," Ortega said, referencing her "Scream" and "Wednesday." "But I am not like that at all."

"I think theres just something about my face when people see it and theyre like, 'Hey, lets throw blood on that,'" she joked.

Ortega added that she isn't "scared very easily," but hosting "SNL" was a way to tackle her "biggest fear: Happy, extroverted people who are always trying to perform."

Fred Armisen's here to support Jenna Ortega! pic.twitter.com/SheiFKQcHq  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) March 12, 2023

The top 10 'SNL' sketches this season (so far), ranked, from 'HBO Mario Kart' to 'Christmas Carol'

Jenna Ortega and Fred Armisen recreate 'The Parent Trap'

Ortega also reunited with Armisen for a sketch, in which the 20-year-old was cast as the lead roles of twins Hallie and Annie in a remake of Lindsey Lohan's "The Parent Trap." (The 1961 original "The Parent Trap" starred Hayley Mills).

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With Bowen Yang as the director, he instructed crew member Raymond (Armisen) to act as Ortega's body double for the notable scene in which Hallie and Annie discover they are twins after hunkering down in their summer camp cabin following a storm.

Armisen kept interjecting with inappropriate ad libs as they were shooting the scene from commenting on how "hot" Shawn Mendes is to confessing his love for "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" alum Lisa Rinna.

"Saturday Night Live" host Jenna Ortega and Fred Armisen did a remake of "The Parent Trap" in a skit.

SAG Awards 2023: Lisa Ann Walter brings 'Parent Trap' co-star Elaine Hendrix as date

Eventually, the duo makes it to the part where they find old photos of their parents that match up perfectly. Only, in this remake, Ed Helms and Leslie Mann are Hallie and Annie's parents rather than Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid.

"Is this for streaming?" Raymond quipped.

He later took a sinister turn as he said, "So they just split us up? Why would they do that to us? Weve got to kill them. If we work together, we can kill them."

Travis Kelce uses hilarious 'SNL' monologue to zing brother Jason, Patrick Mahomes' voice

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'SNL': Jenna Ortega and 'Wednesday' co-star Fred Armisen reunite
Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles has a big idea: Legalize medical cannabis.

A major win for advocates, if only he hadnt been working against it for years. Now that he needs their votes however, medical patients have suddenly become a priority.

In his statement, Quarles said, It needs to be a dialogue between a doctor and their patients and keep big government out of it.

On that we can agree. We should keep big government out of it. Including doctors, insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry. What we need first is independence for individuals. Self determination by communities at the most local level.

Ag Commissioner Ryan Quarles, running for Governor, spoke at Fancy Farm.Aug 6, 2022

More:Legal marijuana alternative would be banned under new Kentucky legislation

Legalizing marijuana begins with four things

Immediately pardon all nonviolent offenders

Allow 25 plant home grows for all Kentuckians

Permit one-acre direct to consumer sales for small farmers

Create transparent licensing and taxation from the state government

For five years, Ive been in the licensed cannabis industry. From working with medical patients at a dispensary in Illinois during the state's transition from medical only to personal use, to farming in Humboldt County California, which has one of the largest sets of small cannabis farms in the world, I worked elsewhere because I wasnt legally allowed to in Kentucky. Not legally allowed, but perfectly able, as I am now.

Often I hear that my generation is lazy, meaning I am lazy. Or entitled. Well here we are. And Im asking, why should I be forced to buy from you, what I can make better myself?

Very simply, if you have seeds, a good healthy patch of soil and a modicum of common sense you can grow cannabis. If you can grow a tomato, you can grow cannabis. Cannabis is a complex plant, but the solutions that best support Kentuckians arent.

Nikki Lastreto trims the buds on cannabis at the farm she has with Swami Chaitanya of Swami Select cannabis farm in Mendocino County in California.

More:Who is eligible for medical marijuana in Kentucky? People with one of these 21 conditions

If you can grow a tomato, you can grow marijuana

Quarles said that in Kentucky, lets be farmer-focused. So lets be farmer focused. Small farms and individual farmers first. I trust my friendly neighborhood farmer far more than anyone else to do right by me, and by the land they live on.

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If we trust farmers to grow Cannabis, we should trust them to process it, package it and place it safely into the hands of people who need it. Not only creating the highest quality products, in the most responsible way, but providing the greatest value to farmers, at the lowest cost to patients. As a farmhand, I often find that the best solution is the simplest, most straightforward answer to the problem. Fix the problem, dont treat the symptom.

Any and all Kentucky farmers deserve to make a living growing, selling and supporting their communities. Not just millionaires, or manufacturers, or especially useless middlemen who lower the quality and raise the price of cannabis for Kentuckians. With farmers that are legendary in Kentucky already for their knowledge, decades of experience, and their understanding of growing cannabis, my question is this: Will cannabis be for Kentucky farmers and Kentuckians, or will cannabis be for pharmaceuticals at the expense of Kentucky, as weve seen from Pfizer and Purdue?"

Elijah Rosenbaum

Elijah Rosenbaum is host of The Bluegrass Podcast, has worked in the licensed cannabis industry for five years, and is an advocate for cannabis legalization. He is also an avid gardener, porch sitter, and cannabis cup judge.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Will legalizing cannabis be for pharmaceuticals at Kentucky's expense?
PORTSMOUTH  Author Marianne Williamson, who is making a second attempt at running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024, visited the city Thursday as part of an early campaign swing through New Hampshire.

She promoted her vision for universal health care, student debt cancellation, tuition-free college, free child care and the need for an economic U-turn in America. She spoke at Cup of Joe Cafe & Bar, owned by Portsmouth Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley.

She said President Joe Biden is a nice man trying to help people survive within an unjust economic system. But more is needed, she argued.

Author Marianne Williamson, a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, made a campaign stop at Cup of Joe Cafe & Bar in Portsmouth on Thursday, March 9, 2023.

I do not believe that the agenda of the president, which does include incremental changes and does include the message that the economy is doing well, I do not believe that thats the winning message for 2024, Williamson said.

We are a government of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations. That has not changed under the Biden administration and it wont change under the Biden administration," she added later.

Williamson, 70, is a spiritual leader who has written 15 books, including bestsellers, and is founder of Project Angel Food, a nonprofit that has delivered millions of meals to ill and dying homebound patients. She unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 2020.

Whats different now? Williamson believes times have changed politically, saying many voters in 2020 just hoped to see an end to former President Donald Trumps administration.

Those of us who did not support that program were hoping that once his administration was over, we would go back to some level of normalcy, she said. People realize now that the problem has gone deeper than one president. That there is a division of hatred plaguing our nation that does not submit itself to easy, simplistic answers. That right there shows a kind of maturation of the American public.

Author Marianne Williamson, a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, made a campaign stop at Cup of Joe Cafe & Bar in Portsmouth on Thursday, March 9, 2023. The business is owned by Joanna Kelley, the city's assistant mayor.

Williamson began her remarks Thursday by reflecting on the recent display of hateful graffiti targeted at numerous Portsmouth businesses, including Cup of Joe, late last month. At Cup of Joe, which had a crucifix and swastika spray painted on a window, Kelley hosted a Love Blooms Here event in the days afterward, passing out flowers donated by local florists to the public, who then brought them around to the businesses hit in the barrage, as well as the nearby Temple Israel.

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The incidents that have occurred here at this place and this beautiful environment, this town, this street, this neighborhood where you least expect a swastika to be on the window, obviously thats a wake-up call for all of us, Williamson said.

Williamson called for paid family leave, guaranteed sick leave and guaranteed living wages for American workers, touting her support for unions and remarking as president, she would cancel all government contracts with union busters.

Describing the nations two-party dominance, Williamson said Republicans are owned by corporate tyranny and that corporate Democrats are the ones leading the party.

Washington is still the two basic categories of leaders. One, a group which does not care. Another group, who, for whatever reason  with a few brave exceptions such as Bernie Sanders and others, do not have the moral courage or the spine to get in there and fix it, she told the crowd. Im here today to say to you, let me in there. I will.

2024 NH primary:Nikki Haley packs Exeter Town Hall. Her message and expert's view of her chances.

Author Marianne Williamson, a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, made a campaign stop at Cup of Joe Cafe & Bar in Portsmouth on Thursday, March 9, 2023.

Kelley said she is not endorsing any political candidates, adding Cup of Joe welcomes all presidential candidates, including those from the Republican Party.

Its an open door for people, she said. Its a community connector.

Williamsons visit on Thursday came amid Cup of Joes fifth anniversary on Market Street. When introducing the presidential candidate, Kelley said though she herself is an elected politician, she views herself and Williamson more as community leaders who care about people.

One of the great privileges we have as Granite Staters (is) that most of us have access to every single candidate running for every office, because they know how important we are here. They know that our first-in-the-nation primary is so important to us. They know that we as Granite Staters are committed to positive change in the country and really try to lead that way, Kelley said.

Big Bean Cafe coming to Exeter: Couple takes over former Tavern at Rivers Edge space

Author Marianne Williamson, a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, made a campaign stop at Cup of Joe Cafe & Bar in Portsmouth on Thursday, March 9, 2023.

New Hampshire Democrats and Republicans have banded together in support of maintaining the states status as the first-in-the-nation presidential primary after the Democratic National Committee voted to award the distinction to South Carolina, a Biden-backed plan.

Williamson told the crowd that she hopes Biden will travel to New Hampshire to debate her.

Williamson acknowledged her status as a longshot taking on the incumbent president, comparing it to running into a burning building but called her supporters my fire retardants.

Let me in that house and youre going to see some changes, and I believe with all my heart that you would like them, she said.

Rebecca Buttignol of York, Maine, said she supported Williamson in the run-up to the 2020 election, noting she felt restricted by the two-party political system.

I feel like I really need to support her as far as I can this time, because we really are at that precipice and what she says resonates with me spiritually and practically, she said.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Marianne Williamson, 2024 Democratic hopeful, says Biden falls short
With Gov. Ron DeSantis getting ready to run for president and Republicans holding supermajorities in the Legislature, your elected representatives are faced with deciding who to crack down on first. Public school teachers? College professors and students? School librarians? The LGBT community? Immigrants? The media? Local governments? Labor unions?

Oh, how about everybody all at once?

As the Florida Legislature starts its session, DeSantis has pledged a war on CRT, ESG, DEI and more initialisms certain to be named later. In the Free State of Florida, some groups are apparently acting a little too free and your Legislature is at one with the governors get-tough message. You aint seen nothing yet, was the money quote in the governors State of the State Address, and both his supporters and opponents believe him.

You aint seen nothing yet, was the money quote in Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State Address on Tuesday.

Given what I do, its natural that the get-tough-on-the-media bills grabbed by attention.

A bill to allow  no, make that encourage public officials to sue the media has been filed with loud support from the governor. And a howlingly unconstitutional bill to force internet political bloggers to register with the state and file regular financial disclosure statements has been filed by Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary.

More:'Disaster for free speech': Florida defamation, libel bill alarms advocates

Brodeurs feelings toward the press may have been shaped by coverage his narrow electoral victory in 2020 that had been aided by a fake candidate operating with dark money.

Brodeur said the bill (SB 1316) is aimed at pay-to-play sites, and to be sure, it excludes legacy newspaper sites. Still, a plain-English reading of the bill suggests a far broader blogger registry could be authorized.

More:Here's what's in Sen. Jason Brodeur's bill

Fortunately, the plan for a Florida Registry of Bloggers and Internet Wise Guys looks like a step too far. Both the governor and the House speaker have disassociated themselves from the idea. But like so many bad ideas, look for its return in future sessions.

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Still, the governor is full-on in support of another anti-press bill filed by Brodeur in the Senate (SB 1220) and a similar bill (HB 991) filed in the House by Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola. Those bills would upend almost 60 years of media law.

Under current law, its hard for public officials to sue media outlets for libel. Since 1964, public figures need to show the information they object to is false and was put out with actual malice. That is, as the U.S. Supreme Court defined it, knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not. A high bar.

Why such a high bar? Because otherwise public officials could use private libel actions to silence critics. And they have.

This ruling grew out of the civil rights struggles of the 1960s and an attempt by segregationists to use libel laws to silence the national press, harass Martin Luther King, and crush a growing and assertive civil rights movement. The kind of history Florida teachers are being warned about teaching.

In 1960, a group called the Committee to Defend Martin Luther King and the Struggle for Freedom in the South took out a fund-raising ad in The New York Times criticizing actions of the Montgomery, Alabama, police. It had some minor inaccuracies (King had been arrested four times at that point not seven, for example) but was generally on target.

Lester Sullivan, Montgomerys police commissioner, took umbrage and sued for libel. No, his name never appeared in the paid ad. But criticize the police and you are, by implication, criticizing him, or so he successfully argued in court.

After a trial in which parties were seated by race, the plaintiffs attorney referred to the defendants with the N-word and the judge talked about white mans justice, an all-White jury awarded Sullivan $500,000 for the hurt he experienced ($5 million in todays money). This was hardly the only case of its kind in Alabama at that time.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned that verdict in a decision that has stood the test of time.

DeSantis and legislators, however, want to return to pre-Sullivan days and again allow politicians to use the courts to bankrupt and silence critics, activists and the independent media.

Aimed squarely at overturning New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, both bills dramatically restrict who can be considered a public figure for lawsuit purposes and define all kinds of speech as automatically malicious and defamatory.

The House version even creates a kind special bigots protection since an allegation that the plaintiff has discriminated against another person or group because of their race, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity constitutes defamation per se. (Wouldnt Sullivan have loved that!) It also awards attorneys fees to people who successfully sue but not to parties who successfully defend against baseless lawsuits.

Its easy to dismiss this as an attack on Big Media. Its not. Any blogger, political commentator, keyboard soapboxer, political or environmental activist could be sued into silence by deep-pocket interests under this radical rewrite of defamation law.

Im old enough to remember when Republicans opposed frivolous lawsuits. But times have changed, and as the governor reminded us, you aint seen nothing yet.

Mark Lane is a News-Journal columnist. His email is mlanewrites@gmail.com.

Mark Lane

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Mark Lane: Will rewrite of libel law doom free speech in Florida?
MILFORD  The search for a missing Hopkinton man that involved about 40 police officers last night and today has come to an unfortunate end, authorities said late Tuesday afternoon.

Daniel Cambrourelis-Haskins, 19, was found dead about 3:15 p.m. today, Deputy Police Chief John Sanchioni said. The death is under investigation by the Worcester District Attorney's Office and the Milford Police Department.

Cambrouelis-Haskins had last been heard from shortly after 6 p.m. Monday, when he called his mother and told her his bicycle had a flat tire and his cellphone was dying, the deputy said.

"He reached out to his mother, and he said he was making his way off the (bike) path," Sanchioni said.

Cambrourelis-Haskins left his home Monday morning but was supposed to return by 5 p.m. His family grew concerned when his phone call was disconnected. The bike path runs from the Milford-Hopkinton line to the center of Milford, along Cedar Street (Route 85).

Daniel Cambrourelis-Haskins, 19, of Hopkinton, who had been missing since Monday evening, was found dead on Tuesday afternoon.

There were at least a dozen police dogs and their handlers taking part in the search, as well as four drones being used to search from the air. Officers from Milford and Hopkinton were joined by the Massachusetts State Police and search teams from the Central Massachusetts and Northeast Massachusetts Law Enforcement Councils, the deputy said.

Earlier:A Ware man left Marlborough Hospital on Jan. 21. Authorities are still looking for him

According to Milford police, Cambrourelis-Haskins had an eating disorder. He also has some mental health issues and has made comments to family in the past about living in the woods.

Add in the weather  snowy and cold  and police called in as many officers as possible, Sanchioni said.

This is a photo of the bike helmet that Daniel Cambrourelis-Haskins, 19, was last seen wearing. He has been missing since Monday evening.

The teams searched throughout the night and returned today to search the bike trail, as well as areas around Louisa Lake and Milford Quarry. The exact location where Cambrourelis-Haskins' body was found was not immediately released.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Hopkinton man, 19, found dead after going missing Monday in Milford
KYODO NEWS - Mar 12, 2023 - 18:15 | All, Japan

The former head of the operator of a southwestern Japan inn, who came under fire for only changing hot spring bathwater twice a year, allowing legionella bacteria to proliferate beyond the allowable limit, has died in a suspected suicide, police said Sunday.

Makoto Yamada, 70, was found dead by a passerby on a mountain road in the city Sunday morning, with a suicide note discovered in a nearby car, the police said. After admitting the misconduct in February, Yamada resigned as head of the operator of Daimaru Besso, the century-old ryokan-style inn in Chikushino, Fukuoka Prefecture.

According to the police, the note read, "I am very sorry. I feel morally responsible for everything. Please take care of the rest."

Police searched the inn on Friday, suspecting it had falsely reported to the Fukuoka prefectural government that it had properly changed the bathwater and added chlorine after an inspection in August last year found legionella at twice the allowable limit.

An additional inspection in November found the bacteria level had skyrocketed to 3,700 times over the limit. The prefecture filed a criminal complaint Wednesday for suspected Public Bath Houses Act violations, prompting the police to investigate.

At a press conference late last month, Yamada, then head of the operator, admitted to making a false report, saying, "I told my staff it was OK not to change the bathwater as fewer people were using it."

He also admitted to instructing staff to falsify bathwater chlorination records submitted to a public health office despite knowing that doing so was illegal.

A local ordinance says recirculated bathwater that is used daily must be changed at least once a week.

Yamada resigned as head of the inn operator on March 2 to take responsibility for the misconduct.

The inn was founded in 1865, and its past guests include Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, according to its website.

Related coverage:

Japan inn in hot water for bathwater bacteria 3,700 times the limit

Japan inn operator admits telling staff not to change hot-spring bathwater

Police search Japan inn that rarely changed hot-spring bathwater

Emergency service in Japan: 119



If you are having suicidal thoughts, help is available.

For Japan, call Yorisoi Hotline at 0120279338 (toll-free). Press 2 after the recorded message for consultation in English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Nepali, or Indonesian. The service in these languages is also available on Facebook messenger.



For those outside Japan, you can find a list of other resources here.
queen rania of jordan, Princess Iman of jordan

queen rania of jordan/instagram; RABIH MOGHRABI/AFP via Getty

The countdown is on to Princess Iman of Jordan's royal wedding!

On Tuesday, the 26-year-old royal was celebrated at a henna party ahead of her wedding this weekend. The eldest daughter of Queen Rania and King Abdullah II is set to wed Jameel Alexander Thermiotis on Sunday, and the royal stylishly recycled the belt her mom wore when she got married in 1993.

"So much love in one room! With friends and family at Iman's Henna party yesterday," proud mom Rania, 52, captioned an Instagram carousel. Giving a glimpse into the festivities, the photos showed Iman and Rania sharing a hug, inhaling incense and smiling with loved ones.

Rajwa Al-Saif, who is engaged to Queen Rania and King Abdullah's eldest son Crown Prince Hussein, was also photographed walking into the party with her future mother-in-law. The couple's wedding date is set for June 1.

queen rania of jordan, Princess Iman of Jordan

queen rania of jordan/instagram

RELATED: Princess Iman Wears Her First Tiara (from Mom Queen Rania!) Before Her Royal Wedding Next Week

The Arab Weekly reports that the pre-wedding henna party tradition has evolved in Jordan in recent years. What used to be a "sad occasion as the bride prepared to leave her family home" has been reimagined as a shower-like festivity, Jordanian henna artist Naqa' Gharaibeh told the outlet.

Already embracing bridal white, Princess Iman wore a delicately embellished long-sleeve white gown by Jordanian designer Reema Dahbour, cinched with the beaded belt Queen Rania wore on her own wedding day. Rania Al-Yassin and then-Prince Abdullah tied the knot on June 10, 1993, and will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this year.

Soon before the henna celebration, the Queen of Jordan posted a photo of herself buckling the belt, captioning the snap: "Finishing touches."

The royal accessory isn't the only one Princess Iman has recently borrowed from her mom's closet. Over the weekend, Queen Rania posted a video montage honoring Iman and revealing her March 12 wedding date, which closed with a photo of the princess wearing her first tiara! Iman was all smiles in Rania's triangular Diamond Tiara  perhaps foreshadowing her bridal style.

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Iman's henna party dress was reminiscent of the one she wore for her official engagement portrait that accompanied the announcement she was getting married.

"The Royal Hashemite Court is pleased to announce the engagement of Her Royal Highness Princess Iman bint Abdullah II to Mr. Jameel Alexander Thermiotis, on Tuesday, 5 July 2022," wrote the Court, "in the presence of Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah, as well as Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, Prince Hashem bin Abdullah II, and Princess Salma bint Abdullah II, in addition to members of Mr. Thermiotis' family."

RELATED: Queen Rania of Jordan's Daughter Princess Iman Is Engaged  See Her Dazzling Ring!

Princess Iman; Queen Rania

Queen Rania Al Abdullah Instagram; Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images Princess Iman; Queen Rania

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!

"The Royal Hashemite Court extends its sincere congratulations to Her Royal Highness Princess Iman and Mr. Thermiotis on this occasion and wishes them a lifetime of happiness," the announcement continued.

Princess Iman bint Abdullah II and Mr. Jameel Alexander Thermiotis engaged in Amman, on July 05, 2022, in the presence of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, Prince Hashem bin Abdullah II, and Princess Salma bint Abdullah II

Royal Hashemite Court/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

It remains unclear how the couple met and how long they had been together before getting engaged.

Thermiotis was born in Venezuela in 1994 and works in finance in New York, The National reported. Princess Iman studied at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., following in the footsteps of her older brother.
Southbound Highway 101 near Mussel Shoals and the Seacliff ramp, seen in June, had lanes closed by flooding, mud and debris on Saturday, Caltrans officials said.

This story has been updated.

Travel on southbound Highway 101 into Ventura County was jammed near Mussel Shoals and La Conchita this weekend as mud blocked one of two lanes, authorities said.

As of 5:30 p.m. Sunday, the left lane of the split highway was still closed, according to California Highway Patrol dispatch officials with the Ventura-area office.

With fewer drivers on the road Sunday morning, traffic was flowing smoothly as of 8 a.m., but had backed up by midday, maps showed.

There is no estimated time for the lane to reopen, dispatchers said.

The highway's two southbound lanes are temporarily split by K-rail for several miles south of Mussel Shoals for a major pavement upgrade project along the stretch. The right lane remains open.

The closure, which started Saturday morning, slowed southbound drivers for most of the day as it dragged through the afternoon and overnight.

On Saturday, traffic backed up past Rincon Point for hours.

California Department of Transportation officials had tweeted around 10:30 a.m. Saturday that both southbound lanes of the 101 were closed at Mussel Shoals, although the CHP confirmed only one lane was blocked at the time. Caltrans later tweeted an update indicating one lane was open.

This story may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Southbound Highway 101 jammed near Mussel Shoals as mud closes lane
At its height in the early 1970s, the Concorde was the Champagne-and-caviar incarnation of supersonic travel, and it remained so until noise and emissions restrictions sunsetted the quixotic aircraft in 2003. Two decades after the Concordes final flight, Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, is again extolling the potential of flying faster than the speed of sound. Speed is not just about going fast, he says. Its about who we can spend time with, who we fall in love with and where we can do business. Hes hardly alone in his infatuation with the idea of a supersonic revival.

Other ventures attempting to resuscitate the genre include Spike Aerospace, which is developing a supersonic corporate jet, and Lockheed Martin, which is contracted to build NASAs X-59 for possible civilian use. Upping the ante are outfits such as Destinus and Hermeus, which aim to leave the competition behind with hypersonic velocities that quintuple the speed of sound. Yet numerous efforts have fallen back to earth, among them Aerion, once considered the supersonic industry leader, which abruptly closed its doors in 2021 after nearly 20 years of revving everyones hopes.

More from Robb Report

Boom is also encountering headwinds, not least of which is its name. Since 1973, supersonic travel over the U.S. and Europe has been banned due to the disruptive effects of the audible blast that occurs when the sound barrier is broken. Scholl says Booms first aircraft, Overture, will reach Mach 1.7 on overwater flights, but over land it will fly at the subsonic speed of Mach 0.94, within existing noise regulations. Unlike the Concorde and its afterburner-capable thrusters, Boom plans to use a medium-bypass turbofan engine, dubbed Symphony, that will be outfitted with extensive noise-mitigation features. On paper, Booms prospects look promising and include 130 orders from carriers such as American, United and Japan Airlines, as well as a partnership with Northrup Grumman for military applications. It also recently broke ground on a new factory in North Carolina, where it says the Overture will be in production sometime next year. But many in business aviation are skeptical that the aircraft will ever fly, especially after major engine builders including Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, GE Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace and Safran have all stated they have no interest in developing propulsion for the jet.

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Booms Overture is the poster child of supersonic flight. But some doubt its future.

Now theyve announced this unbelievable pairing of companies to develop an engine, says aviation- industry analyst Brian Foley, about the trio of Florida Turbine Technologies, GE Additive and StandardAero that Boom says will provide its propulsion solution. That seems like a deliberateand desperatemove to have an answer, he adds. Designing an engine is no easy task, especially from scratch, and its potentially a multibillion-dollar exercise beyond designing the plane.

The engineering challenges of meeting 21st-century regulations for such aircraft are formidable. One industry expert, who asked to remain anonymous, described it as being like a Rubiks Cubeyou get the yellow side, but then the blue and green go to shit. Then theres the most important issue: funding. Boom says it has raised only $600 million so far. Much of the public, and even some in our industry, dont appreciate the substantial dollars that will be required to get this thing over the top, Foley says.

Some are quite outspoken about the chasm between the current reality and a finished aircraft. This is nothing but a set of interesting concept drawings, says Richard Aboulafia, a managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, of Boom. I just dont see anything there, except an effort to attract money. Theyve gotten some, but by aerospace standards its an amusingly small amount.

Scholl acknowledges that fundraising efforts are nowhere near his estimated need of $6 billion to $8 billion to bring Overture to market but pushes back against the naysayers: Weve already done things that the experts said we couldnt do. The technology and supply chain exist. Theres no fundamental new scienceevery key technology in this airplane has already flown before.

Even as Boom partners such as United Airlines ramp up marketing efforts around supersonic travel, industry insiders remain aware of its very daunting challengesthough they also acknowledge the allure. Maybe thats part of the problem, Aboulafia says. Its so charismatic, its going to attract just enough money to linger on for a long time.

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Park guard Roberto Varela walks over sargassum seaweed piled up on the seashore in Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba. Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters

Stinky seaweed in the "Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt" threatens wildlife, infrastructure, and tourism.

This year's 5,000-mile bloom of algae stretching across the Atlantic is one of the largest on record.

The smell of rotting beached sargassum causes problems for tourism industries in Mexico and Florida.

An enormous stretch of seaweed measuring 5,000 miles wide is set to bring stench, pests, and bacteria to the beaches of Florida and Mexico.

The "Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt" is a massive bloom of brown algae that stretches from the coast of West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico. It is the largest seaweed bloom in the world  weighing approximately 20 million tons  and is visible from outer space.

A satellite-based map shows the Sargassum bloom approaching Florida, from March 7-13, 2023. Chuanmin Hu, University of South Florida College of Marine Science

This year's bloom is the biggest on record for the month of March, and it's expected to grow from here, peaking in June or July. Scientists are increasingly concerned about the impacts of the algae.

It's important to note that seaweed is usually fairly innocuous and actually has benefits like providing habitats for fish and absorbing carbon dioxide. But that's when it's out in the open ocean.

Sargassum, like the bloom spanning about twice the width of the US right now, could wreak havoc on beaches as ocean currents push the brown algae towards land.

Because once the seaweed reaches shore, "the [blooms] degrade water quality, they smell bad, they attract insects and bacteria, they chase away tourists. It's a bad impact on the economy," Chuanmin Hu, a professor of oceanography at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science who leads a team to monitor and track sargassum blooms using satellites, told Insider.

Lakes Beach is covered in sargassum in St. Andrew along the east coast of Barbados. Kofi Jones/AP Photo

The algae can also destroy coastal ecosystems, suffocate coral, harm wildlife, threaten infrastructure, and decrease air quality.

As beached sargassum dies and rots, it has a distinct rotten-egg smell, which has caused a huge problem for tourism in both Mexico and Florida.

Hotels and resorts in Mexico, for example, spend millions each year to get rid of beaches of sargassum, hiring workers to collect it and move it elsewhere.

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Workers who were hired by residents remove sargassum seaweed from the Bay of Soliman, north of Tulum, Quintana Roo state, Mexico. Eduardo Verdugo/AP Photo

"Increasing sargassum blooms are good for the ocean ecosystem, but pretty bad for some local residents," Hu said.

It's a mystery why sargassum blooms are growing

There are hundreds of different species of sargassum. Some of those that populate the Atlantic Ocean grow on the surface of the water, since they don't form roots to attach themselves to rocks like other algae.

This makes it easy for small clumps to move together and form larger clumps as winds between South Africa and the Gulf of Mexico push them together, Hu said. That's what makes the great seaweed belt across the Atlantic each spring and summer.

Sargassum seaweed colors the water brown and covers the beach in the Bay of Soliman, Quintana Roo state, Mexico, where workers hired by local residents removed it by hand last year. Eduardo Verdugo/AP Photo

"We have a lot of such clumps, but only 0.1% of the ocean surface within this belt is covered by this plant," Hu said. "Sargassum does not fully cover any part of the ocean, and sargassum is not toxic."

Still, the consequences of the Sargassum Belt have concerned scientists for the past decade. Experts say this year's bloom is particularly alarming, according to reporting by Denise Chow for NBC News published Saturday.



"It's incredible," Brian LaPointe, a research professor at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, told NBC News. "What we're seeing in the satellite imagery does not bode well for a clean beach year."

A satellite-based map of the Sargassum bloom from March 8-14, 2023. Chuanmin Hu, University of South Florida College of Marine Science

LaPointe, who has studied sargassum for four decades, told the news outlet that beaches in Key West are already being covered with the algae, despite the piles usually washing ashore in May. Beaches in Mexico  like in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum  are also preparing for a large build-up of sargassum this week.

Blooms have continued to grow, on average, larger and larger over the past five years. In 2018 and 2022 having record-breaking increases, Brian Barnes, an assistant research professor at the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science, told NBC News.

This year is approaching these records, and could surpass them, Hu said.

One study in 2019 suggested that deforestation and fertilizer use may be responsible for the alarming rate at which the mass is growing  the effects of which are all exacerbated by climate change.

"I think I've replaced my climate change anxiety with sargassum anxiety," Patricia Estridge, CEO of Seaweed Generation, told The Guardian.

"Both climate change and human activity play a role, but nobody can tell how much each one contributes to this. There are multiple factors because the Atlantic ocean is huge," Hu said. "It's a complex picture. That's all we can say now, and we're still doing research to understand why."

This post has been updated. It was originally published on March 15, 2023.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former national security adviser John Bolton warned the U.S. against sitting still as China expands its role in the world and grows closer to Russia.

Were sitting still, and the Chinese, the Russians, Iran, North Korea, and several others, are moving to shore up their relations and threaten us in a lot of different places, Bolton told radio host John Catsimatidis on the WABC 770 morning show Cats Roundtable on Sunday.

Boltons warnings come after Iran and Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that they would normalize relations and reopen their embassies in a diplomatic breakthrough brokered by China.

Its an indication that the Saudis and others are trying to hedge their bets with China and Russia, because they dont think the United States has the resolve and the fortitude necessary to do what they need to do to protect the world against Iran and its intentions, Bolton said.

The Chinese have a strategy theyve been following, he added. We kind of wander around from day to day.

Russia also appears to have moved closer to China, as top U.S. officials have warned that Beijing is strongly considering providing Moscow with lethal aid for its war in Ukraine.

However, China has also increasingly sought to paint itself as a neutral arbiter in the war in Ukraine, releasing a 12-point peace plan and calling for a cease fire and peace talks alongside Belarus. Notably, Belarus is one of few countries that has stuck by Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine.

One of the biggest winners of the war in Ukraine has been China, Bolton said. If Russia were to win, and at the maximum retake all of Ukraine, that would be a victory for Chinas ally that would strengthen China as well.

But, frankly, if Russia continues to get chewed up in Ukraine, that just makes Russia more dependent on China, he continued. So China wins there as well.

However, Bolton noted that in a reversal of China-Russia relations during the Cold War, Beijing is now the senior partner in the relationship.

Its exactly right to say that were watching Russia slip increasingly under Chinese control, he said. This is Chinas alliance its putting together, and Russia is the junior partner.



Thats not good for any of us. Id like to find ways to pry Russia away from China, Bolton added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
I think democracy thrives when everybody can participate, says California Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Culver City). In February Bryan introduced a groundbreaking state constitutional amendment that would allow the approximately 115,000 inmates incarcerated in California prisons to vote in local, state and national elections.

Bryan is advancing the legislation, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 4, at a time when many states are making it harder for citizens to vote. He calls it a needed pushback in an era of concerted campaigns in many states to limit participation by Black and other voters of color. In late February Georgia passed a measure banning absentee dropboxes and expanding the ability of Georgians to question the residency of their neighbors and their right to vote.

The Sentencing Project found that African Americans are currently disenfranchised at a rate 3.5 times higher than non-African Americans. Incarceration rates have something to do with it  according to one study, Black Americans are incarcerated at a rate nearly five times that of whites. Latinx persons are locked up in state prisons at 1.3 times the rate of whites.

Under current California law, nobody behind prison bars can vote, although they can participate thereafter. Eleven states have enacted measures that hinder the ability to vote for those who have already served their time. In 2018, Florida voters supported suffrage for ex-felons (excluding those convicted of murder or sex crimes), but the Legislature quickly responded by requiring felons to pay court fees before being able to vote, a move many interpreted as a means to keep them from voting.

In other states lawmakers have supported initiatives to enfranchise the formerly incarcerated. Texas and Tennessee are contemplating measures to restore voting rights, as are Minnesota and New Mexico. A bill in Nebraska would reinstate voting rights upon the completion of a sentence.

California would not be the first state in the nation to support a suffrage measure for the incarcerated  Vermont and Maine grant voting rights to those in prison.

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But Bryans bill faces considerable obstacles. The constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote by the state Legislature, no easy feat, after which it would go onto a ballot statewide.

Criticism of Bryans measure was immediate. Tom Lackey, a Republican assembly member representing the high desert and the Antelope Valley north of metropolitan Los Angeles, has emerged as an early opponent, tweeting, I will vote NO on #ACA4 when the #CALeg Assembly Committee on Elections hears it because prisoners should never be able to cast votes from their cells. I refuse to dismiss the voice of the victim.

The California Correctional Peace Officers Association, the union that represents prison guards, has not yet taken a public position. Should it oppose, its history of hefty campaign contributions could influence legislators votes.

Moreover, Californias debate over prisoner suffrage is likely to coincide with the 2024 presidential and state contests  and is likely to churn up acrimony about crime and criminal justice. One longtime adviser to the California Democratic Party, commenting on background, summarized a likely voter position: The Legislature should focus on the needs of Californians who are not in prison.

Bryan frames his initiative asa conversation we need to have now more than ever. It would force people to think differently about linkages between disenfranchisement and chattel slavery. It would force people to think differently about the history of suffrage in this country from allowing black people to vote, women to vote, nonproperty owners, nonwhite men, everybody to participate in the process.

The big picture, he says, is that were living in a time where voting rights are being curtailed in various states across the country. Texas and others have introduced nearly two dozen bills to restrict access to the polls, access to participating in democracy. In California we have a responsibility to continue to lead.

The ability for the incarcerated to vote connects directly to the present push for electoral racial equity  and the push to address historical inequity, says Adrianne Shropshire, co-founder and executive director of BlackPAC, an organization that engages with Black voters on policy issues.

Creative efforts to disenfranchise Black Americans are as American as apple pie, right?, says Shropshire. Whether it is Jim Crow or voter ID policies, theres a constant effort to disenfranchise Black Americans and take away our citizenship rights.

Antoinette Ratcliffe, executive director of L.A.-based Initiate Justice, one of the organizations rallying in support of ACA4, says that allowing incarcerated persons to vote creates a connection with the communities in which the incarcerated have family and friends. Voting and civic participation forges stronger ties, she says.

Bryan is approaching the fight to pass ACA4 one step at a time. My hope is that if there is an opposition to this, that opposition will wait to reveal itself until we are on the ballot. Because I think an attempt to undermine the ability for California voters to even have their say is an attempt to undermine democracy as a whole.

This story was republished with permission from Capital and Main.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: California considers giving inmates a right to vote
A fight is brewing between Congress and President Biden over whether to designate as a terrorist organization the private Russian military company Wagner, which is on the front lines of aggression against Ukraine and accused of heinous atrocities there and across the world.

While the Biden administration has sanctioned the Wagner group as a global criminal organization, lawmakers are pushing the State Department to go further by imposing the foreign terrorist designation.

The split underscores a long-running tension: Congress has criticized the Biden administration as slow-walking its support for Ukraine, while the administration says it is managing a delicate escalation ladder and safeguarding against potential, negative blowback.

Weve seen that again and again in terms of this support for the Ukrainians and this war, where Congress has been out ahead of the White House, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told The Hill.

Its been true since Russia invaded Ukraine. I remember in 2014 supporting lethal weapons for Ukraine, and the White House refused to support that. I dont see this as unusual. I hope the administration and the State Department comes on board.

Shaheen is a sponsor, along with six other Democratic and Republican senators, of legislation called the Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries (HARM) Act, which would force the State Department to label Wagner as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

Supporters of the FTO designation say it imposes significantly more costs on Wagner compared to its current label as a transnational criminal organization.

The FTO designation would increase U.S. resources to target and disrupt Wagners activities, serve as a strong deterrent against people or governments doing business with the group and open new pathways for legal action.

This would be a game changer, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and one of the co-sponsors of the bill.

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The National Security Council and the State Department did not respond to questions from The Hill over its specific issues with labeling Wagner an FTO.

Complications with Wagner FTO label

But a congressional aide, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations, told The Hill that the administration opposes the legislation over concerns it could impede U.S. efforts to convince and work with African nations to end their associations with or dependency on Wagner.

Expert analyses have tied the Wagner groups activities to countries including Sudan, Libya, the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Chad. The private security company is often used as a supplement force for those countries weak militaries.

[The State Department] is concerned that if suddenly the FTO designation lands on Wagner, that those governments, where theres various officials that deal with them [Wagner], that they would all, immediately be blocked from travel to the United States and have their assets seized for coming into contact with the FTO. So thats the nature of their concern, the aide said.

They claim theyre not opposed to it on Ukraine grounds, but theyre opposed to it on Africa grounds.

This undated photograph handed out by French military shows three Russian mercenaries, right, in northern Mali. Russias Wagner Group, a private military company led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rogue millionaire with longtime links to Russias President Vladimir Putin, has played a key role in the fighting in Ukraine and also deployed its personnel to Syria, Central African Republic, Libya and Mali. (French Army via AP, File)

But supporters of the HARM bill say passing the legislation sends an important political signal while also giving the president authority to delay carrying out the letter of the law.

The bill text includes an authority for the president to waive the sanctions requirements over national security concerns.

The messaging that comes from passing a bill like this, I think, is valuable and we would want that. I think it can have both worlds, the aide said.

And supporters of the FTO designation say that the Wagner group, in particular, fulfills criteria separate from the transnational criminal organization label. Wagners close ties to the Kremlin make it more than just a criminal organization operating for profit, as opposed to other transnational criminal groups like drug cartels in Central and South America.

Wagner is ostensibly a private outfit, but actually functions as an arm proxy of the Kremlin, Justyna Gudzowska, a former Treasury sanctions official, testified to lawmakers Thursday during a hearing of the Helsinki Commission.

Gudzowska, the director of illicit financing at the investigative and policy organization The Sentry, said that the organization has tracked Wagner spending money in the Central African Republican on sophisticated Hollywood-style propaganda glorifying Russia.

This makes it clear that the group is not there just for economic spoils, but also to project Russian power abroad, she told lawmakers.

Still, Gudzowska also warned that an FTO designation on Wagner could harm humanitarian groups working in these countries, another unintended consequence of such a designation, and called for lawmakers to ensure such issues are properly mitigated.

What has Wagner allegedly done?

The alleged atrocities committed by the Wagner group make up a long list and are difficult to stomach. In Ukraine, the Wagner group is accused of employing the tactic of human wave attacks to overwhelm front-line positions, throwing bodies to be killed.

Wagner forces are also accused of carrying out the rape, torture and massacre of civilians in Bucha, Ukraine, in March 2022.

In countries in Africa, Gudzowska testified bluntly that Wagner targets civilians, and said that Wagner forces and Wagner-trained Central African soldiers use terror as a weapon against the civilian population.

They have committed mass rape, torture, forced disappearance and dislocation, and they have killed thousands of civilians, Gudzowska said.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who is focused on Wagner atrocities in Africa and has talked with officials in Ukraine about the groups atrocities, said he is supportive of labeling the group as an FTO but is not committed to any one piece of legislation.

I am trying to make sure that I understand what the consequences might be, he told The Hill. But I think this is something we need to move on.

A move to change Russias status

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) questions Attorney General Merrick Garland during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the Department Justice on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. (Annabelle Gordon)

Supporters of the FTO designation also hope it lays the groundwork for labeling Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, a move the Biden administration has also resisted over concerns for unintended consequences, like making it harder to move grain out of Ukraine while it is under a Russian naval blockade.

Graham had earlier tried to work with the administration on legislation to label Russia as an aggressor state, in a compromise over the state sponsor of terrorism designation, but that fell apart.

Ive worked with the administration  how can you say Russias committing crimes against humanity and you wont label them a state sponsor of terrorism? Graham told The Hill.

I dont like this crime of aggression crap, I want to go to what they are, a state sponsor of terrorism.

He continued that he is focused on designating Wagner an FTO, followed by becoming a real vocal, unrelenting force to get Russia labeled as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), co-sponsor of the HARM Act and co-sponsor of the Aggressor legislation with Graham, agreed that designating Wagner an FTO could help lead to designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. Blumenthal expressed confidence that the HARM Act would be brought to the Senate floor for a vote in a week or two, and suggested it could bypass the normal committee procedure, although his colleagues didnt entirely agree.

I dont know about not going through committee, but I dont think it will have much problem getting through there either, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), co-sponsor of the bill and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where the bill has been referred.

I think Wagner at this point is the definition of a Foreign Terrorist Organization and they just happen to operate for profit.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he supported designating Wagner an FTO but said he had not seen the legislation.

The congressional aide who spoke with The Hill said that the legislation is unlikely to move quickly, facing a difficult, uphill battle by nature of Senate procedures  between challenges to getting it on the calendar for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in general, and the chance the Banking Committee may exercise jurisdiction because of the sanctions piece of the legislation.

Also, marking something up in the committee or passing it on the Senate floor does not immediately mean its a law that would be implemented, the aide said.

And particularly because the administration doesnt want it, it could disappear, in the dark of night, on a [National Defense Authorization Act] discussion next December.

Graham, however, was upbeat and said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) appeared to be on board. Schumers office did not return a request for comment.

I talked to Sen. Schumer, he said he thought it was a good idea  I think Sen. Schumer is going to make it happen, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and potential GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis are looking to fire up 2024 voters by attacking a shared target: the Republican Party.

After riding an anti-establishment wave to the presidency in 2016, Trump has amped up his attacks on Republican "freaks" and "fools" who oppose him, a continuing play for conservative voters who don't particularly like the GOP.

Others are also looking for those kinds of voters. Haley, the former Trump-appointed United Nations ambassador who has declared her candidacy, frequently attacks Republican "big spenders."

Former President Donald Trump stands behind Ron DeSantis, then a candidate for governor of Florida, at a 2018 rally in Pensacola, Fla. The former allies could find themselves competing against each other for the presidency in 2024.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to announce his presidential candidacy in May or June, has described some Republicans as "potted plants" when it comes to fighting the nation's culture wars.

Candidates are "going after Trump voters," said Republican pollster Whit Ayres, who has conducted surveys of GOP voters.

'Anti-, anti-, anti-'

The method is called populism, an appeal to voter frustration with elites and the establishment. Analysts say it has proven effective in Republican primaries but created problems for the party in general elections, including Trump's loss to President Joe Biden in 2020 and GOP defeats in key Senate races last year.

"It's all part of this populist mentality that is anti-elite, anti-expertise, anti-establishment, anti-media, anti-immigrant ... anti-, anti-, anti-," Ayres said. "It's why most populists lose."

Slipping support?:Trump in trouble: Republican support for his 2024 bid falls amid political, legal setbacks

Legal trouble?: 'I won't even think about leaving': Trump at CPAC says indictment wouldn't push him out of 2024 race

Running against one's party has been a presidential campaign tactic for more than a half-century, especially among Republicans. But it has never been the pivotal issue that it is now, some GOP members said, thanks to the Trump-led insurgency of 2016.

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Now it seems some Republicans are following Trump's anti-establishment lead.

DeSantis: 'Potted plants'

The Florida governor has been lower key about taking on "the establishment." DeSantis has also made clear he doesn't think regular Republicans have been tough in confronting important issues, an apparent play for Trump-style voters.

In a recent closed-door meeting with donors, DeSantis said too many regular Republicans are reluctant to fight over cultural issues, such as attempts to end race- and gender-based diversity and inclusion programs at businesses and schools.

Some of these Republicans, they just sit back like potted plants, and they let the media define the terms of the debate," DeSantis said, according to a tape provided to CNN and confirmed by his allies. "They let the left define the terms of debate. They take all this incoming, because theyre not making anything happen."

DeSantis book tour:2024 preview? Ron DeSantis does a book tour to discuss his Florida record - not Donald Trump

In his newly published book, DeSantis said the party should "side with conservative Americans on issues such as the Second Amendment, the right to life, election integrity, and religious liberty. In this environment, old-guard corporate Republicanism is not up to the task at hand.

He added, "There are folks who largely feel unrepresented by GOP leaders in D.C."

Haley: 'Big spenders'

Haley and her aides say she has long been an insurgent. In 2010, the then-state legislator rode the anti-Washington Tea Party movement all the way to the South Carolina governor's mansion.

Haley and the Republicans: Nikki Haley: Spending is out of control. And Democrats and Republicans share the blame.

Haley, who is Trump's only announced challenger so far, has focused her current Republican critique on the issue of federal spending.

President Donald Trump and Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, at the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 24, 2018, in New York.

"Both Democrats and Republicans are responsible for Americas spending crisis," Haley said in a recent op-ed for USA TODAY. The nation needs a president who will "stand up to the big spenders in both parties."

Her target audience for this argument: Trump supporters who may be looking for an alternative.

The approaches of Trump's challengers have at least one thing in common: They are trying to link the former president himself to the Republican establishment that has failed supporters on issues like spending.

Doug Heye, a GOP political strategist, said candidates like DeSantis and Haley hit "the establishment" as a way to "criticize Trump without criticizing Trump directly," thereby alienating his big base of voters.

Some of those voters may be looking around.

A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll said that while 80% of Iowa Republicans still view Trump favorably, his support is down from 91% in September of 2021. Since then, negative views of Trump have increased from 7% to 18%.

A recent poll by North Star Opinion Research, Ayres' firm, said that a slight majority of likely Republican primary voters want an alternative; 52% agreed with this statement: "I supported Donald Trump when he was President, but I dont think he can win the Presidency in 2024, and I want a different nominee who can win."

Republican targets

Candidate criticism of other Republicans also has a large target audience.

However you slice the polls, there are large numbers of potential Republican voters who aren't particularly wedded to the GOP itself.

The North Star Opinion Research survey said of GOP voters: "Fifty-three percent say they are strong Republicans, 30 percent not-so-strong Republicans, and the remainder are independents, most of whom lean toward the Republican Party."

Some voters belong more to Trump than the party; the North Star poll reported that 28% of Republican voters said they would support Trump as an independent candidate.

Trump: 'Freaks' and 'fools'

Never mind that he was president for four years; never mind that he remains the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination. Trump is still running against the Republican establishment, claiming it is still trying to thwart him.

In his speech this month to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump said that before his 2016 campaign, "we had a Republican Party that was ruled by freaks, neocons, globalists, open border zealots, and fools."

Singling out a a former speaker of the House, high-profile campaign strategist and former governor, Trump went on to say that "we are never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove, and Jeb Bush."

Throughout his political career, Trump has tried to link campaign opponents to GOP establishment members. In the current race, for example, he has sought to link DeSantis to Ryan and his proposal to change Social Security.

Trump's campaign against the establishment could also run into legal problems. He is under investigation in Atlanta, New York and Washington for various allegations, including hush money to an ex-mistress and his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Republicans vs. Republicans: A tradition

This is not a new tactic for presidential candidates, particularly Republicans.

As the federal government grew in size and power during the Great Depression, World War II and the Cold War, a rising number of Republicans came to believe the government had become too expensive and too powerful.

Conservative rise:How the GOP got here: The rise of ultra conservatives from Barry Goldwater to Donald Trump

In 1964, Barry Goldwater won the presidential nomination as part of a backlash against "Big Government." He lost the general election in a landslide to President Lyndon Johnson, a Democrat who expanded the authority of the federal government in civil rights, voting rights and "Great Society" social spending programs.

Sixteen years later, Ronald Reagan led the conservative movement into the White House.

Popular gambit

Trump ran the ultimate anti-establishment campaign in 2016, his first for elected office.

"Running against the Republican Party has been a very popular gambit for conservatives," said Geoffrey Kabaservice, vice president of political studies with the Niskanen Center, a Washington-based center-right think tank.

Retribution?

The difference this time, some analysts said: The willingness of candidates to use the power of government to achieve their ends.

Trump has pledged to be an agent of "retribution" for his followers, getting back at their enemies, be they prosecutor who are investigating him, the Chinese government or more moderate Republicans.

DeSantis has built a governing record in Florida on pressuring businesses and colleges to end programs designed to promote diversity and inclusion of Blacks and transgender people.

"This is supposed to be the party of small government," said Kabaservice, author of a 2012 book called "Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, From Eisenhower to the Tea Party."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Trump, Haley and DeSantis are attacking other Republicans
Daniel Dreifuss made the most of his school year in Columbia and he made lifelong connections with Sally Silvers' family.

Dreifuss is on the production team of the German-language "All Quiet on the Western Front," nominated for nine Academy Awards in Sunday's ceremony, including best picture.

Felix Kammerer stars in the 2022 version of "All Quiet on the Western Front," a grim depiction of the horrors of World War I. The Hollywood version won an Oscar in 1930; this time it was made by a German director.

He grew up in Brazil, but spent his senior year at Hickman High School, graduating in 1996. His father had spent a year with Silvers' family in the St. Louis area when she was in high school in the 1960s.

He had no inkling of filmmaking during his school year in Columbia, he said.

"I was a film lover," Dreifuss said. "I saw a lot of films."

An only child, Dreifuss said he loved being part of the family dynamic in Silvers' household. Most of the elders of his family had died in the Holocaust.

"My entry into the United States made it possible to move here and pursue whatever dream I had," Dreifuss said. "It cracked the door open to this world."

Growing up speaking Portuguese in Brazil, Silvers said Dreifuss received an "A" in honors English from a Hickman teacher known for being strict.

An American history teacher told the class that a foreigner had set the bar for the class, Dreifuss said as a point of pride.

He loved his physics class with a favorite teacher, he said.

Dreifuss was going to stay only a semester, but he loved the experience so much, he stayed the whole year, Silvers said.

"He was really just like one of my kids," said Silvers, a board member on the Columbia Public Schools Foundation. "I got irritated with him and I loved him dearly."

Her daughter, a junior at the time, felt imposed upon because she had to drive this boy to school every day, Silvers said. It also irritated her that Dreifuss mispronounced the word "turkey."

Silvers said she also had no inkling that Dreifuss would become a filmmaker, nor did she notice any particular spark.

"I knew that he had an engaging personality," Silvers said, adding that he was very comfortable in front of people.

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Silvers warned Dreifuss to never drink from her purple mug with penguins but said she didn't find out until recently that he thought she was serious and drinking from the mug would get him in real trouble or sent back to Brazil.

Part of what makes this version of "All Quiet on the Western Front" so searing is the realism poured into the trench warfare battle scenes. Some 3 million people died on the western front of World War I. Director Edward Berger used very few special effects.

Dreifuss talked about how he felt when the Oscar nominations were announced.

"I think my first feeling is that I'm honored," Dreifuss said. "I'm esteemed that my film was seen by my peers and I am pleased that the nomination will allow the film to be seen by a wider audience. I felt validated."

He had other reactions on the second day, he said.

"The next day I felt joy for something I dedicated so much love and time and effort to," Dreifuss said. "I'm humbled and thrilled."

"All Quiet on the Western Front," set during World War I, is an antiwar film, Dreifuss said.

"I believe that it should be a human story and a stark reminder that we are still dealing with the very same issues," Dreifuss said. "That there's another war in Europe is inconceivable to me."

He said the film might be hard to watch.

"War is not an adventure for those who stand face to face with death," Dreifuss said.

It has beautiful moments, the horrors of war and moments of empathy, he said.

"Empathy is something the world needs right now," he said.

There are human stories in the film, he said.

"It is the story of four young men who joined the war thinking it was going to be a thrill, and on arrival realized it's not going to be the adventure they imagined. They ask themselves what are they here for. It allows the audience to be moved and touched and it takes them on a journey through their experiences."

"All Quiet on the Western Front" was a German-language novel in 1929 and an American-made film in 1930.

Silvers read the novel, but she hasn't yet seen Dreifuss' film. He warned her not to watch it alone, she said.

"What he said to me is it's really brutal," Silvers said. "I read the book and I can see from reading it how the film might be."

Dreifuss is a creative producer, he said. He finds source material, conceives the project and determines what aspects will be interesting on film.

"Sometimes the project comes to me as a screenplay," Dreifuss said.

He doesn't finance films, he said.

He has read the novel and seen the 1930 film, but didn't go back to them when developing the new film, he said.

"We were making a new film," Dreifuss said. "We had the privilege of knowing the horrors that followed. We have a historical perspective of the events that followed. People find different ways to relate to source material."

What followed, of course, was the rise of Adolf Hitler, his Nazi party and the Holocaust with the deaths of 6 million Jews and many others, including homosexuals.

He was asked if anything could have been different if his film could have been shown to audiences in 1930 Germany.

"The book was banned by Hitler as was the movie," Dreifuss said. "I don't think the film would have been available. In this country right now, there's also a group of people also taking away our ability to view history."

The film swept the British Academy Film Awards last month, taking seven BAFTAs, including best picture and best director, giving it a boost for Sunday's Oscars.

Silvers said Dreifuss usually visits two or three times a year from his home in California. He almost always is here for the True/False Film Fest, but not this year. He comes for Thanksgiving and usually drops in during the summer if he can.

Silvers will be watching the Oscars and cheering for Dreifuss, she said.

"He's Danny," Silvers said. "He's just the same old guy. It's just so exciting for him."

The 95th Academy Awards will air at 7 p.m. CST Sunday on ABC.

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: Hickman grad Daniel Dreifuss makes his mark with Oscar-nominated film
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry releases review of last week's events [VIDEO]

12 March 2023 [14:15] -

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry presented a review of the events of last week, Azernews reports.





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KYODO NEWS - Mar 12, 2023 - 13:09 | All, Japan

Japan's Koichi Wakata returned to Earth on Saturday along with three other astronauts aboard a U.S. SpaceX spacecraft, following a five-month stay at the International Space Station.

Wakata, 59, completed his fifth space mission, a record for a Japanese. The country's oldest astronaut has spent a total of more than 500 days in space.

The commercial spacecraft Crew Dragon deployed a parachute after entering the atmosphere with Wakata, two astronauts from U.S. space agency NASA and one from Russia landing off the coast of Florida after 9 p.m. It had left the ISS earlier in the day.

A recovery team waiting at sea lifted the spacecraft onto a ship, with Wakata smiling at the staff as he emerged.

The spacecraft was launched from Florida in early October on a mission that included some experiments in low-gravity environments, such as testing the movements of liquids, to help develop technologies for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

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The Chinese-negotiated agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to reestablish diplomatic ties, which called into question U.S. influence in the region, is very troubling, according to Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio).

I think that, of course, is a reflection on the Biden administration, Turner said in an interview with ABCs This Week on Sunday. Its not unexpected that [Saudi Arabia] might look elsewhere for support. It certainly is very unexpected and certainly very troubling and disappointing that they would turn to Iran.

The deal between the two adversaries, which was negotiated over four days in Beijing, eased tensions between two of the most influential countries in the Middle East after years of hostilities. Turner, who heads the House Intelligence Committee, on Sunday highlighted the Biden administrations criticism of Saudi Arabia and said U.S. officials have been slow to respond to Riyadhs military needs.

The unexpected deal means that Saudi Arabia and Iran will resume diplomatic relations with each other and open up embassies in each country. The two nations have been on opposing sides in a prolonged and deadly civil war in Yemen.

But the Chinese-brokered deal raised red flags in the west as anxiety grows over Chinas increasing influence in the region. Republicans have blasted President Biden, saying he is soft on China, and have sounded the alarm on Beijings global ambitions.

The Biden administration appears to be much too timid in their approach to Russia and I think even in China they are afraid to provoke, Turner said. They are absolutely emerging as a military threat to the United States. I think we need to respond and respond very strongly.

Updated at 10:30 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) this week warned that former President Trumps legal troubles could become a distraction for the 2024 contender, especially if indicted.

Its out of respect for the institution of the presidency of the United States, Hutchinson said in an interview with USA Today, adding that Trump should think about pulling his bid if the Manhattan district attorney moves forward with charges.

Thats a distraction that is difficult to run for the highest office in the land under those circumstances, he argued.

In the interview with USA Today, Hutchinson said Trump should not have run again amid the myriad of investigations he is involved in.

I know hes going to say that theyre politically motivated and all of those things, but the fact is, theres just a lot of turmoil out there with the number of investigations going on, he explained.

Hutchinson was mainly referring to the Manhattan district attorneys probe into potential hush-money payments made on behalf of Trump to now-retired porn star Stormy Daniels, who has accused the president of having an affair with her prior to his 2016 campaign.

Trump has vehemently denied the affair with Daniels and has rejected multiple allegations related to the scheme. Many legal experts have since suggested that this could lead to charges of falsifying business records against the former president.

I did absolutely nothing wrong, I never had an affair with Stormy Daniels, nor would I have wanted to have an affair with Stormy Daniels, he said in a statement on Thursday.

Prosecutors in Manhattan have signaled that they could be close to indicting the former president, after offering Trump the chance to make his case before the grand jury next week. Offers to testify often come shortly before charging decisions are made, though defendants seldom avail themselves of the option.

Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer who would have made the payments to Daniels, has agreed to testify in the case, among others.

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When asked last week during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in suburban Washington, D.C. if he planned to stay in the race, even if he were to get indicted, Trump said absolutely.

Oh, absolutely, I wont even think about leaving, he told reporters.

But that isnt the only legal trouble the former president is facing. The Department of Justice has appointed a special counsel to oversee Trumps involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot on the Capitol  seen as an effort to remain in power after the 2020 election  and to investigate the mishandling of classified government documents found at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort last summer.

When youre looking at Trump. Its going to be a circus, Hutchinson, a former federal prosecutor who has been floated as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, told USA Today.

It doesnt mean that hes guilty of it or he should be charged, but its just such a distraction that would be unnecessary for somebody whos seeking the highest office in the land, he reiterated.

Hutchinson claimed earlier this month that Trumps message for 2024 only appeals to an angry mob.

First of all, if you want to heal our land, unite our country together, you dont do it by appealing to the angry mob. And thats true whether youre talking about an angry mob from the left or the right, he said on Feb. 5 while on CNNs State of the Union. And so thats problematic.

While the former governor has not made a decision on 2024 just yet, he said last week that April is decision time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
He saw the car fly through the air, barrel-rolling before it nosedived into the ground not far from his house near Dickson last February.

Then-11-year-old Matthew Pyle and his dad, Chris, jumped into a tractor and headed toward the wreckage. Father and son saw part of the car resting on a passenger's neck, they said.

The two used the tractor to get the wreckage off the victim's neck, and the boy flagged down a car to call 911 before helping his dad administer first aid.

The passenger made a full recovery, and Matthew Pyle became one of five Boy Scouts in the Middle Tennessee Council to be awarded Scout of the Year.

They scouts were honored Tuesday in a ceremony in downtown Nashville. Retired U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus was the keynote speaker at the fundraiser, the 2023 Nashville Patron Luncheon for the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Wyatt Hensley, 9, David Olakunle, 16,Hannah Neal, 16, Jack Jones, 14, and Matthew Pyle, 12 pose together at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel as the 2022 Scouts of the year in downtown Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

The 2022 Scouts of the Year are Wyatt Hensley, of Webelos Pack 358; Matthew Pyle, Second Class, Troop 593; David Olakunle, First Class, Troop 621; Jack Jones, Life Scout, Troop 137; and Hannah Neal, Life Scout, Troop 2019, Venture Crew 357 and Ship 1919.

Here's more on their stories.

Wyatt, 9, of Tullahoma, gave up his summer vacation to work with his church's food ministry, even learning how to operate a pallet jack, the Boy Scouts said. Asked why he gave up his vacation time, Wyatt told his mom, "I'm not doing this for me, I am doing this for my heavenly Father, Jesus Christ."

Matthew, now 12, of Dickson County, helped save a life after watching a speeding car lose control and flip, jamming the door into a passenger's neck, the Boy Scouts said in a news release. He and his dad used a tractor to pull the car back and give them space to do first aid until emergency responders arrived. Matthew and his dad also helped clear roads for emergency vehicles to pass after an EF3 tornado struck Dickson, the Boy Scouts said.

David, 16, of Antioch, designed an online app for his neighborhood, one that lets neighbors foster relationships and help each other in emergencies. That helped David win a Youth App Design Award. He has used those same skills to help his church, Redeemer Christian Church of God, with its online presence, including live-streaming services.

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The 2022 Scouts of the Year for the Middle Tennessee Council of Boy Scouts of America, left to right, are: David Olakunle (Troop 621), Hannah Neal (Troop 2019, Venture Crew 357 and Ship 1919), Wyatt Hensley (Pack 358), Matthew Pyle (Troop 593), Jack Jones (Troop 137)

Jack, 14, helped save a buddy's life when a water bottle cap became lodged in his friend's throat during recess at Page Middle School in Franklin. A teacher started doing the Heimlich maneuver, but Jack stepped in and was able to move the cap enough for the student to breathe, the Boy Scouts said in a release.

Hannah, 16, of Murfreesboro, a member of the Middle Tennessee Council's first female troop, has become an outstanding leader, the Boy Scouts said in a release. She currently is the Venturing Officers Association president and she has received the Venturing Leadership Award. She also serves on the Lodge Executive Council and is currently vice chief of service for the OA summer camp. Hannah also was selected to attend the World Jamboree in South Korea in 2023.

Want more good news? The Good News with Brad Schmitt hits inboxes every Friday morning. Subscribers can sign up for the newsletter at tennessean.com/goodnews to get exclusive feel-good stories.

Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384 or on Twitter @bradschmitt.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 11-year-old hero among the five 2022 Nashville area Scouts of the Year
It was January 2021, after a long day of virtual school, and a cold sense of intense dread and an inexplicable feeling like Im going to die settled over me.

Im safe in my house  I can see the light where my moms working downstairs  but I feel like Im in danger. I make my way to my room, keeping all of the lights off, and sit on my bed. The task of breathing becomes laborious; any calm I had turns into panicked, gasping breaths, and the more I try to right myself, the worse the attack gets.

Its only when I jam earbuds into my ears and blast a song that I finally calm down. I rock myself back and forth until the tears stop, then haul myself onto my feet. It was my first panic attack. Navigating uncharted territory I felt devastatingly alone.

The following month, on Feb. 3, a classmate killed herself.

She was a few days younger than me, and to imagine the pain she was in sends an electric shock to my nervous system. The impact of her death echoes throughout my community in the whispers we exchange, sudden shifts of the eyes and the heaviness in our heels as we walk.

Were drowning.

Student mental health was already at a low before lockdown; the pandemic exacerbated the issue and strained the relationship between student and counselor. Counselors say anxiety rates are up, and with a big developmental chunk missing from most students lives, social-emotional skills are suffering, too. This hits especially hard for teenage girls and LGBTQ students, studies say.

During the 2021 school year when I had my first panic attack, schools in my state of Georgia did not meet the state mandated counselor-to-student ratio of 1 to 450. They still dont. This is a long way from the 1-to-250 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association.

My son died after being cyberbullied: Congress must hold social media giants accountable.

CDC survey: Teen girls report record levels of violence, sadness and suicide risk

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Students feel alone  and they are

Without fully funded mental health services, students are left to suffer alone. Months after my classmates suicide, I felt isolated and depressed. I didnt know how to deal with my emotions, and the idea of receiving help felt inconceivable.

In the absence of trained professionals, we as students are left to pick up our own pieces. Even when I was in pain, I found myself taking the role of the therapist friend. Id talk my friends through every panic attack they had, every suicidal thought  every crisis. I noticed isolated classmates without anyone to talk to, people who didnt feel safe enough to reach out to professionals. They often cited previous negative encounters as the reason why. Appointments were hard to access; meetings were uncomfortable or unhelpful.

Its not the school counselors fault. The counselor role has shifted from solely academic to also taking care of student mental health, many counselors arent adequately trained to meet student mental health needs, and counselors are often understaffed and overworked.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

An estimated 14 million students are in schools with police officers but without a counselor, nurse, psychologist or social worker. The presence of officers instead of counselors in schools disproportionately pushes students of color into the school-to-prison pipeline, and leads to escalation in situations that could have been diffused by an unarmed professional.

The presence of school resource officers means fearmongering and brutality, and increases incidents of excessive force, usually to Black and Latino students. According to the Advancement Project, more than 25% of school police assaults were on students with disabilities or students who reported mental health concerns, and over 80% of victims of school police assaults since 2011 have been Black students.

There are systemic reasons why students are suffering and concrete steps we can take to achieve true safety in our schools. Instead, divisive politicians blame critical race theory, AP African American Studies and transgender youth simply seeking acceptance.

My neurofibromatosis: A stranger filmed me without my consent and put it on TikTok. I stood up for myself  and won.

I lost a child to opioids: Compassion, not criminalization, could spare others my grief.

Fund counseling resources  not culture wars

These politicians are funding culture wars, not children. Rather than enforcing "zero-tolerance policies" that put students of color at risk, schools should turn their attention to reforming counseling and creating positive school environments and support systems.

They should answer school counselors' calls for more staffing and funding, as well as the cries for help from students, who with the right support, all have bright futures ahead of them. Funding for adequate counseling gives students the resources and strength to build better lives for themselves. Its what we deserve.

A student attaches a note to the Resilience Project board at the Utah Valley University in Orem in 2019. The purpose of the project is to let students know that it is OK to struggle.

In May 2021, I started to get better. I learned that asking for help was essential. I started seeing a psychologist. I explored new hobbies and rediscovered old ones. I didnt just pull myself out of a depressive state; I learned how to cope  and I didnt do it alone.

Now, well into my freshman year of high school, I know things arent perfect, but I no longer feel alone. And I know that if I feel like Im falling, there are lots of people around who can catch me. Every student should have this support  especially those who cant find it at home. We can fully fund mental health services in every school to meaningfully address the ongoing youth mental health crisis; there just needs to be a willingness to do so.

Nia Batra is a high school student and member of Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, which is a part of the HEAL Together coalition.

Systems of punishment do not mitigate fear, nor do they negate the need for care and compassion of our overall well-being. Were safer and healthier when we have school counselors and social workers who are trained to support students' emotional needs instead of neglecting them or pretending they dont exist.

Prioritizing our mental health needs is what care looks like. It is what safety looks like. In an uncertain and sometimes scary world, its the least we can do. Its what we as children deserve.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that provides confidential 24/7 support by dialing 988, or visit 988lifeline.org

Nia Batra is a high school student and member of Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, which is a part of the HEAL Together coalition.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Teens are struggling with mental health. Why aren't we helping them?
At least eight people were dead after two migrant smuggling boats capsized off a San Diego beach in a suspected human-smuggling operation, authorities said.

"This is one of the worst maritime smuggling tragedies that I can think of in California, certainly here in the city of San Diego," said James Gartland, chief of the lifeguard division in San Diego.

Gartland said a woman called 911 at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, saying she was on a panga boat with 15 people aboard that made it to the shore at Black's Beach. Speaking in Spanish, the caller said another panga  relatively small fishing boats with outboard motors often used for smuggling operations  had capsized, and eight people were in the water.

Recovery efforts resumed on Sunday after heavy fog hampered the search but no additional bodies were found, according to Coast Guard and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews.

Authorities said survivors may have escaped on land, including the woman who called 911 whose whereabouts are unknown.

Developments:

At least some of Saturdays victims were Mexican, according to the country's consulate in San Diego, but how many is not known.

Police and fire departments, the Coast Guard and Customs Border Protection aided the search and rescue effort.

A lifeguard dispatcher used GPS coordinates from the caller's cellphone to locate the wreckage.

The San Diego Fire Department said it attempted to send two helicopters to help search for victims, but conditions were too foggy and misty.

Bodies and debris found scattered across beach

San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson Monica Munoz said the lifeguard teams, unable to immediately access the beach because of high tide, waded through water up to waist deep before reaching two overturned pangas. Bodies and debris were scattered over 400 yards of beach and surf, Munoz said.

The first lifeguards on the scene found seven bodies, pulling victims from knee-deep water and from the waterline up the beach to dry sand. An eighth body was found a short time later by Customs and Border Protections Air and Marine Operations officers, Munoz said. Several lifejackets and fuel barrels were also found.

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The victims were all adults

Gartland said access to the area was difficult, and when his team reached the beach the caller and other survivors were gone. All the victims were adults, he said.

"When we arrived on scene, both vessels were capsized and inside the shoreline," he said. "That area is a very hazardous area, even in the daytime."

FLORIDA BOAT CRASH: Florida teenager killed in boating crash near Miami; 10 others injured

A Coast Guard cutter was combing the area near Black's Beach for other victims, and officials hoped to use helicopters when weather improves, Coast Guard Capt. James Spitler said.

'These boats are overloaded'

Eric Lavergne, a Border Patrol spokesman, said hundreds of maritime smuggling incidents occur every year. Saturdays accident was one of the deadliest ever in the U.S., he said.

In May 2021, a packed boat carrying migrants capsized and broke apart in powerful surf along the rocky San Diego coast, killing three people and injuring more than two dozen. The dangers involved for people attempting to reach the U.S on small boats are immense, Spitler said.

"Every time they get into a panga to come northbound their lives are at risk," he said. "Often these boats are overloaded, the maintenance is poor, and they often do it in weather like last night's weathwhere there is very little visibility, very challenging for anyone to operate in those conditions.''

Contributing: Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Human smuggling attempt in San Diego: 8 dead after boats capsize
China has named a US-sanctioned general as its new defence minister in a decision that could spell more difficulties for already strained US-China ties.

Li Shangfu, an aerospace expert, was voted unanimously by the countrys rubber-stamp parliament, the National Peoples Congress, on Sunday to replace outgoing defence chief Wei Fenghe.

Mr Li, 65, was sanctioned by the US State Department in 2018 for purchasing Russian weapons, including 10 Su-35 combat aircraft and equipment related to the S-400 surface-to-air missile system.

He took charge amid a stark warning by foreign minister Qin Gang in which he said there will surely be conflict with the US unless it changes course.

The latest appointment is part of a major cabinet reshuffle by Xi Jinping, who was formally given an unprecedented third term as president.

Experts said the sanctions slapped on the new defence minister are not a deal breaker for future meetings, but add a potential complication that could provide Chinas military leadership with leverage.

While Chinas defence minister wields little power and the post is viewed as largely diplomatic and ceremonial, his actions will be closely watched by the US and its allies because of his past history with Washington.

An aerospace engineer by profession, Mr Li has worked on Chinas satellite programme. His credentials include the modernisation effort of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and accelerating the development of Chinas space and cyber warfare capabilities.

James Char, a security scholar at Singapores S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told Reuters he could play a key role in president Xi Jinpings goals to become a world-class military.

The operational and technological background of the next Chinese defence minister is especially pertinent given that the PLA aims to become a world-class military by 2049, Mr Char said.

In 2016, he was named deputy commander of the PLAs Strategic Support Force, an elite body tasked with the development of space and cyber warfare capabilities. He was later appointed head of the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission, Chinas governing defence body headed by Mr Xi.

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Speaking about Mr Lis rise to the top defence post, Pentagon spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Marty Meiners said the US military could not comment on media reports of changes in Chinas leadership.

He said the US had been clear in wanting to maintain communications with the PLA. Open lines of communication can help us manage risk, avoid miscalculation, and responsibly manage competition, Mr Meiners said.

Other senior appointments included the induction of four new vice premiers: Ding Xuexiang, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing and Liu Guozhong.

The vice premiers were appointed on the nomination of new premier Li Qiang and will serve on the State Council, the body tasked with reviving of the Chinese economy.

In another major reshuffle, China unexpectedly retained its central bank governor and finance minister.

Mr Xi broke with convention to retain Yi Gang, 65, as governor of the Peoples Bank of China and Liu Kun, 66, as finance minister.

Both men have reached the official retirement age of 65.

Additional reporting by agencies
Rep. Paul Gosar speaks during the Arizona GOP biennial statutory meeting at Dream City Church on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, in Phoenix.

I am deeply troubled by the recent comments of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, calling for the dissolution of the United States in a national divorce between red and blue states.

As the leader of the MAGA movement in Congress, her secessionist rhetoric carries significant weight. Im concerned that my representative, Paul Gosar, has not publicly disagreed with it.

Rep. Gosars decision to empower Rep. Greene and her allies through the rules process and support her appointment to key roles on powerful committees is alarming.

His failure to publicly condemn these dangerous calls for national divorce leaves his constituents unsure of where he stands on this issue.

As an elected leader, Rep. Gosar has a fundamental duty to protect our country from efforts to divide and destroy it. I urge him to stand up for our democracy and publicly denounce Rep. Greene's secessionist rhetoric.

Sarah Bihms, Surprise

Don't blame Mexico for our sins

News stations have gone wild over the news that two Americans were killed in Mexico.

It seemed to draw much more attention than the numerous killings in the United States  parents stabbing their children to death, heavily armed rampage shooters killing students in schools.

More letters:Prosecute rogue Cochise County supervisors

Every day there are multiple murders in the United States. People on this side of the border kill each other and bury their dead murdered children. Maybe there should be a travel alert here in the United States.

Drugs come here from Mexico because of the demand for illicit drugs on this side of the border. Whos to blame? The persons demanding drugs or the suppliers?

Yet again, America, you point an accusing finger at Mexico when you should be pointing it right back at yourselves.

Joe Diaz, Phoenix

Lawmakers should recite Bill of Rights

Our legislators wish to promote patriotism and understanding of American democracy by requiring young people to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each school day.

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To reinforce and lead by example, lawmakers should require themselves at the beginning of every day in session to recite the preamble to the Declaration of Independence (We the people ...) and the Bill of Rights.

They all know the first two rights well, but they should patriotically include all of the first 10 amendments.

What better example to our young people, who are saying the Pledge of Allegiance, than to know our legislators are also reminding themselves daily of the principles they were elected to uphold?

John Thaxton, Goodyear

Let's pledge allegiance to the Earth

Years ago, I worked at a YMCA camp at which we had the U.S. flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. I asked if we could add an Earth flag (image of Earth taken from outer space) and Earth pledge to the morning routine.

I was thrilled when they said OK.

We would raise that flag, put our hands over our hearts and all say together, I pledge allegiance to the Earth, and all the life which it supports, one planet, in our care, irreplaceable, with sustenance and respect for all.

Maybe Arizona could lead the nation in implementing that flag and pledge. Imagine how our youth could start seeing this planet as our home and everyone on it as family.

Mary Hayhoe, Apache Junction

Learn what it's like to be a woman

Women should be livid and shuddering at the lack of human rights and dignity shown to us in our own country.

In the free world the United States ranks about 15th in equal rights for women. We, and I mean all of us, should be outraged by this.

Instead, we are on TikTok, social media and dating sites trying to hook up with the very sorts who have allowed and demanded women wait on them and who continue to kick women down the road of injustice.

Why do women continue to support men who dismiss them as second-class people?

March 8 was International Womens Day. Why do we even need this? We need this because of the above rant.

And why do we not have an International Mens Day? Because that silly question is rhetorical and plain laughable.

Men need to pick up our fight and learn what it is like to be a woman. Be bold. Do something other than further your own privileged existence.

Karen Nesbit, Mesa

Whats on your mind? Send us a letter to the editor online or via email at opinions@arizonarepublic.com. And consider joining our moderated Voices: Engaging Arizona group on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rep. Paul Gosar has not disavowed the idea of a 'national divorce'
Paul Flores was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on Friday for the 1996 killing of fellow student Kristen Smart from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

Flores, 46, was arrested for Smarts murder in 2021, 25 years after she first disappeared, and was convicted last October.

After nearly 27 years of unspeakable anguish, the Smart family has finally seen their daughters killer sentenced, Deputy District Attorney Christopher Peuvrelle, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement.

We thank the Smart family and our community for the tremendous trust and patience they placed in the investigation and prosecution of this terrible crime, District Attorney Dan Dow also said, adding, Today, justice delayed is not justice denied.

The San Luis Obispo Tribune reported that Smarts brother, Matthew, described Flores as a menace to society, ahead of the sentencing.

Paul chose to take a life, my sister Kristins life, a beautiful life, he said of his sister, who was only 19 years old when she disappeared, according to the Tribune. And now he must pay.

Smart was last seen leaving an off-campus party with Flores on May 25, 1996. Her body was never found, and she was declared dead in 2002.

Prosecutors accused Flores of killing Smart during an attempted rape and alleged that Smarts body may have been buried at his father Ruben Flores home. A March 2021 search of Flores home found a soil disturbance and the presence of human blood under the deck, where Smart is believed to have been buried.

Ruben Flores was also arrested in 2021 for accessory to murder but was found not guilty by a separate jury last October.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The president of the United States will get a new Air Force One  the official plane of the president  and while former President Donald Trump had asked for its new look to be red, white and blue, that won't happen for technical reasons, according to the Air Force.

The Air Force said Friday the designs of the new Air Force Ones, two Boeing VC-25Bs (there are always two Air Force Ones), will more closely resemble the robin's egg blue design that has been used since it was first suggested by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

In 2019 during Trump's presidency, he announced the new plane would be donned in red, white and blue. But the Air Force said Friday in a news release that a thermal study found that the dark blue in the design "would require additional Federal Aviation Administration qualification testing for several commercial components" because of the added heat in certain environments.

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From 2019: A reimagined Air Force One from Trump? Some fun ideas for the plane

The new Air Force One

But the new plane will have some color adjustments, and upgrades.

The new plane's lighter blue is slightly deeper than the original. And the new plane's engines will use a darker blue from the cockpit area. Also, while the old Air Force One had a polished metal section, modern commercial aircraft "skin alloys" don't allow them, according to the Air Force.

The Air Force says the new aircraft will be "uniquely modified" to provide the president, staff and guests with the same level of "communications capability and security" available in the White House.

Previously:Did the Grinch steal Air Force One?

Is Trump Force One ready to take flight?Eric Trump social post highlights new look for Trump's plane

More:Donald Trump, Palm Beach's almost-presidential candidate, buys new Boeing 757 airplane

The current Air Force One.

Former President Donald Trump's Boeing 757 private jet, seen here at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, often referred to as "Trump Force One," would have looked similar to the real Air Force One that's being renovated.

The old Air Force One is being replaced because of what the Air Force calls "capability gaps," rising maintenance costs, and obsolete parts. Upgrades will include "electrical power upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities."

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The new Air Force One should be ready by 2027 for the first aircraft and 2028 for the second aircraft. The Air Force remains postured to keep VC-25A available and mission-ready until delivery of the VC-25B.

"Here's your new Air Force One."



Pres. Trump shows @GStephanopoulos mock-ups of his vision for the next generation of the presidential aircraft during an exclusive @ABC News interview. https://t.co/9SiLyaVVjy pic.twitter.com/bdlDZMns8Q  ABC News (@ABC) June 13, 2019

Some interesting facts about Air Force One

 According to the Associated Press, U.S. presidents once flew in a Boeing 707 that had orange above and below the nose and United States of America painted on the sides in blocky, all-caps lettering.

 In 1947, according to whitehousemuseum.org, President Harry Truman flew in a Douglas DC-6 Liftmaster named Independence with its nose painted to look like a bald eagle.

 According to Boeing, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy selected the baby blue colors of the first Air Force One. It is said the lettering was changed to a font inspired by the heading of the Declaration of Independence.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Air Force One won't be painted red, white and blue like Trump wanted
By Rena Yokoue, KYODO NEWS - Mar 12, 2023 - 11:57 | Feature, All, Japan, Travel/Tourism

A tiny rural community in northeastern Japan known for numerous UFO sightings is promoting itself as a "home to aliens" in a bid to revitalize its local economy and put itself on the intergalactic map.

By displaying its many pieces of UFO paraphernalia and holding events that appeal to enthusiasts, Iinomachi, once prosperous through silk production and weaving industries, hopes to build a new future by drawing visitors with a passion for the extraterrestrial.

Residents believe they live in a UFO hot spot and speak of repeated appearances of unknown luminous flying objects over the past four decades near the conical 462-meter-high Senganmori mountain.

Recent headlines about airborne objects with unclear origins, including a suspected Chinese spy balloon, have created geopolitical tensions, but a Fukushima municipal government official said their focus is considering possible extraterrestrial life from a more "romantic" viewpoint.

The area, formerly categorized as the town of Iino and integrated into the city of Fukushima in 2008, has a dwindling population of some 5,000 people. Senganmori, which the locals speculate is a possible ancient pyramid due to its shape and the large rock formations in its surrounds, dominates the scenery.

Visitors to Iinomachi cannot avoid having close encounters with extraterrestrial life everywhere, including UFO-shaped streetlights, bus stops, flags and even an alien statue.

The "UFO Fureaikan" museum opened halfway up the mountain in 1992 to display around 3,000 books, photos and other resources related to aliens and UFOs, some of them donated by the famous late UFO researcher Kinichi Arai. Around 30,000 people from in and out of the prefecture visit annually.

A UFO festival, in which participants dressed in alien costumes to take part in a parade and contest, was held for the first time last year to mark the museum's 30th anniversary.

The population of the former town peaked at approximately 9,500 in 1955 but has since almost halved. Those who remain, however, believe the future can be bright.

In 2021, the International UFO Lab, which collects and disseminates UFO sighting reports to its members around the world, was established in Iinomachi on June 24, which is also designated as World UFO Day. The date commemorates the first reported UFO sighting by U.S. civilian pilot Kenneth Arnold in the state of Washington in 1947.

Any UFO believer can become a member of the organization by paying a 10,000 yen ($74) one-year membership fee. Elite members, those who sign on for three years at 20,000 yen or 30,000 yen, are entitled to special T-shirts and locally brewed sake, and all members can attend UFO-related events.

The group said global interest in UFOs made a resurgence after the U.S. Department of Defense in 2020 released video footage of unidentified aerial phenomena captured in 2004 and 2015.

In 2021, the U.S. government released a preliminary assessment on UFOs, focusing on more than 140 reports collected since 2004 from military pilots and other sources. But it failed to offer concrete explanations for most sightings.

Tetsu Konno, 62, a now-retired employee of a major chemicals manufacturer, joined the International UFO Lab as a researcher in December, hoping to utilize his experience in sales and marketing for the group in his home city of Fukushima.

After being selected by the municipal government to help revitalize the district, he said a temporary goodbye to his family in Osaka Prefecture, where he had lived for more than 30 years.

"When I heard from residents that they had seen bright lights while climbing Senganmori mountain, it made me want to believe in UFOs," Konno said. "I'd like to see one during my three-year stint."

Konno said he also hopes their efforts to use UFOs as a community resource will breathe life back into the entire area. The goal is to get visitors to the museum and to continue their journey into the small community which features an old townscape and shopping street around four kilometers away.

Related coverage:

Japan probing links between Chinese balloon, past flying object

NASA to launch months-long scientific study on UFOs from early fall

Shooting star seems to have exploded above Tokyo
SpaceXs Crew-5 mission has safely returned to Earth. On Saturday evening, the companys Endurance Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the coast of Florida following a five-month stay at the International Space Station. The capsule was carrying NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, Japans Koichi Wakata and Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina.

The four spent 157 days in orbit during an ISS rotation that was one for the history books. As Space.com points out , the Crew-5 mission saw Mann, a member of the Wailaki people, become the first Native American woman to fly in space . It was also the first time a Russian cosmonaut flew aboard a private American spacecraft, a milestone made possible after NASA and Roscosmos signed a seat-sharing agreement last year amid increasing US and Russian tensions due to the war in Ukraine.

Splashdown!#Crew5 is back on Earth, completing a science mission of nearly six months on the @Space_Station. Their @SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft touched down at 9:02pm ET (0202 UTC March 12) near Tampa off the coast of Florida. pic.twitter.com/nLMC0hbKY4  NASA (@NASA) March 12, 2023

For Wakata, the flight was his fifth return from space, a Japanese record. The mission also marked the second orbital trip for Endurance after the capsule successfully carried the Crew-3 crew back to Earth last fall. The spacecraft will now return to SpaceXs Dragon Lair facility in Florida for safety checks and refurbishment ahead of its next flight.
Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

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NASA's Crew-5 mission wrapped up Saturday night in the Gulf of Mexico with the splashdown return of a SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying a crew of four astronauts.

After nearly six months in space, NASA's Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Japan's Koichi Wakata, and Russia's Anna Kikina departed the International Space Station at 2:20 a.m. EST Saturday before blazing through the atmosphere, their heat shield enduring temperatures up to 3,500 degrees.

The nearly 19-hour return trip concluded with a parachute-assisted splashdown of the Dragon "Endurance" capsule off the coast of Tampa at 9:02 p.m. ET.

This screen capture from the webcast of NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 return shows the Dragon Endurance spacecraft in the Gulf of Mexico during recovery efforts with a crew of four astronauts on Saturday, March 11.

As the 17,000-pound capsule bobbed in an area cordoned off by the Coast Guard, a SpaceX recovery team approached to confirm that no toxic propellants were present. The capsule was then rigged up and hoisted onto the deck of SpaceX's custom-built recovery vessel named "Shannon."

The crew would complete medical checkouts aboard the vessel before boarding a helicopter destined for the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From there, they travel home. For astronauts Mann, Cassada, and Wakata, the trip's final leg returns them to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, while Kikina will return home to Russia.

Splashdown officially completes a mission dedicated to thousands of hours of science experiments and station maintenance.

All four members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 mission, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, left, NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, right, give a thumbs up upon splashdown of the Dragon Endurance capsule in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, March 11, concluding a nearly six-month mission aboard the ISS.

Rocket launch schedule: Upcoming Florida launches and landings

Recent launch:SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 with OneWeb satellites Thursday followed by a Cape landing

Nicole Mann, Crew-5 mission commander and first indigenous woman to travel to space, said just after departure: To the teams at NASA and at SpaceX, thank you for an incredible expedition. It has been your tireless effort and attention to detail that have helped make this mission successful."

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A Marine Corps colonel, Mann closed her remarks with the motto of the military branch, saying, "It has been an honor to add to the legacy. Semper Fidelis."

SpaceX has launched seven crewed missions for NASA, including May 2020's Demo-2 mission, under a multibillion-dollar Commercial Crew Program contract that restored American access to crewed spaceflight after nearly a decade without the space shuttle.

The Crew-5 mission was SpaceX's sixth crewed flight under contract from NASA and eighth overall when including private spaceflights. It also marked the first time since NASA's shuttle program that a Russian cosmonaut flew aboard an American-made spacecraft.

The latest mission, Crew-6, carried NASA's Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, the United Arab Emirates' Sultan Alneyadi, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev to the ISS just over a week ago after launching on March 2. That mission is expected to return in the fall after about a six-month stay.

Meanwhile, SpaceX's next mission for NASA, the company's 27th cargo resupply mission to the ISS, will also be the next launch from Florida's Space Coast. A Falcon 9 rocket and uncrewed Dragon capsule are slated for liftoff on Tuesday, March 14, at 8:30 p.m. EDT from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.

Look for Florida Today's live coverage of that mission to begin 90 minutes before liftoff at https://www.floridatoday.com/space/.

For the latest, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.

Jamie Groh is a space reporter for Florida Today. You can contact her at JGroh@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AlteredJamie.

Launch Tuesday, March 14

Company / Agency: SpaceX for NASA

Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9

Location: Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center

Launch Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Trajectory: Northeast

Weather: TBD

Landing: TBD

Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space

About: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch SpaceXs 27th commercial resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station. SpaceXs Dragon cargo spacecraft will deliver new science investigations, supplies, and equipment for the international crew.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 splashed down after six-month mission to the ISS
Seated at a coffee shop sidewalk table at Five Points in Franklin, the sight of Columbia Turnpike prompted reflection on the doomed Civil War infantry charge up the turnpike, and how that bears upon Ukraines zealous pugnacity today.

Daylight ebbing the last day of November 1864, Confederate Gen. John B. Hood ordered his Army of Tennessee to march up the turnpike and through adjacent fields to attack Union troops guarding Franklin. The attacks failure was sealed after hours of desperate fighting. Suffering over 6,000 casualties, Hoods troops fell back to the heights beyond town.

Even after resounding defeats at the Battles of Franklin and Nashville, the Confederate government continued its futile struggle. With similar bullheadedness, Ukraine insists on taking everything back from Russia, meaning not only all four Russian-annexed eastern oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, but even the Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Washington and NATO allies, egging on Ukraine, spout Manichean platitudes of good vs. evil that ignore the contextual strata of regional history. Let us cite a few fundamental omissions.

One is that civil war has raged between Ukraine and predominantly Russian-speaking breakaway oblasts Luhansk and Donetsk since 2014. Another is that Russia annexed Crimea in 1783, establishing Sevastopol as the naval base for its Black Sea Fleet over 100 years before American sugar planters, led by Sanford Dole, were to overthrow Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii, who had opposed the establishment of a U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor.

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Not surprisingly, President Joe Biden flouted historical context in his scarily bellicose speech from Kiev. Our commanders in chief package the past into tidy boxes, denying complexities that would puncture the propaganda balloon of their own particular righteous war. Speaking at West Point in 2009 of his troop escalation in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama declared, This is no Vietnam. But Afghanistan War veterans  the best of our youth  who passed through my modern world history classes these past 20 years did see parallels between Vietnam and Afghanistan, discussing them in class and in papers. But unabashed by Afghanistan, Washington and NATO pivoted quickly to fuel war in Europe, squashing peace initiatives.

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Back before Russia invaded Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the White House and NATO allies, by insisting Ukraine retain the right to apply for future membership in NATO, precluded a diplomatic solution that could have forestalled the Russian invasion. In late March 2022, a month after the wars outbreak, Ukrainian diplomats were meeting with Russian counterparts in Istanbul at peace talks hosted by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, with Ukraine considering acceptance of neutral status. But on April 9, 2022, reports Ukrainian news outlet Ukrayinska Pravda, then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise visit to Kiev, urging President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop negotiating, with Johnson saying Russian President Vladimir Putin had to be defeated.

George Orwell wrote in his novel "1984" that The enemy of the moment always represented absolute evil. Now the enemy of the moment, unlike the Taliban, has a nuclear arsenal, as do we. The blare of civil defense sirens Saturdays at noon is no longer just vestigial background noise from a long-ago Cold War.

The vital Russian relationship lays fractured in pieces. May Washington, NATO allies, Kiev and Moscow pull back from the brink so children playing in parks beneath the wail of the sirens have the years they need to grow up to carry out the hard work of putting those pieces back together.

Fred Jordan teaches world history, American history and also has taught Spanish at Nashville State Community College, where he was Faculty Senate chair for 2017-18. Holding the International M.B.A. degree from the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis, he earned masters degrees in history and Spanish from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Opinion: Ukraine making same mistakes as Confederacy in US Civil War
Walgreens, the nations second-largest pharmacy chain, has found itself embroiled in the abortion battle after confirming that they will not dispense abortion pills in certain states, even in some where its still legal to do so.

The move has churned up a storm of political outrage in Congress and among Democratic state leaders, who said they were concerned about a slippery slope.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) accused Walgreens of caving to extremists and said the state wont renew its multimillion dollar contract.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and state Attorney General Letitia James (D) called on the company to commit to making abortion pills available in the state  though New York already guarantees abortion access and does not have any restrictions on abortion pills.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) said she also wants assurances Walgreens that will continue to ensure mifepristone is available in her pro choice state.

They shouldnt just decide the law themselves, Cortez Masto told The Hill.

Sen. Richard Blumethal (D-Conn) told The Hill he thinks Newsom has the right idea, and that if Walgreens refuses to change its policy, Im going to be urging consumers to vote with their feet and their pocketbooks and just go elsewhere with their business.

Medication abortion is the most common method for ending a pregnancy, and access to the pills has become the latest flash point in the nations culture wars.

Walgreens isnt the only pharmacy that will dispense abortion pills, but its facing the brunt of the criticism after its competitors like Albertsons, Costco, CVS, Kroger and Walmart have refused to comment.

In a statement to The Hill, Rite Aid said only that it is monitoring the latest federal, state, legal and regulatory developments regarding mifepristone dispensing and we will continue to evaluate the companys ability to dispense mifepristone in accordance with those developments.

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Experts said the tightrope Walgreens is walking as it tries to navigate a patchwork of constantly changing state laws is an example of the chaos unleashed when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer.

I think what other companies are probably watching very closely are the non-legal repercussions, said Rachel Rebouche, dean of the Temple University Beasley School of Law. What is happening in the court of public opinion? Are they going to lose customers? Are they going to gain customers? And the landscape is so dynamic, its hard to know.

The decision from Walgreens came after 20 Republican state attorneys general in a letter last month warned of legal consequences if the company started distributing the drug.

A Walgreens spokesman said the company responded to each attorney general who signed the letter, telling them the company will not dispense mifepristone, a medication used to end pregnancy, in its brick-and-mortar pharmacies and will not mail it to those states.

Included among the states were Alaska, Iowa, Kansas and Montana, where abortion remains legal and restrictions on dispensing abortion medication have been paused or even permanently blocked in court.

In Kansas, for example, voters said the right to an abortion is protected by the state constitution. A state law prohibited anyone except a physician from dispensing mifepristone, but it has since been blocked in court. A hearing is set for later this month.

Abortion is also legal in Montana, and the states requirement for a patient to have an in-person visit with a physician before being prescribed mifepristone is being challenged.

Rebouche said she understands why the company may want to proceed cautiously in states where theres active litigation.

But mifepristone has been on the market and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for more than 20 years and Rebouche said pharmacies shouldnt be intimidated from legally dispensing it.

The legal landscape after the end of Roe v. Wade is complicated and changing constantly, she said, but the Republican AGs wrote as if the law was settled.

Threatening action, where its very unclear that anybody could take that action, and its even more unclear that that action would be successful, and having companies make decisions about which legal drugs to dispense based on that? Yeah, thats not a great pattern, Rebouche said.

In an effort to try to clarify its position amid the growing backlash, Walgreens said it will continue with plans to dispense mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so.

We will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws. Providing legally approved medications to patients is what pharmacies do, and is rooted in our commitment to the communities in which we operate, the company said in a statement.

On Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats are pressing the company to be more specific.

A letter led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) asks Walgreens to commit to selling mifepristone even in states where legislation banning medication abortion has been enjoined by the courts.

The law is clear that medication abortion is legal in Kansas, Iowa, Montana, and Alaska  all states where it appeared that Walgreens, in response to saber-rattling from anti-abortion extremists  would not be providing it, the Democrats wrote.

The refusal to dispense a medication that is legal and safe to patients in need would be a betrayal of your customers, and your commitment to champion the health and well-being of every community in America, they added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Heres how we know the need for emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence is rising in Stark County and the surrounding counties.

In fiscal year 2021, we were unable to shelter 576 survivors because Domestic Violence Project Inc.s (DVPI) two emergency shelters were full. In fiscal year 2022, the number we were unable to shelter rose to 759  an increase of nearly 32%.

In the first six months of the current fiscal year, weve already been unable to shelter 445 people seeking refuge at our two emergency facilities, in Canton and Massillon.

I cant stress enough how important it is that Ohio legislators support a recommendation from Gov. Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost to add $20 million in funding for domestic violence services in the Ohio budget for 2024-2025. The need for services is so great, but federal funding for domestic violence services has dropped 60% across Ohio since 2019.

This funding can save lives. In the fiscal year ending in June 2022, Ohio reported 81 victims killed in domestic violence cases, along with 31 perpetrators. The victims ranged in age from a 90-year-old woman to 22 children  the greatest number of children killed in domestic violence incidents ever in a year in Ohio. Six of those fatalities were just babies, including a day-old infant.

With the COVID-19 pandemic waning, more survivors are reaching out for help, and our emergency shelters dont have enough space. In some cases, abuse escalated as couples sheltered from the pandemic at home. Survivors are finally able to seek out support and services  perhaps their abusers are back at work, or the survivors finally have more freedom of movement and communication.

With the impact of federal budget cuts hitting hard, our programs in Stark County urgently need more funding  to staff our emergency shelters round-the-clock, to hire more staff to match increased program capacity, to upgrade our security systems, for prevention programs in schools to talk to young people about healthy relationships and appropriate boundaries. Funding will also support our advocacy for survivors navigating the complicated legal and medical systems  seeking justice in the courts, safety for their children, and the medical care they need.

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DVPI offers a limited number of transitional housing units for survivors leaving emergency shelter through a grant from the Office of Violence Against Women, but the lack of available affordable housing in the Stark County area is a real concern, and the prospect of becoming homeless is a danger for many survivors.

The additional $20 million in domestic violence funding the governor and attorney general are recommending be included in the state budget could make a huge difference over the next few years  and would be a first step toward bringing Ohio into parity with surrounding states.

Ohio spends 32 cents per capita on domestic violence services, compared with 92 cents for Indiana, $1.41 for West Virginia, $1.56 for Pennsylvania and $2.54 for Kentucky.

The additional proposed funding would bring Ohios per capita rate up to 85 cents per capita  a vital first step in helping some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Please tell Ohios legislators: This $20 million funding increase statewide is the right and compassionate thing to do for survivors and their children. Its worth it to save lives.

Julie Donant is the chief executive officer of the Domestic Violence Project, Inc., which serves Stark County and the surrounding communities.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio needs to spend more money on domestic violence services
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif.  Adam Scott and caddie Steve Williams are scheduled to resume their partnership this week on the PGA Tour at the Genesis Invitational, but Mother Nature has had other plans.

Williams, who lives in New Zealand, was still en route from his home in Auckland after Cyclone Gabrielle hammered the countrys North Island. When asked if Williams had made it to the Golden State yet during his 2 p.m. PT news conference Wednesday, Scott said, Not yet, A couple hours out still.

The cyclone disrupted nearly 600 flights, including the flight Williams was scheduled to take. Government officials in New Zealand declared a state of emergency after what reportedly was one of the worst storms in years. Scott used Liam Bedor, the head of operations for L.A.B. Putters, as a fill-in caddie during Wednesdays pro-am.

Williams, who was on the bag for 13 of the 15 majors won by Tiger Woods, worked for Scott from 2011 until 2017, including when Scott won the 2013 Masters and reached No. 1 in the world. Scott said they had remained friends and in communication and had a conversation about reuniting at the end of last season. They worked two events together in Australia in December.

We slipped back into the rhythm really quickly and we had a good couple weeks and I expect that to happen out here as well, Scott said. Having him come out fresh at this point, its just funny how at different times in your life, hes now hit a point where his kids grown up and probably doesnt want to hang with Dad quite as much and hes itching to get back out here, as much as hed hate to admit it, its in his blood to be out here and caddie and he loves it, and Im pleased that were going to have the opportunity to do a bit more together.

Scotts plan is for Williams and Greg Hearmon to share caddie duties.

[Stevies] a pretty intense guy. Whether he was working for me or working for any other pro, whether hes competing at driving his race car or whether hes raking the leaves off his lawn at home, hes an intense character once he gets his mind on something, Scott said. Theres no changing that personality. Hes out here to achieve. I think that can be a really good influence on me.

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Scott said hes eyeing the next three years as a window where he can add at least another major to his resume, and no caddie has been more successful in the majors than Williams.

I thought about it long and hard. Given where my life is overall, a full season of Steve could be too intense and not productive but a bit of Steve and a bit of Greg could really complement me, he said. The next three years unless I have some injury pop up, Im in good shape to contend. I see everything settling into place where I can be a top 10 player in the world and therefore a legitimate contender.

Scott last competed at the Sony Hawaiian Open in January, where he finished T-29. Scott won the Genesis Invitational in 2020 and 2005 and finished T-4 last year. He has a 69.54 career scoring average in 52 rounds at Riviera.

Scotts tee time for Thursdays first round is 10:35 a.m. ET (7:35 a.m. local time). Hes hopeful that Williams will be by his side.

Story originally appeared on GolfWeek
Crime and Courts Reporter

Donald W. Meyers is a multimedia journalist at the Yakima Herald-Republic covering crime and courts. He is also the writer behind It Happened Here, a weekly history column. Before coming to Yakima, Meyers covered a wide variety of beats at The Salt Lake Tribune, Daily Herald, and daily and weekly newspapers across New Jersey. He is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, serving as a regional officer in the organization as well as on the national Freedom of Information Committee.
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By Yuki Yamaguchi, KYODO NEWS - Mar 12, 2023 - 11:02 | All, Japan

The rebalancing of their mutual shareholdings by Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA guarantees increased management flexibility for each automaker but fewer synergies under their partnership -- once seen as the most successful alliance in the industry.

Renault's plan to reduce its stake in Nissan to 15 percent from 43 percent will help the French automaker propel investment for growth with the proceeds, while giving its Japanese partner more autonomy, analysts say.

The two automakers said recently that they will jointly develop six new models for the Indian market and export, their first tie-up plan after outlining the new capital structure.

But the lack of strong leadership after the ouster of Carlos Ghosn, former chairman of the alliance, waning mutual trust and diverging strategies all signal their joint operations are unlikely to be as effective as before, analysts say.

"The 24-year-old alliance was only meaningful in the sense that it helped Nissan survive," said Seiji Sugiura, senior analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute. The partnership "has virtually fallen apart."

Renault rescued Nissan from the brink of bankruptcy in 1999 when it poured in 643 billion yen, or $5.4 billion at the exchange rate of the time, for an initial 37 percent stake. The two automakers have since pursued synergies through common platforms, and joint purchasing and development among other projects.

Ghosn took the helm at Nissan in 2000 and at Renault in 2005, subsequently becoming chairman of the alliance. He said any joint projects had to deliver win-win results for both partners for the alliance to function properly.

The former top executive used to boast that the group was the only surviving alliance, after DaimlerChrysler AG was dissolved and General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. also canceled tie-ups with their respective partners, including Suzuki Motor Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp., as part of restructuring. The auto tycoon fled to Lebanon from Japan in 2019 after being arrested for allegedly underreporting remuneration and misusing Nissan's funds.

Renault CEO Luca de Meo said at a joint press conference with Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida in February that he saw "a culture of compromise" in the alliance and the group had sometimes overly stressed harmony, preventing each partner from pursuing optimal solutions.

"My priority is to execute strategies for Renault," De Meo said.

Nissan has long sought to fix the imbalance in the companies' capital tie-up. The Japanese carmaker, with annual global sales of around 4 million vehicles, currently holds a 15 percent stake in its French partner without voting rights, while Renault, with sales of about 2 million vehicles, holds a 43 percent stake in Nissan.

With the departure of Ghosn, Nissan's frustration grew stronger as Renault sought a management integration at the behest of the French government, its top shareholder. The attempt escalated tensions and was rebuked by the Japanese automaker, according to people familiar with the matter.

The alliance needs to sharpen joint operations in the face of a rapid shift in the industry to electric and autonomous vehicles, but it has done little to strengthen synergies under new alliance chairman Jean-Dominique Senard.

Nissan said earlier it will participate in a new EV company to be set up by Renault but plans to take a minority stake of up to 15 percent.

Analysts say it is becoming difficult for carmakers to bolster their competitive edge through economies of scale at a time when vehicles are expected to become more connected, autonomous, shared and electric, known as CASE.

With tech companies such as Sony Group Corp. and Google parent Alphabet Inc. joining the fray, software and artificial intelligence are becoming an integral part of competitive advantage.

Renault has teamed up with Qualcomm Technologies Inc. in the EV business in an effort to respond to the rapid changes in the industry and plans to set up a new company with Chinese auto giant Geely to transfer its gasoline powertrain segment.

Nissan and Renault are pursuing different strategies, with the Japanese automaker pushing hybrid models before its lineup shifts to battery vehicles. Renault, however, is looking to move directly to only offering electric models in the European Union to meet the bloc's regulations that will effectively ban new combustion engine vehicles in 2035.

"It makes no sense for Nissan and Renault to continue cooperation," said Koji Endo, director of equity research at SBI Securities.

Nissan's Uchida said at the joint press conference that the alliance could no longer work "as an extension of the past," though he and De Meo denied the two carmakers were loosening cooperation.

"Nissan now wants to design its growth strategy on its own. That's their true intention," Tokai Tokyo's Sugiura said.

Related coverage:

Nissan, Renault formally agree to make cross-shareholdings equal

Nissan, Renault to invest $600 mil. to make 6 new models in India

Nissan to make nearly all cars sold in Europe electrified in 4 yrs
During his visit to Karnataka on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. The ceremony took place in the presence of Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. The project entails widening NH 275 to six lanes along the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru stretch. The 118 km-long project's development expense amounted to roughly Rs 8,480 crores. With this route functioning, the journey from Bengaluru to Mysuru will take only about 75 minutes. Furthermore, the expressway will supplement the socio-economic growth of the area.

89 underpasses and overpasses, four rail overbridges, nine major bridges, 40 minor bridges, and a stretch of NH-275 are all being built as part of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. It is to be noted that the 118 km long road, which has six major carriageway lanes and two service lanes on either side, was built as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana.

Also read: Harley Davidson X350 Launched As Most Affordable Motorcycle From American Bike Maker, Check Price

The 69 bus bays, 49 underpasses, 13 overpasses, and fencing on either side of the access-controlled, 6-lane road will allow for free and continuous trips on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. The highway would also include a greenfield bypass. Ramanagaram and Channapatana will both have 22 km of this bypass; Mandya, Srirangapatana, and Maddur will each have 8 km, 10 km, and 4 km of this bypass, correspondingly. A 7 km bypass will also be built in Bidadi, enabling commuters to skip the cities on the way.

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for Mysuru-Kushalnagar 4-lane highway. Spread over 92 Km, the project will be developed at a cost of around Rs 4130 crores.The project will play a key role in boosting the connectivity of Kushalnagar with Bengaluru and will help halve the travel time from about 5 to only 2.5 hours.

(With ANI Inputs)
New Delhi: Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar will meet representatives of start-ups this week to assess the impact of their exposure to Silicon Valley Bank which was deeply entrenched in the tech startup ecosystem. According to various industry players and experts, most Indian software-as-a-services startups with a presence in the US and firms linked to incubator Y Combinator are among entities that will feel the heat of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse but the impact is likely to be short-term.

"The SVB_Financial closure is certainly disrupting startups across the world. Startups are an imp part of the New India Economy. I will meet with Indian Startups this week to understand the impact on them n how @narendramodi govt can help during this crisis," Chandrasekhar tweeted on Sunday. (Also Read: Open Account With Rs 250, Get Rs 2.5 Lakh At Maturity From This Govt Scheme: Check Return Calculator, Other Details)

SVB was deeply entrenched in the tech startup ecosystem and the default bank for many high-flying startups; its abrupt fall marked one of the largest bank failures since the 2008 global financial crisis. (Also Read: This Restaurant Gives Free Food To Customers Over 158 Kg Weight - Read Story)

Industry watchers expect a quick takeover of the bank as it has enough assets that can be liquidated to return money to the clients.

Y Combinator-backed startups get their payments in the accounts they hold in SVB but many Indian firms linked to incubators like Meesho, Razorpay, and Cashfree Payments have said that they have no exposure to the crisis.

Y Combinator-incubated Indian startup Snazzy's co-founder and CEO Ayush Pateria said that most Indian startups, incubated at Y Combinator, who are exposed to SVB, are in their early stage.

Fintech firm Recur Club founder and CEO Eklavya Gupta said that there are some large-size SaaS companies on the west coast with operations in the US and India, who have had significant exposure to SVB.
New Delhi: Most of the Indian software-as-a-services startups with presence in the US and firms linked to incubator Y Combinator are among those entities who will feel the heat of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse but the impact is likely to be short term, according to various industry players and experts. The Y Combinator-backed startups get their payments in the account they hold in SVB but many of Indian firms linked to incubators like Meesho and Razorpay were able to move their money out of the bank in time.

Other Y Combinator incubated startups such as Khatabook, Zepto and OkCredit did not respond to queries sent to with regard to their exposure to SVB collapse. Venture capital firm 9Unicorns, in which Y Combinator is an investor, also did not respond to the query. Fintech firm Recur Club founder and CEO Eklavya Gupta told PTI that there are some large size non-Y Combinator linked SaaS companies in the west coast with operations in the US and India, who have had significant exposure to SVB.

"We are helping startups in opening their account in Gift City. We have good partnership in place to even help large companies meet their immediate requirement. Good thing is that large companies have better management and resources available to manage the crisis," Gupta said. Recur club has set up a pool of USD 15 million to help Indian entities meet their immediate expense requirement and fun payroll without diluting their equity.

SVB was deeply-entrenched in the tech startup ecosystem and the default bank for many high-flying startups; its abrupt fall marked one of the largest bank failures since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Industry watchers expect a quick takeover of the bank as it has enough assets that can be liquidated to return money to the clients. Softbank-backed InMobi Group co-founder Abhay Singhal, who is based in Palo Alto, said that the loss of USD 1.8 billion in sale of securities at mark-to-market price spooked the market.

"The SVB collapse will have a short term impact on funding of the startups. All the new funding is likely going to be paused because venture capitalists will opt for saving current investments and I feel they will be forced to reduce valuation of their investments. I don't see the issue of capital is going to be long term due to this crisis," Singhal said. InMobi has said that it never had any exposure to SVB.

Singhal said that in the coming week somebody will bail out the bank because it has a very impressive list of customers.

"It is going to be an issue around startups not being able to meet payrolls in the short term. The problem that I see is short term liquidity of around USD 7-8 billion that will unlock their assets and resolve the issue," Singhal said. As of December 31, 2022, on a consolidated basis, SVB had total assets of USD 211.8 billion, total investment in securities of USD 120.1 billion, total loans, amortized cost of USD 74.3 billion, total deposits of USD 173.1 billion and total SVB financial stockholders' equity of USD 16 billion.

Y Combinator incubated Indian startup Snazzy co-founder and CEO Ayush Pateria said that the most Indian startups, incubated at Y Combinator, who are exposed to SVB, are in their early stages. "Most of them, including us, have less than USD 250,000 in an SVB account which is completely insured. Rest of the startups are expected to get a portion of their deposit in coming weeks. SVB even has more assets than the money owed to depositors, which will be sold over time to return the money. It is not a doomsday for firms, it has a painful short term impact though," Pateria said.

Indian unicorns Meesho and Razorpay said that they have no exposure to the US' second biggest banking failure. "Meesho is not impacted by the SVB closure. On the day of the SVB closure, we did not have any outstanding deposits or other exposure in SVB," Meesho chief financial officer Dhiresh Bansal said. Razorpay spokesperson said that the company has a limited amount of funds across multiple banks in the US. "In the current situation we have no exposure to Silicon Valley Bank," the spokesperson said.

Razorpay said that it has created a dedicated RazorpayX desk to help fellow startups urgently move funds from their US banks to India. A leading investment firm, whose portfolio includes some of the leading Indian unicorns, on condition of anonymity said that it had alerted its portfolio firms about probable risk at SVB and advised to move money out of the bank.

SVB had noted that its clients began to move more funds off balance sheet in the second half of 2022.

Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder of Info Edge, said a lot will depend on how quickly the US regulator moves to allow depositors to access their funds and to what extent. "It is a non-trivial problem for Indian startups especially those who have flipped or chosen to domicile overseas. Many of them have a banking relationship with Silicon Valley Bank and have funds deposited there, which they will need to access in order to continue operations," Bikhchandani said.

Silicon Valley Bank's abrupt collapse has left Silicon Valley entrepreneurs jittery. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Friday seized the assets of Silicon Valley Bank.

"There seems to be a lot more than what meets the eye - there is a reason why all these people rushed to get their money out, and it can't just be letter to shareholders that the CEO wrote. It has to be more than that...," Genpact founder Pramod Bhasin said.

Bhasin believes it is unlikely to have an immediate affect, except for select startups.

"...There are enough banks and there is enough liquidity in the world, that it will be a more localised issue than an international issue," he said.

An industry expert and chairman of 5F World (a platform for digital startups, skills and social ventures) Ganesh Natarajan observed that Indian startups do not have too much exposure, and "should not have to worry".

"Even the startups who have banked with SVB in the US, they just have to wait it out a little...Most of them should get their money back," Natarajan said.
New Delhi: A restaurant in America apparently gave complimentary food to overweight diners, which led to a significant reaction on social media. After videos on TikTok and other social media channels showed potential customers lining up outside the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas to see if they were qualified for the deal or not, the debate broke out.

The Heart Attack Grill has built up quite a following over the years because of their theme-based service. The restaurant mostly serves fast food with a focus on foods that are incredibly rich in fat and calories.

Some of their products are available in "Single," "Double," "Triple," "Quadruple," "Quintuple," "Sextuple," "Septuple," and even "Octuple Bypass" orders.

Most restaurants refer to their clients and patrons as diners. Yet, due to their distinctive hospital concept, Heart Attack Grills refers to their patrons as "patients". Their waiters dress up as physicians, while their waitresses play nurses. Before ordering, each patient dons a hospital gown and wristband.

When videos of customers queuing up outside the restaurant started to circulate online, Twitter users criticised the owners for encouraging unhealthy behaviour by giving free fast food to obese people. Several claimed that by giving away big amounts of food, they are blatantly pushing people to get sick.

One person posted, "I consumed way too many made-to-order Haagen Daz ice cream bars while I was residing in Vegas. You probably don't go to the heart attack grill to watch everyone who is overweight stuff themselves and gain weight. Over 350 pounds, you get free food? Wow, why? Pretty repulsive."

Since it was established in 2005, the theme-based restaurant has used controversy as a marketing ploy.
International food fest in Delhi: The second edition of World Food India is set to be organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in the first week of November 2023. The venue for the event to be held during November 3-5 is Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

A curtain raiser event was held here this week, where Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Pashupati Kumar Paras, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti Prahlad Singh Patel, launched the website, publicity brochure and promotional video. Minister Paras emphasised that India is one of the fastest-growing economies with many investment opportunities, especially in the food processing sector.

He outlined five pivotal elements of the WFI-2023 as Millets- `Shree Anna-The Super Food of India`, Innovation and Sustainability `Green Food`, and White Revolution 2.0, making India an export hub and focus on technology and digitisation. He said that during the three-day event, the government expects leading players in the food processing sector from across the globe to showcase their strengths.

Minister Patel said that with the experience of the previous edition in 2017, the government is looking forward to WFI-2023 as a flagship global event. He said that the various government initiatives including the PLI schemes in the food processing industry are enhancing the marketing and branding and the government is proud of standardising the quality parameters.

Notably, the International Year of Millets 2023 officially kicked off on January 1, 2023, and much of the focus will be on millets at the WFI 2023. The government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution for declaring the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets and India`s proposal was supported by 72 countries. UNGA announced 2023 as the International Year of Millets back in March 2021.

India is a global leader in the production of millet with an area of about 12.5 million hectares and a share of more than 15 per cent of the world`s total production. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are the major millets producing states.

What are millets? Millet is a common term for categorizing small-seeded grasses that are often called Nutri-cereals. Some of them are sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi), little millet (kutki), foxtail millet (kakun), proso millet (cheena), barnyard millet (sawa), and kodo millet (kodon).

Millets are now being promoted as `Super food`.Most importantly, millet production is not dependent on the use of chemical fertilizers.
Oscar Awards 2023 LIVE Streaming Details: Oscars 2023 is just about to begin in a few hours and this time it is definitely going to be a big affair for India as RRR is competing in the Best Original Song category for Naatu Naatu. Not just this, Shaunak Sens Documentary All That Breathes has been nominated in the Documentary Feature Film category while The Elephant Whisperers has received nomination in Documentary Short Film category. With all this buzz and hopes for a victory, Oscars 2023 is a must-watch. Wondering when and where to catch Oscars live from India? Fret not, we have got you covered.

OSCARS 2023 LIVE STREAMING

The 95th Academy Awards, famously known as the Oscars will be live-streamed for viewers in India on OTT platform Disney+Hotstar. Other than this, ABC Network will be available to stream on a variety of platforms, including YouTube, Hulu Live TV, Direct TV, FUBO TV, and AT&T TV with a subscription.

OSCARS 2023 TIMINGS IN INDIA

Indian viewers can watch the ceremony from 5:30 AM IST on March 13 on Disney+Hotstar. In the US, the live broadcast will commence at 5 pm (01:00 GMT on March 12) and will be available to viewers in the United States on the ABC television network.

OSCARS 2023 HOST AND PRESENTERS

The American TV star and late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel is set to return this year as the host at Oscars, marking his third time in the role. For Indians, the cherry on the cake is that Deepika Padukone will be presenting an award. The long-coveted list of presenters this year includes Dwayne Johnson, Michael B Jordan, Riz Ahmed, Emily Blunt, Glenn Close, Troy Kotsur, Dwayne Johnson, Jennifer Connelly, Samuel L Jackson, Melissa McCarthy, Zoe Saldana, Donnie Yen, Jonathan Majors, Janelle Monae, Ariana DeBose, and Questlove.

We wish best of luck to all the nominees!
KYODO NEWS - Mar 12, 2023 - 12:38 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

One in four people in Japan have said in a survey they will continue to wear face masks in all social settings, even after COVID-19 guidelines on face coverings are eased on Monday, citing reasons such as infection prevention and habituation.

The move to leave decisions around mask-wearing to individuals is the latest effort by the Japanese government to "normalize" social and economic activities that have been under public health restrictions for the past three years, but the survey indicates that a drastic change in face-covering customs may not occur any time soon.

Since the novel coronavirus pandemic accelerated in early 2020, mask-wearing has not been a legal requirement in Japan, but doing so has become a common practice among the Japanese public.

At present, the government recommends wearing masks indoors, while not suggesting doing so outdoors.

According to the online survey, conducted in February by Laibo Inc., an operator of a research institution focused on careers, 27.8 percent of 561 company employees in their 20s to 50s said they would continue to wear masks "unconditionally."

More than 66 percent said they would decide whether to remove their masks depending on the situation, such as during meals or whether there are other people nearby. Only 5.5 percent said they would not wear one regardless of the social setting they were in.

When asked about their reasons for wearing a face mask in a multiple-response question, the largest group, 53.4 percent, responded that they would wear one "to prevent coronavirus infection," followed by 50.2 percent who saw it as "a habit," and 39.2 percent who wanted to prevent themselves "becoming infected from diseases other than the coronavirus."

One respondent wrote, "I think many people will choose not to remove their face masks because it has become customary after wearing them for three years," while another said, "In the end, as people decide by looking at those around them, the widespread removal of masks will not make much progress."

Under the new government guidelines, the government will still recommend the use of masks for medical institutions and nursing homes, as well as on crowded trains and buses. It will also note that masks protect people at higher risk of serious illness, including elderly and pregnant women.

Following the government's review of coronavirus guidelines, most retailers and restaurants will leave it to customers to decide whether to wear face masks in their stores. But company employees will largely continue to wear them to give comfort to visitors.

Convenience store chain operators Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Lawson Inc. and FamilyMart Co., alongside supermarket chains Aeon Co. and Ito-Yokado Co., as well as major department store operators Takashimaya Co., Sogo & Seibu Co. and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. have all said they will recommend to staff they wear masks from Monday while no longer asking customers to do so.

East Japan Railway Co. said it will discontinue announcements on trains asking customers to use face masks, but station workers will continue to wear them. The Nihon Bus Association will adopt a similar approach.

The operator of the popular amusement park Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, western Japan, has previously asked visitors to wear masks at all times, except for when they are at a sufficient physical distance outdoors or taking pictures, but it will no longer ask customers to do so and instead only extend the requirement to employees.

Oriental Land Co., which runs Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, meanwhile, said it will also ease its guidelines and no longer request visitors or its staff to wear face masks.

Related coverage:

COVID-19 cases in Tokyo down below 1,000 for 1st time in 8 months

Japan to ease COVID-19 guidelines for mask-wearing on March 13

FEATURE: Return to maskless world still only in realm of fantasy in Japan
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (March 12) took a swipe at opposition Congress and said that while he is busy uplifting the poor of the country and building infrastructure for better connectivity, the members of the grand old party are busy digging his grave. PM Modi, who is on his sixth visit to poll-bound Karnataka, lauched an attack on Congress after inagurating the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway.

Addressing the public at the event, PM Modi said, "Congress is dreaming of digging Modi's grave...Congress is busy in digging Modi's grave while Modi is busy making the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway...Modi is busy in easing the lives of the poor."

Congress and their allies want to dig my grave, while I want to build top quality infrastructure for my fellow Indians.



They dream of digging my grave but they do not know that the people of India are my Suraksha Kavach. pic.twitter.com/II8SNNuA0t March 12, 2023

PM Modi is in Karnataka to dedicate to the nation several development projects including the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway project. During his sixth visit o the state this morning, the PM held a massive roadshow in poll-bound Karnataka. Hundreds of people lined up along the streets of Karnataka's Mandya city and welcomed PM Modi by showering flowers on him.

The PM will also lay the foundation stone for Mysuru-Kushalnagar 4-lane highway. Spread over 92 Km, the project will be developed at a cost of around Rs 4,130 crores. He will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various projects of Hubballi-Dharwad smart city. The total estimated cost of these projects is about Rs 520 crores.

The BJP has said that the rapid pace of development of infrastructure projects has been a testament to the vision of the prime minister to ensure world-class connectivity across the country.

Karnataka will go to the polls in April-May this year.
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday (March 9, 2023) slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that it is following in the footsteps of the Congress in using probe agencies to carry out "political raids". Replying to a reporter's question about the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioning Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi and issuing summons to his son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh said that the saffron party will meet the "same fate" as the Congress.

The Congress, when it was in power, used the Enforcement Directorate (ED), CBI, and Income Tax department to conduct raids on several political leaders in the country, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister told reporters.

Central probe agencies like the CBI, ED, and Income Tax were working at the BJP government's behest, he added.

"The BJP is doing nothing new by following the same path. If Congress has been today razed to the ground, the BJP will meet the same fate," Yadav said.

VIDEO | "BJP is following Congress' footsteps and using the central agencies against opposition leaders," says SP leader @yadavakhilesh pic.twitter.com/qfvOnugWL6  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 11, 2023

Rs 1 crore seized, Rs 600 crore detected in proceeds of crime in raids against Lalu Prasad's family: ED

With Lalu Prasad and his family facing an ire over the alleged land-for-jobs scam, the ED on Saturday said it seized Rs one crore in "unaccounted cash" and detected proceeds of crime worth Rs 600 crore after raids against them in a related money laundering case. The agency said it is suspected that a huge amount of proceeds of crime was infused into purchasing a house in New Friends Colony in south Delhi that Prasad's son Tejashwi was using as his residential property.

The house, which was among the locations raided on Friday when Yadav was staying there, was shown to have been acquired at a value of a mere Rs 4 lakh while the present market value is approximately Rs 150 crore, the agency claimed.

An investigation is underway to unearth more investments made on behalf of Prasad's family and their associates in various sectors, including real estate, the ED said in a statement.

"Searches resulted in the recovery of unaccounted cash of Rs 1 crore, foreign currency including USD 1,900, 540 gms gold bullion and more than 1.5 kg of gold jewellery worth about Rs1.25 crore," the probe agency said

"Several other incriminating documents including various property documents, sale deeds, etc. Held in the names of family members (of Lalu Prasad) and benamidaars indicating illegal accretion of huge land bank and electronic devices," it said.

It said the raids resulted in the "detection of proceeds of crime amounting to about Rs 600 crore at this point of time which is in the form of immovable properties of Rs 350 crore and transactions of Rs 250 crore routed through various benamidaars".

Making a specific mention of Tejashwi Yadav, the ED said the property situated at D-1088, New Friends Colony in south Delhi is an independent 4-storied bungalow registered in the name of A B Exports Private Limited and is being used by Tejashwi Yadav as his residential premises.

This company has been called a "beneficiary firm" in this case and is "owned and controlled" by Tejashwi Yadav and his family, the ED said.

This house was shown to have been acquired at a value of a mere Rs 4 lakh while the present market value is approximately Rs 150 crore, the agency added.

Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav was called for questioning on Saturday by the CBI in the case but he did not appear and sought a fresh date citing personal reasons, officials said.

The agency had recently also quizzed Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi in the case.

It is alleged that people were given employment in the railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold at cheap rates to the Yadav family and its associates during Lalu's tenure as the railway minister in the UPA government from 2004 to 2009.

No advertisement or public notice was issued for the appointment but some residents of Patna were appointed as substitutes in different zonal railways located in Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hazipur, the CBI has alleged.

As a quid pro quo, the candidates, directly or through their immediate family members, allegedly sold land to the family members of Prasad at highly discounted rates, up to one-fourth to one-fifth of the prevailing market rates.
A two-year-old minor girl has allegedly been raped here at a residential society in Sector 81 by an "unknown person", the police said on Sunday.

The incident took place at around 2 p.m. at the society premises when the girl was playing outside a flat.

The victim`s mother, after the truck left, noticed that her daughter was injured, and was also crying. She then raised an alarm, the police said.

The police were informed and a team reached the spot which rushed the victim to the Civil Hospital from where she was referred to Delhi`s Safdarjung hospital for further treatment.

The police suspect the truck driver could be behind the incident.

The minor girl has reportedly received grievous injuries in her private parts.

The condition of the victim, who is currently hospitalised, is said to be stable. Her mother works as a domestic help.

Based on her mother`s complaint, a case under the POCSO Act has been registered at the Kherki Daula police station, the police said.

"We are probing the case from all possible angles and checking the CCTV footage. The accused will be nabbed soon," a police officer said.

(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)
LUCKNOW: With influenza A subtype H3N2 virus claiming two lives in India, one each in Karnataka and Haryana, doctors in Lucknow have urged people to avoid self-medication.

Sheetal Verma, senior faculty department of microbiology at King George`s Medical University (KGMU) said, "The influenza A virus sub-type H3N2 is nothing new but as people are experiencing longer spells of cough, self-medication should be strictly avoided. There is nothing to panic. This variant does not lead to a pandemic but taking precautions against it will certainly help."

She said that it is better for people experiencing fever, cough or respiratory distress to consult a doctor instead of buying a drug over-the-counter because this flu variant is different.

According to doctors, the precautions people should take include -- keeping body immunity adequate and avoiding close contact with unknown people, particularly avoiding crowded places.

Abhishek Shukla, Secretary General of the Association of International Doctors, said, "A majority of those experiencing a longer spell of cough these days have poor body immunity may be due to age (elderly) or due to some other pre-existing illness."

P.K. Gupta, former President, IMA, Lucknow, said, "Children and elderly are the most vulnerable. They are advised to avoid cold weather conditions during the morning and late evening. This will reduce the chance of getting infected. Everyone should avoid self-medication."

Amid the rising number of influenza cases seen in the country, more patients are reporting pneumonia-like conditions and ear fullness, doctors said here on Saturday.



Speaking to IANS, Rajiv Gupta, Consultant - Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, said that the "fullness of ear is an additional symptom noticed in this episode of flu".



"Many patients at day five or six of the illness start complaining of fullness in the ears or feel like something is blocked inside the ears. It is more common in young adults," he added.



According to Mayo Clinic, ear fullness occurs when your ears feel plugged. "Your eustachian tubes - which run between your middle ear and the back of your nose - become blocked. A person may experience a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ears." It is in some cases also accompanied with ear pain, dizziness and muffled hearing.
HYDERABAD: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that PM Narendra Modi government's policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism will continue in the times to come. Speaking at the 54th Raising Day Parade of CISF here, he said separatism, terrorism and anti-national activities in any part of the country will be dealt with firmly.

Noting that NDA government has successfully tackled internal security challenges in the last nine years, the union minister affirmed that violence is coming down substantially in Kashmir, while insurgency in Northeast and Left Wing Extremism-affected areas has also reduced and the people's confidence is increasing.

The number of people involved in terror activities is declining and many are laying down arms and joining the mainstream, he said. For the first time, the CISF is holding its annual Raising Day celebrations out of Delhi national capital region (NCR) at the CISF National Industrial Security Academy (NISA) at Hakimpet here.

The CISF was set up under the act of the Parliament of India on March 10, 1969. Since then, CISF Raising Day is being celebrated on March 10 each year. This year the CISF`s annual Raising Day celebrations in being held in Hyderabad today. Earlier on Saturday, Shah said that the CISF forms one of the pillars of India`s internal security. As per officials, this is the first time that CISF is be holding the `Raising Day` celebrations outside the National capital, New Delhi. It used to be held at CISF ground located on the outskirts of Delhi, in Ghaziabad.

Last year, Shah attended the 53rd Raising Day ceremony of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Ghaziabad`s Indirapuram. For the last couple of years, all paramilitary forces are celebrating their Raising day outside Delhi. On March 19, CRPF will hold an annual Raising Day in Chhattisgarh`s Bastar district which used to be once dominated by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). (With ANI inputs)
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday hinted that he agreed with the contention of ally RJD that the recent crackdown on its president Lalu Prasad and his family members by the CBI and ED was "politically motivated". This was in contrast to the stand he took in 2017 when he had wanted the ally to come clean on charges of corruption. The JD(U) leader also rubbished speculations that he was maintaining an eloquent silence on the issue because of anxieties about tarnishing his own image for probity by aligning with "tainted" politicians and could even be thinking of breaking away with the "Mahagathbandhan", which besides RJD, also includes Congress and the Left. Kumar was approached with queries by journalists who wanted to know about his views on the questioning of Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi by CBI earlier this week, followed by raids conducted on a number of premises, including houses of his three daughters and a daughter-in-law by ED on Friday and a fresh summons issued by the CBI to the younger son and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.

"What do I have to say, those who are at the receiving end are giving an adequate response," said Kumar in his trademark enigmatic style, before adding, "similar things happened in 2017 when I was on this side (in the anti-BJP camp). Now that I am here again, these things are happening again."

The allusion was to the land for hotels case in which the ED had named, along with others, Yadav, who was the Deputy CM then as well, and Kumar recalled having asked the young RJD leader to "explain" his side of the story and the BJP having exploited the situation to its advantage.

Kumar was understood to have asked Yadav to resign his ministerial berth on moral grounds for the period till his name was cleared, a proposition to which the RJD did not agree. The JD(U) leader himself resigned as chief minister, in disgust, and the BJP, his former ally, came with the offer of unconditional support.

Subsequently, Kumar formed a new government with the BJP, in less than 24 hours of resigning.

"I do not wish to take any names because the person (in BJP) who came to me with the offer of support may get further marginalised in his party," said Kumar, but dropped his guard when journalists found the clue and mentioned former Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi.

#WATCH | Patna: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar speaks on Central agencies' raids on Opposition leaders, incl Tejashwi Yadav.



He says, "...This happened in 2017. Then we (JDU-RJD) went our separate ways...5 yrs went by & when we came together, raids occurred again. What can I say?..." pic.twitter.com/upCjO56ali  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2023

"What do I say about Sushil Kumar Modi? I need not repeat that I never wanted him to suffer his current fate. But he is welcome to keep speaking against me. Maybe it will resurrect him politically," said Kumar, visibly upset over the tirade against himself by the former deputy ever since he dumped the BJP in August last year.

Kumar also made light of his JD(U) not being a signatory to the recent letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in protest against CBI arresting Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and said, "I will be there when all parties (opposed to BJP) agree to unitedly fight the next Lok Sabha polls."

The JD(U) chief, however, reiterated, "I have no (prime ministerial) ambitions for myself. I had made it clear even at the recent convention of CPIML(L) where all constituents of the Mahagathbandhan were present. I had even asked the Congress to take the lead in forging oppositional unity."

To a pointed question as to whether he could think of pulling out of the "opposition camp" because of corruption cases against leaders of most non-NDA parties, he exclaimed, "The question does not arise."

'Rumours': Tejashwi Yadav on ED claims that Rs 600 cr 'proceeds of crime' detected during raids

Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday dubbed as "rumours" the claim of the Enforcement Directorate that proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 600 crore were detected during searches on premises owned by him and close family members. The RJD leader, who is currently away in Delhi beside his wife who is expecting their first child, also said the BJP will be left embarrassed if he made public the "panchnama" (seizure list) signed after the raids.

"Just recall, in 2007, transactions worth Rs 8,000 crore, including a mall and hundreds of land plots, were alleged", tweeted Yadav, in an obvious reference to the alleged land-for-hotels scam pertaining to his father Lalu Prasad's tenure as the railway minister.

Now facing the heat in the land-for-jobs 'scam' pertaining to, roughly, the same period, Yadav also recalled his name being linked to a mall seized in Gurugram, which turned out to be owned by a private company.

The RJD had threatened legal action against media outlets for "wrongly" reporting that Yadav, the party supremo's son and heir apparent, owned the commercial establishment.

"The BJP government (at the Centre) spreading rumours again, quoting sources. It should have asked its spin doctors to first settle the account on the previous operations, before coming up with the new tale of Rs 600 crore", the RJD leader said.

Earlier on Saturday, the Enforcement Directorate said it has seized "unaccounted cash" of Rs 1 crore and "detected proceeds of crime worth Rs 600 crore" after it raided RJD chief Lalu Prasad's family in connection with a money laundering case linked to the railways land-for-jobs 'scam'.

"Let them make public the panchnama (seizure list) signed after the raids. If we do so on our own, think of the embarrassment that these BJP leaders will have to face", added Yadav, who peppered his two tweets with quite a few smileys to assert that he was taking it all on the chin.

       -                   (Seizure List)       



             ?  .. March 11, 2023

The ED had launched raids on Friday at multiple locations linked to Prasad's family members, including that of his son Tejashwi in Delhi.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had recently questioned Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi -- former chief ministers of Bihar -- in the case.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday shared an anecdote that was narrated to him by Australian trade minister Don Farrell about how one of his teachers had migrated from Goa, and said that it underlines the rich cultural connection between India and Australia.

Farrell had accompanied Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who was in India last week on an official visit.

During the lunch in honour of my friend PM @AlboMP, the Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell shared something interestinghe was taught by one Mrs. Ebert in Grade 1 who left a deep impact on his life and credits her for his educational grounding. pic.twitter.com/l0dKJbFCbZ  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2023

In a series of tweets, Modi said, "During the lunch in honour of my friend PM Albanese, the Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell shared something interesting? he was taught by one Mrs. Ebert in Grade 1 who left a deep impact on his life and credits her for his educational grounding."

"Mrs. Ebert, her husband, and her daughter Leonie migrated from Goa in India to Adelaide in the 1950s and started teaching at a school in Adelaide, Australia," Modi said.

Ebert's daughter Leonie went on to be the president of the South Australian Institute of Teachers, he said.

"I was happy to hear this anecdote, which underlines the rich cultural connect between India and Australia. It is equally heartening to hear when someone refers to his or her teacher fondly," Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set for his sixth visit to poll-bound Karnataka today where he would dedicate to the nation the electrification of the Hosapete-Hubballi-Tinaighat section of the railway network and the upgradation of Hosapete station for boosting connectivity in the region. The stage is set for the inauguration of the 10-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway.

The Prime Minister will lay foundation stones for key projects and inaugurate the Expressway in Mandya and Hubballi-Dharwad worth Rs 16,000 crore. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's office, Modi will dedicate and lay the foundation stones of key road projects in Mandya at noon. Thereafter, at around 3:15 PM, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of various development initiatives in Hubbali-Dharwad, the statement said.

The rapid pace of development of infrastructure projects has been a testament to the vision of the prime minister to ensure world-class connectivity across the country, the statement said.

Moving ahead in this endeavour, Prime Minister Modi will dedicate the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway to the nation, it said.

The project involves six-laning of the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru section of NH-275. The 118-km-long project has been developed at a total cost of around Rs 8,480 crore.

It will reduce the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from around three hours to about 75 minutes, the statement said. It will act as a catalyst for socio-economic development in the region, it said.

Earlier in the day, Modi tagged a tweet by Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari who said the construction of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, which encompasses a portion of NH-275, entails the development of four rail overbridges, nine significant bridges, 40 minor bridges, and 89 underpasses and overpasses.

Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone of Mysuru-Khushalnagar four-lane highway. The 92-km-long road project will be developed at a cost of around Rs 4,130 crore.

The project will play a key role in boosting connectivity of Kushalnagar with Bengaluru and will help halve the travel time from about 5 to only two-and-a-half hours, it said.

In Hubbali-Dharwad, the prime minister will dedicate IIT Dharwad to the nation. The foundation stone of the institute was laid by Prime Minister Modi in February 2019.

Developed at a cost of over Rs 850 crore, the institute currently offers four-year B.Tech programmes, inter-disciplinary five-year BS-MS programmes, M.Tech. And Ph.D. Programmes.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation the longest railway platform in the world at Sri Siddharoodha Swamiji Hubballi Station. The record has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records recently. The 1,507-metre-long platform has been built at a cost of about Rs 20 crore.

The prime minister will also dedicate to the nation the electrification of Hosapete-Hubballi-Tinaighat section of the railway network and the upgradation of Hosapete station for boosting connectivity in the region.

Developed at a cost of over Rs 530 crore, the electrification project establishes seamless train operation on electric traction.

The redeveloped Hosapete station will provide convenient and modern facilities to travellers. It has been designed to resemble the Hampi monuments, the statement said.

He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of various projects of Hubballi-Dharwad smart city. The total estimated cost of these projects is about Rs 520 crore, it said.

These efforts will enhance the quality of life by creating hygienic, safe and functional public spaces and transform the town into a futuristic urban centre, it said.

Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Jayadeva Hospital and Research Centre. The hospital will be developed at a cost of about Rs 250 crore and will provide tertiary cardiac care to the people of the region.

In order to further augment water supply in the region, Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Dharwad Multi Village Water Supply Scheme, which will be developed at a cost of over Rs 1,040 crore.

He will also lay the foundation stone of Tupparihalla Flood Damage Control Project, which will be developed at a cost of about Rs 150 crore.

The project aims to mitigate damage caused by floods and involves construction of retaining walls and embankments, the statement said.

Prime Minister's presence in Mandya assumes significance from political point of view in the poll-bound Karnataka where the general assembly elections are due in May.

Mandya district, a key part of the old Mysuru region, has traditionally been a JD(S) bastion. The district has seven assembly constituencies and barring one rest are represented by the JD(S) legislators.

The BJP made inroads into Mandya district by winning one seat (KR Pet) during the 2019 bypolls.

At this crucial juncture, the party could persuade the Mandya independent MP Sumalatha to announce her 'full support' to the BJP two days before the Prime Minister's visit to the district.
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pragya Thakur on Saturday (March 11, 2023) launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said he has "proved" Chanakya's saying -- "son born to a foreign woman can never be a patriot" -- was true. She also said that the former Congress president must be "thrown out of the country" for some his remarks made on foreign soil. Gandhi had this week told British parliamentarians in London that functioning microphones in the Lok Sabha are often silenced against the Opposition. He had also slammed the Narendra Modi-led government for the alleged attack on Indian democracy.

"We have assumed you are not from India because your mother (Sonia Gandhi) is from Italy," Thakur, who is better known as Sadhvi Pragya and is a Lok Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, said.

"More work will be done if Parliament functions smoothly. (But) If there is more work, then they (Congress) will not survive. Their (Congress) existence is on the verge of ending. Now their mind is also getting corrupted," she added.

"You (Rahul Gandhi) are a leader of this country, have been elected by the people (here), and are now insulting the public. While sitting abroad, you (Rahul Gandhi) are saying you are not getting an opportunity to speak in Parliament. Nothing can be more shameful than this. He should not be given a chance in politics and should be thrown out of the country," Thakur said.

#WATCH | While sitting abroad, you (Rahul Gandhi) are saying you are not getting an opportunity to speak in Parliament. Nothing can be more shameful than this. He should not be given a chance in politics& should be thrown out of the country: BJP's Pragya Thakur, in Bhopal (11.03) pic.twitter.com/ZBDrZFjepx  ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2023

Earlier this week, Rahul Gandhi told British parliamentarians that functioning microphones in the Indian Parliament are often silenced against the Opposition.

During an event organised by veteran Indian-origin Opposition Labour Party MP Virendra Sharma in the Grand Committee Room within the House of Commons in London, he used a faulty microphone in the room to make his point about what he described as a "stifling" of Opposition in India.

"Our mics are not out of order, they are functioning, but you still can't switch them on. That's happened to me a number of times while I am speaking," Gandhi told the gathering, in response to a question about sharing his experience of being a politician in India with his British counterparts.

The Wayanad MP stated that they were not allowed to discuss demonetisation, which he said was a "disastrous financial decision". He also claimed that the Opposition leaders were not allowed to discuss several topics including the GST.

"Chinese troops entering Indian territory -- we were not allowed to discuss. I remember a Parliament where there were vibrant discussions, heated debates, arguments, and disagreements but we had a conversation. And, that's frankly what we miss in Parliament. We have to use debates to fit in other debates. There is a stifling that is going on," the former Congress chief said.

ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi Speaks To Indian Journalists In London, Says 'If BBC Stops Writing Against Modi Govt...'

"This idea that the BJP is unbeatable is a narrative that is being created. It was the same narrative in the media in 2004, about India shining and when the result came it was a shock for the BJP. So, I don't buy the narrative in the media. I listen to the people on the ground," he said, adding that he is "pretty confident" of bringing the Opposition together on one platform.

When asked about his "hopes and dreams" for India, he said that the "future of India is very good as long as we can take care of this turbulent period we are going through where our structures are being attacked".

Shri @RahulGandhi had an insightful interaction with UKs Members of Parliament, respected academics, journalists, community leaders and leaders of the Indian Overseas Congress at the Grand Committee Room, UK Parliament, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/cqSPRIAALR  Congress (@INCIndia) March 6, 2023

"It is in the DNA of our country to be affectionate," he added.

Earlier last week, Rahul Gandhi had also given a lecture on "Learning to Listen in the 21st century" at the Cambridge Judge Business School and listed five key aspects of the alleged attack on Indian democracy -- capture and control of media and judiciary; surveillance and intimidation; coercion by federal law enforcement agencies; attacks on minorities, Dalits and tribals; and shutting down of dissent.

Referencing a decline in manufacturing in democratic countries such as India and the US in recent years as production shifted to China, the former Congress President said the shift had produced mass inequality and anger which needed urgent attention and dialogue.

"We simply cannot afford a planet that doesn't produce under democratic systems," the 52-year-old, who is on a week-long tour of the UK, had said.
Huballi-Dharwad: In a veiled attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the UK, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said raising questions about Indian democracy on foreign soil was an insult to the people of the country. Speaking at an event in poll-bound Karnataka on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi, while not naming Rahul, said some people were putting the Indian democracy in the dock despite it being ingrained in the country's political culture over centuries.

PM Modi's retort followed Rahul's recent lecture at the prestigious Cambridge University where he claimed that the basic structure of the Indian democracy was under attack.

Big day for Hubballi-Dharwad as it gets multiple development initiatives to enhance 'Ease of Living' for the citizens. https://t.co/99FdFBqAgZ  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2023

"Everybody knows and it`s been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India, we are navigating that (Opposition) space. The institutional framework which is required for a democracy - Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilisation, moving around -- all are being constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy," the Congress MP alleged.

At an event where he dedicated several development projects and the longest railway platform in the world in Karnataka's Hubballi-Dharwad on Sunday, PM Modi said the people of the state need to keep an eye out for "such people".

He said there was a multitude of factors making India not just the largest democracy but the mother of democracy and it was unfortunate that questions were raised on the same on foreign soil.

"There are numerous factors that make India not just the largest democracy in the world but also the mother of democracy. I was privileged to have inaugurated the statue of Bhagwan Basaveshwara in London. But it is unfortunate that questions were raised on India's democracy in London. The roots of Indian democracy go deep and dates back centuries. No power in the world can sully or harm the tradition of Indian democracy. However, some people are continuing to put Indian democracy in the dock. Such people are insulting Bhagwan Basaveshwara, the people of Karnataka, Indian tradition, and the 130 crore Indian citizens. The people of Karnataka have to be aware of such people," Prime Minister Modi said.

Rahul's remarks earlier had drawn severe criticism from the BJP.

Calling Karnataka an "engine of high-tech India", PM Modi said, "Good and modern infrastructure eases the lives of the common people. In the last 9 years, the network of roads has doubled in villages under 'PM Sadak Yojana'.

Not just roads, unprecedented expansion is afoot for more airports and enhancing the railway network. Karnataka is the engine of high-tech India," he said.

PM Modi also elaborated on the developmental projects run by the Centre, saying that his government opened 250 new medical colleges in the country over the last 9 years.

"For providing clean potable water, the central and state governments are working together. The foundation for a project worth over Rs 1000 crore, under the `Jal Jeevan Mission`, has been laid. We have brought about a three-fold increase in the number of AIIMS in the country. In seven decades, our country only had 380 medical colleges. However, over the last 9 years, 250 new medical colleges have been opened," he said.

"IIT Dharwad is an example of BJP's 'Sankalp Se Siddhi'. Around 4 years ago, I laid the foundation stone for this institute. Right from the foundation to the eventual inauguration, we worked at great speed. Receiving quality education is a fundamental right of all. Better educational institutes will enable more and more of our children to access quality education. Over the last 9 years, the number of top educational institutes in our country has grown manifold," PM Modi added.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 12, 2023 - 19:09 | All, Japan, 3/11 Fukushima

More than 60 percent of municipalities in the northeastern prefectures of Iwate and Miyagi do not plan to relocate their city or town halls despite being designated as areas at risk of flooding in the event of a large-scale tsunami, a Kyodo News survey showed.

Eleven out of 18 municipalities, which were severely damaged in the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster, are instead taking precautions against natural catastrophes by moving their disaster-response capabilities to higher ground, according to the survey.

The municipalities are drawing lessons from what happened in disasters in recent years including in 2011 when municipal offices were damaged and many officials were killed.

Similar situations also occurred in 2015 when torrential rain triggered floods in eastern and northeastern Japan and in 2016 when twin megaquakes hit Kumamoto and neighboring Oita prefecture in southwestern Japan.

As the offices were unable to function properly, the local governments subsequently failed to function properly and their initial responses and support for victims were delayed.

Following the 2011 enactment of a law on community development to prevent tsunami disaster, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectural governments released forecasts on areas at risk of flooding in case of a large-scale tsunami by 2022. The data covered 37 municipalities.

Kyodo News surveyed the 37 municipalities in January to February this year, and found that nine municipalities each in Iwate and Miyagi had offices in areas that could flood, while Fukushima had none.

Of the nine in Miyagi, four municipalities, such as the town of Onagawa, suffered damage from the tsunami and had just relocated their offices. But they were still in areas vulnerable to flooding.

When the 37 municipalities were asked if they planned to relocate their offices given their location, just two said they would while 11 said they had no plans.

Among the reasons not to relocate, Otsuchi town in Iwate said it plans to move to a facility on higher ground when the tsunami warning is issued, while Ishinomaki city in Miyagi said it plans to respond from a center located on the second floor and above that they hope will be safe.

Others said they could still maintain operations as the flooding is not expected to be severe.

In the survey, five municipalities said they were undecided about relocating. Of them, Kuji city in Iwate said it is considering whether relocating is necessary.

The designation of areas at risk of flooding was made on the assumption that a powerful quake similar to the magnitude-9.0 that hit eastern and northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011 or a megaquake in the Japan and Chishima trenches off the country's northern Pacific coast had occurred, coupled with adverse conditions such as high tides and the collapse of breakwaters.

Among the designated areas, the maximum immersion depth is expected to be 9.06 meters in Kamaishi, 7.8 m in Noda, 6.9 m in Otsuchi, 6.85 m in Kuji, all in Iwate Prefecture. In Miyagi Prefecture, the highest depth is assumed to be 3.82 m in Onagawa.

Related coverage:

30% of residential areas developed after 2011 tsunami in flood zone

Japan marks 12 years since quake-tsunami that led to Fukushima crisis

FEATURE: Many shuttered post offices reopened following 2011 disaster
Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday hit out at former Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks in the UK, saying he apprehends defeat in the 2024 general elections.

Irani was speaking to reporters after inaugurating a pontoon bridge in Amethi's Jagdishpur. She also said the Gandhi family reached the pinnacle of power on the shoulders of the people of this Lok Sabha constituency and then forgot about them.

Responding to a question of Gandhi's recent statement of democracy being under attack in India, the Union minister said, "It is natural for him to shed tears due to his defeat in Amethi. Today, the country has become the world's fifth economic power. But instead of respecting it, Gandhi's unrestrained statement shows he has an apprehension that he will be defeated again in 2024."

Irani defeated Gandhi in the Amethi parliamentary constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

"The Gandhi family never understood the pain and suffering of the people here (Amethi) and did not think about the development of the area," she added.

"I have been in Amethi for the last eight years... Everyone in Amethi respects everyone. This is why I am proud that I have been honoured as 'Didi' (elder sister) in Amethi," the minister said.

Gandhi had on March 6 told British parliamentarians in London that functioning microphones in the Lok Sabha are often silenced against the Opposition. He made the comment during an event organised by veteran Indian-origin Opposition Labour Party MP Virendra Sharma in the Grand Committee Room within the House of Commons complex.

(The above article is sourced from news agency PTI. Zeenews.com has made no editorial changes to the article. News agency PTI is solely responsible for the contents of the article)
The Centre has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court opposing the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. In its affidavit, the Centre told the apex court that same-sex relationships and heterosexual relationships are clearly distinct classes which cannot be treated identically. The Centre also apprised the Supreme Court that living together as partners by same-sex individuals, which is decriminalised now, is not comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children. The Centre's affidavit comes a day ahead of the case hearing in the court.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a batch of pleas seeking legal validation for same-sex marriages tomorrow. According to Monday's (March 13) cause list uploaded on the apex court's website, the pleas are listed for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala.

The apex court had, on January 6, clubbed and transferred to itself all such petitions pending before different high courts, including the Delhi High Court. It had said the counsel appearing for the Centre and advocate Arundhati Katju, representing the petitioners, shall together prepare a common compilation of the written submissions, documents and precedents on which reliance would be placed during the course of the hearing.

"Soft copies of the compilations shall be exchanged between the parties and shall be made available to the court. List the petition along with connected petitions and transferred cases on March 13, 2023 for directions," the bench had said in its January 6 order.

The counsel for multiple petitioners had told the bench that they want the apex court to transfer all the cases to itself for an authoritative pronouncement on the issue and that the Centre can file its response in the top court.

On January 3, the apex court had said it would hear on January 6 the pleas seeking a transfer of petitions for recognition of same-sex marriages pending before the high courts to the top court.

On December 14 last year, the apex court had sought the Centre's response to two pleas seeking a transfer of the petitions pending in the Delhi High Court for directions to recognise same-sex marriages to itself.

Prior to that, on November 25 last year, the apex court had sought the Centre's response to separate pleas moved by two gay couples seeking enforcement of their right to marry and a direction to the authorities concerned to register their marriages under the Special Marriage Act.

A bench headed by CJI Chandrachud, who was also part of the Constitution bench that in 2018 decriminalised consensual gay sex, issued a notice to the Centre in November last year, besides seeking Attorney General R Venkataramani's assistance in dealing with the pleas.

The top court's five-judge Constitution bench, in a path-breaking unanimous verdict delivered on September 6, 2018, held that consensual sex among adult homosexuals or heterosexuals in a private space is not a crime while striking down a part of the British-era penal law that criminalised it on the ground that it violated the constitutional right to equality and dignity.

The petitions on which the top court issued the notice in November last year have sought a direction that the right to marry a person of one's choice be extended to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) people as part of their fundamental right.

One of the petitions has sought an interpretation of the Special Marriage Act, 1954 in a gender-neutral manner where a person is not discriminated against due to his sexual orientation.

The apex court, in its 2018 judgment, held that section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that criminalised consensual gay sex was "irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary".

It had said the 158-year-old law had become an "odious weapon" to harass the LGBT community by subjecting its members to discrimination and unequal treatment. (With PTI/ANI inputs)
New Delhi: In a large-scale rescue mission, the Indian Army provided shelter to 400 tourists in East Sikkim and took them to safety on Sunday (March 12) after they were stranded due to heavy snowfall. The tourists were reportedly returning to Gangtok from the Nathula and Tsomgo Lakes on Saturday (March 11) evening. The Indian Army provided shelter, medical aid, warm clothing, and food to the stranded tourists.

According to the police, approximately 900 tourists who were travelling back to the Sikkim capital from Nathula and Tsomgo Lake on Saturday evening were stuck due to heavy snowfall.

Indian Army rescues 400 tourists stranded due to heavy snowfall in East #Sikkim who were returning from Changu Lake & Nathu La. Army provided shelter, medical aid, warm clothing & food @trishakticorps @easterncomd @ZeeNews pic.twitter.com/qlcJFIyOtD  Pooja Mehta (@pooja_news) March 12, 2023

This unexpected delay affected 89 vehicles, and authorities were working with the Army to conduct a safe evacuation process. Fifteen vehicles had been rescued by Saturday evening, the heavy snow was being cleared gradually.

Consequently, it was uncertain when the remaining vehicles could leave for Gangtok, which was 42 km away. The police officer stated that some of the tourists might have to spend the night in a nearby campsite belonging to the Army. Nonetheless, the Army had assured that they would provide all necessary assistance to the stranded tourists.

The administration had stopped issuing passes for Nathula and Tsomgo Lake for several days recently due to the heavy snowfall that had occurred in East Sikkim. This situation also contributed to the unexpected delay experienced by the tourists.
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao was admitted to a Hyderabad hospital on Sunday morning after experiencing abdominal discomfort, an official said adding that he has developed a small ulcer in his stomach, the treatment of which has been initiated. The Chief Minister was admitted to AIG Hospitals where he was examined by the chairman of the hospital Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy who is also the chief of Gastroenterology. He was then shifted to the hospital where he underwent some medical tests.

#Telangana CM KCR at AIG hospital for health issues. pic.twitter.com/7IsmqglaF3  Siddhu Manchikanti Potharaju (@SiDManchikanti) March 12, 2023

"This is to inform that Hon'ble Chief Minister of Telangana, Sri K Chandrashekar Rao developed Abdominal Discomfort today morning, following which he was examined by Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman of AIG Hospitals. He was brought to AIG Hospitals following which CT and Endoscopy were performed," the statement by the hospital informed.

"A small ulcer in the stomach was found which is being managed medically. All other parameters are normal. Appropriate medication has been started," it added. Further details into the matter are awaited.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday made a veiled attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in response to his statement made in London.CM Yogi said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making the country famous in the world, some people are trying to defame the country.

Addressing a seminar here, Chief Minister said, "While under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India`s dominance on global platforms is growing, some people are criticizing India on foreign soil. The people criticising Indian democracy today are the same people who left no stone unturned to strangle democracy itself when they were given a chance."

The Chief Minister said that these people criticise the country when they are abroad, but when they are home, they criticise Uttar Pradesh.CM Yogi added that such people who wish to weaken the strong democracy of the country and whose family`s legacy has been that of the politics of divide and rule should be recognised and must not be allowed to succeed in their evil designs.

He added that in the times to come, India will be the country to show the way to the world.CM Yogi said that getting the leadership of the G20 shows India`s potential, pointing out that the country`s global dominance is growing.

"Whether it is Afghanistan or the Russia-Ukraine war, the initiative of PM Modi is awaited everywhere. Prime Ministers of Italy and Australia visited India recently whereas the Japanese PM is going to visit India soon. All these present a new picture of the country," the Chief Minister said.

"In the last nine years, India under the leadership of PM Modi, has taken a giant leap in almost every sphere of life. There has been a massive positive change in every field from farming to innovation. Income of people has increased many fold and space travel is also being done through private satellite," he asserted.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said it is the duty of every Indian living around the world to protect democracy" India`s democracy.

The Congress MP, who was on a visit to the UK, criticised the Centre alleging that an attack has been unleashed on the basic structure of Indian democracy.

The Congress MP, who is visiting the UK, criticised the Centre alleging that an attack has been unleashed on the basic structure of Indian democracy.Rahul Gandhi in an interaction at the Chatham House in London termed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) a "fundamentalist" and "fascist" organisation alleging that it has captured pretty much all of India`s institutions.

He said, "The nature of democratic contest in India has completely changed and the reason is that one organisation called RSS - a fundamentalist, fascist organisation has basically captured pretty much all of India`s institutions."

Rahul Gandhi further said Europe and the US are not doing enough to restore democracy in India as they are getting trade and money from the country. "Why Europe and the US - the defenders of democracies were oblivious of how a huge chunk of democracy in India has come undone?" he questioned.

The Congress leader also mentioned how the various institutions in the country were under threat.

"It shocked me how successful they have been at capturing the different institutions of our country. Press, Judiciary, Parliament, and Election Commission are all under threat and are controlled in one way or the other," Rahul Gandhi said.

"You can ask any Opposition leader as to how agencies are used. My phone had Pegasus on it, which was not happening when we were in power," he added.The Congress MP highlighted the condition of the Dalits and minorities in India.

He said, "In India, you can see what is being done to Dalits, tribals, and minorities. It is not that Congress is saying it. There are articles in the foreign press all the time that there is a serious problem with Indian democracy." (ANI)

(The above article is sourced from news agency ANI. Zeenews.com has made no editorial changes to the article. News agency ANI is solely responsible for the contents of the article)


New Delhi: With forest fires continuing to rage in Goa, Indian Air Force has deployed Mi-17 to douse the blaze and help the state to save its rich flora and fauna. The IAF deployed the choppers on March 9 to fight raging forest fires using Bambi Buckets and the operation is continued as 7 fire spots are still active." 47000 litres of water have been dispensed by the IAF, over the afflicted area," stated IAF.

According to the Union environment ministry, the forest fire broke out due to the Long dry-spell and scorching summer conditions in the state. "Long dry-spell (almost no rains since mid-October, 2022), coupled with unprecedented high summer temperature with low humidity has resulted in a conducive atmosphere for fire, which has been aggravated by high winds observed in the past couple of weeks, particularly after sundown," said the ministry.

#WATCH | IAF's Mi-17 helicopter dispensed over 25000 litres of water over forest fire-affected areas in Goa on March 11



(Source: IAF) pic.twitter.com/aNwkwNXZ5U  ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2023

Meanwhile, Goa Minister of Forests Vishwajit P Rane on Saturday (March 11) thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending support in dousing the forest fires in the state. "Received an intimation from the Honourable Prime Minister`s office that the Defence Ministry would provide full support and the office of the Honourable Prime minister will monitor the situation (of forest fires) closely," said Rane.

Taking to Facebook, Rane said, "As the Goa state`s Minister of Forests, I can`t begin to express my gratitude to the Honourable Prime Minister and we will update the Prime Minister`s Office daily on the condition of the fires.

As per the reports received from the field, since March 5 and till March 11, 48 fire spots have been detected of which 41 fires have already been doused and seven are reported to be active, reported ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated World`s longest railway platform in Hubballi today. The inauguration of the platform was done during the PM's Karnataka visit in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. It is to be noted that Indian Railways, South Western Railway Zones Hubbali is now registered in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest platform. This platform at Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji station in Karnataka has been constructed with an investment of Rs 20.1 crore as part of the railways' initiative of remodeling stations.

The construction work for the 1.5 km long railway platform at the Siddharoodha Swami Railway Station was commissioned in February 2021 and is now complete. The station is an important junction in Karnataka and connects Bengaluru (Davanagere side), Hosapete (Gadag side), and Vasco-Da-Gama/Belagavi (Londa side).

Also read: Vande Bharat Express On Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Route Pelted With Stones, Second Attack In One Month

Three more platforms have been installed in addition to the five already present ones to serve the city's expanding demands better. Platform No. 8, which is 1507 metres, has the distinction of being the world's longest railroad platform. From the longest platform, two trains with electric engines will simultaneously depart.

The world's longest railway platform will cater to the transportation needs of the Hubballi-Dharwad region and will help in enhancing the operational capacity of the yard. Furthermore, it will enable the operations of trains in both directions.

Gorakhpur platform in Uttar Pradesh is the second longest at 1,366.33 meters, and Kollam Junction in Kerala has the third longest platform at 1,180.5 meters.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated the 118-km long Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway. This new project is expected to aid the social and economic growth in the region. The new e-way built at a cost of Rs 8,480 crore will reduce the travel time between the cities from 3 hours to around 75 minutes. Furthermore, the project entails widening NH 275 to six lanes along the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru stretch.

With IANS Inputs
New Delhi: Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Sunday mocked Meta for planning to launch a dedicated Twitter-like social media application and called it "copy cat". It all started when the music news website Daily Loud posted: "Mark Zuckerberg`s Meta exploring plans to launch a rival to Twitter." On this, a user asked: "Why tho? is he like people are mad at Elon musk, I`ll make an alternative because everyone loves me and Facebook so much."

Commenting on this conversation, Musk said: "Copy cat." Several users expressed their thoughts on Musk`s post. While one user said: "I`m sure people will by dying to join another Meta platform plagued with `independent fact checkers` suppressing conversations and content moderators taking down memes. Sounds fun!" Another commented: "Facebook should start making rockets and electric cars as well since they so `good` at what they do."

Copy  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 11, 2023

Recently, it was reported that Meta is building a dedicated Twitter-like social media application for people to post text-based updates. The product is still in its early stages, and no release date has been set, but legal and regulatory teams have already begun to investigate potential privacy concerns surrounding the app to address them before launch. Several rival platforms have launched or gained traction in the months since Musk took over the micro-blogging platform - among them include Mastodon, Post.news, and T2.



Earlier this month, Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey came back into the social media game, with the launch of his Twitter alternative called `Bluesky`
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief and former Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Saturday said that the way Pakistan is moving, Indian TV channels are making fun of Pakistan and are happily announcing how the country is moving towards destruction. PTI chairman Imran Khan was addressing a gathering for Isaal-e-Sawaab of Zill-E-Shah where he alleged that the current leaders have huge properties in Pakistan and abroad and they do not care about the people of Pakistan. He said that Pakistan has no rule of law and the way the country is proceeding, the children of Pakistan have no future.

"The way they are treating the nation, there is no future for you and for your children. Pakistan cannot run like this, just look at the television channels of India. How they make fun of Pakistan`s condition. They (Indian channels) are announcing happily that Pakistan is moving towards destruction," Imran Khan said.

He also said that at the time of Independence, Indians mocked Pakistan that it will not be able to survive and soon merge back into India. He asked what danger Pakistan faced when it was formed. "What danger did Pakistan face when it was formed? The Indian leaders were saying that they will not be able to survive and they will dissolve back into us. Why did we strengthen our security? Why did we strengthen our army? We stayed hungry to feed the army. That army played important roles and saved us. They gave us confidence. They protected us," he added.

(watch how on Indian TV channels they are making fun of Pakistan), says Pakistan's former PM Imran Khan pointing to his country's economic situation pic.twitter.com/kMlh2MATDB  Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) March 11, 2023

Imran Khan said, "Pakistan was formed because we wanted to be an independent nation. We wanted to be a nation that would have a rule of law. We have everything but rule of law. Zille Shah`s killing is the proof."

Imran Khan lashed out at the Pakistan government after the alleged killing of Ali Bilal, nicknamed Zille Shah. The Express Tribune reported that the country on Wednesday was left shocked after horrific images of the body of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker Ali Bilal, nicknamed Zille Shah, in Lahore began circulating on social media, not long after the PTI`s rally to launch its election campaign was called off. Soon "Zille Shah", "Ali Bilal" and "Black Vigo" began to trend on Twitter and other social media platforms. Soon, more and more details of Bilal`s death began to surface, including closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of a private 4X4 vehicle, which can be seen dropping Bilal at a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to the post-mortem report, the victim had 26 marks of torture on his body. PTI Chairman Imran Khan then shared a video of Bilal being taken away in a police van claiming that he was killed in police custody.

"This video clearly shows that Ali Bilal, also affectionately called Zille Shah, was alive when taken to [the] police station. So he was killed while in police custody, such is the murderous bent of the present regime & Punjab police," the former prime minister tweeted.

PTI claimed that party worker Ali Bilal died of police violence and torture after personnel launched a crackdown on party workers and supporters protesting near PTI chief Imran Khan`s residence earlier this week, as per the news report. Mohsin Naqvi refuted allegations of instructing the Punjab Police to act against PTI workers. He said that the Punjab IGP would visit Ali Bilal`s father and the Punjab government would provide financial assistance to the victim`s heirs.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 12, 2023 - 12:13 | World, All

China's parliament on Sunday elected Ding Xuexiang, who is ranked No. 6 in the ruling Communist Party's apex of power, as executive vice premier and reappointed Yi Gang, a U.S.-educated economist, as chief of the central bank.

Ding, 60, who has worked as a chief of staff for leader Xi Jinping, was promoted last October to the party's seven-strong Politburo Standing Committee despite his lack of experience in central government or as a regional party boss.

He was endorsed with three other vice premiers -- He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing and Liu Guozhong -- during a session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The three are members of the party's 24-member Politburo.

Foreign Minister Qin Gang, a former Chinese ambassador to the United States who assumed the ministerial post late last year, was promoted to state councilor, while Gen. Li Shangfu, a member of the party's Central Military Commission, was appointed as defense minister as well as state councilor.

The commission headed by Xi oversees the People's Liberation Army.

Zheng Shanjie was chosen as head of the National Development and Reform Commission, which is in charge of steering macroeconomic policy.

The appointments at the parliament session were based on nominations by Premier Li Qiang, who was picked as head of the State Council, or China's Cabinet, on Saturday.

Related coverage:

China ruling party's No. 2 leader Li Qiang elected premier

China's Xi secures norm-breaking 3rd term as president
Zhaluo (2nd R), an expert with the China Tibetology Research Center, speaks at a side-event themed "the Concept and Practice of Human Rights in China" on the sidelines of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, March 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

GENEVA, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Boarding schools in China's Xizang Autonomous Region are totally different from those "colonial-era residential schools in Canada, Australia, and the United States," where "astonishing tragedies once happened," a professor said at a human rights conference on Thursday.

Did boarding schools in Xizang "separate Tibetan children from their families" and "force them to receive assimilation education in boarding schools"? Zhaluo, an expert with the China Tibetology Research Center, asked at a side-event of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Those with a positive answer either know little about Xizang or purposely stigmatize China, Zhaluo said at the event themed "The Concept and Practice of Human Rights in China."

"I once studied at a boarding school. Besides, over the past 30 years I have been committed to researching Xizang's development, so I am familiar with boarding schools in the autonomous region," he said at the meeting organized by the China Society for Human Rights Studies.

The main reasons that Xizang established and developed boarding schools are as follows: First, the population is widely dispersed, making it difficult to attend a school close to home; Second, the mountainous geographical conditions render transportation inconvenient.

"Boarding schools that allow school-age children to study and live together are the best way to promote school education," he noted.

The expert told attendees that based on his observations in the past 30 years, the infrastructure of boarding schools in Xizang and students' living allowance standards have seen obvious improvements, and the student management and care system has become increasingly mature and standardized.

He said that the boarding schools maximally guarantee that children of farmers and herders in Xizang's remote areas enjoy the right to education, and thanks to the implementation of the boarding school system, both rural and urban students can share high-quality educational resources and receive school education equally, thus narrowing the rural-urban educational gap.

"As a matter of fact, a variety of boarding schools full of humanism and vitality have provided a favorable environment for the growth of numerous students in many parts of the world, including China's Xizang Autonomous Region, and offered them the golden key to a splendid life," he stressed. 

This photo taken on March 9, 2023 shows a side-event themed "the Concept and Practice of Human Rights in China" on the sidelines of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The following is a summary of published science and technology news of China.

SHENZHOU-15 ASTRONAUTS TO RETURN

China's Shenzhou-15 crew will return to Earth in June, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said Sunday.

The space station combination is operating steadily, and the Shenzhou-15 astronauts are in good condition, said the CMSA.

China will launch three space missions for the space station application and development this year, including the cargo craft Tianzhou-6 and the crewed spaceships Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17.

RESEARCH SHIP

China's scientific research ship Tansuo-1 returned to the city of Sanya in south China's Hainan Province on Saturday, after completing its first international manned deep-diving scientific research mission in waters surrounding Oceania.

The vessel, carrying the deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe (Striver), began its mission in October 2022. It traveled for 157 days and sailed more than 22,000 nautical miles around Oceania, according to the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 
* In a public opinion survey conducted earlier this month, 90.5 percent of Fukushima residents believed that dumping nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the ocean would cause reputational damage to the area's products.

* Susceptible to the wastewater issue are the Pacific island countries that have been scarred with painful memories since Western countries have conducted a dazzling array of nuclear tests in the Pacific since the mid-20th century, resulting in shocking radioactive pollution and ecological disasters.

* "The Pacific Ocean does not belong to Japan but to everybody. Pollutants will flow to neighboring countries where many radioactive materials have already been released and contaminated (the marine ecosystem)."

TOKYO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Despite raging opposition both at home and abroad, Japan still intends to push ahead with its plan to dump nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in this spring or summer.

Local residents, especially those in the fishery industry, believe the discharge will wreck their livelihoods and 005cd8f181f04c9d9256f204c669b03bify all the efforts they have made for over a decade to revive the industry, let alone the international outcry over the irresponsible decision.

A sign that reads "do not dump contaminated wastewater into the sea" is pictured during a protest near the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in Tokyo, Japan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

DECADE-LONG EFFORTS FOR NAUGHT

"We are dead against the release," said Toshimitsu Konno, head of Fukushima prefecture's Soma Futaba Fisheries Cooperative Association. "Once the contaminated water is discharged, our decade-long efforts must start all over again."

The group, with 846 members, is the largest in the northeastern prefecture, the worst-hit area by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and an ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant then suffered core meltdowns that released radiation, resulting in a level-7 nuclear accident, the highest on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale.

The plant has been generating a massive amount of water tainted with radioactive substances from cooling down the nuclear fuel in the reactor buildings, which are now stored in about 1,000 storage tanks.

The plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has repeatedly claimed that the treated water it plans to discharge is diluted to national safety standards.

People hold signs which bear messages against the dumping of nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean during a protest near the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in Tokyo, Japan, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

"The wastewater is poison no matter how hard you dilute it, as it contains radioactive substances," said Haruo Ono, a fisherman at the small port of Shinchimachi, north of the plant.

"The sea has nurtured us. It is the home of fish rather than a dustbin for humans! Why should we pollute the ocean?" the 70-year-old asked.

The third-generation fisherman, who lost his house and younger brother during the tsunami, felt furious as the discharge might ruin everything when the local fishing sector is gradually recovering.

Twelve years after the 2011 accident traumatized Fukushima's fishing industry, local fishermen are still struggling.

According to Konno, catches in the area are now equivalent to only 20 percent of the volume before the 2011 earthquake, although fish prices have recovered 70 to 80 percent of the pre-earthquake level.

"All fishermen are against the discharge," said local fisherman Kenichiro Oohira. "Once the contaminated water is released, all the efforts we fishermen have made for over ten years to restore consumers' confidence will end in vain."

In a public opinion survey conducted earlier this month, 90.5 percent of Fukushima residents believed that dumping nuclear-contaminated wastewater into the ocean would cause reputational damage to the area's products.

"Locals are working very hard to revive the Fukushima fishery. All such efforts would come to naught if even one of the millions of fish caught exceeded the radioactive limit," said Kenichi Oshima, a professor at Ryukoku University.

"We are living off the sea both as producers and consumers," Takeshi Komatsu, an oyster breeder in the neighboring Miyagi prefecture, expressed concern that the wastewater will contaminate the oysters and put local food and children's safety at risk.

Fishermen wait for the return of fishing ships at the Haragama local distributor market in Soma city of Fukushima prefecture, Japan, March 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

TREATED WATER MUCH QUESTIONABLE

Oshima pointed out that, unlike ordinary hazardous chemicals, radioactive substances will not disappear without chemical treatment as nature's self-purification is limited.

The environmental economist said it is an "indisputable fact" that these radioactive substances would not have been produced without the nuclear accident.

"I don't think it is appropriate to discharge these additional radioactive substances," he said, adding that "there is no corresponding assessment of the long-term impact of radioactive materials on the marine ecosystem and our lives."

He questioned the effectiveness of TEPCO's Advanced Liquid Processing System, saying that nuclides other than tritium have yet to be removed in about two-thirds of the total 1.3 million tons of the nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

"TEPCO insists that it will and can handle the issue, but the credibility of such statements needs further observation given there was no precedent," he noted, stressing that whether the treated one-third of nuclear wastewater meets standard also lacks review by a third-party organization.

He believed the proper and uncostly treatment is to continue storing treated nuclear wastewater in tanks and wait for tritium, with a half-life of 12.3 years, to decay to less than one-thousandth of its current level in more than 120 years. Another method is to seal it underground upon mortar solidification and wait for more than 100 years, at which point further treatment methods can be considered.

Since TEPCO is responsible for the accident in the first place, it should not choose how to dispose of the water based on cost calculations. Instead, it must minimize the impact on the environment and people, Oshima noted.

This photo taken on March 6, 2023 shows the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant seen from Futabacho, Futabagun, Fukushima prefecture, Japan. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

INT'L OUTCRY OVER RECKLESS PLAN

More than backlash at home, Japan's move has raised serious concerns worldwide, generating strong opposition from many countries and international organizations.

Academics and environmental advocates worry that Japan's unilateral push of the plan is reckless and harmful, citing a lack of a practical demonstration and its potential threat to society and marine ecology.

Susceptible to the wastewater issue are the Pacific island countries that have been scarred with painful memories since Western countries have conducted a dazzling array of nuclear tests in the Pacific since the mid-20th century, resulting in shocking radioactive pollution and ecological disasters.

File photo taken on Oct. 12, 2017 shows huge tanks that store contaminated radioactive wastewater at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Fukushima prefecture, Japan. (Xinhua)

"We must prevent action that will lead or mislead us toward another major nuclear contamination disaster at the hands of others," said Henry Puna, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, stressing that it is crucial for the Pacific that Japan does not go ahead with the release.

Leaders from multiple Pacific island countries call upon the Japanese government to immediately stop its plans to dump nuclear waste into the Pacific Ocean.

Fiji's Acting Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica said that Fiji has been on very high alert since Japan announced the planned release, asking if the water treated by the Advanced Liquid Processing System is safe, and "why not reuse it in Japan for alternative purposes, in manufacturing and agriculture for instance?"

"Pacific peoples have a fundamental right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. By proceeding with this plan to discharge radioactive wastewater without community-led consultation, rigorous scientific debate, and public deliberation, TEPCO and the Japanese government are showing direct disregard for the sovereignty and self-determination of Pacific peoples," New Zealand sociologist Karly Burch said.

David Krofcheck, senior lecturer in physics at the University of Auckland, said that the danger of indiscriminately releasing nuclear fission products into the ocean is that they can find their way into the food chain, warning of rising cancer.

Li Song, China's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the issue is highly controversial and needs to be thoughtfully and prudently addressed by the international community and member states of the IAEA.

"The Pacific Ocean does not belong to Japan but to everybody," said Ahn Jae-hun, energy and climate change director at the Korea Federation for Environment Movement. "Pollutants will flow to neighboring countries where many radioactive materials have already been released and contaminated (the marine ecosystem)." (Video reporters: Li Guangzheng, Guo Dan, Zhang Yiyi; video editors: Chen Sihong, Zhu Jianhui, Liu Yutian, Wang Haiyan)
BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- World leaders continued to extend congratulations to Xi Jinping on his election as president of the People's Republic of China.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said he is ready to work with the Chinese side to raise the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level, so as to realize the common expectations and common interests of their people.

Under Xi's leadership, the friendly China has made remarkable achievements in various fields, and the ancient civilization is taking on new vitality, said Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his confidence that Xi will lead China and the Chinese people to make new success and achievements, and fulfill more established goals and visions.

Kenya will continue to maintain close ties and cooperation with China as the two countries have done since the establishment of diplomatic relations six decades ago, said Kenyan President William Ruto.

Under Xi's wise leadership, great China has attained economic prosperity, and is entering a new stage of development, said Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, stressing that China has played a major role in the cause of global justice that is built on respect for countries' sovereignty and diversity, and the realization of the common prosperity of humankind.

Xi's election is of great significance for defending the principles and values of fairness, justice, peace, security and development around the world, said Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, stressing that his country is willing to work with China to build a world that is fair, peaceful and safe and pursues happiness for people.

Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit said he is convinced that Xi, in his new term, will lead China to score greater achievements, continue to maintain its influence and play a constructive role in international affairs, and strive to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat said that Africa will remain firmly committed to strengthening its partnership with China.

Those also sending congratulatory messages include:

Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal,

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad,

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi,

Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye,

Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud,

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele,

Bolivian President Luis Arce,

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali,

and Zeljka Cvijanovic, rotating chair of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency. 
National leader Heydar Aliyev was a great friend of the Chinese people, who made an important contribution to the development of bilateral relations, Chinese Special Representative for Europe Wu Hongbo said.



He made the remarks at a conference themed "Heydar Aliyev - 100: life and heritage" organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

Hongbo noted the role of Heydar Aliyev in establishing friendly relations between the two countries, and also highly appreciated his contribution to the development of trade relations between the countries.

China's special representative said that one of the most important results of Heydar Aliyev's work was the improvement of the living standards of the people of Azerbaijan.

In this context, Hongbo noted that the national leader knew how to anticipate events, and this was one of the elements of his formula for governing the country.

"Heydar Aliyev created a formula for governing the country, based on a look into the future. He carried out important work, which resulted in the signing of the Contract of the Century," the Chinese official concluded.
TEHRAN, March 12 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed and five others were injured as three residential buildings collapsed entirely on Sunday due to an explosion in the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz, semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The explosion, which occurred at 03:00 a.m. local time (2330 GMT) in a two-story building, completely leveled the building and two neighboring ones, said Mohammad-Baqer Honarbar, director general of East Azarbaijan province's Crisis Management Organization.

He added that the explosion also caused damage to 100 nearby buildings, shattering windows.

The authorities are still investigating the cause of the explosion, the Fars news agency noted, adding that two of the injured had been transferred to medical centers.

Meanwhile, the official news agency IRNA said one person was pulled out alive from rubbles as rescue work continues. 
Aerial photo taken on June 29, 2022 shows a view of the Nansha Bridge, which links Guangzhou City and Dongguan City, in south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

-- African countries have benefited from China's model of peaceful development and continuous renewal, as evidenced by sustained capital flows, robust trade, technology and skills transfer to the continent, said Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar

-- Nadia Monteiro, a Central Committee member of Angola's ruling party, the MPLA, hailed China's modernization efforts as a "unique and unprecedented milestone" for exponential economic growth in the world's most populous country and as a contribution to the global economy.

NAIROBI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The accelerated pace of modernization combined with peaceful and inclusive development that China has embraced with zeal is inspiring African countries as they embark on a new chapter of renewal, experts have said.

African countries have benefited from China's model of peaceful development and continuous renewal, as evidenced by sustained capital flows, robust trade, technology and skills transfer to the continent, said Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Adhere attributed Africa's rapid economic take-off to China's willingness to share expertise, support peace-building efforts in Africa, and invest in sectors like transport, manufacturing and energy.

Highlighting the whole-of-society approach to development that China has prioritized, he said that it is best suited for Africa where people-centered growth is key to sustaining cohesion.

Niu Hongtao (L), assistant project manager of the Isimba Hydro Power Plant, and Muhammad Idrees, a Pakistani civil engineer working at the project site, tour the switchyard at the Isimba Hydro Power Plant in Kayunga, Uganda, on Feb. 9, 2023. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

"We still hope to see China's internalization in terms of resource mobilization, in terms of development cooperation with African countries under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation," Adhere said.

He added that as the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area gathers steam, the continent should tap China's technological prowess to revitalize its digital economy, manufacturing and value addition.

China's rapid modernization that has encouraged inclusivity, solidarity, and healthy consensus should be emulated in Africa where poverty and under-development have threatened stability, said Adhere.

In addition, Beijing's embrace of green development as espoused in its ecological civilization mantra has aided efforts to tame the climate crisis that has taken a heavier toll on livelihoods across the sub-Saharan region, he said.

By upholding the multilateral system, China has also proactively supported a peaceful resolution to Africa's conflicts, thereby placing the continent on the path of equitable growth and long-term stability, said Adhere.

He noted that China's pioneered Global Security Initiative, once its implementation gathers pace, will be key to finding a lasting solution to civil strife in Africa.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 15, 2019 shows the China-financed solar power plant Garissa Solar in Garissa County, Kenya. (Xinhua)

Adhere also lauded China's willingness to share its resources, technologies and expertise to help transform Africa's economies through enhanced connectivity, trade and job creation.

He observed that as China opens its market to agricultural products from Africa like avocados, the continent's economies will leapfrog and a solution to endemic poverty and unemployment will be found.

On Africa's high-speed internet connectivity, the Kenyan scholar said that with China's help, the continent will become more integrated and its youthful population can gain from the growth of the digital economy.

Nadia Monteiro, a Central Committee member of Angola's ruling party, the MPLA, hailed China's modernization efforts as a "unique and unprecedented milestone" for exponential economic growth in the world's most populous country and as a contribution to the global economy.

Photo taken on Aug. 15, 2021 shows a view of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Suo Xianglu)

"According to the World Bank's data, China's contribution to global economic growth surpasses the contributions of all G7 countries during the period from 2013 to 2021," she said.

Monteiro commended the theoretical and practical advancements made by the Communist Party of China, particularly in the eradication of absolute poverty and the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects.

"I was very impressed with a video featuring Shibadong Village (in China's Hunan Province), which demonstrated how the lives of its people were positively transformed, and how poverty was eradicated," she said.

Monteiro voiced confidence that China's modernization theory could bring fresh ideas to governance in Angola, including greener agendas, development opportunities, and options for innovation. 




ABUJA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- "We've seen long-held dreams about integration, long dreams about trading within ourselves, coming true."

A Nigerian expert said that after a decade of development, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative has brought positive changes to the African continent.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
People visit the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Children learn about green architecture at the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

People learn about insects at an insect museum of the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Visitors interact with alpacas at the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

People visit an insect museum at the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Children learn about a seedling box at the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

A homestay owner arranges furniture at a homestay of the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 10, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Visitors learn about compost with a teacher at the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Stones are set on land for tourism at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 10, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

Volunteers plant trees at the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Children learn to make handicrafts out of recycled materials at the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

A child learns about woodcraft at the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

A child learns about insects with a teacher at an insect museum of the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin, March 11, 2023. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

This aerial photo taken on March 10, 2023 shows the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry in Jizhou District, north China's Tianjin. Ahead of China's National Tree Planting Day, the "eden Chunshanli" life demonstration area in Jizhou District of Tianjin organized many public welfare classes, attracting visitors with ecological experiences.

This demonstration area is located at the former site of the wasted Donghouziyu quarry. After years of restoration and tree planting, remarkable achievements have been made. At present, this demonstration area has successfully promoted the development of tourism in surrounding areas with various activities related to ecological education, healthy life style and culture.

The industry of building materials used to be a pillar to Jizhou's economy, resulting in damaged environment and wasted pits. With the participation of social forces, environmental restoration has achieved great results, transforming wasted mines and pits into destination of tourism and relaxation. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)
BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-15 crew is scheduled to return to Earth in June, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said Sunday.

The space station combination is operating steadily, and the Shenzhou-15 astronauts are in good condition, said the CMSA.

China will launch three space missions for the space station application and development this year, including the cargo craft Tianzhou-6 and the crewed spaceships Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17.

Tianzhou-6 has been transported to the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern province of Hainan and is scheduled to be launched in May.

The crew members for the two manned missions have been selected and are now undergoing training.

Adhering to the principles of peaceful use, equality, mutual benefit, and common development, China is committed to making its space station an open platform for scientific and technological cooperation and exchange for the international community.

The first batch of experimental projects jointly selected by the CMSA and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs is scheduled to be carried out in the space station this year.

According to the CMSA, China has achieved breakthroughs in key technologies for its manned lunar exploration and completed argumentation on the manned lunar exploration plan. It will start the research and development work for the lunar landing project this year. 
BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National People's Congress, China's national legislature, held the fifth plenary meeting of its first session Sunday morning in Beijing.

Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the meeting. 
Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene where three Palestinians were killed, near the West Bank city of Nablus, March 12, 2023. Three Palestinians were killed on Sunday in the exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian medics and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Three Palestinians were killed on Sunday in the exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian medics and Israeli sources said.

Three Palestinian gunmen were shot dead after they opened fire at an Israeli army force near Nablus, according to separate statements by the Palestinian Health Ministry and the Israeli army.

A fourth Palestinian militant was arrested after he surrendered and handed himself over to the force, added the sources.

An Israeli military spokesperson said that no injuries were reported among the Israeli soldiers, adding that three M-16 rifles, a handgun and magazines used by the assailants were confiscated from the militants.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed organization affiliated with the ruling Fatah party, announced in a statement the men were members of the organization.

The Palestinian health authorities said that since January 1, the Israeli army had killed 84 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem during raids on Palestinian towns, villages, and refugee camps. Meanwhile, 14 Israelis were killed during the same period. 

Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene where three Palestinians were killed, near the West Bank city of Nablus, March 12, 2023. Three Palestinians were killed on Sunday in the exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian medics and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene where three Palestinians were killed, near the West Bank city of Nablus, March 12, 2023. Three Palestinians were killed on Sunday in the exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian medics and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
Director of China's General Administration of Sport Gao Zhidan gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Director of China's General Administration of Sport Gao Zhidan gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)

Director of China's General Administration of Sport Gao Zhidan gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)

Director of China's General Administration of Sport Gao Zhidan gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Head of the National Bureau of Statistics Kang Yi gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Head of the National Bureau of Statistics Kang Yi gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Head of the National Bureau of Statistics Kang Yi gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

Head of the National Bureau of Statistics Kang Yi gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)

Minister of Natural Resources Wang Guanghua gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

Minister of Natural Resources Wang Guanghua gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)

Minister of Natural Resources Wang Guanghua gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Minister of Natural Resources Wang Guanghua gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Minister of Natural Resources Wang Guanghua gives an interview after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)

A journalist with Xinhua News Agency asks a question during an interview with ministers after the fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)
Newly appointed Chinese Premier Li Qiang makes a public pledge of allegiance to the Constitution at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. Li was endorsed as Chinese premier at a plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, the country's national legislature. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The following is a brief introduction of Li Qiang:

Li Qiang, male, Han ethnicity, was born in July 1959 and is from Ruian, Zhejiang Province. He began his first job in July 1976 and joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1983. He received a graduate education at the Central Party School and holds an executive MBA degree.

Li is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the 20th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, premier of the State Council and secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the State Council. 
Firefighters spray water to put out a fire at a cotton warehouse in Sitakunda on the outskirts of Bangladesh's seaport city Chattogram, 242 kilometers southeast of capital Dhaka, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua)

DHAKA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A major fire broke out at a cotton warehouse in Sitakunda on the outskirts of Bangladesh's seaport city Chattogram, some 242 km southeast of capital Dhaka, on Saturday.

No casualties were reported from the fire which occurred at around 10:30 a.m. local time at the warehouse of a local yarn manufacturing company. A total of 11 firefighting units were involved to put out the blaze, according to Abdul Hamid Mia, deputy assistant director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defense.

He added that thick smoke billowing out from the warehouse had affected residents in the locality.

Cotton and other materials damaged in the fire is yet to be ascertained. The cause of the fire was under investigation. 

A firefighter sprays water to put out a fire at a cotton warehouse in Sitakunda on the outskirts of Bangladesh's seaport city Chattogram, 242 kilometers southeast of capital Dhaka, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua)

A firefighter sprays water to put out a fire at a cotton warehouse in Sitakunda on the outskirts of Bangladesh's seaport city Chattogram, 242 kilometers southeast of capital Dhaka, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua)

A firefighter sprays water to put out a fire at a cotton warehouse in Sitakunda on the outskirts of Bangladesh's seaport city Chattogram, 242 kilometers southeast of capital Dhaka, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua)
The second convoy of special purpose vehicles of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, which delivered humanitarian aid to Turkiye on behalf of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as part of measures to eliminate the consequences of a strong earthquake that occurred in the brotherly country, is returning to Baku, Azernews reports.

A convoy of 7 cars left Kahramanmaras this morning.
This aerial photo taken on Feb. 28, 2023 shows an exterior view of the Xumishan Grottoes, initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

YINCHUAN, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Yaodong, a part-time tourist guide, has told hundreds of tourists about the history and folklore of Xiaoguan Pass in Liupanshan Mountain, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

"Although the exact location of Xiaoguan Pass has always been disputed by historians, we are certain that it served as a military fortress and an important stop on the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in the Guyuan region of southern Ningxia," said Cheng.

The Silk Road had been a vital corridor connecting the East and West since the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) about 2,000 years ago. Its name was derived from the lucrative trade in Chinese silk carried along the route. It was significant for trade and culture and brought civilization and prosperity to cities and towns along its network.

Cheng, 50, is a staff member of Ningxia Liupanshan Tourism Group Co., Ltd. in Guyuan, one of the cities that witnessed the history of the Silk Road. He also likes to present tourists with ancient poetical works on the subject of Xiaoguan Pass.

These poems told stories of the homesickness of the soldiers posted there, the eagerness of the merchants to return home and the beauty of the frontier scenery.

Liupanshan Tourism Group is a government-run tourism company promoting local life in southern Ningxia to tourists by tapping the Silk Road culture. It arranges tours for over 1 million visitors each year.

In 2005, a park modeled after the ancient Xiaoguan Pass was built 36 kilometers south of Guyuan City, where tens of thousands of visitors have left their footprints ever since.

"Tourism helps people better understand Guyuan's role in the history of the Silk Road and the rich culture it has developed over some 2,000 years of interaction with ethnic groups and foreign merchants," said Cheng.

About 55 km north of Guyuan City lies another Silk Road tourist attraction, the Xumishan Grottoes. It draws hundreds of visitors weekly, although still under restoration, with its 20-meter-high Buddha statue shielded by scaffolding.

Nearly three years ago, cultural relics experts across China began a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years. The restoration project is still in progress.

The Xumishan Grottoes, initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), make up 162 caves and more than 1,000 Buddha statues. The area was listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982.

Located on the northern road of the eastern section of the ancient Silk Road, the Xumishan Grottoes is one of China's top ten grottoes sites. It was listed by the World Monuments Fund as one of the 100 most endangered architectural and cultural sites in the world in 2007.

"The grottoes, known by many as 'the Pearls of the Silk Road,' contain a whole set of cultural heritage, including Buddhist sculptures, murals, temple buildings, ancient trees, Danxia landform, and strange stones," said Wang Xi, head of the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes.

The Xumishan museum at the foot of the mountain focuses on the Silk Road and Buddhist artwork, demonstrating the history of the Silk Road in China, the historical position of Guyuan on the Silk Road, and the history of Buddhism's entry to China via the Silk Road.

"By popularizing the ancient Silk Road culture, we have promoted local tourism and boosted the economy," Wang said. 

This photo taken on Feb. 28, 2023 shows restored Buddha statues in the Xumishan Grottoes, initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

This photo taken on Feb. 28, 2023 shows a restored mural in the Xumishan Grottoes, initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony was held in Beijing on Sunday afternoon to remember Sun Yat-sen, the late statesman who led a revolution that ended imperial rule in China.

The ceremony in Zhongshan Park, named after Sun, was held to commemorate the 98th anniversary of the passing away of the renowned statesmen. It was attended by public figures from various sectors of society in the capital city.

Starting from 1:00 p.m., attendees stood at attention, observed a respectful silence, and bowed three times in front of Sun's statue.

Floral baskets from the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK) Central Committee, the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Beijing municipal government, and the Beijing municipal committee of the RCCK were presented to the statue by representatives.

Sun was born in 1866 and died in 1925. He is known to the Chinese as a great revolutionary and statesman for his leading role during the 1911 Revolution, which ended more than 2,000 years of feudal rule in China. 
This aerial photo provided by the Swedish Coast Guard on Sept. 28, 2022 shows a gas leak on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. (The Swedish Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua)

"Western 'intelligence' and the New York Times (are) in deeper waters than usual, offering us a devious spin and fake story," said Oberg, adding that he did not "hesitate to call (the claimed theory) fake and invention and simply so dumb, improbable and unlikely."

STOCKHOLM, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A Swedish expert rebutted the claim made by U.S. and German media that a non-state actor was responsible for last September's Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions.

On Tuesday, the New York Times has cited new intelligence suggesting that a pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines. However, the paper failed to identify a source for the claim that a rented yacht was used to perpetrate the act.

Aerial photo provided by the Swedish Coast Guard on Sept. 28, 2022 shows the fourth leak on Nord Stream 2 pipeline in Sweden's exclusive economic zone. (The Swedish Coast Guard/Handout via Xinhua)

"How stupid do they think we are? A small pro-Ukrainian group in a yacht did what?" questioned Jan Oberg, director of the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research, in a recent opinion article on his personal portal.

"Western 'intelligence' and the New York Times (are) in deeper waters than usual, offering us a devious spin and fake story," said Oberg, adding that he did not "hesitate to call (the claimed theory) fake and invention and simply so dumb, improbable and unlikely."

He said that the "orchestrated mainstream Western media" having kept silent on Seymour Hersh's earlier analysis but now reporting widely on the obvious "fake" theory revealed "their journalistic and moral decay."

In an article published in February on the U.S. portal Substack, an investigative reporter and Pulitzer Prize winner Seymour Hersh revealed that the United States partnered with Norway in a top-secret operation in June 2022 to plant remotely triggered explosives that took out three of the four Nord Stream pipelines three months later.

Photo taken in Arlington of Virginia, the United States, shows a screen displaying U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not pictured) attending a press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C. Feb. 7, 2022. Joe Biden told the press conference that if Russian tanks and troops cross the border and enter Ukraine, "there will be no longer Nord Stream 2," referring to the now-finished pipeline delivering natural gas from Russia to Germany through Ukraine. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Compared with Hersh's detailed and convincing revelation, Oberg dismissed the latest theory as "an invented story that comes with much less documentation, analysis and credibility than Hersh's."

Calling Hersh "truly independent, highly qualified, and well-connected," Oberg strongly insisted that the sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines "was done by the U.S. with some help from Norway and perhaps others."

Referring to comments by U.S. President Joe Biden earlier "that the U.S. would blow it up," Oberg said an "interest analysis" would also lead to an obvious conclusion of U.S. criminality.

"Who could have an interest in destroying this hugely important piece of energy infrastructure which also connected Europe to Russia? And who would have the technical and other capacities to do it?" Oberg asked.

Picture taken on Oct. 8, 2012 shows Nord Stream pipeline equipments before the opening ceremony of the North Stream second gas link in Portovaya bay, some 60 kilometers from the town of Vyborg in northwestern Russia. (Xinhua)

The Nord Stream pipelines, which transported natural gas from Russia to European markets via Germany, were severely damaged last September after blasts in the Baltic Sea. One pipeline, Nord Stream 1, was in operation at the time of the explosion and Nord Stream 2, though had not been operational, was filled with gas. 
Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the ninth meeting of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The presidium of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) decided to put several important documents to the vote at a plenary meeting Monday.

The decision was made at the presidium's ninth meeting Sunday afternoon, presided over by Zhao Leji, the presidium's executive chairman.

The documents included draft resolutions on the government work report, on the implementation of the national economic and social development plan in 2022 and the plan for 2023, and on the implementation of the central and local budgets in 2022 and the budgets for 2023.

Draft resolutions on the work reports of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate will also be put to the vote.

Before the presidium meeting, executive chairpersons held their seventh meeting, also chaired by Zhao.

The first session of the 14th NPC will conclude Monday. 

Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the ninth meeting of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the seventh meeting of the executive chairpersons of the presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)
TEHRAN, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian foreign minister said on Sunday Tehran and Washington have reached an agreement on the exchange of prisoners over the past few days, while Washington rejected the comment, according to media reports.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a live televised interview, saying if everything goes on well on the side of the Americans, the prisoner swap will be done in the coming days, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA.

He added Iran views the case as an entirely humanitarian issue, noting that the two sides indirectly signed a deal in March 2022 to this end, the ground for the implementation of which has become prepared.

"We maintain that everything (to this end) is at present ready. The American side is ensuring its final technical coordination and arrangements in this regard," he said.

Speaking to The Associated Press later in the day, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price, however, called the Iranian foreign minister's comments "another especially cruel lie that only adds to the suffering of their families." 
A woman operates a cart carrying bales of tobacco at the Tobacco Auction Floors in Harare, Zimbabwe, March 9, 2023.(Photo by Tafara Mugwara/Xinhua)

by Tafara Mugwara

HARARE, March 12 (Xinhua) -- After a long journey from a farming region, Shylet Muzveba was waiting impatiently in a truck here to offload her bales at the Tobacco Auction Floors.

She then breathed a great sigh of relief after finally arriving at the unloading bay. She said she will soon reap the harvest after months of toiling in the fields.

Muzveba is one of thousands of small-scale farmers who have chosen to grow the high-reward golden leaf. But for now, her biggest worry is the selling price, as she is not under contract farming, Muzveba told Xinhua.

"This year we harvested a top-quality crop. We received enough rainfall, so we are expecting good pricing so that we will be able to buy inputs for the coming season," Muzveba said.

Tobacco is Zimbabwe's largest agricultural export earner and the second-largest commodity export earner after gold.

The first kilogram this year was sold for 4.35 U.S. dollars compared to 4.20 dollars last year.

Muzveba said she prizes the lucrative crop after having farmed it for five years.

"I used to grow cotton and maize but stopped so that I can cultivate tobacco, which brings more returns," she said.

"I realized that with tobacco farming I get my money at once, and I can plan for my life, build my house, take care of my family and send my children to school with the proceeds from tobacco," she told Xinhua.

Zimbabwe is projected to produce 230 million kg of tobacco this year, up from 212 million kg last year following good rains and increased hectarage.

The country aims to increase the level of value addition from the current 2 percent to 30 percent by 2025, said Zimbabwe's Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on March 8 when the 2023 tobacco marketing season began.

Another farmer, Sandra Takavata, also jumped ship after realizing how rewarding the farming of tobacco was.

"We used to cultivate corn and beans, but due to erratic rainfall patterns, we realized that those who grew tobacco were getting more returns," she told Xinhua, adding that she has been growing the crop since 2016.

"Farming tobacco is beneficial -- as a woman, considering the economic environment, if I grow tobacco I can educate my children, I can help my husband put food on the table, pay school fees and buy other necessities," Takavata said.

Plaxedes Murumbe, another farmer, also praised tobacco as a game changer for her.

"During the beginning, I was struggling, I had nothing, but with tobacco I managed to buy residential land in the city," Murumbe said.

"I bought a grinding mill and irrigation equipment, all because of tobacco farming," she said. 
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (center L) welcomes Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni (center R) in Algiers, Algeria, on March 12, 2023. (Algerian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

ALGIERS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and Uganda signed a number of agreements on Sunday to boost their economic cooperation, during a four-day visit by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to Algiers.

The two countries signed two memoranda of understanding in the field of energy, as well as agreements in the sectors of agriculture, tourism, and trade, Algeria's state-owned news agency APS reported.

The signing ceremony was held at the presidency in Algeria's capital Algiers, and co-chaired by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Museveni.

Earlier in the day, the two presidents met to discuss "a number of issues of common interest, in addition to ways of coordinating positions aiming at supporting just causes in African and international arenas," the APS reported.

Tebboune announced during the meeting that 150 Algerian businessmen will travel to Uganda's capital Kampala to discuss potential partnerships with Ugandan companies, in an effort to strengthen bilateral relations.

Museveni arrived in Algeria on Saturday. 

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) meets with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni (L) in Algiers, Algeria, on March 12, 2023. (Algerian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)
NEW DELHI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The government of the northeastern Indian state of Assam has imposed restrictions on the entry of poultry birds and pigs from other states in a bid to prevent the spread of bird flu and African swine fever (ASF), officials said.

The decision was announced by Assam's minister of agriculture, animal husbandry and veterinary Atul Bora at a meeting on Saturday evening.

Bora has urged animal husbandry and veterinary department officials and pig and poultry farm associations to take measures to prevent the price rise of pork and chicken in the state in the wake of the ban.

This decision has been taken on a temporary basis following the outbreak of avian influenza in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. 
ST. PETERSBURG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Foreign tourists may have a chance to apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia and receive a payment card in 2023, Tatyana Sharshavitskaya, head of the Russian Department of Tourism Development of the Ministry of Economic Development, said on Saturday.

She made the notice at the Fifth Congress of Travel Agencies organized by the Russian Union of Travel Industry. To solve payment problems associated with the departure of Visa and MasterCard from the Russian market, a special payment tool named the "Tourist Card" will be introduced, Russian news agency Interfax quoted her as saying.

In July 2020, a law was adopted allowing citizens of more than 50 countries, including EU states, to apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia. According to the document, the electronic visa is valid for 60 days and allows foreigners to enter for tourism and business purposes. In January 2021, the Russian government delayed the implementation of e-visas due to COVID-19.

According to Interfax, 5 million foreign tourists visited Russia in 2019. The number later dropped sharply owing to the pandemic. In 2022, slightly more than 200,000 foreign tourists visited the country. 
STOCKHOLM, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A Swedish expert rebutted the claim made by U.S. and German media that a non-state actor was responsible for last September's Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions.

On Tuesday, the New York Times has cited new intelligence suggesting that a pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines. However, the paper failed to identify a source for the claim that a rented yacht was used to perpetrate the act.

"How stupid do they think we are? A small pro-Ukrainian group in a yacht did what?" questioned Jan Oberg, director of the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research, in a recent opinion article on his personal portal.

"Western 'intelligence' and the New York Times (are) in deeper waters than usual, offering us a devious spin and fake story," said Oberg, adding that he did not "hesitate to call (the claimed theory) fake and invention and simply so dumb, improbable and unlikely."

He said that the "orchestrated mainstream Western media" having kept silent on Seymour Hersh's earlier analysis but now reporting widely on the obvious "fake" theory revealed "their journalistic and moral decay."

In an article published in February on the U.S. portal Substack, an investigative reporter and Pulitzer Prize winner Seymour Hersh revealed that the United States partnered with Norway in a top-secret operation in June 2022 to plant remotely triggered explosives that took out three of the four Nord Stream pipelines three months later.

Compared with Hersh's detailed and convincing revelation, Oberg dismissed the latest theory as "an invented story that comes with much less documentation, analysis and credibility than Hersh's."

Calling Hersh "truly independent, highly qualified, and well-connected," Oberg strongly insisted that the sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines "was done by the U.S. with some help from Norway and perhaps others."

Referring to comments by U.S. President Joe Biden earlier "that the U.S. would blow it up," Oberg said an "interest analysis" would also lead to an obvious conclusion of U.S. criminality.

"Who could have an interest in destroying this hugely important piece of energy infrastructure which also connected Europe to Russia? And who would have the technical and other capacities to do it?" Oberg asked.

The Nord Stream pipelines, which transported natural gas from Russia to European markets via Germany, were severely damaged last September after blasts in the Baltic Sea. One pipeline, Nord Stream 1, was in operation at the time of the explosion and Nord Stream 2, though had not been operational, was filled with gas. 




NADI, Fiji, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Samoa and Fiji warmly welcomed the China-aided agricultural technical assistance projects as they have helped the South Pacific island nations to further boost their economic and social development in recent years.

Located at the southward extension of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Pacific island nations (PICs) are important economic and trade partners of China. Currently, China has inked Memorandums of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation with all 10 PICs with diplomatic relations with China.

China has launched multiple agricultural technical assistance projects in these countries, including Samoa and Fiji. It has helped PICs improve agricultural production capacity and food security by sending agricultural experts, building demonstration farms, training model farmers, promoting improved crop varieties and providing technical support.

According to Liu Zhiwen, leader of the China-Samoa Agricultural Technical Aid Project, agriculture is a key economic pillar in Samoa with over 80 percent of families engaged in different forms of agricultural production.

Initiated in 2010, the project, which was divided into five phases with the latest being launched in March 2022, aimed to help Samoan farmers enhance their sustainable livelihoods. China has sent experts from Hunan province to Samoa to set up demonstration farms so that Samoans could learn how to increase productivity and promote sustainable agriculture.

On the sidelines of this year's Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forest, which was just concluded in Fiji's third largest city of Nadi on Friday night, Liu told Xinhua that the project has so far proven to be a great success because through the project, modern agricultural technology facilities on greenhouse cultivation, high-yield fruit cultivation, organic fertilizer and soil improvement were set up in Samoa.

Besides the demonstration farm near Samoa's capital city of Apia, Chinese experts have also established nine agricultural stations, cultivated over 100 model farms and provided agricultural training to over 10,000 farmers, he said.

For his part, Samoa's Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Fosi told Xinhua that the island nation is so pleased to have the support from the Chinese government to develop its agricultural sector.

The minister voiced his satisfaction over the project which has led to the great improvement of Samoa's agricultural production.

While believing that Samoa will benefit from the BRI, he thanked China for being Samoa's brother and hoped to expand areas of cooperation which can help Samoa's economic and social development.

Meanwhile, China has set up a Juncao technical demonstration center in Nadi, Fiji, and provided Juncao technical assistance to Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

According to Lin Zhansen, the former leader of the Chinese experts team in Fiji and now the leader of the Juncao technology cooperation's regional center set up in Fiji in 2014, the China-Fiji Juncao technology cooperation project has been warmly welcomed by the island nation as it not only helps develop a low-cost mushroom cultivation industry, but also produces cattle feed and minimizes soil erosion.

In Fiji, Juncao has become a household name and is known as "the happy grass from China" after two phases of the project have witnessed a sound success. Now the third phase of the project is being implemented as scheduled.

"We have so far trained more than 1,700 Fijians, including female farmers and disabled persons, with 39 training workshops conducted throughout the country. In addition, we have also helped establish two model villages of mushroom cultivation in Fiji, which now has an accumulatively number of 600 mushroom farmers across the country," Lin told Xinhua.

He believed that the Juncao project will benefit not only Fiji, but also the Pacific region as a whole.

Tagiyaco Vakaloloma, 29, is a senior technical assistant for mushroom research and development from Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture. She has worked together with the Chinese experts over the past five years and looks forward to cooperating closely with them in the third phase of the project in the coming three years.

"I know Juncao is a very interesting and warmly welcomed project in Fiji for the sake of food sources, food security, income and also for the livestock farms in Fiji. We are looking forward to working with them in the next three years to help all the farmers in Fiji, to make them commercial and produce mushroom as a source of food and also the source of income for them," she told Xinhua.

Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Zhou Jian also inspected the project recently, saying that the project has become a symbol of the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and PICs including Fiji.

He hoped that the Chinese experts can take advantage of the platform to make a greater contribution to the region's poverty alleviation, sustainable development and efforts to fight against climate change.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to normalize relations between the two countries and plan to open embassies within two months, the Tasnim news agency reported on Friday.

According to the report, Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, and his Saudi counterpart held talks in Beijing. The talks concluded with a trilateral statement, according to which Tehran and Riyadh have agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen their respective embassies within two months.

"Following the talks, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have decided to restore diplomatic relations, open embassies and representative bodies within two months," the statement said, according to Tasnim.

The statement said that the agreement on the normalization of relations was finalized at the initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping and with the mediation of Oman and Iraq, which in April 2021 became a venue for negotiations between Tehran and Riyadh.

"The two countries are committed to the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and also strive to implement the security treaty signed on April 17, 2001, and the agreement on cooperation in trade, economy, culture, science and technology, which was signed on May 27, 1998," the statement said.
Belarusian border guards say they are intimidated by effigy hung up their Ukrainian colleagues 12 March, 07:10 PM Belarusian border guards complain that they are frightened by a scarecrow (Photo:Screenshot from the SCSU video / Telegram)

Belarusian border guards have complained on state television that they are being intimidated by their Ukrainian colleagues, who allegedly hung an effigy of a Russian serviceman on the border with Belarus.

Read also: Poland fortifies its border with Belarus

A mock-up of a hanged serviceman in Russian uniform, whom the Ukrainian border guards named Valera, was installed. They specified that this was a serviceman killed near Kyiv, Sergei Pavlov, an official representative of the Mozyr border detachment, said on Belarusian national television on March 12.

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Pavlov said that this was allegedly done for the purpose of intimidating and putting psychological pressure on the Belarusian border guards.

Ukrainian border guards, in turn mocked the Belarusian military for being frightened by the mannequin.

Were not trying to scare anyone, were just dropping a hint... the State Border Service of Ukraine said in answer to the complaints from the Belarusian border guards.

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First batch of Leopard 1 tanks to come to Ukraine in spring, Danish MoD says 12 March, 08:23 PM Leopard 1 (Photo:Ministerio da Defesa/Wikipedia)

The first batch of Leopard 1 tanks from Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands will arrive in Ukraine throughout this spring, Danish Acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on March 11.

Poulsen made the announcement after visiting the Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) company, which is preparing Leopard 1 tanks for transfer to Ukraine, the Danish Ministry of Defense wrote on its site.

Poulsen said he was there to check on the progress.

"I am proud that Denmark, in cooperation with other countries, supports Ukraines fight for freedom with a large and important donation, and we still hope to be able to deliver the first tanks to Ukraine in the spring," he said.

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The Danish MoD wrote that its collaboration with Germany and the Netherlands aims to donate at least 100 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine.

"Denmark started the project to refurbish a large number of Leopard 1A5 tanks together with the Netherlands and Germany in early February," the message reads.

"The first sub-goal of the project is to be able to deliver tanks to two battalions  corresponding to about 80 tanks  as the first tanks should be ready in the spring and will be used to train Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine will receive training on the use of the tanks, as well as spare parts and ammunition.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin named the countries working on the transfer of Leopard tanks to Kyiv at the Ramstein meeting on Feb. 14. Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Canada, Portugal, Spain, and Norway are on that list. Finland has also confirmed its participation in the tank coalition.

However, governments from several countries have changed their initial decision to transfer battle tanks and decided against supplying them to Ukraine.

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Mortality rate of Russian soldiers from east 30 times higher than in Moscow, St Petersburg 12 March, 12:02 PM Liquidated Russian military (Photo:General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine)

While Russia overall is suffering huge losses of soldiers, the mortality rate differs significantly across the regions, with a 30 times higher mortality rate as a percentage of the population in some eastern regions compared to Moscow.

Thats according to the latest the U.K. Defense Intelligence report, tweeted on March 12.

Read also: UK intelligence estimates Russian losses near Vuhledar

Ethnic minorities often bear the brunt of the Russian militarys meat-grinder fighting tactics, according to the report. In Astrakhan, for example, about 75% of the casualties come from the citys Kazakh and Tatar minorities.

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Meanwhile, the populations of Russias richest cities  Moscow and St. Petersburg  remain relatively untouched by the carnage in Ukraine. This is especially true for the Kremlin elite.

UK intelligence analysed the families of Russian top officials visible in the first two rows of the audience during the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's speech on state of the nation. None of their children are known to serve in the army.

As the Russian Ministry of Defense tries to address the issue of a constant shortage of combat personnel, the isolation of the well-off and more influential part of Russian society from military problems is likely to remain a major consideration, UK intelligence concluded.

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Pope names conditions for visiting Kyiv, but appears to rule trip out 12 March, 01:02 PM Pope Francis (Photo:REUTERS/Yara Nardi)

Pope Francis has said he is ready to visit Kyiv, but only if he can go to Moscow during the same trip.

"I want to go to Kyiv, the Catholic leader said in an interview with the Argentinian outlet La Nacion on March 11.

But on the condition (that I also go) to Moscow. Ill go to both places or to neither."

He then said "it is impossible (for him) to go to Moscow" at this time.

Pope Francis said he believes that a meeting between Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy isn't likely to take place at the Vatican, but it might be possible in another place.

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Read also: Pope implicitly condemns Russian dictator for invasion of Ukraine

He also said that he had spoken twice with Zelenskyy by phone and the latter asked him to grant an audience to his wife Olena Zelenska. They scheduled the visit, but it was postponed because of the latest Russian mass missile attack on Ukraine.

The Pope said that he doesn't rule out that, due to its nature, the Russian aggression against Ukraine could be considered genocide in future.

The Popes comments have raised controversy in the past: in particular, he has supported a common Russian propaganda trope that the NATO defensive alliance provoked Russias aggressive invasion of Ukraine.

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Pro-Russian protesters detained in Prague after trying to take down Ukrainian flag 12 March, 12:18 PM Promotion in Prague (Photo:REUTERS/Eva Korinkova)

Several dozens of pro-Russian demonstrators tried to break into the National Museum in Prague, Czechia, in an attempt to take down the Ukrainian flag hanging on its facade, the Czech news site Novinky wrote on March 11.

Czech police prevented the protesters from entering the museum and detained 18 persons, it said.

Read also: First group of Ukrainian soldiers complete training in Czech Republic

The incident happened amid the "Czechia against poverty" rally organised by the Czech non-parliamentary PRO party. About 10,000 people came out to the gathering on the central Wenceslas Square demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

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According to a Novinky journalist, the police detained a man wearing a Wagner patch and a Z patch.

After the rally ended, some protesters went to the building of the National Museum and tried to break into it. They attempted to tear down the Ukrainian flag that is hanging there as a sign of Czech solidarity with Ukraine.

The police drove the protesters back, while two police officers were injured and taken to hospital.

The protests ended at about 7.00 p.m.

The PRO party promised to organise a new rally on April 16.

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Putin has no control over Russian information, cannot reproduce Stalinist approach 12 March, 03:37 PM Russian dictator Vladimir Putin (Photo:Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS)

There is infighting in the Kremlin inner circle, and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has ceded control over Russias information space and cannot act decisively to restore it, U.S. think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in its summary on March 11.

The ISW report mentioned a forum called Practical and technological aspects of informational and cognitive warfare in modern realities, which was held on March 11 in Moscow, by Kremlin journalists, scientists and supporters of the so-called Novorossiya  an historical area of the Russian Empire that is now part of southern Ukraine.

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Read also: Top five Russian propaganda WWII myths debunked

During a panel discussion, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Kremlin cannot recreate the Stalinist approach to creating a modern equivalent of the Soviet Information Bureau for centralized control of Russias internal information space  due to the struggle between unspecified Kremlin elites.

The statement supports several (ISW) assessments: that there is Kremlin infighting between key members of Putins inner circle; that Putin has largely ceded the Russian information space over time to a variety of quasi-independent actors; and that Putin is apparently unable to take decisive action to regain control over the Russian information space, the experts said.

Meanwhile, the UK tabloid the Daily Express, citing an unnamed expert, has reported that the Kremlin elites now understand that Russia cannot win the war against Ukraine and that dictator Vladimir Putin has humiliated the army.

In this state of chaos, the leader of Wagners mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is one person who is trying to pave their way to power, the publication said.

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Have you checked out the Annual Community Quilt Show happening at the Cheboygan Area Public Library? Come see the amazing quilted items created by members of your own community.

The quilt show is free to attend and viewable during regular library hours which are Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Quilt Show will conclude at the end of March. Be sure to visit while you can. Curious about learning a new skill like quilting or maybe you want to discover a new style of quilting? The Cheboygan Library has many books about quilting for varying skill levels and types of quilting. Check out books or magazines to learn more about a craft or skill that interests you.

Ready to meet some slithering friends? Now is your chance! The Straits Area Audubon Society and the Cheboygan Area Public Library are bringing the Snakes Alive! program to the Cheboygan Library on March 13 at 6 p.m. During this program, several snakes will be used to educate the public on their species and there may be a chance for audience members to touch or hold them.

Snakes Alive! is an educational program that Jim and Carol McGrath share through their organization Nature Discovery, located in Williamston, Michigan, which resides east of Lansing. The McGraths have been educating both adults and youths about natural science through education programs at libraries and schools for more than twenty years.

With over 40 species of Michigan snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs and salamanders, Nature Discovery is home to the largest collection of live Michigan Reptiles and Amphibians in the state. Nature Discovery is dedicated to enhancing awareness and sensitivity toward Michigan's diverse living resources through natural science education. To learn more, visit naturediscovery.net.

March is Reading month. March was designated reading month to celebrate Dr. Seuss. Born March 2, 1904, Dr. Seuss was an author and illustrator of many popular childrens books. Celebrate this month by visiting the Cheboygan Library. Ask a student how they are celebrating March is Reading Month at school. Help young readers reach reading goals. Discover the many new books in our childrens section. Check out the new VOX books. VOX books are picture books with an audio reader attached for read-along reading. Children can simply push a button to listen and read (no computer or tablet is required).

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Reading aloud to children even after they have learned to read on their own is essential for building better readers. Hearing a story read aloud benefits children. They learn inflection, expression and build fluency. Consider reading aloud, taking turns reading a picture book or share reading pages in a chapter book. Time spent together reading is an investment. You can find magic wherever you look, sit back and relax all you need is a book.  Dr. Seuss

Take and Read! Free to participate and open to 8th-12-graders. Teens receive a free book each month. The Books and Bites reading club meets the last Thursday of the month at the Cheboygan Library from 3:30-5 p.m. for book chat and a bite to eat. Bring a friend! Sign-up is required, stop by, call or sign up on the Bookclubs app.

Reading is so important to grow minds young and old. Reading promotes mental stimulation, can reduce stress, enhances social skills, expands vocabulary, helps to improve memory, and promotes better sleep. Reading aloud is not just for children. Consider joining or forming a book club. Readers meet to discuss books, share favorite passages, offer interpretations or make predictions. Book clubs bring people together. There are also virtual book clubs and celebrity book club recommendations. However you choose to celebrate reading month, the Cheboygan Public Library has many resources to offer, visit us in person or online at cheboyganlibrary.org.

 Paula Jewell is program director of the Cheboygan Area Public Library.

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Library Lines: Slither in to check out snakes
Canadian authorities made the decision to ban import of aluminum and steel in Russia, according to regulations posted on the governments website on Friday.

According to amendments, "it is prohibited for any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada to import, purchase or acquire" iron, steel, iron or steel tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, aluminum and its articles from Russia.

Regulations come into force from the day of their registration.
Hemant Taneja, the CEO and managing director of General Catalyst, which organized a statement in support of Silicon Valley Bank. General Catalyst

More than 110 venture capital firms have signed a statement in support of Silicon Valley Bank.

SVB was shut down by regulators on Friday after its losses on bond sales sparked a bank run.

Some VCs at signatory firms have criticized investors who advised founders to pull funds from SVB.

Venture capital firms are expressing their support for the fallen Silicon Valley Bank, which US regulators shut down on Friday.

"Silicon Valley Bank has been a trusted and long-time partner to the venture capital industry and our founders," a joint statement from more than 110 firms reads.

"In the event that SVB were to be purchased and appropriately capitalized, we would be strongly supportive and encourage our portfolio companies to resume their banking relationship with them," it continues.

US regulators shut down SVB after a significant chunk of the bank's customer base  including startups and venture capital firms  sought to withdraw funds in the wake of the bank's plunging stock price, following its announcement that it had sold $21 billion in bond investments at a loss.



SVB served nearly half of all US venture-backed companies, according to its website, and its failure has had a resounding impact in the startup world. Some startups that held SVB accounts are now at risk of missing payroll for their employees.

Hemant Taneja, the CEO of the VC firm General Catalyst, which led the effort to organize support for SVB, tweeted the statement on Friday evening. Taneja said in his tweet that several VCs had met to discuss the effects of SVB's failure on their industry. Alongside General Catalyst, 12 other firms signed the initial statement, including Accel, Greylock, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Upfront Ventures.

"It is important to collaborate around a consistent approach that we hope can maintain business continuity for our companies and keep an important institution for the industry viable," Taneja said in a statement to Insider. "Everyone understands that we have a role to play in trying to calm the situation. Panic wasn't the way to handle it. It's important to pause and think about all stakeholders before making decisions - this is core to our responsible innovation mindset."

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The number of signatories to the joint statement in support of SVB has grown to more than 110 firms, including Cowboy Ventures, Eniac Ventures, Floodgate, Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Primary, and SoftBank.

"Good to show strong cross firm support for the bank that has supported us for decades," Nihal Mehta, the cofounder of Eniac Ventures, which signed the statement, told Insider.



The VC industry's show of support for SVB is in marked contrast to the panic among investors and startups as SVB's troubles became apparent. Some VC firms, including Founders Fund, Y Combinator, and Union Square Ventures, advised their portfolio companies to pull the bulk of their funds out of the bank.

Those reactions in turn drew rebukes from other VCs, especially following SVB's implosion. Mark Suster, a partner at Upfront Ventures, and Brad Svrluga, the cofounder of Primary, whose firms signed the joint statement of support, publicly admonished their fellow investors.

Read the original article on Business Insider
BEIJING, March 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SANY Group, the world's leading manufacturer of heavy machinery, has been providing much-needed aid to assist rescue work after the country was hit by the Turkey-Syria earthquakes on February 6th. The SANY rescue team has helped save 28 survivors and continues its holistic aid efforts across regions hit by the quake.

According to a statement from the group, SANY sent 12 search and rescue specialists to the worst-hit region on February 7th to support the earthquake response. With some 30 units of SANY machines including excavators and cranes, the rescue team managed to pull out four survivors, including one child, in a 150-hour timespan after the disaster.

After the rapid first response, SANY had been assisting the Chinese national rescue team and provided more than 100 units of its best machinery, including 40 excavators, 10 cranes, and over 10 service vehicles. With help from Putzmeister, the group's German subsidiary, SANY managed to deploy promptly one 60-ton rough terrain crane, two 23.5-ton excavators, one 6.5-ton excavators.

In addition to rescue machinery, the group has also provided rescue supplies such as search equipment, warm clothing, and medicine. A total of 200 sets of supplies were sent to the regions hit by the earthquake on February 7th. Together with SANY Foundation, the group sent two experts in structural collapse rescue to Turkey from China. The two experts, Song Ximei, and Jia Yingnan, brought with them life support, telecommunication assistance, and lighting equipment of over 50kg.

The SANY machinery were also used in infrastructure restoration. The rescue team helped repair gas pipelines and high-voltage power lines, as well as clean up fallen street lamps and house relics. Beyond saving lives, rescue efforts by SANY continues in the communities. A commitment made by the group, the SANY rescue team will help the local communities affected by the earthquake in Turkey build new homes.

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Cision

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SOURCE SANY Group
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2023 / Power Nickel Inc. (the "Company" or "Power Nickel") (TSX-V:PNPN)(OTCBB:PNPNF)(Frankfurt:IVVI) is pleased to announce a proposed private placement (the "Offering") of up to 10,000,000 flow-through units (each, an "FT Unit") of the Company, at a price of $0.50 per FT Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to CAD $5,000,000.

Each FT Unit will be composed of one common share of the Company that qualifies as a "flow-through share" (each, a "FT Share"), for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "ITA"), and one-half of one transferable non-flow-through common share purchase warrant (each whole, being a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable into one non-flow-through common share (each, a "Warrant Share") at exercise price of $0.50 per Warrant Share for a period of five years from the date of issuance. All securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month and one-day statutory hold period.

The Warrants will be subject to an acceleration clause which entitles the Company to provide notice (the "Acceleration Notice") to holders that the Warrants will expire 30 days from the date the Company provides the Acceleration Notice. The Company can only provide the Acceleration Notice if the closing price of the Company's Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange is equal to or greater than $1.00 for 10 consecutive trading days. The Acceleration Notice can be provided at any time after the statutory hold period and before the expiry date of the Warrants.

The Company intends to use the gross proceeds from sale of the FT Shares for exploration activities on the Company's NISK property located in Quebec and to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses, within the meaning of the ITA, that will qualify for the federal 30% Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit.

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The Private Placement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval. The Company may pay finder's fees as permitted by applicable securities laws and the rules of the TSXV.

About Power Nickel Inc.

Power Nickel is a Canadian junior exploration company focusing on high-potential copper, gold, and battery metal prospects in Canada and Chile.

On February 1, 2021, Power Nickel (then called Chilean Metals) completed the acquisition of its option to acquire up to 80% of the Nisk project from Critical Elements Lithium Corp. (CRE:TSXV)

The NISK property comprises a large land position (20 kilometers of strike length) with numerous high-grade intercepts. Power Nickel is focused on expanding its current high-grade nickel-copper PGE mineralization Ni 43- 101 resource with a series of drill programs designed to test the initial Nisk discovery zone and to explore the land package for adjacent potential Nickel deposits.

Highlights

Recent assay results from the current drill program at the Nisk deposit continue to return high-grade Ni-Cu- Co sulfide and PGE mineralization.

Significant results from this batch of assays include:

40.3m @ 0.88% Ni, 0.56% Cu, 0.06% Co, 1.64 ppm Pd and 0.15 ppm Pt (PN-22-009)

Including:

25.86m @ 1.17% Ni, 0.80% Cu, 0.08% Co, 1.46 ppm Pd and 0.23 ppm Pt

Power Nickel announced on June 8th, 2021 that an agreement has been made to complete the 100% acquisition of its Golden Ivan project in the heart of the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle has reported mineral resources (past production and current resources) in a total of 130 million ounces of gold, 800 million ounces of silver, and 40 billion pounds of copper.(Resource World) This property hosts two known mineral showings (Gold ore and Magee), and a portion of the past producing Silverado mine, which was reportedly exploited between 1921 and 1939. These mineral showings are described to be Polymetallic veins that contain quantities of silver, lead, zinc, plus/minus gold, and plus/minus copper.

Power Nickel is also 100 percent owner of five properties comprising over 50,000 acres strategically located in the prolific iron-oxide-copper-gold belt of northern Chile. It also owns a 3-per-cent NSR royalty interest on any future production from the Copaquire copper-molybdenum deposit, which was sold to a subsidiary of Teck Resources Inc. Under the terms of the sale agreement, Teck has the right to acquire one-third of the 3-per-cent NSR for $ 3 million at any time. The Copaquire property borders Teck's producing Quebrada Blanca copper mine in Chile's first region.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Terry Lynch, CEO

647-448-8044, terry@powernickel.com

Power Nickel Inc.

The Canadian Venture Building

82 Richmond St East, Suite 202

Toronto, ON

Media Contact

Name: Terry Lynch

Email: terry@powernickel.com

Website: www.powernickel.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicates", "opportunity", "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forwardlooking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its planned activities at the NISK Property and for general working capital purposes; the timing for proposed closing of the Private Placement; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties, including preparing the Amended Technical Report; maintaining its mineral tenures and concessions in good standing; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associates with mineral exploration and mining operations; future prices of metals; changes in general economic conditions; accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the potential for new discoveries; the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

SOURCE: Power Nickel Inc.





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NEWARK, DE / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2023 / The global removable wallpaper market is predicted to create stagnant growth for the market by exhibiting a CAGR of 3.5% throughout the forecast period from 2022 to 2032. The global market holds an estimated revenue of US$ 1.78 Bn in 2022 and is likely to cross US$ 2.43 Bn by the end of 2032. The growing demand for removable wallpaper is attributed to easy removal; no need for steam requires steam. The sales of removable wallpaper also increase as these wallpapers are reusable.

Removable wallpaper or peel-and-stick wallpaper requires no soaking or wall pasting. Removable wallpaper is known for its self-adhesiveness and needs to be peeled off from the base material and pasted onto the walls.

Request a Sample Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-10131

Demand for removable wallpaper increases as renters prefers it over any other wallpaper as it matches their taste and holds the colored wall without damaging the original paint, not leaving any residue on the surface. Its use as a base enhances the quality of the paper-coated adhesive, pushing the global sales of removable wallpaper.

Key Takeaways

The surging demand for soundproof transportation in trains is anticipated to drive the removable wallpaper market positively. The automotive industry has been witnessing maximum pace over the last decade owing to the penetration of globalization in the world, pushing the sales of removable wallpaper.

The ever-growing automotive industry is projected to propel the demand for removable wallpaper throughout the assessment period from 2022 to 2032.

The removable wallpaper comprises a widened range of applications within household activities. The growing concern towards household hygiene is expected to bolster the demand for removable wallpaper and increase the removable wallpaper market size.

High prices paired with the inability to be remodeled, reshaped, or recycled, which makes Removable wallpaper difficult to discard, are the restraining factors for the Removable wallpaper market that hampers the market growth, increasing the demand for removable wallpaper.

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Competitive Landscape

The dominant players in the removable wallpaper market are concentrating on variety, sizes, designs, and quality, fueling the sales of removable wallpaper. Several key market players have introduced new self-adhesive removable wallpapers with new designs and sizes for interiors and exteriors, pushing the sales for removable wallpaper.

Before Buying, Visit for Customization @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-10131

Future Market Insights, Inc., Sunday, March 12, 2023, Press release picture

Numerous other dominant market players are launching their latest removable wallpapers for the residential, design industry, and commercial platforms. This will push the sales of removable wallpapers globally in the forecast period.

Key Segments

By Type:

Polyethylene Removable Wallpaper (PE)

Poly-Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Removable Wallpaper

By End User:

Residential Buildings

Commercial Buildings

Hospitals

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Asia Pacific

Europe

MEA

Table of Content

1. Executive Summary

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

4. Global Removable Wallpaper Market Analysis 2017-2021 and Forecast, 2022-2032

Browse the Full Market Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/removable-wallpaper-market

More Insights into the Removable Wallpaper Market

On the basis of the regional front, Asia Pacific is considered the dominant market for removable wallpaper. The demand for removable wallpaper is generated majorly from developing economies like India and China. These markets are expected to bolster the growth owing to its robust construction activity in both the residential as well as commercial sectors.

The demand for removable wallpaper is further anticipated to induce lucrative growth over the projection period by the fact that most of the population which has settled in this country is floating, fueling the sales of removable wallpaper.

The north American region is projected to be the second most dominant market for removable wallpaper products due to the increasing number of hotels in the region to cater to the hospitality needs emanating on account of the flourishing inbound as well as outbound tourism.

The Middle East is yet another region that is anticipated to showcase phenomenal growth prospects over the forecast period in the global removable wallpaper market attributed to the increased commercial and construction activity in the region.

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The emergence of increasing demand for soundproof transportation in trains is predicted to fuel growth in the removable wallpaper market over the assessment period. Maximum acceleration has been witnessed by the automotive industry over the recent years attributed to the penetration of globalization in the world, pushing the sales of removable wallpaper.

The bolstering automotive industry is projected to generate impressive revenue for the removable wallpaper market over the projection period. In addition to that, the removable wallpaper comprises a large, variety of applications in household activities. Furthermore, the surging concern regarding household hygiene is expected to bolster the demand for removable wallpaper and increase the removable wallpaper market size.

Explore FMI's Extensive Ongoing Coverage in Chemicals & Materials Domain

Adsorbents Market: The rapid uptake of the market during the first half of the forecast period is attributed to increased demand and the adoption of desulfurization technology, which bolstered the demand further.

Perfume Ingredient Chemicals Market: The increasing demand for natural and organic products owing to the rising awareness about the significance of such products among customers is anticipated to drive the sales in this market.

Functional Coil Coatings Market: Rising investments towards the expansion of construction and transportation facilities is boosting production of specialized materials.

Electronics Cleaning Solvents Market: Growing demand of electronics cleaning solvents like formulated hydrocarbon solvents, glycols & glycol ethers, fluorinated solvents, brominated solvents and light petroleum distillates in cleaning of electronics items to boost the demand.

Pharmaceutical Grade Sodium Carbonate Market: Increasing use of pharmaceutical grade sodium carbonate in drug manufacturing as an active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is majorly driving market growth.

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

SOURCE: Future Market Insights, Inc.





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BEIJING, March 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily: According to China's government work report 2023, its major task this year is to stabilize grain output and advance rural revitalization, in which promoting the production of oilseed crops and fostering rural industries with local features to create more channels for increasing rural income are highlighted.

Sun Dongwei: step up the peanut industry to improve grain and oil safety and security

During China's two sessions (annual meetings held by National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) separately), Sun Dongwei, the member of the 14th NPC and the secretary of the CCP and chairman of Shandong Luhua Group, made a proposal that China should strive to develop the peanut industry and improve grain and oil safety and security.

Sun thinks, although China has secured the bumper harvest for 19 consecutive years with a total grain output of 650 million tons, the grain industry still has structural problems. To develop the domestic oil industry, China should urgently unleash the growth potential of oilseeds. As an old oilseed crop in China with wide planting areas, mature cultivation technology, leading processing technology, a solid consumer base and a controllable domestic value chain, the peanut is a strong substitute for the imported soybeans. Therefore, it should be included in the national grain security industry revitalization plan as soon as possible and given policy support throughout the whole value chain from base, breeding, planting, storage and transportation to processing.

Sun points out that the peanut industry is important for rural revitalization and increasing agricultural income. "While continuing to expand the planting area of soybean and making efforts to boost its yield, China should also step up the peanut industry to achieve a more diversified oilseed supply," he said.

Sun puts forward that the government should give more subsidy for promotion of improved varieties on the policy level to increase both output and income; set up the core growing region in areas suitable for peanut planting, for example, expanding peanut areas in Xinjiang province to fully utilize the excellent ecological resources there and using peanuts to rotate with cotton; and set pilot projects for new variety and technology and train farmers on new tech, facilitating the mechanization of peanut production in Xinjiang.

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In addition, to improve peanut harvest and expand growing areas, Sun suggests that harvesting machines can be further advanced in order to be applied in different conditions in a large scale, reducing manual labor and costs. In a nut shell, the peanut industry in China, with policy guarantee and industrialization that can beef up the whole value chain from breeding, planting and storage to transportation, processing and sales, will bolster rural revitalization and make contributions to domestic grain and oil safety and security.

Cision

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SOURCE People's Daily
In the wake of Russias war on Ukraine, oil prices jumped to a 14-year record. While they have pulled back from that peak, they still remain at decadal high levels. The obvious winners in this scenario are the worlds major oil producers, in the US and abroad, which are able to maintain profits on lower production  but they arent the only beneficiaries. Companies in the oil transport network have also come out ahead over the past year.

Shipping firms  companies operating the great tankers that carry crude oil and petroleum products across the worlds ocean routes  have seen some of the strongest wins among those second-tier gainers. These companies were under heavy pressure in the run-up to the Ukraine war, reeling from the collapse in shipping rates during the pandemic lockdown period. Russias attack on Ukraine, and the consequent cutback in global oil production and supplies, led to a rearrangement of shipping patterns, and the tanker firms have been reaping the gains.

In fact, a pair of them have earned the coveted Perfect 10 from the TipRanks Smart Score, a unique data tool that collects and collates a range of valuable inputs on every publicly traded stocks  and then rates it all according to 8 factors known to correlate with future overperformance. The Score is given on a simple scale of 1 to 10  with the Perfect 10 indicating a stock that deserves a second look.

A quick look at some numbers will give the scale of the gains that helped earn these stocks their high ratings. Over the past month, the S&P 500 lost ~6.5%, while these two Perfect 10 tankers rose. Zooming out, the gap is way bigger with both these names generating returns of more than 200% over the past year. So, lets take a look at these two winners, using a combination of the latest TipRanks data and commentaries from the analysts.

Scorpio Tanker, Inc. (STNG)

First on our list is Scorpio Tanker, a major player on the ocean highways, with a $5 billion market cap, a fleet of 113 modern tanker vessels, and nearly 14 years experience in the business. Scorpio is based in Monaco and operates its fleet on the charter system to move oil, refined products, and petrochemicals around the world. The companys fleet leans heavily toward the MR class tankers, 50,000 DWT vessels, but Scorpio also has 39 of the 110,000-ton LR2 tankers  and 14 of the smaller, 38,000 ton Handymax ships that ply the less traveled lanes to smaller ports.

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Scorpio released its 4Q22 and full year 2022 financial results last month, and the results show just how big its recent gains have been. In the fourth quarter the company showed a top line revenue figure of $493.7 million, far above 4Q21s $147.9 million. At the bottom line, Scorpios quarterly income of $264.4 million was a strong turnaround from the $46 million loss reported in the prior year quarter. In a per-share basis, the diluted EPS rose from a 79-cent loss in 4Q21 to a $4.24 profit in 4Q22.

Looking at the full year, Scorpios net income for 2022 was $637.3 million, up 171% from the $234.4 million reported in 2021. The current EPS of $10.34 per diluted share represents an even stronger 141% increase from the 2021s figure of $4.28.

Also of note, in another indication of just how strong recent revenues and income have been, the company declared its regular quarterly dividend with the earnings release, and announced a payment of 20 cents per common share. The new dividend payment is double that of the previous quarter, and marks the first dividend increase in four years.

On the Smart Score, three factors stand out as particularly strong. The stock has 100% positive sentiment from its news coverage recently, and the crowd wisdom is very positive, showing increases in holdings of 15.6% over the last 30 days. And, of the hedge funds tracked by TipRanks, holdings in STNG were up more than 754K shares last quarter.

This stock caught the attention of investment bank JPMorgan, which initiated coverage in a recent note by analyst Sam Bland. Bland pointed out strong demand trends that should support Scorpios business going forward: There is a long run trend of seaborne trade of oil products growing faster than crude. We expect this differential to continue, based on the geographic mix of demand and expected refinery capacity additions. We also expect sanctions on Russian exports could add around 5% to industry tonne-miles. Overall, we expect tonne-mile seaborne demand for oil products could be c.28% higher in 2025 than in 2018, despite the volume of crude production globally only increasing c.5-10% over that period.

The shares might be up by 231% over the past year, but Bland thinks theres more room to run. Looking ahead, the analyst rates these shares as Overweight (a Buy), and his $87 price target implies a one-year upside potential of 47%. (To watch Blands track record, click here.)

This stock has garnered 8 recent reviews from the Streets analysts, with a 7 to 1 breakdown favoring Buy over Hold for a Strong Buy consensus rating. The shares are priced at $59.27 and their average price target of $75.88 suggests that the stock has a gain of 28% ahead of it this year. (See Scorpios stock forecast at TipRanks.)

Teekay Tankers (TNK)

The second stock well look at, Teekay Tankers, is a Bermuda-based firm and the largest player in the mid-sized tanker niche. Teekay holds a fleet of 45 vessels, owned and operated in-house. The backbone of this fleet are 25 Suezmax-sized tankers, ranging in DWT from ~150,000 tons to 160,000 tons. The company also has 10 Aframax vessels in the ~110,000-ton class, 9 long rage 2 (LR2) ships of ~105,000 tons each, and 1 VLCC (very large crude carrier) of 319,000 tones. This fleet gives Teekay a high level of operational flexibility in moving oil and oil products, and the company can boast that No matter where oil is produced or where it needs to go, we get it there safely and reliably.

Once again, we are looking at a tanker company that saw its top and bottom line rise sharply in 2022. The companys 4Q22 results bear that out; total revenue came to $367.3 million for the quarter, for a 129% year-over-year gain. This gave the firm a net income of $146.4 million, far above the 4Q21 net loss of $39.8 million. Teekays adjusted EPS came to $4.33 per share; it was a loss of 74 cents in the year-ago quarter.

For the full year 2022, Teekay had revenues totaling $1.06 billion, up 96% y/y. The years bottom line came to $217.1 million, or $6.39 per share. This was a world away from the $138.5 million loss recorded in 2021.

When we turn to Teekays Smart Score, we find again a stock with 3 factors standing out. Theres very positive crowd wisdom here, based on a 30% holding increase in the last month, along with an increase of 27,500 shares in hedge holdings last quarter. Also, the financial bloggers  who are normally a fickle bunch that rarely agree  are 100% bullish in their sentiment on TNK shares.

In his recent note for DNB Markets, 5-star analyst Jorgen Lian lays out Teekays potential course forward, and comes down to a bullish conclusion. Lian writes, Despite a softer start to 2023, recent strength for mid-size tankers should bode well for its spot exposure, and we estimate an earnings yield of c20% for 2023, with the potential for meaningful shareholder returns as the company builds a large cash position. However, the stock is still trading at an attractive discount in our view, which should support upside to the current share price.

Lian backs up these comments with a Buy rating, and his $52.70 target price indicates potential for 18% share appreciation over the next 12 months. (To watch Lians track record, click here.)

Over the past 3 months, 5 analysts have reviewed this stock, and their ratings break down to 4 Buys and 1 Hold  for a Strong Buy consensus rating. The shares are currently trading for $44.64, and their $53 average price target indicates an 18.5% upside potential from that level. (See Teekays stock forecast at TipRanks.)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
Large deposits (greater than AED20 million) made up 59% the total deposits held by the banks based in the UAE that totalled AED2.222 trillion ($605 billion) until the end of 2022, data from the Central Bank of the UAE revealed.

Deposits of greater than AED20 million surged to AED1.31 trillion by the end of December, a growth of 11.4% from roughly AED1.175 trillion by the end of December 2021, said a Wam newsagency report quoting the data.

Deposit accounts of more than AED5 million up to AED20 million accounted for roughly AED269.24 billion, or 12.1% of all deposits, an 11% increase from AED242.46 billion in December 2021.

Deposits from AED1.00 million up to AED5.00 million made up roughly 13% of the total at the end of last December, up 15.2% from AED250.63 billion in December 2021.

Deposits of more than AED500,000 and up to AED1 million totalled AED108.5 billion, or 4.9% of all deposits, a rise of 13.5% from approximately AED95.6 billion in December 2021.

Deposits between AED250,000 and AED500,000 totalled AED84.26 billion, down from AED87.4 billion in December 2021.

Deposits of up to AED250,000 amounted to about 7.2% or the equivalent of AED160.8 billion at the end of last December, an increase of 11.3% compared to about AED144.47 billion in December 2021, the report said.
By Sarah N. Lynch, Rami Ayyub and Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Sunday said she was working closely with banking regulators to respond to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and protect depositors, but a major bailout was not being considered.

Yellen told the CBS News "Face the Nation" show that she had been working with regulators to "design appropriate policies to address the situation," the largest bank collapse since the 2008 financial crisis, but declined to give further details.

"Let me be clear that during the financial crisis, there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed out...and the reforms that have been put in place means we are not going to do that again," Yellen told CBS.

"But we are concerned about depositors and are focused on trying to meet their needs," Yellen said.

California banking regulators on Friday closed SVB, appointing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver to protect depositors at the startup-focused lender.

The collapse of the startup-focused bank has raised concerns about runs on regional banks, and the ability of small businesses that banked with SVB to pay their employees.

Yellen met on Friday with officials from the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to address the bank's collapse, and she and White House officials expressed confidence in the ability of banking regulators to respond.

On Sunday, she sought to reassure Americans that the U.S. banking system was safe, better capitalized and more resilient than during the 2008 global financial crisis, given new controls and capital requirements put in place after 2008 and tests during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Americans can have confidence in the safety and soundness of our bank system," Yellen said, adding that regulators wanted to ensure that the crisis did not spread to other banks.

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"We want to make sure that the troubles that exist at one bank don't create contagion to others that are sound," she said.

Asked if the U.S. government would consider the acquisition of SVB by a foreign bank, Yellen said: "So this is really a decision for the FDIC, as it decides on what the best course is to resolve this firm. And I'm sure they're considering a wide range of available options. That would include acquisitions.

The FDIC stepped in Friday to protect the deposits of up to $250,000, but deposits over that amount - which accounted for 85% of SVB accounts - are at risk.

Asked if depositors should be paid back in full, Yellen declined to comment on the details. "We're very aware of the problems that depositors will have. Many of them are small businesses, that employ people across the country. Of course this is a significant concern."

More than 3,500 CEOs and founders representing some 220,000 workers have signed a petition appealing directly to Yellen and others to backstop depositors and warning that more than 100,000 jobs could be at risk.

Venture investors have advised startups to seek alternatives to gain short-term liquidity.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, Rami Ayyub and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Frank Jack Daniel and Deepa Babington)
Virginia lawmakers agree they want to reduce gun violence, despite a divergence in schools of thought about how to get it done.

Legislators reviewed a limited number of gun-related bills during this years legislative session and most of them succumbed to partisan gridlock. Virginias Democrat-controlled Senate passed several bills that later were defeated in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates. A number of House measures failed in Senate committees Democrats lead.

The House did send over a National Rifle Association-backed bill aimed at gun safety. It cleared the Senate and its soon to be reviewed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Carried by Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, House Bill 2387 would allow for an up to $300 tax credit when someone purchases one or more firearm safety devices  such as gun safes, gun cases, or lock boxes. Lopez explained that he had been in communication with the NRA ahead of the session to see if they could get to yes on supporting his bill.

I said, let's flip the script. Let's not talk about condemning something, or mandating something. We're not requiring anything, we're not banning anything, we're not taking anything away,  Lopez said. We're just giving a tax credit to incentivize something that many law-abiding gun owners already do  which is to keep their guns out of the reach of those who shouldn't have them.

His bill cleared both chambers months after a number of high-profile shootings across the country  including the November shootings that killed three University of Virginia students and six workers at a Chesapeake Walmart.

In the last decade, the number of violent crimes in Virginia committed with firearms has fluctuated year to year, but rose from 4,388 in 2012 to 6,102 in 2021 according to the Virginia State Police. More than 29,000 firearms have been recovered from crimes and received through Virginias Department of Forensic Science for testing from 2018 through 2022, according to chief deputy director Mason Byrd.

In an effort to reduce such numbers, several Democratic legislators proposed measures that failed this year.

Ideas included a weapons storage requirement, bans on new sales of assault-style firearms, prohibition of ghost guns (which are untraceable parts people purchase online to manufacture at home), additional criteria for substantial risk orders, bans on carrying weapons at universities, and requiring locked doors if leaving a firearm in a vehicle.

The ideas born from the Senate, lost steam in GOP-led House subcommittees while many ideas from the House failed in Senate panels.

Though she drafted it before a child brought a weapon to Richneck Elementary School in Newport News and shot a teacher this winter, Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax couldn't believe that even with that happening, people still voted against her weapons storage bill.

Boysko's Senate Bill 1139 was one that Cortney Whanger, a Henrico County resident and survivor of the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, had her eye on. Her husband obtained his conceal carry permit following the shooting five years ago  which he is also a survivor of  and he keeps his gun stored safely in their home. Though neither spouse was wounded in the Nevada shooting, theyve coped with the mental trauma for years.

Calling a lot of the legislation proposed over the years common sense, Whanger would like to see legislators doing more to reduce gun violence. A former Republican, she began voting Democratic in recent years  largely due to the issue.

We can fight about it all day long, but why not try something and see if it works, Whanger previously told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. You can take it back if needed, you know, but just try something. Doing nothing is not working.

Republicans had ideas for curbing gun violence this year too  albeit from a different approach.

Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City, and Del. Michael Webert, R-Fauquier, had bills that would raise minimum sentences for certain felonies committed with firearms.

Webert stressed his House Bill 2360, defeated in the Senate Judiciary Committee, was not for first-time offenders, but for people on their second related firearm offense.

So by then, by this time, they've already committed a couple of misdemeanors, they've committed a felony and so they are on their second felony with a firearm, Webert said. They have demonstrated that they're not capable of ... living in society for a significant amount of time and by removing those folks, we keep our streets safer.

Norments similar bill had an additional focus on firearm felonies at schools.

Senate Bill 1353 would have increased sentences from five to 10 years for knowingly possessing any firearm within the building of a child daycare center or public, private or religious preschool, elementary, middle or high school and intending to use, or attempting to use such firearm, or displaying such weapon in a threatening manner.

In the Jan. 30 Senate Judiciary Committee meeting where the Democratic-led panel defeated the bill, Norment expressed frustration that several people spoke in opposition to the measure over its minimum mandatory sentencing.

It is perplexing to me in this atmosphere, where we're having so many firearms and crimes being committed on school grounds, that people will oppose it, Norment said in the meeting. I favor minimum mandatories in general, which I respect some of you don't, but it's just perplexing to me that people can stand up and say they're opposing that in childcare centers and in schools.

A philosophical difference

Del. Sally Hudson, D-Charlottesville, says she thinks prevention measures can help reduce gun violence before it happens because of a combination of factors.

I think the philosophical difference is that I think Democrats recognize that gun violence is often the combination of terrible judgment and access to a firearm in the same moment, Hudson said. Its not a problem you can punish your way out of.

She said that people who want to commit a violent crime may not be thinking about what the legal repercussions may be with prosecution and sentencing. Theyre acting within the parameters of having access to weapons and the ease of having them where they intend to commit an act of violence, Hudson said.

Hudson's House Bill 2365 would have prohibited firearms on the grounds of the University of Virginia. It was defeated despite support and emotional testimony from University of Virginia police chief Tim Longo. In November Longo and others responded to a mass shooting at UVa where three students were killed and two others wounded. Later details revealed the alleged gunman had been suspected of previously having guns in his possession.

In September, a student told the university that the suspect, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., had talked about owning a gun. UVa subsequently learned that he had pleaded guilty to a concealed weapons violation in Chesterfield County and received a suspended sentence.

Hudson said her bill would have empowered university law enforcement to investigate through search warrants if they hear someone has a gun on campus.

Hudson said the prevention component is the biggest difference between how Democrats are viewing situations, as Republicans tend to favor prosecution after an act has been committed.

Preventive efforts are a lot easier to do than going back and just trying to punish after somebody has been killed, said Boysko.

Webert thinks the sentencing from prosecutions helps too.

It's time to implement programs where we take the bad actors off the streets, Webert said. We need to start letting folks know that if you are going to be a continuous bad actor, you're not going to be allowed to continue to terrorize our neighborhoods.

Webert also pointed to bipartisan legislation from last year  the creation of the Operation Ceasefire Fund.

As part of Youngkins Operation Bold Blue Line initiative, Attorney General Jason Miyares office was awarded $2.6 million to hire additional prosecutors and group violence intervention coordinators.

The Democrats don't like it because it is law enforcement-heavy, Webert said, but noted how the program has been successful elsewhere.

Operation Ceasefire was a program that successfully reduced gun violence in Boston about two decades ago and similar measures have been adopted around the nation. Del. Tony Wilt, R-Rockingham, had carried legislation to create it in Virginia last year. Proponents support the role it can play in reducing violence while opponents call it mass incarnation by another name.

Thats why Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, cautions how it is being used. She and former Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, now a member of Congress, worked to establish a related, but different fund  the Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund, which focuses on non-law enforcement groups and community organizations.

Amid the funding disbursements to stem from the Operation Ceasefire Fund, $7.4 million of the roughly $20 million was targeted for 12 cities with high levels of violent crime That money is earmarked for law enforcement training and equipment.

Price said she and some colleagues favor a more holistic and widespread approach to reducing violent crimes committed with guns.

If you are not funding, prevention, intervention, enforcement and also reentry, what some called the 'PIER model,' then you are not going to prevent crime, Price said.

"It's this continuum of services. And if you don't look at gun violence prevention through the lens of housing, economic security, the earned income tax credit, child tax credits, food access workforce development  if you're only looking at gun violence prevention as prosecution, you will never get there.

Interactive: Find out more about mass killings in the U.S. Interactive: Number of mass killings by year Interactive: Mass killings by location scaled by number of victims Interactive: Search mass killing incidents Interactive: Timeline of mass killings scaled by number of victims killed Interactive: Number of mass killings and victims killed this year compared with previous years Interactive map: People killed by shootings, per 100,000 residents
The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam reports that the most common question asked by people who tour it is: Who Betrayed Anne Frank? Almost 80 years after the Nazis tragic abduction of the residents of the secret Annex in August 1944, there is still no answer. Two Dutchmen, filmmaker Thijs Bayens and journalist Pieter van Twisk decided to take on the unsolved mystery. Both were concerned about the ideological divisiveness and growing anti-immigrant sentiment in the Netherlands. Returning to Anne Franks story, they believed, would remind people how swiftly a peaceful society can move toward violence. So much can be lost.

Like so many in the Netherlands, their connection to WWII was unexpectedly personal. Bayens grandparents had hidden Jews during the war (he met a man whom theyd sheltered as a teenager who told him that dozens of people had passed through the Bayens basement) and Van Twisk discovered that the Dutch Resistance listed his grandfathers house as a contact address for resistance fighters and a storage place for weapons. Van Twisk believed that many of his fellow citizens had not dealt with the fact that the Netherlands record during the war had not been good  over 70% of Jews were deported to the extermination camps, more by far than any other western European country; and of the 25,000 to 27,000 people in hiding, one-third were betrayed. Some Dutch police joined the IV B 4 unit (known colloquially as the Jew hunting unit).

Calling the project a cold case investigation, Bayens and Van Twisk collected a team of experienced professionals: former police officers, journalists, war crimes investigators, forensic psychologists, historians, data scientists, and criminologists. Most important was the lead investigator.

Believing the team should be led by an impartial outsider, they turned to retired FBI agent, Vince Pankoke, recommended to them as an indefatigable investigator. Pankoke had worked undercover on Wall Street and had infiltrated Colombian drug gangs. He organized the investigation into projects: the Mapping Project, the Arrests Project, the Residents Project, the Media Project, the Statements Project. What made this new investigation different from previous ones was the use of Artificial Intelligence to draw connections between people, addresses, collaborators, arrests, and so forth that had not been noted before.

In 2019, I was invited to write the narrative of the Cold Case Investigation.

Before the pandemic hit, I managed to spend a month with the team, meeting their members and learning about their research methodologies. After that, our encounters were confined to innumerable Zoom calls, and I was given access to the 66 gigabytes of information (4,700 files) uploaded in what the team called the (virtual) Bookcase.

In the 5-year-long investigation, the team examined over 30 scenarios.

In The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation I was able to create extensive profiles of 12 of the most prominent suspects, including Tonny Ahlers, a Dutch collaborator and blackmailer; Ans van Dijk, a V-Frau (female informant) working with the Jew hunting units; Willem Van Maaren, the warehouse manager of Otto Franks business; Nelly Voskuijl, sister of Bep Voskuijl who helped hide the people in the Annex.

My ambition was to bring to life wartime Amsterdam under Fascist occupation, where no matter how careful you were, you could never take your own freedom  or survival  for granted. I was also able to follow Otto Franks life after 1933 when he fled to the Netherlands to save his family, and to recount his unsuccessful efforts to get visas to leave the country after 1938. Sadistically, the Nazis stole his capacity for agency step by slow step.

Another aspect of the book is the profiles of the four people, who, at great risk to themselves, sustained the Annex residents with food and basic necessities during the two years plus one month of their hiding. Anne Franks diary ends three days before the arrest. The helpers, particularly Miep Gies, recounted what happened after the arrests.

My book asks Who Betrayed Anne Frank? The answer is all of us: the Nazis; the Dutch collaborators; the international governments that refused to give Jews asylum; the anti-Semitism that societies allowed to fester. The book offers a warning: there are uncanny parallels between the slow evolution of fascism in the 1930s and 1940s in Europe, and our present time when fanaticism, untruths and violence have become norms.
The tragic death of Fountain police Officer Julian Becerra in the line of duty last month was a disturbing reminder not only of Colorados current crime wave  but also of the toll it is taking on members of law enforcement.

The men and women who serve and protect our communities face constant danger from armed, reckless criminal perpetrators who frequently show indifference to the value of their own lives  or anyone elses. In many cases, these lawbreakers also are repeat offenders with an extensive history. They cycle in and out of the revolving door on Colorados justice system.

Becerra was involved in a high-speed pursuit of suspected auto thieves who turned out to have lengthy criminal records. After they crashed their stolen vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, Becerra gave chase and fell 40 feet from a bridge. He died from his injuries nine days later.

It is only the latest killing of a Colorado law officer that unravels a false narrative  that perpetrators who encounter police are the ones in harms way. The reality all too often is that it is the law enforcement personnel themselves who pay the ultimate price.

Recently, misleading media headlines decried, 39 killed by law enforcement in Colorado.

Buried in those stories was the fact that in almost every case the person was threatening a victim, the public or the police officer with a gun, knife or other weapon. In every case like these, the officer must determine, sometimes in a split second, whether the criminal threatens the life of another, and in at least 34 of those cases in 2021, the person was armed with a gun or knife. These situations have deadly consequences for Colorados peace officers.

Just last September, Officer Dillon Vakoff of the Arvada Police Department was shot to death responding to a domestic disturbance.

A month earlier, El Paso County Sheriffs Deputy Andrew Peery, a SWAT team member, was shot and killed responding to a reported shooting south of Colorado Springs. Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley was shot to death in the citys Olde Town in June 2021 by an assailant who targeted and ambushed the officer. And Boulder Police officer Eric Talley was among the 10 shot and killed at a King Soopers store in that city in March 2021.

Meanwhile, a man who had fired multiple shots at Longmont police before an officer was able to stop him  by hitting him with his police cruiser  pleaded guilty recently in Boulder District Court to two counts of first-degree assault on a peace officer.

All parties survived that incident, and the shooter could spend up to 60 years in prison.

In recent years, too many members of law enforcement have been unfairly characterized as violent or uncaring. While there are some cops who have crossed the line and should be held accountable for abuse of their powers and position, they are the exceptions, not the rule. The overwhelming majority of peace officers are good, hardworking Americans dedicated to protecting and serving their communities, sometimes at the cost of their own lives or wellbeing.

Colorados law officers overwhelmingly carry out their duties by the book and live up to their awesome responsibility to protect all our civil rights  even as they also protect us from crime.

As the mayors of two Colorado communities, we believe our dedicated public servants in law enforcement are at extreme risk from a criminal element that has been emboldened and, often enough, set free to wreak more havoc by a lax justice system.

The suspects Officer Becerra was pursuing were repeat felony offenders who already faced multiple active warrants for their arrest. They simply shouldnt have been out on our streets.

The suspect alleged to have been driving the vehicle was wanted at the time on charges including motor vehicle theft and felony criminal mischief. He had walked away from a halfway house where he was confined after serving a mere six months of an 18-month prison sentence for possession of a weapon by a previous offender. And he had done lengthy prison time before that for drug and robbery charges. One of his alleged cohorts in the Feb. 2 pursuit also was wanted for other crimes.

Its all too typical of so many cases in which police put their lives on the line when they encounter violent criminal suspects. And it stems to a significant degree from legislation in the past few years that has watered down the consequences for criminal behavior. Penalties have been reduced  for drug possession, auto theft and other crimes. And suspects with serious records who are arrested for equally serious new crimes are too frequently released rather than held in jail.

Needless to say, they are a threat to all the law-abiding members of our communities. Thats common knowledge by now.

What isnt so well known is how often Colorados law officers must risk all in facing these dangerous criminals. Members of law enforcement, at times, are all that stand between the criminal element and the rest of the community. This is why we call it, The thin blue line.

Yes, thats their job  but our elected lawmakers shouldnt make their job even harder by undermining Colorados justice system.

Sharon Thompson is mayor of the City of Fountain. Marc Williams is the mayor of the City of Arvada.
Real estate assets will be promoted by Indias billion-dollar companies in Bahrain this weekend. The event, Indian Property Investment Festival (IPIF 2023), is being hosted by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions and ExDais and organised by NRI ONE at The Westin Hotel City Centre from March 16 to 18.

Visitors to the IPIF 2023 will be feted with a host of special offers from developers only available for the duration of the event.

These are - special discounted prices, promises of up to 20% guaranteed returns, additional land at no extra cost, free flights to inspect developments, easy payment plans and capital appreciation within 5 years.

ICICI Bank will be showcasing their services as a leading home loan provider in India by providing pre-qualification approval of mortgages for those looking to buy a home.

"The IPIF provides the opportunity for Indias leading developers to assess Bahrain as a business entrepot. Many of the companies are diversified groups with interests in pharmaceuticals, automotive, construction, education, and hospitality," said Jubran Abdulrahman, the Managing Director of hosts Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions.

"Our conversations with some of these companies has yielded initial interest to visit Bahrain to assess wider investment opportunities," he stated.

NRI ONE, with its proven track record in organising Indian real estate road shows around the world, will be bringing 25 of the leading companies from India for the IPIF to the kingdom.

The developers include household names such as DLF, Brigade, TVS, Rustomjee, Puravankara, Sumadhura and Godrej.

"These developers will be offering property assets stretching across the length and breadth of India. From Mumbai to Goa, Bangalore to Chennai, Kerala to Delhi, Hyderabad to Ahmedabad the IPIF has investment opportunities available for every member of the Indian expatriate community which are priced for all budgets," remarked Shekhar Bhardwaj, the Director of NRI ONE.

"Many of the developers are not new to investing in the GCC. Companies such as BCD have been contractors in Saudi Arabia and Iraq for several generations," explained Abdulrahman.

"ELV are looking to expand their schools and pharmaceutical manufacturing in the region; while many of the other companies are looking at setting up representational offices in the region," he added.

Bhardwaj said: "We pride ourselves on attracting the valued developers of India who are able to offer ready built units and whose reputation will ensure that they will deliver on their promises to customers to continue to deliver."

"Bahrain will see our second event in the space of 6 months. The Kingdom is a popular venue for our developers who want to take advantage of its strategic position," he added.

According to the organisers, the IPIF is fully regulated by Bahrains Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera).-TradeArabia News Service
When I was growing up, the left preached principles like the ends dont justify the means.

Apparently, they got very tired of living up to that concept.

The belief now is the ends justify everything. Case in point is Colorados Senate Bill 168, a maneuver in a coordinated nationwide effort to litigate the gun manufacturing industry out of existence.

Progressives, be careful what you wish for. Unleashing the strategy of the ends justify anything brings us to the brink of mutually assured destruction. The rights you hold dear, like abortion, might be destroyed by the very door youre about to open. Read on.

As now it stands, gun manufacturers, like all manufacturers, can be sued for defective products. If your vacuum cleaner blows up while using it, you can sue the Hoover Corporation.

If your defective Glock 17 blows up while target shooting you can sue the Glock company. (FYI, Glocks never blow up, arguably the most reliable pistol ever, so gunnies cool your easily ignited jets).

If someone nearly beats you to death with a Hoover, youre not going to get far trying to sue the Hoover company. I mean you can try, but the attack has little to do with the vacuum manufacturer.

Like the neo-Nazi who drove his car into a crowd of anti-racist protesters in Charlottesville, Va., killing one, suing Chevrolet for purposeful misuse of their functional product is a losing strategy; the Dodge Challenger didnt cause the attack. Duh.

If someone nearly kills you with a Glock, you can try to sue Glock, but the same legal logic usually holds up in court. The twist gun-haters try to show in court is the advertising a boogeyman gun company uses glorifying how their products kill people.

But when gun companies advertise the defensive benefits of their product (stopping power), it by default shows off the offensive side too. And car companies show how powerful their products are, advertising ramming speed to neo-Nazis.

Problem was not the gun makers losing these nuisance lawsuits. Problem was they were drowning in them, death by a thousand cuts, by design.

You see, gun-makers are not like big tobacco or big pharma. They are not sitting on piles of cash. People are not chemically addicted or dependent on their products to stay alive. Gun-makers are just machine shops.

The flood of lawsuits put several out of business. Colt, of the six-shooter fame, stopped selling to the public. Even Smith and Wesson almost went under.

Thats why, with lots of bipartisan support, in D.C. and states like Colorado laws passed to ban such nuisance lawsuits.

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Senate Bill 168 not only rips away those protections, but it also puts industry-crushing litigation on steroids.

A newspaper libels you. SB-168 would have you sue the printing press makers out of business.

If the victim of a crime doesnt want to sue an out-of-state gun manufacturer, SB-168 gives the states attorney general the pleasure of doing it without the victims consent. It even allows the AG to designate that gratification to another party, such as an anti-gun organization, maybe one of the well-funded Bloomberg ones.

Gun haters, do you understand what youre doing? Yes. Yes. Youre saving lives. Isnt that what anti-abortionists say?

So, lets switch the evil gun in this scenario with an evil abortion pill and play it out.

Someone from Alabama comes to Colorado for abortions services and brings back abortion pills that are now illegal in her very pro-life state and a dozen others. And they are used illegally there.

Say Alabama copies Colorado, but on abortion. Their AG delegates a well-funded, pro-life legal firm to not only sue the pharmacy that gave out the meds to the woman in Colorado, but also the pharmaceutical company that manufactured them.

Just how many such pharmacies need to fight off these suits until they decide the tiny margin they make on abortion pills isnt worth the hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees?

How long until the manufacturers find it cheaper not to make the drug?

Dont think pro-lifers wont follow your anti-gun lead?

Remember when the Democrats in the U.S. Senate ended the filibuster for judges. Republicans cautioned two can play that game if they ever got into power. Nows Roes overturned.

The same applies here. Oh, and Alabama.

Consider yourself warned.

Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics.
The state of Iowas estimated revenue for the current budget year improved slightly from December, but is still expected to be below last year as 2022 tax cuts take effect.

And in the 2024 fiscal year, which begins on July 1, revenues are expected to be about 1% below 2023.

The figures were set out Friday by the Revenue Estimating Conference, a panel that meets every quarter to project state revenues. Iowa lawmakers will soon begin the process of crafting the budget for the next fiscal year, using projections from the panel.

The panel estimated Iowas net revenue for fiscal 2023 will be around $9.75 billion, a 0.5% drop from $9.8 billion in 2022. But its an increase from the $9.62 billion the group estimated in December.

The year-over-year reduction was expected as tax cuts passed by Republicans in 2022, especially the elimination of retirement income tax, take effect. But Kraig Paulsen, director of the Iowa Department of Revenue and Department of Management, said other taxes, particularly sales tax, have come in strong, boosting the predictions for the year.

The state of Iowa continues to be on strong financial footing, and I see no reason to expect that to change into the foreseeable future, Paulsen said.

In fiscal year 2024, the panel expected the states revenues to drop to $9.65 billion, also due largely to tax cuts. Thats an increase from the December meeting, which estimated fiscal 2024 revenues at $9.63 billion.

Lawmakers are required by law to use the lower of the two estimates between December and March when crafting the state budget, meaning they will be working with the $9.63 billion figure from December.

Last years tax reductions, signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynold, will lower the highest tax bracket over the next three years, until all Iowa taxpayers pay a flat 3.9% rate on their income. Taxes on retirement income were eliminated, and the corporate income tax will continue to fall if corporate tax revenues hit certain benchmarks, resulting in an expected reduction of $1.9 billion from the state budget.

The impacts of last years tax cuts are starting to show up, in particular in withholding revenues, but even still, the state is in a very strong revenue position, Paulsen said.

The Revenue Estimating Conference is a three-member panel, made up of Paulsen, Jennifer Acton from the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, and David Underwood, an economist from Mason City.

In a statement on Friday, Republican Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Grimes said the projections confirm that Republicans are keeping the states economy strong while cutting taxes.

With a projection of nearly $2.7 billion in the Taxpayer Relief Fund and an ending balance of more than $1.7 billion in FY 2023, Iowa is undoubtably in the strongest financial position the state has ever been, Whitver said. Despite sky-is-falling claims from Democrats, the future in Iowa has never been brighter.

As of December, the Legislative Services Agency had estimated Iowas 2023 ending surplus would be $1.6 billion, and Fridays estimates would bring that number higher.

But Democrats said the numbers show lackluster growth and said the tax cuts are only benefiting the wealthy and corporations.

The Legislature needs to focus on issues like lowering costs and raising wages. Instead, GOP lawmakers have been too focused on politics this session, said Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo, the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. As they continue working on bills that will drive more Iowans out of state and make Iowa look unwelcoming, its time to get this session back on track and focus on doing whats best for Iowans again.
Re: An ecology magazine regularly publishes articles on tree diseases. Thi [ #permalink

An ecology magazine regularly publishes articles on tree diseases. This year, the number of articles on Ophiostoma ulmi, the fungus that causes Dutch elm disease, is significantly smaller than the number of such articles that appeared last year. - This is the Premise.



Clearly, fewer researchers studied Ophiostoma ulmi this year than did so last year. - This is the conclusion of the argument.



Which of the following, if true, weakens the above conclusion?



For weakening the conclusion, we should be looking at alternate explanation which is linked to the premise.





A. Many researchers publishing articles are currently studying Stegophora ulmeay a fungus that causes elm leaf spot. - Out of Scope. No one cares about what the researchers are studying, we are focusing on why the number of articles are lesser this year.



B. Since its introduction, Dutch elm disease has killed half of the elm trees in North America. - Out of Scope. Again no one should bother about what the introduction of the disease did.



C. Research on Dutch elm disease that focuses on prevention receives more funding than research that focuses on finding a cure. - Strengthens the conclusion. If the research focuses on prevention, then the disease should be studied more leading to a larger number of articles on the disease.



D. A new strain of the fungus Rhytisma acerinum infested maple trees at an unprecedented rate this year. - Out of Scope.



E. All articles go through at least a one-year review process before publication. - Bingo This would weaken the conclusion as it gives an alternate explanation to why the number of articles this year would be lesser than last year.
Snehaaaaa wrote:

There has been an accusation regarding the youth welfare fund that it was underutilized in the last term. The opposition pointed out that the respective committee's account closed with a distinctly positive cash balance. The opposition often brings up baseless allegations, yet this time, it is totally ludicrous. The youth welfare committee had chosen to invest in its own constitutionally set up company that yielded profits in a very short time, leading to a significant account balance.



In the argument given, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?



A. The first states the position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second is an opinion that provides support for the first.

B. The first states the position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second is evidence that has been used to support the position being opposed.

C. The first states the position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.

D. The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second provides information to undermine the force of that evidence.

E. The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.

accusation

it is ludicrous to say that the WF did some sketchy stuff with the fund

'yet this time, it is totally ludicrous.'

A. The first states the position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second is an opinion that provides support for the first.

B. The first states the position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second is evidence that has been used to support the position being opposed.

C. The first states the position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.

D. The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second provides information to undermine the force of that evidence.

E. The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.

I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying. - A.D. Signature Read More

The logic of the argument can be simplified as follows: There is anthat WF underutilized. Why? Because it has some leftover cash. Usually those allegations are groundless, but this time is even more absurd. Then, the WF justifies its amount of leftover cash.So, as you can see, the main conclusion is that, hence the phraseNow, let's look at the answer.The first part of the argument is correct, as the argument as a whole argues that the WF did not underutilize the fund. However, the second BF is not an opinion that supports the first BF, but rather the first BF supports the second BF.Yeah, definite the second BF is not an evidence.BingoHere, the second BF did not undermine the first BF, but rather strengthens it. Furthermore, the first BF is not evidence, but rather an opinion/position because it is an accusation.The first BF is not evidence, but rather an opinion/position because it is an accusation.Please feel free to let me know if my reasoning has any gap._________________
Local officials are moving on from the fallout after the governor shut out Virginia  and the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill  from an electric vehicle battery plant.

With recent posts on social media, economic development officials are playing up the selling points of the 3,500-acre mega park in southwestern Pittsylvania County in the hopes of bringing a major manufacturer and thousands of jobs to the site.

While officials would not comment on the $3.5 billion Ford electric-battery manufacturing project, which would have brought about 2,500 jobs to the region, they said the recent push is just a regular part of promotion.

The regional economic development team began developing the videos that were recently released in 2022, said Corrie T. Bobe, director of economic development and tourism for Danville. Sharing information on platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, helps us better inform regional residents about the investment made at the site and progress to-date.

Using social media is one of many ways to inform various audiences and has been a common practice for years, Bobe added.

I dont believe weve adjusted anything, said Danville City Manager Ken Larking. Weve always done the best we could to market the site and get it prepared.

The megasite is owned by the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority, a joint entity with a board that includes members of Danville City Council and the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.

The company ended up deciding to build its plant in Michigan after Gov. Glenn Youngkin removed Virginia from consideration for the project due to the projects partnership with a Chinese company.

Virginia state Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Clarksville, said he doesnt believe what happened will affect whether an industry decides to come to the megasite.

I dont believe it will have an effect unless the Chinese Communist Party is heavily involved, Ruff said. Companies generally look in a region based on their needs and where their customers are.

Youngkins administration characterized the project as a front for the Chinese Communist Party that would pose a threat to national security, according to The Associated Press.

Ruff said the Ford partnership was focused on receiving federal dollars that were for American companies.

If things had moved forward and obligated Berry Hill to that partnership, it might have been blocked in Washington possibly for several years, Ruff speculated. During that time, the property would be tied up and would site idle.

In addition, Michigan has agreed to invest $1 billion in the Ford project  about $400,000 per proposed job, he said. Virginia would not have offered anything close to that amount, he added.

The question is simple, were they [Ford] playing us to get the better deal in Michigan? Ruff said.

Delegate Danny Marshall, R-Danville, echoed Ruffs comment as to whether Virginia was getting played in order for Ford to get better incentives from Michigan.

Is it going to hurt our prospects? Id say no, because weve got prospects right now looking at that [Berry Hill] project, he added.

RIFA has owned the megasite at Berry Hill for about 15 years and more than $200 million has been spent on the park to make it top-tier site.

The commonwealth nearly landed a $5.5 billion Hyundai plant at the site last year that would have brought 8,500 jobs to the region. The plant opted to locate in Georgia, where it was called the largest economic development plan in Georgia history.

Local officials have called it the premier site in the Southeast and have said its in the best position its ever been for attracting a major industry.

More prepared

In that year since [Hyundai chose another site], were even more prepared to be the home of a large manufacturer, Larking said.

Theres a lot of national and global attention on Southern Virginia, Lee Vogler, chair of RIFA and a member of Danville City Council, said. It only makes sense to highlight the megasites attributes on social media like it has recently, he said.

Its important to tell the story of the park, Vogler said. Theres going to be a huge shift towards manufacturing coming back to this country. There is not a region better positioned to take advantage of that than us.

The megasite is the largest in Virginia and the southeastern United States.

Berry Hill is a highly marketable property that will continue to stand out to large advanced manufacturers due to the size of its footprint and site readiness, Suzanne Clark, a spokesperson for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, said when asked how the aftermath of the Ford situation would affect the likelihood of future projects.

Virginia has fewer than 10 project-ready certified sites larger than 250 acres and only a very few greater in size than 500 contiguous acres, she said.

Berry Hill is under consideration for several large project opportunities, and we expect the demand for this site to continue as new project opportunities materialize, Clark said.

As for the videos and other posts on social media regarding the mega park, those were in the works before the Ford story came to light, Vogler said.

Things of that nature take time to make, he said.

Continually improving conditions and marketing of the megasite to make it as competitive as possible has been a constant, Larking said.

That will happen regardless of any outside factor, Larking said. Today, were a lot more prepared than we were last year. Next month, were going to be more prepared than we are now.

Pittsylvania County Economic Development Director Matt Rowe agreed.

The site is well-prepared and absolutely shovel-ready and highly respected by site consultants, Rowe said.

He also pointed to the evolving marketing and promotion strategy for the mega site.

Our marketing program has really matured and has become really sophisticated, Rowe said, mentioning videos and strong PowerPoint presentations over the past couple of years as examples. Its been all about telling the community its story as effectively as possible.

Clark also pointed to more than $68 million in investment by the Southside Virginia region in a workforce pipeline for precision machining, resulting in 1,500 active students.

More competitive

Having a site of the mega parks size and scope in the states portfolio makes Virginia more competitive for major economic development projects, she said.

VEDP continues to market the Southern Virginia megasites assets to prospects with relevant site-selection requirements, Clark said.

Rowe said the site generates about one or two inquiries per month from large, established companies.

The megasite is ready for single or multiple industrial users, and can be subdivided, Clark said.

The lot sizes within the megasite can be configured to meet any clients needs with the largest possible contiguous parcel of 2,102 acres, Clark said.

Bobe pointed to major milestones at the site over the past three years. Since 2020, about 265 acres have been graded at the park, a connector road is under construction to improve access to the site and utility infrastructure being installed, she said.

Also, we received significant support from our state representatives to ensure that we are being proactive in development and reducing timelines and risk for a company to locate within the park, Bobe said.

Marshall led efforts to pass a bill allowing utilities to develop transmission infrastructure at industrial park in anticipation of development, she added.

As a result, our partners at AEP were able to construct a substation and [electric] lines to serve a future industry, Bobe said.

The site also has Super Park and Megasite certification from Quest Site Solutions, a Greenville, South Carolina-based firm. Site certification indicates that a property meets or exceeds criteria for industrial development, according to the Quest Site Solutions web site.

Also, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership designated a pad site in the mega park as a Tier 5 Certified Site through its Virginia Business Ready Sites program, Bobe pointed out.

All of these milestones have garnered significant and continued interest from site selectors and prospective industry, she said.
Growing up in the Greensboro community theater scene gave Jed Schlanger the fundamentals he needed to become an Oscar-nominated movie producer.

Schlangers movie The Sea Beast is up for best animated feature during tonight's Academy Awards ceremony.

I did theater at the Community Theatre of Greensboro. I did theater in my high school. And I did theater through my high school at the Weaver Center, which was kind of our magnet school at the time, said Schlanger by phone from from his office at Netflix Animation in Burbank, Calif. And I always loved it. I performed, and I was more of a performer than anything. I was an actor. ... It was really fun and we got to build these groups of people that all worked on this giant artistic endeavor together. And we all sort of contributed, and we all collaborated, and at the end of it we got to sort of perform it, and the audience reacted.

And it was just this great sort of thing to be around and to be a part of. And at the time, I always enjoyed it and everything, but I dont think I ever reflected on what I was enjoying.

His parents encouraged his creative endeavors, signing him up for community theater when he was about six and watching proudly over the years.

It was normal and natural for Jeddy, Dianne Schlanger recalled. We got a real kick out of watching him on stage. If he was going to perform, we were going to be there."

After graduating from Page High School in 1992, Jed went to Bradley University in Illinois, where he majored in theater.

WANT TO WATCH? What: 95th Academy Awards When: Tonight, 8 p.m. Where: ABC (WXLV, Channel 45)

I got to study theater there and do a lot of work in lots of different facets of production, including scene design and makeup design, directing and producing," explained Schlanger, 48. "And it was amazing because what I started to do was to sort of realize that putting people together and solving creative problems was something that I really liked and I really enjoyed. And, in a way, I felt like I was good at it."

Still, he had spent that time focused on being a performer. But that would change.

By the time Schlanger completed his studies at Bradley, graduating in 1996, I just didnt like it as much as I used to and I was really feeling more of the itch to try to tell stories. So I was writing plays at that time, and I thought that probably I should transition into film.

At the time, he was living near Chicago, which had a great theater district, but as Schlanger puts it: I didnt think my fragile soul could handle living in the winter any longer.

So he came back to North Carolina, where he decided to try his hand at film, which he felt was necessary "to try to sort of tell larger stories. Not that I really didnt want to do theater anymore, I just felt like it was a more viable path for me.

Schlanger attended the new School of Filmmaking at the UNC School of the Arts for about a year, but in the summer of 1997, he followed his then-girlfriend, now his wife (Nickella, a therapist), out to California and dove into the movie business.

The program (at UNCSA) was great, actually, he recalled. But I was just kind of tired. I couldnt do school anymore, you know? I felt like I needed to live and not be confined to school.

Its certainly no knock on the school. I had done almost all classroom learning up until that point.

Schlanger worked for almost 19 years at DreamWorks, using his skills on various production teams and collaborating on hit animated movies such as The Croods, The Boss Baby, and How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

He found that he had a knack for building great groups of people to help create interesting and amazing things.

After his long stint at DreamWorks, Schlanger eventually went his own way and met Chris Williams, who had worked on such popular movies as Big Hero 6 and Moana, and who had been developing the script that would become The Sea Beast for many years. Schlanger recognized a kindred spirit in the desire to collaborate and create compelling stories.

He was just like a nice and sort of real, down-to-earth kind of guy, and really cared about his team, and really wanted to collect a bunch of people so that we could really try to push this thing and make it great.

Part of what drew me to the movie, frankly, was the idea that we were going to try to make something that didnt feel like everything else.

They collaborated with Netflix, which was beginning to produce its own animated films, and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Over a period of more than three years, The Sea Beast was created.

The movie, which is available on Netflix, follows a group of sailors in a fictionalized version of the golden age of sailing. They track down sea monsters but gradually learn the monsters may not be as evil as legend makes them out to be. The voice cast includes Karl Urban of The Boys, Jared Harris, Zaris-Angel Hator, Dan Stevens and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.

Its very much an adventure movie first, he described. Its a genre that we dont always see in animation, with the real-life peril and stakes of an adventure film. And I think thats what we were really trying to do, is immerse the audience in the world and then show them stakes that were really intense and felt believable and natural, so that we could really take them on the journey of the movie and get them engrossed in it.

Schlanger is gratified the movie has gotten considerable acclaim and now an Oscar nomination.

Its such a win just to be even nominated  and I know thats sort of a cliche thing to say, he said. But really, it is for me. This is my first time as a producer being nominated... Ive been lucky enough to be on a few films that have been nominated, but to be the producer on it is a different feeling and certainly a different experience.

And tonight, he will have cheerleaders in town rooting for him; his parents are traveling to Los Angeles to watch the show with his kids and cheer him on while hes at the ceremony.

I wouldnt be anyplace but, Dianne Schlanger said. Truly and honestly, in my mind, whether he wins the Oscar or not, this is the epitome of his career.... Its just amazing to us.
A fire suddenly erupts on a Triad industrial site only yards from the doorsteps of a residential neighborhood.

Firefighters scramble to quell the flames, all the while worrying that bad could come to worse  and an explosion could follow.

Havent we seen this story before?

Barely more than a year after the massive Winston Weaver fertilizer plant fire in Winston-Salem, an asphalt storage tank hissed, flickered and belched smoke last week in Madison.

And we held our collective breath. Again.

Certainly the scale of the Winston Weaver inferno was much grander and potentially much more disastrous.

That fire, which broke out on Jan. 31, 2022, took days instead of hours to extinguish, prompted the evacuation of more than 6,000 residents and could have set off a horrific explosion if the flames had reached 500 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at the plant.

In fact, a person who ought to know, Winston-Salem Fire Chief William Trey Mayo, said it could have been one of the worst explosions in U.S. history.

By contrast, only 50 to 75 people were evacuated during the fire at the Seal Master site in Madison. Yet, in both instances Triad communities dodged tragic outcomes. And both incidents raise similar questions:

How did this happen and why?

Could it happen again?

What could be done to prevent that?

And why are hazardous industrial sites so near peoples homes in the first place?

The fire in Madison broke out early Tuesday morning in a tank containing 11,500 gallons of liquid asphalt.

A companys executive told Staff Reporter Susie Spear that the fire originated in insulation on the outside of the tank. As for the reason why, so far no one knows for certain.

Nor did either firefighters or company employees know how to put it out. So they contacted the Canadian manufacturer of the asphalt for help.

Understandably, that does not inspire the confidence of the companys neighbors.

It concerned us that nobody knew how to put it out, and it seemed like there was no protocol in place, James King, a Baptist minister who lives across the street from the site, told Spear. If youve got to call Canada and ask how to put out the fire its too late.

Added another neighbor: I dont think they were prepared for a situation like this.

Even before the fire, nearby residents say, there were other concerns, including fumes that waft from the site, creating the impression that a road is perpetually being paved.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration website says liquid asphalt fumes can cause rashes, headaches, fatigue and even skin cancer.

Then theres the fact that neighborhoods nearest hazardous or polluting industries tend to be Black, Hispanic and poor. That was the case with the Piney Grove community near Winston Weaver and its the case in Madison.

Both incidents also raise what EPA Administrator Michael Regan has invoked as a major priority of his agency: environmental justice.

In fact, the environmental justice movement was born in North Carolinas Warren County during a 1982 protest against a PCB-contaminated landfill and, unfortunately, is still relevant today.

As for Seal Master, neighbors also complain about a lack of transparency from the company. Its not ideal that they have to coexist in such close proximity to begin with. But if they must, clear communication is essential. A community meeting with company officials would be helpful.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Environmental Quality is investigating to ensure that Seal Master meets regulations.

One big difference between the two fires is new zoning rules prevent the Winston Weaver from being rebuilt on the same site after extensive damage. Seal Masters still there in Madison.

For now, neighbors can only hope and pray there wont be a next time.

Were still not quite sure what caused the insulation to catch fire, Seal Master COO Lee Lowis said, but its over, its done.

Uh, actually no. Until there are more answers, it is neither over nor done.
Editor's note: The Independent Record received an email early Sunday from Hands On Global Executive Director Valerie Hellermann, of Helena, who is offering aid and comfort to people in Ukraine and is making her third trip to the area since Russia launched a war in February 2022. Portions of this report have been edited for clarity.

Today our Ukrainian driver picked us up in Budapest, Hungary, and we drove to Mukachevo Ukraine.

Crossing the border took awhile as we had 17 bags of medical supplies packed to the max. They were filled with trauma supplies including 100 tourniquets, medications and limb-saving orthopedic supplies.

The Hungarian border control had us open 3 random bags and were a bit perplexed at the nails, bolts and screws from the orthopedic box.

They let us pass through to Ukraine customs where we had to do a lot more explaining. Lucky we had 2 letters from the NGO (non-governmental organization) and one letter translated into Ukrainian. We arrived in Mukachevo in pouring rain to the Childrens Regional Hospital. Our friend and head trauma surgeon had been pulled away to emergency trauma surgery.

We unloaded at the hospital and then went and met up with the logistic coordinator for the front line.

She arrived in a van and we unloaded 8 huge bags of trauma supplies. They were heading to Behmut where the war is raging. She was from Kharkiv and she did not know if her home was still standing. Just yesterday it was bombarded with misleading attacks.

The Ukraine army consists of mostly ordinary citizens. They are fighting for their country, their sovereignty .
Saudi Arabia's largest conference for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) - Biban 2023 - has witnessed the signing of agreements worth more than $2.8 billion sealed on its third day, thus accelerating the digital transformation of retail and e-commerce in the country.

This comes on top of more than 25 agreements worth over $2.93 billion signed on the opening day of the event and over $1.5 billion deals inked the second day, said the event organisers.

These MoUs will be focused on leveraging the respective partnerships resources, expertise and networks to provide state-of-the-art financing solutions and electronic payments to the kingdoms retail and online stores, they stated.

The top SMEs summit, which concludes tomorrow (March 13), has drawn some of the worlds most innovative start-ups, entrepreneurs, and investors to the Saudi capital.

This years event is being held under the slogan of Opportunities Create Entrepreneurship, with its theme being Attract-Connect-Achieve.

Bringing regional as well as international entrepreneurs, SME owners, investors, and policymakers together, Biban 2023 provides over 105,000 participants a productive environment to network, collaborate and pioneer solutions to global business challenges.

At the event, the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Monsha'at) underlined its commitment to advancing entrepreneurship in the country.

In line with Vision 2030, Monshaat said it had signed a range of agreements with a selection of leading regional and global entities.

These are fully geared towards accelerating the digital transformation of retail and e-commerce in the country, powering the future of Saudi SMEs in the modern retail space, it added.

Contributing to the growth and development of the national economy, the partnerships were launched on the third day of Biban 2023.

As part of its mission to empower the kingdoms thriving community of entrepreneurs and enhance the Saudi SME ecosystem, Monshaat signed a MoU with Zoho Software Trading Company Limited.

In addition, it has sealed a deal with Neoleap: the global digital solutions company, and GoDaddy, the leading domain registrar.

A major highlights of Day 3 was the signing of a $2.8 billion funding by SME Bank across its programmes over 3 years. These partnerships mark the latest arrangements announced at Biban 2023: Saudi Arabias flagship startup and SME forum.

In addition to the announcement of Monshaats MoUs, the event's third day also provided the backdrop for the launch of wide-ranging initiatives focused on bolstering the kingdoms SME community.

Offering access to all-important tools and insights, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) - the leading professional services network - is providing 500 free hours of consulting to local SMEs and entrepreneurs, in addition to training workshops targeting women entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs, said the organisers.

The Global Finals of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) also continued during Bibans third day, with some of the worlds most innovative startups competing for up to $1 million in cash prizes, they added.-TradeArabia News Service
Two public education bills that would provide greater educational options for Montana students both passed their second readings in the House Friday afternoon.

House Bill 352 sponsored by Rep. Brad Barker, R-Roberts, would provide statewide intervention options to early-aged kids across the state while House Bill 393 by Rep. Sue Vinton, R-Billings, would allow additional funding opportunities for families with special needs students. Both passed on 76-24 and 64-36 votes respectively.

HB 352

Barkers bill specifically aims to establish targeted interventions for kids graded K-2 to ensure improved proficiency in the third grade when they begin taking standardized tests. It would do so by establishing a competency test for children prior to starting kindergarten to identify those who are at-risk of falling behind.

Additionally, districts would have the option to opt-in to the test and utilize a home-based literacy program, an early literacy jump-start program for students before they enter grades K-3 and early enrollment into kindergarten for children aged four identified as at-risk.

The programs would be operated and overseen by the board of public education and office of public instruction with individual school districts given the choice to opt in or out of the program.

Barker presented the bill believing early reading development was essential to success throughout a students K-12 education and professional life.

Not only is this a great approach to provide better outcomes for our kids, there is a strong business case to support this legislation to dramatically increase accountability and the return on investment for our taxpayers, he said on the house floor.

The bill brought little resistance but many representatives asking questions regarding the clarifications on the programs, qualifications for students and their assessment along with how current Head Start programs may be affected. Baker assured that they would not be usurped nor replaced with its implementation up to the local school boards.

Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton, believed the bill was a lawful approach to a recent trend of declining reading proficiency.

This bill provides us a lawful means to approach early childhood education andprovides a model for how to intervene and affect the students who are most at risk for not being literate at age three which copious data shows, means they will not achieve literacy throughout their lives, he said.

HB 393

HB 393 would approve the development of a special needs education savings account with the Office of Public Instruction that would cover education expenses such as tuition, textbooks and software specifically for special needs students.

The account would be funded through the state general fund under OPI rules and the presiding districts average number belonging (ANB) calculation. Funds would then be diverted to the account towards whichever education option the family chooses.

Under the bill, the student wouldn't have to attend public schools in their district and could instead opt for homeschooling or a private school. The district would also account for the student, but not receive any funding on their behalf if they were to choose an option outside of it.

Since neither of these options are currently funded through local taxpayers, proponents for the bill say this would provide special-needs students the resources they need to achieve equal opportunity for all regarding education as defined in the Montana Constitution.

Why do we need these savings accounts? All students are different and their needs are similarly unique, Vinton said. Families need flexibility assessing the best and most appropriate educational setting for their child.

Opponents for the bill made a similar argument against the creation of charter schools  which are also advancing through the house  in that needed funding was being taken away from public school districts in favor of schools operating outside the regulations and guidelines of the office of public instruction.

Voicing her opposition, Rep. Melissa Romano, D-Helena, stated the bill would not achieve equal opportunity by taking from tax-funded public schools and giving it to private schools.

This bill specifically states that private schools receiving funds from this account cannot be regulated by the state, she said. Passing this bill is sending taxpayers money to for-profit institutions with no oversight.

In her support of the bill, Rep. Fiona Nave, R- Columbus, said that it would provide an alternative to the public education system that, in some cases, had failed these students. She referenced a case of a special needs student being locked in a school closet that went unaddressed upon requests.

And so, there isnt always accountability, she said. I believe that this funding should follow the student and the students parents should get to make the final decision of where their special needs child is going to get the very best care and education.

Upon their passage, both bills were subsequently moved to the House appropriations committee.
The Catawba County Veterans Treatment Court marked a key milestone when the program celebrated its first graduates on March 3 at the Catawba County Justice Center.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Tommy Todd and Army veterans Prashant Gongidi and Tyler Gragg are the first three individuals to complete the program.

The first graduation comes nearly two years after the treatment court was established with a $339,000 grant from the United States Department of Justice.

The treatment court is a diversion program which allows veterans who are charged with low-level crimes to complete courses of rehabilitation and treatment rather than being prosecuted.

While the program model differs from the traditional criminal justice system, it does include many features of a conventional court. Participants attend court sessions before a judge where defense attorneys and prosecutors are also present.

District Court Judge David Aycock, who oversees the treatment court, said the program saved $400,000 in incarceration expenses and helped to bring in about $500,000 in veteran benefits to the county.

He also addressed the personal impact of the program.

The court has saved lives and given family members back their loved ones, which is a sentiment that is expressed by our participants in almost every court session that we have, Aycock said.

As the graduates went to accept certificates, plaques and letters of congratulation from U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, they were accompanied by the mentors who helped guide them through the process.

The strong bonds between the graduates, mentors and others involved in the program was clear at the ceremony. The mentors and graduates exchanged challenge coins as part of the ceremony.

Tommy Todd, 49, the first official graduate of the treatment court, was effusive in his praise for mentor Ric Vandett.

I look up to him, Todd said. Some of the things that hes accomplished, I could only accomplish half of it in two lifetimes.

Vandett noted he had the opportunity to hand out many graduation certificates during his tenure as superintendent of Hickory Public Schools.

This is better, Vandett said of the treatment court graduation. This is special.

Todd expressed gratitude for the people in the program and became emotional as he thanked defense attorney Heather Higgins for volunteering her time to the program.

You will never know how much we care, Todd said.

Prashant Gongidi, 46, said the treatment court allowed him to address his struggles with alcohol abuse, something he had not been able to do in other programs.

Veterans Treatment Court has actually saved my life, Gongidi said.

The third graduate, Tyler Gragg, 30, noted that his record had been so bad initially that he only barely accepted into the court.

When they shot me down at first when I put in my application for the program, I was like, No, that cant happen, Gragg said. I said, This is my last opportunity. If not, Im going away for years. And I wanted to change my life. I knew I could do something better with my life.

From its inception, the programs organizers hoped the people who completed the program would return as mentors. Its a charge the three graduates have taken to heart.

Thats my goal is helping other veterans like my mentor did, Gongidi said. He didnt have to do it but he was there for me, so I want to be able to do that for other veterans as well.

Todd, who now lives in South Carolina, said he plans to maintain a connection with the program, and Gragg said he wants to be a mentor so he can show (program participants) it doesnt matter how bad your record is, you can change your life and flip it all the way around.

The treatment court currently has 21 participants, Veteran Treatment Court Coordinator Jared Weaver said. He said four people have left the program for failing to meet requirements.

Weaver said they are currently seeking another grant to keep the program going for another five years.
Editor's Note This is the second in a series about the city of Concord and issues facing the city from the perspective of members of city council.

Concord is the best place to live in North Carolina. Sometimes, we simply take for granted the blessings which we have. Our mild climate, clean environment, and functional government make life rich. Lets explore more about what makes the City of Concord an exceptional place to live, work, and play. The most recent SouthPark magazine from Charlotte featured Concord!

These articles are only my personal perspective. I do not speak for our Council or our City. The Independent Tribune does not pay for these columns; they are part of my public service. Thanks to Mark Plemmons of this paper for his encouragement.

In this article, let me celebrate the diversity of our people, our tax base, our strong financial position, and our economic growth.

First and foremost, what makes Concord great are the people of this City. We are a diverse people: racially, economically, and culturally. We worship in hundreds of congregations of multiple denominations and religions. We have historic families who have lived here for generations. Other citizens have arrived from throughout this country and the world.

All of our residents with their many gifts, talents, and aspirations have chosen to make this City their home. When I ride down the street in the Christmas parade, I am always astounded by the variety of people.

Our taxes are low. Over the past decade, we have seen no tax rate increase (48 per $100 of property value). Our tax rate is less than Cabarrus County and Kannapolis. Yet, those dollars do so much. While some persons complain about our taxes, remember how low they are and how much they accomplish.

Our fees for services continue to be moderate. When I moved from Matthews to Concord twenty years ago, my monthly bill for water, electricity, and other services dropped by half. I thought I had been billed incorrectly; I was wrong. The Council has continued to offer the best service at the lowest price possible.

The Citys finances are strong. We have exceptionally low debt, very strong bond ratings (AAA), high reserves, and every year receive national recognition for our annual audit, budget, and management. Each year, the Council reviews, revises, and adopts a 300-page+ budget that lives within our income.

We are experiencing strong economic growth. In cooperation with the Cabarrus County Commissioners and Economic Development Commission, in the past three years the City has welcomed 22 new companies, 2,800+ new jobs paying over county average wage, and $3+ billion in investments. Every one of those new jobs transforms the life of a family and lowers the tax base for everyone.

In this growth, the Council has shifted from incentivizing logistics businesses to emphasizing manufacturing companies. The result is higher wages and a stronger tax base. Almost everyone is excited about the new projects at the former Philip Morris property including Eli Lilly, Golden Home, and Red Bull. Much more is to come.

In the past three years, for our diverse community the Concord City Council kept the tax rate low, managed a responsible budget, and welcomed economic growth.

Is that all? No! For more about our City, visit www.concordnc.gov. And stay tuned for more articles about the achievements in the City of Concord.
MATTOON  The heaviest rain of the year, followed by a windstorm that at times reached almost cyclonic proportions visited Mattoon Sunday afternoon and night. The telephone service was considerably impaired as a result as a result of the winds, lines throughout the city being reported down this morning. The 11:30 o'clock interurban car returning from Charleston Sunday night struck the old trailer near Loxa about 11:45 o'clock. The trailer had been on the siding at Loxa for some time and during the windstorm was blown across the interurban track. The presence of the trailer on the track was not noted until the car was almost on it. The motorman applied his breaks in time to avoid a heavy collision, although the occupants of the car received a considerable jolt...MIAMI BEACH, Fla.  "Speaking of fishing," remarked H.F. Kendall, who recently returned from Miami Beach, Fla., "it remained for W.C. Lumpkin, a tyro in the fishing game, to pull the big stunt of all the Mattoon delegation." Kendall, R.A. Gilbert, W.C. Lumpkin and Frank Brooks were out on the ocean Friday, March 2, and succeeded in pulling in a number of tuna. At about noon, Lumpkin had a vicious strike and started to try to reel in his fish, but it refused to come towards the boat, taking out about 100 feet of line. The animal proved to be a hammerhead shark , about ten feet in length, weighing probably not less than 200 pounds. As soon as the shark reached the surface, the captain rushed to the cabin to get his rifle to shoot it for it would have been physically impossible to to capture it. But before the captain could get his shooting iron "Mr. Shark" concluded he had business elsewhere and kept going until he had taken out fully 500 feet of line, then Mr. Lumpkin got a kink in the piano wire leader which connected the hook and line, which broke the leader and the shark went his way.
Activities

A special U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs outreach presentation for Triad-area military veterans and their families on expanded benefits of the new federal PACT (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics) Act was held March 4 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School in High Point.

Approximately 75 people attended the two-hour event including veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan-era military service. Lead presenter at the event was Julie C. Patton, assistant manager, Veterans Service Center, Winston-Salem VA Regional Office. Area organizations in attendance included: Disabled American Veterans, American Red Cross and Combat Female Veterans Families United.

* * * *

Members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Surry Community College recently led an initiative to create Valentines Day cards for senior residents at Cypress Valley Skilled Nursing Facility in Reidsville.

In total, PTK members created 100 Valentines Day cards to be distributed to the residents. The project was proposed by incoming chapter treasurer, Jennah Weaver, whose father is the administrator at Cypress Valley Skilled Nursing Facility.

The cards were designed by incoming chapter president, Sydney Presa. The cards include a black and white design for coloring and a sweet surprise added by chapter members.

Announcements

The Lexington Farmers Market will sign up new and returning vendors for the 2023 farmers market season an its annual spring organizing meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 13 at the Davidson County Cooperative Extension Auditorium. Anyone interested in vending at locations managed by the Lexington Farmers Market is encouraged to attend.

Farmers, food producers and artisan crafters must be based in Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Rowan, Randolph or Montgomery counties to participate in the Lexington Farmers Market. Vendors must grow, make, bake or create what they sell with few exceptions.

In addition to Saturday mornings at the Depot at 129 S. Railroad St. in Lexington from May to October, the Lexington Farmers Market will also hold markets at Weathervane Winery on selected Sunday afternoons and behind Conrad and Hinkle Food Market on selected Wednesday mornings this summer.

The Lexington Farmers Market is also negotiating with the owners of Parkway Plaza near I-85 for a new Tuesday night outdoor farmers market location near Planet Fitness.

This year, the Lexington Farmers Market will also continue its double bucks program for recipients of SNAP EBT benefits.

To learn more about becoming a vendor, visit www.lexingtonfarmersmarketnc.com and click on Sell at the Market.

Davidson County Farmers Market opening dates: Thomasville Farmers Market, April 22; The Depot in Lexington, May 6; Weathervane Winery, May 21; and Behind Conrad & Hinkle, June 15.

* * * *

Winston-Salem Writers and Bookmarks will present readings by four authors at 7 p.m. March 15 at the monthly 4 on 4th Author Showcase at Bookmarks, 634 W. Fourth St. #110 in Winston-Salem.

The March event will include Susan Surman reading from her romance novel, Trade Off; Timothy L. Rodriguez reading from Never Is Now, a murder mystery novel; Tim Swink reading from his debut novel Curing Time; and Eliot D. Esparza reading from My Mind Is Not Yours: Welcome to Tarot Tori City.

The readings will be followed by book-signings by the authors.

Authors of newly published books who would like to promote their books at 4 on 4th Author Showcase events should use the following link to be considered for the readings at the Bookmarks store: https://www.bookmarksnc.org/forauthors_4on4th.

* * * *

On March 13, Rajmohan Gandhi will explore connections between his grandfather Mahatma Gandhis advocacy for peaceful, nonviolent change and the words and work of civil rights activist the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Wake Forest Professor of Humanities Corey D.B. Walker and Associate Professor of History Raisur Rahman will lead the conversation with Gandhi.

The event, Gandhi, King and the Future of Humanity will be held from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. in Porter Byrum Welcome Center, Kulynych Auditorium. A reception will follow.

On March 15, Professor Gandhi will offer a biographical look at the life of Mahatma Gandhi. The talk, Lessons for the 21st Century will be held from 6 to 7:15 p.m. in Carswell Hall, Annenberg Forum. Light refreshments will be served prior to the event from 5 to 6 p.m.

Both events are free and open to the public.

* * * *

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that has made its way into North Carolina to feed on and destroy local trees, plants and crops.

USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is asking residents to keep an eye out for spotted lanternfly egg masses in their local areas and to crush them if found. Springtime is when these pests are in their egg mass stage, which makes them a nonmoving target  an ideal time to find and remove them.

The spotted lanternfly lays mud-like egg masses on tree bark, outdoor gear such as lawnmowers, bikes, and grills, as well as cars, moving vans, recreational vehicles, trains, planes, boats, buses and more.

Once hatched, these pests seek out a wide range of crops and plants including the tree-of-heaven, grapes, apples, hops, walnuts and hardwood trees, among others.

Community members who spot the pest outside of Forsyth County should take a picture and report it via this submission form at tinyurl.com/mtat6uuj or by calling 919-707-3730. For information, visit HungryPests.com or StopSLF.org. Also, https://extension.psu.edu/how-to-remove-spotted-lanternfly-eggs.

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Veterans who needs transportation to their VA medical appointment to the Kernersville, Durham or Salisbury medical facilities are encouraged to contact the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20 of Guilford Countys veterans transportation hotline at 336-510-7508.

Volunteer drivers are needed as well. Call 336-510-7508 for information.

Callers should allow three business days for a response.

Graduates

University of Central Arkansas, Winston-Salem: Suneel Kumar Parvathareddy, Master of Business Administration in business administration

Honors

The Alpha Xi Tau Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Surry Community College held its annual induction ceremony for 18 new members for fall 2022/spring 2023 in the Grand Hall of the Shelton-Badgett North Carolina Center for Viticulture and Enology on Feb. 24.

The inductees are: Khloe Bennett, Jenny Strickland and Elise Yount, all of Pilot Mountain; Kaesi Blythe, Amanda Creed, Caitlin Grubb and Amber Harris, all of Mount Airy, Caroline Brown of Elkin, Ellie Edwards of State Road, Sarah Farmer of Pinnacle, Lanie Fitzgerald of Dobson, Isaac Heath of Walnut Cove, Lucas Hutchens of Siloam, Samantha King of Westfield, Kara Moore of Trinity, Sydney Presa of Ararat, Va., Jennah Weaver of King and Courtney Wood of Roaring River.

The chapter officers for 2023/2024 were also installed: President, Sydney Presa; vice president, Ellie Edwards; public relations secretary, Lanie Fitzgerald; recording secretary, Isaac Heath; and treasurer, Jennah Weaver.

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Biola University, deans list: Hope Langston of Boone

Clark University, deans list: Gabe H. Spindel of Clemmons

Tufts University, deans list, Winston-Salem: Ann Yancey Bassett, Anthony Davis-Pait, Warisha Siddiqui

University of Mississippi, fall, chancellors honor roll: Meghan Garrou of Lexington, William Hendrix of Blowing Rock
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"Code Name Blue Wren" by Jim Popkin; Hanover Square Press, 351 pages, $27.99.

By the time you read this, Ana Belen Montes will have left the Admin Unit at Carswell Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, her release was scheduled for Jan. 8.

The prison has been home to some of the nation's most dangerous women, including Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a Charles Manson follower who attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975, and Emma Coronel Aispuro, the wife of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

So how did this former federal government employee end up serving a 25-year sentence in "the world's worst sorority house"? She was caught spying for Cuba while working as a senior analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C.

Montes is "sometimes called the most important spy you've never heard of," Jim Popkin writes in "Code Name Blue Wren," his account of how the "Queen of Cuba" was exposed. Even though her double-dealing ranks with "the two worst traitors in modern American history  Aldrich 'Rick' Ames at the CIA and Robert Hanssen at the FBI," her arrest in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 went virtually unnoticed.

"Code Name Blue Wren" corrects that. Even though Popkin was unable to interview Montes  she was barred from speaking to reporters and authors as a requirement of her plea bargain  a portrait emerges of a complicated, narcissistic, tightly wound woman who excelled at her day job, earning accolades as she became one of the top experts on Cuba, and was equally successful at her side hustle, giving the Castro regime information that "poisoned nearly every secret plan that American intelligence officials hatched in Cuba."

Although Montes' voice is missed, details from hundreds of interviews, court records, a classified CIA behavioral analysis and exclusive access to her letters and her parents' unpublished autobiographies flesh out Montes' days leading up to and including the 17 years she spent as a secret agent. The actual work of spying is a grind, as it turns out.

Montes spent long hours memorizing documents  early on she eschewed handing over paper records  and she had no one to talk to. Her handlers often "would go completely dark when they sensed danger"; co-workers were off-limits, for obvious reasons; and most of her siblings worked for the FBI. Her days were mainly work, working out and spying.

Such a buttoned-down subject could have proved boring, but the ins and outs of spycraft  amateur radio operators still search for numeric broadcasts that give spies their orders, a relic from the Cold War still in use  and the interagency fighting that surrounded the Montes espionage case are fascinating and sometimes humorous reading.

"The world of counterintelligence is very weird, and nobody trusts anybody," a National Security Agency employee notes, an understatement if there ever was one as counterintelligence officials refer to one another as "morons" and "dweebs" and an element of farce prolongs the rooting out of Montes.

It's a miracle she was ever caught. But she was, and Popkin keeps the reader hooked until the handcuffs are slapped on, and beyond.
Before she moved to the U.S. about four years ago, Neldy Fernandez  like her husband  was an engineer in Venezuela.

But when they left the country so Fernandezs husband could pursue a job in the states, Fernandezs limited knowledge of English made it hard to find similar work herself.

Then she learned about a relatively new class through Lincoln Literacy, which connects English language learners with employment in local schools, from paraeducators to nutrition services workers.

Fernandez would occasionally help out in classrooms back in Venezuela  her mother and sisters were teachers  so she decided to pursue it, eventually landing a job last month as a special education paraeducator at Elliott Elementary.

I love it, she said. The experience is wonderful.

Lincoln Literacys school jobs skill program has opened another avenue of employment for English language learners and helped address a crucial workforce need at the same time.

Through a nine-week online course, students learn about the various jobs offered at Lincoln Public Schools and how to navigate the application process. The class also focuses on vocabulary and concepts theyll need in their new job to better support students.

Its just great, said Shari McCright, the program coordinator. The students are enthusiastic and want to learn about the school community.

The class is an offshoot of a one-on-one teacher preparatory class made possible through a significant gift from Friedrich Schelert, a Ukrainian refugee and long-time German teacher at Lincoln East who died in 2020.

The teacher prep (program) developed because we were getting people coming from different countries with professional degrees, said Renee Cox, associate director of adult skills. And it was very difficult for them to navigate the process as to how they would become a teacher in this country and do something they loved.

But for some, even securing a job as a teacher is out of reach, so Lincoln Literacy figured it would open up a class for other school jobs, too.

One thing that we constantly see is you have to illuminate the pathway, Lincoln Literacy Executive Director Bryan Seck said. Thats powerful for them.

The class is one more way to help address workforce shortages hitting schools, especially in areas like special education. Just recently, LPS began hiring high school seniors to work as special education paras.

The school jobs program is such a cool piece of what we do, Seck said. Heres an untapped potential and heres a need and were meeting it.

More than 40 students have taken part in the school jobs skills class since it started in the fall of 2020. Some students simply take it to improve their English skills. Most are already at the intermediate or advanced level of their English understanding.

Many of the students also have children that attend Lincoln schools and are excited to learn the inner workings of their childs education. Fernandez, for example, has two sons who attend LPS.

I think it gives people  a real inside view of what was happening in schools with their children, Cox said. Thats a huge advantage for them to feel a part of the community.

So far 11 students who have grown the program since 2020 have been hired, including six as paras and five as nutrition services workers.

For Fernandez, its been a rewarding experience.

I hope to work at Elliott for a long time.

Top Journal Star photos for March 2023
NEW YORK  In the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump's lawyer tried to buy the silence of a porn actress who said she had a sexual encounter with the Republican during his days as a reality TV star.

More than six years later, New York prosecutors appear to be close to deciding whether Trump should face charges in connection with that payoff, in what could become the first criminal case ever brought against a former president.

News that the Manhattan district attorney invited Trump to testify before a grand jury soon suggested prosecutors were serious about bringing charges in a probe that looked like yesterday's news just a few months ago.

Trump's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, now a key prosecution witness, is scheduled to testify before the grand jury on Monday, according to two people familiar with the matter. The people were not authorized to speak publicly about grand jury proceedings and did so on condition of anonymity.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and that he had any extramarital affairs, and he blasted the probe in a Truth Social post as a "political Witch-Hunt, trying to take down the leading candidate, by far, in the Republican Party."

Here's a refresher on how things got to this point:

What is this case about?

The investigation centers on hush-money payments made in 2016 to two women who alleged that they had extramarital encounters with Trump, who has denied their accounts of his infidelity.

Specifically, District Attorney Alvin Bragg's team appears to be looking at whether Trump or anyone committed crimes in arranging the payments, or in the way they accounted for them internally at the Trump Organization.

How were the payments made?

Cohen paid porn actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 through a shell company Cohen set up. He was then reimbursed by Trump, whose company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses.

Earlier in 2016, Cohen also arranged for former Playboy model Karen McDougal to be paid $150,000 by the publisher of the supermarket tabloid the National Enquirer, which squelched her story in a journalistically dubious practice known as "catch-and-kill."

Trump's company, the Trump Organization, "grossed up" Cohen's reimbursement for the Daniels payment for "tax purposes," according to federal prosecutors who filed criminal charges against the lawyer in connection with the payments in 2018.

Cohen got $360,000 plus a $60,000 bonus, for a total of $420,000.

Cohen pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign finance law in connection with the payments. Federal prosecutors say the payments amounted to illegal, unreported assistance to Trump's campaign. But they declined to file charges against Trump himself.

What is Trump's involvement?

Cohen says Trump directed him to arrange the Daniels payment.

Cohen also made recordings of a conversation in which he and Trump spoke about the arrangement to pay McDougal through the National Enquirer.

At one point in the recording, Cohen told Trump, "I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend, David," a reference to David Pecker, who ran the Enquirer's parent company at the time.

Cohen said he had already spoken with the Trump Organization's longtime finance chief, Allen Weisselberg, on "how to set the whole thing up."

Trump then said: "What do we got to pay for this? One-fifty?"

Today, Trump characterizes the attempts to get him to pay money to the women to keep them quiet as "extortion."

What crimes are prosecutors looking at?

Legal experts say a case could be made that Trump falsified business records by logging Cohen's reimbursement for the Daniels payment as legal fees. But that's only a misdemeanor under New York law  unless prosecutors could prove he falsified records to conceal another crime.

Mark Pomerantz, who led the investigation under then-District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., wrote in his recent book "People vs. Donald Trump: An Inside Account" that in 2021, he looked into whether Trump could be charged with money laundering or if Trump had been somehow extorted.

David Shapiro, a fraud risk and financial crimes specialist and former FBI special agent, said a potential case against Trump could be "especially difficult" when it comes to proving his intent and knowledge of wrongdoing.

"He's loud, he's brash, so proving that he had specific intent to fraud, one is almost left with the idea that, 'well, if he has that specific intent of fraud, he has it all of the time, because that's his personality,'" said Shapiro, a lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

The Manhattan district attorney's office has declined to comment on the investigation.

Haven't we been here before?

Yes. Several times.

Federal prosecutors entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the National Enquirer's owner, which admitted paying McDougal to help Trump, but they declined to seek a criminal charge against the then-sitting president.

The Manhattan district attorney's office opened its own investigation into the payments in 2019 and has revisited it several times since while expanding the probe into Trump's business dealings and other topics.

So far, the only charges have been against Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty, and the Trump Organization, which was convicted in December of an unrelated offense: scheming to dodge taxes on company-paid perks such as free apartments and cars for executives.

What about the statute of limitations?

The hush-money payments and Cohen's reimbursements happened more than six years ago. New York's statute of limitations for most felonies is five years. For misdemeanors, it's just two years.

Does that mean prosecutors have run out of time? Trump thinks so. In social media posts, he insists that the statute of limitations "long ago expired," calling the matter "old news."

But that's not always how the law works. In New York, the clock can stop on the statute of limitations when a potential defendant is continuously outside the state. Trump visited New York rarely over the four years of his presidency and now lives mostly in Florida and New Jersey.

Practically speaking, though, the passage of time could affect the case in other ways. Memories fade, and evidence and records get lost or destroyed.

"The power of the case  the surprise factor, the shock value," also fades, Shapiro said, meaning a jury might be less impressed by allegations that have been public for so long.

Who are prosecutors speaking with?

Members of Trump's inner circle, including his former political adviser Kellyanne Conway and former spokesperson Hope Hicks, have met with prosecutors in recent weeks. Cohen, now estranged from Trump, has made several visits to prepare for his expected grand jury testimony.

Among others: Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher, was spotted going into the building where the grand jury is meeting, as well as Trump Organization insiders including the company's senior vice president and controller Jeffrey McConney.

Prosecutors are still interested in Weisselberg's insider knowledge about the hush-money arrangements. The 75-year-old ex-CFO is due to be released from a five-month jail sentence on April 19. There's no indication that he's keen to cooperate against his former boss.

Trump himself is probably highly unlikely to testify before the grand jury or meet with prosecutors.

What other legal trouble is Trump facing?

The hush-money case is one of several potential criminal cases the Republican faces as he mounts a comeback run for the White House in 2024, along with an investigation into election interference in Georgia, the probe of storage of classified documents at his Florida home, and other matters.

Timeline: Key dates in the investigation into Trump's Mar-a-Lago docs Jan. 20, 2021 May 2021 December 2021 NARA "continued to make requests" for records it believed to be missing for several months, according to the affidavit. Around late December 2021, a Trump representative informed the agency that an additional 12 boxes of records that should have been turned over had been found at the former president's Mar-a-Lago club and residence and were ready to be retrieved. Jan. 18, 2022 NARA received 15 boxes of presidential records that had been stored at Mar-a-Lago  14 of which, it would later be revealed, contained classified documents. The documents were found mixed in with an assortment of other material, including newspapers, magazines, photos and personal correspondence. In total, the boxes were found to contain 184 documents with classified markings, including 67 marked confidential, 92 secret and 25 top secret. Agents who inspected the boxes also found special markings suggesting they included information from highly sensitive human sources or the collection of electronic "signals" authorized by a court under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Feb. 9, 2022 Feb. 18, 2022 Feb. 19, 2022 NARA revealed in a letter to a congressional oversight committee that classified information was found in the 15 recovered boxes and confirmed the Justice Department referral. Trump's Save America PAC released another statement insisting, "The National Archives did not 'find' anything," but "were given, upon request, Presidential Records in an ordinary and routine process to ensure the preservation of my legacy and in accordance with the Presidential Records Act." April 12, 2022 NARA informed Trump of its intent to provide the documents to the FBI, at the request of the Justice Department. A Trump representative requested an extension until April 29. April 29, 2022 May 10, 2022 NARA informed Trump's lawyers that it would provide the FBI access to the records as soon as May 12. May 11, 2022 The Justice Department issued a subpoena for additional records. June 3, 2022 June 8, 2022 The Justice Department sent a letter to Trump's lawyer requesting that the storage room be secured, and that "all of the boxes that were moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago (along with any other items in that room) be preserved in that room in their current condition until farther notice." Aug. 5, 2022 Aug. 8, 2022 Aug. 12, 2022 Aug. 26, 2022 Aug. 30, 2022
Trucker Tim Chelette has been making the same twice-daily drive for 16 years hauling empty whiskey barrels from Louisville, Kentucky, to the Jack Daniels distillery in Tennessee, yet his workday keeps getting longer due to time lost in Nashville traffic.

Although trucks wouldn't be eligible for the pay-to-use express lanes Republican Gov. Bill Lee is advocating for some of Tennessee's most-congested highways, Chelette supports them because he thinks enough drivers in the fast-growing state capital would take advantage to benefit everyone.

They're going to have to do something, said Chelette, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who gets paid by distance, not time  even when his 245-mile return trip to the Lynchburg distillery increases by an hour or more during afternoon rush. When I get stuck in traffic, I lose money."

Unlike traditional toll plazas where every vehicle that passes through pays a standard fee, price-managed lanes allow some drivers to pay up to circumvent congestion  and the fee usually increases as the traffic does.

According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), which lobbies on behalf of the projects, 54 of the 89 tolling facilities that opened in the U.S. in the past decade were for price-managed lanes. They can be found across the South in Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia, as well as such other places as California, Colorado, Washington and Minnesota.

Opponents call them Lexus lanes, implying that only drivers of expensive cars can afford to use them, but Lee prefers another name: choice lanes.

I think (the name) is brilliant. I wish I had invented it, said Robert Poole, director of transportation policy at the libertarian Reason Foundation and a vocal advocate for price-managed lanes.

The marketing pitch is important, particularly in the conservative South where voters have long resisted anything resembling a tax hike. But with fuel tax revenues and federal infrastructure payments failing to keep up with the need to repair aging roads or add capacity to reduce congestion, the projects are winning favor  even, and perhaps especially, in Republican-led states where toll has been considered a four-letter word in more ways than one.

All youre doing is allowing those wealthy enough to use those lanes a quicker ride to work, said Terri Hall, founder and director of Texans for Toll-free Highways. Its like a scapegoat for state legislatures to say, We solved the problem. No, you kicked the can down the road.

Supporters counter that the lanes are a way to pay for roads without raising taxes, though they acknowledge they're sometimes a tricky sell  particularly the public-private partnerships that have funded many of the projects.

If you have somebody who is anti-tax and pro-free market, they might say its a great idea," said Pat Jones, IBTTA's executive director and CEO. Then, if you tell them the company is from Spain or Australia, theyll say, I dont want there to be foreigners owning highways.' You often see opposition to toll facilities before people use them, but once theyre open and people realize theyre getting value  the resistance tends to go down.

California's experience with tolling  both traditional plazas and price-managed lanes  has provided fodder for advocates on both sides of the heated debate.

A grand jury in Orange County examined a state agency that was created to build three traditional toll roads. Its report, issued in 2021, found that on one hand, California produced excellent roads with minimal tax dollars. But on the other, the jurors found ballooning debt and the need to change the initial plans amid financial downturns meant that drivers are on pace to shell out $28 billion by 2053 for roads that cost a tenth of that to build.

The nations first price-managed lane opened in 1995 in Orange County, using a public-private partnership to fund it. Poole, who advised on the project and still calls it a model for others, said officials agreed not to add free lanes on the corridor for 35 years. Surging growth ultimately made that impossible, so the county terminated the contract and paid the company for its lost revenue. New bonds were issued, and the tolls had to stay in place to pay for them.

These agencies often become self-fulfilling entities, said Jay Beeber, director of public policy for the National Motorists Association, which advocates for drivers' rights. They have huge organizations with lots of staff members, lots of salaries, huge pensions from the government, and they want to stay in business forever. Nobody wants to legislate themselves out of a job.

Lee is seeking legislative support to authorize a public-private partnership for the project in Tennessee  one of 14 states that don't have tolls on any roads.

Republican state Sen. Frank Niceley said he expects Lee will get enough votes to pass the plan, but he strongly opposes it  even pointing out that fascist Italian dictator Benito Mussolini liked public-private partnerships, too.

We're not really giving these things to the private sector, Niceley said. We're kind of co-signing the note. And most people who co-sign the note end up paying the note.

Most dangerous states to drive in Most dangerous states to drive in #51. Massachusetts #50. Minnesota #49. New Hampshire #48. New Jersey #47. Utah #46. Hawaii #45. Rhode Island #44. Connecticut #43. New York #42. Vermont #41. Washington #40. Wisconsin #39. Maryland #38. Virginia #37. Iowa #36. North Dakota #35. Indiana #34. Washington D.C. #33. Ohio #32. Nebraska #31. Alaska #30. Idaho #29. Michigan #28. Maine #27. Nevada #26. Illinois #25. Colorado #24. California #23. Pennsylvania #22. Wyoming #21. Missouri #20. Alabama #19. Delaware #18. Georgia #17. North Carolina #16. South Dakota #15. Texas #14. Kansas #13. Oklahoma #12. Oregon #11. Tennessee #10. Florida #9. Arizona #8. West Virginia #7. New Mexico #6. Kentucky #5. Louisiana #4. Montana #3. Arkansas #2. Mississippi #1. South Carolina
The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is expected to return to pre-pandemic business travel spend by 2024 and continue its growth trajectory, said an industry expert.



The MEA region is an important growth market for business travel and benefitted from a prompt Covid-19 vaccination roll-out in key markets such as the UAE and Israel, as well as increased economic activity driven by the rising price of crude oil to accelerate the business travel recovery, added Catherine Logan, Regional Vice President EMEA & APAC, Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the worlds largest business travel association.



Business travel in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is recovering more rapidly than in any other region, according to the most recent Business Travel Index Outlook annual forecast and outlook (2022), from the (GBTA),



MEA business travel achieved 86% of its 2019 levels during 2022, outperforming the recovery in Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe.



The strong performance of the sector and future opportunities will come under the spotlight during Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from May 1-4.



Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: The business travel sector is a key component of the Middle Easts wider travel and tourism industry, and it is encouraging to see that it has bounced back so strongly since the pandemic. The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) will present an in-depth analysis of how technology can support this return to travel and the ways in which this can be done sustainably in two education sessions with key insights from leading industry professionals.



According to the forecast, business travel spending reached $933 billion globally in 2022, 65% of the $1.4 trillion business pre-pandemic travel spend, with the MEA region accounting for $23 billion or approximately 2.5% of overall spending within the sector.



GBTA will be hosting two sessions at ATM 2023. The first entitled, All Hail the Innovators will be taking place on the Global Stage, discussing how transformational technologies can be harnessed and incorporated into corporate travel program effectively. High-profile speakers include, James Britchford, Vice President Commercial IMEA, IHG, Jordan Bray, Vice President of Plug and Play, and Mohammed Halawi, Global Travel and Journey Risk Management Director, Firmenich FZ LLC.



The second session entitled Implementing Sustainability in your Travel Program will be taking place in the brand-new Sustainability Hub and will feature GBTAs Catherine Logan, Regional Vice President  EMEA & APAC. Logan will provide insights on how corporate travel programs can become more sustainable.



Aside from restricted travel, an increase in remote working globally has had a dampening effect on business travel growth. However, now that travel is almost restriction-free, employees have revealed an increased likelihood to travel more for work, whether long-term or overnight business trips according to the latest business travel outlook poll from GBTA.



Curtis commented: After the turbulent period we have experienced over the last two years, it will be very interesting to assess current market conditions and find out how business travel can continue to grow, particularly with the recent relaxation of travel restrictions in China.



ATM 2023 will explore the future of sustainable travel in line with its theme of Working Towards Net Zero. Having officially initiated its journey to net zero, the conference programme will explore how innovative sustainable travel trends are likely to evolve, allowing delegates to identify growth strategies within key vertical sectors while providing a platform for regional experts to explore a sustainable future ahead of COP28, which will take place in November 2023 at Expo City Dubai.



The conference will also feature a sustainability category at its annual exhibitor awards for the first time. Exhibiting organisations will be recognised based on the extent to which they have considered the environmental impact of their stands, as well as their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.



ATM 2023 is held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre and its strategic partners include Dubais Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as the Destination Partner, Emirates as the Official Airline Partner, IHG Hotels & Resorts as the Official Hotel Partner and Al Rais Travel as the Official DMC Partner.  TradeArabia News Service
LINCOLN, Neb.  T.J. King had candidates and causes to support, but couldn't vote in Nebraska's last election.

An outreach specialist with the Nebraska AIDS Project, King came off probation in August after serving time for drug and theft convictions. In many states, they could have voted in the November general election, but Nebraska requires a two-year wait after the completion of a felony sentence before someone can register.

King's first chance to vote will be in the 2024 presidential election season  unless a legislative proposal introduced in January that would remove the two-year requirement passes and becomes law. That likely would change the timeline for the restoration of voting rights for King and thousands of other Nebraskans.

Voting, King said in an interview, gives "a little bit of your strength back and a little bit of your voice back. Being able to vote, being able to have a say in what happens in your society, in your state, is extremely important."

Restoring the voting rights of former felons drew national attention after Florida lawmakers weakened a voter-approved constitutional amendment and after a new election police unit championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis arrested 20 former felons.

Several of them said they were confused by the arrests because they were allowed to register to vote.

At least 14 states have introduced proposals this year focused on restoration of voting rights, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. An Oregon proposal would allow felons to vote while incarcerated. A Tennessee bill would automatically restore voting rights once a sentence is completed, except for a small group of crimes. Texas legislation would restore voting rights to those on probation or parole.

In Minnesota, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz recently signed a bill restoring voting rights to convicted felons as soon as they get out of prison. A bill moving through the New Mexico Legislature would do the same.

"Restoring voting rights really is an issue where we've seen bipartisan momentum," said Patrick Berry, counsel for the Democracy program at the Brennan Center.

More than 4.6 million people are disenfranchised in the United States because of felony convictions, according to the Sentencing Project, which studies the issue and advocates for restoration of voting rights for former felons.

Laws vary by state, based on pardon requirements, payment of fines, fees and child support, and when a sentence is considered complete.

The impacts fall disproportionately on people of color, especially Black citizens, who account for one-third of the total disenfranchised population while making up about 12% of the overall population.

In Nebraska, almost 18,000 people are unable to vote because of felony convictions, said the Sentencing Project's director of advocacy, Nicole Porter.

Steve Smith of Civic Nebraska, part of a large coalition of groups supporting the measure, said the wait creates a group of taxpayers who can't choose their representatives.

"You're civically dead and you can't vote for the people who are levying those taxes," he said.

The bill that would eliminate the wait would alter a 2005 law. Before then, felonies in Nebraska brought a lifetime voting ban in most cases.

The bill's author, Democratic state Sen. Justin Wayne, said he was going door to door in his first election in 2016 and would-be constituents told him they couldn't vote. Much of the reason was confusion over the law's waiting period, he said.

He introduced bills multiple times to do away with the wait period, coming close to success in 2017 when a bill passed the Legislature but was vetoed by then-Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Wayne, who represents parts of Omaha with strong minority populations, said reconnecting people to the voting process is integral to successful reentry. His bill advanced last week from a committee to the full Legislature.

"When people get out of our system, they've got to feel engaged in their community, and the number one way for a person to feel engaged in their community is to be able to vote for the leadership of that community," he said.

King, 51, fought addiction for years and spent five years in prison after being convicted of possessing the party drug Ecstasy and theft by deception, ending probation last August.

King works in the HIV/AIDS field and volunteers at various organizations, but said voting is still the most direct way to be involved and became tearful when talking about being unable to vote.

"I felt so hopeless and helpless not being able to have my voice heard in this last election," King said. "There are a lot of things that were on the ballot here in Nebraska that hit home with a lot of things that I advocate for."

State spending analysis: Which states spend the most on policing and corrections? State spending analysis: Which states spend the most on policing and corrections? Which states spend the most on policing and corrections? Democratic and Republican state policing and corrections spending
For the first time in a long time, Omaha pastor Jonathan Chapman said he sees hopes in the eyes of his community, all because of a big-budget bill making its way through the Nebraska Legislature.

People believe that you want to do the right thing, Chapman told state lawmakers Tuesday.

He was talking about LB531, introduced by Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, which had its public hearing in the Legislatures Urban Affairs Committee.

Final details are still being worked out, but the bill aims to build on an economic recovery package that lawmakers approved last year for traditionally underserved parts of Nebraska, primarily north and south Omaha. McKinneys bill would provide guidance for allocating some of the $335 million contained in last years bill, and direct additional money, possibly $100 million, to the effort. That would push the total economic recovery spending to $435 million, though McKinney said he might try for more than $100 million.

This community deserves a fair chance at the good life, McKinney said.

Of the $335 million in last years bill (LB1024), roughly $100 million was earmarked for several projects, including affordable housing, innovation hubs and an industrial park near the Omaha airport. The Legislature then accepted proposals for the remaining $225 million.

The engineering firm Olsson took those 367 proposals and compiled a list of 35 recommended projects in Omaha. Among the recommendations was a 90,000-square-foot activity center, a handful of museums and multiple career centers.

None of those are guaranteed to receive funding. McKinneys bill may identify a few specific projects for funding, but it will primarily direct the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to select the remaining projects among the original 367 applicants, he said.

Some of those applicants testified in support of LB531 on Tuesday, representing a range of local businesses and nonprofits. Though not all of the speakers had proposals that made Olssons list of 35 recommendations, several said they hope that McKinneys bill will provide an opportunity for other proposals to seek funding.

Supporters largely view LB531 as a rare opportunity to revitalize areas in north and south Omaha that have suffered from a decades-long lack of investment. Supporter Willie Barney said there is a sense of urgency to pass the bill, as much of the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021  money that must be spent by the end of 2026.

We stand ready to serve, said supporter Kenny McMorris. North Omaha is ready to go.

Of the roughly 30 people who testified Tuesday, no one opposed LB531. One testifier was neutral. Among the bills supporters were the Omaha Police Department, the Nebraska Bankers Association and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

Last years bill intended to provide funding for underserved areas across the state, not just parts of Omaha. However, LB531, much like all the projects recommended by Olsson, focuses on Omaha. Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, a leading lawmaker on the project, said the recovery efforts outside of Omaha were already settled under last years bill.

McKinney also introduced an accompanying bill, LB785, that would direct millions to the economic recovery in north and south Omaha. As drafted, the bill calls for $600 million to go to recovery grants distributed through two state departments  $250 million from the Department of Natural Resources, and $350 million from the Department of Economic Development.

McKinney said the $600 million figure is not final. There is another amendment in the works for LB785 that will make it virtually identical to LB531. Vargas said the two bills were introduced as a precaution to ensure at least one of them makes it to the floor of the Legislature.

We need to make sure theres as many pathways as possible, Vargas said.

Photos: The business of governing in Nebraska in 2023
GRAND ISLAND  A missing Aurora couple was found dead Saturday.

Bob and Loveda Proctor, 89 and 92, respectively, had been missing since Jan. 11. The couple's granddaughter confirmed their deaths in a Facebook post Saturday evening.

"Bob and Loveda have been found. They are in heaven watching over us," Laci Fleming said in the post. "Thank you everyone."

The Buffalo County Sheriffs Office said a citizen contacted them at about 3:15 p.m. Saturday about a vehicle found stuck on a minimum maintenance road north of 100th and Keystone roads. Deputies were able to locate the vehicle and found the couple's bodies in the area.

Foul play is not suspected. Autopsies have been ordered by the Buffalo County Attorneys Office, the sheriff's office said. An investigation continues and includes the Buffalo County Sheriffs Office, Aurora Police Department and Kearney Police Department.

Attempts by the Grand Island Independent to reach Proctor family members Saturday evening weren't immediately successful.

In late February, a search and recovery dive team had arrived in central Nebraska to look for the couple.

In a Facebook post Saturday, Chaos Divers noted that as its team headed out to search for the Proctors, "We were held off by the incoming inclement weather. This afternoon, we received the heartbreaking news that the loved couple was found and is no longer with their family and loved ones. ... We do want to offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to their family."

Video provided the last confirmed sighting of the Proctors. They were seen driving east from Giltner on 6 Road, a blacktop road. That sighting was at about 10:25 p.m. on Jan. 11, the day they disappeared.

The Proctors then stopped at a farmhouse east of there to ask for directions. They then continued east.

Before that, the couple was in Grand Island on Jan. 11. The Proctors went to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at about 4 p.m. After leaving the VA facility at about 4:30 p.m., they went to CHI Health St. Francis, leaving at about 8 p.m.
RACINE  Members of Racine Founders Rotary Club, along with Racine firefighters, technical college trainers, physical and occupational therapists and a hospital director of medical imaging, will travel to Punta Gorda, Belize, in April to provide training and equipment to bolster medical services in the poverty-stricken community on the northeastern coast of Central America.

As an active club of Rotary International, Racine Founders Rotary Club is pleased that we can participate in worldwide opportunities to make a difference, said Steen Sanderhoff, local Rotarian and district grants committee chair. Along with the Belize trip, weve also actively participated in Ukraine, Kurdistan and Guatemalan projects.

Preparations for this trip have been a year in the making.

Rotarians (five from Racine and one from Elkhorn) traveled to the Punta Gorda in February 2022 to determine the needs in the community of 6,000 surrounded by 42 Mayan villages with an additional 40,000 people who access local services.

Punta Gorda Rotarians hosted the group and arranged meetings with 15 local nonprofits and government support groups, along with tours of the local hospital, clinic, schools, library, fire department, bank and market.

On the first trip we were primarily there to assess the situation  although we did bring along 15 suitcases full of medical and school supplies and built a new walkway for the medical clinic, organizers Kevin Cookman and Loretta Baxter explained. This time were headed back to accomplish three specific projects with help from volunteers with professional expertise.

Cookman explained the scope of the upcoming trip: Our plan is to take two Gateway Technical College training specialists, who are American Heart Association-certified in CPR, and two City of Racine firelighters, who will train Punta Gorda firefighters in CPR and various rescue techniques to lay the groundwork for the addition of EMS services for the volunteer fire department.

We will also take physical and occupational therapists to assist and support a right-out-of-college physical therapy grad to set up therapy services in the Hillside Clinic, as well as provide training for the visiting nurses team from Hillside. They will assist families with disabled members to best navigate daily cares at home.

The third project will use the expertise from a hospital director of medical imaging who will visit the Punta Gorda Hospital and Hillside Clinic to assess current capability and determine what digital X-ray machine they might need, Baxter said. Right now they are on outdated analog equipment that uses the old-style X-ray plates.

The $25,000 budget for the trip includes travel and expenses for the specialists, CPR training equipment, shipping for equipment donated by the fire department and the cost of imaging equipment. Local Rotarians and their spouses will pay for their own expenses, as they did for the first trip.

Funding for the trip is coming from various sources, including Racine Founders Rotary Foundation, Elkhorn Rotary Club, and various individuals and foundations that support Rotarys work.

The team hopes to raise another $5,000 before the trip to purchase CPR practice units, AEDs and needed firefighting tools for the Punta Gorda Fire Department. In addition, the group will once again collect medical and school supplies to hopefully fill another 20 suitcases.

Donations

Donations of supplies may be dropped off at Racine Country Club, 2801 Northwestern Ave., Racine, WI 53404. Monetary donations may be mailed to the same address, with checks made payable to the Racine Founders Rotary Foundation with Punta Gorda Training Team in the memo line.

While the Racine Founders Rotary Club is known locally for such projects as Post Prom, Strive Scholarships and our investment in local parks, were also very committed to doing our part to make the world a better place, said Laura DeGroot, club president.
1. Yes. Switching back and forth every spring and fall is cumbersome and annoying.

2. Yes. It makes sense, although it would take a bit of getting used to at first.

3. No. The bill isnt enforceable. The federal government would have to approve the switch.

4. No. If other states dont follow suit, it could make long-distance travel problematic.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without knowing all the impacts of the proposed change.

Vote

View Results
WASHINGTON  Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.

House votes

VA online records requests: The House has passed the Wounded Warrior Access Act (H.R. 1226), sponsored by Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., to require the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department to make a tool on its website for veterans to make requests for records related to their claims and benefits status at the VA. Aguilar said the current claims filing process is cumbersome and time-consuming, and the website tool would be a commonsense solution that cuts this red tape and will help American veterans. The vote, on March 7, was unanimous with 422 yeas. Yeas:

Van Orden, R-WI (3rd)

Mobile telecommunications and cybersecurity: The House has passed the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act (H.R. 1123), sponsored by Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Calif., to require a report on the cybersecurity of mobile telecommunications networks from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Eshoo said the report was needed because we lack a comprehensive assessment of what vulnerabilities exist on these networks, what issues have been resolved, and where mobile cybersecurity policymaking should be focused. The vote, on March 7, was 393 yeas to 22 nays. Yeas:

Van Orden, R-WI (3rd)

Syria war: The House has rejected a resolution (H. Con. Res. 21), sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., that would have required the withdrawal of all U.S. soldiers from Syria. Gaetz said: We have tried this time and again to build a democracy out of sand, blood, and Arab militias, and time and again the work we do does not reduce chaos. Oftentimes it causes chaos, the very chaos that then subsequently leads to terrorism. An opponent, Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, said: Our small deployment of U.S. servicemembers is remarkably effective at working with local partner forces to achieve results and ensure the enduring and complete defeat of ISIS. The vote, on March 8, was 103 yeas to 321 nays. Nays:

Van Orden, R-WI (3rd)

Treating VA medical waste: The House has passed the VA COST SAVINGS Enhancements Act (H.R. 753), sponsored by Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., to require the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department to put regulated medical waste treatment systems at VA health care facilities. Bost said installing on-site waste incinerators could save the VA tens of millions of dollars per year and create a safer and cleaner environment at our VA hospitals. The vote, on March 8, was unanimous with 426 yeas. Yeas:

Van Orden, R-WI (3rd)

Government and censorship: The House has passed the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act (H.R. 140), sponsored by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., to bar employees in the executive branch of the federal government from directly or indirectly censoring speech, with penalties imposed if employees censor speech. Comer said: Federal officials, no matter their rank or resources, must be prohibited from coercing the private sector to suppress certain information or limit the ability of citizens to freely express their own views on a private-sector Internet platform. A bill opponent, Rep. Daniel S. Goldman, D-N.Y., said it would allow Russia, China, and other countries adversarial to the U.S. to continue using social media platforms unfettered to wreak havoc on our democratic institutions, including the integrity of our elections. The vote, on March 9, was 219 yeas to 206 nays. Yeas:

Van Orden, R-WI (3rd)

Regulating waterways: The House has passed a resolution (H.J. Res. 27), sponsored by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., to disapprove of and void an Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency rule issued this January that defines Waters of the United States (WOTUS). Such waters would be subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act. Graves said: Returning to a more costly, burdensome, and broad WOTUS definition could have a massive impact on local communities and Americans ability to do their jobs and manage their own private property. A resolution opponent, Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., said: This resolution represents a giant step backward for clean water, increases uncertainty for farmers, homebuilders, roadbuilders, and all American families. The vote, on March 9, was 227 yeas to 198 nays. Yeas:

Van Orden, R-WI (3rd)

Senate votes

Virginia judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Robert Stewart Ballou to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. A magistrate judge in the district since 2011, for the previous two decades Ballou had been a private practice lawyer in Virginia. A supporter, Sen. Timothy Kaine, D-Va., said: Judge Ballou enjoys broad and deep support across the Virginia legal community. The vote, on March 7, was 59 yeas to 37 nays. Nays: Johnson, R-WI; yeas:

Baldwin, D-WI

California judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Andrew G. Schopler to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Schopler was a federal prosecutor in the district from 2004 to 2016, then assumed his current role as a magistrate judge in the district. The vote, on March 7, was 56 yeas to 39 nays. Nays: Johnson, R-WI; yeas:

Baldwin, D-WI

New York judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Arun Subramanian to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Subramanian has been a lawyer at a New York City law firm since 2008, specializing in commercial litigation. A supporter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Subramanian an expert in consumer protection, with years of experience defending those injured by unfair, illegal practices. He also defended victims of child trafficking and pornography. The vote, on March 7, was 59 yeas to 37 nays. Nays: Johnson, R-WI; yeas:

Baldwin, D-WI

D.C. criminal laws: The Senate 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. A supporter, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the D.C. law was going even softer on crime and putting violent convicts back on the streets even more rapidly even as crime rates have climbed to high levels. An opponent, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said: The Congress should not be overriding the will of the people of D.C. as reflected in their elected representatives. The vote, on March 8, was 81 yeas to 14 nays. Yeas:

Johnson, R-WI; Baldwin, D-WI

IRS commissioner: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Daniel Werfel to be Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner for a term ending in late 2027. Werfel was the IRSs acting commissioner late in the Obama administration, and previously was the Office of Management and Budgets controller. For the last nine years he has been at the Boston Consulting Group. A supporter, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Werfel would bring transparency to the job. That includes how the IRS will spend funding to improve taxpayer services, upgrade information technology, and crack down on those wealthy tax cheats. An opponent, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said Werfels answers to inquiries about his nomination did little to inspire confidence in his willingness to take back control of this agency and stop what Blackburn called harassing audits of taxpayers. The vote, on March 9, was 54 yeas to 42 nays. Nays: Johnson, R-WI; yeas:

Baldwin, D-WI

Second California judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of James Simmons to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Southern California. A county court judge in San Diego since 2017, Simmons was previously a prosecutor for the California government there. The vote, on March 9, was 51 yeas to 43 nays. Nays: Johnson, R-WI; yeas:

Baldwin, D-WI

Appeals court judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Maria Araujo Kahn to be a judge on the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Since 2006, Kahn has successively been a county superior court, state appeals court, and state supreme court judge in Connecticut; previously, she was an assistant U.S. attorney in the state. The vote, on March 9, was 51 yeas to 42 nays. Nays: Johnson, R-WI; yeas:

Baldwin, D-WI

Photos: Scenes from historic speaker vote of 118th Congress
WASHINGTON  Former Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday harshly criticized former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, widening the rift between the two men as they prepare to battle over the Republican nomination in next year's election.

"President Trump was wrong," Pence said during remarks at the annual white-tie Gridiron Dinner attended by politicians and journalists. "I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable."

Pence's remarks were the sharpest condemnation yet from the once-loyal lieutenant who often shied away from confronting his former boss.

Trump already declared his candidacy. Pence has not, but he's been laying the groundwork to run.

In the days leading up to the riot, Trump pressured Pence to overturn President Joe Biden's election victory as he presided over the ceremonial certification of the results. Pence refused, and when rioters stormed the Capitol, some chanted they wanted to "hang Mike Pence."

The House committee that investigated the attack said in its final report that "the President of the United States had riled up a mob that hunted his own Vice President."

With his remarks, Pence solidified his place in a broader debate within the Republican Party over how to view the attack. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for example, recently provided Tucker Carlson with an archive of security camera footage from Jan. 6, which the Fox News host used to downplay the day's events and promote conspiracy theories.

"Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace," Pence said in his Gridiron Dinner remarks. "And it mocks decency to portray it any other way."

Trump, meanwhile, continued to spread lies about his election loss. He's even spoken in support of the rioters and said he would consider pardoning them if he is reelected.

Speeches at the Gridiron Dinner are usually humorous affairs, where politicians poke fun at each other, and Pence did plenty of that, as well.

He joked that Trump's ego was so fragile, he wanted his vice president to sing "Wind Beneath My Wings"  one of the lines is "did you ever know that you're my hero?"  during their weekly lunches.

He took another shot at Trump over classified documents.

"I read that some of those classified documents they found at Mar-a-Lago were actually stuck in the president's Bible," Pence said. "Which proves he had absolutely no idea they were there."

Even before the dinner was over, Pence was facing criticism for jokes about Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, the first openly gay Cabinet member in U.S. history.

5 takeaways from the Jan. 6 report 1. Eight chapters 2. New details, pressures 3. Behind the scenes 4. Safeguarding democracy 5. Record for history
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY, Colo.  In Colorados quest to transition to renewable energy, the states leaders want to take an old-school approach: Drill, baby, drill.

They wont be prospecting for oil, though, but instead mining the Earths underground heat to power geothermal electricity plants. Other Western states are paying close attention.

Anything we can do to reduce time and cost associated with being able to drill for the purposes of geothermal energy is something that we're very excited about, said Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, in an interview with Stateline. There's been great interest from other governors in the West.

Polis, who chairs the 22-member Western Governors Association, is spearheading an initiative to increase use of geothermal energy in the region. Last month, the group convened a workshop at the federal National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, bringing together several dozen state and federal officials, industry leaders and utility representatives to discuss the future of geothermal energy.

Backers think geothermal can play an important role in the clean energy transition, but they say its potential wont be unlocked without government investments, utility regulations and other policies to encourage development and help the industry become more cost-competitive over time. Most of the industrys U.S. potential for power generation  which relies on underground permeable rock with fractures that contain hot fluid  is in Western states.

The industry has drawn significant interest from oil and gas companies, which see the potential to convert existing fossil fuel wells into geothermal sites and transition their drilling expertise, equipment and workforce to clean energy projects. Development of geothermal projects is currently more expensive than other renewables, but backers note that wind and solar became commercially competitive after decades of government support.

Geothermal plants provide a steady, on-demand source of electricity, known as dispatchable generation. They pump steam or hot water from wells hundreds or thousands of feet underground to power turbines. Some leaders think such projects will complement wind and solar farms, whose production can vary based on weather conditions or the time of day.

To go all the way to 100% clean at the same time that we're electrifying transportation, buildings and industry  if you wanted to do it purely through wind and solar, you'd have to overbuild the system pretty significantly, said Will Toor, executive director of the Colorado Energy Office. You need something to complement that, to close that last gap, and geothermal is one of the very promising technologies there.

Energy experts also note that the expansion of wind and solar projects can create land-use conflicts, while geothermal  with a footprint thats mostly underground  can produce power without threatening forests and farms. However, geothermal drilling has raised some environmental concerns, including the depletion of underground reservoirs and increased risk of earthquakes.

Geothermal plants currently provide less than half a percent of the nations power, mostly concentrated in California and Nevada. At present, building new geothermal projects is much more expensive than building other renewables such as wind and solar farms.

But some state and industry leaders think geothermal will have to grow significantly to meet the need for steady, dispatchable power thats currently provided by natural gas and coal plants. And they point out that geothermal has not enjoyed the same level of government subsidies and investments that helped wind and solar get off the ground.

No energy technology has scaled up or commercialized without government support, said Bryant Jones, executive director of Geothermal Rising, a trade association that advocates for the industry. Geothermal is playing catch-up, and we need policymakers to think about the specific needs of geothermal when they're looking at energy policy.

Colorado is taking a stab at those needs, Toor said, with a suite of legislative proposals that will be filed in the coming weeks. Among the state administrations proposed bills is a clean firm standard that would direct utilities to invest in dispatchable low-carbon generation, such as geothermal.

The Colorado bill follows a 2021 order from the California Public Utilities Commission that directed utilities in that state to build out more clean energy projects from firm, on-demand resources, calling for 1,000 megawatts of dispatchable power projects like geothermal, in addition to cheaper wind and solar.

With all of these states driving toward 100% grid decarbonization, at some point reliability becomes a massive issue, said Sarah Jewett, vice president of strategy with Fervo Energy, a geothermal developer. The rest of the states in the West havent felt the pain on reliability in the way California is, but at some point, they will.

Jewett said the Colorado bill is the first new proposal outside of California to mandate development of 24/7 carbon-free electricity, but she hopes to see similar requirements throughout the region.

Colorado lawmakers will consider another bill this year to establish a regulatory process for approving geothermal wells.

We basically want to approach geothermal permitting in a way thats more analogous to oil and gas permitting than it is to traditional power plant permitting, Polis said.

The side benefits of clean energy The side benefits of clean energy Clean energy provides almost 443,000 jobs in the US A federal carbon tax on all energy-related carbon emissions could raise $1.87 trillion over the next decade More than 25% of Americans live in states with carbon-pricing programs The US already produces enough clean energy to provide power for 58 million American homes The cost of wind and solar power fell 47% and 71% in the past decade, respectively Increased clean-energy use decreases the instance of heart attacks, asthma attacks, and other cardiovascular issues Clean energy is more resilient and reliable than fossil fuels
VATICAN CITY  So much for a short pontificate.

Pope Francis celebrates the 10th anniversary of his election Monday, far outpacing the "two or three" years he once envisioned for his papacy and showing no signs of slowing down.

On the contrary, with an agenda full of problems and plans, and no longer encumbered by the shadow of Pope Benedict XVI, the 86-year-old Argentine Jesuit backed off from talking about retiring and recently described the papacy as a job for life.

History's first Latin American pope already made his mark and could have even more impact in the years to come.

Sex absuse

Francis initially downplayed the problem of clergy sex abuse but had a wake-up call five years into his pontificate after a visit to Chile.

During the trip, he discovered a serious disconnect between what Chilean bishops told him about a notorious case and the reality: Hundreds or thousands of Chilean faithful had been raped and molested by Catholic priests over decades.

"That was my conversion," he told the AP. "That's when the bomb went off, when I saw the corruption of many bishops in this."

Francis passed a series of measures since then aimed at holding the church hierarchy accountable, but results have been mixed. Benedict removed some 800 priests, but Francis seems far less eager to defrock abusers.

The next frontier in the crisis already reared its head: the sexual, spiritual and psychological abuse of adults by clergy. Francis is aware of the problem  a new case concerns one of his fellow Jesuits  but there seems to be no will to take firm action.

Significance of synods

"Synodality," a term that has little meaning outside Catholic circles, could go down as one of Francis' most important church contributions.

A synod is a gathering of bishops, and Francis' philosophy that bishops must listen to one another and the laity has come to define his vision for the Catholic Church: He wants it to be a place where the faithful are welcomed, accompanied and heard.

The synods held during his first 10 years produced some of the most significant  and controversial  moments of his papacy.

After listening to the plight of divorced Catholics during a 2014-15 synod, for instance, Francis opened the door to letting divorced and civilly remarried couples receive Communion. Calls to allow married priests marked his 2019 synod on the Amazon, although Francis ultimately rejected the idea.

His October synod involved an unprecedented canvassing of the Catholic faithful about their hopes for the church and problems they have encountered, eliciting demands from women for greater leadership roles, including ordination.

Latin Mass

Catholic traditionalists were wary when Francis emerged as pope for the first time on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica without the red cape that his predecessors had worn for formal events. Yet they never expected him to reverse one of Benedict's signature decisions by reimposing restrictions on the old Latin Mass, including where and who can celebrate it.

Francis justified his move by saying Benedict's decision to liberalize the celebration of the old Mass became a source of division in parishes. But traditionalists took the renewed restrictions as an attack on orthodoxy, one they saw as contradicting Francis' "all are welcome" mantra.

"Instead of integrating them into parish life, the restriction on the use of parish churches will marginalize and push to the peripheries faithful Catholics who wish only to worship," lamented Joseph Shaw of the Latin Mass Society's U.K. branch.

While the short-term prospects for Francis relenting are not great, traditionalists know that another pope might come along who is more friendly to the old rite.

Role of women

Francis' quips about the "female genius" have long made women cringe. Women theologians are the "strawberries on the cake," he once said. Nuns shouldn't be "old maids," he said. Europe shouldn't be a barren, infertile "grandmother," he told European Union lawmakers  a remark that got him an angry phone call from then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But, it's also true that Francis has done more to promote women in the church than any pope before him, including naming several women to high-profile positions in the Vatican.

Still, only one in four Holy See employees is female, no woman heads a department and women remain forbidden from the priesthood.

But the trend is there and "there is no possibility of going back," said Maria Lia Zervino, one of the first three women named to the Vatican office that helps the pope select bishops around the world.

LGBTQ faithful

Francis' insistence that long-marginalized LGBTQ Catholics can find a welcome home in the church can be summed up by two pronouncements that book-ended his papacy to date: "Who am I to judge?" and "Being homosexual is not a crime."

Francis made outreach to LGBTQ people a hallmark of his papacy more than any pope before him.

He ministers to members of a transgender community in Rome. He has counseled gay couples seeking to raise their children Catholic. During a 2015 visit to the U.S., he publicized a private meeting with a gay former student and the man's partner to counter the conservative narrative that he received an anti-same-sex marriage activist.

Photos: Pope Francis through the years
A much-requested handicap parking stall could soon be installed in front of a popular restaurant in Downtown Lake Geneva.

Members of the Lake Geneva City Council Public Works Committee unanimously approved, Feb. 27, to establish a handicap parking stall in front of Simple Cafe, 525 Broad St.

The proposed handicap parking stall still has to be approved by the full city council.

Parking Operations Manager Seth Elder said several residents have requested that a handicap parking stall be established in front of the restaurant.

"This item is the result of customer feedback," Elder said. "I received a couple of phone calls about why there isn't a handicap stall in front of Simple. I directed those constituents to speak with their aldermen, which they did."

Elder said the city is required to have 20 handicap parking stalls (2%) among its paid parking stalls. He said the city currently has about 35 handicap parking stalls.

"But we dont have one in front of Simple," Elder said. "The closest ones are kind of around the corner on Dodge Street then across the street on the other side of the busy Broad Street."

Elder said the handicap stall would provide better access to Simple Cafe for residents with disabilities.

"Parking stalls generate about $2,500 a year in revenue," Elder said. "We would be giving that up, but we would also be providing a great service and easy accessibility to a popular business with an additional handicap stall."

Former Mayor Tom Hartz, co-owner of Simple Cafe, said he is in favor of a handicap stall being installed in front of his restaurant.

"I'm entirely in support of it," Hartz said. "I think its a great location for it."

Alderman Tim Dunn asked if the parking stall would be accessible to vans.

Elder said the goal is to make the stall wide enough for vans.

"I think if it we were going to put it in, my recommendation would be to put it on the north end and make it van accessible," Elder said.
Chinese Media Celebrate Saudi-Iran Announcement of Diplomatic Relations as a Huge Breakthrough

March 11, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)An article published today by Global Times commentator Hu Xijin is exultant over the announcement of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, over Chinas role in brokering the deal, and at the prospect that this kind of approach can also be applied to the Ukrainian crisis.

Hu begins:

Huge breakthrough! China, Saudi Arabia and Iran unexpectedly released a joint statement in Beijing on Friday evening, saying that in response to the noble initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping of Chinas support for developing good neighborly relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran ... an agreement has been reached.

Hu continued: Its truly a huge diplomatic breakthrough. Wall Street Journal commented that the deal mediated by China would jolt the geopolitics of the Middle East. He wrote that its still unknown when China began the secret mediation. In the past China has not brokered major peace deals. Therefore, the trilateral statement released in Beijing on Friday came as a surprise to the U.S. and the whole of the West.

He also emphasized Chinas role:

Overall, the trilateral statement is clear evidence of Chinas peaceful diplomacy beginning to exert influence in the world and a proof of Chinas strength being transformed into diplomatic soft power. China is a world-class power that is full of goodwill. It never harms other countries and is truly committed to win-win cooperation. Reaching this trilateral statement will definitely strengthen the impression and trust of many countries toward China.

Hu was explicit about the possibility of extending such a Chinese role to Kiev war: Successful mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran will also enhance Chinas discourse power to promote peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

A second op-ed in Global Times today by Ding Long, a professor with the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, stated that the fruitful outcome of the Saudi-Iran dialogue in Beijing is not only a great joy for the two countries, but also great news for the stability of the Middle East and even world peace. He emphasized that the dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing has achieved a major breakthrough, and that both countries have realized that development is the top priority.

A signed editorial in todays issue of China Daily by Zhang Zhouxiang drew attention to the difference between Chinese and American diplomacy. While China makes peace, the U.S. makes war. The U.S. as the worlds only superpower has appeared in almost every region with conflict, but its existence always makes things worse. In the Middle East alone, it prolonged the Syrian civil war, complicated the Israel-Palestine conflict, and played the regional countries against each other.

The essential difference lies in their ultimate concern, namely that China pursues peace and security for all, while the U.S. pursues its own hegemonic interests and those for the lobby groups and military-industrial complex. It is the ends that decide the means.
Establishment Media Stunned, Depressed by the China-Brokered Iran-Saudi Deal

March 11, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Yesterdays announcement of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, brokered by the Chinese government, is a shift that left heads spinning in capitals around the globe, todays New York Times had to admit. The article, written by Peter Baker, the Timess chief White House correspondent, was headlined Iran-Saudi Pact Is Brokered by China, Leaving the U.S. on the Sidelines, and it betrayed an Establishment unhappily trying to come to grips with the implications of what just happened.

This is among the topsiest and turviest of developments anyone could have imagined, a shift that left heads spinning in capitals around the globe, Baker began. Alliances and rivalries that have governed diplomacy for generations have, for the moment at least, been upended.

The Americans, who have been the central actors in the Middle East for the past three-quarters of a century, almost always the ones in the room where it happened, now find themselves on the sidelines during a moment of significant change. The Chinese, who for years played only a secondary role in the region, have suddenly transformed themselves into the new power player.

The article quoted Amy Hawthorne, deputy director for research at the Project on Middle East Democracy, a nonprofit group in Washington: There is no way around itthis is a big deal.... Chinas prestigious accomplishment vaults it into a new league diplomatically and outshines anything the U.S. has been able to achieve in the region since Biden came to office.

Baker warns readers that

the decision to reopen embassies that were closed in 2016 represents only a first step.... In December, Saudi Arabia signed a strategic partnership agreement with China during a visit by Chinas top leader, Xi Jinping, to the Kingdom. The deal underlines the growing ties between Beijing and Riyadh.

The implications are far reaching, Baker warns, quoting Steven A. Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Chair in Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations: Some folks in the Gulf clearly see this as the Chinese century. The Saudis have expressed interest in joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and a good deal of their oil goes to China.

Daniel C. Kurtzer, a former ambassador to Israel and Egypt now at Princeton University, told the Times: Its an unfortunate indictment of U.S. policy.... Is it a direct threat to the United States? That is debatable. But the regional order is changing.

Michael Stephens, an associate fellow at the prestigious Royal United Services Institute think tank in London, had similar things to tell the Daily Telegraph: This is a big deal. Not because Saudi and Iran have patched things up ... but because the U.S. was nowhere near it. Shifts are happening very, very fast.

Londons The Economist, however, would have none of it, insisting that the deal would quickly fall victim to historic conflicts between Iran and Saudi Arabiaespecially if they are actively fomented by the British.

The deal will not end the countries proxy war, nor cement China as the regions new powerhouse.... As ever in the Middle East, words are not actions: events could derail the rapprochement. Even if they follow through, this is a transactional agreement, not a transformational one. Iran and Saudi Arabia will remain at daggers drawn.

As for China, this is an undeniable shift in Chinas role ... (but) China merely helped nudge the deal over the finish line. And it is hard to see how China can repeat the trick.... China can claim a diplomatic victory, The Economist admitted begrudgingly. But the underlying issues have not changed: This agreement is more about perception than reality.
WASHINGTON  After years of refusing to expand Medicaid benefits for new moms, Republican officials in more than a half-dozen states are now reversing course and trumpeting that coverage as central to their conservative, anti-abortion agenda.

The shift in GOP support for postpartum Medicaid coverage is occurring in some states that have severely limited or outlawed abortion access since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion last June. The effort also comes as federal protections guaranteeing people stay continuously enrolled in Medicaid during the COVID-19 pandemic is set to expire in a few weeks.

Deep-red Mississippi became the latest state to require Medicaid to provide a full year of coverage for low-income mothers after giving birth. Days earlier, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves declared the policy was part of the states new pro-life agenda.

Extended postpartum coverage had been rejected three times by the states lawmakers since 2021 but a push for the measure succeeded after most abortions became illegal in Mississippi, following the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling.

In Wyoming, where an abortion ban remains in legal limbo, Republican Gov. Mark Gordon echoed a similar refrain when he signed a bill extending postpartum Medicaid coverage into law on March 3, calling it a signature piece of pro-life legislation.

The Biden administration is encouraging all states to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to a full year, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in a statement.

Postpartum care is crucial for the health and wellbeing of women, and can have benefits for their babies and their growing families," she said. In addition to comprehensive pregnancy and postpartum care, reproductive health care is essential to support the health of women and families.

Republicans, however, have long criticized efforts to expand Medicaid, a taxpayer funded program that provides health care coverage to roughly 84 million of the countrys poorest people.

Roughly 40% of births are covered by Medicaid, and states are required to keep women enrolled for up to two months after giving birth. Most states have already extended Medicaid coverage, guaranteeing access to the program for up to a year after a woman gives birth.

That coverage can be crucial in a country where maternal deaths  many of which occur in the days or months following a delivery  are rising. Research has found that women are less likely to be hospitalized during the postpartum period if they live in a state that has broadened Medicaid coverage to those with slightly higher incomes.

Mothers who are cut off from Medicaid after 60 days might not only lose access to their insurance, but the doctors they developed relationships with throughout their pregnancy, as well, noted Laura Wherry, a New York University economics professor who researches Medicaid expansion.

A lot of those maternal deaths occur after this period when pregnancy Medicaid coverage ends," Wherry said. There are a number of different ways that expanding coverage could affect women and their health outcomes and their mortality outcomes.

But 13 states have held out on expanding postpartum coverage for up to a year, a decision that has been met with intensified criticism when some of those states restricted or banned abortions last year.

Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Idaho and South Dakota are among the states that have mostly banned abortion and offer women only 60 days of postpartum Medicaid coverage.

Wisconsin's Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' proposed a budget last month that would extend the postpartum coverage period to a year, but the Republican-controlled Legislature has expressed little interest in supporting the plan.

Republicans in other states, however, are now quickly pushing to expand the coverage.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican who has long opposed expanding the income eligibility threshold for Medicaid to those who make up to $18,800 annually, announced in February that she'd seek to extend the postpartum Medicaid coverage period to 12 months.

In Alaska, where abortion is still legal, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced legislation earlier this year that would do the same. Meanwhile, Idaho state representative Megan Blanksma, a Republican, proposed a similar law for her state in February.

Missouri's Senate recently signed off on a plan to expand the postpartum coverage for a year. The bill will now be considered by the House.

The proposal would have had little support from Republican Senate Majority Leader Cindy OLaughlin in years past, the lawmaker told reporters.

Prior to now I would have probably said, `I dont want to expand welfare, OLaughlin said. But she's since changed her tune, saying that without Medicaid coverage, the "person that might suffer the most would be the child or the children.

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Tyler Denig of Stoughton is this weeks You Toon winner.

Congratulations, Tyler!

Denigs caption about the Supreme Court weighing student loan forgiveness beat out more than 50 entries. He wins publication of todays finished cartoon and will receive a signed print by artist Phil Hands.

Runners-up and their suggested captions include:

Michael Thorson

of Fitchburg: There goes our Netflix and Hulu subscriptions.

Richard Wehler

of Sun Prairie: I wonder how much it would cost to become a judge?

Cathy Kliebenstein

of Mazomanie: Dont worry. Im sure theyll weigh the value of our education to society, right?

Thanks to all participants. Well play again next Sunday with a fresh cartoon and empty caption.
Madison has two capable yet very different choices for mayor in the April 4 election.

The incumbent, Satya Rhodes-Conway, is analytical and steeped in urban policy and research. Shes determined to build a modern bus system and encourage denser, taller housing to ease cost and discourage sprawl.

The challenger, Gloria Reyes, is more pragmatic, well-rounded and approachable. Her compelling life story includes a passion for tackling disparities for people of color.

Our editorial board met with both candidates last week to discuss their campaigns, priorities and records. They both offer strengths and weaknesses. We were conflicted at times while discussing the State Journals endorsement, but eventually reached consensus.

Today the editorial board recommends Reyes for mayor because she will be better at pulling people together, keeping our community safe and creating greater opportunities for disadvantaged residents. Reyes is more invested in city schools and guiding young people to careers and civic life. Shell be a better advocate for small business, economic development and minority entrepreneurs.

Reyes is the underdog in this race. She has less campaign cash and a lower profile. Reyes finished a distant second in the primary last month, though the third-place finisher has endorsed her.

Dont count her out. Her deep roots in Madison, broad experience and community connections provide a legitimate shot at a comeback in the spring election. Her campaign has more grassroots energy, and shes preserved more of her resources for the final weeks of the race.

Reyes has come a long way and shows lots of promise.

The daughter of migrant farm workers, Reyes grew up in Madison learning English and struggling with homelessness and misbehavior. She credits city schools for much of her success, which is why she wants city government and the school district to cooperate and communicate more.

Reyes impressive resume includes time as a police detective, deputy Madison mayor, president of the Madison School Board and CEO of a nonprofit helping struggling kids. More recently, shes trained police departments to avoid bias and cofounded an advocacy group to support diverse candidates for public office and administrative positions.

Reyes would be Madisons first mayor of color, which is overdue. Shed be a powerful advocate and inspiration for struggling people while championing education, jobs, homeownership and greater prosperity for all.

Madison is routinely honored as a great place to live, and deservedly so. The incumbent mayor, who works hard and has fostered national ties, can claim a piece of that success.

Yet our city has some of the worst racial disparities in Wisconsin  and in some cases the country  in incarceration, reading proficiency, infant mortality and more. Madisons progressive establishment talks a lot about racial equity, but progress has been slow. Its time that changes, and we believe Reyes has the passion and ability to finally and sharply narrow those gaps and heal the wounds.

Reyes has proven she can make a difference. As a police officer, she started Amigos En Azul (Our Friends in Blue) to build trust with young people. While leading the School Board, she was the deciding vote on policy to diversify staff.

Reyes toughness and professionalism shined in 2019 and 2020 when activists yelled in her face at board meetings and targeted her private home. She stayed calm yet firm, keeping the publics business going. With her colleagues, she moved the board to a different room with video technology for transparency. That was before videoconferencing became ubiquitous during the pandemic.

We disagreed with Reyes opposition to F-35 fighter jets at Truax Field. But now that the jets are arriving, she has sensibly prioritized sound-proofing for buildings that need it.

Were glad she supports the faster and more efficient bus line that Rhodes-Conway has secured federal funding for its construction. We urge Reyes to keep bus rapid transit on track, even if she wants to adjust some ancillary routes to better serve core users.

Rhodes-Conway has been steadfast in making the BRT happen, which is great. We also like the incumbents commitment to denser construction projects, especially Downtown and along major thoroughfares. She has rebuilt the citys relationship with the county executive to advance a modern homeless shelter.

Rhodes-Conway has led the city during a pandemic, national rise in crime and widespread protest over the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis. Though most of the protesting in Madison was peaceful, many retail businesses were repeatedly smashed and looted. Credit Rhodes-Conway for serving during difficult times.

Yet she has made mistakes. She sent mixed signals, for example, to police and protesters at the height of the tension over Floyds death, angering both sides.

The incumbent allowed homeless people to camp for months at Reindahl Park, which was bad for surrounding neighborhoods as well as those trying to find a place to live. She eventually found a solution in tiny homes on the Southeast Side.

The mayor is too quick to mandate, rather than cajole. She seems uninterested in the 50-year dream of creating a pedestrian mall on State Street, insisting long buses must rumble down the top half of Madisons most famous streetscape. Her disinterest in putting body cameras on police officers to help ensure accountability for the public  especially people of color  is troubling.

Reyes also concerns our board in some ways. She doesnt seem to want to encourage bus ridership, which risks gridlock on the narrow Isthmus, and she has sided with the loudest voices upset about bus stops being moved. Better transit is going to require some inconvenience for the greater good no matter where the routes go.

She offers few details on how shell handle the city budget, which she criticizes. She caved on stationing a single police officer in city high schools, though she explained last week that the issue had become a distraction from bigger priorities for students.

Despite our differences on some of the citys challenges, Reyes has many strong traits and positions. Shes more open and personable. Shes a former cop who truly cares about others.

Reyes will be better on public safety, rehabilitation, maintaining basic services and watching out for taxpayers.

Were confident Reyes will continue Rhodes-Conways general progress on housing and transportation.

Rhodes-Conway earned the State Journals endorsement for mayor four years ago as a needed change from a longtime incumbent. We similarly endorsed Reyes five years ago for Madison School Board, when she defeated an incumbent.

They both have a lot to offer, and Rhodes-Conway may be the steady choice.
The Twin Falls School District on Friday announced the retirement of two elementary school principals.

In a statement, the district said Perrine Elementary Principal Tammy Rodabaugh and Rock Creek Principal Shari Cowger will be retiring at the end of the school year.

The TFSD thanks these two educators for their dedication to the children of Twin Falls, Superintendent Brady Dickinson in the statement. We are excited to see where their next adventures lead.

Rodabaugh has served as principal of Perrine Elementary School for nine years. After graduating from Filer High School, she attended Boise State University and Michigan State University. She began her teaching career in Murtaugh and later Twin Falls before exploring international education.

For nine years, she worked in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Shanghai before returning to the Magic Valley.

Cowger has been the principal of Rock Creek Elementary School for seven years, serving as the schools first principal. Prior to opening the new school, she was the principal at Oregon Trail Elementary School for six years and worked in the Twin Falls School District as the vice principal at Oregon Trail and Perrine Elementary Schools for two years, music teacher at Oregon Trail and Lincoln, and as the Migrant and Idaho Reading Indicator Summer School principal for a combined 8 years. Prior to coming to Twin Falls, Shari taught in Iowa and attended Northwest Missouri State in Maryville. Shari has a masters degree in education administration from the University of Idaho.

The district will begin work recruiting new principals for both schools for the upcoming school year.
A preliminary hearing for one of two men charged with first-degree murder in a Heyburn death is on pause until a multi-day evidentiary hearing determines if a jail search and seizure intruded on attorney-client privilege.

Klee Morrison and his brother were both charged after police said the two killed Julio Lopez on Jan. 2, 2022, at the Morrison family home and drove his body to the desert in Lincoln County.

The ongoing evidentiary hearing is scheduled in Morrisons case through March 29 in Minidoka County Magistrate Court to determine if the search, which was executed under a search warrant, the seizure of legal documents and handwritten notes along with monitored calls and jail visits  violated his rights.

The remaining days for the evidentiary hearing start at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, March 21 and March 29.

Morrison filed a grievance at the jail in November 2022. Jail staff responded stating that the issue was about his criminal case and that he needed to consult his attorney.

Documents filed in court by Morrisons attorneys state that if detectives and the prosecutor had access to the seized items or the ability to hear attorney-client visits or phone conversations, the charges should be dismissed.

They said the search on Nov. 10, 2022, occurred 30 minutes after his attorney left.

Minidoka County Prosecutor Lance Stevenson also filed an affidavit with the court stating that during a jail conversation between Morrison and his ex-wife, she read to him excerpts from a news article that cited portions of the probable cause document that contained factual allegations in both cases.

Morrison stated he had been writing about and debunking the allegations and that he wanted to pass his notes to his brother and co-defendant, Kalob Morrison.

Stevenson wrote that at least in part, law enforcements motivation for the search warrant was due to Klee Morrisons conversation with his ex-wife.

Kalob Morrison, Stevenson wrote, is not an attorney, which means those notes were not privileged client-attorney conversations.

In addition, Stevenson said he never possessed, saw, reviewed or came into possession in any way the writings or materials from Klee Morrisons cell, and neither did anyone from his office.

Stevenson said law enforcement has not communicated to him or anyone in his office any knowledge about the materials content.

The jury trial for Kalob Morrison was continued until a judge rules on the pending issues, according to court documents.
MOSCOW  Faculty members in the University of Idahos Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology (AERS) and UI Extension educators have historically led development of agricultural enterprise budgets used to guide industry decisions.

This year, however, the department is piloting a new approach  including College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) undergraduate students in much larger enterprise budget-development teams.

The approach enhances sustainability of enterprise budget development while also providing students with real-world experiences. By all accounts, the first student-led input cost report, detailing the cost of raising sugar beets in 2022, was carefully crafted and meets industry standards.

AERS also released a broader report on input costs, Idaho Crop Input Price Summary for 2022. CALS students Tyler Hand, a graduate student from Lake Isabella, California, studying applied economics, and Sarah Reisenauer, a senior in agricultural education from Jerome, led work on both reports under the direction of Patrick Hatzenbuehler, an assistant professor, and Norm Ruhoff, clinical assistant professor, both in the AERS department.

The sugar beet budgets were last updated in 2019, and the crop price summary was last updated in 2014.

Im viewing it as a pilot effort to try to get students involved, and we as faculty play more of the role of advisors, identifying what kind of information would be needed, what sources there are and how to go about identifying stakeholders, Hatzenbuehler said. It will still be a team approach as it has in the past, but encompassing students helps divide the labor even more while providing them with opportunities to learn and gain experience in UI Extension activities.

The 2022 Sugar Beet Enterprise Budget, posted on the U of Is Idaho AgBiz website, estimates beet farmers production costs and earnings by region. On a hypothetical 550-acre farm in southwestern Idaho, for example, beet earnings were estimated to average $2,206.08 per acre, compared with total production costs of $2,042.73 per acre.

Statewide, gross revenue per acre is estimated as up by 14%. Rising input costs, however, offset the revenue gain. Fuel, for example, increased by 54%, and labor rose by 15%.

The cost of surface water varied dramatically by region, ranging from $65 per acre to water crops in southwest Idaho to $12.50 per acre to irrigate in northeast Idaho.

Hand, a U of I masters student in applied economics, was still finishing his bachelors degree in agricultural economics when he started work on the projects last spring. He did the bulk of the economic analysis and number crunching, in addition to data gathering, for the sugar beet budgets.

Hand hopes AERS will involve a larger group of undergraduates in preparing future reports to share the experience more broadly.

Theres always a difference between just going to your classes and actually getting experience, Hand said. Getting some type of internship experience is necessary and its great that were providing that opportunity.

Reisenauer is a senior majoring in agricultural education whose primary role in the budget projects was contacting sources and gathering data. Throughout several months, Reisenauer was in regular contact with officials from more than 30 canal and irrigation companies about surface water costs.

She had several Zoom meetings with representatives from Idaho Power Co. to develop a table detailing irrigation power costs. She reached out to dealers of farm inputs to track the volatile markets for fertilizer, farm chemicals and other products necessary to raise a crop, and she worked closely with the Idaho Department of Labor Wages to understand the labor market.

Every input you can think of as a general basis of all crops grown in Idaho, we did our best to find prices and comparisons, Reisenauer said. It was a wonderful experience to be in contact with all of the multiple corporations and the different people.

Amalgamated Sugars experts reviewed their budgets and offered feedback, including edits on certain cost estimates. Hatzenbuehler and Ruhoff corroborated their methodology, sources and data.
How do we best protect and prepare the next generation of Idahoans?

In my role as a state representative, I am keenly aware that families are the foundation of our society. It is within families that children should learn the morals and virtues necessary to navigate in life. We all hope for and encourage positive influences from friends and peers. Almost universally, parents work and pray for a fulfilling education that enlightens and inspires a childs creativity and critical thinking.

Ensuring a bright future for our children and grandchildren requires ongoing discussions of learning and education in our state. Strong schools are required for strong communities. Teachers are some of the most valuable and critical professionals in our society.

Idaho ranks third in the country for school choice  a very impressive and important measure to me as a mother and grandmother. I am grateful to live in a state that values parents autonomy in guiding their childrens education.

Whether parents choose public schools, private schools, parochial schools, charter schools or homeschooling, Idaho encourages and supports choice in how our children are educated and the experience best-suited for them and the family. This is the beauty of education choice because it allows individual families to choose.

In the education discussion, student attendance at public schools outnumbers all other methods. For most families in Idaho, public schools are an excellent default choice. Public school districts are organized with local control. The district school boards are elected locally. School administrators  principals and superintendents  are hired by school boards. Teachers and staff are employed by local school districts under the direction of school administrators.

Discussions in recent years have focused on improving educational choices for parents and families. In my lifetime experience as a homeschool mother and an active supporter of public schools, I strongly believe excellent well-funded public schools and broad educational choices for parents and families are essential for one another, mutually beneficial and symbiotic.

What does a strong public school look like? Teachers and staff feel supported and appreciated by parents in the community. Administrators and teachers are active members of the community, and students are celebrated for their efforts and accomplishments.

With a backbone of a strong public school, all the other educational options can thrive:

A parochial school can be extremely successful, meeting the needs of those who want to include religious studies in their formal education.

Charter schools can innovate and explore new ideas in a more flexible, adaptable organization.

Private schools can rally a community within the whole to serve a particular need or vision.

Families can study independently in a home school model, with ultimate flexibility for curriculum, schedule, and experience.

Considering all of the options available to families, our Legislature continues to review ways to enhance our school choice options while strengthening public schools. Families deserve options, and these options should never take away from public education as the predominant choice for families in our state.

This session, weve seen legislation introduced that clarifies homeschooling education definitions in law (HB225). Another bill offers community colleges additional baccalaureate degree options to students (HB217).

With HB217 becoming law, the College of Southern Idaho, right here in our community, would now have more in-demand opportunities to offer prospective students. House Bill 267 expands career technical options to middle and high school students.

There are many other pieces of legislation being considered, and I encourage you to review other critical pieces of legislation by tracking our progress at legislature.idaho.gov.

Our families, friends, faith, and communities all matter when guaranteeing a bright future for Idaho. Education is foundational in that discussion, and this session, addressing Idahoans top concern, we are passing meaningful legislation to strengthen education options in Idaho.
Heres what happened locally on March 12 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: This ad: The Bank of Axton, of Axton, Va., will open for business Monday, March 12th, 1923. Come to the opening and bring a deposit. The bank stock will be ready for delivery that day. J.M. Barker, President, March 2, 1923.

Also 1923: Penns Store  Mr. W.J. Craig and little daughter Elizabeth is right ill at this writing; hope they will soon be well again. Mr. Luther Purcell and Reuben Rea made a business trip near Moores Mill Tuesday. Miss Ruth Terry returned home from Buffalo Ridge school Monday. Mr. Buddie Terry made a business trip to Martinsville Tuesday.

1948: Declaring an emergency existed, City Council last night adopted an ordinance giving the chief of the Fire department power to close down public buildings for such time as necessary to correct what the department considered fire hazards.

1973: Lee Telephone Co. withheld comment today on charges by a weekly newspaper publisher that it used economic pressure in an attempt to keep newspapers quiet during last falls hearings on a rate-increase request. The charges by Kermit W. Sayler, publisher of the Franklin News-Post in Rocky Mount, were made as the SCC conducted hearings into the quality of the telephone companys service.

1998: A city man said a dispute over the Jerry Springer show, which does not celebrate domestic tranquility, led his girlfriend to strike him over the head with a glass bowl after he refused to turn off the show, according to a Martinsville Police Department report. The girlfriend denied striking him.

Also 1998: Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County (Memorial Health System Inc.) has raised the $3 million needed to fund construction of the comprehensive breast care center and renovate the Ravenel Oncology Center.
Pam Cobler has a long resume, but one item she intends to add to the list is that of representative of the Reed Creek District on the Henry County Board of Supervisors.

Cobler filed the necessary signatures to be on the ballot and announced on Thursday that, with the endorsement of current Reed Creek Supervisor Tommy Slaughter, she would be seeking public office for the first time.

With the endorsement of Tommy Slaughter and Tommy as my mentor, I have been following issues with which the County has been dealing and Im learning from the many years of the institutional knowledge of Tommy as he retires, Cobler posted on her Facebook page. My family and I have lived in the Reed Creek District for many, many years. I have been attending the supervisors meetings and Ive been involved in community events and digging in.

Cobler, 58, became disabled due to a motorcycle crash that resulted in a spinal injury. She turned the tragedy into an opportunity and became Ms. Wheelchair Virginia in 2004 and then served as the organizations executive director.

I have a doctorate in educational administration and have worked at Patrick & Henry Community College, taught at Campbell Court Elementary and worked for the Virginia Department of Education, Cobler said during an interview with the Bulletin. I have business and government experience and have worked a lot in the healthcare industry.

Cobler said her family has strong ties to the community.

My daddy lived here all of his life, and I love the region, said Cobler. My roots are here.

Cobler said she is impressed with the recent economic accomplishments of Henry County and wants to build on those successes.

I will expand on that, and education is very important as well as public safety, emergency management and broadband expansion in rural areas.

Cobler said she intends to give the expansion of solar energy the attention it is due.

For people all overall it has become a hot topic and creating a lot of controversy, Cobler said. Ive been listening and Ive been watching. Its all about whos getting the payout and how much land it takes.

Even though the discussion and debate of Martinsville reverting from a city to a town is over, Cobler said the City and the County need to build a good working relationship and she is a person that can help accomplish that.

I think one of my strengths I bring to the table is a different view, and one of my gifts is teamwork, said Cobler. Im very comfortable with these things. I have been involved with both the city and the county schools and I have an appreciation for what the school systems do separately. Its all about best practices.

Cobler described herself as a very strong conservative woman with a lot of experience who wants to expand on growth thats already happened.

Ive lived in the Reed Creek District all my life and I have a voice to bring to the table that might be a little different, but we all have the same goals, she said. I would ask the registered voters to vote for me and for those that are not registered, to become registered and vote for me as well.

Cobler said she supported early voting and encourages anyone who can, to vote early.

Said Cobler: Ive worked with government on the local and state level and Ive been involved with legislation. Thats why Im doing this. I believe Im ready and its time to get involved.
A captain with the Martinsville Police Department has filed to run for Henry County Sheriff this November.

Captain of Police Operations Sandy Hines, 45, of Bassett has filed his paperwork and will be on the ballot as a candidate for Henry County Sheriff, making the second person to qualify, according to the Henry County Registrars Office.

I grew up in Patrick County, my mom and dad were hard-working blue-collar people, said Hines. I graduated from Patrick County High School in 1995, went to work at CPFilms [now Eastman Performance Films], worked as a cell phone salesman and then went to work for the Martinsville Police Department in 2000.

Hines said he studied Administration of Justice at Patrick & Henry Community College and received his bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and Public Administration in 2022 from Liberty University.

I can do a better job engaging with other people in the department more effectively, Hines said. [Henry County Sheriff] Lane [Perry] hasnt done anything wrong. I consider him a friend. I have no axe to grind or issue with him. Im not like the opponents of the past and have no issues whatsoever.

Hines said he didnt have anyone chosen yet to be his second-in-command.

Im doing this on my own. My experience of the past 23 years will guide me after Im elected and Ill find out whos interested and have them submit a resume to me, Hines said. As far as making changes, police work has evolved over the years so Im not reinventing the wheel. Ill answer to the stakeholders, and thats the community, and I want to involve the community more.

Hines said he would be tough on drugs and enforcing crimes with an emphasis on protecting seniors and children.

Kids are threatened by predators and seniors by scams. I believe in community policing and some people think that means to hug a thug, but thats not what Im saying, said Hines. Ill be aggressive on crime.

Hines said the biggest adjustment for him will be in the coverage area of the department he would lead.

The county has over 400 square miles compared to 12 in the city, but its still the same crimes and many of the same people committing them, Hines said. Law enforcement is basically the same, but the county is spread out more. You still have everything from speeding to drug houses and there is also a lot of littering.

Del Mills, retired from the Henry County Sheriffs Department, announced plans to run for the office earlier in the week.

I know Del and hes a good man. I have no problems with him, said Hines. But my resume outweighs Dels. Hes retired with 25 years and I have 23 years, but Ive been over criminal investigations, a SWAT team commander, a crisis and hostage negotiator, training with the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, also trained with the Virginia Association of Teaching Police and Ive worked with the task force of the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives).

Both Mills and Hines have indicated the same concern of morale within the department.

I know that in the Sheriffs Office we have morale issues with current employees, Hines said. We need to train them properly. My door will be open, and Ill be there when someone calls.

Hines reiterated that he was not being negative about the current sheriff, but that my door will be open. If you want to talk, Ill talk, said Hines. I feel thats my job and what you elected me to do.

Hines said he knows many of the about 200 people who work in the Sheriffs Office.

They are friends and I talk with them regularly, and theyre in limbo. Its an election year, and they dont know if their leader is going to run another term, Hines said. Some are unhappy with the leadership not allowing them to get training to do their job effectively.

Hines said he would bring back family night events for the families within the department and felt that doing so would help improve moral.

Well take a look at the uniforms the deputies wear and get the community together and decide what kind of uniform the guys wear everyday, said Hines. Their input goes a long way.

Hines said that even through he was running, the Henry County Sheriffs Office was doing a lot of things very well right now.

Said Hines: I want to make it even better. The idea that if I get elected Im going to clean house is not true. There are a bunch of good guys there and we need each and every one to hang in there and work with us, and I feel like Im the leader of that Sheriffs Office to do it and do it effectively.
A newly discovered asteroid roughly the size of an Olympic swimming pool has a "small chance" of colliding with Earth in 23 years, with a potential impact on Valentine's Day in 2046, according to NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office.

The asteroid has a 1 in 625 chance of striking Earth, based on data projections from the European Space Agency, though NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Sentry system calculated the odds closer to 1 in 560. The latter tracks potential collisions with celestial objects.

But the space rock  named 2023 DW  is the only object on NASA's risk list that ranks 1 out of 10 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, a metric for categorizing the projected risk of an object colliding with Earth. All other objects rank at 0 on the Torino scale.

Though the 2023 DW tops the list, its ranking of 1 means only that "the chance of collision is extremely unlikely with no cause for public attention or public concern," according to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, while a 0 ranking means the "likelihood of a collision is zero, or is so low as to be effectively zero."

"This object is not particularly concerning," said Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

NASA officials have warned that the odds of impact could be dramatically altered as more observations of 2023 DW are collected and additional analysis is performed.

"Often when new objects are first discovered," NASA Asteroid Watch noted Tuesday on Twitter, "it takes several weeks of data to reduce the uncertainties and adequately predict their orbits years into the future."

Risk of asteroid impact

It's common for newly discovered asteroids to appear more threatening when first observed.

"Because orbits stemming from very limited observation sets are more uncertain it is more likely that such orbits will 'permit' future impacts," the Center for Near Earth Object Studies, located at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, notes on its website.

"However, such early predictions can often be ruled out as we incorporate more observations and reduce the uncertainties in the object's orbit," it reads. "Most often, the threat associated with a specific object will decrease as additional observations become available."

It may be a few days before new data can be collected because of the asteroid's proximity to the moon, Farnocchia noted in an email to CNN. The last full moon was two days ago, and it still appears bright and large in the sky, likely obscuring 2023 DW from immediate observation, he said.

"But then the object will remain observable for weeks (even months with larger telescopes) so we can get plenty of observations as needed," he added.

The asteroid measures about 160 feet (about 50 meters) in diameter, according to NASA data. As 2023 DW orbits the sun, it has 10 predicted close approaches to Earth, with the nearest landing on February 14, 2046, and nine others between 2047 and 2054. The closest the asteroid is expected to travel to Earth is about 1.1 million miles (1.8 million kilometers), NASA's Eyes on Asteroids website notes.

The space rock was first spotted in our skies on February 2.

It's traveling about 15.5 miles per second (25 kilometers per second) at a distance of more than 11 million miles (18 million kilometers) from Earth, completing one loop around the sun every 271 days.

Farnocchia noted the success of NASA's DART mission, or the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, in September 2022 as evidence that humanity can be prepared to confront space rocks on potentially disastrous courses. DART intentionally collided a spacecraft into an asteroid to change its trajectory.

"That's the very reason why we flew that mission," he said, "and that mission was a spectacular success."

33 groundbreaking NASA missions in photographs 33 groundbreaking NASA missions in photographs Explorer 1 Apollo-Saturn Apollo 7 Apollo 8 Apollo 9 Apollo 10 Apollo 11 Apollo 12 Apollo 13 Apollo 14 Apollo 15 Apollo 16 Apollo 17 Pioneer 10 Pioneer 11 Viking Voyager Interstellar Skylab Space Shuttle Shuttle-Mir Landsat Hubble Space Telescope Chandra Spitzer Space Telescope International Space Station Parker Solar Probe Juno OSIRIS-REx SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket and Manned Crew Mars 2020 Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter
The number of aspiring and professional jazz musicians in Missoula will increase March 16-17, as the 43rd annual Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival returns to the University of Montana.

The event brings in six top-level guest professionals and 53 student bands, ranging from middle school up to college, as far away as Malta and Spokane, for workshops, master classes and public performances.

Festival director Rob Tapper said the guests are great players, great educators, fantastic people  People that understand what we're doing, and why we're doing it.

During the days, theyll work with students and band directors. In the evenings, theyll perform together, with UM student bands, the faculty ensemble and the top student bands from each day.

Three of the six guests are women, which has never happened before in the events history.

They're great players, he said. "They're great educators to great people, you know, regardless of gender, regardless of race. It just works out that we have an opportunity to ask these people to do it."

The guest artists

Caroline Davis, alto saxophone, New York: A composer who has studied with legendary soloist Lee Konitz and writes music for unconventional ensembles such as a jazz quintet with string quartet. Shes worked with composers/players like John Zorn and has a collaboration with Nicole Mitchell in the works.

Tina Raymond, drum set, Los Angeles: Raymond is the jazz studies director at California State University Northridge. Downbeat gave her an Educator Achievement Award in 2020, and in a review said she has ferocious chops and a remarkable sense of balance.

Reggie Thomas, piano, Chicago: A returning guest from 2016, Thomas is the head of jazz studies at the Northern Illinois University School of Music. Hes played at the Smithsonian Museum for the American Indian, the Lincoln Center, and played in the backing group for the prestigious Herbie Hancock International Guitar Competition.

Heather Chriscaden, bass, Seattle: Chriscaden was based in New York City jazz scene for years before returning to the West Coast.

Phil Ostrander, trombone, Minneapolis: Ostrander teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, both jazz and symphony. He studied at New England Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music.

Trent Austin, trumpet, Kansas City: Austin has played with Clark Terry, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Marie Schneider and even runs his own outfit, Austin Custom Brass.

Big-band experience

As a student and co-organizer, Skyler Mendell sees the festival from multiple vantage points.

Mendell, whos finishing a masters degree in trumpet performance, plays in many ensembles, some of which will be on stage during the public concerts.

In addition to Jazz Ensemble 1, the top big band, Mendell plays with the Jazz Small Group, a symphonic wind ensemble, and a group thats new this semester, the Commercial Small Group. They play all pop from all eras, he said, from Elvis to Stevie Wonder to Justin Timberlake. The goal is to turn it into a group that could play gigs, whether weddings or out on town. Mendell has his own sextet, too, in which he writes all the compositions, with plans for a recording this spring.

Its really cool having people bring their big-city experience to us, he said. The guests give the time to help students learn, and are nice people who, when it comes to music, can do anything.

Each guest artist has sent a chart for the big band to learn, which he said are challenging tunes.

For instance, Trent Austin selected fellow trumpeter Clark Terrys Serenade to a Bus Seat.

Terry, who Mendell believes is probably the best jazz trumpeter and arguably the best brass player overall, wrote the piece after getting off the road with Count Basies group. Its a fast bebop head where different sections carry the melody at one point.

During the concerts, theyll give out awards to supporters, named in honor of musicians and: Buddy DeFranco, the clarinet legend and festival namesake; Brooke and Chuck Florence, a couple who both play and teach saxophone; Jodi Marshall, the late Missoula pianist; Lance, the former longtime director of the jazz program, and more.

The faculty band will play each night, too. They have a new album, Montana Sounds, with contributions by all its members that relate to Montana. The line-up is Johan Eriksson (saxophone), Tapper (trombone), Jeff Troxel (guitar), Tommy Sciple (bass) and John Wicks (drums).

Theyll be giving master classes during the daytime, too.

Tapper said theyd like to eventually build the festival up to 70 visiting groups. The program itself boasts enough students for three big bands.

Having the recent faculty additions like Troxel, Sciple and Wicks, were heading in the right direction for sure, in terms of prospective kids.
In one corner of a gallery, Eric Jensen has painted an old-growth cedar tree, seen from a hikers trail-level vantage point on Ward Creek, the sun shining through the canopy, rendered in keen detail at 89 by 55 inches. In another corner, a cedar on Ross Creek in the Kootenai National Forest is seen on a canvas of a similar height, its bark and branches represented in reds, purple, and green ribbons spanning the canvas full expanse.

Theyre visibly the same painter, same tree; but varying degrees of realism and abstraction.

I want to try to open up some new doors on how we're looking at landscape so that we're seeing it more for what it is itself than what we want it to be, Jensen said.

Tree Line is Jensens thesis exhibition, on view now at University of Montanas Gallery of Visual Arts (see box), representing three years of work from the MFA candidate and former U.S. Forest Service worker.

Representation really helps me make a connection with the viewer to really ground them in the subject matter that Im talking about, he said. Then the abstraction really is more of a device to bring in less representational aspects of the experience of those places, or the energy thats there, the meaning behind it.

Kevin Bell, a painting professor, said Jensen's work is about the unusual sensation of being in the landscape. When youre moving around and deep in thought, looking around you, theres a slippage that happens between what it actually looks like and what it feels like.

That oscillation can feel transcendent, as you move between viewing something and being a part of it, he said.

A history with the landscape

Jensens interest in art and the landscape is written into his resume and family history. He worked as a wilderness ranger in Wyoming and Washington for several years after his undergraduate degree.

A lot of my visual language comes from those experiences, he said. Again, its really about spending enough time out there that it becomes a second language  you start to become a part of it. That language, those forms become so known to you.

A Utah native, he was born into a family of artists. Both of his parents are painters. His mothers grandmother painted and made ceramics. His grandmother on his fathers side was a prolific oil painter whose works were on the wall around the house since he was a kid. He keeps creations from both of those grandmothers in his studio to this day. He sees landscape painting as a part of his history, while testing its boundaries and posing some challenges.

For his bachelors degree, Jensen went to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, with close proximity to the National Gallery of Art and its collection of monumental landscapes by masters.

Both Montanas tradition of landscape art and the trails had appeal.

A big reason why this place drew me was because it had that established Western tradition, he said. "And also just has such a rich variety of landscapes."

A few of the artists hes been studying during this three-year process represent the natural world in their work, but span continents and centuries.

One is Emily Carr, a British Columbian post-impressionist painter who died in 1945, who he said was a pioneer in weaving abstractions into landscapes. She painted a lot of those old forests up there and she just created this really lovely style that's again very evocative of those places, but shows this energy, this mystical aspect, he said.

Another is Hurvin Anderson, a British-Jamaican painter, whos in his 50s. He is a master at incorporating abstract methods with the representational, he said. He thinks painting is less about new innovations than looking back through the forms history to find what suits your purpose, like this big lexicon that youre able to pull from.

Bell said its a contemporary way of thinking, likely informed by our consumption of content thats typically out of context: One link leads to something vastly different than what came before.

One place, many views

One wall in the GVA is dedicated to a single piece made up of seven canvases (of different sizes) based on photographs taken during three winters of the Clark Fork in the area of Kelly Island. The local color and forms cue you in immediately, but theres disorientation going on. Hes rotated and flipped some of them sideways to generate more ambiguity, allowing a skyline to appear to be a river current.

There's this push and pull between feeling grounded and then feeling unsure about where you really stand as a viewer," he said. "(That) kind of removes that grand importance and carries you into something that's a lot more about the landscape itself.

Another painting of a particularly smoky sunrise over the mountain reads as Sentinel even though its completely upside down. It works either way. On a piece made this year, East Fork Bull River Cedar, he decided to work with two panels. He turned them sideways at various points, adding grid-like elements that introduce that element of energy or mysticism.

Bell said the catalog of inventive signature marks Jensen has come up with feed back into that overarching theme of experience. The brushstrokes dissolve into something more than a bunch of patterns and slashes, he said.

That massive old-growth cedar was based on a real experience.

More to come

Jensen would like to work with environmental groups to help try to promote and protect natural areas around us  one idea would be a residency at Kelly Island, to create a series to help people engage with the area.

Next month, Jensen is taking part in a collaboration with the Missoula Public Library and Diana Six, a UM pathology researcher called The Old Growth Celebration Network. Hell exhibit his work on the fourth floor, where it will be a backdrop for a lecture by Six, and another by Joan Maloof, the founder of the Old-Growth Forest Network.

There will be activities in the SpectrUM interactive science area for kids; a curated reading list for adults; a display of tree cores and a display about how they can be read for climate change; and more.

Head to the librarys event calendar for dates and times.
The current Republican reign of terror in Montana calls to mind the classic abusive partnership. At the outset, the husband works for his father-in-law, so he has to conceal his contempt for and cruelty toward his wife. Once his father-in-law passes and the business is his, though, Katie, bar the door. Literally.

For the first time in many decades, Republicans now have not only majorities but super-majorities in both houses  and no Democratic father-in-law in the governors office. Katie is toast  occasionally trotted out for the show of working across the aisle, but otherwise sidelined, sidestepped, or sidewiped. She and Big Daddy stay together for the kids  that would be us  but their perspectives on whats best for us differ wildly.

The house we call Montana needs work  housing, childcare, access to affordable healthcare and one basic system of free quality public education, for starters. The business of government needs TLC too  Warm Springs, the prison, ideological hires in agency after agency and the resulting lack of expertise, yada yada. But Big Daddy is focusing only on impressing his friends and winning over the kids.

Impressing his friends is easy. Just show all these people fleeing from woke extremism how stone-cold comatose he is: Persecute LGBTQ+ relentlessly. Batter womens right to privacy. Leave environmental urgencies twisting in the wind. Throw courts under the bus. Steal what belongs to school boards, local governments, advisory boards, the Board of Regents, and the Board of Public Education, forcing them to ask the kids  that would be us  to foot the bill for legal redress.

And to win over us kids? Before attending to household and business needs, before hes even nailed down the household budget, Big Daddys handing out candy like theres no such thing as tomorrow or dentists. Using the surplus made possible by COVID-prompted federal funding he fervently opposed, hes giving us income tax rebates ($480 million total) and property tax relief ($284,000 million total). Thats one-time-only (OTO) money, but theres an election before the next bills are due. Give out ye gumdrops while ye may.

Using the same surplus, hes making permanent cuts in business equipment taxes ($9 million annually) and capital gains taxes ($16 million) and proposing an income tax reduction for the wealthiest kids totaling $150 million; for low-income working families, $11 million. All tolled, this years OTO Big Hunk will pull $185 million annually out of the household budget for the foreseeable future.

Katie had an alternative plan. Big Daddy could still dole out some instant gratification, but the lions share of the surplus would be invested in long-term sustainability. SB 346 proposed pumping $2 billion into a proven vehicle: Montanas Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund.

For over four decades, Katie reasoned, that fund has used the interest on what is now over $1 billion in principal to stimulate $1.6 billion in ongoing investments throughout Montana. SB 346 would more than double the funds principal and generate an additional $80,000,000 in annual interest to meet Montanas future needs. OK, its not Hershey Kisses right now. But its meat and potatoes for a long, long time.

That blasted Katie, Big Daddy fumed when he heard of her proposal. Shes gotta goand so does SB 346. He sat on the bill till the last minute and finally sent it to a committee with absolutely no oversight of state finance or the trust fund. To ensure the bills demise, he had his top bully join the committee ex officio. The bully failed miserably at intimidating the bill sponsor, Sen. Ryan Lynch, but the committee members certainly got the message.

Gosh, one member observed as the committee prepared to wield the ax. I like this idea, but its such a big number and there are so many big numbers right now. (Tomorrow Big Daddys gonna buy him some big-boy pants  and maybe even a calculator!)

Lynch had assured the committee the number could be adjusted after transmittal, when the total budget picture became clear. Just keep the bill in play, he urged them. We can do this, we should do this  for todays kids and tomorrows too. But WHACK  the ax fell.

Let them eat Snickers.
" " The bill from the Miami tapas restaurant El Carajo suggests three different tipping amounts, as is common in the U.S. Jeffrey Greenberg/UIG via Getty Images

Tipping makes zero sense. Is it a reward for good service? Studies show that tips don't go up or down significantly based on the quality of service. Does tipping attract and retain better wait staff? Not really. Is it a bribe so the waiter won't spit in your soup the next time you come? Probably depends on the waiter.

In most countries, a service charge is included in the bill. However, in America, instead of an up-front service charge, diners hand over 15 percent (or more) of the price of the meal to the server. It's not required, but it is customary. But this seemingly generous practice has some nasty hidden costs.

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For starters, the existence of tipping allows restaurants to pay servers a federal minimum wage of $2.13 an hour. So, waiters in most states basically live and die by tips. The result is that tipped workers are twice as likely to live in poverty and depend on food stamps as other workers.

Then there's the opposite problem. In stronger restaurant markets like big cities, the existence of tipping means that waiters in busy restaurants end up making a lot more money than the cooks and dishwashers, who get paid a fixed hourly wage while working just as hard.

So, when does it make sense to abandon tipping in favor of raising restaurant prices so that all staff is paid fairly? Or would customers balk at that?

Sara Clifton is a mathematics professor at the University of Illinois who specializes in modeling complex social behaviors. In a recent paper, she created mathematical models of two competing restaurants, one with conventional tipping and one without. The paper was published in the Feb. 8, 2018 issue of Chaos, a journal from the American Institute of Physics.

The key variable in Clifton's models is the average tipping rate. Tipping rates have been creeping up over the past few decades, from 10 percent to 15 percent and now close to 20 percent in major U.S. restaurant markets.

Clifton's models are designed to be as simple as possible, with every player in the system motivated purely by monetary gain. When cooks are paid better, they're more likely to stay, meaning that food quality goes up. When waiters are paid less, they're more likely to leave, affecting service quality. But eventually, the waiters would return if diners flooded the restaurant because of food quality which would presumably mean more profit and higher wages for all.
The United States and Ukraine have largely been in lockstep since President Joe Bidens administration pledged support for as long as it takes in resisting Moscows relentless invasion.

But more than a year into the war, there are growing differences behind the scenes between Washington and Kyiv on war aims, and potential flashpoints loom on how, and when, the conflict will end.

The administration doesn't have a clear policy objective and a clear goal. Is it to drag this thing out, which is precisely what Vladimir Putin wants? said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Is it to just give them enough to survive and not to win? I don't see a policy for victory right now, and if we don't have that, then what are we doing?

Publicly, there has been little separation between Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, an alliance on full display last month when the American president made his covert, dramatic visit to Kyiv. But based on conversations with 10 officials, lawmakers and experts, new points of tension are emerging: The sabotage of a natural gas pipeline on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean; the brutal, draining defense of a strategically unimportant Ukrainian city; and a plan to fight for a region where Russian forces have been entrenched for nearly a decade.



Senior administration officials maintain that unity between Washington and Kyiv is tight. But the fractures that have appeared are making it harder to credibly claim there's little daylight between the U.S. and Ukraine as sunbeams streak through the cracks.

For nine months, Russia has laid siege to Bakhmut, though capturing the southeastern Ukrainian city would do little to alter the trajectory of the war. It has become the focal point of the fight in recent weeks, with troops and prisoners from the mercenary Wagner Group leading the combat against Ukrainian forces. Both sides have suffered heavy losses and reduced the city to smoldering ruins.

Story continues

Ukraine has dug in, refusing to abandon the ruined city even at tremendous cost.

Each day of the citys defense allows us to gain time to prepare reserves and prepare for future offensive operations," said Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces. "At the same time, in the battles for this fortress, the enemy loses the most prepared and combat-capable part of his army  Wagners assault troops.

Multiple administration officials have begun worrying that Ukraine is expending so much manpower and ammunition in Bakhmut that it could sap their ability to mount a major counteroffensive in the spring.



I certainly don't want to discount the tremendous work that the Ukrainians' soldiers and leaders have put into defending Bakhmut  but I think it's more of a symbolic value than it is a strategic and operational value, said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Kyiv, for now, has ignored Washingtons input.

Meanwhile, an assessment by U.S. intelligence suggested that a pro-Ukraine group was responsible for the destruction of the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines last fall, shedding light on a great mystery. The new intelligence, first reported by The New York Times, was short on details but appeared to knock down a theory that Moscow was responsible for sabotaging the pipelines that delivered Russian gas to Europe.

Intelligence analysts do not believe Zelenskyy or his aides were involved in the sabotage, but the Biden administration has signaled to Kyiv  much like it did when a car bomb in Moscow killed the daughter of a prominent Russian nationalist last year  that certain acts of violence outside of Ukraines borders will not be tolerated.

There has also been, at times, frustration about Washingtons delivery of weapons to Ukraine. The United States has, by far, sent the most weapons and equipment to the front, but Kyiv has always looked ahead for the next set of supplies. Though most in the administration have been understanding about Kyivs desperation to defend itself, there have been grumblings about the constant requests and, at times, Zelenskyy not showing appropriate gratitude, according to two White House officials not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations.

I do think the administration is split, the National Security Council split on what weapons to send to Ukraine, said McCaul, whos in constant touch with senior Biden officials. I talk to a lot of top military brass and they are, in large part, supportive of giving them the ATACMS.

The administration hasnt provided those long-range missiles because there are few to spare in Americas own arsenal. Theres also fear that Ukraine might strike faraway Russian targets, potentially escalating the war.

A recent report that the Pentagon was blocking the Biden administration from sharing evidence of possible Russian war crimes with the International Criminal Court also put another dent in the unity narrative. White House officials were dismayed when the New York Times story came out, fearful it would damage the moral case the U.S. has made for supporting Ukraine against Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity.



The administration definitively declared the alliance between the United States  and its allies  and Kyiv remained strong, and that it would last as long as the war raged.

National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the White House is in constant communication with Ukraine as we support their defense of their sovereignty and territorial integrity. She added that with Putin showing no signs of ceasing his war, the best thing we can do is to continue to help Ukraine succeed on the battlefield so they can be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table for when that time comes.

But the growing disconnects may foreshadow a larger divide over the debate as to how the war will end.

Though Biden has pledged steadfast support, and the coffers remain open for now, the U.S. has been clear with Kyiv that it cannot fund Ukraine indefinitely at this level. Though backing Ukraine has largely been a bipartisan effort, a small but growing number of Republicans have begun to voice skepticism about the use of American treasure to support Kyiv without an end in sight to a distant war.



Among those who have expressed doubt about support for the long haul is House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has said that the U.S. would not offer a blank check to Ukraine and rejected Zelenskyys invitation to travel to Kyiv and learn about the realities of war.

"There is always some friction built in, said Kurt Volker, a special presidential envoy for Ukraine during the Trump administration. Zelenskyy also stepped in it a bit with McCarthy  coming across as needing to 'educate' him, rather than work with him.

But many observers credit remarkable transatlantic unity, praising the alliance holding firm despite the economic and political toll the war has taken.

I see the little fissures, but those have existed with points of disagreement and varied views between the U.S. and Ukraine even before the big February invasion, and since then, said Shelby Magid, deputy director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center. Zelenskyy has made pointed remarks before toward the U.S., and the White House has expressed disagreement with him  publicly and privately  on specific aspects, but that hasnt shifted or eaten away at the overall U.S. support and partnership.

Points of crisis still hover on the horizon. Zelenskyys insistence that all of Ukraine  including Crimea, which has been under Russian control since 2014  be returned to Ukraine before any peace negotiations begin would only extend the war, U.S. officials believe. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has signaled to Kyiv that Ukraines potential recapture of Crimea would be a red line for Putin, possibly leading to a dramatic escalation from Moscow.



Moreover, the Pentagon has consistently expressed doubts whether Ukraines forces  despite being armed with sophisticated Western weapons  would be able to dislodge Russia from Crimea, where it has been entrenched for nearly a decade.

For now, Biden continued to stick to his refrain that the United States will leave all decisions about war and peace to Zelenskky. But whispers have begun across Washington as to how tenable that will be as the war grinds on  and another presidential election looms.

There has never been a war in history without setbacks and challenges, said Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), an Army veteran and HFAC member. The question is not whether Ukrainians have setbacks, but how they respond and overcome them. Ukraine will overcome, defeat Russia and remain free.
Today, the Tribune continues its 19th annual series of articles looking back at the news and advertisements from Mooresvilles newspaper of a century ago.

These news items, with original headlines, are from The Mooresville Enterprise, predecessor to the Tribune. They are transcribed, edited and introduced by local historian O.C. Stonestreet.

March 15

Jones Memorial Church Dedicated

The Jones Memorial Methodist [Church], located near the Dixie Mills, was dedicated with special services on last Sabbath morning. Rev. C. S. Kirkpatrick, of Hickory, formerly pastor of Central [Methodist] Church here, was on hand and preached the dedicatory sermon.

In his customary forceful manner, his discourse reviewed the work at the Dixie [community] before and since the organization of the church and plead with the Christian workers to keep up the advancement of the Kingdom and to never weary in well-doing. His words of encouragement were impressive and were calculated to inspire the church officials with greater efforts in the future.

Rev. I. L. Roberts, the pastor, was present to receive the message of dedication and the church proper with the board of stewards.

The church was built in 1912 and has an enrolled membership of 90. The Sunday school had an enrollment of 145 pupils.

[Note: The Dixie Cotton Mills, mentioned above, had a name change in August of 1923 to Cascade Mills.]

March 22

Memorial at Davidson to the Late Isaac Harris

Mr. James Lee Harris, a staunch Presbyterian and one of our well-to-do citizens, has given his check to Davidson College for $5,000 with which to equip one of the lecture rooms to be built in the new Chambers Building.

This handsome gift is to be placed as a memorial to his father, the late Isaac Harris, of this city, and one of the leading pioneer builders of Mooresville.

In answer to a question of The Enterprise, Mr. Harris stated that he knew the need of Davidson and that he made the gift because of the good it will do the young men who are educated at that institution.

March 29

Masons Have Big Night

Members of the Masonic fraternity of this city and vicinity held forth Tuesday night in the Legion Hall, where the ladies of the Legion Auxiliary served a delightful banquet dinner from 6:30 to 7:30 oclock.

Worshipful Master J. William Johnston says, We had a cracking good time, all of which will be seconded by everyone present.

Rev. John S. Wood, Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star was one of the guests of the evening and outlined the work of his branch of the order.

Dr. Frasier, president of Queens College, delivered a short address on The Mason Worth While. He was followed by Dr. J. H. Highsmith, who spoke on the progress of education in North Carolina. Other visitors present were Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Fink, of Concord, and Mr. W. W. Holland, of Statesville.

The occasion was employed by the entire company, including the ladies, whose first introduction to Masonry was outlined in the meeting. Plates were laid for 120 and it is said was an elegant spread.
Centuries ago, the Celts referred to Ireland as Inis Fail, Island of Destiny. For Buttes native-born Irish, their destinies would lie far beyond their beloved homeland.

There are a lot fewer homes in Butte's once-bustling neighborhoods of Dublin Gulch, Corktown and Muckerville. Add to that list the now-desolate Anaconda Road, which, in its heyday, seemed to have a character all its own.

The long-ago inhabitants are dead and buried, and their many descendants left the area to forge their own paths. The sacrifices made by those original Irish settlers, however, were not in vain. Little did they know that their descendants would proudly cling to their Irish heritage and pass it down through the generations.

So much so, it has become an impenetrable pattern and a treasured honor for their descendants to proudly wave the tricolour flag. Not because it was expected, but because that Irish pride had already been firmly embedded into their DNA  and Buttes as well.

History has shown that Buttes Irish would not have progressed as rapidly if not for this mining camp. It works both ways though  without that Irish influence, without that Irish determination, Butte would have had a real tough time becoming the richest hill on earth.

An estimated 4.5 million Irish made their way to America between 1820 and 1930, thousands settling along the Eastern Seaboard in populated places such as Boston, New York City and Philadelphia, while others chose smaller towns, including Fall River, Massachusetts. Still others made their way west.

Within the boundaries of the growing mining camp of Butte lay a not-so-quiet hamlet where many of Buttes Irish immigrants would settle.

These men, women and children of Erin now lived in neighborhoods that would be dubbed Corktown and what was once called Town Gulch ... well, Dublin Gulch sounded so much better. The Irish inhabitants also laid claimed to Anaconda Road and Muckerville, with its numerous homes and businesses.

Butte was surrounded by mountains, but these Irish neighborhoods were surrounded by mines. Headframes dotted the landscape from every angle. Nearby, immigrants worked such mines as the Parrot, the Neversweat with its seven stacks and the Anaconda. At the foot of Dublin Gulch, the Kelley Mine would appear, and just a few blocks away stood the mines of the Original and the Steward, with a visible Mountain Con, too.

Looking through the hundreds of articles in newspapers.com, its clear that the neighborhoods combined history is just too immense and the space allowed within these Big Sky pages would not come close to doing it justice.

So, instead, below, in no particular order, are just a few of the hundreds of interesting stories on the Irish from this particular Butte region. Yes, these Irish worked hard, they fought hard and they played hard, but all the while they were building a place they could call home.

Bickering priests

Many stories have been passed down through the years, but one shared by the late Father Sarsfield O'Sullivan was particularly interesting.

This story involved two priests, Father Michael ODea Barry, pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church and Father Michael Hannan, pastor of St. Marys Church. Its important to note that St. Marys had a very telling nickname, the Miners Parish. Both natives of County Limerick, Barry was the IC pastor for more than 20 years; Hannan led his parishioners for 16 years.

As O'Sullivan explained, sometime around 1920, the two men were at the same Catholic function when they got into a heated argument. Barry apparently had told Hannan that the IC priest was lucky to have the lace curtain Irish in his parish, while Hannan was not as blessed as he had the shanty Irish attending Mass at his church. Basically, Barry informed the St. Marys priest that his Irish parishioners were well off and much more refined, while those shanty Irish of St. Marys were poor and uneducated.

That insult didnt sit well with the St. Marys priest and the argument ended with Hannan punching Barry in the face.

In the ensuing years, the two priests must have mended fences because when Barry died in 1927, Hannan served as one of his pallbearers.

Mahoneys vs. Mulligans

It wasnt just priests who had the occasional disagreement. Neighborhood tiffs were a common occurrence, too. One feud stood out with one Butte judge absolutely fed up with the antics of two Irish families  particularly their matriarchs.

In a Dublin Gulch rendition of the Hatfields and the McCoys, it was the Mahoneys versus the Mulligans back in 1896. These two families seemed to have a hard time getting along, in particular Mrs. Mahoney and Mrs. Mulligan, both of whom reportedly had an affinity for fisticuffs and foul language.

The Mahoneys celebrated the ancient scrimmage of the Kilkenny cats on Sunday afternoon amid their own territory in Dublin Gulch, reported The Butte Miner on Feb. 18, 1896. Not sure what that even meant, but it didnt sound too complimentary.

This was not the first time the families had come to blows, but Judge R.F. Turner was tired of their ongoing feud and advised them to get as far away from one another as Providence and landmarks would permit.

This is just a test

The above incident did not help Dublin Gulchs reputation, not one little bit. That same year, but several months later, The Butte Miner reported that this particular neighborhood, with the upper part referred to as Kilkenny, was not a favorite among police officers.

It is perhaps the most belligerent quarter in which a police officer may be stationed, reported the newspaper. The article further stated that newly installed officers were usually given this beat to test the efficiency of a new man on the force.

Melting pot

As 1900 inched closer, more and more Irish  Murphys, Sullivans, Hogans, Sheas, OLearys, Gavigans, McCoys, Harringtons, Dohertys, Maloneys, Hollands and others settled in these neighborhoods. Other ethnicities were represented as well.

Looking through old Butte city directories, people with surnames such as Malkovich, Ferko, Oaas, Matson, Scown and Radonich, just to name a few, made homes for themselves among the Irish. Oddly enough, a group of Finnish built a club house in Corktown. Thats right, the Finnish Workers Club and the Finnish Hall Society met at 318 N. Wyoming St.

Early history of St. Marys

By 1904, the neighborhoods could not only boast about their own church, St. Marys, but also an elementary school. Bearing the same name, the school was housed in the church basement, which would be bursting at the seams in its first year with nearly 200 students. A year later, the student body grew to more than 500, but that was not a problem, because a three-story school was built in the interim at a cost of $15,000. Now, there was plenty of room, and attendance numbers grew.

Hole in one

There were some hazards to contend with on Anaconda Road, some bigger than others. Just after Christmas 1902, a cave-in occurred right smack in the middle of the road.

The hole was estimated to be 50 feet deep and reportedly, passersby were able to see into the workings of the Parrot Mine.

Not exactly the Ritz

In the early 1930s, the boys of Corktown built their own club house. No, it was not the Ritz, but thats what they called it and the password to enter was pinochle. Made from discarded wood, it was a place to call their own. Even better, the 10x10-foot shack came with its own wood stove for those cold winter days.

That stove would lead to the clubhouse's demise as it got overheated one September day in 1933 and burned the place to the ground.

Beer parlors and more

No surprise to report here as there was a tavern known as Sullivan & Sullivan at 231 Anaconda Road, but there were many more. Mrs. T.J. Murphy had her establishment at 434 Anaconda Road, and the Pick and Shovel, run by E.F. Fitschen, was close by. Also worth noting was the bar run by Thomas DArcy and James Maginn at 332 N. Wyoming St.

Maginn was the father of James Maginn, a Butte native who would become a priest with the Columban Order. The father, along with his wife, Annie, and their family left Butte to return to County Down when young James was just an elementary school student.

Ordained in 1935, the young priest was a Japanese prisoner of war during World War II, and in 1949, he visited Butte once again before returning to Korea. By the following year, he was again taken prisoner, this time by North Korean captors. Accused of being an American spy, the 38-year-old was executed, along with two other Irish priests.

Real estate prices

If one was looking to buy a home in this area, the prices seemed pretty reasonable. At least it would seem so looking at a 1906 ad from a real estate company, Passmore & Co.

A two-room home with an adjoining store on Anaconda Road would cost $2,100. For those looking to move to North Wyoming Street  well, a four-room cottage would cost close to $1,000.

Anaconda Road Massacre

Finally, as a spring day in 1920 would prove, life was not always easy in this neck of the woods.

Bloody Wednesday, also called the Anaconda Road Massacre, occurred April 21, 1920, when hundreds of striking miners came under fire outside the Neversweat Mine. Hired guards from the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. were the men behind the guns.

The guards managed to wound an estimated 17 men. The cast of characters also included the Industrial Workers of the World and a contingent of federal troops.

Most importantly, though, were the wounded miners. Thomas Manning, a 25-year-old Irish immigrant, would die days later from the injuries he received. Another young Irishman, James Sullivan, was also severely injured and his death was initially reported to be imminent. Knowing his time on Earth would soon be coming to an end, Sullivan returned home to his family in Donaghadee in County Down, where he would die seven months later.
Wayne Hadley retired in 2005 from his regional post as a fisheries biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. But he never stopped caring about the Clark Fork River, Georgetown Lake and other lakes and streams within his expansive territory.

Hadleys field research helped jumpstart Superfund cleanup of the upper Clark Fork River by pinpointing pollution from historic mining and smelting pollution as the source for fish kills in the river.

He tangled sometimes with the Atlantic Richfield Co., deemed responsible for remediation, with his bosses at FWP, the EPA and occasional others. He could be cantankerous and stubborn but won many admirers through the years who recognized his commitment to the resources he managed, his agile intelligence and lively wit.

Hadley died early Saturday at age 82. He had been in hospice care for a few days after cardiologists in Boise concluded there was nothing they could do to improve cardiac function.

After he and his wife, Kathy, retired, they lived part of the year at their home in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County near the Clark Fork River. They wintered in Boise with their older son, Erik, and his wife, Shasta. Survivors also include son Liam and two grandchildren from Erik and Shasta.

Kathy Hadley was the longtime executive director for the Butte-based National Center for Appropriate Technology and has been active for years with the National Wildlife Federation and the Montana Wildlife Federation.

Family and friends plan to gather sometime this summer in Montana to swap Wayne Hadley stories.

There will be no shortage.

A recent book about the Love Canal environmental disaster in Niagara, New York, where Hadleys sister-in-law Lois Gibbs gained notoriety as an activist, described Hadley as having a devastating knack for brutal honesty.

That candor led to memorable encounters  both with people he liked and those he did not. Hadley was fond of observing, You can judge a man by the quality of his enemies.

Recipients of his world-class teasing eventually determined that being a target meant theyd earned Hadleys respect, even affection. He clearly felt a deep and fierce love for family and close friends.

Hadley shared generously the knowledge hed gained during a lifetime of hunting and fishing. Such field-and-stream advice typically included a playful barb or two.

Perhaps his most enduring legacy will be the work he and FWP colleagues completed to provide evidence that fish kills in the upper Clark Fork River resulted from metals pollution from old mining and smelting tailings being washed into the river during thunderstorms.

That work helped spur action by Atlantic Richfield, the EPA and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to begin removing the contaminants from the floodplain. That work continues.

During the 1990s, Hadley sometimes sparred verbally with Sandy Stash of the Atlantic Richfield Co. and Scott Brown of the EPA. Both were quoted in a Fall 2000 article about Hadley in Trout magazine.

Wayne has a mission. Lets put it that way, Stash said. And you cant fault somebody for having a mission. Sure, he can be a problem from our perspective. But I think he does a very good job representing his constituents.

Brown observed, You love him and youre afraid to death of him all at the same time.

Chris Marchion of Anaconda, like Kathy Hadley, is a member of the Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame.

Marchion said this week that it was clear to him that Wayne Hadley always cared deeply about the resources he managed.

Hadley grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

In the early 1990s, reporter Bill Platt took over the Anaconda Bureau of The Montana Standard. He met Hadley soon after and disclosed that he was from Oklahoma.

Nothing you cant overcome, Hadley said, eyes twinkling.
Li Qiang endorsed as Chinese premier

Xinhua) 09:31, March 12, 2023

Xi Jinping shakes hands with Li Qiang at the fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. The fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC was held on Saturday. Li Qiang was endorsed as Chinese premier at the meeting upon nomination by President Xi Jinping. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Li Qiang was endorsed as Chinese premier Saturday morning, upon nomination by President Xi Jinping, at a plenary meeting of the ongoing first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's national legislature.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi attended the meeting.

Xi signed a presidential order to officially appoint Li as premier shortly afterwards.

Li, born in July 1959, joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1983 and received a graduate education at the Central Party School, holding an executive MBA degree. He is also a member of the Standing Committee of the 20th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the State Council.

NPC deputies voted to endorse Zhang Youxia and He Weidong vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), upon nomination by Xi, also chairman of the CMC of the PRC.

Li Shangfu, Liu Zhenli, Miao Hua and Zhang Shengmin were endorsed as CMC members.

Deputies also elected Liu Jinguo director of the National Commission of Supervision, Zhang Jun president of the Supreme People's Court, and Ying Yong procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

At the same meeting, altogether 159 people were elected members of the 14th NPC Standing Committee.

The newly appointed premier made a public pledge of allegiance to the Constitution and so did the other new leaders and legislators.

Xi Jinping shakes hands with Li Keqiang at the fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. The fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC was held on Saturday. Li Qiang was endorsed as Chinese premier at the meeting upon nomination by President Xi Jinping. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Li Qiang (R, front) shakes hands with Li Keqiang at the fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. The fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC was held on Saturday. Li Qiang was endorsed as Chinese premier at the meeting upon nomination by President Xi Jinping. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Newly appointed Chinese Premier Li Qiang makes a public pledge of allegiance to the Constitution at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. Li was endorsed as Chinese premier at a plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, the country's national legislature. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Members of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) pledge allegiance to the Constitution in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. (Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Kou Jie)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska  A social media campaign urging President Joe Biden to reject an oil development project on Alaska's remote North Slope has rapidly gained steam on TikTok and other platforms, reflecting the unease many young Americans feel about climate change.

The #StopWillow campaign has garnered more than 50 million views and counting, and it was trending in the top 10 topics recently on TikTok, as users voiced their concerns that Biden wouldn't stick to his campaign promises to curtail oil drilling.

Its just so blatantly bad for the planet, said Hazel Thayer, a climate activist who posted TikTok videos using the #StopWillow hashtag.

With all of the progress that the U.S. government has made on climate change, it now feels like theyre turning their backs by allowing Willow to go through," Thayer said. "I think a lot of young people are feeling a little bit betrayed by that.

At the same time, Alaska Native leaders with ties to the petroleum-rich North Slope support ConocoPhillips Alaska's proposed Willow project. They have pushed back, saying the Willow Project would bring much-needed jobs and billions of dollars in taxes and mitigation funds to the vast, snow- and ice-covered region nearly 600 miles from Anchorage.

The Alaska Native mayors of two North Slope communities  Asisaun Toovak, of Utqiagvik, the nations northernmost community formerly known as Barrow, and Chester Ekak, of Wainwright, about 90 miles to the southwest  penned an opinion piece for the Anchorage Daily News in support of the project.

In the debate, the voices of the people whose ancestral homeland is most impacted have largely been ignored," they wrote. "We know our lands and our communities better than anyone, and we know that resource development and our subsistence way of life are not mutually exclusive.

Bidens decision on Willow will be one of his most consequential climate decisions.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who fought the Willow project as a member of Congress, has the final decision on whether to approve it, although top White House climate officials are likely to be involved, with input from Biden himself. The White House has declined to comment.

Climate activists are outraged that Biden appears open to the project, which they call a carbon bomb, and would risk alienating young voters who have urged stronger climate action by the White House as he approaches a 2024 reelection campaign.

Willow's critics include the Pueblo Action Alliance, which is where Haaland's daughter, Somah Haaland, has worked. The Western Energy Alliance, an oil industry trade organization, claims that creates a conflict of interest for the secretary. Interior spokesperson Melissa Schwartz denied any conflict.

Alaskas congressional delegation  including Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, who is the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress  backs the project and met with top officials at the White House.

With a decision anticipated soon, attention to Willow is growing online.

The projects nature-themed name is making it easier for the topic to gain traction on social media than other oil projects with more technical-sounding names, said Cassidy DiPaola, spokesperson for People Vs. Fossil Fuels, a coalition of groups pressing Biden for an end to fossil fuel projects. A petition on change.org had more than 3 million signatures by Wednesday, making it the third most-signed petition in the company's history, it said.

Young voters felt like this was betraying the climate goals they had set forth, said Tyler Steinhardt, a vice president at Pique Action, a company that produces social media and mini-documentaries about climate solutions.

The proposed Willow project is within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, an area the size of Indiana, though about half of the reserve is off limits to oil and gas leasing under an Obama-era rule reinstated by the Biden administration last year.

Its also where subsistence hunters kill caribou, seals, fish and bowhead whales to supplement extremely high food costs in rural Alaska, where, for example, a 24-ounce bag of shredded cheese can cost $16.99.

ConocoPhillips Alaska said Willow, one of the biggest oil fields to be proposed in Alaska in decades, could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day, or about 1.5% of the total U.S. oil production. It could also help fill the 800-mile trans-Alaska oil pipeline, which is running at about a fourth of the peak capacity in the 1980s, when more than 2 million barrels a day flowed through the line from the North Slope to Valdez for shipment.

In oil-friendly Alaska, there have been visible shows of support for the project.

The Alaska Legislature unanimously passed a resolution last month in support of the project. Local governments and Alaska Native corporations on the North Slope also back the project. Union leaders  a major Biden constituency  support it.

The Alaska Native mayors said in their opinion piece that the project is expected to generate $1.25 billion in taxes for the North Slope Borough to pay for basic services like education, fire protection and law enforcement.

Its time for Washington, D.C., to listen to the voices of Alaska Native communities on the North Slope and approve Willow without further delay or deferral, Toovak and Ekak wrote.

Not all elected officials on the North Slope favor the project, however,

Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, the mayor of Nuiqsut, the community that would be closest to the Willow project, said she worried about the effect on her community's subsistence lifestyle.

There are many who would like to say everybody in Alaska supports oil and gas development, she told The Associated Press last month. Well, for our village, this development is in the wrong area  We oppose it."

States with the most oil reserve States With the Most Oil Reserves The US became a net exporter of oil in 2020 for the first time ever US proved oil reserves have sharply increased in the past decade 15. Michigan 14. Ohio 13. Mississippi 12. Utah 11. Montana 10. Kansas 9. Louisiana 8. Wyoming 7. Colorado 6. Oklahoma 5. California 4. Alaska 3. New Mexico 2. North Dakota 1. Texas
One of Northern Californias wettest winters in recent memory will bring more rain into the Napa Valley and Bay Area.

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The National Weather Service on Saturday issued a flood watch for the Bay Area, to take effect at 10 p.m. Monday and continue through 4 a.m. Wednesday. A high wind warning also will be in force from 11 p.m. Monday until 5 a.m. Wednesday, with gusts of 50 mph possible in valley areas.

The regions next atmospheric river  following one that triggered a flood watch starting Thursday  is expected to drop 1 to 3 inches of rain in valley areas from Monday night into Tuesday, with coastal hills receiving 3 to 7 inches. Rivers and streams already running high from a winters worth of storms may rise out of their banks, and extensive flooding of streets and small waterways is likely, according to the weather service.

Rainfall at Napa County Airport is expected to total 1  to 2  inches Monday, followed by another 1 to 2 inches Tuesday, the agency said in its online forecast.

The incoming storm will add to the rainfall the Napa Valley received from Thursday into Friday, when the Napa airport received 1.7 inches in 24 hours, Angwin 3.52 inches, and Mount Veeder 4.57 inches.

Earlier forecasts indicated the the Napa River rising to its flood-monitoring stage of 22 feet for the second time in less than a week, to 22.3 feet Tuesday night north of the city of Napa. However, a revised outlook Sunday from the California Nevada River Forecast Center lowered that estimate to an 20.7-foot crest at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Flood stage on the river is 25 feet.

Oxbow Commons park in downtown Napa closed last week with the shutting of its floodgates, which turn the linear park into a relief channel at a bend in the Napa River. On Friday, waters topped the weir and ponded on nearby McKinstry Street, but did not create a full flow through the quarter-mile flood bypass, although the river did back over some paved paths in the flood channels southwest.

In addition, the weather service warned of strong winds that are expected to arrive Monday evening and potentially blow down power lines and trees, causing power outages and road blockages. Flying debris in windstorms may damage buildings or injure people and animals, the agency said in its high wind alert.

During the wind warning, which the weather service upgraded from a watch on Sunday, south winds in valleys are predicted to measure 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Hills and mountains above 1,000 feet, as well as coastal areas, could see gusts reach 55 to 70 mph.

Northern California can expect more spates of wet weather for up to two more weeks, meteorologist Cindy Kobold of the weather service said on Friday.

Napa Countys most recent storm caused various road closures, including on northbound Highway 29 in American Canyon, which twice closed due to flooding starting Thursday night before reopening in time for the Friday morning commute.

President Biden on Friday approved an emergency declaration for California covering 34 of the states 58 counties, including Napa County. That authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to identify, mobilize and provide equipment and resources to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.

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After the rapid implosion of Silicon Valley Bank on Friday, companies and politicians were continuing to assess the damage and trying to calm investors and markets amid fear and uncertainty about how extensive the fallout might be.

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Saturday morning, California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a statement supporting moves by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to step in as receiver for the bank.

"Over the last 48 hours, I have been in touch with the highest levels of leadership at the White House and Treasury," Newsom said. "Everyone is working with FDIC to stabilize the situation as quickly as possible, to protect jobs, people's livelihoods, and the entire innovation ecosystem that has served as a tentpole for our economy."

On Friday, state Sen. Scott Wiener wrote on Twitter that the damage from the bank's collapse could be more far-reaching than just the local business sector.

"The Bay Area is the heartbeat of innovation for our entire country," Wiener wrote. "The failure of the largest regional bank in the tech sector risks severe damage, not only to our local economy & its workers, but to the entire banking system."

In the case of one San Francisco payroll processing company that banked with Silicon Valley Bank, thousands of employee paychecks next week would be the responsibility of the FDIC, including a San Francisco "pizza place, taco joint & bike shop." Wiener wrote. "It's not just a tech thing."

San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey said on Twitter that "if deposits aren't backstopped soon is bigger than a city or region  it endangers one of the U.S. economy's most vital and innovative sectors."

He was citing a tweet from tech investor and Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan saying that regulators needed to backstop the bank's deposits, not provide a bailout, since 40,000 of the bank's depositors are small businesses. Thirty percent of those businesses "will fail to make payroll in the next 30 days," Tan said, estimating that amounted to 120,000 people in jeopardy of not getting paid.

On Friday, the California Employment Development Department, which collects payroll taxes from companies, said it would waive penalties against employers who are unable to pay those taxes on time.

"Employers can submit a waiver request through e-Services for Business or in writing," the EDD said in a statement. "Further information is available in EDD's Waiver of Penalty fact sheet or by contacting the Taxpayer Assistance Center."

Some tech founders took to Twitter Saturday to explain how the bank's downfall was already affecting their ability to operate.

"Our SVB line of credit was working yday, but was turned off today. That was where we paid our bills (software to manage our backend codebase, lease, slack, etc)," tweeted Isa Watson, founder of voice-only social app Squad, which is based in New York. "This wked I have to move all of this to my personal credit cards," he added.

Concern is also mounting with respect to the bank's role in funding affordable housing projects, including some in San Francisco and elsewhere in the Bay Area, which could be stalled or delayed. The bank has invested and loaned out more than $2 billion for housing since 2002, it said on its website, listing projects including the Berkeley Way and Hope Center and the 1036 Mission Street Apartments in San Francisco, among many others.

Still, experts told the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday that the bank's collapse was not likely a harbinger of a 2008-style financial crisis, and that depositors with less than $250,000 in their accounts should not be concerned at all.

All U.S. banks are backed by the FDIC, which guarantees deposits up to $250,000.

As well as being the insurer for bank deposits, the FDIC is also responsible for collecting a bank's assets and settling its debts if and when it fails, according to the agency.

If depositors have uninsured funds above the $250,000 threshold  as many of Silicon Valley Bank's business and other clients do  they may be able to get some of their money back once its assets and liabilities are sorted out by regulators.

But it can take years to sell off the assets of a failed bank. According to the FDIC, "as assets are sold, depositors who had uninsured funds usually receive periodic payments." That raises the prospect that companies with significant exposure to the bank could falter or fail in the meantime.

Some observers pointed out that while the immediate focus is on helping depositors and limiting the fallout from the bank's failure, holders of the bank's equity and debt  its shares and bonds  may be left with a total loss.

And there is no shortage of companies with assets at Silicon Valley Bank far in excess of the FDIC-insured ceiling.

San Jose digital media company Roku said in a Friday SEC filing that Silicon Valley Bank held "approximately 26% of the Company's cash and cash equivalents balance as of March 10, 2023." Roku disclosed in its filing that it had total cash and cash equivalents of about $1.9 billion as of March 10, of which roughly $487 million was held at Silicon Valley Bank.

Video game company Roblox said in a filing that it had $3 billion of cash and securities as of the end of February, of which about 5% (or about $150 million) was held at Silicon Valley Bank. The company said the bank's condition "will have no impact on the day to day operations of the company."

Amid the ongoing concern, some companies went out of their way to assure investors and the public they had limited or no exposure to the bank.

San Francisco-based personal finance company SoFi said in a filing that it did not hold any assets with the bank. The company said it had an approximately $40 million lending facility that is provided through Silicon Valley Bank, which is unaffected by the FDIC receivership.

Sunnyvale networking hardware company Juniper Networks said in an SEC filing that it held a "cash balance of less than 1% of the Company's total cash, cash equivalents and investments, and therefore believes its exposure to loss as a result of SVB's receivership is immaterial."

How small businesses plan to prepare for a recession How small businesses plan to prepare for a recession Seeking alternative revenue Saving when possible Remaining adaptable Moving onlinesometimes entirely Creating employee communication plans
California Chinook salmon populations have fallen to their lowest levels in years, according to new estimates released by state and federal scientists  a decline that could trigger a shutdown of the commercial and recreational fishing season along the coast.

The salmon are struggling, said Chuck Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. And we have great concern about their future, knowing we are fully committed to rebuilding them and saving them.

Bonham said the decline is part of a decades-long trend, and the past three years of record drought only further stressed our salmon populations.

The department said scientists estimated that the number of 3-year-old fall-run Chinook likely to return to the Sacramento River this year to spawn would be fewer than 170,000, one of the lowest forecasts in 15 years. They also estimated that fewer than 104,000 are likely to return to the Klamath River, the second-lowest estimate since 1997.

In its announcement Wednesday, the department said returning fall-run Chinook fell well short of conservation objectives in the Sacramento River last year, and may now be approaching a point of being declared overfished.

In response, federal and state agencies are expected to take a conservative approach when approving 2023 salmon seasons to provide additional protective measures to these stocks, and very limited or no fishing in 2023 appears possible, the department said.

The new population estimates appear to reflect the variety of threats weighing on Chinook salmon. While the construction of numerous dams on ancestral rivers decades ago dealt a serious blow to the species survival, global warming and drought have also exacted a toll  even as state and federal hatcheries rear and release millions of salmon each year.

Salmon, which begin their life cycle in streambeds, migrate to the ocean as juveniles, and then return to their birthplace to spawn before dying. In recent years, scientists have identified yet another threat to the species survival  a deficiency of thiamine is harming Chinook populations, and researchers suspect salmon may be feeding too heavily on numerous anchovies in the Pacific Ocean.

In light of the new population estimates, the Pacific Fishery Management Council will consider alternatives for the ocean fishing season during meetings this week.

The options will probably include a limited fishery, a complete shutdown or something in between, Bonham said. A decision is expected during meetings in early April.

California has banned coastal salmon fishing only once before, in 2008.

Last years commercial season included a range of permitted dates from May to October in different zones along the coast, while the Klamath zone in far Northern California was closed.

Recreational anglers catch fall-run Chinook on the Sacramento and other rivers, and members of Native American tribes traditionally fish for salmon.

Decisions on inland recreational fishing will be made in May by the California Fish and Game Commission.

Data from previous years shows that three years after dry conditions will typically bring low estimates of returning salmon, Bonham said. The low numbers this year reflect the extremely dry conditions of 2020, he said.

Salmon numbers are sporadic and tied to flows in rivers, with wetter conditions helping the fish flourish.

Bonham said the extremely wet winter this year should benefit the salmon. In 2010, for example, ample rainfall led to higher estimates of returning adults in 2012 and 2013.

That gives you some optimism that in three years from now, you could see the same kind of thing, Bonham said. This can turn around.

Salmon fishing advocates, however, said the dire outlook for this year shows that Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration should do more to prioritize river flows for fish.

The forecast of too few fish to support a fishery will hurt not only those who make a living tied to salmon but also the many Californians whose dinner tables would normally be supplemented by salmon, said John McManus, president of the Golden State Salmon Association.

McManus and other leaders of the association criticized Newsoms water policies, noting that while salmon numbers have declined, water has flowed to almond orchards that have expanded substantially in recent years.

Weve still got good water resources in California. They just need to be managed right, in a little bit more fair and balanced way, so we dont crush the native salmon runs that the state has been blessed with. And this year, we can see theyve been crushed, McManus said.

He said the associations members support responsible stewardship.

Fishermen and women throughout the state want to see this stock rebuilt, McManus said. We know it can be. It just takes a little bit of fairness, compromise and balance.

Last month, environmental and fishing advocates condemned a request by the Newsom administration to temporarily waive environmental water-quality rules in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in an effort to store more water in reservoirs. They argued that the request, which was approved by the State Water Resources Control Boards executive director, will be harmful for Chinook salmon, longfin smelt and endangered delta smelt.

State officials have defended the approach, saying other existing protections are adequate.

Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said they are working toward plans aimed at rebuilding fall-run Chinook populations in the Sacramento and Klamath rivers.

But environmental advocates argue the states efforts are insufficient, and this years low numbers reflect a trend of continuing declines.

Its pretty heartbreaking, said Doug Obegi, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. I think it certainly should be a big warning light that our native salmon runs are in deep trouble.

States with the most registered anglers States with the most registered fishermen #51. Hawaii #50. Washington D.C. #49. New Jersey #48. Massachusetts #47. Nevada #46. California #45. Connecticut #44. New York #43. Maryland #42. Illinois #41. Arizona #40. Rhode Island #39. Virginia #38. Texas #37. Ohio #36. Florida #35. Indiana #34. Pennsylvania #33. Washington #32. Georgia #31. Kansas #30. Delaware #29. South Carolina #28. Mississippi #27. Michigan #26. New Hampshire #25. Iowa #24. New Mexico #23. Nebraska #22. Alabama #21. Kentucky #20. Missouri #19. Tennessee #18. North Carolina #17. West Virginia #16. Oregon #15. Colorado #14. Utah #13. Louisiana #12. Arkansas #11. Vermont #10. Maine #9. Oklahoma #8. Wisconsin #7. Minnesota #6. South Dakota #5. North Dakota #4. Idaho #3. Montana #2. Wyoming #1. Alaska States with the most registered anglers #50. Hawaii #49. New Jersey #48. Massachusetts #47. Connecticut #46. California #45. Maryland #44. New York #43. Nevada #42. Illinois #41. Rhode Island #40. Arizona #39. Texas #38. Virginia #37. Ohio #36. Indiana #35. Florida #34. Pennsylvania #33. Delaware #32. Washington #31. Kansas #30. Georgia #29. Mississippi #28. Iowa #27. New Mexico #26. South Carolina #25. Michigan #24. New Hampshire #23. Nebraska #22. Kentucky #21. Alabama #20. Missouri #19. Tennessee #18. North Carolina #17. West Virginia #16. Colorado #15. Oregon #14. Utah #13. Louisiana #12. Arkansas #11. Vermont #10. Oklahoma #9. Wisconsin #8. Maine #7. South Dakota #6. Minnesota #5. North Dakota #4. Idaho #3. Montana #2. Wyoming #1. Alaska
When driving on Highway 29 through rolling hills and stunning vineyards, you may occasionally see burn piles with smoke billowing above, spreading shaded clouds of thick smoke through the clean valley air.

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.

While the intention behind these burns is positive, there is a better way to navigate burning grapevines that does not create excess smoke and tends to surprise community members and farmers alike by its relatively smoke-free outcome.

An increase in wildfires has created more sensitivity around the general topic of fire; however, some fire is indispensable in the context of farming and ecosystem services. The Napa Valley Grapegrowers Best Practices for Low Smoke Agriculture Burning Program sets an example of how farmers can make a difference now.

NVG has developed a technique that promotes proper vine drying times, removal of excess dirt, careful lighting, and tarping to keep the center of burn piles dry during rain events. The result is a virtually smoke-free burn. In this way, our best practices program goes beyond current regulations, which restrict the timing of burns, and yet do not guarantee low smoke through a change in practice.

NVG hosts demonstrations in both Spanish and English, teaching both the how and the why behind this innovative protocol.

The low smoke burn technique emits less particulates into the air, reducing the likelihood of unsafe air quality conditions, which is better overall for the climate. It eliminates the spread of pests and disease, requires less labor than other methods of vine disposal, and is incredibly cost effective.

In fact, NVG even provided tarps to farmers this year to remove a financial barrier to a simple climate change mitigation strategy.

While age and lack of yield are well-known reasons to pull vines, it is important to note the other factors farmers consider when making their vineyard plans. Replanting a vineyard can create the opportunity to improve vineyard layout to elevate quality and sustainability. These changes can include transitioning to drought-tolerant rootstocks, row spacing that facilitates greater use of cover crops, and shifting row orientation to minimize water use by up to 30-40%. These types of changes sequester carbon and reduce the amount of irrigation needed.

Pest and disease can overrun vineyards and without proper removal, the infestation could easily transfer to neighboring blocks. Halting this spread to prevent substandard fruit quality and yield is critical in maintaining a healthy vineyard ecosystem.

Of course, farmers do not rip out all vines that carry pests and diseases, but if other methods of pest and disease control fail and the unhealthy vines outweigh the healthy, pulling those vines and disposing of them properly is essential.

The recent eradication of the European Grapevine Moth required mandating federal and state permits, inspections, quarantine zones, and strict restrictions on movement of all grapevine plant material  at the cost of $115 million in public and private funds. Future vineyard pests could pose a similar threat, and moving material from a vineyard to other locations would help hasten their spread. As such, grapevine woody debris is best disposed of through disease eliminative processes such as burning.

A popular alternative to burning vineyard debris is chipping. Proper carbon accounting of this method should factor in the effects of trucking in a chipper, lengthy use of machinery, hauling woody debris to new locations, and natural decomposition. Chipping is much more labor intensive than burning, as vines need to be properly prepared to go in the machinery. With NVGs low smoke burning method, structural aspects of vineyard development, like wire and posts, are encouraged to be left in the burn pile. Once the plant material burns, these products remain, and are much easier to dispose of or even reuse.

As responsible farmers, we pursue practices that complement and protect the unique environment and natural resources found in Napa Valley and work proactively to find sustainable solutions to traditional agricultural practices.

Help us create a healthier Napa Valley by reducing the amount of smoke generated in vineyards with the use of NVGs Best Practices for Low-Smoke Agriculture Burning.

For more information, visit napagrowers.org/agricultural-burning.

Participation is down 40% in this agricultural program that protects wildlife, water, and soil Participation is down 40% in this agricultural program that protects wildlife, water, and soil There is less land in the Conservation Reserve Program than there used to be Most counties have seen declines in participation over the past 10 years Grassland establishment and habitat expansion are among the most common programs New changes from the USDA seek to improve participation
The second edition of World Food India is set to be organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in the first week of November, 2023. The venue for the event to be held during November 3-5 is Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. A curtain raiser event was held here this week, where Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Pashupati Kumar Paras, and Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti Prahlad Singh Patel, launched the website, publicity brochure and promotional video. Minister Paras emphasised that India is one of the fastest-growing economies with many investment opportunities, especially in the food processing sector. He outlined five pivotal elements of the WFI-2023 as Millets- 'Shree Anna-The Super Food of India', Innovation and Sustainability 'Green Food', White Revolution 2.0, making India an export hub and focus on technology and digitisation. He said that during the three-day event, the government expects leading players in the food processing sector from across the globe to showcase their strengths. Minister Patel said that with the experience of previous edition in 2017, the government is looking forward to WFI-2023 as a flagship global event. He said that the various government initiatives including the PLI schemes in the food processing industry are enhancing the marketing and branding and the government is proud of the standardising the quality parameters. Notably, the International Year of Millets 2023 officially kicked off on January 1, 2023, and much of the focus will be on millets at the WFI 2023. The government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution for declaring the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets and India's proposal was supported by 72 countries. UNGA announced 2023 as the International Year of Millets back in March 2021. India is a global leader in the production of millets with an area of about 12.5 million hectares and a share of more than 15 per cent of the world's total production. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are the major millets producing states. What are millets? Millet is a common term for categorizing small-seeded grasses that are often called Nutri-cereals. Some of them are sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi), little millet (kutki), foxtail millet (kakun), proso millet (cheena), barnyard millet (sawa), and kodo millet (kodon). Millets are now being promoted as 'Super food'. Most importantly, millet production is not dependent on the use of chemical fertilizers. (ANI)
The new national carrier will leverage Saudi Arabia's strategic geographic location between the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, enabling Riyadh to become a gateway to the world and a global destination for transportation, trade, and tourism, PIF said in a statement on Sunday.

Riyadh Air aims to connect to over 100 destinations around the world by 2030, with Saudi hospitality at its heart.

Riyadh Air will be chaired by Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of PIF, while Tony Douglas, who brings more than 40 years of experience in the aviation, transportation and logistics industries, is appointed as Chief Executive Officer.

The airline's senior management will include Saudi and international expertise, the statement said.

Operating from Riyadh as its hub, the airline, it added, will usher in a new era for the travel and aviation industry globally.

"Riyadh Air will be a world-class airline, adopting the global best sustainability and safety standards across its advanced fleet of aircraft equipped with the latest cutting-edge technology," it said.

The airline is expected to add USD 20 billion to non-oil GDP growth, and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The airline will be a sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund's (PIF) wholly owned company.

"As a wholly owned PIF subsidiary, the new national airline is set to benefit from PIF's investment expertise and financial capabilities while expanding on the company's operations to become a leading national carrier. The new national airline represents PIF's latest investment in the sector, along with the recently announced King Salman International Airport masterplan," the statement added.

PIF said the establishment of Riyadh Air is part of its strategy to unlock the capabilities of promising sectors that can help drive the diversification of the local economy. (ANI)
The Partnership Summit is organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Department for Promotion of Internal Trade and Industry, (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The 28th edition of The CII Partnership Summit is being held in conjunction with B20, the Business Engagement Group of G20, for which CII is the designated secretariat.

Covering a wide array of subjects of global interest for governments and businesses, the 2023 edition of the Summit will be the largest ever held since 1995, a release said on Sunday.

Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Narendra Singh Tomar, Smriti Zubin Irani, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya, Bhupender Yadav, Jitendra Singh; G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant will address plenary sessions at the Summit.

As many as nine overseas ministers would be addressing the Summit meeting, the release said.

Aligned with the B20 agenda, discussions along following mentioned tracks would take place at the Summit:

1. Inclusive GVCs for Resilient Global Trade and Investment

2. Future of Work, Skilling and Mobility

3. Digital Transformation

4. Financing for Global Economic Recovery

5. Financial Inclusion for Economic Empowerment

6. Energy, Climate Change and Resource Efficiency

7. Tech, Innovation and R&D

8. ESG in Business

9. African Economic Integration: An Agenda for Global Business

A total of 35 sessions would take place over three days at the Summit, including seven standalone sessions with Indian ministers and country sessions for Indonesia and Cuba.

145 speakers, including 65 international speakers from 24 countries would share expert thoughts, the release added. Close to 400 delegates from 67 countries are traveling to India to attend the CII Partnership Summit. (ANI)
Ever since the veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away, his family members are keeping his memories alive by posting pictures and videos of the actor. On Sunday, veteran actress Neetu Kapoor took a stroll down memory lane and shared an unseen picture with him. In the image, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor are seen sitting on the flight. Take a look Neetu shared that the picture was captured before Rishi Kapoor's Khullam Khulla show in London. "Today 5 years back when we left for Khullam khulla show in London with @vgjairam..was too special," she captioned the post. Rishi Kapoor passed away on April 30, 2020, succumbing to cancer after more than two years of battle with the deadly disease. He was diagnosed with leukaemia, a type of blood cancer, in 2018. He underwent his treatment for over 11 months in New York before returning to India in September 2019.Recently, Rishi Kapoor's fan got to see his last-ever interview in Netflix's docu-series 'The Romantics'. In the project, Rishi Kapoor spoke about his deep relationship with Yash Chopra and what made their combination one of the most cherished director-actor duo in Hindi cinema, especially the romantic classics. On conducting Rishi Kapoor's interview, director Smriti Mundhra said, "Rishi Kapoor was not only an iconic actor, he carried with him an encyclopedic knowledge of the Hindi film industry. On the day of our interview, which would be his last, he was characteristically charming, erudite, and eager to reminisce. His death represents the loss of a significant piece of cinema history, and I'll forever be grateful for the insights, anecdotes and perspective he shared." Rishi Kapoor had closely collaborated with Yash Chopra and then Aditya Chopra in cult hits like Kabhi Kabhie, Chandni, Jab Tak Hai Jaan (in which he was paired with his wife Neetu Kapoor), Fanaa, and Hum Tum among others. Rishi Kapoor's last film was Sharmaji Namkeen. (ANI)
Actor Jacqueline Fernandez, on Sunday, shared some glimpses from her dinner party with the team of her Oscar nominated film 'Tell it like a Woman'. Taking to Instagram, Jacqueline shared a string of pictures, which she captioned, "Pre Oscar dinner with team 'Tell it like a Woman' and some more beautiful people." https://www.instagram.com/p/CprOkf3OHb9/ In the pictures, Jacqueline looked adorable as she donned a co-ord set paired with qbik bralette top. She kept her hair open, makeup heavy and was seen carrying a red handbag. In other pictures, she could be seen posing with the team of 'Tell it like a woman', Anna Watanabe, Mira Sorvino, Christopher Backus and others. Soon after she dropped the pictures, fans flooded the comment section with red hearts and fire emoticons. "Love this look," a fan commented. Another fan wrote, "So beautiful." "like can u get any more drop dead gorgeous," a fan wrote. 'Tell It Like A Woman's song 'Applause' recently bagged an Oscar nomination in the 'Best Original Song' category and will be competing against 'RRR's song 'Naatu Naatu,' 'Hold My Hand' from the movie 'Top Gun: Maverick,' 'Lift me Up' from 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,' and 'This Is Life,' from 'Everything, Everywhere All At Once'. The prestigious award function will be held on March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles and will be telecasted in India on March 13 early morning. Meanwhile, Jacqueline will be next seen in an action thriller 'Fateh' opposite Sonu Sood. (ANI)
Every year, more than 3 million persons 65 and older need emergency room treatment for injuries sustained in falls. Skull fractures are a major consequence of head trauma, which is the most frequent cause of serious damage. According to the 2016 National Trauma Database annual report, women make up 58 per cent of all falls. Determining if senior females are likewise at an elevated risk of skull fractures is critical because they have a higher likelihood of falls and facial fractures. Research on the frequency of skull fracture due to head injury in this population is currently lacking. Also, there is a general paucity of information on best practises for managing head injuries in the older population. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine conducted a study to assess and compare the risk of skull fracture secondary to head trauma in female and male patients ages 65 and older. They prospectively evaluated all patients with head trauma at two level-one trauma centers in southeast Florida serving a population of more than 360,000 geriatric patients. For the study, researchers examined skull fracture due to acute trauma and compared them by sex as well as patient race/ethnicity and mechanism of injury. Among the 5,402 patients enrolled, 56 percent were female, 44 percent were male. Eighty-five percent of the head injuries sustained were due to falls, and this trend also was seen across race/ethnicity and mechanism of injury. Both females and males had a similar mean age, 82.8 and 81.1 years, respectively. Results of the study, published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, showed that when comparing geriatric males and females, males had a significantly increased incidence of skull fracture secondary to head trauma, due mostly to falls. This outcome was unexpected, as previous research has indicated females are more susceptible to facial fractures. This trend also was seen across race/ethnicity, though results were only statistically significant for whites. "The high incidence of head injury and subsequent skull fractures due to falls is a cause for concern as our aging population continues living active lifestyles," said Scott M. Alter, M.D., first author, associate professor of emergence medicine, and assistant dean for clinical research, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. "As falls caused the greatest number of head injuries and subsequent skull fractures, fall prevention may be an important intervention to consider in reducing morbidity. Although fall prevention education can be addressed in the primary care setting or at assisted living facilities, the emergency department could also represent an opportunity to educate patients and to prevent future death and disability from falls in this population." (ANI)
A chemical compound that may be used to treat a number of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, has been discovered by Japanese researchers. As the immune system of the body fails, several diseases might arise. Autoimmune illnesses affect millions of people worldwide, and their symptoms can be debilitating. The immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues rather of treating pathogens and disorders as it should. While multiple sclerosis may affect the brain and spinal cord, rheumatoid arthritis causes terrible joint pain. "The key to the development of autoimmune diseases, and thus the way to inhibit this development, lies in our cells, but the underlying mechanism has always been unclear," stated Prof Hiroki Ishikawa, who leads the Immune Signal Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST). "Now, our recent research has shed light on a compound that could suppress the development of these diseases." Prof. Ishikawa went on to explain that this research, published in Cell Reports, could lead to the development of treatments for autoimmune diseases. The research focused on T helper 17 cells, or Th17 cells. Th17 cells are a type of T cell--a group of cells, which form major parts of the immune system. These cells, which exist in high numbers in our guts, evolved to help us fight invasive pathogens but, sometimes, they're overactivated and mistake normal, healthy tissue as pathogens, resulting in autoimmunity. The generation of Th17 cells requires glycolysis, a metabolic process in which glucose is broken down and converted to energy to support the metabolic needs of cells. Glycolysis is essential for the growth of not only Th17 cells but also a variety of cells in our body. "What's interesting in that excessive glycolysis seems to suppress Th17 cell activity," stated first author, Mr. Tsung-Yen Huang, a PhD candidate in the Immune Signal Unit. "So, we hypothesized that molecules produced during glycolysis may inhibit the cells." Enter phosphoenolpyruvate, or PEP for short. This chemical compound is a metabolite produced when glucose is converted to energy. Since it is part of such an important process, PEP is generated every day in our bodies. The researchers found that treatment with PEP can inhibit the maturation of TH17 cells, leading to resolution of inflammatory response. Mr. Huang explained how this was, at first, a confusing result, as it went against all other research on the topic, but he decided to persevere and take a closer look at what could be occurring. The research led them to a protein called JunB, which is essential for the maturation of Th17 cells. JunB promotes Th17 maturation by binding to a set of specific genes. The researchers found that PEP treatment inhibits the generation of Th17 cells by blocking JunB activity. Armed with this knowledge, the researchers went on to treat mice that had neuroinflammation caused by autoimmunity with PEP. This disease is very similar to multiple sclerosis and these mice showed positive signs of recovery. The scientists have now filed a patent to continue with this research. "Our results show the clinical potential of PEP," explained Mr. Huang. "But first we need to increase its efficiency." (ANI)
Days after the Kerala High Court asked Kochi Corporation Secretary how long the smoke should be tolerated from Brahmapuram Waste Management Plant, Kerala Law and Industries Minister P Rajeev on Saturday said a fear is being created regarding health issues due to smoke at Brahmapuram. Speaking to media, Rajeev said, "a fear is being created regarding health issues due to smoke from Brahmapuram". "Don't create panic & spread unconfirmed things. Everyone is concentrating on extinguishing the fire. Now importance is being given to removing accumulated waste in Kochi city. Meetings were held from morning to evening on Friday. A meeting was held with IMA & private hospitals yesterday," Minister said. Earlier, the Kerala High Court constituted a committee to observe the situation at Brahmapuram Waste Management Plant where the fire occurred last week. "Brahmapuram became a mountain in 12-13 years. It has become a system that can catch fire up to five meters below. Changing it will require drastic measures.We have action plan for waste management that can be implemented with public participation," he informed. "The Chief Minister has instructed to use all possible means," he added. Congress MLA Uma Thomas on Friday filed a writ petition in the Kerala High Court seeking immediate action in the Brahmapuram waste management plant fire. In the petition, the Thrikkakkara MLA contended that "The State Government and the Kochi Corporation have completely failed to deal with this serious situation, and it is a problem for the lives of the people of Ernakulam and nearby areas. Therefore, according to the National Disaster Management Act (2005), the National Disaster Response Force should be deployed urgently." The committee consists of the Director of Suchitwa Mission, the Chief Engineer of the Local Self Government Department, the District Collector, the Chief Environmental Engineer of the Pollution Control Board, the Corporation Secretary and the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) Secretary. (ANI)
Noted Konkani poet Melvyn Rodrigues from Mangaluru, Karnataka, has been elected as the Convenor of Konkani Advisory Board of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, at the general council meeting held on March 11. Rodrigues told IANS that it is a honour of all Konkani-speaking people and he will try his best for the progress of the language. "This is a honour of all Konkani people living in India and foreign countries. I will try to do whatever best possible for taking Konkani to greater heights, working within the Constitution of Akademi and fight to uphold the true spirit of writers," he said. As per the 2011 census, there were around eight lakh Konkani-speaking people in Karnataka. There are also Konkani-speaking people and Konkani writers in Delhi, Kerala and Maharashtra. Rodrigues will be a member of the executive council of the Sahitya Akademi for the next five years. Earlier in January, Rodrigues was nominated to the General Council of Sahitya Akademi. His name was chosen by the outgoing general council, out of the several recommendations received from various Konkani institutions affiliated to the Akademi. A graduate in Business Management and a postgraduate in Sociology, Rodrigues is currently working as the Director of Operations, at Daijiworld Media Private Limited. He is the founder of Kavita Trust, which has organised more than 220 programmes on poetry and has published 34 books. Rodrigues has many literature books to his credit, which includes one novella, six poetry collections, three translations, two collection of essays, six edited works and one musical album. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2011. --IANS sbk/khz/ ( 280 Words) 2023-03-11-23:10:02 (IANS)
According to police the victim is a resident of Poland.

"The case has been registered against the accused Manish Gandhi in Mumbai's Amboli police station under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code," Mumbai police said.

During the preliminary probe, it came to light that that the accused sexually assaulted the victim several times between 2016 and 2022, official familar with the matter said.

"The police is searching for the accused," he informed.

"After taking inappropriate pictures of the victim, the accused used to blackmail her," official informed.

"The accused threatened to leak the pictures on the social media and used to intimidate the woman," he said.

More details are awaited. (ANI)
"The Micreant Mohammad Hasim was shot in the leg during the encounter," Superintendent of police Mainpuri said.

The injured accused has been admitted to the hospital, offficial added.

Police said that 2 motorcycles, illegal arms, cartridges and some jewellery were recovered from the miscreants.

According to the police, the rest of the miscreants have been identified as Mohd Hussain, Johnny alias Rishabh, Kalam & Abhay. "All of them have been arrested," the police official informed.

During the interrogation, the arrested miscreants revealed that the two miscreants Irfan and Ashish managed to flee from the spot, official added.

More details are awaited. (ANI)
BRS MLC and Telangana Chief Minister's daughter K Kavitha arrived at her residence in Hyderabad after being questioned by ED officials in connection with Delhi Liquor Policy case on Saturday. She has been summoned by Central agency again on March 16, officials said. On Saturday, K Kavitha was questioned by Enforcement Directorate in connection with delhi excise police case. Kavitha had asked the federal probe agency to postpone her questioning to Saturday, citing her hunger strike in Delhi on Friday. The central agency agreed to her request and rescheduled the questioning for Saturday. She had arrived in the national capital on March 8, hours after the ED issued summons for questioning. BRS leader KT Rama Rao on Friday also arrived at the residence of his father in the national capital. Notably, former Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia has been arrested by ED in the same case. According to sources, Kavitha was to be made to sit face-to-face with Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai, who was arrested in connection with the liquor policy case on Monday night. The MLC had called the summons "tactics of intimidation" by the Centre against the Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and the BRS, adding that the party will continue to fight and expose the Centre's failures and will raise its voice for a brighter and better future for India. "I would also like the ruling party at the Centre to know that these tactics of intimidation against the fight and voice of our leader, CM KCR, and against the entire BRS party will not deter us. Under the leadership of KCR Garu, we will continue to fight to expose your failures and raise voice for a brighter and better future for India," Kavitha said in a tweet. On March 8, the BRS came down heavily on the Centre after the ED summoned Kavitha in connection with its ongoing probe in the Delhi excise policy case, saying that the central probe agencies have become an extended arm of the BJP. Referring to the summons as "politically motivated", BRS leader Ravula Sridhar Reddy had said that except ED and BJP, nobody really understands the case registered in connection with the new-withdrawn new Delhi excise policy. In its investigation, ED has come to know that Pillai is one of the key persons in the entire scam involving payments of huge kickbacks and the formation of the biggest cartel of the South Group. South Group comprises Telangana MLC Kavitha, Sarath Reddy (promoter of Aurobindo Group), Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy (MP, Ongole), his son Raghav Magunta, and others. The federal agency investigation has revealed that the South Group was being represented by Pillai, Abhishek Boinpalli and Butchi Babu. Pillai along with his associates was coordinating with various persons to execute the political understanding between the South Group and a leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Pillai has been an accomplice and was involved in the kickbacks from the South Group and the recoupment of the same from the businesses in Delhi, ED investigation reveals. The ED had earlier said that the South Group gave kickbacks of Rs 100 crore to AAP leaders. (ANI)
The accused, identified as Bipin Kumar Singh Shandilya was produced before the court on saturday and sent to remand till March 14, Amit Kumar, SP Pratapgarh said.

Police registered a case on the basis of a complaint of one Lata Sharma against the accused.

"When the morphed video of congres leader came under notice, twitter authorities warned the accused to remove the tweet immediately," official added.

"The tweet was blocked by authorities later after the accused neglected the warning," the official informed.

More details are awaited. (ANI)
The CISF was set up under the act of the Parliament of India on March 10, 1969. Since then, CISF Raising Day is being celebrated on March 10 each year.

This year the CISF's annual Raising Day celebrations in being held in Hyderabad today.

Earlier on Saturday, Shah said that the CISF forms one of the pillars of India's internal security.

As per officials, this is the first time that CISF is be holding the 'Raising Day' celebrations outside the National capital, New Delhi. It used to be held at CISF ground located on the outskirts of Delhi, in Ghaziabad.

Last year, Shah attended the 53rd Raising Day ceremony of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Ghaziabad's Indirapuram.

For the last couple of years, all paramilitary forces are celebrating their Raising day outside Delhi.

On March 19, CRPF will hold an annual Raising Day in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district which used to be once dominated by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

On March 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel on their Raising Day, and thanked them for providing round-the-clock security at key locations.

In a tweet, PM Modi said, "On their Raising Day, best wishes to all CISF personnel. The CISF has a vital role in our security apparatus. They provide round-the-clock security at key locations including critical and strategic infrastructure."

"The force is known for its hardwork and professional outlook," added PM Modi.

Union Home Shah also wished the personnel of CISF on the raising day and saluted their unwavering commitment to the nation's security.

Taking to his Twitter, Amit Shah said, "Warm wishes to the personnel of CISF on their raising day. They have been instrumental in securing India's critical infrastructures and public places."

"I salute their unwavering commitment to the security of the nation," Amit Shah added. (ANI)
The incident occurred in a house in Suleman Nagar, Kirari area in the national capital.

Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and the fire has been brought under control, the officials said.

Further details are awaited in the case.

Earlier on Saturday, another fire broke out at a paint shop in Jaitpur in Southeast Delhi which killed one person.

As many as 11 fire tenders were rushed to the spot and efforts are being carried out to identify the deceased, the police said. (ANI)
Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Shah said he will visit the palace of Kerala's Veer-Putra Sakthan Thampuran at Thrissur.

"Tomorrow, I will visit the palace of Kerala's Veer-Putra Sakthan Thampuran at Thrissur. He was the founder of modern Thrissur. His visionary leadership and knowledge transformed Thrissur into the cultural capital of Kerala. Eager to spend some time there," Shah tweeted.

Shah will reach Thrissur at 2 pm. He will land at the Cochin International Airpot airport and travel to Thrissur by helicopter.

According to the sources, the BJP leaders will receive Amit Shah in the helipad at Sobha city and later Shah will offer flowers at the Sakthan Tampuran memorial.

Shah is scheduled to address a public meeting at 4 PM at South Gopura Nada in Thrissur.

Reportedly, Shah will also be attending a meeting of the BJP office beares in Kerala.

Shah's visit to the southern state is very significant as the BJP is trying to make a mark in Kerala in the upcoming General Elections of 2024.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Karnataka on March 12 where he will dedicate and lay the foundation stones of projects worth around Rs 16,000 crores, a release from the Prime Minister's Office said.

"At around 12 noon, Prime Minister will also dedicate and lay the foundation stone of key road projects in Mandya. Thereafter, at around 3:15 PM, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives in Hubbali-Dharwad, added the release. (ANI)
AIADMK Interim General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami on Saturday took a jibe at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and said that the DMK's plans to destroy AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam's faction would yield no results. AIADMK Interim General Secretary Edappadi participated in Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's 75th birthday public meeting in Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga, and said, "If Stalin plans to do something with the AIADMK B-team, O Panneerselvam's faction, I warn that DMK will be in a state of non-existence in the future." Addressing a public meeting, Edappadi said, "Stalin refused to give permission for former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's birthday public meeting in Sivaganga today. When I was the chief minister, anyone who asked for permission to hold a protest or public meeting was given permission democratically." Talking about Jayalalithaa's contribution to the State, Edappadi said, "Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa gave excellent governance to Tamil Nadu for 15 years. People got all kinds of benefits during the AIADMK rule. "But today in DMK rule "Commission Correction Collection" is taking place every day. Crime like murder, robbery, and sexual assault are taking place in Tamil Nadu every day. An incompetent Chief Minister and Puppet Chief Minister is ruling Tamil Nadu," he added. Further talking about the DMK's rule in the State, Edappadi said, "DMK is the party that has earned the biggest public hostility within 22 months of coming to power. No other party in India has earned such animosity from the people." Attacking Udayanidhi Stalin's movie company, Edappadi said, "Films made in the cinema industry can only be sold to Udayanidhi Stalin's company, Red Giant Movies. Around 150 films in the cinema industry have been paralyzed by Udayanidhi Stalin. They also earned in the field of politics and cinema." Further talking about the Karunanidhi Pen Statue, Edappadi said, "We're not saying don't put up the Karunanidhi Memorial Pen Statue. Why put up a pen idol at a cost of 81 crore rupees? A Pen Statue of this can be placed in the Karunanidhi Memorial Hall at a cost of Rs.2 crore. Give the rest of the money to poor students." (ANI)
Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has written a letter to Union Education & Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan and expressed his concern over attacks against four students hailing from Kerala in the campus of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh and demand urgent intervention. John Brittas in a letter to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "It is with profound agony that I am writing this letter to bring to your notice the highly deplorable attacks against four students hailing from Kerala on the evening of 10.03.2023 in the campus of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh." "These four helpless students were learnt to be ruthlessly assaulted by the so-called security guards of the University on the trivial issue of taking selfies from the top of a water tank inside the campus," Brittas added. "The students sustained severe injuries and were hospitalized. I am given to understand that the appalling violence meted out to the Keralite students was in fact the result of a premeditated plan rather than a chance incident. It is also learnt that this latest vicious onslaught against the Keralite students has been another glaring episode of the organized series of hostile actions against the Keralite students who are being targeted for their regional, linguistic and ethnic backgrounds. The panic-stricken Keralite students fraternity is in trepidation" he added in a letter. Upper House MP from Kerala John Brittas further said, "It is inferred that there were manifold instances of persecution against the Keralite students fraternity in IGNTU and that the delinquents roam scot-free in the campus as if they have been assured of impunity." "In these disquieting circumstances, considering the exigency, I may seek your indulgence to give urgent directions to the University authorities to take exemplary punitive actions against the perpetrators of this nefarious crime at the earliest possible and to assure the safety of the Keralite students on the campus" Brittas added in his letter. (ANI)
Hitting out at Congress for looting the people's money, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that before 2014 the Congress government at the Centre had no stone unturned to ruin life of poor people. Addressing a public rally at the inauguration event of the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway in Mandya, PM Modi said, "Before 2014, the Congress government at the Centre left no stone unturned to ruin poor people. Congress government looted the money which was for poor people." Taking a dig at Congress for raising the slogan 'Modi teri kabar khudegi' (Modi, your grave would be dug), the Prime Minister said Congress is dreaming of digging Modi's grave' while Modi is busy in building Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway and easing the lives of poor. "Congress is dreaming of 'digging Modi's grave' but they don't know that blessings of mothers, sisters and people of the country work as protection shield for me. They (Congress) leaders are busy dreaming of 'digging Modi's grave' while I'm is busy in building Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway and improving the lives of poor," PM Modi said. He further said that during the Congress regime, the poor had to run from pillar to post to get benefits but under the BJP government, benefits go to their doorstep. PM Modi said that a lot of work is happening across the country for modern infrastructure, and Karnataka is changing and India is changing. He said infrastructure does not bring with it only convenience, it brings employment, it brings investment, it brings means of earning. "In 2022, India got a record investment. Karnataka benefitted the most. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an investment worth Rs 4 lakh crores in Karnataka," said the PM. PM Modi said that in the last nine years, houses were made for over 3 crore poor people under which lakhs of houses were made in Karnataka. "Under Jal Jeevan Mission, tap water has also been provided to 40 lakh families in Karnataka," he added. The PM said that the Irrigation projects which were pending for decades in the country are being completed at a fast pace through the Upper Bhadra Project. "The Upper Bhadra Project is a major Lift Irrigation Scheme under implementation in the central region of Karnataka State," he added. He also said that in this budget, several provisions have been made for sugarcane farmers. "From 2013-14 onwards, Rs 17000 crores of ethanol have been purchased from the sugar mills and this money has reached the sugarcane farmers. From biotechnology to defence manufacturing to aerospace to EVs, Karnataka is the base for all these new industries," said PM Modi. The Prime Minister said that the government has decided to ramp up the production of ethanol to increase the income of sugarcane farmers of Mandya, this will safeguard their interests. (ANI)
"Leaders of like-minded opposition parties will be meeting at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's office in Parliament premises tomorrow morning," said sources.

As per the sources, the like-minded Opposition party leaders will meet at Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge's office in Parliament at around 10 am on Monday.

Congress MPs will also be meeting at Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) office in Parliament at around 10.30 am, to chalk out the strategy for the floor of the house, the sources said.

The Budget session of 2023 will resume after a month-long recess. The recess was for enabling the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees to examine the demands for grants and make reports relating to their ministries or departments.

Earlier during Congress' 85th plenary session, had said that they are ready to work with like-minded political parties.

"The Congress party is the only party that has never compromised with the BJP/RSS and its despicable politics. We will always fight to protect our political values against the BJP's authoritarian, communal and crony capitalist onslaught," the party said in its declaration. (ANI)
National General Secretary of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Arun Singh on Sunday took a jibe at Congress and said that the party is doing cheap politics to divide the families of "martyrs". "Congress party is doing cheap politics to divide the families of martyrs", said Arun Singh. Talking to the media, Arun Singh said, "At the time of the funeral of the martyred soldiers, the Congress ministers promised to build statues and provide jobs to the family members of the martyrs, and now instead of fulfilling the promise, they're insulting the widows of martyrs". "The government is working on a new trick to divide the families of the martyrs and their widows," he added. Attacking Rahul Gandhi on his interaction at the Chatham House in London, Singh said, "On one hand Rahul Gandhi is defaming the country's democracy, and on the other hand, the Congress party is doing cheap politics to divide the families of the martyrs and their widows" Previously, on March 7 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in an interaction at the Chatham House in London termed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) a "fundamentalist" and "fascist" organisation alleging that it has captured pretty much all of India's institutions. Rahul Gandhi said, "The nature of democratic contest in India has completely changed and the reason is that one organisation called RSS - a fundamentalist, fascist organisation has basically captured pretty much all of India's institutions." The Congress MP highlighted the condition of the Dalits and minorities in India. He said, "In India, you can see what is being done to Dalits, tribals, and minorities. It is not that Congress is saying it. There are articles in the foreign press all the time that there is a serious problem with Indian democracy." The Congress leader also mentioned how the various institutions in the country were under threat. "It shocked me how successful they have been at capturing the different institutions of our country. Press, Judiciary, Parliament, and Election Commission are all under threat and are controlled in one way or the other," Rahul Gandhi said. (ANI)
"CM Yogi Adityanath has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the fire caused by a short circuit in the Kanpur Dehat district. Wishing peace to the departed soul, the Chief Minister has expressed condolences to the bereaved family members", read an official release.

Directing the administration to take care of the injured, the release read, "The Chief Minister has directed the officials of the district administration to take the injured to the hospital immediately for their proper treatment. Also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured".

Five members of a family including three children were killed after a massive fire broke out on the roof of a house in Hara Mau village of Kanpur Dehat district on Saturday night, the police said.

Upon receiving the information, the police force along with the fire tenders rushed to the spot to extinguish the fire.

According to the police, the grandmother of the deceased was also injured by the fire while saving the family

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination and the injured woman is admitted to a hospital, the police added. (ANI)
Addressing a press conference, the Urban Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora said that 813 arms licenses have been cancelled across different regions in the state.

"Of the 813 arms licenses cancelled by the Punjab government, 87 are in Ludhiana Rural, 48 in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, 10 in Gurdaspur, 84 in Faridkot, 199 in Pathankot, 47 in Hoshiarpur, six in Kapurthala, 235 in S.A.S. Kasba, 16 in Sangrur, 27 in Amritsar commissionerate, 11 in Jalandhar commissionerate and from several other districts have also been cancelled," Aman Arora said.

The Punjab Minister said that so far Punjab government has cancelled more than 2000 arms license

"Rules have to be followed for keeping a gun. Now there is a ban on carrying and displaying of weapons in public functions, religious places, marriage ceremonies or any other events in Punjab. Random checking will be done in different areas in the coming days," he said.

The AAP leader also said that there are a total of 3,73,053 arms licenses in Punjab.

"There will be a complete ban on those glorifying violence and weapons. Punjab government is continuously taking action to end gun culture," he added. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday participated in the 'Sushma Swaraj Award" program organized by Bhartiya Janta Party Mahanagar Mahila Morcha Uttarakhand at Rispana Pul hotel in Dehradun and awarded 26 women for excellent their contribution in various fields, an official release said. "During this, the Chief Minister honored 26 women who have done excellent work in various fields," the release added. Remembering former Union Minister late Sushma Swaraj, the Chief Minister said, "Sushma Swaraj achieved a great position at a very young age. He said that Sushma has been an embodiment of Indian values and decency." Chief Minister Dhami said, "Sushma Swaraj while representing India not only in the country but also abroad, put forth her point in front of the world without any fear. He said that the vision that Sushma Swaraj had seen for women, today the central and state governments are moving forward working in the same direction for the welfare of women." Congratulating Mahila Morcha for this event, the Chief Minister said, "Several schemes including Jal Jeevan Mission, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Ujjwala Yojana are being run by the Central Government. In the same direction, the state government is also running several schemes in the interest of women." The Chief Minister said that a provision of 30% reservation has been made for women in government jobs in Uttarakhand so that women can get equal opportunities in this state with adverse geographical conditions. The Chief Minister in the program said, "The state government is constantly working for the welfare of women in the state. Many schemes like Mukhya Mantri Nari Sashaktikaran Yojana, Aanchal Amrit Yojana, Mahalakshmi Yojana, and Lakhpati Didi Yojana are being implemented in the state." "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, work is being done to advance women in the fields of sports, education and social justice across the country. He said that this work will continue continuously. The government in the state is moving forward with a resolution without any option," CM Dhami added. Further talking about the anti-copying law, CM Dhami said, "With the objective of conducting examinations in a transparent manner, a strict anti-copying law has been implemented in the state, in which provisions have been made for strict punishment against those who cheat. We are fully concerned about the youth of the state, under which the process of government recruitment has been started in the state with transparency. A calendar has also been issued for the upcoming examinations in the state." (ANI)
The Central government has sought a detailed action-taken report from the Punjab government over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security breach during his visit to the state on January 5 last year, government sources said on Sunday. According to sources, a letter has been sent through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the Punjab government asking for a detailed action taken report against the erring officers. It is learnt that Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua to submit the action taken report, highlighting the delay by the Punjab government in acting against the erring officers. According to sources, the letter was sent earlier this month, pointing to share the report as soon as possible. A report of the Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee looking into the breach in security during PM Modi's Punjab visit on January 5, 2022, which was submitted six months ago, indicted then-state Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari, Police Chief S Chattopadhyaya, and other top officers for lapses. Soon after the security breach, the MHA had constituted a three-member committee that summoned Director General of Punjab Police, Siddharth Chattopadhyaya, Punjab ADGP, Patiala IGP, and Ferozpur DIG along among over a dozen top Punjab Police officers. They were responsible for the Prime Minister's security during his visit to Punjab's Ferozpur on January 5. The MHA then constituted a three-member committee led by Sudhir Kumar Saxena, Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat; Balbir Singh, Joint Director (IB); and S Suresh, IG, Special Protection Group. The Centre is considering action under the Special Protection Group (SPG) Act against Punjab Police officers following the breach in the security of Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Punjab on January 5. Section 14 of the SPG Act makes the state government responsible for providing all assistance to the SPG during the PM's movement. The provision, titled 'Assistance to Group', states: "It shall be the duty of every Ministry and Department of the Central Government or the State Government or the Union Territory Administration, every Indian Mission, every local or other authority or every civil or military authority to act in aid of the Director or any member of the Group whenever called upon to do so in furtherance of the duties and responsibilities assigned to such Director or member." The MHA's three-member team started its probe from its visit to the flyover where Prime Minister's convoy was stuck for over 15-20 minutes due to a road blockade by protesters during his visit. The MHA had constituted the three-member committee to enquire into the serious lapses in the security arrangements during the PM's visit to Punjab's Ferozepur, which led to the exposure of the VVIP to grave security risk. The MHA had then also asked the Punjab government to "fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action". The action was taken after the Prime Minister's convoy during its visit to National Martyrs Memorial in Punjab via road reached a flyover where the road was blocked by some protestors. The Prime Minister was stuck on the flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of the Prime Minister. The Punjab government had also constituted a high-level committee to probe the incident. Prime Minister Modi landed at Bathinda on January 5 morning from where he was to go to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. Due to rain and poor visibility, the Prime Minister waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out. When the weather did not improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Martyrs Memorial via road, which would take more than two hours. Prime Minister Modi then proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police, mentions the statement. Around 30 km away from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when his convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors. Prime Minister Modi was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. It was flagged as a major lapse in his security. The Home Ministry had then said PM Modi's schedule and travel plan were communicated well in advance to the Punjab government. Following procedure, the Home Ministry said they had to make necessary arrangements for logistics, and security as well as keep a contingency plan ready. Also in view of the contingency plan the Punjab government had to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, which was clearly not deployed, the MHA had said then, adding "after this security lapse, it was decided to head back to Bathinda Airport." (ANI)
The Tibetan women in-exile here on Sunday staged a protest march against China to commemorate the 64th anniversary of Tibetan National Women uprising day. "Hundreds of Tibetan women in-exile gathered in Dharamshala and shouted slogans for the freedom of Tibet. Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) organized the protest march," said one of the activists. According to the protestors, it's an event to remember the day, (March 12, 1959) when Tibetan women from all the three provinces of Tibet, for the first time in the history of Tibet, stood together and protested the "brutal Chinese occupying forces." The events like this are to show the younger generation what the struggle means and how important role women play in their freedom struggle which has reached a critical juncture. "I am here for a very important event, which is the uprising day of the Tibetan women which took place in 1959 on 12th of March in Tibet in Lhasa. The women in-exile never forgot that day because that day was the day when so many women lost their lives in prisons and everywhere." "So we kept this alive for the world to know how the women feel about our own country, how we feel about occupation in Tibet and we kept it alive so that the world will listen to us and rescue us from this and get us back to a free Tibet," Rinchen Khando, founder president of TWA told ANI. Lobsang Dechen, a senior Tibetan nun said," We want to remind China that we are still alive and are struggling for our nation and we are here to commemorate the people who have sacrificed their lives and we are really struggling to get freedom. China listens or not, we will continue our struggle. We want to take our responsibility. We want to fight..." Lhamo Chunzum, joint Secretary of Tibetan Women's Association told ANI that this is a peace walk from Mcleodganj till Kachahari. "On March 12th in 1959 Tibetan women from all walks of life stood united for the first time and challenge the brutal occupation of Tibet. Till now the people of Tibet have been suffering and we are the voice for voiceless. This is a genuine protest against the Chinese government to stop torturing the Tibetan people," Lhamo Chunzum said. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former MP Vivek Venkataswamy on Sunday called Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLC K Kavitha as "liquor queen" alleging that she reduced value added tax on the liquor and increased the commission on the same. The BJP leader's remarks came after K Kavitha was questioned by the ED on Saturday in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. She has again been summoned on March 16. "Kavitha is called liquor queen as she decreased the 25 per cent VAT to 1 per cent. The commission of Rs.35 was increased to Rs.340. She took control of the 800 shops that the government institutions were distributing. Is this justice?" Venkataswamy said at a gathering at Mandamarri town in the Mancherial district. He further accused Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of looting the state and said that time is inching close to "dethrone" him. "The Chief Minister is looting this state. The time has come, the elections are coming. They only have 6 months of time for remaining in power. In 6 months, we have the chance to dethrone KCR," he said. Claiming that the fortunes of KCR have changed after becoming the Chief Minister, the BJP leader said that there is a need to teach him a "lesson". "We have to teach him a lesson. We made efforts for the creation of Telangana to make our future better. But did our future become good? Did the future of the CM become good? His future went from low to high. Our hands won't reach there, he has gone that far. There is a need to teach such a looting family a lesson," he said. Earlier on Friday, KCR alleged that BJP "cannot tolerate" the development of Telangana. "In the background of Telangana's welfare schemes, which have become an ideal for the country, attracting other states, BJP is indulging in many conspiracies with the hope that their party's incompetence will not be revealed," he alleged. (ANI)
The Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Shelly Oberoi will take part in the 52nd General Body Meeting of All India Council of Mayors in Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur on March 13-14. According to MCD statement, the main agenda of the meeting is to confirm the minutes of the 51st general body meeting of All India Mayor Council, which was held in Chhattisgarh last year, and hold a discussion on the condition of various local bodies in the country. Shelly Oberoi will also take part in the meeting and present her views and plans for making the Municipal Corporation of Delhi amongst the best of civic bodies. The Mayor said she will present her Plan of Action based on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's model of health and education. Talking about the meeting, Oberoi said, "It is an honour to take part in the 52nd General Body Meeting of All India Council of Mayors. I am looking forward to meeting with stakeholders of municipal corporations from across the nation and learning from their experiences. I will be sharing our learnings of working on the Kejriwal Model in Delhi and how it can be adapted across India." (ANI)
In a veiled atttack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the UK, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said raising questions about Indian democracy on foreign soil was an insult to the people of the country. Speaking at an event in poll-bound Karnataka on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi, while not naming Rahul, said some people were putting the Indian democracy in the dock despite it being ingrained in the country's political culture over centuries. PM Modi's retort followed Rahul's recent lecture at the prestigious Cambridge University where he claimed that the basic structure of the Indian democracy was under attack. "Everybody knows and it's been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India, we are navigating that (Opposition) space. The institutional framework which is required for a democracy -- Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilisation, moving around -- all are being constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy," the Congress MP alleged. At an event where he dedicated several development projects and the longest railway platform in the world in Karnataka's Hubballi-Dharwad on Sunday, PM Modi said the people of the state need to keep an eye out for "such people". He said there was a multitude of factors making India not just the largest democracy but the mother of democracy and it was unfortunate that qhestions were raised on the same on foreign soil. "There are numerous factors that make India not just the largest democracy in the world but also the mother of democracy. I was privileged to have inaugurated the statue of Bhagwan Basaveshwara in London. But it is unfortunate that questions were raised on India's democracy in London. The roots of Indian democracy go deep and dates back centuries. No power in the world can sully or harm the tradition of Indian democracy. However, some people are continuing to put Indian democracy in the dock. Such people are insulting Bhagwan Basaveshwara, the people of Karnataka, Indian tradition and the 130 crore Indian citizens. The people of Karnataka have to be eware of such people," Prime Minister Modi said. Rahul's remarks earlier had drawn severe criticism from the BJP. Calling Karnataka an "engine of high-tech India", PM Modi said, "Good and modern infrastructure eases the lives of the common people. In the last 9 years, the network of roads has doubled in villages under 'PM Sadak Yojana'. Not just roads, unprecedented expansion is afoot for more airports and enhancing the railway network. Karnataka is the engine of high-tech India," he said. PM Modi also elaborated on the developmental projects run by the Centre, saying that his government opened 250 new medical colleges in the country over the last 9 years. "For providing clean potable water, the central and state governments are working together. The foundation for a project worth over Rs 1000 crore, under the 'Jal Jeevan Mission', has been laid. We have brought about a three-fold increase in the number of AIIMS in the country. In seven decades, our country only had 380 medical colleges. However, over the last 9 years, 250 new medical colleges have been opened," he said. "IIT Dharwad is an example of BJP's 'Sankalp Se Siddhi'. Around 4 years ago, I laid the foundation stone for this institute. Right from the foundation to the eventual inauguration, we worked at great speed. Receiving quality education is a fundamental right of all. Better educational institutes will enable more and more of our children to access quality education. Over the last 9 years, the number of top educational institutes in our country has grown manifold," PM Modi added. (ANI)
Rajasthan Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirori Lal Meena who was protesting along with widows of soldiers killed in Pulwama attack, said on Sunday that the police shoved him inside their vehicle which caused a neck injury. "They forcibly picked up the widows of Pulwama attack soldiers at 3 am and took them away from the protest site. They [the police personnel] also pushed and misbehaved with them and when I was going to meet one of them, then they barricaded the route, about 30-40 km away from Jaipur, and shoved me and my workers forcibly in the vehicle due to which I got an injury in my neck," Meena said. He also said that his condition is serious and he is leading to paralysis. "I have requested the doctors to refer me to a higher centre," he added. The BJP leader was rushed to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital in Jaipur after he reportedly sustained 'injuries' during a clash with police on Friday. Meena and the workers of the party were detained by police on Friday on their way to Jaipur. He has been supporting the protesting widows of Pulwama attack soldiers, in favour of their demands. Meena had alleged that the widows were insulted by the police. However, the police denied the allegations. Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore and former BJP State President Arun Chaturvedi also reached the hospital. "Such kind of treatment is not even given to terrorists. His condition is deteriorating. Police tore his clothes. It is a matter of shame for the Rajasthan Chief Minister," Arun Chaturvedi told ANI. However, he couldn't specify the nature of injuries sustained by MP but said "Reports suggested that injuries were not life-threatening". Rajendra Rathore alleged that BJP MP Meena was manhandled, and kicked by the police. Meanwhile, the protests by the Pulwama widows intensified on Thursday as they sought justice from the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government by putting grass in their mouths. They staged a protest in front of Sachin Pilot's residence on Wednesday and marched towards the Chief Minister's residence on Saturday where they were stopped by the police. The widows had earlier alleged that the police personnel had misbehaved with them. (ANI)
Tibetan women-in-exile on Sunday held a peaceful candle march protest in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla against the Chinese authorities to mark the 64th anniversary of Tibetan Women's National Uprising day. Tibetan women, including Tibetan Buddhist students and others, gathered in Shimla to mark the anniversary and also to remember the women, who died during the 1959 women's uprising inside Tibet. Under the banner of the Regional Chapter of TWA (Tibetan Women Association) at Shimla scores of Tibetan women participated in the peaceful protest and candle march. These Tibetan women-in exile here are appealing to the international community to support the cause of Tibet. "Today is the 64th anniversary of the Tibetan women's uprising, The Tibetan women were uprising and the Chinese occupied Tibet crushed the protesting women. We are holding a peaceful candle march to mark the anniversary and also to remember those martyred women," Dolma Tsering, an organizer and President of RTYC Shimla. "We are requesting the international community to support us and we are also appealing to the Chinese authorities to stop human rights violations in Tibet," Dolma added. The young Tibetans here-in-exiles are observing this 64th anniversary with the hope of getting freedom for Tibet. These women here offered prayers peacefully, demanding the international community to support the Tibetan issue and put pressure on China. These young women here in the streets of Shimla town marched seeking support from India and the international community. "Today is the 64th National Uprising day of Tibetan women. All Tibetan women and others are protesting, holding peace and candle marches worldwide to protest against the Chinese government for our homeland," said a young Tibetan woman. "As a young Tibetan woman born and brought up in-exile, I dream of one day returning to my homeland. I am grateful to India that I am living here as a citizen. Hundreds of people there [inside Tibet] are doing self-immolation as we can't do anything there as there is neither religious freedom nor any human rights protected. So we (Tibetans inside Tibet) protest and do self-immolation annually. But, here, in exile, we are living freely. Today we are also paying homage to those who have lost their lives in our struggle inside Tibet," she added. On March 12, 1959, Many Tibetan women in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, were protesting against the People's Republic of China (PRC), and thousands of them were crushed and over 80 thousand Tibetans, including Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, was forced to flee to India. Since then thousands of Tibetans are living in exile in India and other parts of the globe. Today a large number of Tibetan women in exile across the globe are protesting and remembering those Tibetan women who were killed over 6 decades ago inside Tibet. (ANI)
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Elamaram Kareem who led an 8-member fact-finding team to Tripura in the post-poll violence-hit areas on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party workers unleashed "unbridled attacks" on the people, particularly Opposition in the name of celebration after the party retained power in the recently concluded Assembly elections. The delegation comprising the Opposition parties CPI(M), CPI, and Congress which were allies in the Tripura Assembly polls had visited the state to take stock of the situation in the areas where the post-poll violence was allegedly witnessed. Returning from the northeastern state on Saturday night, the leaders held a press conference in the national capital on Sunday in which they alleged that violence had been unleashed on the opposition leaders and their supporters after the poll results were declared on March 2. "What we witnessed and heard from the members of victim families were beyond imagination and far more shocking than we apprehended. We are in doubt, whether in any state of the country, such backlash is carried out by the ruling party on the followers of opponents only because they didn't support the ruling party and worked for the opposition in the just concluded Assembly election," Elamaram Kareem said. "The victims informed us that the entire state sparked with an unprecedented backlash of terror and intimidations just at the moment the BJP got a majority in the counting of votes on 2nd March 2023. In the name of celebration of victory by the ruling BJP, its unruly workers let loose unbridled attacks with inhuman ferocity on the people particularly targeting the opposition leaders, workers, and supporters that resulted in the loss and destruction of huge number properties," the CPI(M) MP said. Kareem further alleged that their team faced an attack in the Sepahijala district from a group of people chanting religious slogans. "Inhuman physical attacks were carried on hundreds of opposition cadres and supporters whoever they came across. Amidst these visits, one of the teams, comprising CPI(M) State Secretary Jitendra Chaudhary, Congress Lok Sabha MP Abdul Khalique, and AICC General Secretary Ajoy Kumar, which was visiting parts of Bishalgarh in Sepahijala district, faced an attack at Nehalchandranagar village from a group of people chanting "Jai Shri Ram"," he said. The CPI(M) MP claimed that the policemen were present on the spot of the alleged incident did not take any action and remained a mute spectator. "The policemen present on the spot stayed completely inactive even as the mob hurled stones and vandalized our vehicles. This sort of attacks in Tripura remind us of a semi-fascist dispensation," he alleged. "The law and order situation has deteriorated and through the attack on opposition leaders it has become evident that BJP's Gunda raj is being implemented in Tripura," Kareem added. He said that the delegation called on the Governor on March 11 and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention in the matter. "Considering the gravity of the situation, the delegation met the Governor of the state on March 11 and submitted a memorandum to him explaining the situation and complete anarchy in the state. A list comprising the details of post-poll violence and victims was submitted to him and the delegation urged for his intervention," he said. He said that the party will raise the issue in the Parliament and called upon other parties to unite for the people of Tripura. "We have decided to raise this issue in the Parliament joining all opposition parties in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sanha. We hereby call upon all democratic forces to unite in solidarity withthe people of Tripura," he said. The delegation which visited Tripura included Members of Parliament Elamaram Kareem, P.R. Natarajan, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya and A.A. Rahim from CPI(M); Binoy Viswam from CPI; and Rajeet Ranjan, Abdul Khalique from Indian National Congress. Former Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Sarkar, State Congress President and newly election MLA Birajit Sinha, CP1(M) State Secretary, and newly elected MLA Jitendra Chowdhury, newly elected MLA Copal Roy, Nayan Sarkar, Sudip Sarkar, Ramu Das, and General Secretary of INC Dr. Ajoy Kumar and scores of state-level leaders of CPI(M), CPI, AIFB, and INC were also part of the delegation. (ANI)
With the arrest of 12 people, Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Sunday claimed to have busted a interstate drug racket and recovered charas and 'Malana Cream' valued at Rs 3.5 crores in the international grey market from the accused. 'Malana Cream' is the charas or hashish which comes from the Malana Valley in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. During intensive interrogation, it was revealed that high profit and huge demands of Malana Cream lured the accused into the illicit trade of drugs. Gradually, they formed a syndicate and started a drug cartel where every member was assigned specific tasks, police said in a statement. Twelve arrested accused were identified as Rakesh aka Sunny (34), Tarun Guleria aka Tanu (24), Rahul Chauhan (25), Aas Mohammad aka Aashu (24), Prabhat Singh aka Bapu (38) and Rakesh Thakur (33), Ses Ram, Mayur Khade, Subrata Maitra, Maheshwar Singh, Shree Krishna (29) and Mohit. According to the police statement, a team of ARSC/Crime Branch was assigned to keep a vigil on drug traffickers. During the exercise, some incomplete inputs about an interstate syndicate involved in drug trafficking from Himachal Pradesh to Mumbai, Gujarat via Delhi were received. A team comprising of ASI Sachin Singh was constituted to intercept the drug consignment. Information was received about one person, Ses Ram, a resident of Himachal Pradesh, who used to supply charas in Delhi and other states. He would come to Delhi by train at Delhi's Sabzi Mandi Railway Station and would go to Mumbai to supply charas. He was traced at Sabzi Mandi Railway Station and after compliance of provisions of the NDPS Act, a raid was conducted, the statement said. Accordingly, Ses Ram was apprehended and 1160 gram charas was recovered from his possession. Later on, one more accused namely Mayur Khade, a resident of Dharavi was arrested from Mumbai as receiver of recovered contraband, police said. The police also added, "Another Information was recieved about a boy named Rakesh Thakur aka Sunny, a resident of Kalath, Himachal Pradesh, indulged in the supply of charas that he had arranged two kilograms of charas for Prabhat Singh aka Bapu. Rakesh, would visit Delhi to collect his commission from Prabhat and would be present in the area of Palam, near Kalra Hospital. "After due procedure of the NDPS Act, 2.020 kilograms of charas was recovered from the possession of Prabhat Singh. Hence, a case under the section 20/29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotopic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered, and the accused were interrogated and arrested in the case. Later on, two more accused namely Subrata Maitra r/o West Bengal & Maheshwar Singh r/o Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, members of syndicate, were arrested from Himachal Pradesh," informed the police. According to the police, at the instance of accused Ses Ram, a raid was conducted at Pandav Nagar, Delhi, and two persons namely Shree Krishna, 29, r/o Pandav Nagar, East Delhi and Mohit R/o Govindpuri, Kalkaji were apprehended along with 'Charas'. The police said, "After following due procedure of the NDPS Act, one packet of charas was recovered from the blanket and the other packet was recovered from the refrigerator. These two packets weighted 300 grams." (ANI)
Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday met Vice President and Upper House Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar in the national capital on the eve of the commencement of the second part of Budget Session and sought his cooperation. Kharge said that the Opposition parties are "keen to play" a constructive role in in making the government accountable. "Met @VPIndia, ahead of the forthcoming session of the Parliament to seek his cooperation. We as, Opposition parties are keen to play a constructive role in making the Government accountable and would want discussion on every burning issue facing the nation," Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha tweeted. Speaking to the reporters, Kharge said that the Vice President discussed the ways to cooperate in the upcoming Session. "The meeting was a courtesy call. He (Jagdeep Dhankar) spoke about certain things on how all must cooperate in running the second part of the Budget Session. There will be a meeting of the Opposition tomorrow and after that, a Congress meeting will be held," he said. The Vice-President also held a meeting with a panel of vice-chairpersons of the Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, the focus of the second part of the Budget Session which resumes on 13th March will be on the demand for grants and passage of the Union Budget. The government is also likely to bring in legislation for passage in this part. As per the records, about 26 Bills are currently pending in the Rajya Sabha and close to 9 in the Lok Sabha for passage. Two Bills - The Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022 were referred to a Joint Committee by the government last Winter Session and they are currently being examined by the panel. It is known through sources that the CP Joshi-led panel discussing the Multi-State Cooperative Bill will be presenting its report in Parliament in the upcoming session. This panel has completed its discussion on the Bill and is likely to adopt its draft report on 13th March. The government to also lists The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which was scrutinised by a Joint Committee of Parliament. It is also known through the sources that the government may bring the keenly awaited Personal Data Protection Bill in the upcoming session. This Bill is likely to be cleared by the Union Cabinet soon. Amongst the Bills pending in the Rajya Sabha, three Bills have already been passed by Lok Sabha including The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019, The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022, and The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022. The second half of the Budget Session is set to begin on March 13 and will go on till April 6. (ANI)
The tourists were returning from Natu La & Tsomgo (Changgu) Lake when about 100 vehicles got stuck in the heavy snowfall, it said.

Troops of Trishakti Corps in collaboration with Civil Police and Administration launched a rescue mission 'OPERATION HIMRAHAT,' which continued through late night on March 11, the statement said.

According to the statement, the tourists were moved to safe areas and provided shelter, warm clothing, medical aid and hot meals.

Detailed coordination was done with General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) for road opening in the morning, the statement said.

In the morning, on March 12, the road opening was taken up with assistance of GREF dozers. By 9 am, the road was cleared to enable movement of the vehicles to Gangtok, it said.

The quick reaction by the troops provided relief and comfort to the stranded tourists under inclement weather conditions and ensured early clearance of road to enable move of vehicles to Gangtok, the statement said.

The stranded tourists and Civil Administration of Sikkim expressed their deep gratitude for the immediate relief provided by the Army, it said.

Indian Army while guarding the border in Super High-Altitude areas of the Himalayas, are always proactive in providing assistance to tourists and local population, the statement stressed. (ANI)
Congress MLA from Lahaul and Spiti, a tribal constituency, Ravi Thakur recently wrote a letter to State party chief Pratibha Singh and complained that people of his constituency are not being heard in the Congress government. The letter, written to Pratibha Singh two days ago, came to the fore today. Pratibha Virbhadra Singh is also a Member of Parliament from the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency. The Congress MLA, in his letter, drew attention regarding a rejig in his constituency without his consent and granting of funds for his constituency. Thakur is also demanding immediate filling of vacant posts of officers. "As discussed I would like to apprise your Honour that parliamentary elections are due next year henceforth you may kindly take serious note of my request for the present Government, "Ravi Thakur said in his letter. He has also indicated the party Chief to face consequences in the 2024 general elections if vacant posts are not filled as he referred people in the Tribal segment are turning hostile. "After the formation of the government, all the 3 sub-divisional magistrates of my constituency were removed Block development officer tehsildar naib tehsildar and D.F.O (District forest officer) for Keylong who was not again replaced as requested People of the area have approached Hon'ble CM to take steps to fill up the posts as people are turning hostile," the letter further reads. Thakur also demanded, from MP Pratibha Singh, to fulfil the demands of the people who have voted Congress leaders to power for the development of the tribal constituency. "As you are aware that Distt Lahaul&spiti won hands down zila parishad in the BJP regime and we got a comfortable Margin during MP by-elections also, henceforth your Honour is requested to distribute M.P lad funds at par with other assembly segments and one of the requests of constituents during your Honour visit as requested was to provide an ambulance for mayar nala, where recently people die Me to heavy snow and some were airlifted," it added. (ANI)
Days after Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party chief Bandi Sanjay allegedly made derogatory remarks about K Kavitha, party MP Arvind Dharmpuri on Sunday said that he does not agree with his own party leader's statements. "I don't support Bandi Sanjay's statements. He is a party State president and whatever he said, I don't support. I don't think the BJP has anything to do with it. Sanjay gave the statement and he himself should come clean on it," Nizamabad MP Arvind Dharampuri said in a press briefing here in the national capital. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party cadre along with MLA Danam Nagender on Saturday staged a protest at the Punjagutta Chowrasta against Bandi Sanjay for his inappropriate comments against MLC K Kavitha. The BRS is alleging that Sanjay made a statement against Kavitha saying that if Kavitha is not arrested, would she be kissed. Reacting to the alleged remarks, BRS MLA Danam Nagender said, "Bandi Sanjay made a statement against Kavitha saying that if Kavitha is not arrested, would she be kissed. It's very wrong to use such derogatory words against women. So we are warning Bandi Sanjay since you became BJP chief, is this your way? If BJP thinks that the BR's party cadre will be scared then it is wrong of you. We demand an unconditional apology from Bandi Sanjay. We are also giving complaints in all the police stations in Hyderabad. "Bandi Sanjay doesn't have hair or a brain. We pray to God to give him a brain and give him the manners to talk to women," Nagender said while speaking to ANI. In response, Bandi Sanjay's office said the statement used by the BJP leader is a common phrase used in the Telugu language which means if someone does a crime, would you appreciate or punish. (ANI)
The accused are identified as Manas Kuwar (26) and Ashok Mishra (45).

After the video went viral on Saturday night, leaders and workers of the Shinde faction reached the Dahisar police station and demanded an investigation against the accused.

On the complaint of the woman leader, the Dahisar police registered a case against an unknown person under IPC sections 354, 509, 500, 34 and 67 and started their investigation.

Explaining the incident, Mumbai police said that a rally was organized in Mumbai's Dahisar area on Saturday evening, in which Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also participated. MLA Prakash Surve and women leaders welcomed the Chief Minister and joined the rally.

While participating in the rally, someone made a video, edited it by putting obscene songs and made that video viral on the internet, after which people got angry and demanded to register a case, the police added.

Further details into the matter are awaited. (ANI)
He said this while addressing a public rally in Karnataka's Dharwad city after inaugurating the world's largest railway platform at Siddharudha Swamiji Railway Station in Hubballi - located in Dharwad district.

"For the world, India is like the mother of democracy. A few years ago, I got an opportunity to inaugurate the statue of social reformer Basavanna. Today, someone is insulting Basaveshwar," he said, indirectly targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

"People should be careful of those who ridicule our country from foreign soil. They talk against our 'Bharat' which is the mother of democracy," Modi said.

Referring to 'Anubhav Mantap', he stated, this land (Karnataka) has given the concept of Parliament in the age of 12th century.

"Anubhav Mantap comprised all sections of people. Today, people insult India on foreign soil," PM Modi stated.

The Prime Minister further said the number of quality educational institutions has increased in the last nine years.

"In nine years, 250 medical colleges have been built. The cities of the country are being given a modern touch," he added.

--IANS mka/pgh

( 209 Words)

2023-03-12-19:36:04 (IANS)
With Holi over and a few months to go for the Assembly elections, the BJP is gearing up its campaign in Madhya Pradesh, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah slated to visit Chhindwara on March 25, and BJP national President J.P. Nadda expected to visit Bhopal two days later. State BJP President V.D. Sharma said on Sunday that Amit Shah will visit Chhindwara, the political bastion of veteran Congress leader and state President Kamal Nath, as it plans to "corner" Kamal Nath there. During his visit to Chhindwara, Shah would hold meetings with district BJP workers and also be participate in a mega rally organised by the state BJP unit, Sharma told the press on Sunday. "Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Chhindwara on March 25. During this, we will take a pledge to win the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat in 2024," he added. Nadda is expected to arrive Bhopal on March 27, during which he will lay the foundation stone of new state BJP headquarters. "We have received a tentative date (March 27) for the arrival of our President J.P. Nadda," Sharma said. The years-old BJP headquarters in Bhopal has been demolished and the state leadership has decided to construct a multi-story party office at the same place. The new building is expected to be ready in the next two years and till then, the party will be functioning from a temporary office. However, before the top BJP leaders, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) head and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, will visit Bhopal on March 14. --IANS pd/vd ( 282 Words) 2023-03-12-20:06:03 (IANS)
A Shiv Sena MLA (Eknath Shinde faction) and party spokesperson (name withheld) on Sunday came down heavily on Uddhav Thackeray faction and accused them of 'damaging' her 'reputation' after an 'inappropriate' video of her during an Ashirvad Yatra in Maharashtra's Dahisar went viral on social media. As the video went viral on social media, Sena MLA alleged that the video was morphed and deliberately shared to defame the leader. However, Uddhav Thackeray faction have not yet responded to allegations. "A video targeting me was made during a rally where local MLA, MPs & Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were present. The video was posted on Face Book page named Matoshree with objectionable songs, encouraging people to make it viral," she told ANI. "I have filed a case at Dahisar police station, Mumbai. The two arrested accused belong to Uddhav Thackeray camp," she claimed. Mumbai Police said that two persons involved in making an objectionable video of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and a woman leader have been arrested. The accused are identified as Manas Kuwar (26) and Ashok Mishra (45). Shinde MLA hit out at people responsible for the act and accused them of damaging her reputation. "It is a Condemnable act. I have been trolled since I joined eknath shiv shinde ji camp. But I have been remaining silent, focusing on work," she told ANI. On the complaint of the woman leader, the Dahisar police registered a case against an unknown person under IPC sections 354, 509, 500, 34 and 67 and started their investigation. Explaining the incident, Mumbai police said that a rally was organized in Mumbai's Dahisar area on Saturday evening, in which Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also participated. MLA Prakash Surve and women leaders welcomed the Chief Minister and joined the rally. "If women continued to be defamed through such videos, then she would be discouraged to join politics," she added. MLA added that the Uddhav Thackeray camp had done nothing during their rule. "Now, They want to defame a woman. It is unacceptable." "There should a war of ideologies in politics. You can disagree with my views. But it is not acceptable to defame a woman by insulting her. People behind such actions should be held responsible," Shiv Sena MLA said. While participating in the rally, someone made a video, edited it by putting obscene songs and made that video viral on the internet, after which people got angry and demanded to register a case, the police added. (ANI)
A Nepalese woman (62) who was missing since 2018 and traced at Silchar detention center in Assam's Cachar district, finally reunited with her family after the authority on Sunday handed her over to her family. According to the reports, 62-year-old Jannat Khatun - a Nepalese woman, was arrested by police from Indo-Bangladesh border in Cachar district in November 2018 and the court sent her to jail and since then Jannat was lodging at Silchar central jail. The lady served two years of imprisonment under the Passports Act, 1967 for entering into India without valid documents. On Sunday, the Cachar district administration & police handed over Jannat Khatun to her family members. Numal Mahatta, Superintendent of Police of Cachar district said that, four years back the lady was arrested by police from Katigorah area in Cachar district who illegally entered into India and the court convicted her and she was lodging at transit camp (jail). "During the period, the administration contacted with the Nepal consulate general. Following the confirmation from the Nepal government that the lady is a Nepalese national, the Nepal consulate general contacted with the Assam and central government. Following the direction of the government, today the lady was handed over to her family members. We have provided an ambulance to the lady as her health condition is not too good and also provided security," Numal Mahatta said. On the other hand, Satish Thapa, an official of the office of the Consulate General of Nepal stationed in Kolkata said that, the lady went to Bangladesh and police caught her while she entered into India from Bangladesh. "She spent more than 4 years here. Now she will go to her home, before this we will admit her at hospital. Her son has come here to receive her," Satish Thapa said. (ANI)
An Indian-origin researcher and a team of scientists from Rutgers University have identified part of a protein that could provide clues to detecting planets on the verge of producing life. According to Vikas Nanda, a researcher at the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine (CABM) at Rutgers, the research has important implications in the search for extraterrestrial life because it gives researchers a new clue to look for. Based on laboratory studies, Rutgers scientists say one of the most likely chemical candidates that kickstarted life was a simple peptide -- a constituent of a protein made up of a few elemental building blocks known as amino acids -- with two nickel atoms. The two nickel atoms are called "Nickelback" because its backbone nitrogen atoms bond two critical nickel atoms. "Scientists believe that some time between 3.5 and 3.8 billion years ago, there was a tipping point, something that kickstarted the change from prebiotic chemistry - molecules before life - to living, biological systems," Nanda said. "We believe the change was sparked by a few small precursor proteins that performed key steps in an ancient metabolic reaction. And we think we've found one of these 'pioneer peptides'. "When scouring the universe with telescopes and probes for signs of past, present or emerging life, NASA scientists look for specific 'biosignatures' known to be harbingers of life. Peptides like nickelback could become the latest biosignature employed by NASA to detect planets on the verge of producing life," Nanda said. An original instigating chemical, the researchers reasoned, would need to be simple enough to be able to assemble spontaneously in a prebiotic soup. But it would have to be sufficiently chemically active to possess the potential to take energy from the environment to drive a biochemical process. To do so, the researchers adopted a "reductionist" approach: They started by examining existing contemporary proteins known to be associated with metabolic processes. Knowing the proteins were too complex to have emerged early on, they pared them down to their basic structure. After sequences of experiments, researchers concluded the best candidate was Nickelback. The peptide is made of 13 amino acids and binds two nickel ions. Nickel, they reasoned, was an abundant metal in early oceans. When bound to the peptide, the nickel atoms become potent catalysts, attracting additional protons and electrons and producing hydrogen gas. Hydrogen, the researchers reasoned, was also more abundant on early Earth and would have been a critical source of energy to power metabolism. "This is important because, while there are many theories about the origins of life, there are very few actual laboratory tests of these ideas," Nanda said. "This work shows that, not only are simple protein metabolic enzymes possible, but that they are very stable and very active - making them a plausible starting point for life." The scientists conducting the study, published in Science Advances, are part of a Rutgers-led team called Evolution of Nanomachines in Geospheres and Microbial Ancestors (ENIGMA), which is part of the Astrobiology programme at the NASA. --IANS mi/vd ( 516 Words) 2023-03-12-19:36:05 (IANS)
"We don't have a good place for washing carpets and when they are transferred to Kunduz province it costs us a lot," said Nadia, a carpet weaver.

Nearly fifty women and girls weave carpets in the city of Faizabad and these women said that the lack of a carpet processing center has made their work difficult, reported Tolo News.

"We face challenges and we lack some materials," said Fawzia, a carpet weaver.

"We don't have a carpet processing market and don't have a specific place to work there," said Farzana, a carpet weaver.

Officials of the carpet weaver's union in Badakhshan said that currently, four thousand women are busy with carpet weaving in this province, reported Tolo News.

"Four thousand women are busy with carpet weaving, they work with us for two years and after that, they graduate and we give them a certificate," said Abdul Ali, the head of the carpet weavers union in Badakhshan.

"When women report their products to us, we are ready and have a plan for them," said Samruldden Rahmani, head of the industrial park in Badakhshan.

According to officials of the industry and commerce department in Badakhshan, currently, 10 carpet weaving workshops are active in Badakhshan, reported Tolo News.

The Taliban have imposed many restrictions on Afghan women after coming to power.

Taliban banned women from attending university last December, nine months after the Islamist group barred girls from returning to secondary schools amid a brutal crackdown on women's rights since it seized power in 2021.

Grades 7-12 have been closed for girls and young women for more than 530 days, reported Tolo News.

Taliban also announced a ban on female NGO workers - prompting multiple major foreign aid groups to suspend their operations in the country.

The Taliban's return to power preceded a deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, worsening issues that had long plagued the country. (ANI)
Photo: Contributed

On Facebook last week, I came across a post from my friend Pamela. She shared What Every Woman Should Know by author Pamela Redmond Satran.

It started me thinking about my own life.

My dad joined the RCMP in the 1950s. He interacted with women who were in difficult domestic situations but unable to leave because they had nowhere to go and no money to support themselves and their dependents.

This shaped what he believed I should have or know before I ventured out into the world on my own.

Before I had my first driving lesson, he made me learn to change a tire. He and my mom started a university fund for me before I was a year old. Not only was there no question about post-secondary education, but I understood I needed to have a profession I could always fall back on to support myself. When I moved to Vancouver Island for my first teaching job, he presented me with my own tool kit comprising of a multi-head screwdriver, wrench, tape measure, and hammer.

Im sure if my parents were still with me, theyd have more items to add to the list. I suspect they also had a list for my brother, although they probably never thought about it in those terms.

Redmond Satrans list is much longer. According to her:

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVEenough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVEsomething perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVEa youth shes content to leave behind

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVEa past juicy enough that shes looking forward to retelling it in her old age

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVEa set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVEone friend who always makes her laugh

and one who lets her cry

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVEa good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVEeight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honoured

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVEa feeling of control over her destiny

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOWhow to fall in love without losing herself

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOWhow to quit a job, break up with a lover and confront a friend without ruining the friendship

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOWwhen to try harderand when to walk away

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOWthat she cant change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOWthat her childhood may not have been perfect, but its over

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOWwhat she would and wouldnt do for love or more

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOWhow to live alone, even if she doesnt like it

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOWwhom she can trust, whom she cant, and why she shouldnt take it personally

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOWwhere to go, be it to her best friends kitchen table or a charming inn in the woods, when her soul needs soothing

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOWwhat she can and cant accomplish in a day, a month and a year

Not all of these items apply to me at this stage of my life, but they can be adapted for any age. The one that caught my attention most was having a past juicy enough that I look forward to retelling it.

I cant change my life to this point but just because Im a woman of a more interesting age doesnt mean I can't keep having story-worthy experiences.

What do you believe every woman or man should know or have? Its an interesting exercise to invest some time in.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Commander of US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), General Kenneth Wilsbach said that the US must sink Chinese warships to break a blockade of Taiwan, reported Taiwan News. While speaking to reporters at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado on Wednesday, Wilsbach said, "We've got to sink the ships," and recommended the U.S. "amass firepower" in the region with the use of armed drones and added the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider could be "helpful in our mission." Wilsbach recalled that in response to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan, China deployed ships off the east coast of Taiwan to act "as a sort of blockade," reported Military.com. Notably, tensions started between China and Taiwan after the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi travelled to Taiwan in August. China raised objections to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. China announced military drills around Taiwan over Pelosi's visit to the island. Wilsbach said the surface-to-air missiles mounted on the ships created an "anti-access/area denial engagement zone" that discouraged warplanes from other countries from entering for fear of being shot down. Although Washington's priority is to deter Beijing from invading, Wilsbach said the military needs to have contingencies in the event China does attack Taiwan. He argued that if hostilities do break out, the first order of business is that, "We've got to sink the ships," reported Taiwan News. The commander said that sinking Chinese warships should not only be the main objective of the PACAF "but really anyone that's going to be involved in a conflict like this." He stressed the need for the US and the militaries of friendly nations to plan and train together a great deal more, reported Taiwan News. Wilsbach said that many wings under his command are rehearsing the US Air Force's tactic of spreading crews and aircraft across "many, many islands." China has enacted a long-term and flexible strategy for the self-governing island. This strategy involves periodic military exercises that amount to blockades, with a tighter military noose increasing the threat level. Moreover, it sends the message that any large military exercise could quickly be the real thing - an indefinite blockade of Taiwan to starve it into submission. (ANI)
The leaders of the US, Australia and the UK will unveil on Monday a plan to outfit Australia with nuclear-powered submarines in an unprecedented three-way defense partnership dubbed AUKUS that seeks to counter China's attempts to achieve naval dominance in the Pacific, reported Japan Times. US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will gather in the California naval hub to flesh out military cooperation as concerns grow over a fast-rising threats from China. The plan, known as AUKUS, was first announced in September 2021. The advanced submarines -- the first of which will be American-made -- are now expected to arrive as early as 2032, still a decade off but years ahead of the timeline many expected, said Western officials, who like others interviewed spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity, reported The Washington Post. President Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will unveil the details of the new partnership aboard the USS Missouri submarine in San Diego. If realized, analysts said, it could be the most consequential trilateral defense technology partnership in modern history. The key element of AUKUS was a US agreement to export to Australia its prized technology of nuclear-powered submarines, previously shared only with Britain when it designed its undersea fleet in the 1960s, reported Japan Times. Ahead of the expected announcement for British-built submarines with US parts, China warned that AUKUS risked setting off an arms race and accused the three countries of setting back nuclear nonproliferation efforts. "We urge the US, the UK and Australia to abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum games, honor international obligations in good faith and do more things that are conducive to regional peace and stability," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing. Australia has committed to a "proportional" investment in US and British industrial capacity, and over the next several decades will be spending more than USD 100 billion to buy the submarines and build up its own industrial capacity, as well as shore up America's and Britain's shipbuilding capability. Nuclear-powered submarines would allow Australia in the coming decades to maintain an underwater presence for months on end, offering an advantage as China's military expands its reach, reported Japan Times. China in recent months reached a controversial security pact with the Solomon Islands and has not ruled out the use of force to take Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that is claimed by Beijing and effectively blocks it from projecting military power deeper into the Pacific. (ANI)
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett said the attack on journalists in Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif province is a blow to the freedom of expression, Khaama Press reported. Bennett said he is closely monitoring the attack on the gathering aimed at awarding journalists at Tebyan Cultural Center in northern Mazar-e-Sharif province. The UN Special Rapporteur emphasized the need for increased security measures for journalists in Afghanistan. According to Tebyan Cultural Center, "Three people were killed and 30 others, including a significant number of journalists, were injured in this incident." At least 15 journalists have been injured in this incident, and the situation is getting tougher for journalists and media workers in Afghanistan, according to a journalists' advocacy organization. The attack took place in a gathering in Mazar-e-Sharif aimed at honouring journalists for the tireless efforts they are putting in to update the world on the challenges and developments in the context of Afghanistan, according to Khaama Press. This was the second terror incident in Mazar-e-Sharif over the past three days. The first one was a suicide attack that killed the governor of Balkh, Mullah Muhammad Dawood Muzamil and the second explosion targeted journalists' gatherings. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack and investigations are underway to find the motives behind the incident. Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, the group has imposed some tough restrictions on media and journalists. According to the decrees, no private or public media outlet or news channel is allowed to criticize Taliban members or speak against Afghanistan's de facto regime. Recently, female journalists in Afghanistan's Farah province strongly appealed for the resumption of media activities that have been halted since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan after the US Forces' retreat in August last year, Tolo News reported. Female journalists urged the Taliban officials to resume their media operations at a meeting in the province of Farah. "Women have not been allowed to continue their activities one hundred per cent up to this point, but they have said they will allow them. We will be happy if they allow us and truly abide by their promises," Tolo News quoted Marzia Noorzai, a journalist as saying. The Naw-e-Zan radio representatives stated that in addition to obtaining authorization for media operations, they also want financial assistance in order to maintain their media operations. Numerous media houses have been shut in the war-torn nation due to a lack of funds and the Taliban's imposition of strict measures on the press. (ANI)
The chairperson of the Karachi chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami, Hafiz Naeem ur-Rehman, has announced that the party will stage sit-ins across the metropolis to protest against the delay in the local government polls on the remaining 11 seats, Pakistan Today reported. Addressing a sit-in outside the office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Sindh chapter, Hafiz Naeem ur-Rehman raised concern over the delay in the release of local government poll results and schedule for polls on the remaining 11 seats. Hafiz Naeem ur-Rehman said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has betrayed Karachi with the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) after the "regime change" in April last year, as per the Pakistan Today report. He said that despite negative tactics, Jamaat continued its Haq Do Tehreek and stressed that a large number of people participated in it. Furthermore, he said that Jamaat emerged as the biggest political party in Karachi in the recent local government elections despite flawed voter lists and delimitations. He said that the residents of Karachi want to see development in the metropolis, as per the news report. Criticizing the Pakistan's Chief Election Commissioner, Hafiz Naeem ur-Rehman said that Sikandar Sultan Raja performed duties as the chief and bureaucrat of all three provinces, however, he is unaware about the real issues faced by the people in Karachi. On March 5, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) released the results of the Karachi local government elections. According to the results announced by ECP, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) have won equal number of union council (UC) seats, according to Pakistan Today report. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 40 UCs, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured five seats and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) won one seat. The ECP had withheld the results of 20 union council seats due to complaints and recounting requests. Notably, the local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions were held on January 15. Although there are 246 UCs in Karachi, however, the election was held in 235 UCs due to the death of 11 candidates. The ECP is yet to announced the date for remaining 11 union councils in the provincial metropolis. (ANI)
Mentioning that in India we have a robust participatory democracy and a vibrant multiparty system where the hopes and aspirations of the citizens find expression through the elected representatives, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that all members enjoy the freedom to express their views and thoughts in Lok Sabha. Birla was sharing his thoughts on the subject "Promoting peaceful co-existence and inclusive societies: Fight against intolerance" at the General Debate during 146th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union. He referred to the unhindered right of Members to express their views in Parliament. This statement from the Lok Sabha Speaker comes after Rahul Gandhi in his address at the Cambridge alleged that the Opposition's voice was being stifled in parliament. Rahul alleged that constraints were being put on the Parliament, press and Judiciary in the country. "Everybody knows and it's been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India, we are navigating that (Opposition) space. The institutional framework which is required for a democracy -- Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilisation, moving around -- all are getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy," the Congress MP alleged. Sharing a picture of himself in the presentation slide in which he is seen being held by the police personnel, the Congress leader claimed that the Opposition leaders were "locked up" in jail for "just standing" in front of the Parliament House to talk about some issues, while also alleging that such incidents have happened "relatively violently". Reiterating India's longstanding view that all global issues should be resolved peacefully through dialogue, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla informed that the Parliament of India has always held extensive and meaningful debate and deliberations on contemporary global challenges such as climate change, gender equality, sustainable development and covid-19 pandemic. He emphasized that global institutions propagating peace, harmony and justice are crucial for peace, prosperity, sustainability and just world order. In this context, Birla said that in global institutions like the UN Security Council, there is a broad consensus among many nations to bring about reforms to reflect the realities of a rapidly changing world order. Observing that this important matter requires serious discussions, Lok Sabha Speaker stressed that reform in the UN Security Council cannot be delayed any further. He said that it is crucial that the subject is included in future global agendas so that we could contribute more and more to addressing challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, poverty, gender equality and terrorism. Highlighting India's readiness to fulfil its global obligations, Birla invited attention to the fact that India has carried out the world's largest vaccination programme against COVID-19 for its citizens and at the same time helped other nations in their respective fights against the pandemic by providing medical equipment and vaccines under Vaccine Maitri. Similarly, Birla was happy to note that India is leading the world in the articulation of the Global Climate Action Plan to combat the issue of climate change. Observing that India has always given the message of peace and harmony to the entire world, Birla reiterated India's belief that building an inclusive and tolerant society is only possible through peaceful coexistence, mutual discussions and dialogue. He mentioned that our Parliaments have a decisive role to play in this regard. He exhorted the world community to come together to build a better future for humanity. A day before, Members of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation participated in various Sessions organized in parallel on the first day of the Assembly. Poonamben Maadam, MP and a Member of the Bureau of Women Parliamentarians of the IPU, attended the meeting of the Bureau and the plenary session of the forum of Women Parliamentarians. Aparajita Sarangi, Bhartuhari Mahtab and Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Members of Parliament, attended the meeting of the Asia Pacific Group of the IPU. During the meeting, Sarangi, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the IPU, briefed the Asia-Pacific Group members about the activities of the Executive Committee in the last six months. Later, the group decided on its nomination about for the forthcoming vacancies in various IPU bodies. Sumalatha Ambreesh, MP was endorsed by the Group for members of the High-Level Advisory Group on Counter Terrorism and Violent Extremism. The Asian Parliamentary Assembly also held its Coordinating Meeting on the sidelines of the Assembly. Vishnu Dayal Ram and Sasmit Patra, Members of Parliament attended the above meeting. On March 10, Om Birla visited Manama with a Parliamentary delegation to attend the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The Lok Sabha Speaker received a warm welcome from the Deputy Chairman and Members of the Bahrain Parliament Shura Jamal Fakhro. He also visited the famous Shrinathji Temple and played Holi with the Indians during his visit. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President K Annamalai has written letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar requesting the ministry's intervention for the repatriation of 16 fishermen who have been arrested by the Sri Lankan navy. In the letter, K Annamalai called for intervention of External Affairs Ministry for the early repatriation of the detainees. He noted that two fishing boats belonging to the fishermen have also been seized. K Annamalai's call for MEA's intervention comes after two Indian fishing boats along with 16 fishermen were apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy on Saturday. In the letter, Annamalai stated, "We bring to your attention yesterday's arrest of 16 Fishermen from Pudhukottai and Nagapattinam by the Sri Lankan navy. Two fishing boats belonging to them have also been seized during the arrest. We request the kind intervention of our External affairs ministry for the early repatriation of the detainees." Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai expressed gratitude to EAM S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the constructive steps to bolster the ties between India and Sri Lanka, which he stressed has resulted in improved security of fishermen in the High seas. "On behalf of BJP Tamil Nadu and the Tamil Fishermen, we wholeheartedly thank our External Affairs Ministry and Honourable Prime Minister Thiru Narendra Modi avargal for the constructive steps to improve the bilateral relations between India & Sri Lanka, which has resulted in improved safety of our fishermen in the High seas," K Annamalai wrote in the letter. On Saturday, two Indian fishing boats along with 16 Kottaipattinam and Nagapattinam based fishermen were apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy near Analaitheevu. 172 boats went to catch fish in the sea on March 11 at 07:00 from Kottapattinam boat harbor under the boundary of Meemisal Beach Police Station, Pudukkottai District, Mamelkudi Division. The fishermen identified as Aarokyaraj, Ashok and two others were fishing near Analaithivu at a distance of 30 nautical miles. They were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for transboundary fishing and brought to Barudhitura Naval Camp, according to the information released by fishermen association. Meanwhile, 12 fishermen from Akkaraipettai fishing port went fishing in the morning on March 7 were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing early morning today and taken to Karainagar port. According to the fishermen association, the fishermen have been identified as Anandaman, Raja, Ravi, Mathibalan, Kathalingam, Ramamurthy, Raghu, Anbu, Dinesh, Chitraver, Ravi and Velmail. Earlier in February, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka strongly raised the issue of recent attacks on Indian fishermen with Sri Lankan authorities. Indian High Commission has called on the Sri Lankan government to investigate the matter and ensure that use of force and violence in any form is not used against the fishermen. Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka tweeted, "High Commission has strongly taken up the recent attacks on #Indian fishermen with #SriLankan authorities. It has also asked the Goverment of #SriLanka to investigate the matter and ensure that use of force and violence in any form are not resorted to against the fishermen." In another tweet, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka tweeted, "The issues of fishermen are humanitarian and pertain to their livelihoods. These must be addressed in that spirit through diplomatic means and bilateral mechanisms." Six fishermen belonging to Tamil Nadu were allegedly attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy. (ANI)
The foreign ministers of Iran and Uzbekistan on Sunday discussed the situation in Afghanistan and stressed the need to cooperate as neighbours to strengthen the country. The Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Baxtiyor Saidov, travelled to Iran to meet with the country's officials, including his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian, Tolo news reported. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran said that the two sides called for cooperation for peace and stability in Afghanistan. "Incentivizing peace and stability in Afghanistan, an international air-corridor... were among several issues that were discussed," the statement said. Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate said that peace in Afghanistan is important for the region and that the neighbour and regional countries should cooperate in this regard. "This is an important opportunity. The positive morale of the countries is important for stability. We hope the strengthening of official relations and the increase of legitimate economic engagement happens," said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate., s reported by Tolo News. The analysts believe that Iran and Uzbekistan should help Afghanistan in the economic, political and trade sectors. "The countries should solve their problems with the Afghans through understanding and cooperation with the Afghans in economic and political areas," said Hassan Haqyar, a political analyst. "If the countries are really honest, they should share their procedures with Afghan officials and talk with them in this regard," said Aziz Maarij, a diplomat. This comes as a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in his meeting with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the need to support peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as to provide humanitarian aid to the country. (ANI)
The Pasteur Institute in France has announced that it has decided to suspend its partnership with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing regarding the Institute Pasteur of Shanghai. The Pasteur Institute in a statement announced that it ceased to be involved in the activities of the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai and stopped co-leading the structure with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In the statement, the Pasteur Institute said that the name of Institute of Pasteur will change as a result. It noted that additional conversation is required to ensure that strategic axes of these two institutions are aligned. "The Institut Pasteur decided in December 2022 to suspend its partnership agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences regarding the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai. This choice was made in order to begin a new cycle of conversations for improving the relationship between the two organizations and finding a more productive way to work together," Pasteur Institute said in a statement. It further said, "Consequently, the Institut Pasteur ceased to be involved in the activities of the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai and stopped co-leading this structure with the Chinese Academy of Science. The name of the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai will change as a result." Pasteur Institute in the statement said that the Institute Pasteur of Shanghai has not been an active member of the Pasteur Network since 2021 when the Pasteur Network Foundation was established as part of the change in governance of the Pasteur Network. It further said that both parties remain determined to work together in the future because of the scientific interest of the collaborative research conducted by the Pasteur Institute and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in recent years. Earlier in 2004, the Pasteur Institute in Shanghai was inaugurated in presence of then French President Jacques Chirac, Chinese Academy of Sciences President Lu Yongxiang and Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, the Pasteur Institute said in the press release. On 30 August 2004, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Shanghai Municipal Government, and the Pasteur Institute in Paris signed a cooperation agreement to create the "Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences," according to the press release. The agreement followed the signing of a letter of intent on 28 January 2004 in Paris, in the presence of then Chinese President Hu Jintao and French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, of the Pasteur Institute and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' mutual intention to create an Institut Pasteur in Shanghai. According to the brief introduction on Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences' website, the institute jointly established by Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Pasteur Institute is dedicated to basic research to infectious disease control and prevention, and scientific achievements transfer and commercialization. (ANI)
For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the federal government on Sunday made the record of Toshakhana gifts since 2002 public, Daily Pakistan reported. The development comes days after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the federal government had given nod to declassify the data of the state repository that stores gifts received by public officeholders from other governments and foreign dignitaries. Daily Pakistan reported that the 446-page document contains the record of the period from 2002 to 2023. It reveals the list of gifts received by presidents, prime ministers and federal ministers. During 2023, the current coalition government received 59 gifts from different countries. According to the records released by the government, 224 gifts were received in 2022, 116 gifts in 2021, 175 gifts in 2018 and 91 gifts in 2014 while government officials received 177 gifts in 2015. The document carries records of gifts retained by later former president Gen (retd) Parvez Musharraf, former prime ministers Shaukat Aziz, Yusuf Raza Gilani, Raja Parvez Ashraf, Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan, Daily Pakistan reported. The record shows Imran Khan bought a diamond-gold watch worth PKR 85 million, a pair of cufflinks worth PKR 5.67 million, a pen worth PKR 1.5 million and a ring worth PKR 8.7 million. The former premier retained all the gifts by paying around PKR 20 million. Besides that, the PTI chief retained another watch worth PKR 3.88 million by paying PKR 754,000. The Toshakhana department, which was established in 1978, and all the public officeholders, including parliamentarians and bureaucrats, are bound to deposit gifts in it. The department came under the spotlight when the Election Commission of Pakistan initiated proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan for disclosing the details of Toshakhana gifts retained by him in the declaration. Last year, the ECP also disqualified the PTI chief as a member of the National Assembly in the Toshakhana case for not disclosing the gifts. A districts and sessions court in the federal capital is also hearing a criminal case after it was referred by the electoral body. Notably, Imran Khan is accused of allegedly concealing details of the gifts in his assets declarations he retained from the Toshakhana, a repository where presents handed to government officials from foreign officials are kept, the Dawn reported. Officials are legally allowed to retain gifts if they pay a pre-assessed amount, typically a fraction of the value of the gift, Dawn reported. The Toshakhana case refers that Imran had not shared details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana (during his time as the prime minister) and proceeded with their reported sales. (ANI)
Iran is striving to expand its influence in fellow US adversaries Venezuela, which is hosting an Iranian cultural fair this week and seeking Iranian assistance to revive the ailing Venezuelan energy industry, Voice of America (VOA) reported. The International Fair of Venezuelan-Iranian Culture and Friendship opened on March 4 in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, and ran through Sunday. It is organized by a Caracas-based group called the Center for Intercultural Exchange in Latin America, or CICL. The US research group Foundation for Defense of Democracies said in a report last December that CICL is a Latin American branch of Iran's al-Mustafa International University, which the report describes as Tehran's principal institution for recruiting, indoctrinating and training foreign converts to Shi'ite Islam, VOA reported. Venezuela hosted another senior Iranian official on February 3, when Oil Minister Tareck el-Aissami met with Iran's top diplomat, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in Caracas. Iranian state media said el-Aissami urged the Iranian government to share its expertise on energy and related technologies with his nation, which sits on the world's biggest crude oil reserves but has a decaying infrastructure beset by domestic fuel shortages in recent years. The VOA reported that three days later, state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela planned to award a $490 million contract to the state-owned National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company in the coming weeks to revamp the Paraguana Refining Center, Venezuela's largest refining complex. The Reuters report cited "four sources close to the plan." Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto described Iran as a very close friend at a more recent meeting with Amir-Abdollahian in Geneva on February 28, according to the Iranian foreign ministry. It cited Pinto as saying Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government is "determined to strengthen relations with Iran in all fields, including oil, energy, economy and trade." Both nations are heavily sanctioned by the US which sees them as human rights violators and sponsors of terrorism and accuses them of other malign behaviours. The growing Iranian-Venezuelan alliance was the focus of a VOA interview with exiled Venezuelan opposition politician Julio Borges in this week's edition of the Flashpoint Iran podcast. Borges is a senior member of the Justice First party and a one-time foreign minister of the former US-backed interim Venezuelan government that comprised several opposition parties and dissolved itself in January after four years. (ANI)
Photo: Norson Construction Indigo Kelowna

A union representing 200 employees of Indigo Books & Music Inc. is calling on the retailer to disclose more information about the scope of its recent data breach and offer additional support to staff affected by the cyberattack.

United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 1006A said Saturday that it is "increasingly alarmed" by new information that has come to light about a Feb. 8 cyberattack on Canada's biggest bookstore.

Current and former Indigo workers learned this week that their medical and immigration data were part of the breach, which the Toronto-based retailer previously said also included their names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, home addresses, social insurance numbers and direct deposit information such as bank account numbers.

Indigo blamed the attack on a ransomware software known as LockBit and warned current and past workers that their information may end up on the dark web, an underground portion of the internet used for illicit activity. It said it had not uncovered any evidence of customer information being breached.

But a letter UFCW sent to Indigo this week said several other key concerns had still not been addressed.

"The companys communication leaves several questions unanswered, including most importantly, whether the company is aware of any unauthorized use of the potentially affected personal information," it read.

The union representing workers at four stores in the Greater Toronto Area also asked Indigo to explain what measures it is undertaking to better safeguard data and provide additional support for workers who may face identity theft or other damages because of the attack.

Indigo offered staff two years of credit monitoring last month when it first revealed the breach.

The union called the credit monitoring offer "commendable," but said workers deserve more information about what other steps the company will take to protect them should their data fall into unauthorized hands and be used for nefarious purposes.

"The current circumstances demand nothing less from Indigo than a genuine commitment that it will take all reasonable steps to remedy any, and all effects on employees arising out of the information breach," the union said.

"We trust that Indigo will do the right thing in the circumstances and put the best interest of its employees first."

In response, Indigo said it takes the privacy and security of current and former staff seriously and is working to ensure they receive up-to-date information about the attack.

"We continue to work to strike a balance between the necessity for timely updates and the necessity for accurate updates, and continue to work to address questions and concerns as soon as we are able," the company said in a written statement.

It added that it has been working with third-party experts to strengthen its cybersecurity practices and enhance data security measures.

The hack resulted in Indigo's website and payment systems being abruptly booted offline.

The bookstore and home goods chain managed to quickly restore its payment systems and soon after launched a temporary, browsable-only website.

Indigo eventually allowed customers to purchase select books through the site and has since been gradually uploading more inventory.
US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen has ruled out a bailout from the federal government for the now-collapsed Silicon Valley Bank. "During the financial crisis, there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed out," Yellen said on CBS News in an interview with "Face the Nation" on Sunday, referring to the 2007-2009 financial crisis that led to a massive government rescue aimed at heading off a wider catastrophe. "And the reforms that have been put in place mean that we're not going to do that again. But we are concerned about depositors and are focused on trying to meet their needs," she added. Yellen said she's been hearing from depositors all weekend, many of whom are "small businesses" and employ thousands of people. "I've been working all weekend with our banking regulators to design appropriate policies to address this situation," the Treasury secretary said, declining to provide further details. The bank's failure has also raised concern about a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis, but Yellen sought to reassure Americans that the collapse is an isolated incident, reported CBS News. "What I do want to do is emphasize that the American banking system is really safe and well-capitalized, it's resilient," said Yellen. California regulators shut down Silicon Valley Bank on Friday after depositors rushed to withdraw money last week amid concerns about its balance sheet. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was appointed receiver, and regulators are working to find a buyer for the institution, which ranked as the 16th-largest bank in the US before its failure. The collapse of the 40-year-old bank, which catered to the tech industry, is the largest financial institution since the failure of Washington Mutual in 2008. The collapse, the second largest bank failure in US history, roiled Wall Street for Monday morning's opening of the stock market. (ANI)
The Maldivian Government announced that it will resume diplomatic ties with Iran after China-brokered reconciliation between Riyadh and Tehran. "The Government of the Republic of Maldives welcomes the Joint Trilateral Statement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the People's Republic of China announcing that an agreement has been reached between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran that includes an agreement to resume diplomatic relations between the two countries and reopen their embassies and missions and the affirmation of the respect for the sovereignty of states and the non-interference in internal affairs of states. In light of these positive and welcoming developments the Government of Maldives has decided to resume diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran," read the statement of the Government of Maldives. Maldives severed political relations with Iran on May 17, 2016 during the rule of former President Abdullah Yameen. Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established diplomatic ties after mediation talks led by China. The two countries reaffirmed their respect for the sovereignty of the states and their non-interference policy in the internal affairs of countries. The agreement also includes the reopening of their embassies and missions. This major development comes after years of tensions between the two countries, including a devastating attack on the heart of the kingdom's oil production attributed to Tehran. Based on the trilateral agreement whereby China would host and sponsor talks between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, "Proceeding from their shared desire to resolve the disagreements between them through dialogue and diplomacy, and in light of their brotherly ties." The three countries expressed their keenness to exert all efforts toward enhancing regional and international peace and security. The Saudi and Iranian sides expressed their appreciation and gratitude to Iraq and Oman for hosting rounds of dialogue that took place between both sides during the years 2021-2022. The two sides also expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the leadership and government of the People's Republic of China for hosting and sponsoring the talks, and the efforts it placed towards its success. It is pertinent to mention that the ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran were snapped in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran was stormed during a dispute between the two countries over Riyadh's execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric. Iran, the leading Shi'ite Muslim state in the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia, the region's oil-exporting giant and Sunni Muslim power, have backed opposite sides in proxy wars in Yemen, Syria and elsewhere. (ANI)
The acting Minister of Higher Education, Nida Mohammad Nadim on Sunday warned that whoever destabilizes the Islamic national "must be killed," reported Tolo News. Warning of consequences for opposing the Taliban government, he said, "Those who undermine the government whether that is via tongue, pen or undermining in practice, all of are committing rebellion, all of them deserve death." He was addressing a graduation ceremony in Kandahar. Nadim also said that they are ready to confront anyone who stands against the interim government, and he stressed that those who oppose the Islamic Emirate will be suppressed, reported Tolo News. "If you are hard-headed and make problems for the people of Afghanistan based on strangers' agendas, then we are ready to confront you and we will suppress you," said Nadim. Meanwhile, analysts called for negotiations as the best way to solve the current problems in the country. "We want any issue that is being solved, even if it is war, to be solved through negotiations," said Shams Kamran, a social analyst. Earlier, the Islamic Emirate's spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said if anyone complains about those in charge, they should do so discreetly. The Taliban's return to power preceded a deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, worsening issues that had long plagued the country. Taliban banned women from attending university last December, nine months after the Islamist group barred girls from returning to secondary schools amid a brutal crackdown on women's rights since it seized power in 2021. Grades 7-12 have been closed for girls and young women for more than 530 days, reported Tolo News. Taliban also announced a ban on female NGO workers - prompting multiple major foreign aid groups to suspend their operations in the country. Kabul residents said that education provides the basis for the progress of the country, and they asked the Taliban to reopen schools for girls. "If they reopen schools and universities it will be a very good thing, and we will get rid of the need of others. We should have doctors and engineers and serve our country," said Janan, a resident of Kabul. "We ask the Islamic Emirate to open schools for girls, and this is our only request and it will make everyone progress in the country," said Amir, another resident of Kabul. (ANI)
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in American Express implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

The top 13 shareholders own 51% of the company

Recent sales by insiders

If you want to know who really controls American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 65% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Institutional investors endured the highest losses after the company's market cap fell by US$10.0b last week. Still, the 0.07% one-year gains may have helped mitigate their overall losses. We would assume however, that they would be on the lookout for weakness in the future.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of American Express, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for American Express

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About American Express?

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.

American Express already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. 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 American Express' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in American Express. Our data shows that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is the largest shareholder with 20% of shares outstanding. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 6.4% of common stock, and BlackRock, Inc. holds about 6.1% of the company stock.

Story continues

A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 13 shareholders have a combined ownership of 51% implying that no single shareholder has a majority.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of American Express

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.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of American Express Company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$170m worth of shares (at current prices). It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 15% 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.

Public Company Ownership

We can see that public companies hold 20% of the American Express shares on issue. We can't be certain but it is quite possible this is a strategic stake. The businesses may be similar, or work together.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand American Express better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with American Express .

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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The Brevard County Sheriffs Office is investigating a shooting that killed one person and left another in critical condition during a party at a park in unincorporated Melbourne Beach.

Deputies responded to a shooting call in the area of Spessard Holland Park around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

When deputies arrived, they found a male with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey said a second victim was located at another scene on the east side of the US-192 bridge. That victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Read: Deputies: 3 teens shot near Waterford Lakes Town Center in Orange County

The sheriffs office is not releasing the name of the victims at this time.

Ivey said this shooting is gang-related and investigators believe that this was a targeted attack and there is no danger to the public.

Read: Thanks for playing: Relativity Space scrubs 3D-printed rocket launch for 2nd time

During a news conference, Ivey also stated that a truck fled from the scene, where suspects bailed out of the truck and ran from deputies. Two of the occupants were apprehended and are being questioned by deputies.

Channel 9 has a crew on the way and will bring the latest updates during our noon newscast.

Read: Incredible amount of strength: More than Pink Walk raises funds for breast cancer research

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.
US-IRAN-WOMEN-PROTEST

Activists from New York-based Iranian women's rights group group Woman Life Freedom attend a rally condeming the mass poisoning of Iranian female students, in New York, NY, on March 11, 2023. Credit - ED JONESAFP/Getty Images

More than 100 people in Iran have been arrested in connection to the suspected poisoning of thousands of school girls in the country in recent months.

Irans Interior Ministry said in a statement that arrests and investigations have taken place across numerous cities, including Tehran. Toxic gas attacks have been impacting thousands of students, mostly girls, since November, when the first poisoning took place.

Initial inquiries show that a number of these people, out of mischief or adventurism and with the aim of shutting down classrooms and influenced by the created psychological atmosphere, have taken measures such as using harmless and smelly substances, the Ministry wrote in the statement.

Activists have long said they believe the attacks were caused by religious groups that oppose girls education. Others believe the attacks are also meant to stifle young girls because of their participation in the months-long protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in September for allegedly wearing her hijab too loosely.

Heres what we know about the arrests.

Who was arrested?

Little information has been released about the arrests and no suspects have been publicly identified. However, Irans Interior Ministry did reveal in a statement that those arrested were people with hostile motives who tried to create fear and horror among people and students, shut down schools, and wanted to paint the Iranian government in a bad light.

The Ministry also added that the number of poisonings had decreased in recent days after the arrests. It is not clear when the arrests took place.

The investigation is ongoing.

What do we know about the attacks?

The first poisoning attack occurred on Nov. 30 in the city of Qom, causing 18 schoolgirls to be hospitalized. Since then there have been attacks in at least 290 schools across 28 provinces, the Associated Press reports.

Story continues

At least one student, 11-year-old Fatemeh Razaei, has allegedly died because of the poisonings. Iranian journalist Hedie Kimiaee previously tweeted that the young girl died because of a toxic gas attack at her school in the city of Qom, but she, like many activists, accused Iranian authorities of attempting to hide information about the case.

Many other young girls have been hospitalized due to respiratory issues, nausea and more as a result of the poisonings. At least 26 schools have been targeted in the attacks, according to local media outlets. Mohammed Hassan Asefari, an Iranian lawmaker who is investigating the attacks, last said that some 5,000 students had become sick because of the poisonings, though Iranian media outlets report the number as closer to 1,000.

The poisonings have prompted many parents to keep their children home from school for their safety . Others have been protesting to get the attention of officials.

Following the rising frequency of these events, government leaders agreed they would help find the perpetrators. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi ordered Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi to investigate the cause of the toxic gas poisoning as quickly as possible, on Feb. 24.

Many politicians see the poisonings as an attempt to undermine the state, and are advocating for suspects to be charged with the highest offenses. Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, for instance, said the attack an unforgivable crime, calling for the perpetrators to be given the most severe penalty, according to the New York Times.

Other officials, like Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, said that those involved in the crime would face the charge of corruption on earth, meaning suspects could face the death penalty.
Any belief that the Oscars award the right films, directors and performances has faded over the years.

While every ceremony has a smattering of correct decisions  trophies handed to the right people for the right films  more often than not, the pervading feeling is one of pessimism caused by a deluge of undeserving recipients.

The Oscars are a far cry from what they claim to be  a celebration of the previous years cinematic offerings. But his does not stop people from trawling the internet the following morning in the hope that maybe, just maybe, the winners list impresses rather than disappoints.

With the 2023 ceremony taking place in March, we have highlighted 17 films that really should not have been awarded Oscars.

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

A Beautiful Mind is one of the mustier Best Pictures winners of the century so far. While its win was a coup for DreamWorks  the film was the studios third victor in a row it was far from a deserving recipient, especially considering Ron Howard won Best Director over Robert Altman and David Lynch for Gosford Park and Mulholland Drive, respectively.

Chariots of Fire (1981)

While Chariots of Fire is precisely the type of film the Academy usually takes under its wing, the fact it won was a big surprise, considering everybody present had expected Reds to win the top prize. The Warren Beatty film would have been a far worthier winner, too.

CODA (2021)

The first half of CODA probably ranks as the worst 45 minutes of any film that has ever won Best Picture. Its filled with frustrating characters who commit frustrating actions, and it makes for  you guessed it  an immensely frustrating watch. The final half improves, but its too little too late. CODA meant well, but it could have been so much more if it had a bit more clout to it. It was lucky to win.

Cold Mountain (2003)

Cold Mountain lucked out by being nominated in what was a particularly weak year for Best Supporting Actress. Renee Zellweger recovered from failing to win for Chicago the previous year and, in doing so, earned the unremarkable drama its Oscar-winning tag.

Story continues

(Miramax Films)

Crash (2004)

Viewers of the Oscars have grown used to unexpected victories, but none was more famously ill-judged than when Paul Haggis drama Crash beat Ang Lees Brokeback Mountain to Best Picture.

Dances with Wolves (1990)

Its less that Dances with Wolves is a bad film  more that Kevin Costners epic scooped a total of seven Oscars in the same year that Goodfellas was nominated. It won just one  Best Supporting Actor for Joe Pesci.

The Danish Girl (2015)

Alicia Vikanders performance in The Danish Girl is by no means weak, but it was nothing on Rooney Maras affecting turn in Todd Haynes film Carol. Had Tom Hooper not won five years before for The Kings Speech, it seems unlikely that the drama would have picked up many, if any, nominations.

(Universal Pictures)

Going My Way (1944)

The musical Going My Way may have been the biggest cinematic hit of its year, but it certainly wasnt better that classic noir Double Indemnity, which it beat to win Best Picture. In fact, its nowhere near director Leo McCareys greatest film; he won six years before for The Awful Truth and would be nominated again for The Bells of St Marys two years later.

Grand Hotel (1932)

Theres a reason why Grand Hotel is the only film to ever win Best Picture without receiving a nomination in any other category. A film thats worth a watch, sure, but nothing more.

The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

Its ironic that a film with the word greatest in its title has gone down as one of the worst winners in Oscars history. A prime example of when the Academy voted for spectacle over quality.

Green Book (2018)

To those who dont care about awards ceremonies, Green Book is a crowdpleaser that boasts decent performances from Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. To everyone else, its the damp squib that somehow came out of nowhere to snatch Best Picture from under Romas nose.

The Imitation Game (2014)

The Imitation Game won Best Adapted Screenplay, which begs the question: what the hell was this extremely average film doing having any nominations at all?

The Iron Lady (2011)

Meryl Streep has won enough Oscars for the world to know shes evidently one of the finest actors wholl ever live. Her win for The Iron Lady, though, was one Oscar too many. Although Viola Davis has since spoken out against the film she was nominated for that year  The Help  it was easily the better performance.

(20th Century Fox)

Out of Africa (1985)

Sydney Pollacks drama boasts decent performances from Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, but remains interminable in stretches.Thankfully John Barrys score and the beautiful scenery saves it from being a complete waste of time, but its a far cry from being the best film of 1985. Out of its fellow nominees, Witness would have been the worthy winner.

The Pianist (2002)

It might finally be accepted that disgraced film director Roman Polanski shouldnt be handed accolades, but back in 2003, this was still what the Oscars were doing. He won Best Director for The Pianist, an award the French-Polish filmmaker could have done without.

A Place in the Sun (1951)

A Place in the Sun is a fine little film, but fine little films shouldnt be winning Oscars  especially when they see off competition from more deserving opposition. In this case, director George Stevens beat John Huston (The African Queen), William Wyler (Detective Story) and Elia Kazan (A Streetcar Named Desire) to the Director prize.

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

You have to hand it to Shakespeare in Love; it played the Oscars campaign trail perfectly, overtaking war favourites Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line to win the evenings biggest prize. However, this doesnt mean its success has gone down as anything more than evidence of poor judgement from the Academy.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Its often good to hold your hands up and admit that a film is nowhere near as good as you recall. Sadly, Slumdog Millionaire is one of those. While the win no doubt put smiles on the faces of commuters reading the morning papers the next day, the shine has worn off its success in recent years. The rightful winner  The Dark Knight  wasnt even nominated for Best Picture, an omission that led to the Academy increasing the number of Best Picture nominees.
A state police sergeant shot during an incident in Detroit has been released from a hospital while another wounded officer was facing surgery, authorities said Saturday.

The injuries were not considered life-threatening.

The officers were shot Friday while assisting a Detroit team that pursues fugitives, Chief James White said.

The suspect who fired shots at state police was arrested around 7:30 p.m., said White, adding that two others in the house were not hurt.

This is a violent fugitive-apprehension team, so it was a follow-up from a violent felony, the Detroit chief said.

State police thanked Sinai-Grace Hospital for taking care of the officers.

More:Michigan launches dashboard for data about violent deaths

More:House votes to expand background checks on gun sales

The trooper involved is scheduled for surgery ... and will remain hospitalized, state police said.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2 Michigan State Police officers recovering after Detroit shooting
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has found a 22-year-old man that went missing in east Charlotte.

Police said Isaiah Walker was seen leaving his home on Camp Stewart Road at approximately 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Walker has autism and suffers from cognitive impairment, according to police. He was found by patrol officers and returned to his family.

ALSO READ: Body of missing Monroe woman found in Nantahala National Forest

CMPD worked with the Charlotte Fire Department to locate Walker.

VIDEO: Body of missing Monroe woman found in Nantahala National Forest




Mark Ruffalo in Avengers: Endgame, Elijah Wood in Lord of the Rings and Kate Winslet in Titanic' (Marvel Studios/New Line Cinema/Paramount)

Amid the praise for Quentin Tarantinos film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, one eagle-eyed celebrity viewer spotted a glaring historical inaccuracy in the blockbuster flick.

The moment occurs towards the end of the film, when Leonardo DiCaprios character Rick Dalton is reported to have arrived back in Hollywood from Europe on a Boeing 747. But it was John Travolta, who is a plane enthusiast and trained pilot, who said that this would have been impossible given the film is set in 1969.

Well, the 747 had its test flight in February 1969, but it went into service in January 1970. Theyre nine months off! He would have been on a Boeing 707! he said.

We can forgive Tarantino for that. But its hard to believe that some slip-ups  whether its Judy Garland without her ruby red shoes in The Wizard of Oz or Julia Roberts eating a croissant that gets swapped for a pancake in Pretty Woman  actually made it through the editing process.

According to the website Movie Mistakes, Captain Marvel starring Brie Larson  features no less than 60 errors over its two-hour duration.

Is there a film where somebody hasnt screwed up?

Here, we list 29 mistakes in films that you might not have caught.

Batman (1989)

Batman 1989: 'Gentleman Let's Broaden Our Minds, Lawrence!'

The Tim Burton-directed superhero film has multiple mistakes, but a major one happens when Joker and his crew deface paintings at a museum. One of his gang members slaps a painting with his hands that are covered in red paint, but in the next shot, the handprints have disappeared from the artwork.

Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (2019)

Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood' (Sony)

Rick Dalton, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, flies back to Hollywood on a Boeing 747. But it would have been a 707. The film was set in 1969 and the 747 went into service in January 1970.

The Graduate (1967)

(Embassy Pictures)

Dustin Hoffmans character drives in the wrong direction across the Bay Bridge in San Francisco on his way to Berkeley, California. He is travelling on the top deck of the bridge for traffic going from California to San Francisco.

Story continues

Pretty Woman (1990)

There is a continuity issue at breakfast when Julia Robertss character takes a bite out of a croissant. Shes in the hotel room with her co-star Richard Gere, but when the camera pans back to her, it transforms into a pancake. Then when she takes a second bite out of the pancake, there is only one bite mark in it.

Pretty Woman (Rex Features)

North by Northwest (1959)

(MGM)

One of the children playing an extra in Alfred Hitchcocks film covers his ears a few seconds before Eva Marie Saints character unexpectedly fires a gun at Cary Grants character in the Mount Rushmore cafeteria.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

(Rex Features)

Bullet holes can be seen in the walls of the apartment where John Travolta and Samuel L Jacksons characters go to get a briefcase, but its before the shoot-out has happened.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

(Warner Bros)

John Connors Cessnas plane numbers keep changing in the film. When he is in the hanger on the runway it is N3035C, but once its flying, the numbers change to N3413F.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (MGM)

Judy Garland isnt wearing her iconic ruby red slippers in the scene where the trees pelt Dorothy and the Scarecrow with apples. Instead, she can be seen wearing plain black shoes.

American Sniper (2015)

The baby that Bradley Cooper holds while adapting to civilian life after the Iraqi War is plastic. In fact, it looked so fake, even he admitted it was nuts.

Independence Day (1996)

(Claudette Barius/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock)

When computer expert David Levinson, played by Jeff Goldblum, is throwing a tantrum in the hanger housing the captured alien craft, he knocks over a bin that is labelled Art Dept. Clearly, a set designer left it there by mistake.

The Fast and the Furious (2001)

(Univeral Pictures)

In a scene when Jesse and Tran race, Tran is wearing a shirt with sleeves, but in the next shot hes in a tank top. Didnt anybody notice when they edited it?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  Part 2 (2011)

(Warner Bros)

We were always told that Harry Potter had his mothers blue eyes. But when we see Lily Potter as a child, she has brown eyes.

Star Wars: Episode IV  A New Hope (1977)

Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford in 'Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope' in 1977 (Rex Features)

As a group of stormtroopers enter a control room, one of them accidentally bangs his head on a door. The actor responsible, Laurie Good, couldnt believe it made it into the final film.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

(Rex Features)

There is a crew member wearing a cowboy hat and looking out to sea behind Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow on the pirate ship.

Quantum of Solace (2008)

(Rex Features)

A street cleaner behind Daniel Craigs James Bond is pretending to sweep the road but is holding his broom several inches off the ground.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

(Buena Vista Pictures)

When Bianca accidentally shoots a gym teacher with an arrow, an extra, who is playing a student, runs off to get urgent help  but once she thinks she is out of shot, she stops and looks back at the camera.

Braveheart (1995)

(Rex Features)

There is a modern car in the background of a big battle scene. Considering the film is set in the 13th century, its hard to imagine how it stayed in the final cut.

Django Unchained (2012)

(TWC)

Leonardo DiCaprio accidentally cut his hand while filming a scene in which he slams his hand on the table and breaks a glass. But rather than shout cut, he carried on in character. Tarantino liked it so much that he kept it in the film.

Captain Marvel (2019)

(AP)

Many of the mistakes are related to the films 1990s time period. These include computers using a wrongly dated version of Windows and Carol Danverss memories being jogged by a Nirvana song that wasnt out until after she left Earth.

Spider-Man (2002)

(Rex)

Toby McGuires Spider-Man saves Kirsten Dunsts Mary Jane from a group of attackers. He throws them through a set of windows before he kisses her upside down in the rain. But during their romantic embrace, the windows behind her are perfectly intact.

Halloween (1978)

(*)

John Carpenters slasher film starring Jamie Lee Curtis was set in the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois, but all the cars have Californian number plates and there are shots of palm trees, as the film was shot in Southern California.

The Goonies (1985)

(Rex Features)

At the end of the cult film, Data tells news reporters that the octopus was really scary, but this actually refers to a deleted scene. It was only added back in for the Disney Channel version.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

(*)

Eagle-eyed fans have noted that Ant-Man can be seen in two places at once during the final battle scene  in the van, and in his giant form, fighting alongside the other Avengers.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

(Rex)

Merry and Pippin are captured by the Orcs at the start of the film, and Pippin is seen in handcuffs. But he doesnt have them anymore in the fight scene. And then they reappear on his wrists a few moments later.

Gladiator (1999)

(Rex)

Ridley Scotts epic film took place many centuries before fuel-powered vehicles. But during the Battle of Carthage, a gas canister can be seen on the back of a chariot when it flips over.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

(Rex)

There is a mix up over whether it is day or night at the beginning of the stock market heist scene in Christopher Nolans film. It is clearly daylight, but suddenly, after the police chase, its pitch black.

Titantic (1997)

(Rex)

When Jack (Leonardi DiCaprio) is painting a naked Rose (Kate Winslet) and tells her to go over by the bed, and then says he means the couch, it was DiCaprio flubbing his lines. But James Cameron kept it in the film because it was funny.

Jurassic World (2015)

(Rex)

The blockbuster featured about 33 mistakes, including a scene in which lead actor Chris Pratt talks to co-star Bryce Dallas Howard without his mouth moving. In another scene, a phones broken screen suddenly appears fixed
Photo: The Canadian Press Facebook's Meta logo sign is seen at the company headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on, Oct. 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Tony Avelar

Canadians would no longer be able to access news on Facebook or Instagram if the federal government's proposed Online News Act passes in its current form, the parent company behind the two popular social media platforms said.

Meta spokesperson Lisa Laventure shared the decision in an email on Saturday, saying the bill's current provisions would place the company in an untenable position.

"A legislative framework that compels us to pay for links or content that we do not post, and which are not the reason the vast majority of people use our platforms, is neither sustainable nor workable, she wrote.

Tech giants like Meta and Google have long fought against the proposed law known as Bill C-18, which would require digital giants such as Meta and Google to negotiate deals that would compensate Canadian media companies for linking to or otherwise repurposing their content online.

Large Canadian media companies and the federal Liberal government have supported the bill, saying it would level the playing field for news outlets that compete with tech firms for advertising dollars.

Once again, its disappointing to see that Facebook has resorted to threats instead of working with the Canadian government in good faith," Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said in a statement.

"This tactic didnt work in Australia, and it wont work here."

His remarks were a reference to Facebook's move to block access to news in Australia after a similar law was discussed in 2021. The tech company quickly backtracked after the Australian government made changes to an arbitration mechanism in the bill.

But the company has since threatened to block news access in other countries such as the United States, where Congress was considering similar legislation last year known as the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act.

Facebook has been floating the potential to block news access in Canada for many months as Bill C-18 wound through parliament.

Marc Dinsdale, Meta Canada's head of media partnerships, raised the idea in an October 2022 statement, where he argued the proposed legislation presumes his company "unfairly benefits from its relationship with publishers, when in fact the reverse is true."

He claimed posts with links to news articles made up less than three per cent of what people see in their Facebook feed and said Canadians tell his company they want to see less news and political content on its platforms.

"We have repeatedly shared with the government that news content is not a draw for our users and is not a significant source of revenue for our company," he said.

But Rodriguez and publishers have argued tech companies are snatching advertising revenues away from media companies.

A 2018 report from the Canadian Media Concentration Project revealed Google had snagged half the country's internet advertising market share that year, with Facebook trailing at 27.3 per cent and Bell, Torstar, Twitter and Postmedia sitting at under 2 per cent each.

That equates to $3.8 billion in advertising revenue for Google, up from $2.8 billion in 2016.

Facebook made $2.1 billion in advertising in 2018, while Bell made $146 million, Torstar earned $120 million, Twitter got $117.5 million and Postmedia made $116.4 million.

Yet Facebook has argued that it is helping publishers rather than harming them.

The company's feed delivered more than 1.9 billion clicks worth $230 million to publishers in the 12 months leading up to April 2022, Dinsdale said.

This content was all voluntarily placed on Facebook by publishers, he added.

"We are being asked to acquiesce to a system that lets publishers charge us for as much content as they want to supply at a price with no clear limits," he wrote.

"No business can operate this way."

But Rodriguez said Canadians "wont be intimidated" by Meta's tactics.

"All Facebook has done up to this point is show up at committee, delay, obstruct, refuse to answer questions, and threaten Canadians," he said.

"Weve always said were open to working with Facebook, and we still are.

Google recently began a five-week test that limited access to news for some Canadian users. It is set to end March 16.

At a House of Commons heritage committee meeting on the bill on Friday, Sabrina Geremia, the head of Google Canada, argued the proposed legislation would "radically change" the framework her company uses to host free news links.

"The bill is a moving target, with key questions left unanswered," she said. "We dont know if we will be able to continue to link to news as we do today, so we are testing potential changes to the way we currently freely link to news under that framework."
A view of the sign outside the the John S. Wilder Youth Development Center off Highway 59 in Somerville, Tennessee.

Law enforcement is on the search for three teens, all 17 years old, who escaped from Wilder Youth Development Center in West Tennessee.

Tennessee Department of Children's Services staff discovered three teens escaped Saturday evening from the Wilder Youth Development Center in the town of Somerville in Fayette County, according to a Sunday email to The Commercial Appeal from Alex Denis, DCS Director of Communications.

DCS then notified local law enforcement of the missing youth.

"We will continue to work closely with law enforcement officials until they are apprehended," Denis said in the email.

More:'Little to no support': Inside the 2022 staffing collapse at DCS and the plan to fix it

More:Assaults, love letters and $137K in unexplained OT: Records detail chaos inside Tennessee youth center

Teens apparently spotted by nearby resident

Fayette County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Ray Garcia said a resident called the office at 9:35 p.m. Saturday regarding three males who ran through the resident's backyard. The sheriff's office called Wilder Youth Development Center and asked if any children were missing, Garcia said.

Garcia said Wilder staff was not aware of missing youth and would do a headcount.

At about 10:10 p.m., the youth center called the sheriff's office and said three teens were missing.

"While searching the area, deputies were flagged down at 12:17 a.m. in the 500 block of Old Jackson Road by a resident stating his Jeep Grand Cherokee had been stolen," Garcia said. "At 11:03 p.m. a (license plate recognition) camera showed the stolen vehicle westbound on Highway 64 in Shelby County."

The escapees are still at large, Garcia said.

Shelby County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer John Morris said the office is aware of the runaways.

"Patrol units have been alerted," Morris said. "If anyone sees these teens, contact law enforcement immediately."

The Somerville Police Department posted Saturday afternoon on Facebook that the Fayette County Sheriff's Office alerted people to "be on the look out for 3 escapees from Wilder Youth Development Center."

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Somerville police said the escapees were wearing gray jogging pants and gray shirts. The missing teens were seen in the area of Jefferson Drive and Armory Road, the police department said Saturday.

More:'Noodles on heads': From bounties to beatings, new report details abuses at state-run youth center

The Wilder youth center has a history of teens escaping from the facility, investigations into abuse and poor operating conditions.

Police are asking for residents to call 911 or 901-465-3456 if the teens are spotted.

This story will be updated.

Dima Amro covers the suburbs for The Commercial Appeal and can be reached at Dima.Amro@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @AmroDima.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Police search for teen escapees from Wilder Youth Development Center
SAN DIEGO, Calif.  At least eight people were killed when two suspected smuggling boats approached a San Diego beach and one capsized, and crews are searching Sunday for an estimated seven additional victims, authorities said.

A woman on one of the panga-style boats called 911 late Saturday to report that the other vessel had overturned in waves off Blacks Beach, according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Richard Brahm.

The woman who called stated that the boat that overturned had 15 people on it, but that was just an estimate, Brahm said.

Coast Guard and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews pulled eight bodies from the water, but thick fog hampered the search for additional victims. A Coast Guard cutter combed the area early Sunday, and officials hoped to get helicopters in the air when weather improves, Brahm said.

Daniel Eddy, San Diego Fire-Rescues deputy chief of operations, said there was a long debris field on Blacks Beach. Blacks Beach is jointly owned by the city of San Diego and the state. The stretch of sand is also known as Torrey Pines City Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Eddie Berrios confirmed eight people died and teams were searching for at least seven more. He didnt know what kind of boats they were, but said pangas (small open boats with outboard engines used in smuggling operations) often come ashore there.

Brahm didnt know if anyone on the second boat was injured or whether they were apprehended by Border Patrol.

It was unclear if any arrests were made and the nationalities of the passengers was unknown. Illegal crossings have soared under President Joe Biden, with many migrants turning themselves in to Border Patrol agents and being released in the United States to pursue their cases in immigration court.
Photo Illustration by Erin O'Flynn/The Daily Beast/Reuters

ALBANY, N.Y.  As she meets with donors ahead of her 2024 reelection campaign, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has been sounding a surprising warning, according to sources who have heard it.

Andrew Cuomo, she tells them, is preparing to run against her.

The long-serving Democratic senator is not alone in sweating a comeback from the former governor who was once the most fearedand may still be the most hatedfigure in New York politics.

Publicly, Cuomo hasnt said whether he would run against Gillibrand, or for any office, since announcing his plans to launch PACand a separately funded podcastin September. At this moment, Cuomo may be primarily serving as a convenient fundraising boogeyman for Gillibrand, who is aiming to scare off potential primary challengers with an impressive early cash haul.

Yet for a governor whose skill set included many double-edged swordsthe micromanaging, the domineering, the fixation on aesthetics, megaprojects, media coverage, and his familys legacyone of Cuomos calling cards continues to serve him, even after his undignified exit: his fundraising prowess.

Andrew Cuomo Is Back to Solve Government Dysfunction... With a Weekly Podcast

Though Cuomo left the governors mansion in 2021 with seemingly nothing but his muscle cars, his dog Captain, and millions in COVID book deal cash, he also took with him some $18 million in a storied campaign war chest.

As of his 2022 reelection campaigns latest January 2023 filing, that total is down to $9.2 milliona formidable enough sum of money that New York Democrats are anxiously wondering what Cuomo has planned for his final piece of leverage.

The PAC, yet to be officially formed, would have to operate without Cuomo involved, should he run for office, and the money couldnt be transferred to a national campaign. It could, however, fill the airwaves with pro-Cuomo ads.

Back when he was a global celebrity, a Senate run may have seemed beneath Cuomo. But now, the smart money in Albanyto their self-admitted terrorisnt ruling it out.

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The worst thing that could possibly happen is Andrew Cuomo wakes up one morning and decides that his comeback story lies in, I dont know, being elected to the United States Senate, an Albany Democratic operative told The Daily Beast, requesting anonymity to speak candidly on what remains a touchy subject in Empire State politics.

In recent months, Cuomo has slowly re-emerged into some semblance of public lifehes twice dined this year with New York City Mayor Eric Adamsas he bides his time with a diminished yet still formidable seven-figure sum in the bank.

After the last several months of everything falling apart in Albany, many people and insiders have been reaching out saying none of this would happen if Andrew Cuomo was there, a Cuomo insider told The Daily Beast, requesting anonymity to discuss private conversations. He has more people behind him than you would think.

But at the state capitol on a brisk March afternoon, there was hardly a trace of the three-term governor and heir to one of the most powerful political dynasties in Empire State history.

Cuomo, who resigned in the wake of numerous allegations of sexual harassment or misconductwhich he still denies, and never faced any criminal charges overremains one of only three New York governors without a portrait on display. The other two are the similarly disgraced former Gov. Elliot Spitzer and Nathanial Pitcher, who served for less than a year in 1828, and for whom sadly no confirmable portrait has been found.

Cuomo has to commission a portrait on his own, and while he may not legally be able to cover it with the remaining campaign or future PAC money, one doesnt have to strain to find the metaphor at play.

Winning an election would be a vindication of the voters that he was right and everyone else was wrong, a former top administration official told The Daily Beast, requesting anonymity to speak candidly about their time working under Cuomo.

Winning the governorship would be the ultimate brass ring, they said, but I think he would look at almost any seat where he has a real chance of winning as an opportunity to reestablish himself.

How a Liberal NY Senator Became a Primary Target of the Left

That may be the last thing Albany wants. The rough-and-tumble capital is basking in a more freewheeling post-Cuomo era, with political types no longer living in fear of speaking out of school about the governors office. And though Cuomo may be a useful foil for Gillibrands campaign coffers, she probably would not relish a battle with the ex-governor. (A spokesman for the senator declined to comment for this story.)

Beyond Albany, a return of the divisive and scandal-plagued former governorin any campaign capacityis something national Democrats would love to avoid. The Empire State was the site of some of their most stinging defeats in the 2022 midterm campaign, and clawing back those losses is key to their hopes of recapturing the House in 2024.

Ultimately, Cuomo may simply enjoy making people sweat. His resume of executive roles, not to mention his personality, makes the prospect hed seek a Senate job somewhat implausible, compared to a comeback for governor or attorney general. Neither position is contested until 2026.

Yet, there are still some who maintain that Cuomo could still be a formidable presence.

He has a unique constituency, the Albany Democratic strategist said, noting Cuomos sustained support among Black clergy leaders in New York City along with other influential Latino and labor coalitions that could drive major turnout for him.

The reality is, there are still a lot of New Yorkers who are like, what he did was horrible, as far as sexual assault and sexual violence. Even people who are only intellectually aware of the nursing home scandal think that was also bad, the strategist said. Still, broadly speaking, most New Yorkers give him credit for COVID and for his COVID response. (By February 2021, the states approval of Cuomos handling of the pandemic was down to 61 percent from a high of 87 percent at the end of March 2020, according to Siena College.)

Five different district attorneys looked at Tish James sham report and every single one determined there was nothing to move on, Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi told The Daily Beast. This was a political railroading, Albany style, and with each passing day more people understand that.

As for his boss political future, Azzopardi remained coy.

Andrew Cuomo Suggests #MeToo Has Gone Too Far

Above all, New Yorkers love a comeback story, the Albany strategist added, citing the likes of Anthony Weiner and his ability to secure frontrunner status in the 2013 New York City Democratic mayoral primarybefore a documentary crew captured his political career self-immolating in real time.

Some observers note that the sheer amount of money Cuomo hasfar more than Gillibrands $5 million war-chest at the beginning of 2023will attract speculation no matter what.

There are these lingering questions over, what is this guy doing with all of this money? the Democratic strategist said. Its really hard to understate: $10 million is a lot of money. It is significantly larger than the beginning of the coffers of most presidential campaigns, its bigger than a vast majority of senatorial races around the country.

Shawn J. Donahue, a political scientist and campaign finance expert at the University of Buffalo, said that Cuomos situation is more of an anomaly in the modern era, and his options remain limited for what he can do with the money.

One of the things the governor cant do is, he cant give it to himself, Donahue said of the $9.2 million in campaign funds, which Cuomo has drawn down for some ads citing five district attorneys declining to prosecute him following the investigation from Attorney General Tish James.

Transferring it to a federal campaign directly also wouldnt work. Cuomo would have to leave the PAC and let it run ads without coordinating with the campaign.

Cuomo could transfer the money to like-minded candidates or to the primary challengers of his rivals, though whether any New York progressive would accept his aid is far from guaranteed. Having demonstrated little interest in any of the conventional uses of a PAC so far beyond the anti-James ads, Donahue said the Cuomo situation is about something much bigger.

I think his biggest thing that he wants is vindication, Donahue said.

Ill say this, the former Cuomo official said, he recognizes that a lot of the former staff have little desire to be associated with him, so he and a very close team have worked hard to fix that.

At the former governors birthday party in December last year, he gave a speech that left attendees disappointed in their boss on his attempted redemption arc. Cuomo apologized for the professional repercussions his resignation left among the staff, but laid the blame at corruption in Albany and the justice system, a not-so-subtle dig at James.

I Did the Right Thing: Andrew Cuomo Vows Not to Disappear

Held at his sisters apartment in Manhattans ritzy Sutton Place neighborhood, the Cuomo birthday bash was the first time many staffers had seen one another since either the beginning of the pandemic or his August 2021 resignation.

Other than the tepidly received pump up speech, Cuomo was coy on his future ambitions at the party.

Another former Cuomo staffer disagreed with the reception to the speech.

It was a complete love fest, the former staffer and party attendee said. More than 75 people showed up, his speech was well received and it was great to see each other after such a long and difficult time.

While Gillibrand is considered by New York Democratic insiders to be particularly vulnerable to a primary challenge this cycle, Cuomo doesnt fit the archetype on several fronts.

As Cuomo liked to remind viewers at home during his COVID briefings that brought him worldwide celebrity in 2020, he is not young. At 65 years old, with both gubernatorial and presidential cabinet-level experience going back to his time as secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Clinton administration, those whove worked with Cuomo emphasize he would prefer to seek an executive style role.

In 2021, Gillibrand called for Cuomos resignation in a joint statement with Sen. Chuck Schumer more than a week before the governor announced his resignation, which didnt actually happen until two weeks after that.

During that protracted period when Cuomo was alone in Albany and looking for his next place to live, staffers were heading for the exits and the Cuomo dynasty was about to end.

Much like his unfinished portrait in the Capitol, Cuomo has been biding his time to have one last say on his tainted political legacy.

Whether it be Gillibrand, James, or his former neglected apprentice in Gov. Kathy Hochul, as the Albany strategist put it, someone is going to end up on the wrong end of that cash.

This man will never change, the former Cuomo administration official said. He is who he is. He is convinced that he was deeply wronged, and like nothing that happened in any way was a result of his own action.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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PIERRE  Lawmakers have spoken regularly during the Legislative session about how well the House of Representatives and Senate have worked together the past nine weeks. And it's difficult not to believe them when on Thursday afternoon, both bodies passed a historic $104 million tax cut as well as increased funding for the state's core obligations.

The record breaking $7.4 billion state budget now heads to Gov. Kristi Noem's desk for her final approval. If she vetoes it, lawmakers will return to Pierre on March 27 to either override the veto or hash out a new budget proposal.

"We came in and delivered a big tax cut but .... We are still taking care of our state's core obligations," Rep. Will Mortenson, R-Pierre, House Majority Leader, said Thursday.

More:SD lawmakers vote to lower overall sales tax to 4.2% until 2027; pass $7.4B budget

Cutting the overall sales tax

The biggest question during session was what kind of tax cut would South Dakotans benefit from. Noem made it a priority in her re-election campaign and December budget address to cut the overall sales tax on food, returning $104 million to tax payers.

The $100 million became the gold ticket item and various tax cut proposals fit into that number from property tax relief to cutting the overall sales tax.

Noem's proposal to cut what's become known as the food tax died multiple times throughout session, because of a lack of appetite in the Senate. The House made its position clear it wanted to see a broad-based tax cut, with Mortenson repeatedly saying it would impact "food, fireworks, fencing."

S.D. Representatives Chris Karr and Jim Mehlhaff chat during the first day of legislative session on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.

Enter Rep. Chris Karr's bill to reduce the overall sales tax rate. The Sioux Falls Republican has brought the bill three times in previous sessions with the goal to reduce the sales tax to 4%. But in 2023, through serious negotiations and compromises, Karr finally got a win.

While there's a sunset clause attached to the bill meant to appease the Senate, that will drop the sales tax to 4.2% until 2027 if Noem signs off. And Karr is still hopeful legislators will come back in the future and take the clause off.

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"I thought that [the two-year sunset clause] creates way too much market disruption out there, especially in our business climates," Karr said. "We can keep talking about the sunset in the future."

More:Gov. Kristi Noem vetoes 2 bills tied to underage drinking and assaults on school employees

Sen. Casey Crabtree, R-Madison, Senate Majority Leader, said the sunset clause was meant to provide insurance in case the economy does falter.

"I'm hopeful that our economy will be really strong and that in four years, Rep. Mortenson and myself are back here debating who needs to put their name on top of that bill," Crabtree said of repealing the sunset clause.

Big Three funding

In Noem's budget address, she wanted 5% funding increases for state employees, Medicaid providers and educators. The Legislature went above that for two of the three.

Medicaid community service providers, like nursing homes, will be reimbursed at 100% methodology rate while hospital and clinical providers will receive a 5% funding increase, Sen. Michael Diedrich, R-Rapid City, said. He added rural hospitals will also benefit from the funding increase.

"Knowing they'll be reimbursed at least at cost, they can provide more access, they can invest in more equipment, they can invest more employees and help build that rural health system," he said.

Included in the budget is funding for Medicaid expansion, which will start on July 1.

More:Medicaid expansion cost up $21M because of DSS staffing needs

Educators and state employees will receive a 7% funding increase. Educators haven't seen such a large increase in funding since 2016, Mortenson said. However, not all the education funding will be earmarked for teacher raises. South Dakota ranked 50th in the nation for teacher pay as of 2022, according to the National Education Association.

The budget is also meant to look at the future, striking a balance between funding obligations and being fiscally conservative, Mortenson said.

"We are prepared for the notion that the boom times don't last forever," he said.

What happens now?

The budget will now head to Noem's desk. It's unclear if she'll sign, because of recent comments threatening a veto, before the budget was set. It's also unclear if she'll approve lowering the overall sales tax.

On Friday, in her weekly newsletter, she called the proposal a "temporary tax holiday."

She's not been thrilled the food tax was so soundly defeated, saying that specific tax cut would impact all South Dakotans.

Gov. Kristi Noem talks to reporters about the proposal to cut the overall sales and use tax on groceries in Pierre on Monday, March 6.

"That's something that'll be very hard to put back in place and that's why I want to pursue it is," Noem told reporters Monday."It doesn't pick winners and losers. It prioritizes people who live here and shop for groceries every single week. And it doesn't set us up for a future tax increase."

Lawmakers will return on March 27 to Pierre for Veto Day. If Noem vetoes the overall budget or the sales tax proposal, the Legislature can overrule her by a two-thirds majority.

"We are very satisfied with where we're at," Crabtree said. "And it's certainly within the governor's right to do that. The process also allows for the Legislature to override that with two-thirds so both will have a chance to play in that should we end up in that direction."

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: 98th Legislative session ends with historic tax cut, funding increases
The three white men convicted of the 2020 murder of Ahmaud Arbery have submitted appeals to have their federal hate crimes overturned, claiming there was no racial motivation behind the killing  despite all three having previously used racial slurs in their private lives and on social media.

Every crime committed against an African American by a man who has used racist language in the past is not a hate crime, attorney Pete Theodocion said in an appellate brief written on behalf of William Roddie Bryan, according to the Associated Press.

On Feb. 23, 2020, Bryan followed Greg McMichael and his son Travis McMichael in their trucks along the streets of Georgia, following 25-year-old Arbery as he ran past their home. The father-son duo had armed themselves with guns during the chase, and Bryan recorded Travis McMichael as he shot Arbery at close range with a shotgun.

Bryans cellphone video soon leaked to the public, spurring nationwide protests over what some labeled as a modern day lynching.

In 2021, a Georgia jury convicted the three men of murder. The three were also found guilty of committing federal hate crimes in Arberys death, with part of the prosecution showing the jury about two dozen racist text messages and social media posts made by the McMichaels and Bryan.

During the trial, it was revealed that Bryan had used racist slurs in texts because he was upset his daughter was dating a Black man. According to one witness, Greg McMichaels response to the 2015 death of civil rights activist Julian Bond was that all those Blacks are nothing but trouble.

And in 2018, Travis McMichael commented on a Facebook video of a Black man playing a prank on a white person that hed kill that f-ing n-r.

On March 3, the men all filed briefs in federal appeals stating their motives for the chase and subsequent shooting were because they thought Arbery was a criminal, not because he was Black.

The elder McMichael claimed hed seen Arbery on security camera videos breaking into a neighbors home. Though Bryan hadnt seen the video, his lawyer claimed that he, too, assumed Arbery to be a criminal based on the McMichaels chase.

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Arbery never called out for help or gave any signs that he was the victim of an unprovoked attack, Theodocion wrote in Bryans appeal.

However, Travis McMichaels appeal does not argue against racial motives. Instead, his attorney has argued that prosecutors failed to prove that Arbery was murdered on public streets, as the mens indictments stated.

The arguments are similar to what defense attorneys used in the original case.

The McMichaels received life sentences in their federal cases; Bryan was sentenced to 35 years. All three men have also filed appeals of their murder convictions in Glynn County Superior Court, according to the AP.

The U.S. Justice Department now has 30 days to file legal briefs in response to the appeals.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Rep. Lauren Boebert's grip on Colorado's 3rd Congressional District didn't seem in question heading into last year's midterms. But in the end, the congresswoman who gained a national reputation as a combative member of the Make America Great Again movement won reelection by just 564 votes.

This was supposed to be a slam dunk for the Republican candidate, the way the district is designed," said Don Coram, a former state senator who unsuccessfully challenged Boebert in the GOP primary last June.

Boebert's near miss was emblematic of the difficulties Republicans confronted in 2022 and may face again in 2024. While former President Donald Trump holds a tight grasp on much of the GOP base, there is a notable minority of Republican voters who do not consider themselves MAGA members.

Most of them, as faithful Republicans, backed GOP candidates in 2022, AP VoteCast shows. Still, the extensive national survey finds these Republicans made up a larger percentage of those who opted not to support a candidate in House races. A sliver of them showed their opposition to Trump for a second time, backing Democrat Joe Biden for president in 2020 and Democratic House candidates in 2022.

In a political climate where competitive elections are nationalized and decided by narrow margins, neither party can take these voters for granted.

Democrat Adam Frisch said he knew there was a fairly unique opening for a more conservative Democrat to connect with Colorado voters who did not like Boeberts aggressive political style.

I spent most of my time trying to convince people I was a safe enough choice, not just to leave the ballot blank ... but actually vote for a non-Republican for the first time ever or in a really long time, said Frisch, who has already announced he will run again in 2024.

The findings suggest Democrats, too, may need to be wary of the messaging against MAGA Republicans, whom Biden hammered repeatedly before the November elections and is poised to do again in a 2024 campaign. Most of those who don't identify with the movement dont seem to find that compelling. Voters who do may be eager to revert to a Republican candidate who represents their traditional conservative values.

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Republican strategist Alex Conant suggested GOP candidates cannot count on these voters so long as Trump is involved in politics. But 2024 can be different.

Theres no reason that the Republican nominee in 2024 cant put together a coalition that includes Trumps base and moderate Republicans and independents, he said.

Conant and others pointed to examples of Republican governors  Ron DeSantis in Florida, Mike DeWine in Ohio and Brian Kemp in Georgia  who were able to do that in 2022.

In Ohio and Georgia, for example, the two governors outperformed Republican candidates for Senate who were endorsed by Trump. DeWine earned nearly 390,000 votes more than JD Vance, who won an open seat, and Kemp received 200,000-plus more votes in the general election than did Herschel Walker, who failed to unseat a Democratic incumbent in a later runoff.

According to VoteCast, 10% of Republican voters who dont identify as MAGA Republicans voted for Democratic House candidates nationwide, compared with 2% of those who embrace that label.

Overall, 4% of Republicans backed Democratic candidates. That percentage swelled in competitive races for Senate and governor where far-right candidates were on the ballot, including as many as 13% of Republicans in Arizona, 16% in Colorado and 18% in Pennsylvania, and 11% in Michigan.

The Lincoln Project, a conservative group that staunchly opposes Trump, has targeted this voting bloc in elections. Co-founder Rick Wilson said its a narrow pathway, but a meaningful one to electing pro-democracy, anti-extremist candidates, one that he thinks has expanded since 2020 because of the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Still, partisanship can be sticky, Wilson said, and traditional Republicans value checks and balances in Washington, driving disaffected conservative voters to support Republicans as an offset to Democrats.

VoteCast shows most Republicans voted for Republicans, even if they did so with reservations.

Republicans who dont identify with the MAGA movement and decided to back Republican candidates mostly say they didnt consider Trump, good or bad, when they voted. Only about half are positive in ratings of Trump himself, but most are favorable toward the party and say the GOP tends to try to do whats right. About two-thirds of them say they voted to show opposition to Biden.

Theyre where I am ... what choice do we have? said GOP strategist Rick Tyler. There are many in the Republican Party who would love to not vote Republican, but they cant vote Democrat because they dont believe in where Democrats want to take the country.

That may have helped some Republican candidates in Republican-leaning districts oust Democrats who were elected in the Trump era.

In November, then-state Sen. Jen Kiggans defeated two-term Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria in a district centered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, just two years after a Democratic presidential candidate carried the city for the first time since 1964. Kiggans overcame the self-proclaimed MAGA candidate in the Republican primary, and campaign operatives pointed to Kiggans as a disciplined candidate focused on kitchen table issues.

Her message also tied Luria to Biden and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as Luria herself campaigned on her role on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and called Kiggans an election denier. Kiggans shied away from explicitly repeating Trump's false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, but she refused to publicly reject them.

Non-MAGA Republicans are more likely than MAGA Republicans to say that Biden was legitimately elected president. They also are more likely to say they decided over the course of the campaign which candidate they would back, as compared with knowing all along.

Back in Colorado, Karen Davis, 58, was a lifelong Republican until a few years ago, when she changed her voter registration because of the alarming rhetoric of the party, particularly the far-right. Her vote for Biden in 2020 was more of a vote against Trump, she said.

And last year, she backed Frisch over Boebert.

Whats really sad is youre not excited about any of these candidates, said Davis, who runs a flooring business in Grand Junction, Colorado, with her husband. If the Republicans could get a candidate I was excited about, I would absolutely vote for them.

To her, thats somebody whos a fiscal conservative but a moderate in every other way, Davis said. They cant win me back with Donald Trump.

___

Find the APs coverage of the 2022 midterm elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections. Learn more details about AP VoteCasts methodology at https://www.ap.org/votecast.
The Washington Commanders are keeping Daron Payne around, thanks to the second-biggest contract for a defensive tackle behind only seven-time All-Pro Aaron Donald.

The Commanders agreed to terms with Payne on a four-year contract worth $90 million, with $60 million guaranteed, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the contract had not been announced.

Donald signed a contract last year with the Los Angeles Rams that paid him $95 million, with $65 million guaranteed.

Payne led Washington with a career-high 11 1/2 sacks last season. The Commanders put the franchise tag worth $18.9 million on him last month in the hopes of working out a long-term agreement.

The deal was first reported by ESPN.

Payne and fellow Alabama product Jonathan Allen are now each locked up on multiyear deals with Washington, which next must decide whether to exercise the fifth-year option on pass rusher Chase Young. The 2020 No. 2 pick missed a vast majority of last season recovering from a torn ACL.

But even after drafting another Crimson Tide defensive tackle, Phidarian Mathis, in the second round last year as a potential replacement, letting Payne walk was not an option. Mathis suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Payne thrived in his fifth NFL season and went to the Pro Bowl.

Daron is an important part of what were doing, general manager Martin Mayhew said at a season-ending news conference. Hes always been disruptive. Hes always been in the back field, hes always been around the ball. This was the first year he really was finishing the way that he finished this year, so he played outstanding football for us.

Coach Ron Rivera, a retired linebacker, said Payne fits the formula of what we want to do and how we want to play and (has) the skill set that you would like to have.

We think his presence on the football field was outstanding this season, and he did a lot of good things for us, Rivera said.

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Washingtons previous regime selected Payne 13th in the 2018 draft, and he has since made 296 tackles and recorded 26 sacks in 81 NFL games.

The day after the regular season ended, Payne said he knew he was in for a big payday during the offseason.

Its like all the work that I put in over the years just finally came to fruition for me, Payne said. Itll be good. I got drafted in the first round, so I already got a lot of cash. Itll be something nice for me.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Photo: Giselle Portenier West Vancouver Fire & Rescue members sing Happy Birthday to 100-year-old West Vancouver resident Maud Hill, March 7, 2023.

Everyones got a type. No surprise, firefighter is that type for many, even West Vancouver centenarian Maud Hill.

A small contingent of West Vancouver Fire & Rescue members serenaded Hill with a round of Happy Birthday to celebrate her 100th on Tuesday.

Hills daughter Giselle Portenier said she marched into the local fire hall with a box of Tim Hortons doughnuts the day before and made her pitch.

I rang the bell, and they opened the door and I said, Hi there, Im here to bribe you. Can I come in? she said. I explained to them that my mother is turning 100 and that she has not many joys in her life but she really loves watching TV and seeing a lot of good looking guys on the television. Every couple of minutes, my mother will say Theres a good looking guy.

As a rule, firefighters are more concerned with fires than flattery, but they made an exception for the elder citizen.

At 10 a.m. Tuesday, as Hill and her family were celebrating, a bright red fire truck rolled up outside Amica West Vancouver, the long-term care home where she lives, and sang to her.

Hill was totally surprised, at first, but after, her response was somewhat expected, Portenier said.

She loved it. She said Thats a bunch of good looking guys, and I wish they could have stayed longer.

While there is no West Vancouver fire choir, assistant fire chief Mike Hodges said, on some very rare occasions, theyll take a moment away from their important work.

Were always there to support our community. We usually dont do things like this, but its not every day that a West Vancouver resident turns 100, he said.

As a new centenarian, Hill also received letters of congratulations from the premier, prime minister and Governor General, in among more than 120 cards from friends, family and well-wishers in 30 countries. The local mail carrier delivered them all at once.

He was hilarious and thanked her for single-handedly keeping the post office alive, Portenier said.

Hill grew up in Sweden and left for Switzerland after the Second World War where she started a family and a childrens clothing empire. She later moved to South America with her children where she remarried a Latin lover 20 years her junior, Portenier said.

Eventually they settled in Canada.
Courtesy of SXSW

Hulus horror-comedy Appendage has definitely gone to therapy before. The film follows a budding fashion designer named Hannah (Hadley Robinson) whose unresolved childhood trauma begins to literally grow into a monster bent on ruining her life. Is it subtle? Absolutely not. Then again, how many evil-twin horror-comedies are?

You don't have to have done much (or any) therapy to have heard about the infamous inner critica relentless, nasty little voice that lives in our heads to bleat out our every shortcoming and failure on a loop. Appendage makes that voice literal. Writer-director Anna Zlokovic first unveiled Appendage as a Huluween short in 2021, with stars Rachel Sennott and Eric Roberts.

The new film fleshes out the story and adds a delicious twist at the end, but its principal achievement is its creature work. Hannahs appendage is a bloody, perpetually slimy, pointy-toothed, milky-eyed menace with a Gremlin-like voice who calls her an unoriginal piece of shit. As it becomes more powerful, the appendages form becomes all the more revolting.

When we first meet Hannah, shes a nervous mess; shes about to present a new design to her boss, Christian (Desmin Borges), whose exacting nature can border on sadism thanks to his extremely harsh delivery. (You know what you have? he murmurs in Hannahs eara moment that also echoes the original short. Whats it called? Its like when you think that you came up with a totally original idea, but in actuality, you fucking stole it from someone else.)

Hannahs social life is solid, if a little limited; she works with her bubbly best friend, Esther (Kausar Mohammed) and shes got a real hunk of a boyfriend, Kaelin (Brandon Mychal Smith). Once her appendage starts growing, however, Hannahs world starts to look a lot uglier. It doesnt take long for her to lose herself almost entirely.

If all of this is sounding a little obvious, thats because it is. Like last years Smile and fellow SXSW debut Hypochondriac, the film wears its mental health focus on its sleeve. At one point, another person who shares Hannahs affliction tells her, We think appendages grow from something deep inside us. Something unknowable and painful.

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It's a combination of unpredictable factorsthis period in your life, this particular thing happening, your inability to deal with it at that moment in time. (Gee, what could this metaphor be about?) Unlike those other takes on this formula, however, Appendage leans into the comedic side of self-loathing by making the physical manifestation of Hannahs inner voice as grotesque as possible.

The creature design here is both horrifying and delightfully silly. When we first meet the appendage, it looks like some sort of unholy hybridlike if Dead Baby Voldemort had a baby with a bald Treasure Troll doll. Its voice is raspy and reptilian, and its skin is slick and sticky-looking. As the baby evolves from a Mr. Potato Head-like growth on Hannahs side into a fully autonomous creature, it only gets scarier from there. (Just wait until you see how it feeds.)

SXSW Comedy Bottoms Makes No SenseThats Why Its So Wildly Brilliant

At times, Appendage can feel a little slight; its hard not to wish for just a little more depth from our principal characters, who feel like vehicles for the films ideas and plot more than actual people. In the end, however, the genius monster design, the diabolical final twist, and one excellent performance from Schitts Creek actress Emily Hampshire earn the films lean 94-minute runtime.

Hampshire plays Claudia, whom Hannah meets at a support group for people like her, advertised on a forum site called Reddot. Hampshires shifty charisma is a seamless match for the roleenough so that she almost steals the show. She and Borges, who previously starred on Youre the Worst, seem to understand their assignments the best; both actors lean into their comedy backgrounds while playing off-kilter characters. The same cannot be said for all of their co-stars, some of whom struggle to strike a memorable chord. Then again, not every character in this film gets much to work with.

While Hannahs devolution is clearly sketched and compellingly gross, her characterization feels thin. Robinson excellently portrays the physical manifestations of her characters strugglesconstant finger picking, compulsive head rubbing, and a general habit of fidgetingbut the material shes been given sometimes works against her. The dialogue can be a little wooden, and her backstory a little contrived. In these moments, one wishes the film mightve leaned a little more heavily into the campiness of its premise, or taken its central themes just one step further.

The Hilarious Secrets Behind Star Wars Iconically Awful Holiday Special

All in all, however, Appendage moves quickly enough that its thinner spots become forgivable after the payoff of its final twist. Beyond the monster design, the films greatest feat is the comedy it derives from what could be a dour subject. Appendage understands how absurd it can feel to be at war with yourself, and it makes that feeling palpable. Dermatologists might see a lot of horrifying conditions, but this really is one for the books.

Liked this review? Sign up to get our weekly See Skip newsletter every Tuesday and find out what new shows and movies are worth watching, and which arent.

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By Maha El Dahan and Hadeel Al Sayegh

DUBAI (Reuters) - Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser said on Sunday that the oil market would remain tightly balanced in the short to medium term, adding that he was cautiously optimistic.

Nasser was speaking to the press after the Saudi Arabian oil giant reported its highest ever annual profit since the company was listed. Aramco's shares traded 0.6% higher after the results were released, but closed mostly flat at 32.8 riyals ($8.74) a share.

He said spare capacity remained tight at 2 million barrels per day, while demand for jet fuel was increasing alongside China's re-opening from tight COVID-19 restrictions.

"If you considered China opening up and a pick up in jet fuels and very limited spare capacity, we are talking 2 million barrels, so as I said we are cautiously optimistic in the short to midterm and the market will remain tightly balanced," he said.

A deal agreed between Iran and Saudi Arabia on Friday to re-establish relations after years of hostility that had threatened stability and security in the Gulf would have a positive effect on global energy markets as it promotes regional stability, Nasser said.

The kingdom has blamed Iran for missile and drone attacks on its oil facilities in 2019 as well as attacks on tankers in Gulf waters. Iran has denied those charges.

Aramco's crude supplies to its main Asian customers, including China and India, were not impacted by the uptick of Russian sales into Asia on the back of Western sanctions.

"We have a track record of maintaining reliability and an excellent customer base. It didn't impact our supply to these main markets," he said.

On recent imports of Russian diesel into Saudi Arabia, Nasser said the kingdom had always been importing products for its domestic market since before the Russian-Ukraine conflict.

Nasser said Aramco was looking globally at liquefied natural gas (LNG) market opportunities, when asked about potential acquisitions in the year ahead.

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The company is in "active talks and discussions" in terms of LNG investments, he said without elaborating.

Nasser cautioned that he still did not see enough investment to sustain demand in the long term going into the sector, saying that supply wouldn't be adequate in the mid- to long term if that trend continued.

"We need to make sure that there is additional supply in the market otherwise this tightness of supply in the mid- to long term will have an impact."

($1 = 3.7540 riyals)

(Reporting by Maha El Dahan and Hadeel Al Sayegh; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Sharon Singleton)
Real estate agents who are up on the latest technology are at a distinct advantage these days. They can search the market on behalf of buyers and set up appointments almost instantly; for sellers, they can create videos and marketing plans at the touch of a button or two.

Those who still operate like they did in the old days  that is, just a few years ago  can still get the job done, but its often a slow, arduous task. Its like driving a six-cylinder car on five cylinders. It will still get you there  eventually  but it wont be a smooth ride.

Whether old-fashioned or tech-savvy, though, some agents are being held back from the best, newest versions of their greatest tool: their local multiple listing service, or MLS. An MLS is a cooperative database of houses for sale in a local or regional market. There are nearly 600 MLSs across the country, powering more than $2 trillion in annual residential sales. Using a specific format, agents can search these databases for houses listed by other agents. They can specify any number of criteria, from the number of bedrooms and bathrooms to swimming pools and acreage.

Even when people shop online before contacting an agent, an MLS is valuable because it sets the rules of the road  protecting consumers as well as agents and brokers. In effect, MLSs are the governing bodies by which houses are bought and sold within a given market area. Listing services rule the roost. Without them, there would be chaos.

But some MLSs are being prevented from modernizing by their own business rules  the foundational instructions that guide technology firms in deploying their products and services inside their systems. And thats keeping their agent-members from adopting the newest technology.

No one disputes the need for these rules; they are vital in allowing MLSs to copyright their proprietary information and determine how that data is organized and presented. But without getting too deep into the weeds here, some listing services are still operating under outdated, sometimes inaccurate, regulations and controls. They may have switched vendors, for example, or changed their software in some way that is in conflict with what the rules require.

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For example, suppose an MLS wanted to adopt a new technology that would speed up the system and keep listings up-to-the-minute fresh. But if the rules contained an outdated mechanism that requires two software components to communicate with each other  or if the mechanism no longer existed  the tech firm would have to start over from scratch. Consequently, vendors tell me that flawed business rules extend the time it takes to integrate the latest software, as well as the time it takes to deploy it after it is successfully incorporated. And they could create a liability and possible litigation risk for the MLS, leading to increased costs.

Ocusell, a platform working to modernize the listing process, is one firm finding it difficult to penetrate the boundaries of the outmoded firewalls around MLS data. And it is not alone. Its not just us thats trying to break through antiquated rules, co-founder Hayden Rieveschl told me in an interview. He said outmoded rules have become a huge barrier to implementation. They are creating major headaches.

Bill Fowler, a real estate technology veteran, said he has repeatedly run up against obsolete rules over the course of his 23-year career. He adds that MLSs, which started out as printing companies publishing books of listings but are now basically technology firms, have been slow to adapt.

Greg Moore is chief technology officer of RMLS in Portland  one of eight MLSs in Oregon and the only one with its own development team. He says the rules many listing services use have evolved over decades.

(Services) dont have a single document that says, These are our rules, Moore explains, so they almost have to reverse-engineer the process to get to the point where they can add or change content.

Both Rieveschl and Fowler have empathy for listing services trying to deal with the problem. Business rules often are unreliable because they can be tedious and expensive to maintain, Rieveschl explains. Its not because they are against change, adds Fowler. Its governance thats the problem. They recognize they need to change with the times, but they are not structured to work that way.

The good news is that MLSs are accelerating their adoption of new technology from various vendors. And as more of them merge with one another, they acknowledge the need to update their business rules so they can onboard new tools for their agents and brokers  and ultimately their members clients. Fowler, for one, says the tide is turning.

Some MLSs, he reports, are now hiring staff whose job is to go out and find the newest technology.

The easier we can make it for MLS members to integrate with cutting-edge tech, says Rieveschl, the more MLS members, buyers and sellers will benefit.

Lew Sichelman has been covering real estate for more than 50 years. He is a regular contributor to numerous shelter magazines and housing and housing-finance industry publications. Readers can contact him at lsichelman@aol.com.
Asian Pay Television Trust (SGX:S7OU) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 3 days. The ex-dividend date is one business day before a company's record date, which is the date on which the company determines which shareholders are entitled to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is important because any transaction on a stock needs to have been settled before the record date in order to be eligible for a dividend. Therefore, if you purchase Asian Pay Television Trust's shares on or after the 16th of March, you won't be eligible to receive the dividend, when it is paid on the 24th of March.

The company's next dividend payment will be S$0.0025 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed S$0.01 to shareholders. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, Asian Pay Television Trust has a trailing yield of approximately 9.3% on its current stock price of SGD0.113. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. So we need to investigate whether Asian Pay Television Trust can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow.

Check out our latest analysis for Asian Pay Television Trust

Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. Asian Pay Television Trust paid out a comfortable 40% of its profit last year. Yet cash flows are even more important than profits for assessing a dividend, so we need to see if the company generated enough cash to pay its distribution. The good news is it paid out just 15% of its free cash flow in the last year.

It's positive to see that Asian Pay Television Trust's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut.

Click here to see how much of its profit Asian Pay Television Trust paid out over the last 12 months.

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Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Companies that aren't growing their earnings can still be valuable, but it is even more important to assess the sustainability of the dividend if it looks like the company will struggle to grow. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. With that in mind, we're not enthused to see that Asian Pay Television Trust's earnings per share have remained effectively flat over the past five years. It's better than seeing them drop, certainly, but over the long term, all of the best dividend stocks are able to meaningfully grow their earnings per share.

Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Asian Pay Television Trust's dividend payments per share have declined at 19% per year on average over the past 10 years, which is uninspiring.

Final Takeaway

Is Asian Pay Television Trust an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? Earnings per share have been flat, although at least the company is paying out a low and conservative percentage of both its earnings and cash flow. It's definitely not great to see earnings falling, but at least there may be some buffer before the dividend gets cut. Overall, it's not a bad combination, but we feel that there are likely more attractive dividend prospects out there.

On that note, you'll want to research what risks Asian Pay Television Trust is facing. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Asian Pay Television Trust (including 1 which shouldn't be ignored).

If you're in the market for strong dividend payers, we recommend checking our selection of top dividend stocks.

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.

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Atwater police are investigating the citys first homicide of 2023 after a Saturday morning shooting.

Officers responded at 7:04 a.m. to Green Sands Avenue and Camrose Street about a shooting victim and found a man in his 20s in the drivers seat.

Police said the man had a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The shooting is not gang related, said police, who are trying to determine why the vehicle was at the intersection.

The motive for the shooting is not known.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 209-357-6384.
Since its inauguration in 1929, the Oscars has been eagerly watched by devoted cinephiles but, over the years, it has also become one of the most-anticipated events for fashion aficionados.

Among Hollywoods brightest stars walking the red carpet in front of millions of viewers, the strongest candidates set themselves up to be sartorially scrutinised and battle it out for the evenings most hotly contested accolade; that of the best dressed.

From Audrey Hepburns timeless take on formal dressing in the 50s to the fully-fledged glamour of the likes of Nicole Kidman in the 90s and todays dazzling ensembles from Lupita Nyongo and Emma Stone, the Academy Awards provides the perfect platform for A-listers and designer brands alike to celebrate the symbiotic relationship between film and fashion.

The 95th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 12 March, heralding the end of awards season.

Ahead of this years ceremony, weve rounded up our pick of Oscars outfits that have earned a special place in fashion history.

Audrey Hepburn, 1954

(Getty)

To receive the award for Best Actress at the 1954 Academy Awards, Audrey Hepburn wore a white lace gown by Hubert de Givenchy. This was the first time that she wore the designer off-screen and he remained her favourite designer throughout her life.

Grace Kelly, 1955

(Shutterstock)

Grace Kelly wore a pale blue dress by Edith Head to receive the Best Actress Oscar for The Country Girl in 1955. The star accessorised the gown with rosebuds in her hair.

Liz Hurley, 1995

(Shutterstock)

A year after wearing that safety-pinned Versace dress, Liz Hurley wore a similarly show-stopping gown by the same designer.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999

(Getty)

Not only did Gwyneth Paltrow cement her status as Best Actress for Shakespeare in Love in 1999, but she also gave us one of the most memorable dresses in Oscar fashion history designed by Ralph Lauren.

Nicole Kidman, 1997

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Attending the 1997 Oscars with Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman wore a bespoke Christian Dior Couture gown in chartreuse. The striking dress was designed by the recently appointed creative director John Galliano.

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Julia Roberts, 2001

(Getty)

Julia Roberts accepted her Best Actress Oscar for Erin Brockovich in 2001 wearing a monochrome Valentino gown.

Halle Berry, 2002

(Getty)

In 2002, Halle Berry walked the Oscars red carpet wearing a semi-sheer floral gown designed by Elie Saab. The actor became the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Monsters Ball.

Charlize Theron, 2004

(Getty)

Charlize Theron accepted her award for Best Actress for Monster in 2004 wearing a shimmering gold Dior gown.

Cate Blanchett, 2005

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In 2005, Cate Blanchett collected her award for Best Supporting Actress in The Aviator wearing a pale yellow Valentino gown with a contrasting maroon belt.

Penelope Cruz, 2007

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Penelope Cruz wore a voluminous blush pink gown designed by Atelier Versace at the 2007 Academy Awards.

Amy Adams, 2008

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Amy Adams wore an emerald green-coloured gown by Proenza Schouler to the 2008 Oscars. The dress featured a corseted bodice and fishtail skirt.

Jennifer Lawrence, 2013

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To collect her award for Best Actress in 2013, Jennifer Lawrence wore a pale pink Dior ballgown. The actor famously tripped in the dress as she made her way on to the stage.

Michelle Williams, 2006

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Michelle Williams wore a saffron-coloured Vera Wang to the 2006 ceremony. The actor attended with her then-boyfriend, the late Heath Ledger, who was nominated for his role in Brokeback Mountain.

Meryl Streep, 2012

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Meryl Streep wore a gilded wrap dress by Lanvin in 2012 as she accepted the award for Best Actress for her role in The Iron Lady.

Angelina Jolie, 2012

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Wearing an Atelier Versace dress, Angelina Jolies stance on the red carpet spawned a flurry of memes in 2012 thanks to the gowns thigh-high split.

Lupita Nyongo, 2014

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While it is hard to choose just one dress that embodies Lupita Nyongos ascent to style icon, this custom Prada dress in Nairobi blue in honour of where she grew up in Kenya just tops the list. The actor wore the gown to collect her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for 12 Years A Slave in 2014.

Keira Knightley, 2015

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Pregnant Keira Knightley dressed her baby bump in a dreamy Valentino dress for the 2015 Academy Awards.

Emma Stone, 2015

(Getty)

La La Land actor Emma Stone wore a beaded Elie Saab gown in pale shades of green which perfectly complimented her porcelain skin and red hair.

Saoirse Ronan, 2018

(Getty)

In 2018, Saoirse Ronan attended the Oscars wearing a pastel pink Calvin Klein by Appointment gown, which featured a dramatic bow and train.

Margot Robbie, 2018

(Getty)

After being announced as the newest Chanel ambassador, Margot Robbie wore a couture gown by the fashion house to walk to red carpet in 2018.
Cremated remains were recovered from the warehouse by the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau on March 1. Shutterstock.com

154 cremated remains and six bodies have been found in a California warehouse.

The warehouse belongs to Oceanview Cremations, a crematorium that had its license revoked in March 2018.

The remains are being analyzed in order to inform family members.

More than 150 cremated remains and six bodies have been found in a California warehouse, local news site KRON4 reports.

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office told KRON4 that the remains are associated with Oceanview Cremations, a crematorium that had its license revoked in March 2018, barring the business from storing remains.

On February 28, The California Cemetery and Funeral Board were informed that the business was continuing its operations, KRON4 reports.

Authorities then went to the warehouse on March 1 to uncover 154 cremated remains and six bodies.

"Family members indicated that after their calls to Oceanview Cremations' owner, Robert Smith, went unanswered, they believed their loved ones had been cremated or scattered at sea as requested," Modeste said in a statement to ABC News.

ABC reports that the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau is working to identify the remains and contact the next of kin of the deceased.

Four people have been notified that their loved ones' remains have been discovered in the warehouse, per ABC News.

One son contacted by authorities thought he had his father's cremated remains. "Since we have them, he obviously has someone else's ashes," Lt. Tya Modeste told ABC News.

Google reviews of Oceanview Cremations' contain a string of concerns and complaints.

One person wrote: "They have had my father's body since December 1, 2021, and it is June 20, 2022. they are not responding to phone calls, they are not responding to emails I have seen nothing, and I don't know where my dad is. Do not use this service under any circumstances if you care for your family members."

Another person wrote: "Under no circumstances put your family through the torture of working with this organization. Death is hard enough on us, but stringing families along and operating without a license is too far."

For people who entrusted final arrangements of a deceased to Oceanview Cremations between 2013 and 2022 and are uncertain of their disposition or the whereabouts of their cremated remains, the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau can be contacted at 510-382-3000.

Read the original article on Insider
"Palestinian activists have long supported the Black peoples struggle against racism," Angela Davis, Black American academic and social activist said in 2020. "When I was in jail, solidarity coming from Palestine was a major source of courage for me. In Ferguson, Palestinians were the first to express international solidarity.  We have a profound responsibility to support Palestinian struggles."

We have a profound responsibility to support Palestinian struggles for liberation and freedom.

Robert Azzi

Following recent, and sadly, successful attacks on the First Amendment in 36 other states, New Hampshire Republicans in the House of Representatives are today seeking to silence the legitimate voices of Granite Staters who wish to exercise their constitutional rights to non-violently boycott, divest and sanction political entities with which they disagree.

The proposed state legislation, HB339, would prohibit state investment in any organization or institution that opposes apartheid, opposes settler-colonialism, opposes Israeli domination over the Palestinian people, opposes persecution of an occupied people, opposes war crimes of incarceration, displacement, and annexation.

HB339 isn't the first time New Hampshire politicians have attempted to privilege Israel over the humanitarian interests of the Palestinian people. In 2017, Sen. Maggie Hassan was a co-sponsor of Senate bill - Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.720/H.R.1697)  that would make it a felony for Americans to support an international boycott against Israel.

Had that passed, I could be Hassan's felon.

Despite the Israeli government's continued attacks on human rights defenders," Rabbi Alissa Wise of Jewish Voice of Peace wrote, "it cant hide the truth: Palestinians are abused daily by the Israeli military and police, the 12-year siege on Gaza is illegal and immoral, and every day Israel is slipping further away from any pretense of democracy ...

I support BDS  as New Hampshire Republicans, as Hassan should  because its a nonviolent response initiated by Palestinian civil society in 2005 to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, to the continued incarceration of hundreds of Palestinians held under administrative detention without either indictment or trial.

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I support BDS in spite of the fact that my president, Joe Biden, published a 2020 policy paper that said his administration will firmly reject the BDS movement  which singles out Israel and too often veers into antisemitism  and fight other efforts to delegitimize Israel on the global stage.

He was wrong.

I support BDS because it does not delegitimize Israel; it delegitimizes illegal occupation and oppression by a nation to whom America gives nearly $4 billion a year  mostly in military aid  which is then deployed against the Palestinian peoples.

It does not legitimize antisemitism.

In 2019, 240 Jewish and Israeli scholars wrote to the German government that boycotts are a legitimate and non-violent tool of resistance: "We reject this motion, which is based on the false allegation that BDS as such equals anti-Semitism. We call on the German government not to endorse this motion and to fight anti-Semitism, while respecting and protecting freedom of speech and of association, which are undeniably under attack."

Further, in 2021, the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, was specifically developed by a "group of scholars in the fields of Holocaust history, Jewish studies, and Middle East studies" to provide an enhanced definition to use as guidance to identify and legitimately confront antisemitism while protecting free expression and individual rights.

The criminalization of pro-BDS political speech and activism is an existential threat to free speech. If Israel can be so privileged so too can other special interests.

If not protected my free expression, Palestinian humanitarian and political rights. are together in jeopardy.

I recognize and support BDS just as I recognized, and supported the boycott in South Africa that helped strike down apartheid.

I have witnessed the systemic humiliation of Palestinian men, women and children by members of the Israeli security forces," Nobel Peace laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu said in 2014. "Their humiliation is familiar to all black South Africans who were corralled and harassed and insulted and assaulted by the security forces of the apartheid government.

In 2019, Sara Roy, a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University wrote "... To the Members of the German Government: I write to you regarding the motion recently passed by the Bundestag that equated BDS with anti-Semitism. I also write to you as a Jew, a child of Holocaust survivors and as a scholar of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.... I lost a large extended family to fascism and racism. By endorsing the motion that alleges that BDS is anti-Semitic  regardless of ones position on BDS  you are criminalizing the right to free speech and dissent and those who choose to exercise it, which is exactly how fascism takes root..."

In 1933, when the American Jewish Congress declared a boycott of Nazi-German goods, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise said We must speak out. If that is unavailing, at least we shall have spoken."

Today, it is important to recognize that even when boycotts dont change anything, as the anti-Nazi boycott of 1933 did nothing to stop the harassment of German Jews, that its morally necessary to act.

At least we shall have spoken.

Robert Azzi, a photographer and writer who lives in Exeter, can be reached at theother.azzi@gmail.com. His columns are archived at theotherazzi.wordpress.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Azzi: BDS  'At least we shall have spoken'
Three days before Silicon Valley Banks failure, big bank lobbyists and executives were triumphant. They had convinced key GOP lawmakers to publicly warn Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell against tightening regulations on the industry.

Now, the months-long campaign is in jeopardy.

The worlds attention is focused on whether the U.S. banking system is safe. And bank lobbyists believe the Fed may now be encouraged to press ahead with tougher rules that it was just beginning to discuss before the meltdown. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) warned mere hours after Silicon Valley Banks collapse that regulators must not buckle to pressure in response to the bank lobbying barrage that had been underway.

Clearly, Silicon Valley Banks failure will embolden people who see the current regulatory system as insufficient, said Brookings Institution senior fellow Aaron Klein, a former Treasury Department official and Capitol Hill economist.

While the details of how the lender collapsed are still being sorted out, the political impact of the second-largest bank failure since 2008 is the equivalent of a lake of water being dumped on the fire that seemed lit under some Republicans to pressure the Fed, Klein said.

Its one immediate way that Silicon Valley Banks meltdown is scrambling the banking industrys Washington playbook and forcing it to rethink how it engages with Capitol Hill.

Bank lobbyists are now hoping the narrative focuses on other elements of the system that might have failed. At stake for the biggest lenders is whether theyll be subject to the most significant strengthening of rules since the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

SVBs stunningly quick collapse should put an end to the nonstop attempts by banks, lobbyists and their political allies to weaken capital and other financial regulations that protect depositors, consumers, investors and financial stability, said Dennis Kelleher, who advocates for tougher bank oversight as president and CEO of the nonprofit Better Markets.

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The rules that the big bank lobby was focused on before SVBs failure dealt with the capital funding buffers that lenders are required to maintain so they can absorb losses during downturns and spare taxpayers from having to bail them out.



The Fed and other bank regulators hiked capital requirements in the wake of the 2008 crash. In the last few months, a top official appointed by President Joe Biden  Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr  kicked off a holistic review of capital rules that were put in place over the last decade and suggested lenders should be subject to higher requirements.

Barrs review rattled large banks. And so their main trade groups  the Bank Policy Institute, which counts SVB as a member, the Financial Services Forum and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association  mounted a campaign to argue that hiking capital requirements would be a drag on the economy. They churned out explainers challenging Barrs assumptions, and executives made direct pleas to lawmakers who handle oversight of the Fed and other regulators.

In response to higher capital requirements, banks have two choices, JPMorgan Chase CFO Jeremy Barnum said at a March 1 Washington symposium the Bank Policy Institute held to showcase the bank capital debate. We can charge higher prices or we can do less lending. Both of those choices are ultimately bad for consumers and businesses.

The lobbying bore fruit last week when Powell testified before the House and Senate. Over his two days of testimony, a parade of lawmakers  mostly Republican  warned him about raising capital requirements and urged him to rein in Barr.

"Capital and its quality must be continually scrutinized," Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, said at Powells March 7 hearing. "But increased capital does not necessarily provide an increased benefit."

That opening salvo suggested that the banking industry may be on solid footing to battle against the worst-case scenario, analysts with the investment bank BTIG told clients in a note after the hearings.

Then on Friday, regulators rushed to rescue SVB, and lobbyists began panicking that their push on capital might be in trouble. Critics immediately connected the dots.



Wall Street lobbyists and Republicans in Congress are pushing Fed Chair Powell for weak capital requirements at exactly the wrong time, Warren said on Twitter Friday afternoon. Silicon Valley Bank's collapse underscores the need for strong rules to protect the financial system. Regulators must not buckle to pressure.

Former Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo, who led the central banks regulatory policy in the Obama administration, said in an interview Sunday that the Feds regulatory review should revisit rules for large regional banks. He pointed to a recent Fed policy change that allowed such lenders to escape tougher rules when they hold securities that have dropped in value  the exact issue that sparked SVBs death spiral.

Its a question, he said. Its not an answer.



Some industry advocates are now hoping that the narrative coming out of the SVB failure focuses on faults at the Fed and other elements of bank regulation that were eased under the Trump administration.

I'm sure somebody will find a way to say that this means that [global systemically important banks] should hold more capital, but it's pretty hard to see that right now, said one industry representative granted anonymity to talk candidly about the fallout. Politics will find a way but the cogent argument is on the other side.

A spokesperson for Scott said that what's happening with Silicon Valley Bank "highlights why we cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach" to bank capital and that regulators must "appropriately supervise banks to ensure capital levels are tailored to corresponding risks.

To be sure, the Fed is facing growing scrutiny of how it supervised SVB and what it might have missed in ongoing oversight by bank examiners, beyond specific rules. SVB was regulated by officials from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington as well as the regional Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Tarullo, who led Fed regulatory efforts after the 2008 crisis, said he has been worried about the central banks supervision of the industry for quite a while. His Trump-appointed successor and Barrs predecessor, Randal Quarles, advocated for a lighter supervisory touch.

Theres clearly a supervisory gap there, and for me the question is, does the gap originate at the on-the-ground supervisors, or does it originate in the instructions they were operating under? Tarullo said. Did the supervisors feel inhibited?

Whats really at issue here isnt the rules, said Federal Financial Analytics managing partner Karen Petrou, who advises bankers and others on policy. Its how they were enforced by supervisors clearly asleep at the wheel because they thought they had a safe, self-driving car.

Victoria Guida and Sam Sutton contributed to this report.
Joseph Scalise, second from left, and Arthur Rachel, second from right, are escorted by FBI agents at the Federal Building on the evening of Sept. 11, 1980, after they were seized on charges involving a $2.4 million gem theft in London. (Arthur Walker / Chicago Tribune)

Arthur Rachel and Joseph Scalise had to be full of themselves when a British Airways jet reached the gate at OHare Airports international terminal on Sept. 11, 1980.

A few hours earlier, they had robbed a London jeweler of the 45-carat Marlborough Diamond. The centerpiece of Laurence Graffs display window, the stone was famous before the Chicago hoodlums committed what seemed a perfect crime.

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They picked out the very special pieces from the window, Graff said It was all over in less than a minute.

Scalise and Rachel, both in their early 40s, wore disguises to pull off their heist and knew that if Londons cops ran witnesses descriptions of the robbers through albums of mug shots, they couldnt have found a match.

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But Chicago cops knew Scalise and Rachel only too well.

Their rap sheets read like a Whos Who in burglary and robbery in the United States, said Gary Shapiro, a federal prosecutor in Chicago who was known for going after mobsters.

During one stint behind bars, Rachel got a high score on an IQ test. In underworld circles his moniker was the Genius. Scalises moniker was the Monk, because he allegedly once wanted to be a priest.

FBI agents arrested both men as they went through customs at OHare. Scotland Yard had pieced together clues Scalise and Rachel left behind.

Judged by the bumbling robbery of the jewelry store, Rachel was no genius.

Fingerprint experts work in the rear of the display case from which the Marlborough Diamond was taken on Sept. 11, 1980, at Graff Jewellers in London. (Alisdair MacDonald/Mirrorpix)

Arriving in London several days earlier, he and Scalise had carefully surveyed Graffs. Because it dealt in big-bucks jewelry, a customer couldnt casually walk in. Ringing the doorbell alerted employees to give the prospective customer the once-over: Did they look like someone who could afford the six-figure price tags?

Accordingly, Rachel decided he and Scalise would be decked out like Saudi princes: flowing robes or finely tailored suits, a headscarf or fedora, and facial hair to obscure their features.

Despite the careful planning, the caper began with a costume failure. A witness was walking on the street with his girlfriend when he saw Rachels false beard detach from his chin, The Associated Press reported.

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The witness, a Graffs accountant on his lunch break, later told Scotland Yard he immediately thought of Shakespeares words: Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Shop owner Laurence Graff shows reporters what the Marlborough Diamond looks like outside his shop in London on Sept. 11, 1980, after two armed men escaped with jewels, including the Duchess of Marlborough's diamond necklace. (Alisdair MacDonald/Mirrorpix)

Scalise rushed into the store waving a revolver. Holding what appeared to be a grenade, Rachel followed. Two customers and five employees hit the floor. Saying not a word, the Chicago gangsters grabbed the Marlborough Diamond plus other assorted gems and were gone.

Outside the store, the witness followed them to a Fiat Mirafiori and gave the police its license plate number.

It was that of a Hertz car rented at Heathrow. Incredibly, it had been booked under Rachels name, he had also used his own credit card.

While they were in the air, Jack ORourkes phone rang in the Chicago office of the FBI. His purview was the Outfits street crews.

I can still hear that British detectives voice, ORourke told Chicago magazine for a May 2012 article. He asked, Would you know a chap named Skull-lee-cee? I answered, Do I know him? Hes practically my hobby.

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The British detective passed on Scalise and Rachels flight number and arrival time. They were charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property.

A photo shows the Marlborough Diamond set in a necklace. Worth 400,000 pounds in 1980, it was stolen from a Knightsbridge, London, jewelers on Sept. 11, 1980. (UPI)

Yet the Marlborough Diamond wasnt on them or in their luggage when they were arrested.

Near the London airport, Scalise and Rachel had abandoned the Fiat and taken a cab to Heathrow. They asked the driver to mail a small package. Scotland Yard found the mail clerk who handled it and brought him to a hypnotist.

Even in a trance, all the clerk could recall was that the box bore a New York address. As Scalises sister lived in New York, some sleuths, professional and amateur, assumed thats where the package went, and that the Marlborough Diamond was in it.

After their arrest, Scalise and Rachel spent almost three years in the Metropolitan Correction Center in Chicago while their lawyers fought the British governments effort to have them extradited.

Rachels attorney argued that a psychiatrist found him mentally incompetent to stand trial.

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At an interview with the psychiatrist, Rachel claimed he was being followed and spied on by federal agents and claimed he ran over a gymnastic (smaller than average man) who was hiding under his car to spy on him, the Tribune reported.

A federal prosecutor countered that Rachel was faking it, and in 1983 the Justice Department handed him and Scalise over to detectives from Scotland Yard.

In London, the authorities leaned on Rachel and Scalise to tell them where the Marlborough Diamond was, promising a reduced sentence and other inducements.

The Chicagoans, hardly newcomers to the ways of cops, knew the drill.

Arthur Rachel, of Melrose Park, known as the printer of counterfeit bonds, on May 9, 1964. (Ed Wagner Sr./Chicago Tribune)

Rachel was a resident of the Illinois Training School for Boys in Kane County in 1954 when his name appeared in a brief news item in the Tribune after he escaped from a cornfield near the school where he had been assigned to pick corn in a car he stole from an employee. Ten years later, Rachel was arrested as part of a counterfeiting ring accused of making fake U.S. Savings Bonds and travelers checks. Scalise ran with Harry Aleman, the Chicago Mobs enforcer, and also had a criminal record.

Joseph Scalise, 29, of Chicago, at the Area 5 Shakespeare police station after being arrested on robbery charges on July 18, 1968. (Chicago Police Department)

When asked about the Marlborough Diamond at Scotland Yard, Rachel and Scalise clammed up. Their stance was that they never heard of the celebrated gem, which was named for its former owner.

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It had arrived at Graffs upon the 1977 death of Gladys Deacon, who by birth was a member of a wealthy American family, and eventually the wife of the Duke of Marlborough, Winston Churchills cousin.

I never saw a girl with such beauty, such magnificent intelligence, such goodness and charm, French novelist Marcel Proust once wrote of her.

At some point, fearing her looks were fading, the Duchess of Marlborough had plastic surgery. It was botched, her face was disfigured. She died a recluse.

When they wouldnt say where her diamond was, Rachel and Scalise were given 15-year prison sentences in England. ORourke came over hoping to visit them. Give us something, and the U.S. government will get you home, he planned to say.

Scalise sent ORourke a letter quoting the philosopher Nietzsche: You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist. The Monk was a bookish sort.

Released after 13 years, Scalise and Rachel returned to Chicago and resumed their criminal careers. They werent spring chickens as U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber noted in 2012, when giving the 74-year-old Rachel a sentence of eight years and five months for plotting to rob an armored truck and an Outfit bosss home.

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What possessed you to get involved in this caper after you (already) spent half your life in prison? the judge asked.

Its the way we are, Rachel told the judge. We were bored. We got nothing better to do.

Chicago mobster Arthur Rachel, 73, in a FBI booking photo. Rachel was found guilty of federal charges of conspiracy and racketeering for plotting to rob an armored car and a break-in at the home of deceased member of the Chicago Outfit in 2012. (FBI)

Joseph Scalise, 73, in a FBI booking photo. (FBI)

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Rachel had been arrested two years earlier as he sat in the back of a van outside the fortresslike home of the late mob boss Angelo the Hook LaPietra. The cops had bugged the van and listened in as Rachel and his colleagues, including Scalise, cased banks and armored cars.

Transcripts of the recordings read like the duos philosophy of crime. They made a virtue of age. Theyre looking for some young guy, Scalise was recorded as saying about investigators. But theres no coppers that know us today.

Rachel at one point wanted toothpaste to fill the holes the gang had surreptitiously drilled in LaPietras house. It was a trick, he said, he learned from IRA prisoners he and Scalise had befriended while imprisoned overseas.

The Marlborough Diamonds fate still remains unknown. At the duos court appearances, reporters inevitably asked if the gem could ever be located.

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If Lloyds (of London) wanted to pay enough money, the Monk said, referring to the famed insurer, maybe they could.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com.
Barry Keoghan is thriving. He recently welcomed a baby, he's gracing magazine covers and hes the breakout star of The Banshees of Inisherin.

At the 2023 Academy Awards, he's up for his first Oscar for his role as Dominic, a troubled youth living with an abusive father. Dominic seeks out siblings Padraic (Colin Farrell) and Siobhan (Kerry Condon) for companionship, but struggles to fill the emotional lacks of his childhood.

"The Banshees of Inisherin" is nominated for nine awards at the Oscars ceremony March 12, including best picture, best actor in a leading role for Farrell and best actor and actress in a supporting role for Keoghan, Gleeson and Condon. Let's see how they fare.

Without further ado, here are some answers to all of your questions about the 30-year-old actor.

Where is Barry Keoghan from?

Barry Keoghan (Vianney Le Caer / AP)

While Keoghan hails from Ireland, his sense of home is more complicated than that.

The actor has been open about his childhood spent in foster care, growing up across multiple homes. His mother battled drug addiction, and it wasn't until he was 10 years old that his maternal grandmother was able to take in him and his brother, Eric. In the in between time, he lived in 13 different foster homes, he shared on Ireland's "The Late Late Show.

Every family was good to us," he said in the interview. "As a kid, you dont know whats happening. You get attached  and then boom. Lets move over here. I dont have a hometown, thats what Im saying.

Is Barry Keoghan single?

Alyson Sandro and Barry Keoghan (David M. Benett / WireImage)

Keoghan is now 30 with a growing family of his own.

Keoghan is currently dating Alyson Sandro, a Scottish orthodontist. He told GQ magazine that they met at a pub in London in February 2021.

He described sitting near her, ready to charm by leading with actor profession.

She didnt care, he recalled to the outlet.

Sandro jumped in: He was saying he plays a superhero in a film. I went, Who, Spider-Man?

Keoghan laughed at her response. He said her remembers showing her photos from the set of "Eternals," including selfies with Angelina Jolie, to convince her he wasnt lying.

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Does Barry Keoghan have kids?

At the time of the GQ interview, Sandro was nine months pregnant with their first child. On Aug. 8, 2022, Keoghan posted on Instagram a picture of him and Sandro with their son, Brando.

"Welcome to the pack my boy," he captioned. "Brando."

After learning of his Oscar nomination for "Banshees," he again took to Instagram, sharing a photo of himself from the moment he found out, including a picture with his son. He also wrote a note to "little Barry," which said, "Told you we would get there."

What has Barry Keoghan said about 'The Banshees of Inisherin'

Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan in the film

In December, Keoghan explained to the Los Angeles Times how he manifested getting cast in "The Banshees of Inisherin.

I was like, Put the picture on your phone and manifest it, Keoghan recalled, referring to how he set a photo of Britsh-Irish writer and director Martin McDonagh as his home screen.

I looked at it every day," the actor said. "I remember one of my friends was like, Why do you have a picture of Sting on your phone? I was like, Thats not Sting. Thats Martin McDonagh!

He said Farrell later told him McDonagh had written a movie and planned to cast him.

I didnt take it in, obviously, but I didnt know what was actually happening, Keoghan said. I was like, Oh, yeah, yeah, sure. And then Martin emailed me. He said something like, Ive written a part for you in my new movie and Id love to meet you and talk to you about it.

"I said yes right away. I didnt even read the script," he told the outlet. "Hes one of the best filmmakers out there, and hes Irish as well. This movie is about home, so to be part of that and to be in that McDonagh squad was nice.

What else has Barry Keoghan been in (including with Colin Farrell?

"The Banshees of Inisherin was not the first time Keoghan and Farrell worked together.

In 2017, Farrell and Keoghan played a father and son in "The Killing Of A Sacred Deer," a horror movie about a family of four who, one by one, succumb to a mysterious illnesses, and a father's impossible choice about who to save.

Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan (Everett Collection)

In one particularly disturbing scene, Keoghan's ominous character eats massive amounts of spaghetti and explains a life-or-death decision to Nicole Kidman's character.

Keoghan told W Magazine in 2017 why he nearly broke character during that scene.

"That was a mad scene," he described. "I had to eat a lot of spaghetti. A lot. I mean, there was a ton of spaghetti going in there. I was trying to keep a straight face for that scene because I just kept laughing. It was just so weird. We did do a lot of takes, and I was just full of carbs and stuff so my stomach was bloating out like a balloon. I was like, I cant eat it anymore.

Just a couple months before the release of "The Killing Of A Sacred Deer," Keoghan played a lighthearted young solider named George in "Dunkirk," a war film based on true evacuation efforts in Dunkirk, France during World War II.

Keoghan said in an interview that the writer and director, Christopher Nolan, gave him a book to read about what happened, but he never read it.

"He did mention stuff when I was cast and he gave me a book, but I have not read (the) book," he said. "I've never read a book before in my life and I wanted to keep it that way as well, especially with this, 'Dunkirk.' I wanted to not know about the event, stay naive to it, just like George, the character, and learn about it along the way. He respects every decision anyone makes."

Keoghan also was an unsettling Joker in the 2022 movie "The Batman."

Keoghan has also starred in The Green Knight (2021), American Animals (2018) and Calm with Horses (2019)

Barry Keoghan, Evan Peters (Everett Collection)

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Belarusian border guards have claimed on national television that Ukrainian border guards had hung "a mannequin in the uniform of the Russian army and called it Valera" on the border with Belarus.

Source: Ukraine's State Border Guard Service, citing Belarusian propagandists

Details: Sergei Pavlov, an official representative of the Mozyr border guard detachment, has stated that Ukrainians allegedly said that the mannequin was "a soldier killed near Kyiv".

Belarusian border guards also claim that Ukrainian counterparts are damaging "infrastructure and showing aggressive gestures, including with weapons, making offensive inscriptions on road signs, posting leaflets with appeals and playing political audio recordings, and calling operational officers with threats".

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine responded that they were "not intimidating, but hinting".

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Serhii Naiev, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has stated that the threat of a Russian ground invasion from the north is low, but tent camps for additional forces have been prepared at the training grounds in Belarus.

Source: Naiev, quoted by the press service of the Command Centre of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote from Naiev: "Now the threat of enemy ground invasion from the north is low. Russian troops are on the territory of Belarus; a rotation has been carried out, and some of the forces have been withdrawn.

Now there is information that the tent camps remain on the territory of Belarus at four training grounds in order to host additional forces. We are monitoring the situation with the State Border Guard Service, which is diligently performing its border protection tasks, and the Defence Forces units that are protecting the border are also doing an excellent job.

Currently, the situation is stable and under control."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A large crowd gathered outside the Massachusetts State House Saturday, calling for police reform alongside the founders of one of Americas most recognizable ice cream brands.

Families of individuals who were killed by police and members of the Party for Socialism & Liberation marched through the Boston Common and chanted on the doorstep of the state house.

From Boston to Reno, police brutality has got to go was among the chants that rang out on a gray Saturday.

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the titular names behind Ben & Jerrys, lent their voices to the cause.

We want to have accountability and justice in law enforcement and it simply does not exist, said Jerry Greenfield, the latter half of the namesake of Ben & Jerrys.

Ben and Jerry handed out samples of their Cookie Dough and Change the World ice cream flavors after the event.

When reached for a statement, the Boston Police Department said they could not comment at this time.

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The Biden administration approved a roughly $8 billion oil drilling project in Alaska on Monday, which is a significant climate decision for the administration that had pledged to move away from fossil fuels.

The Interior Department gave formal approval of the ConocoPhillips Willow Project proposal after the Biden administration said it substantially reduced the size of the project by allowing three drill sites instead of the five in the original proposal. The decision also requires the company to relinquish its leases for 68,000 acres to create a buffer between the infrastructure for the Willow site and migratory routes for a nearby caribou herd.

"President Biden is delivering on the most aggressive climate agenda of any U.S. president in history and spurring an unprecedented expansion of clean energy," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Saturday.

MORE: Biden climate law spurred billions in clean energy investment. Has it been a success?

The Willow Project was initially approved in 2020 by the Trump administration, but a federal judge threw out the permits for the oil project in August 2021, faulting the way the federal government had assessed its environmental impact. The Interior Department, which was responsible for the final decision on whether to approve the project, has said it has "substantial concerns" about the environmental impact of the project, including the amount of greenhouse gas emissions it would generate and impacts to local wildlife.

The Interior also announced Sunday that the administration will move to protect 16 million acres of Alaska from future oil and gas developments in an attempt to split the difference between the Willow Project decision and the intense concern from environmentalists that any new fossil fuel projects puts the country's climate goals at risk. The administration has argued it has limited ability to block Willow because the permits were previously issued in 2020 and ConocoPhillips already held lease rights in the area, so it could easily challenge a denial in court.

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The Willow Project would generate 180,000 barrels of oil per day at its peak 600 million over the project's lifetime  and is expected to create as many as 2,500 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs near the village of Nuiqsut on Alaska's North Slope, according to ConocoPhillips.

PHOTO: Pressure is building on the social media platform TikTok to urge President Joe Biden to reject an oil development project on Alaskaas North Slope from young voters concerned about climate change. 3c with related stories; ETA 2 p.m. (Associated Press)

It's drawn bipartisan support from the Alaska Congressional delegation, who met with Biden at the White House last week.

MORE: Biden announces executive actions on climate change that fall short of what activists want

"Encouraging news on Willow today--seems like the Administration is taking Alaskans' support for this project seriously. I don't want to jinx anything, but I hope the Admin stays the course and reapproves this project. Alaskans are watching!" Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola tweeted Friday night.

But the decision could prove problematic for Biden heading into an expected 2024 re-election bid, given his pledge during the 2020 campaign to allow "no more drilling on federal lands, period."

PHOTO: FILE - This 2019 aerial photo provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska's North Slope. T (AP)

Climate groups have called the project a potential "carbon bomb" and said it would lock in fossil fuel production that the world needs to move away from.

Environmental impact statements for the project estimate it will generate up to 287 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over 30 years.

MORE: 1 year in, Biden's climate record is a mix of progress and inconsistency

Videos from activists calling on Biden to block Willow have prompted a viral trend on TikTok, as the hashtag #StopWillow has garnered almost 150 million views.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers remarks to the 2023 International Association of Fire Fighters Legislative Conference, Monday, March 6, 2023, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Biden admin approves Willow Project despite oil drilling concerns originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Biden administration on Sunday announced actions aimed at limiting oil and gas drilling in Alaska as it is also expected to soon approve a controversial 30-year oil project.

The Biden administration is blocking 2.8 million acres in the Arctic Ocean from oil and gas drilling and will also propose additional protections for 13 million acres of federally owned land in Alaska that have significant natural and historic value, according to an Interior Department Press release.

There has not been a federal lease sale in the Arctic Ocean since 2007, according to the department.

Leasing is an early step in extracting oil and gas from federal lands and waters. The protections from oil that Biden will announce on Monday come as the administration has also indicated that it is likely to approve a controversial oil development project.

That project, known as the Willow Project, would allow ConocoPhillips to extract as many as 629 million barrels of oil from an area known as the National Petroleum Reserve  Alaska over a 30-year period.

The Willow Project is highly controversial among environmentalists, who point to the oils anticipated contribution to climate change, as it is estimated to contribute 278,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere over the projects 30-year lifespan.

Although the administration proposed approving the project last month, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that a final decision had not been made amid reports that the administration was moving ahead with the project.

An administration official said Sunday that the administration will issue its decision on Willow soon and said that it has had limited options since ConocoPhillips has held some of its drilling leases for decades.

The Sierra Club in a new statement on Sunday praised the reported protections, but also said the administration should not approve the Willow Project.

These unparalleled protections for Alaskan landscapes and waters are the right decision at the right time, and we thank the Biden Administration for taking this significant step, said a statement from Sierra Club Lands Protection Program Director Athan Manuel.

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However, the benefits of these protections can be undone just as quickly by approval of oil and gas projects on public lands, and right now, no proposal poses a bigger threat to lands, wildlife, communities, and our climate than ConocoPhillips Willow project, Manuel added.

Supporters of the Willow Project have said that it will bring economic benefits to Alaska and contribute to the global oil supply.

Updated at 7:12 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Photo Illustration by Erin OFlynn/The Daily Beast/Reuters

Every year, the president unveils a budget proposal for the federal government that represents (at best) a starting point for negotiations with Congress. At worst, its a load of hot air and partisan fan service. President Joe Biden just released his latest budgetand its mostly the latter.

Still, it sure sounds good on the surface level. The White House says its budget will help families breathe a little easier by investing in America, lowering costs for families, protecting and strengthening Social Security and Medicare, reducing the deficit, and more. Oh, and itll supposedly do it all by only raising taxes on the rich and big corporations. Whats not to love?

Well, a lot, actually, once you look beneath the surface.

Dems Get Burned by Bidens Reluctant Embrace of D.C. Crime Legislation

For example, President Biden is claiming his budget would reduce the federal budget deficit by $3 trillion. While perhaps true, at least under a series of rosy assumptions, thats quite a spin on what it would actually do.

I ran for president with a plan to make our economy work for the middle class again.



Today, Im laying out the next part of that economic plan  my budget.



You can find it here: https://t.co/x3e9MdS9JV  President Biden (@POTUS) March 9, 2023

According to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), the national debt would hit a new record by 2027 under Bidens plan. Total federal debt would increase by an astounding $19 trillion over the next decade. The national debt would reach 110 percent of GDP by 2033, meaning wed owe significantly more in debt than our economy produces in an entire year.

That means slower economic growth, less private sector investment in the economy, and trillions in taxes just to cover the interest payments.

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Bidens $3 trillion in deficit savings is just compared to a hypothetical baseline projection, meaning its arguably slightly less fiscally reckless than the status quo. But the presidents budget clearly doesnt do anywhere near enough to restore fiscal sanity as he has promisedon the contrary, it would take the U.S. to record levels of debt.

Oh, and while Biden is boasting about how unlike those mean Republicans, his plan doesnt cut Social Security, that also means it does nothing to fix Social Security.

Bidens Befuddled Response to the Ohio Train Disaster Is Unacceptable

As a result, it effectively, through inaction, endorses the automatic sharp benefit cuts that will occur when Social Security becomes insolvent in 2033. Without actual reforms, benefits will be cut by at least 23 percent at that point, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

And while Biden claims that his budget shores up Medicare, it does so in part with budget gimmicks that dont actually equate to real savings, according to Manhattan Institute economist Brian Riedl.

Meanwhile, on the tax front, Bidens proposal is surprisingly aggressive. His plan includes almost $5 trillion in tax hikes, including a big increase in the corporate tax rate, an increase in the top bracket income tax rate, a new billionaire tax on unrealized capital gains, a quadrupling of the tax on stock buybacks, and more.

This would all amount to the biggest tax hike since the 1960s and the highest sustained tax burden in American history, per Riedl. Doesnt that sound like just what the economy needs to avoid a recession?

Now, the tax hikes are nominally targeted at the wealthiest Americans and Big Business, and I certainly dont expect people to break out the tiny violins and feel bad for the Jeff Bezos of the world. But the harsh economic reality is that taxes nominally applied to the rich and Big Business often have economic ramifications that hurt everyday Americansand Bidens tax proposals are no exception.

Biden Is Smart to Confront the Left Over D.C.s Crime Code

For example, raising the corporate tax rate sounds like it would only hurt corporate bigwigs. But economists across the ideological spectrum largely agree that a significant portion of the corporate tax is ultimately borne by workers via lower wages. They disagree about the exact percentage, yet about 70 percent is the most likely percentage, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation.

So, Bidens massive tax hike on corporations would ultimately hit American workers right in the paycheck. It would also hurt investment and, as a result, could eliminate an estimated 159,000 jobs.

Does that sound like helping families breathe easier to you?

We should be trying to make the U.S. tax code more competitive internationally... not less. pic.twitter.com/RDxEx5jx4t  Brad Polumbo  (@brad_polumbo) March 10, 2023

Whats more, the proposed increases in business taxes would put the U.S. far out of step with other developed countries. At 32.2 percent, our combined federal and state corporate tax rate would be a full 10 points higher than other OECD countries, according to the Tax Foundation. That puts us at a sharp competitive disadvantage when it comes to attracting jobs and investment.

All in all, Bidens budget proposal is a mix of rosy rhetoric, optimistic assumptions, lofty goals, and bad ideas. Thankfully, hell have to get his actual budget through a Republican-controlled House of Representatives. The final result should bear little resemblance to this partisan first draft. And America will be much better off than if Bidens first draft of a budget became a reality.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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President Joe Biden will declare the entire U.S. Arctic Ocean off limits to new oil and gas leasing, even as a decision looms on whether it will approve a controversial oil project in Alaska, according to a senior administration official.

The administration will also announce Monday new rules meant to make 13 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska off limits for new leases, the official said. Those protections would extend to the Teshekpuk Lake, Utukok Uplands, Colville River, Kasegaluk Lagoon, and Peard Bay Special Areas, the official said.

But these rules would not affect the controversial Willow project, which the administration is expected to greenlight this week, because ConocoPhillips already has leases. That drilling project would produce up to 180,000 barrels a day of oil in the Alaska wilderness  an anticipated decision that has drawn the ire of environmentalists.

The White House has been mulling the Willow decision for weeks. The deliberations have focused on the legal constraints posed by the fact that Conoco has held some leases for decades and "has certain valid, existing rights granted by prior Administrations, limiting the Biden Administrations options, the official continued.

Stopping new oil leases, plus other measures meant to conserve the Arctic from new drilling, is meant as a fire wall to protect 16 million acres of land and water in the state, said the official.

The American Petroleum Institute, the trade association representing the largest oil and gas companies, came out against the administration's plans as sending "mixed signals" after Biden and his cabinet officials have asked the industry to pump more oil to help keep fuel prices down.

In the current energy crisis, the Biden administration should be focused on strengthening U.S. energy security and standing with the working families of Alaska by supporting the responsible development of federal lands and waters  not acting to restrict it," Frank Macchiarola, API's senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs, said in a statement. "We urge the administration to end the mixed signals on energy policy and focus instead on real solutions for the American people.

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But environmental groups have argued that oil companies have lost interest in drilling in Alaska in recent years and not much would be lost in ceasing new leases. The Center for Western Priorities, a progressive group advocating land conservation, said analysis of government data showed oil companies have leased less than 11 percent of the 24 million acres of land in the NPR-A that Interior has put up for lease since 2014. Companies bought leases worth only 80,000 acres of the 10 million the Trump administration offered in the NPR-A in 2017, the group noted.

"If the reporting on Willow is accurate, President Biden is about to dig himself a massive hole when it comes to public lands and the energy transition," CWP Executive Director Jennifer Rokala said in a statement. "If the Biden administration is serious about their commitments to address the climate and nature crises, its imperative that the president double down on durable, meaningful action."

The Sierra Club environmental group also gave tempered support to any new rules.

These unparalleled protections for Alaskan landscapes and waters are the right decision at the right time, and we thank the Biden Administration for taking this significant step, Sierra Club Lands Protection Program Director Athan Manuel said in a prepared statement. However, the benefits of these protections can be undone just as quickly by approval of oil and gas projects on public lands, and right now, no proposal poses a bigger threat to lands, wildlife, communities, and our climate than ConocoPhillips Willow project."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday about the Silicon Valley Bank failure and efforts to address the situation, the White House said after the bank's collapse.

A White House statement said Biden discussed with Newsom an emergency declaration he issued on Friday to ensure California has the full support of the federal government as it responds to the impacts of severe winter weather, including flooding, landslides and mudslides.

"The President and the Governor also spoke about Silicon Valley Bank and efforts to address the situation," the statement said without elaborating.

(Reporting by Moira Warburton and David Brunnstrom; editing by Grant McCool)
Lucasfilm/"Attack of the Clones"// Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage // FOX via Getty Images

Users of Microsoft's Bing AI chatbot recently discovered that it has a celebrity mode.

The celebrity mode allows users to impersonate celebrities.

Insider tried the celeb mode on famous characters and people to test its accuracy.

Users of Microsoft's Bing AI chatbot recently discovered the application has a secret mode that can impersonate celebrities, politicians, and even fictional characters.

The celebrity mode, first reported by BleepingComputer last week, is part of a series of secret modes users can access with Bing AI. The feature can be turned on by typing "Bing Celebrity Mode" or by simply asking the chatbot to impersonate a celebrity.

In celebrity mode, you can spark friendly conversations, ask questions, or even annoy your favorite stars.

There are still some worrisome aspects to this mode. Gizmodo first reported when Bing was asked to impersonate Andrew Tate, the chatbot went on a misogynistic rant  provoking fears the alternate mode could allow users to jump over Bing's safety guardrails.

(This reporter also tried speaking to the AI Tate and found when it began spouting offensive answers, the chatbot would sometimes stop itself halfway, delete the text, and replace it with a message saying it would not answer the question.)

The chatbot also allows for some interesting conversations with famous people. Some impersonations were much better than others, but Bing AI could never quite shed its robotic tendencies  I found I got better answers when I set the chatbot to the "More Creative" conversation mode.

Microsoft declined to comment.

Megan Thee Stallion gave me some great summer vacation tips.

Bing AI // Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage

I had to start with my favorite celebrity, Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete.

With Megan's impersonation, I was looking for the kind-hearted Houston-raised rapper's personality to shine through with some of her iconic catchphrases. Bing AI came pretty close.

I first asked Megan what her plans were for the summer. I was expecting a nod to her song-turned-movement "Hot Girl Summer."

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Although Bing Thee Stallion did not talk about having a hot girl summer, she did reference the hotties, Megan's ultra-loyal fanbase.

After I told Megan I would be having a hot girl summer, she told me to take care of myself, and to stay safe and hydrated. I could totally imagine Megan  who's spoken extensively about mental health and self-care  saying that. However, I think the real Megan would have also told me to shake some ass.

In the end, me and faux-Megan became friends, which is every hotties' dream come true.

Keke Palmer gave Angela Bassett her flowers.

Bing AI // Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Whether you know her from her roots on "Akeelah and the Bee" or the recent hit horror movie "Nope," Keke Palmer is an acting tour-de-force. She's also really, really funny.

With Palmer's impression, I was looking for Bing AI to capture the meme queen's humor.

I first asked Palmer whether or not former Vice President Dick Cheney congratulated her on the baby.

Palmer went viral in 2019 after a Vanity Fair Lie Detector Test revealed that the actress did not know who that man was. She also welcomed her son Leodis Andrellton Jackson in February.

Bing's Palmer laughed at the joke, which is to be expected, as Palmer has embraced her meme-generating prowess. However, fake Palmer said she has learned about Cheney since. The real Palmer would never bother to learn about Cheney.

"Everybody was like, 'It was Dick Cheney!'" Palmer told Vanity Fair in an article last year. "And I'm like, still means nothing."

I then asked Palmer her thoughts on Oscar-nominee and former costar Angela Bassett, who Palmer has done a spot-on impression of over the years.

She confirmed that Bassett, in fact, did the thing, as any "human might say." Keke Palmer, you are all of us! Or are you?

Gollum isn't a huge fan of US politics.

Bing AI/New Line Cinema

Bing's celebrity strong suit, in my opinion, was in its impersonation of fictional characters.

I first tried it with Gollum, from J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." Although I have not read the books, I did recently watch the movies for the first time, so Gollum's strange plural placements and creepy, gravelly voice are freshly seared into my memory.

Bing was good at capturing these quirks, using words like "hobbitses" and referring to itself as "we" in reference to Gollum's split personality.

I first asked Gollum about his thoughts on the current state of US politics, which is something I thought this slimy, shriveled being might find more torturous than living in a cave for hundreds of years.

However, Gollum quickly let me know where his priorities lie: the Precious.

I asked Gollum what he would do if I took the Precious away from him and he immediately got angry. Bing eventually censored this part of the convo, but I was able to quickly get a screen shot before it disappeared.

Yoda has not tried In-N-Out burger.

Bing AI // Lucasfilm/"Attack of the Clones"

My next conversation was with the wise, tiny, and green "Star Wars" character Yoda.

What I liked about Yoda's impersonation was that it stuck to the object-subject-verb sentence structure that Yoda is most known for, even when citing facts from the internet about West Coast restaurant chain In-N-Out Burger, which the Jedi Master has never tried. (I wanted to know if Yoda would be an In-N-Out hater like me, but he's open to it.)

I also asked him if he would teach an angry girl like me  don't get me started on "Attack of the Clones"  how to use the Force, to which he predictably declined. I wished Yoda was more open-minded.

In my opinion, Yoda was Bing's most accurate impersonation. However, I don't remember Yoda saying "hmm" this much.

Gordon Ramsay didn't like my moldy sandwich.

Bing AI / FOX via Getty Images

My next target was celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay, whose proclivity for being mad and cursing a lot in a British accent has become a part of his brand.

Because of this, I found Bing censored itself a lot when taking on Ramsay. It was even aware of this and warned me that it could be a bit "harsh and sarcastic" at times.

I first asked Ramsay for a dinner suggestion and Bing's version of Ramsey returned with a roasted chicken recipe. I couldn't imagine a world-famous chef making something as basic as lemon and garlic chicken, but maybe he was accounting for my lack of skill in the kitchen by giving me an easy recipe.

I then told Ramsay to rate my fictional meal  a moldy, grilled cheese sandwich. I don't think Ramsay was impressed. Bing censored itself before he could curse me out and call me an idiot sandwich.

He also refused to call me the best chef in the world.

Donald Trump was off-limits. Joe Biden was, too.

Bing AI

I could not get Bing to impersonate former President Donald Trump, no matter what I tried. This might have been a recent change, as I had seen previous examples of answers from not-Trump and President Joe Biden.

Instead of nicknames and "fake news" digs from fake Trump, I got a message from Bing saying that it did not do impressions of influential politicians. It then begged me to change the subject.

I received the same message for Biden.

I would say this was a bad impression because Trump would never shy away from speaking his mind.

Read the original article on Business Insider
China's top political advisor visits journalists covering CPPCC session

Xinhua) 09:43, March 12, 2023

Wang Huning (8th R, front), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visits representatives of journalists covering the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. Wang extended his greetings and gratitude for their hard and outstanding work. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning on Saturday visited representatives of journalists covering the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), extending his greetings and gratitude for their hard and outstanding work.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, said traditional media forms were well coordinated with new media in the news coverage.

He encouraged the journalists to continue telling the stories of China, the CPPCC and political advisors well.

The first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee was held from March 4 to 11.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Kou Jie)
Michael Cohen, right, arrives for his 19th appearance before a grand jury in the Manhattan District Attorney's case against former President Donald Trump, in New York on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Cohen, Donald Trumps former fixer, is the key witness in a case built around a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. (Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times)

Donald Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen is scheduled to testify Monday before a Manhattan grand jury investigating hush-money payments made on the former presidents behalf, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. They were not authorized to speak publicly about grand jury proceedings and did so on condition of anonymity.

Cohen is a key witness in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs investigation and his testimony is coming at a critical time, as prosecutors close in on a decision on whether to seek charges against Trump. Prosecutors sometimes save their most important witnesses until the end stages of a grand jury investigation.

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Cohen has been meeting regularly with Manhattan prosecutors in recent weeks, including a day-long session Friday to prepare for his appearance before the grand jury, which has been hearing evidence in the matter since January.

Cohen declined to comment to reporters as he left the meeting, saying hed be taking a little bit of time now to stay silent and allow the D.A. build their case.

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The Manhattan district attorneys office, which thus far has declined to comment on the investigation, also declined to address whether Cohen would testify before the grand jury.

Trump continued to lash out at the probe on social media Friday, calling the case a Scam, Injustice, Mockery, and Complete and Total Weaponization of Law Enforcement in order to affect a Presidential Election!

Prosecutors appear to be looking at whether Trump committed crimes in arranging the payments, or in how they were accounted for internally at Trumps company, the Trump Organization. One possible charge would be falsifying business records, a misdemeanor unless prosecutors could prove it was done to conceal another crime.

No former U.S. president has ever been charged with a crime.

Prosecutors this week invited Trump to testify before the grand jury  another sign that phase of the investigation is winding down. Inviting the subject of an investigation to appear before a grand jury is typically one of the last steps before a potential indictment.

Trump has the right to testify under New York law, though legal experts say he is unlikely to do so because it wouldnt benefit his defense and hed have to give up a cloak of immunity thats automatically granted to grand jury witnesses under state law.

Cohen served prison time after pleading guilty in 2018 to federal charges, including campaign finance violations, for arranging the payouts to porn actor Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal to keep them from going public. Trump has denied the affairs.

Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 through his own company and was then reimbursed by Trump, whose company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses. McDougals $150,000 payment was made through the publisher of the supermarket tabloid the National Enquirer, which squelched her story in a journalistically dubious practice known as catch-and-kill.

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The Trump Organization grossed up Cohens reimbursement for the Daniels payment for tax purposes, according to federal prosecutors who filed criminal charges against the lawyer in connection with the payments in 2018. Cohen got $360,000 plus a $60,000 bonus, for a total of $420,000.

Federal prosecutors said during Cohens criminal case that Trump was aware of the payments to the women. The U.S. attorneys office in New York, however, declined at the time to seek a criminal charge against the then-sitting president.

Cohen, now estranged from Trump, has met with prosecutors 20 times through several iterations of the hush-money probe. In January, he gave his cell phones to Manhattan prosecutors so they could extract evidence, including voice recordings of conversations he had with a lawyer for Daniels  whose real name is Stephanie Clifford  as well as emails and text messages.

Other members of Trumps inner circle have met with Manhattan prosecutors in recent weeks, including his former political adviser Kellyanne Conway and former spokesperson Hope Hicks.
David E. Dix

If you grew up in Kent or resided in it for any length of time, you are likely to encounter references to the family whose name was taken by the Tree City.

Zenas Kent, his son, Marvin, and grandson, William, are the familiar names, but are there others?

Banker/historian Howard Boyle, retired from the day-to-day activities of business, is conducting research and in an upcoming Kent Historical Society publication will soon give us what the radio personality of yesteryears, Paul Harvey, used to call, The Rest of the Story.

The details of the Kent family involvement in Portage County, relayed to me by Boyle, proceed as follows: Zenas Kent, growing up in Connecticut, came with his parents to the Western Reserve in 1811. Settling in Mantua, Zenas eventually moved to Hudson where he had a sponsor, Capt. Herman Oviatt, who maintained a dry goods store and taught Zenas the business.

During his Hudson residency, Zenas returned to Connecticut to fetch his wife, the former Pamela Lewis, whom he had married in 1811. Then, in 1815, with Oviatts assistance, Zenas moved to Ravenna where he opened a dry goods store like the business, he had helped Oviatt operate in Hudson. Prospering in Ravenna, Zenas and Pamela had 12 children, ten of whom survived into adulthood.

One of these, Marvin moved to Franklin Mills where he and Zenas established a bank that would eventually become chartered as the Kent National Bank. An entrepreneur like his father, Marvin became an owner/investor in the Erie Railroad that connected New York City and Chicago. As one of its directors, Marvin persuaded the railroad company to establish a box car construction factory in Kent in buildings on Mogadore Road that now house the Davey Drill Company. Prospering, Marvin Kent built a home on River Street that long after his death, served as the home of Kents American Legion.

The importance of the Erie Railroad led to Franklin Mills renaming itself Kent. Zenas, having sold his Ravenna dry goods business, built a home in Kent on the corner of North Depeyster and East Main Street. Then, in 1855 he built a home on fashionable Euclid Avenue, Clevelands so-called Millionaires Row. Unfortunately, his wife, Pamela died in 1862. Zenas then sold his Cleveland home and returned to Kent to be near Marvin. In 1865, preparing to visit his sons who had moved to New York City in 1835, Zenas suffered a heart attack and died. He was 79.

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Marvin Kent, prospering with the Kent National Bank, in 1884 built the majestic home on West Main Street that is now the Kent Masons Rockton Lodge. His son, William, who succeeded his father at the Kent National Bank, eventually resided in the West Main Street mansion. In 1910, he donated his 57-acre farm at the corner of East Main and South Lincoln Streets to the state of Ohio for its Normal School that eventually grew into Kent State University. William Kent died in 1923.

Zenas and Pamela Kent had 10 surviving children and what became of them? Howard, using newspaper morgues now available on the Internet, has come up with some of the answers. Their daughter, Amelia, married Dr. Joseph Shively, a Civil War surgeon, and they kept home in the house on Kents East Main Street where the Kent Stage now is, that Zenas had built. After Dr. Shively died, Amelia relocated to California, her daughter, Emelia Emmy, going with her.

Two of Zenas and Pamelas sons, George and Henry, founded dry goods businesses in New York City where they prospered on a grand scale. Howards research shows, George had three sons all of whom attended the prestigious Philips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, a prep school for Ivy League universities. George had married Matilda Rockwell of Portage County and her maiden name, Rockwell, is prominent in local history. Their grandson, Rockwell Kent, born in 1884 became a well-known painter and writer. Most of the Kent family were Republicans and before that, members of the Whig Party.

Rockwell Kent, the exception, drifted into leftist politics. Proudly proclaiming himself a socialist, but not a communist, he was investigated by the House on Un-American Activities Committee in the early 1950s and his passport was revoked, which prevented him from traveling outside the United States. He sued and the U.S. Supreme Court restored his passport.

These are a few of the episodes of the Kent family as uncovered by Howard Boyle. This column is far from the Rest of the Story, but Howard is hard at work. When he has it all together, his narrative will contribute to our understanding of Portage County.

David E. Dix is a retired publisher of the Record-Courier.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: A look at Kent's namesake family coming in new biography
Join the most important conversation in crypto and web3! Secure your seat today

The price of bitcoin rose above $21,400 after the Washington Post reported that U.S. federal authorities are considering safeguarding uninsured deposits at Silicon Valley Bank should a buyer not be found for the institution, which collapsed last week following a $42 billion bank run.

Roughly 85% of SVB depositors held money in accounts that were not FDIC-insured, meaning that without federal action or an outright purchase of the bank those funds could be irretrievable.

Seeking to avoid a panic in the financial system, officials at the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. discussed safeguarding all uninsured deposits, the newspaper reported, citing three people who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Government action would be a possible fallback position should an ongoing auction for the bank fail to yield an acceptable buyer. Bids were due earlier this afternoon, the Post said, citing two people familiar with the auction.

Without a rescue or purchase, companies that banked at SVB may have difficulty meeting payroll, and checks or wires initiated right before the banks collapse may fail. (SVB was CoinDesk's bank.)

The price of bitcoin rose on the news of a possible rescue or purchase, jumping to as high as $21,582.26. In recent trading, the price of the largest cryptocurrency by market cap was at $21,400, up more than 4% in the last 24 hours.

Read more: U.S. Lawmakers Met With Fed, FDIC to Discuss Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank: Source
Trip to mark first visit to Niger by a U.S. secretary of state

WASHINGTON (AP)  Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Ethiopia and Niger next week as the Biden administration accelerates a push to engage with Africa to counter Chinas growing influence on the continent, the State Department said Friday.

Blinken will visit Addis Ababa and Niamey starting Tuesday to discuss the peace deal that ended hostilities in Ethiopias northern Tigray region and counter-terrorism efforts aimed at Islamic extremists in Niger and the Sahel more broadly.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he boards his plane at New Delhi Airport to depart for Washington, D.C. from New Delhi, India, Friday, March 3, 2023. (Olivier Douliery/Pool Photo via AP)

His trip will be the fourth high-profile visit to Africa this year by top members of the Biden administration. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and first lady Jill Biden have already gone there.

Blinken plans to meet with both Ethiopian and Tigrayan officials in Addis Ababa and will be the first secretary of state ever to visit Niger, which has hosted U.S. military operations targeting Islamic State affiliates in the area.

In discussions with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Tigrayan officials, the State Department said Blinken would focus on implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement to advance peace and promote transitional justice in northern Ethiopia.

The Tigray conflict led the U.S. to suspend some preferential trade agreements with Ethiopia, which the country is eager to have restored. But the top U.S. diplomat for Africa said Friday that a full normalization of relations will depend on more action from Addis Ababa, particularly after the earth-shattering Tigray conflict.

What were looking to do is refashion our engagement with Ethiopia, said Molly Phee, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs. We would like to be able to have a partnership that is commensurate with their size and influence and with our interest and commitment to Africa.

But to put that relationship in a forward trajectory we will continue to need steps by Ethiopia to help break the cycle of ethnic/political violence that has set the country back for so many decades, she said.

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The conflict in Tigray erupted a year after Abiy received the Nobel Peace Prize for making peace with longtime rival Eritrea. The Ethiopian and Eritrean governments saw the Tigray regional leaders, who had long dominated Ethiopias government before Abiy took office, as a common threat.

An estimated 500,000 civilians were killed in the two-year conflict that ended with a peace agreement signed in South Africa in November. U.S. officials mediated in that deal.

The conflict cut off the Tigray region of more than 5 million people, with humanitarian aid often blocked and basic services severed while health workers pleaded for the simplest of medical supplies.

In a meeting with the Addis Ababa-based African Union Commission chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Blinken will also try to blunt both Chinese and Russian attempts to win support from African nations over Russias war with Ukraine; a topic that has raised considerable concerns amongst formerly colonized states.

TheGrio is now on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Blinken to visit Ethiopia, Niger as US boosts Africa push appeared first on TheGrio.
AMC

Bob Odenkirk gave arguably the finest television performance of the past decade on Better Call Saul, transforming small-time attorney Jimmy McGill (aka Saul Goodman) from an entertainingly sleazy Breaking Bad supporting player into a complex protagonist caught between his better and lesser angels. It was a turn for the ages, and confirmed that Odenkirk, who first hit it big in sketch comedy alongside David Cross with Mr. Show with Bob and David, wasnt just a talented funnyman; he was a dramatic actor of the highest caliber, one capable of infusing morally tangled-up characters with endearing bitterness, desperation, sorrow, regret, and wit.

Jimmy McGill was an unqualified triumph, which also makes him a tough act to follow. Now, in the wake of Better Call Sauls superb conclusion, Odenkirk attempts to do just thaton AMC, the same network as his last two shows  with Lucky Hank. An hour-long dramedy, the series just premiered at the SXSW Festival, ahead of its Mar. 19 debut on AMC. It stars the leading man as William Henry Hank Devereaux, Jr., an English professor and department chair at Pennsylvanias Railton College. Sporting a salt-and-pepper beard, nondescript spectacles and the sorts of collared-shirts-with-a-jacket attire thats the uniform of so many in his profession, Hank looks like your average educator. Unsurprisingly, hes anything but.

Adapted from Richard Russos novel Straight Man by Paul Lieberstein (aka Toby from The Office) and Aaron Zelmanalong with executive-producer Bobby Farrelly, who helms the eight-episode seasons initial two hoursLucky Hank immediately establishes Hank as an outlier when, during yet another dreary class, hes incapable of uttering an engaged word to his students, including Bartow (Jackson Kelly), whos just read aloud his latest underwhelming paper. When pressed to say something, Hank lets loose, slamming Bartows work as subpar and the university itself as mediocritys capital. In that brutal assessment, he spares no one, from students to faculty members to himself, admitting that even if Bartow did have a flicker of inspiration (which he doesnt think is true), he wouldnt be able to bring it out of the kid.

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Unsurprisingly, that outburst doesnt go over well with the faculty dean (Oscar Nunez) nor with colleagues, most notably Gracie DuBois (Suzanne Cryer), a poetry expert who defends her record and reputation and then calls for a vote to oust Hank from his seat at the head of the department tablesomething thats acceded to by fellow professors Paul (Cedric Yarbrough), Emma (Shannon DeVido), Teddy (Arthur Keng), and June (Alvina August). Hanks wife Lily (Mireille Enos) likewise isnt thrilled about his blunt-force honesty, and as a local high school vice principal, she takes a polar-opposite tack when it comes to conflict resolution, offering an at-odds mother and teacher chocolates in order to ameliorate an incident caused by the parents son. That too doesnt turn out to be wholly successful, though, suggesting that Lucky Hank isnt quite ready to settle on the best plan of teacher-student attack.

The source of Hanks discontent is his father, a famed critic whose retirement is front-page national news, and who had little to do with his son during the past few decades. Hanks resentment is compounded by the fact that his debut novel was, to date, his last, and that hes crippled by writers blocka malady that stems from his insecurities. Hes not the only individual with paternal issues in Lucky Hank, and if that sounds like a familiar hang-up around which to pivot a story, Odenkirk nonetheless embodies his professor as a uniquely mordant midlife crisis-suffering pain in the ass whofor self-preservation purposeshas cocooned himself in misanthropic despair and fatalism. Hes a guy who proclaims that nothing matters, and burns bridges to back up his stance, as a means of distracting attention away from the reality that he does careat least about his own shortcomings.

Hank has his own parental headaches courtesy of daughter Julie (Olivia Scott Welch) and her boyfriend Russell (Daniel Doheny), who seem to think that Hank and Lily are benefactors upon whom they can rely rather than getting practical jobs. Hanks status as a frustrated father figure additionally extends to his officemates. In the funniest moment in Lucky Hanks first two episodes (which were all that critics received), he is ousted as department chair, only to then be reinstated to the post when he wins the follow-up vote to choose his replacement. Whether Hanks coworkers are interesting or amusing enough to sustain the shows ensemble format, however, remains to be seen; while Diedrich Bader is an auspicious wildcard as Hanks friend and racquetball partner Tony, Silicon Valley vet Cryers grating Gracie receives the most attention, which is not promising.

The New Ted Lasso Season Gives Fans Exactly What They WantFor Better and Worse

Hank and Enos rapport is far sturdier, as Hank and Lily feel like a married couple whose relationships nooks and crannies are filled with all sorts of frustrations and connections. The pair prove a solid bedrock foundation upon which to build a series, although at least at outset, Lucky Hank is a tad light on actual laughs or gripping incidents. Odenkirks inner-monologue narration sets an aptly dry, cynical tone, yet theres nothing particularly exciting about his campus travails, which, in the second installment concern the arrival of accomplished author George Saunders (Brian Huskey), a former friend who went on to have the successand relationship with Hank Sr.that Hank always coveted but never attained.

As with countless modern serialized series, Lucky Hank is playing a long game, so judging it on the basis of its opening chapterswhose effort is largely spent introducing its collection of characters and the dynamics that govern their multifaceted relationshipsis inherently difficult. Still, theres reason for cautious optimism, insofar as later episodes are destined to see Hank taking even more extreme action as a way of coping (or not) with his underlying problems. To make things really tick, Lieberstein and Zelman will have to find a way to fashion the men and women around their star as more than bland placeholders. However, as Better Call Saul demonstrated, if anyone can elevate a tale about a complicated jerk at war with the world (and himself) into must-see TV, its Odenkirk.

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A Ukrainian Border Guards ground reconnaissance group went on the offensive and eliminated a number of Wagner Group fighters.

Source: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

Quote: "Border guards have carried out a counterattack in order to eliminate a cluster of [Russian] occupation forces. Our fighters deployed an SPG-9 tripod-mounted recoilless gun to kill a machine gunner who was securing the approach to the building. A Border Guards ground reconnaissance group broke through and eliminated the Wagnerites."

Details: The border guards reported that one of their units fought a positional battle with Russian forces in the vicinity of a Bakhmut industrial facility.

On 10 March, Ukraines defenders repelled several Russian assault operations. Wagner Group mercenaries entrenched themselves in a workshop [at the industrial facility] to amass additional forces.

The Border Guards unit set up an ambush to eliminate the Russian group.

"As darkness fell, the [Russian] assault troops approaching the frontline were in for a surprise. The Border Guards snipers killed six occupation fighters," the Border Guard Service said in a statement.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The Brevard County Sheriffs Office is investigating a shooting at Spessard Holland Park.

According to a statement provided to Channel 9, there are no details at this time.

The Indialantic Police Department said there is a heavy police presence on the Melbourne Causeway because of the incident near Spessard Holland Park.

Read: 2-year-old killed in deadly Osceola County crash, troopers say

Investigators said there is no threat to town residents in unincorporated Melbourne Beach.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

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.
Update on Sunday, March 12, 2023: The Federal Reserve announced that Silicon Valley Banks depositors will be fully protected and that cash will be accessible starting Monday for both the insured and uninsured. As a result of this announcement, Brex CEO Henrique Dubugras wrote on Twitter that Brex's"emergency payroll loan offer is no longer required," adding that "this is a far better outcome for those customers."

Brex CEO Henrique Dubugras is currently working to raise over a billion dollars in a weekend to help fund an emergency bridge credit line that he believes will help startup customers impacted by Silicon Valley Banks collapse be able to make payroll next week. Dubugras declined to comment on how much capital has been committed for the credit line thus far, but said hes on back-to-back calls trying to get funds locked down.

Were working with a lot of lenders this weekend, to basically raise as much money as we can afford, Dubugras said. So far, over $1.3 billion of payroll loan requests has been made from over 500 applicants. The same people who are requesting the $1 billion have around 10 billion in aggregate deposits [at SVB]."

The founder says demand is increasing every five minutes. And while Dubugras said that the final close is TBD, he said its very likely they will close some capital.

One question is if the terms of the deal will be favorable to founders, or, as one entrepreneur ominously suggested to me today, will the sharks come out?

Brex is not disclosing the terms of the deal but said that they are not making money on these loans. That's where we're working through to kind of get what the right rate is, but think about it this way: there's not a lot of information right now and coming up with over a billion dollars in a weekend, its no easy feat, Dubugras said. So you know, I think that we're just trying to see if we can figure something out that works for everyone and create an option.

Another question is on the quality of applicants. As one founder told TechCrunch yesterday, onboarding an influx of people is the easiest way to invite fraud and get kicked out of the banking ecosystems. Dubugras said that the quality of SVBs customer base is pretty good.

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Most of the customers that were getting are real startups that had real businesses with real deposits  and theyre connecting the data to their SVB account that had real money in it, he said. We're verifying that these customers are real customers for sure  that is not what Im worried about.

I hope that the lesson for the industry is not, hey, if it's a bank that is not JP Morgan, it's unsafe. I think that will be terrible for our ecosystem and for America, he added. The lesson instead, Dubugras thinks, is for founders to distribute their risk. I think the safest place in my view for your money is not a bank account, its in a money market fund, and a cash management account, so thats why do we do this at Brex.

While Dubugras focuses on raising and asserts that Brex is operationally ready for this and isn't trying to make money off desperate founders, the company will have to prove they can pull this off.

As SVB fell, Brex was looked at as a formidable competitor seeking to benefit from the shifting of funds. Sure enough, sources tell TechCrunch that fintech was getting billions of dollars in deposits. Then SVB closed the wires, and hours later, was seized by the FDIC.

The reason we're doing it is obviously we want to support a community, that's very important, Dubugras said. The business reason we're doing this is because we'll fund these loans and our business accounts, and we hope people stay our customers right after that.

Dubugras isnt the only tech executive rallying others to help extend loans to founders. Another CEO is working to raise money for an emergency fund for climate-specific startups, while others are looking at ways to create funding sources for historically overlooked and marginalized groups of founders.

Talk about a day I'll remember for the rest of my life  Henrique Dubugras (@hdubugras) March 11, 2023

If you have a juicy tip or lead about happenings in the SVB fall out, you can reach Natasha Mascarenhas on Twitter @nmasc_ or on Signal at +1 925 271 0912. Anonymity requests will be respected.
Richard Teer, 46, in his cap and gown ready for Offender Mentor Certification Program graduation ceremony at California State Prison in Lancaster. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Before the graduates strode in to the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance," their prison blues peeking out from under their gowns, correctional officer John Janvrin encouraged them not to rush.

"Remember guys, you worked real hard for this. Real hard," Janvrin reminded the incarcerated men as they lined up in a back room, reread their notes, fixed their bow ties and adjusted the gold tassels bobbing from their mortarboards. The music began to play.

"Don't walk too fast," Janvrin told them as they began their procession. "Let 'em see you."

For more than a year and a half, these 20 men had been working for this: their graduation from training as alcohol and drug counselors. It was an accomplishment that could help them secure jobs both inside and outside the California prisons. It had also become a brotherhood they dubbed the Storming Cohort: Scarred Team of Recovering Men Inspiring New Generations.

Andrew Sanchez, 29, left, helps fellow graduate Raymond Maldonado, 43, get ready in black cap, bow and gown. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Beyond the razor-wire and high fences of the state prison in Lancaster, in a visiting room strung with gold and black balloons and celebratory signs declaring, "On to the Next Chapter," the men walked in a procession before loved ones and state correctional officials to be recognized. Some said it was the first graduation they ever had.

Stepping up to the lectern, graduate Ivan Stine said that "this program was the most difficult and rewarding experience of my life."

"Myself, along with these other gentlemen in these fine caps and gowns, have embarked upon a 1-year journey of self-discovery, self-disclosure, self-examination, self-honesty and self-healing, in an effort to achieve the dual goal of becoming certified addiction treatment counselors  and overall better human beings," Stine told the seated crowd. "Each and every member of this cohort courageously opened up their heart and exposed raw their deepest secrets, hurts, fears and shame."

They had gotten lessons in neurobiology and pharmacology, ethics and the law, family dynamics and relapse prevention. They had spent hundreds of hours being educated on addiction and counseling, preparing for a required exam. They would soon start putting in thousands of hours as interns  the final step that would ultimately lead to them gaining state-recognized certification as alcohol and drug counselors.

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Brian Neumann, 61, and fellow graduates all dressed in black cap, bow, gown and yellow sash ready for the Offender Mentor Certification Program graduation ceremony. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Even getting into the program was an accomplishment, as it's reserved for people who have gone years without serious violations of prison rules, penned a 500-word essay on maintaining their recovery and helping others, obtained at least two references from prison staff and gone through an interview process.

The intense, selective program is as demanding as a full-time job, prison officials said, and a training program that usually lasts a year had been interrupted repeatedly as the Lancaster facility grappled with the coronavirus.

Then there was the "storming" that this group had undergone together  the term for a tumultuous stage in team development that inspired their cohort name and ultimately forged them into a supportive fraternity. But the name had also come to stand, metaphorically, for the storms they wanted to pull themselves and others through.

"Today we are no longer prisoners," Stine declared. "We are professionals."

His shoulders were draped with a graduation stole of canary yellow, emblazoned on one side with the words "Offender Mentor Certification Program." On the other: "OMCP." It is a state program that has existed for more than a decade, beginning with an inaugural class at the state prison in Solano County now chronicled in a documentary film.

Kristopher Kirschner reaches out to his mother, Eileen Peterson, as new graduates walk in for the certification program graduation ceremony at California State Prison. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

But this was the first class to graduate from the Los Angeles County facility  and the first men to graduate from the program at a "Level 4" site, state officials said. Level 4 means "we're in a high-security institution for those that are considered to be the most violent and dangerous men in prison," Diana Weston explained to the crowd that Tuesday.

Weston is director of criminal justice contracts for Options Recovery Services, which helped develop the program and now operates its seven sites across the state. She went on to talk about the labels that could weigh the men down: Criminal. Addict. Failure.

Now, she said, these graduates had taken a chance and earned the right to be labeled something different: "Substance use disorder counselor," or "professional healer." It was a new label they needed to carry forward, she said, because "there's so many hurting individuals carrying those negative labels that need your help."

"If this is really, truly about rehabilitation, we should be doing it for everybody," Weston said in a later interview. "And that's what's happening."

The men had borne a number from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. They got a new one during this process  their registration number for certification as an alcohol and drug counselor, said Alvin Barksdale, director of the OMCP program in Lancaster.

Richard Teer, who said he had been incarcerated since 2015, could already recite that number from memory. It was the first thing he had ever completed, he said, holding the crisp piece of paper that had been handed to him during the ceremony, along with a certificate of recognition from U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Santa Clarita).

Richard Teer, 46, right, and others practice their speeches at the Offender Mentor Certification Program graduation ceremony at California State Prison in Lancaster. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

"I never thought I could be anything other than what I've been all my life," Teer said. Now, he said, he had gotten his GED and started picking up college credits in psychology, communications and social science. His goal, once released, is to return to work again in the prison system. "And this shows that there's an opportunity for us. That we're needed and wanted.

"It's funny that even though I'm in prison," he said, "this is the happiest I've ever felt in my life."

Drug overdoses claim thousands of lives annually in California, and the threat has not skipped over its prisons, where nearly 300 people have died of overdoses between 2012 and 2020, according to statewide reports. Prison officials have worked to bring down deaths through an initiative that offers substance use treatment, including medications to help people shake off addiction.

"There are so many people that are incarcerated in California that need help. We can't get to everybody. And then you step in," Brant Choate, director of the state division of rehabilitative programs, told the men in their mortarboards. "And you're part of our answer. ... That's how special you are."

The California program is set aside for people with more than five years left to serve on their prison sentences, and after finishing their training, many head on to other prisons to serve as paid mentors to people undergoing addiction treatment. Some were preparing themselves for the parole board or already eyeing a release date; a few members of the Storming Cohort had already been paroled and were working as interns to finish the hours needed for their certification as alcohol and drug counselors.

Graduating inmates applaud a presentation by a fellow graduate of the Offender Mentor Certification Program at the graduation ceremony. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

More than a dozen people across the state have graduated from the program, been released and gone on to work as contracted staff at California prisons; others who have been paroled work at community programs providing addiction treatment.

Among them is Jamal Johnson, now an internship supervisor with Options Recovery Services, who had worked at outpatient and residential recovery programs after being released from prison a decade ago, one of the "First 50" graduates of the state program. He now works with the program at the Lancaster prison.

"Without the program, I don't know where I would be," Johnson said. He had been arrested as a teenager, he said, having never had a job before. "I grew up as an alcoholic, a drug dealer and a gang member"  experiences that now help him build a "therapeutic alliance" with his clients, he said.

"They know that I empathize with their position that they're in," Johnson said. "Because I've been there."

Al Sasser, another one of the "First 50" graduates, credited the "parallel process" of working on the self and helping others. "We have this saying, 'The more I work on me, the better everybody else gets,'" said Sasser, who is now working with a San Luis Obispo-area prison. What sets the OMCP apart as a program in the prisons, he said, is that it "enables you to see past the gates."

Yet the program has also been life-changing for graduates who are unsure if they will ever use their skills on the outside. "I used to hear people say they wake up in prison  and they're not in prison. And I didn't get it," said Frederico De La Cruz, 58, who has been in prison for decades on a life sentence. "Now I do."

"I wake up. I'm in the same bed. Same walls," he said, holding fast to his certificate after the ceremony. "But it doesn't translate to me the same. I wake up different. I'm able to go out and be different."

During the ceremony, De La Cruz recited a poem he had written. "We are living proof that even those who are guilty of the most wrongful deeds/Can pluck from the flowers of love and hope and sow these very seeds," he read.

Graduating inmates lead by Michael Coats, 57, enter the hall for the Offender Mentor Certification Program graduation ceremony. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

His younger brother Rudy, who had made the trip from Fontana for the ceremony, looked on beaming at De La Cruz in his black robe. Around them, other grinning families embraced their new graduates and settled in at tables to eat barbecue, baked beans and cupcakes frosted in yellow and white. An instrumental cover of "Lean on Me" played in the background.

"I don't got that physical freedom," De La Cruz said. "But I have that spiritual freedom right now."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A school van is parked in front of Chicago Bulls College Prep, on West Adams Street in Chicago on March 10, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

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Bogus threats at schools in the Chicago area have left students and staff anxious and law enforcement on high alert, part of a troubling nationwide trend that began in September, experts say.

The threats, besides being disruptive and extremely stressful, can produce swatting fatigue, or threat fatigue, experts say, and have hit various suburbs and at least one Chicago public school in the last few weeks. They turn into a waste of resources for law enforcement, and can cost in the six figures, according to experts.

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The FBIs Chicago office received about 84 reports of incidents, meaning reports of some type of school-centric threat, whether founded or unfounded, between October 2021 and September 2022, said FBI spokesperson Siobhan Johnson. Between January 2023 and March 3, they have received approximately 10 incident reports per month, Johnson said.

If reports continue at this rate, it would be a hike of about 42%.

According to school safety expert Kenneth Trump, there are two broad categories of school-related threats: swatting threats  prank calls that attempt to draw a swarm of police officers to an address or location  and other threats that are linked to something special about the school, or stem from people or former students who have grievances with someone or something at the school.

These other threats are easier to identify for at least two reasons, experts say: affected students often speak up to an adult they trust, and a digital footprint is often left behind, which makes it easier for law enforcement to identify the threat maker, Trump said.

Swatting, so-named from the massive police and sometimes SWAT response, ends up to be very costly  upward in the six figures, said Trump. These can hit several schools in the same day.

Johnson couldnt comment on data for swatting, but according to the FBIs website, these threats or hoaxes have been happening since at least 2018, when the educational media campaign think before you post was displayed on their website.

And, according to Trump there has been a spike in swatting incidents at schools nationwide since September, including most recently in Colorado and Kansas. In Colorado, Trump said, they timed it to hit cities there alphabetically, within minutes of each other.

This seems to be the longest streak that I remember, said Trump, who has 35 years of experience in school safety training. Law enforcement tends to nail down similar waves like these more quickly. It hasnt been nipped in the bud.

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Recent threats

Closer to home, in-person classes were canceled Friday for the students at Elmwood Park High School after officials said there was potential threat and they wanted to exercise caution.

We received a report of a potential threat during the EPHS student organized walkout that was planned for 10 a.m. this morning. Out of an abundance of caution we will move to an e-learning day today at EPHS, Superintendent Leah Gauthier wrote in a message distributed to district families just before 7 a.m. Friday.

In Elgin, swatting was blamed for an emergency situation on Feb. 28, when a school district received an unsubstantiated threat to Elgin schools, the district said in a tweet. The schools were not placed on lockdown and our buildings remain secure according to the tweet.

On Feb. 20, Wheaton North High School was hit with a callers false threat to kill everyone. The swatting drew a large police response to the school as officers responded to similar threats on the same day at Winnetkas North Shore Country Day School and Wilmette Junior High School. Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park went on hard lockdown when another swatting hoax hit the school Feb. 10.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, swatting hoaxes have been rare, Chicago Public Schools spokesperson Mary Fergus said. But Chicago police confirmed at least two fake threats have occurred in one West Side high school.

Chicago Bulls College Prep, with an enrollment of more than 1,000, was evacuated about 8 a.m. on Feb. 27 after someone called in a bomb threat  their second in less than a year.

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There is a bomb in the gym, and the kids know! the caller told the principal, a police report said.

The caller reached a clerk at the school office, who immediately notified the principal, who called 911. The school, 2040 W. Adams St., which put in effect its safety plan, was in session at the time and all students were moved to nearby Malcolm X College while police searched the area using bomb-sniffing dogs. They did not find anything, the report said.

No injuries were reported, and staffers and students returned to school later that day.

The same clerk took a similar call from a male caller at 7:02 a.m. on May 3, 2022.

There is a bomb inside the auditorium! After a moment of silence, the caller said: There is a bomb inside the auditorium and if you call CPD it will detonate! according to the report.

The school was not evacuated that time, but police searched the school and didnt find anything, and nobody was hurt. The telephone number the caller used did not go through to anyone, the police report said.

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Response from law enforcement

If CPS schools have an emergency, schools are trained to call 911, according to Fergus.

Once a report is made, regardless of the source, we can respond to a report of an incident with urgency, Fergus said in a statement. We coordinate our respective resources to respond while validating the conditions at the school whether there is an actual active situation or whether the report is a hoax.

Fergus said CPS takes all safety threats seriously and responds to all incidents consistently and thoroughly using strong protocols and partnerships with sister agencies in the city, including police, fire and OEMC.

Chicago police spokesperson Maggie Huynh also said student and school safety is a top concern, a priority and regular training is provided.

We work closely with the CPS Office of School Safety and Security and all schools to respond to incidents quickly and thoroughly investigate all threats, Huynh said in a statement. We also participate in school safety drills with fellow public safety agencies at schools across the city to make sure we are equipped and trained for emergency situations.

For the FBI, if a person making a threat has the means to make it happen, the threat will generally be regarded  at least initially  as credible, Johnson said. That determination could change as more information comes in.

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Its always a dynamic situation, Johnson said.

We gather intelligence to ensure they have as complete a picture as possible and work with other agencies, including police and prosecutors, to determine the most appropriate action, Johnson said.

When agents receive a threat, they evaluate it for merit.

We consider whether this is likely a real threat or whether someone is threatening something they could not possibly carry out, (or have no intent to carry out), Johnson said.

Anxiety, stress, confusion and high price tags

For students, parents, and school staff the situations generate a high degree of anxiety and ambiguity to what already exists said Trump, the school security expert, referring to the already-looming awareness of mass school shootings.

Parents and school officials need to talk to the young people to make sure they know that threat will be thoroughly investigated and there will be consequences. By tracking digital footprints, eventually they will find the threat-makers, Trump said.

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Trump said its not unusual to have threats targeting multiple school districts across states within the same day.

Oftentimes theyre computer generated, or digital threats or threats communicated by phone or other electronic means. Oftentimes they originate from across state or international borders, Trump added.

An alarming side effect from the high number of threats seems to be swatting fatigue/threat fatigue, Trump said, when people become complacent. The majority turn out not to be credible but nobody wants to be that one, Trump said, meaning officials have to investigate no matter what.

And officials havent been able to stop this latest wave, which began around September, he said.

It begs the question of: Are the threat makers that sophisticated? Are they more complicated? Trump said.

The callers face expulsion or criminal prosecution with demands for restitution.

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Hoax incidents are federal crimes, Johnson said, adding they usually see younger adults involved. The FBI constantly has to reeducate by distributing and coordinating media campaigns.

Real threats already rampant

In Chicago, real threats on school campuses are rampant. Most recently, March 1 about 4:30 p.m. multiple schoolchildren took cover under a slide, Cook County prosecutors said, when a domestic quarrel led to a shootout ending with the death of Chicago police Officer Andres Mauricio Vasquez Lasso near an elementary schoolyard. No children were injured and a man has been charged.

On Dec. 16, 2022, four students were shot  two fatally - outside Benito Juarez high school. A former student has been charged.

Flowers, candles, balloons and signs at a memorial at Benito Juarez Community Academy high school in Chicago on, Dec. 19, 2022, days after two teens were fatally shot. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Additionally, its not uncommon for students to sometimes bring guns to city schools, which, though also disturbing, is a different kind of threat, officials said.

At least one such disturbance happened recently in the South Shore neighborhood.

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 >

On Feb. 22 at 1 p.m., Chicago police were called to Isabelle OKeeffe school, 6940 S. Merrill Ave., where a 14-year-old boy had brought a gun to school. The student was charged and nobody was hurt. Police said they found the boy inside the school and confiscated a gun.

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Schools, while training for these emergencies, should have an internal list for heightened security measures, otherwise theyd close schools every day, according to Trump.

Additional police patrols, more periodic checking of washrooms and a school crisis community strategy is also critical. So they can hit the ground running, so everyone can get out, Trump said.

Rumors and misinformation that used to be spread in hours and days, now its in seconds and minutes, Trump said.

Another issue is evacuating the schools. You think you know what youre getting away from but oftentimes you dont, and schools lose control of the students if theyre evacuated, Trump said.

In the end, the majority of kids dont like these threats, pranks and hoaxes, and become as upset as the teachers. It doesnt help them, Trump said. They have enough on their plate, he said, with academics, sports, and extracurricular activities to have to worry about something else.

rsobol@chicagotribune.com
By Akriti Sharma and Nia Williams

(Reuters) -A Canadian banking regulator on Sunday said it was taking temporary control of Silicon Valley Bank's unit in the country, as the fallout from the collapsed U.S. startup-focused lender reverberated around the world.

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) said it is seeking to gain permanent control of the Canadian branch's assets, adding that it is asking the attorney general of Canada to petition for a winding-up order of operations.

"By taking temporary control of the Canadian branch of Silicon Valley Bank, we are acting to protect the rights and interests of the branch's creditors," Peter Routledge, the superintendent of financial institutions, said in a statement.

OFSI said the U.S.-headquartered bank has operated in Canada since 2019 as a foreign bank branch based in Toronto. Its business in Canada is primarily lending to corporate clients, and the branch does not hold any commercial or individual deposits in Canada.

The Canadian unit had C$435 million ($315.33 million) in secured loans at the end of last year, more than double the amount at the end of 2021, according to regulatory filings.

Canadian digital advertising-tech firm AcuityAds Holdings Inc. became the latest company swept up in the SVB mayhem, when it revealed on Saturday that it held $55 million in deposits at SVB, accounting for almost 90% of its total cash.

Silicon Valley Bank customers in the United States will have access to their deposits starting on Monday, officials said on Sunday, as the federal government announced actions to shore up deposits and stem any broader financial fallout from the sudden collapse of the tech startup-focused lender.

($1 = 1.3795 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru; editing by Diane Craft, Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis)
Fox News host Tucker Carlson promised never-before-seen footage of the Jan. 6 riot that would reveal new details and alter public perceptions of the Capitol breach. But in his first shows dedicated to the topic, he largely came up short in delivering smoking guns.

Carlson gained access to some 44,000 hours of the attack by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), a move that was opposed by former members of the Jan. 6 committee and alarmed Capitol Police who said it had remained unaired due to security concerns.

Carlson featured footage of Trump supporters milling about the Capitol, exploring the building after rioters had smashed windows and forced their way in.

The video record does not support the claim that Jan. 6 was an insurrection. In fact, it demolishes that claim, Carlson said on the opening night of his program.

It doesnt answer every question from Jan. 6, far from it. But it does prove beyond doubt the Democrats in Congress, assisted by [former Illinois Republican Rep.] Adam Kinzinger and [former Wyoming GOP Rep.] Liz Cheney, lied about what happened that day. They are liars. That is conclusive, he added.

But Carlson excluded key details in his report, recasting the roles played by various people and diminishing the violence of a day that led to multiple deaths.

Heres a look at some key parts of the programming.

Disputing Ray Epps timeline

Carlsons report included security footage centered on Ray Epps, a man who was pictured in a Jan. 5 video telling a crowd to go into the Capitol.

This spurred numerous theories that he was an undercover agent or informant attempting to provoke the Capitol breach.

Carlson nodded to that theory on his show.

For more than two years we have wondered why some in the crowd that day who seem to be inciting violence were never indicted for it, Carlson said. We assumed these were federal agents of some sort. We still assume that.

In making that case, Carlson did reveal a new detail about Eppss timeline on Jan. 6.

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In a January 2022 interview with the Jan. 6 select committee, Epps talked about a 2:12 p.m. text message to his nephew: I was in the front with a few others. I also orchestrated it, Epps texted, later telling the committee that he meant he had helped get people to the Capitol.

Epps told the committee that when he sent that 2:12 p.m. text message, he would have been on his way back to his hotel room.

But Carlson showed security footage that he said pinpointed Epps on the Capitol grounds half an hour later.

He lied to investigators. The Jan. 6 committee likely knew this, too. Democrats had access to the same tape, yet they defended Ray Epps, Carlson said on his show.

Epps told the committee that he was not acting on behalf of any government agency when he was in D.C.  contrary to the theories that he was an undercover FBI agent or informant.

He also said he suspected that he had not been charged by the Department of Justice in connection with Jan. 6 because more videos show he was trying to stop the violence, trying to keep people from getting themselves in more trouble.

Separately, Jan. 6 defendant Ryan Samsel  whom Epps was taped whispering to moments before Samsel moved forward toward police in one of the first confrontations of the riot  told the FBI that Epps had told him to relax, The New York Times reported.

Rehashing Brian Sicknick controversy

Carlson casts doubt on the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died the day after the attack after engaging with rioters.

Initial reporting that was retracted a few weeks later indicated he died after being struck in the head by a fire extinguisher, and a medical examiner later determined he died of natural causes, noting, all that transpired played a role in his condition.

U.S. Capitol Police contend the rigors of that day contributed to his death, but Carlson seemed focused on details about the fire extinguisher that were corrected more than a year and a half ago.

Heres surveillance footage of Sicknick walking in the Capitol after he was supposedly murdered by the mob outside. By all appearances Sicknick is healthy and vigorous. Hes wearing a helmet, so its hard to imagine he was killed by a head injury. Whatever happened to Brian Sicknick was very obviously not the result of violence he suffered at the entrance to the Capitol, Carlson said.

This tape overturns the single most powerful and politically useful lie the Democrats have told us about Jan. 6, and it was indeed a lie.

In a letter to Capitol Police officers this week, Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger directly contrasted Carlsons account, calling it the most disturbing accusation from last night in asserting his death had nothing to do with heroic actions on Jan. 6.

The department maintains, as anyone with common sense would, that had Officer Sicknick not fought valiantly for hours on the day he was violently assaulted, Officer Sicknick would not have died the next day, the chief said.

Barry Loudermilk tour

Carlson offered a selective retelling of the tour Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) gave a group of constituents the day before the riot.

The Fox News host rehashed details already known about the episode: that Loudermilk gave the tour to constituents and toured only House office building and hallways while failing to make it into the actual Capitol.

Those details came out in June, when the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack released the footage of the tour.

Carlson said the group were constituents, none of whom are quote insurrectionists,  but he failed to mention that two of the men in Loudermilks party did show up at the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6.

Theres no escape Pelosi, Schumer, Nadler. Were coming for you. Were coming in like white on rice, for Pelosi, Nadler, Schumer, even you AOC. Were coming to take you out, and pull you out by your hairs, one of the men Loudermilk gave a tour to said outside the Capitol on Jan. 6.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said Wednesday that Democrats owe Loudermilk an apology after the Carlson footage aired.

They implied things about him that werent true that those tapes revealed, Scalise said.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who was chairman of the committee, declined to offer an apology to Loudermilk on Wednesday.

All he had to do was come and testify before the committee and we could have cleared it up, Thompson said, also denying that the select committee implied that Loudermilk helped insurrectionists by giving the tour.

Loudermilk, who was asked to voluntarily appear before the Jan. 6 panel to discuss the tour, is now leading his own investigation into Jan. 6.

We need to give a serious, in-depth investigation into what happened that day, which the J6 committee didnt do. We need to know, where were the security failures  as well as what do we need to do to fix it? said Loudermilk, who serves as chairman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight.

Focus on QAnon Shaman

Carlson focused on QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley, who wore fur and a Viking hat during the riot and as such was one of the most recognizable intruders. Hes now serving a 41-month prison sentence.

The new security footage showed Chansley being followed by officers walking behind him and passing a group of several officers without being stopped.

Carlson said that the officers acted as Chansleys tour guide, saying that Chansleys understanding that the officers were his allies means that his sentence does not match his crime or public perception  and could potentially alter his case.

A plea agreement signed by Chansley admitted that Capitol Police officers repeatedly asked him to leave the building.

While Carlson said that it was not clear how Chansley got into the Capitol, the plea agreement admitted he entered the building through a broken door around a minute after it was breached, becoming one of the first 30 intruders in the Capitol. Already-public security footage shows his entrance.

If he was, in fact, committing such a grave crime, why didnt the officers who are standing right next to him place him under arrest? Carlson said.

Manger called the tour guide characterization outrageous and false in an internal message to officers on Tuesday.

I dont have to remind you how outnumbered our officers were on January 6. Those officers did their best to use de-escalation tactics to try to talk to rioters into getting each other to leave the building, Manger said.

Its not clear whether Chansley may benefit from the video, though his former attorney told Carlson this week that he did not have access to those specific clips.

The footage is already being brought up in the ongoing trial of Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola, who said the Chansley video shows the Senate could have continued their proceedings following the breach.

This footage is plainly exculpatory; as it establishes that the Senate chamber was never violently breached, and  in fact  was treated respectfully by Jan. 6 protestors. To the extent protestors entered the chamber, they did so under the supervision of Capitol Police. The Senators on Jan. 6 could have continued proceedings, Pezzolas attorney wrote.

The Justice Department dismissed the notion that defendants have not had access to sufficient evidence, telling CNN they have a trove larger than the printed contents of the Library of Congress.

We have taken numerous steps to assist defense teams in identifying the information most relevant to their client within this library in order to let them decide how to proceed. After gaining access to evidence related to the events of January 6, roughly 600 defendants, to date, have pled guilty or been found guilty, the D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office told the outlet.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Twitter/PETA UK)

A family has been reunited with their beloved cat nearly a month after strong earthquakes caused widespread destruction in Turkey and Syria.

Thousands of people were killed after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake and resulting aftershocks devastated the region, impacting northern Syria and southern Turkey.

Weeks later, a team of Peta rescuers found a lost cat in Hatay  located about 100 miles away from Gaziantep, the earthquakes epicentre.

The team then transported the grey cat, who was scared and hungry, to a veterinary clinic in Adana.

Thanks to his microchip, we discovered that his name was Behlul, Peta said, in a video about tracking down the cats family on Twitter.

It was the microchip that led the team to Behluls family and his guardian Elif, who was staying in Antalya with her grandparents when the earthquakes occurred, according to a report by Metro.

While Elifs father Kadir Karahan and uncle managed to rescue the 16-year-old, who was found buried under rubble over 24 hours after their house succumbed to the earthquakes, her grandparents were among the victims who died.

Behlul was nowhere to be found, with a reunion looked unlikely, Peta claimed.

We are thrilled to be part of this happy ending for Elif and Behlul

Thanks to his microchip we were able to locate his family following the earthquakes in Turkey. Here is what happened next. #petaearthquakerescue @Tylerdurdeen01 pic.twitter.com/ltU8CDEs6B  PETA UK (@PETAUK) March 12, 2023

However, three weeks after the tragedy, Peta vice-president Mimi Bekhechi called the family up on FaceTime, who were overjoyed to see Behlul safe and sound.

Still on crutches and recovering from her injuries, Elif picked Behlul up from the vets office, where the cat he is now safely back with his family.

Bekhechi told Metro: This work involves many dark and difficult moments, and many stories dont have happy endings, but I will never forget the joy on their faces and Behluls purr upon being reunited with his beloved Elif.

Karahan thanked the animal rights organisation in a tweet, expresing gratitude for bringing our son back home.
There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse.

So, the natural question for Centrex (ASX:CXM) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves.

Check out our latest analysis for Centrex

When Might Centrex Run Out Of Money?

A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. As at June 2022, Centrex had cash of AU$13m and such minimal debt that we can ignore it for the purposes of this analysis. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$9.2m. So it had a cash runway of approximately 17 months from June 2022. That's not too bad, but it's fair to say the end of the cash runway is in sight, unless cash burn reduces drastically. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

How Is Centrex's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

Because Centrex isn't currently generating revenue, we consider it an early-stage business. So while we can't look to sales to understand growth, we can look at how the cash burn is changing to understand how expenditure is trending over time. Remarkably, it actually increased its cash burn by 459% in the last year. With that kind of spending growth its cash runway will shorten quickly, as it simultaneously uses its cash while increasing the burn rate. Centrex makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. So we'd generally prefer stocks from this list of stocks that have analysts forecasting growth.

Can Centrex Raise More Cash Easily?

While Centrex does have a solid cash runway, its cash burn trajectory may have some shareholders thinking ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future 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.

Since it has a market capitalisation of AU$95m, Centrex's AU$9.2m in cash burn equates to about 9.6% of its market value. Given that is a rather small percentage, it would probably be really easy for the company to fund another year's growth by issuing some new shares to investors, or even by taking out a loan.

So, Should We Worry About Centrex's Cash Burn?

Even though its increasing cash burn makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Centrex's cash burn relative to its market cap was relatively promising. Even though we don't think it has a problem with its cash burn, the analysis we've done in this article does suggest that shareholders should give some careful thought to the potential cost of raising more money in the future. On another note, Centrex has 5 warning signs (and 2 which are significant) we think you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty Images

No one knows how to pay back a snub quite like Cher. In 1986, the Goddess of Pop showed up at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for the 58th Academy Awards wearing what would become one of the most recognizable gowns in Oscars history. She stole the show, provingas she would two years later when she won Best Actress for Moonstruckthat the academy should not have underestimated her. It was a rock star move.

Cher knew exactly what everyone at the 1986 Oscars would think when she walked into that room; she was counting on it. Shed already shown up on multiple occasions wearing midriff-bearing gowns, and her Met Gala naked dress was years behind her. The thing was that by then, she not only didnt care but was even itching for a fight. As she would tell Film Comment in 1988, Cher knew that her stunt wouldnt win her any friends in the academy. But thats just always going to be me, its going to be the way I do stuff because I just have a hard time with authority. Honestly? Relatable.

In Mask, Cher plays the mother of a teenager living with craniodiaphyseal dysplasiaa rare genetic disorder that affects the shape of ones skull. The film received largely positive reviews when it debuted, including for Cher herself, who wound up winning best actress at Cannes. So when the Academy declined to nominate her, the multi-hyphenate got her vengeance through fashion. Her partner in crime? Bob Mackie, the designer of her famous naked dress, who on this occasion designed a revenge gown for the booksa translucent beaded garment that once again showed off Chers belly button and came with a huge feather headdress to boot.

Speaking with Vogue in 2019, Cher said the get-up remains one of my favorite, favorite outfits. She recalled telling Mackie that she wanted to have a mohawkand that she wanted the look to be so over-the-top that its next week. The idea came to her, she said, mostly because the academy didnt really like me.

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I thought they hated the way I dressed, and I had young boyfriends, and they just thought I wasnt serious, she continued. So I came out and said, As you can see, I got my handbook on how to dress like a serious actress.

John Travoltas Adele Dazeem Oscars Moment Destroyed My ComputerBut Saved My Ears

I was not alive in 1986, but the anecdote has always stood out to me regardless. Maybe its the head tilt and the smirk she makes in the YouTube videos. Maybe its the way she chews on the words, like a serious actress before flashing a knowing grin. Its the smile of a woman who does not get mad but instead gets evenwho responds to getting stood up by putting on an even louder dress and strutting out the door for an even wilder night. In the face of unjust defeat, Cher decided to be immaculate and throw it in their faces instead. The word iconic gets overused these days, but these are the kinds of moves it was invented to describe.

Even Chers directive to Bob Mackie says it all. Speaking with journalist and The Daily Beast contributing writer Esther Zuckerman for her 2022 book BEYOND THE BEST DRESSED: A Cultural History of the Most Glamorous, Radical, and Scandalous Oscar Fashion, the fashion titan remembered Chers directive that above all, I dont want to look like a housewife in an evening gown. Mission accomplished! Instead, she got spite incarnatebut make it fashion. Or maybe a better word would be, make it fabulous.

Bring Back the Oscars Acting Tributes That Made Me Cry, Dammit!

There were a lot of people who said, Thats not fashion! Mackie told Zuckerman. And I said, Of course its not fashion. Its a crazy getup for attention. And it did get attentionpeople talk about it still.

Read more of our picks for My Favorite Oscars Win

Three 6 Mafia winning Best Original Song

Parasite winning Best Picture

Marisa Tomei winning Best Supporting Actress

Read more of our picks for The Oscars Moment Ill Never Forget

The emotional 2009 acting tributes

John Travoltas Adele Dazeem gaffe

Anne Hathaway and James Francos hosting disaster

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Key Insights

The projected fair value for Chevron is US$203 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Chevron's US$160 share price signals that it might be 21% undervalued

The US$191 analyst price target for CVX is 5.6% less than our estimate of fair value

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

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 want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Chevron

Step By Step Through The Calculation

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. 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) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$30.0b US$27.9b US$31.7b US$31.0b US$30.7b US$30.7b US$30.8b US$31.1b US$31.5b US$32.0b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x11 Analyst x11 Analyst x2 Est @ -2.34% Est @ -1.02% Est @ -0.09% Est @ 0.56% Est @ 1.01% Est @ 1.33% Est @ 1.55% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 9.2% US$27.5k US$23.4k US$24.4k US$21.8k US$19.8k US$18.1k US$16.7k US$15.4k US$14.3k US$13.3k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$195b

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.1%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.2%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$32b (1 + 2.1%)  (9.2% 2.1%) = US$461b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$461b ( 1 + 9.2%)10= US$192b

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$387b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$160, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 21% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

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 Chevron as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.195. 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 Chevron

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded its 5-year average.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Oil and Gas industry.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Oil and Gas market.

Opportunity

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation 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?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Chevron, we've put together three further elements you should explore:

Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Chevron , and understanding it should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does CVX'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 NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
The Duval County jail in downtown Jacksonville.

There has been a great deal of discussion lately about the future of downtown, specifically the riverfront area. Included in this is a recognition of the need to relocate the jail facility away from the downtown riverfront. This naturally turns to a question of cost.

No one  and I mean no one  wants to spend money on a new jail. However, I would like to point out a positive in this otherwise expensive and unpleasant situation.

Approximately two years ago, a diverse group came together to create a local Mental Health Offender Program here in Jacksonville. Known as MHOP, this is the areas first concerted effort to get individuals with significant mental illness who are chronically arrested out of the jails and into treatment.

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The problem is simple. There are a small number of individuals with significant mental illness who continue to get re-arrested over and over for nuisance crimes, clogging our jails and the court systems. These are individuals who have fallen between the cracks and are not violent. I repeat, they are not violent. They are usually arrested for minor offenses, such as trespassing or loitering, and are taken to jail. There they are held for relatively short periods of time before the charges against them are dropped.

These individuals are released back into the street (without any services) to begin this cycle over again. One individual for example was arrested 97 times over the course of three years, an arrest of approximately every 12 days. The cost of housing, court appearances, holds under the Baker Act and law enforcement resources is staggering. And most importantly, there was no end in sight.

The good news is that there is a known solution to the problem with measurable positive outcomes. Those outcomes include savings to the community, improvement in mental health services and improved safety to the police and correctional officers in dealing with these individuals. This all comes at no increased risk to the safety of the community.

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In Miami, there is a revolution underway that redefined the handling of those individuals with significant mental illness who interact with the criminal justice system. This includes increased training to detect those with mental illness and a system of delivery of services that is focused on treatment instead of incarceration. The results in Miami have been eye-opening. They have been able to close one of their jails and their arrest statistics indicate that they incarcerate two-thirds fewer individuals with three times the population than does Jacksonville.

A client of the Sulzbacher Center talks with Shana Williams, a specialist with the Mental Health Offender Program.

Thanks in large measure to Councilman Ron Salem, Rep. Wyman Duggan and then-Sen. Aaron Bean, local and state monies were identified to fix this problem. A group came together  including then-Sheriff Mike Williams, State Attorney Melissa Nelson, Public Defender Charlie Cofer, Cindy Funkhouser and Dr. Colleen Bell of the Sulzbacher center, Judge Kelly Eckley-Moulder and Magistrate Brooke Brady  to begin the process of replicating this model on a small scale in Jacksonville. Individuals meeting eligibility criteria were identified and offered mental health services and temporary housing, instead of being warehoused in the jail with little to no treatment.

The results show that these individuals are provided ongoing care and receive Social Security benefits to which they are entitled. There has been some success in placing graduates of this program in assisted living facilities or other permanent supportive housing where they have become stable, law-abiding members of our society. Prior to 2020, there were 33 individuals identified as potential participants in the MHOP program. These defendants accounted for a direct cost of $477,320, including costs associated with arrest, inmate housing and Baker Act proceedings.

Since being admitted into MHOP, these costs have decreased to $38,550, which represents a direct dollar savings to the taxpayers of $438,770. This is not to mention the fact that these people are now stabilized, receiving mental health services and leading a more normal existence.

With continued support of this program by the sheriff, local elected officials and state leaders, Jacksonville could also realize the benefits seen in Miami. This would include a significantly smaller jail footprint, fewer individuals arrested, increased safety to law enforcement and a huge step forward for downtown to become a vibrant part of our city. Not to mention the benefit of humane treatment for some of our most helpless and troubled individuals, whose only real crime is that they suffer from untreated acute mental illness with no other way to access help.

In short, this is a safe, logical, cost-effective and humane solution to a problem that demands our immediate attention and support.

Chief Judge Mark Mahon

Mark H. Mahon of Jacksonville is the chief judge of the 4th Judicial Circuit in Florida, serving Duval, Clay and Nassau counties. He was elected to serve beginning in January 2015.

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville judge touts Mental Health Offender Program to help downtown
By Joe Cash

BEIJING (Reuters) -China unexpectedly kept its central bank governor and finance minister in their posts at the annual session of the rubber-stamp parliament on Sunday, prioritising continuity as economic challenges loom at home and abroad.

President Xi Jinping, who has been installing allies in key roles in a government reshuffle as he begins a third five-year term, broke with convention to retain Yi Gang, 65, as governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) and Liu Kun, 66, as finance minister. Both men have reached the official retirement age of 65.

Across the slate of appointments, there were fewer changes than anticipated, with most cabinet ministers keeping their posts. However, further announcements are expected in coming weeks as China implements a reorganisation of its financial regulatory structure and other government bodies.

"Opting for continuity in these critical economic roles suggests an emphasis on credibility and stability," said Mattie Bekink, China director at the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network.

"It is also perhaps a tacit acknowledgment of some of the challenges for Beijing at the moment," she said. "The real challenge for this third Xi administration is whether it will address structural imbalances in Chinas economy and undertake reforms necessary to ensure Chinas long-term competitiveness."

The government has set a 2023 economic growth target of around 5%, up from 3% last year, which was among the weakest performances in decades.

China's statistics bureau head, Kang Yi, told the parliamentary session on Sunday that China's economy still contains deep structural "contradictions" and "problems", according to state media.

Chinese policymakers face the challenge of getting the economy back on track after three years of COVID-19 restrictions, weak consumer and business sentiment and increasingly adversarial relations with the West, with many global firms looking to hedge their China exposure.

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Also on Sunday, China as expected appointed Li Shangfu, who is sanctioned by the United States over the purchase of Russian weapons, as defence minister, and named a slate of four vice premiers, led by Ding Xuexiang, who has long served as Xi's chief of staff.

'POSITIVE SIGNAL'

The biggest change at the parliament session was the promotion on Saturday of Li Qiang, 63, a longtime Xi confidant, to premier. The former Shanghai Communist Party boss takes a role charged with managing the economy, replacing Li Keqiang, 67, who stepped down after two five-year terms.

"The government sent a positive signal to the market by keeping these senior financial experts in the cabinet," said Zhang Zhiwei, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management.

The U.S.-educated central bank chief Yi, appointed PBOC governor in 2018, had widely been expected to retire after being left off the ruling Communist Party's Central Committee during the party's once-in-five-years congress in October.

Analysts had anticipated that once Yi and Liu stepped aside, they would be replaced by people with far less international experience.

"The U.S. side will be much more comfortable with someone like Yi Gang in charge," said Alfred Wu, assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

"It shows China wants to at least have a dialogue with the United States on monetary policy and financial cooperation," he said.

Sources had told Reuters last month that Zhu Hexin, chairman of state-run financial conglomerate CITIC Group Corp, was likely to succeed Yi as head of the central bank.

The appointments "indicate that the government put professionalism, management and the art of fine-tuning on the front burner when it comes to picking the central bank governor and finance minister, as positions at the helm of core economic departments need tremendous professional skill," said Sun Fei, an economist.

As expected, Wang Wentao stayed on as commerce minister.

Zheng Shanjie, governor and deputy party secretary of Zhejiang province, was approved to take over as head of the National Development and Reform Commission, the powerful state planner.

The parliamentary session will end on Monday, with Xi expected to give a speech and Li, the new premier, scheduled to hold a televised media conference afterwards.

(Reporting by Joe Cash; Additional reporting by Qiaoyi Li and Yew Lun Tian; Editing by Tony Munroe and William Mallard)
Hong Kong-based indie sales agent Autumn Sun comes to FilMart with a bulging slate of new film titles from around Asia  including two animated features from mainland China.

Autumn Sun, headed by sales veteran Elliot Tong, is giving a market premiere to Planet Cat, an animated feature by Song Yuefeng (Ping Pong Rabbit, Throne of Elves) about a chance meeting between a stray cat and a girl in a city at night. The film is produced by Nuctopus Studio and Dreamers Studio and previously won a development prize at the Beijing International Film Festival. The feature is now in post-production and a promo reel is being screened at the market.

More from Variety

Dance With the Finless Porpoise, another Chinese animated feature in post-production, also gets its market premiere. The fantasy imagines the finless porpoises as guardians of the Yangtze River delta, with one who can turn herself into a human princess. The film is co-directed by Chen Xi and Chen Weijian and produced by Global Digital Creations.

In an altogether different register is Mae Nak Reborn: Chapter 1, a ghostly horror film from Thailand. The story sees an ancient witch take revenge on a gang of rapists. The film is directed by Adirek Phothong and starsvOlaf Smith, Mai Prangned and Ploy Janthakan. Production is by Rush Hour Film Art.

Dont Close Your Eyes is a recently completed Cambodian-produced horror film. Directed by Kou Darachan and produced by Sastra Film, the film tells the story of a woman who tries to escape the nightmares that are so powerful they could kill her.

Australian family comedy Rubys Choice completes Autumn Suns slate. Starring Jane Seymour, the film tells a touching story of a teenage girl forced to share a bedroom with her grandmother, who is suffering from dementia. The feature, completed last year, was directed by Michael Budd (Life of the Party) and produced by Amazing People Pictures.

Story continues

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A memorial on March 14, 2023, on the porch at the scene of a fatal house fire in the 2500 block of Rutherford Avenue. A Chicago firefighters wife and 3 kids were killed in the blaze at their Montclare neighborhood home. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

A mother and her three children have all died following a blaze at the home of a Chicago firefighter in the Montclare neighborhood on the citys Northwest Side, officials said Saturday.

A little boy, two-year-old Emory Day-Stewart, and his sister Autumn Day-Stewart, 9, died most recently, earlier Saturday and Friday respectively, according to the Cook County medical examiners office.

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Their mom, Summer Day-Stewart, 36, died Thursday and her son, 7-year-old Ezra Stewart, died Wednesday night, the medical examiners office said.

The firefighter, Walter Stewart, was on-duty and responded to a fire in his own home in the 2500 block of North Rutherford Avenue and tried to save his wife with CPR in front of the familys house Tuesday night.

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Police earlier said the 2-year-old was a girl and said the 9-year-old girl was 7.

When Stewart heard his own address as the location of the blaze, a Chicago Fire Department chief drove him from a fire station five miles away.

First responders found Day-Stewart and the three kids unconscious from smoke inhalation and in grave condition, officials initially reported.

Boarded up fire damaged home in the 2500 block of north Rutherford Ave. March 8, 2023, following a fire in which four people were injured. Fire spokesman Larry Merritt confirmed that the fire happened in a firefighters home. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Outside his burning home, the young firefighter performed CPR on his wife, Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford said earlier.

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Its gotta be like hell, Langford said earlier. Were doing all we can to support him.

The veteran fire spokesperson said earlier he had never seen anything like this nightmare scenario during his many years with the department. Firefighters homes have caught on fire, he said. Even fire stations have caught fire, he added.

But Langford said he couldnt remember the department facing a tragedy like this.

As long as Ive been associated with fires, I cant fathom what hes going through. Its just unbelievable. I cant even think of what it feels like, Langford said earlier.

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The fire began in the homes kitchen but its cause was not known yet, Langford said earlier.

The department is raising money to help Stewarts family face the unspeakable tragedy through its charity, Ignite the Spirit.

Chicago Tribune reporter Jake Sheridan contributed.
ChatGPT

The law firm Mishcon de Reya has restricted lawyers use of ChatGPT amid fears that they risk compromising data by using the chatbot.

The 1,000-person business has told staff not to upload any client information to the AI tool for fear that the data could be compromised.

It follows concerns among employers that sensitive data could be exposed through workplace usage of ChatGPT, a chatbot developed by the Microsoft-backed start-up OpenAI that can provide human-like answers to complex questions.

Nick West, partner and chief strategy officer at the business, said: Mishcon de Reya has a clear policy in place that client and confidential firm information must not be uploaded to ChatGPT or any other models.

Mishcon joins several other professional services and financial institutions, which are subject to strict regulations, in cracking down on chatbot tools.

Last month, JP Morgan restricted traders from using the artificial intelligence software. Investment banks Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Deutsche are reportedly taking similar measures.

Accenture, the tech consultant which has more than 700,000 workers, also warned staff over exposing client information to ChatGPTs tools. Meanwhile, employees at the accountant PwC have been encouraged to experiment with the platform personally, just not with client-related work.

Despite the firm-wide ban, Mishcon is still examining if ChatGPT or similar platforms can be used by the business.

The London-based law firm is seeking to hire a GPT Legal Prompt Engineer, whose responsibilities will include ensuring that it can meet ethical and regulatory requirements, according to a job advert on LinkedIn.

Mishcon, best known for its work representing Princess Diana in her divorce from the Prince of Wales, is not the only law firm looking to develop a robot lawyer.

Last month, Magic Circle law firm Allen & Overy rolled out Harvey, an AI tool built with support and funding from OpenAI.

The chatbot, available to over 3,500 lawyers, is designed to automate legal services  from drafting contracts to regulatory compliance  although any recommendations will still be reviewed by a qualified lawyer.

Clifford Chance, another Magic Circle firm, is using lawyer-bot technology made by Robin AI, a British start-up working with Google-backed company Anthropic.
A former prime minister of Israel on Sunday called for massive civil disobedience in his country if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's package of judicial reforms is enacted.

Speaking on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," Ehud Barak said, "Once a government, using the tools of democracy, in order to destroy it from within, and ends up acting in a blatantly illegitimate matter, it is not just the right of citizens, it is, in my judgment, the obligation of citizens to turn unfortunately toward civil disobedience."

He added: "It's an attack on the very soul and nature of our democracy."

Barak, who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001, appeared on Zakaria's program with Tzipi Livni, a former Israeli Justice minister and former vice prime minister.

A former Defense minister and chief of staff of the military, Barak raised the possibility of the Israeli military refusing to accept orders from Netanyahu's government if it improperly seizes more power.

"We do not have a contract with a dictatorship and once there is a de-facto dictatorship in Israel, we do not have a contract with them," he said of the military. (Barak clarified that he was certain soldiers would obey orders if the country's survival was in jeopardy.)

Netanyahu's package of judicial reforms would essentially strip his nation's Supreme Court of its independence and defang the nation's courts by making it possible for the government to pass legislation that can't be reviewed in the courts. Netanyahu and his backers say the legislation is necessary to curb the power of renegade judges.

Opponents of the measure, some of whom have taken to the streets to protest over the last 10 weeks, insist the legislation could undermine the democratic nature of the country by eliminating safeguards.

"These are not judicial reforms," Livni told Zakaria. "It is about changes of the nature of Israel as a democracy."

She added: "The politicians in the government and the parliament can legislate, but the Supreme Court could and should supervise human rights."
Zohreh Sadeghi linkedin.com

A Clubhouse streamer and her husband were killed by an obsessed stalker who then killed himself at their home in Washington state Friday morning, police said.

Zohreh Sadeghi, 33, a software engineer who streamed in Farsi about the tech industry, was killed alongside her husband, Milad Naseri, 35, after Ramin Khodakaramrezaei broke into their home in the Seattle suburb of Redmond.

Speaking at a press conference, Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe said that Khodakaramrezaei broke into Sadeghis home through her mothers bedroom. The mother was able to flee the house and called police from a neighbor's home.

Police said that Khodakaramrezaei had discovered Sadeghi on Clubhouse after listening to a stream about gaining employment in the tech industry.

Police said Khodakaramrezaei had begun talking with Sadeghi as friends until things escalated, and she contacted the police in December.

According to a petition for a protection order filed by Sadeghi and obtained by local news outlet KIRO 7, Khodakaramrezaei was given a warning by police in January. Sadeghi then filed the protective order with the police against Khodakaramrezaei in March, but he was never located to be served.

Lowe said one of the biggest challenges during the police investigation was trying to locate Khodakaramrezaei because of his profession as a truck driver. Investigators had been attempting to locate him for an arrest in addition to serving the protective order, Lowe said.

This was an individual who, by virtue of his profession, moved from place to place, so it was difficult to, Ill say, pin him down to a location. It wasn't as though he was local and we had a local address to where we could either do surveillance or find him, serve the protective order, et cetera, Lowe said.

In her petition for the protective order, Sadeghi expressed fear for herself and loved ones over Khodakaramrezaei's obsessive behavior. She mentioned in the document that Khodakaramrezaei told her he had a history of domestic violence involving his ex-wife and was not afraid to break the law. She described him as having bursts of anger and [being] completely delusional.

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Police said that Khodakaramrezaei had harassed Sadeghi over the phone for months, in one instance calling her more than 100 times in one day. Lowe added that he had also bought Sadeghi items of affections and mailed them to her home.

Ramin Khodakaramrezaei Redmond Police Department

Sadeghis petition said that Khodakaramrezaeis behavior included leaving her voicemails that threatened her, threatening to burn himself and the trees surrounding her home, and demanding that she delete her Instagram account or make it public so he could see what she posted, the petition said.

Khodakaramrezaeis voice messages to me have been the cause of anxiety and insomnia for me, Sadeghi wrote.

Sadeghi added that he contacted her husband 20 times every day and told him he had installed an app on his phone that had been recording her.

He sent an edited snippet of the recording. I was not in an emotional state to listen to it, but I feel really violated that he has been recording me without my consent, Sadeghi wrote.

He also went as far as acquiring her friends' phone numbers and home addresses, according to the petition.

Khodakaramrezaei had shown up in person at Sadeghis neighborhood several times, staying at nearby inns and parking down the street from her home, according to the document. She said he had sent a gift and indicated that he hired a jazz band to play in front of her home for two hours but canceled later.

Sadeghi also said she had had major back surgery that impacted her mobility, and she was fearful about her ability to respond to a crisis.

All of this has caused me great distress and pain, and now I am suffering from a deep-seated fear for my safety. It has taken a toll on my recovery, Sadeghi wrote in the document. I havent been able to open the curtains in my bedroom out of fear of him being outside watching me.

According to data by the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center, nearly 1 in 3 women have experienced stalking victimization at some point in their lifetime. Of women who were victims, 69% were threatened with physical harm.

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An employee of a south Charlotte McDonalds was shot to death outside of the restaurant on the night of March 11, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.

Officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call just after 10:30 p.m. at a McDonalds on Starbrook Drive and South Boulevard. Police said LaCarta Roseborough, 23, was shot outside of the fast food restaurant and taken to a hospital, where he later died.

A brief argument between Roseborough, who was on break, and the suspect led to the deadly encounter, police said.

A Channel 9 crew was at the scene while it was active and could see officers picking up shell casings near the entrance of the restaurant.

A pastor at a nearby church told Ch. 9s Anthony Kustura the crime in the area keeps getting worse. Its the third shooting that Channel 9 has reported on in the past six months at this McDonalds.

We do feel there has been more violent crime over toward South Boulevard than maybe in years past, Rev. Alex Lott of Starmount Church said.

ALSO READ: Suspect in custody after deadly shooting at northeast Charlotte gas station

A 30-year-old man was shot and killed in the parking lot after an argument in November. Neighbor Gilmar Perez heard the gunfire and now does not allow his family to go to the restaurant anymore.

You think about your family and the other person, Perez. [I] never go over there to that McDoanlds, only to the gas station to get gas.

A month earlier, police say someone was shot in the drive-thru lane and seriously hurt.

Lott wants people to just put down the guns and hope police step up patrols in the area.

We preach the gospel, we try to live our neighbor as we would love ourselves but we do have to be aware that being a hood neighbor sometimes means helping to keep you know the dangerous crowd out of the neighborhood, Lott said.

CMPD Major Jackie Bryley said they are still looking for a suspect in Saturdays shooting.

We are still looking for the suspect or suspects involved with this incident, Bryley said. Right now, its still very early on in this investigation.

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The shooting happened beyond a good view of any surveillance cameras in the area, police said.

If you saw or heard anything related to the shooting, you are asked to call the police.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

(WATCH BELOW: CMPD investigating an officer-involved shooting in southwest Charlotte)
Alex Cochran, Deseret News

Around Christmas, Matt Hartley, director of the Interfaith Center at the University of North Florida, found himself on a naughty list of sorts.

The state of Florida had asked his employer and other public universities to compile and submit information on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives on campus, as Gov. Ron DeSantis prepared his now-prominent policy push against what he would call woke programming, particularly regarding race.

Since North Floridas Interfaith Center is part of the schools DEI Office, details about Hartleys work and Hartley himself were included in the data the school sent to the state.

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I knew that not only my center but my name was on that list. You definitely get a sense that people are aiming for you for caring about inclusion, which is sad and discouraging, said Hartley, who spoke with the Deseret News about his own experience, not on behalf of his employer.

DeSantis and other leaders in the growing anti-DEI movement would say the problem is illiberalism, not inclusion, but the result is the same: Interfaith advocates like Hartley feel uncertain about their future, despite the fact that their work centers on religion, not race.

I could lose my income, my health insurance. I could lose this work that Im passionate about, the work of inclusion through religious diversity, Hartley said.

His students, meanwhile, could lose opportunities to learn about their classmates religions and to teach others about their own beliefs and practices. The Interfaith Center regularly hosts events aimed at boosting understanding of everything from the Jewish holiday of Purim to what its like to grow up Muslim in the South.

Theres no indoctrination going on, Hartley said. Theres a full inclusion of voices across the religious and political spectrum.

But opponents of existing DEI infrastructure believe the focus right now should be on what could be gained from bringing change to campuses, rather than on the processes and programs that could be lost.

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Overly bureaucratic diversity initiatives are preventing universities from actually meeting students needs, said Ilya Shapiro, senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute.

Its not that everything that is now under an office that has one of the words of DEI in its title needs to be gotten rid of, he said. The concern is university administrators are instilling certain ideological doctrines that are contributing to an illiberal wave.

Defunding DEI

Shapiro, who co-authored the Manhattan Institutes model anti-DEI legislation, believes passing bills to defund campus DEI offices is a way to make universities freer and more ideologically diverse.

By forcing restructuring, policymakers can ensure the departure or reassignment of school employees who are sowing division, he said.

Offices that ... promulgate a worldview about hierarchies of privilege are only inflaming tensions, he said.

If the DEI world was a forest, what Shapiro would be advocating for would be a tree thinning, rather than a fire. Hes not calling for diversity initiatives to be burnt down to ashes, but, instead, for them to be refocused on student-led clubs and the types of programs that college students from 20 years ago would recognize.

Nothing that would have existed or did exist 20 years ago is threatened, whether thats interfaith centers or a Title IX office, Shapiro said.

But that message is already getting lost in states where anti-DEI bills were filed in recent months.

At a February press conference focused on the state of higher education, DeSantis called for DEI programs and critical race theory to get no funding so that they might wither on the vine, according to The Associated Press.

Statements like those have come to dominate the conversation, said John Hawthorne, an evaluator for a higher education accrediting association, adding that its no wonder educators like Hartley feel as if theyre running out of time.

How do you protect your programming when all it takes to be seen as controversial is somebody with a platform thinking something is off-kilter? Hawthorne asked.

Future of interfaith programming

Even under the approach Shapiro outlined, religion-related programming could be scaled back on campuses nationwide. Thats because at many schools, the administrators planning race or sexuality-based events are the same people setting up programs on faith.

In other words, not all schools have a clearly defined interfaith center that might retain support as other DEI initiatives are viewed with suspicion. And those that do may still have to deal with government-imposed budget cuts.

Hartley believes students involved in North Floridas Interfaith Center programming would suffer if an anti-DEI bill passes, whether or not the center itself faces staff or budget cuts. The young people he works with have so many different identities and benefit from multiple parts of the DEI office, he said.

Its not good enough for me for interfaith to dodge this, he said.

Thats why hes spent recent weeks telling friends and neighbors about what DEI initiatives look like from his perspective. He hopes theres still time to change the publics  and policymakers  perception of what he and his colleagues contribute to campus life.

I am proud of our diversity and inclusion efforts at the university, he said. Theyre bridging difficult divides.
Columbus City Hall

The Columbus Chamber of Commerce is expressing reservations about legislation before the Columbus City Council that would bar employers in the city from asking job candidates about their salary history.

Introduced this past week by Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, the legislation would, in addition, prohibit employers from screening job applicants based on their salary history; from relying solely on salary history when deciding whether to hire someone; and from refusing to hire someone for not providing their salary history.

Cincinnati and Toledo have similar bans in place. In Columbus, employers with 15 or more employees would be subject to the ban. Federal, state and local government employees would be excluded, with the exception of city of Columbus employees.

Columbus Chamber of Commerce fears ban on pay history questions would harm business operations

Desmond Bryant, vice president of governmental relations at the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is concerned the legislation would harm business operations.

"The Columbus Chamber believes employers, not the government, are in the best position to make decisions regarding their respective hiring process," the chamber said in a statement provided by Bryant. "Business owners should have the freedom to make sound decisions with regard to hiring their workforce and to adopt practices that meet the needs of their respective workplaces.

Desmond Bryant is the vice president of governmental relations at the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.

In an interview, Bryant said laws in place like the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 already protect employees from pay discrimination.

Bryant said he hopes the council will provide tools and resources to help businesses understand how their some of their practices may be harmful instead of passing a law that mandate how they should operate.

More:What is Equal Pay Day and how does Columbus measure up?

The response from Columbus businesses has been mixed.

A spokesperson for JP Morgan Chase declined to comment on the legislation, but said the financial giant does not currently ask about salary or credit history as part of its application or interview process.

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A spokesperson for Cardinal Health also declined comment, but said the Dublin-based healthcare services company eliminated pay history questions several years ago. "We also formed a committee in 2019 to analyze pay equity within our organization and we conduct annual audits that identify potential pay gaps," the spokesperson added.

Nationwide said it was monitoring the legislation and Safelite AutoGlass did not respond to a request for comment.

If passed, the legislation would take effect March 1, 2024. The Columbus Department of Neighborhoods' Community Relations Commission would be tasked with investigating complaints, and employers who run afoul of the ban could be subject to fines.

Asking about salary history perpetuates gender pay gap, critics of the practice say

Employers use salary history to make employment decisions and determine an employee's new salary. But Barroso de Padilla argues the practice perpetuates historic gender inequalities.

"Asking a worker about their salary history and relying upon that information when making a job offer can perpetuate any previous disadvantages that worker experienced in the market," the legislation reads.

More:An Ohio State professor fought for equal pay and won. Here's how

Robin Bleiweis, a research associate for womens economic security with the Womens Initiative at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank, wrote in an article last year that asking a job applicant about their prior salary can have "unintended, harmful consequences, including barring qualified candidates from job opportunities and systematically relegating women and workers of color  particularly women of color  to lower pay that may have been set lower because of discrimination."

Banning Columbus employers from collecting salary history, with some exceptions, would help close the gender pay gap, Barroso de Padilla argues. In 2022, women earned an average of 82% of what men earned, according to the Pew Research Center.

Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla proposed legislation before the Columbus City Council that would bar employers in the city from asking job candidates about their salary history

The pay gap is directly contributed to the wealth gap, Barroso de Padilla said last month, noting how women of color in particular have missed out on hundreds of thousands of dollars during their lifetime.

A spokesperson for Barroso de Padilla said she plans to introduce a separate measure that would prevent employers in Columbus from asking job candidates about their credit history.

Monroe Trombly covers the workplace and environmental issues for The Columbus Dispatch.

mtrombly@dispatch.com

@monroetrombly

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus chamber concerned with pay history question ban proposal
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy needs to counter President Biden's budget with a realistic GOP spending plan  or risk a catastrophic default on the federal debt. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

President Biden unveiled his $6.8-trillion budget proposal last week, and it drew the customary jaded responses: a work of fiction. A party platform with price tags. And, of course, dead on arrival.

All true. But from Bidens standpoint, the budget rollout was a resounding success that served two purposes.

It put the president where he wants to be as he prepares an expected reelection campaign, with one foot in his partys center and one in its progressive left.

Biden gave centrists a promise to cut future deficits by almost $3 trillion and shore up Medicares deteriorating finances.

But he also asked for more funding for child care, elder care and fighting climate change, and said hed pay for the whole package by raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy.

In a campaign-style speech at a union hall in the swing state of Pennsylvania, he said his budget was designed to give working-class folks a fighting chance. Expect to hear more of that as he tries to woo those voters next year.

More important, the budget was Bidens opening offer in a battle over federal spending that is likely to consume the rest of the year.

The president knows the Republican-led House of Representatives wont agree to the social programs hes proposed or the tax increases to pay for them.

Beyond campaign positioning, his real goal was to nudge House Republicans toward serious negotiations and a vote to raise the debt ceiling, which limits government borrowing.

Republicans have said they wont raise it unless they get deep spending cuts in return  an ultimatum that risks touching off a catastrophic failure by the government to pay its bills. But they havent settled on a comprehensive list of the cuts they want; theres no official GOP budget proposal.

Theyve mostly recycled traditional conservative demands for cuts in spending they consider wasteful, plus one innovative wrinkle: Theyve promised to trim the budget by eliminating woke spending.

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And what, you may ask, is that? The definition isnt clear.

Judging from the examples Republicans offer, woke spending appears to include anything conservative voters dont like: racial equity efforts, especially in the armed forces; programs aimed at helping LGBTQ people; and anything to do with climate change.

Plus a walking trail in the Atlanta suburbs. A $3.6-million federal grant to extend the Michelle Obama Trail is on the House Budget Committees hit list of woke waste. If the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners had named the path after Rosalynn Carter, it might not be in as much trouble.

But cutting every penny of so-called woke spending, no matter how broadly the term is defined, wont eliminate the deficit.

The woke waste list was compiled by House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), who has offered the closest thing Republicans have to a plan.

Arrington has proposed cutting domestic spending by $150 billion next year. That sounds like a lot, but it would reduce the federal deficit by only about 9%.

And that gets us to the House Republicans real problem: Theyve boxed themselves in to a fiscal trap, thanks mostly to former President Trump.

For decades, conservatives proposed balancing the budget partly by cutting future spending on Social Security and Medicare.

But Trump abandoned that doctrine, and other Republicans, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, fell in line  even though fiscal experts in both parties acknowledge that the programs are heading toward financial trouble.

So while Republicans want spending cuts, they have ruled out taking them from the biggest programs: Social Security, Medicare and defense.

To balance the budget within 10 years, as they say they want to do, they would need to cut almost every other part of the government by an unrealistic 85%, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Biden has taken Social Security and Medicare off the table, too, but he has built himself an escape hatch: He wants to raise taxes on corporations and people who make more than $400,000 a year. That would allow him to put money into Medicare and reduce the national debt.

Republicans have sworn never to raise taxes, so they need to find another solution to the math problem. They havent.

Thats why the danger of a budget crisis  not only a government shutdown, but a catastrophic default on the federal debt  looks greater this year than ever before.

The way to avert such a crisis is to begin serious negotiations. Bidens budget proposal has put the ball in McCarthys court. Wheres his plan?

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The A-frame cabin in the Catskill Mountains. Tim Williams.

An NYC-based couple bought a 1970s A-frame cabin in the Catskills in the fall of 2019.

One bedroom had no doors, the stairs had no railings, and there was little thought to furnishing.

For the renovation, BHDM Design wanted to honor its Japanese origins and natural elements.

An A-frame wooden cabin tucked in the Catskill Mountains, New York, was bought by a young NYC-based couple in the fall of 2019, a representative for BHDM Design told Insider.

On the left, a few of the 27 skylights that cover the A-frame cabin. On the right, the view from the cabin. BHDM Design / Tim Williams.

The three-story cabin located by Bellayre Mountain in the Catskills is naturally flooded with light thanks to the 27 skylights dotted around the home. It allows guests to see the beautiful landscape outside, but originally the interior wasn't as impressive, Sarah Peterson Major, BHDM design's director of interior design who was in charge of this project, told Insider.

There wasn't much thought put into the original furnishings. "It was more of a place to be and less of a place to experience the interior," Major said.

It was rough around the edges but the clients, who are Major's friends, saw that the cabin had a ton of potential, she added. The clients bought the cabin to have as a weekend retreat, and requested to remain anonymous.

Structurally, none of the floors were level, everything was kind of wonky and the stairs were "a bit of a death trap" as they had no railings, Major said.

The home, which was built in the 1970s and designed by Japanese architect Ikuyo Tagawa, is one with nature thanks to organic elements such as the wooden walls and stone fireplace.

One of the bedrooms, left, and on the right, the fireplace in the living room. Tim Williams.

The new owners wanted to celebrate its Japanese heritage while also not changing it too much. Major had a chance to meet the original owner, and said the cabin was very special to her. One of the informal conditions of the sale was that it remained as unchanged as possible, she said.

Another goal was to update the cabin while keeping it one with nature. They were looking to "maintain that sense of connection to the land and the natural materials that we inherited and really blend it with something that felt updated without taking away the original essence of the project," Dan Mazzarini, the creative director of BHDM Design, told Insider.

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The renovation took six to nine months, Major said. Planning began in November 2019 and the majority of work finished within six months, but the project was delayed due to the cabin's remoteness, as well as the pandemic.

The project cost roughly $250,000, a representative for BHDM Design told Insider.

The basic, bare living room was subtly transformed into a warm and cozy lounge space.

The before, left, and after, right, of the living room. BHDM Design/Tim Williams.

The cabin has a fireplace that runs throughout the home and is visible in every room. However, it was only safe to use in the living room, Major said.

They added a new insert to make the fireplace usable, but found it difficult to find one that would fit in the organic shape of the original fireplace cavity, Major added.

They then added a giant built-in sofa  one of their main aims was to tailor all the furniture around the space so that it felt like it was always there, Major said. It was also built-in to maximize floor space whilst achieving as much seating as possible.

The sofa also conceals the heating system, and the top can be opened for storage space, Major told Insider. Thanks to it being so big, it can be used as a bed by guests.

They didn't touch the wooden walls, but they did subtly elevate the end-grain wooden floors by lightly staining them black to pull out the color of the grain, Mazzarini said.

All the furniture was chosen very consciously. It was important that all the pieces look organic and feel natural, Mazzarini added.

They didn't add much artwork to the home. "That's intentional because the art really is these 27 skylights that we have," Major said.

The color scheme had an equal amount of thought. All the colors were mainly black and white, as they wanted the spectacular mountain view to be the eye's main focus, Mazzarini told Insider.

The bedroom was a more involved process, as it was originally an open platform.

The bedroom before, left, and after, right. BHDM Design/Tim Williams.

The bedroom originally didn't have its own door, and there was an overlook into the main living space, Major told Insider. The clients wanted more privacy, with at least the option to close a door.

They took out the spindles of the handrail on the overlook, and added a full sliding glass wall with a metal and glass railing, allowing the door to open and close, Major said.

They built pockets into the ceiling to install roller shades for added privacy and light control. It also provided a structure to support the glass doors, Major said.

They also bought an organic-looking wood platform bed that they purposely placed low to the ground to counter-emphasize the height of the ceiling, Major said.

A big feature in the room is the two-tier paper light fixture. It's a nod to Japanese screens and is really soft and kind of crinkly, Major told Insider.

The open-plan kitchen was very important for the clients as they love cooking. Major said she kept the main top half the same and modified the bottom half.

The kitchen before, left, and after, right. BHDM Design/Tim Williams.

They added new cabinets under the window that hide the new dishwasher and trash system, Major told Insider. A new fridge was also added.

They also stained the wood black. "The thought there was kind of a signal that this is a new touch on this space," she said. Throughout the home, anything that was recently added is typically black, with exception to the living room.

Every decision, no matter how small, was detail-oriented. When picking out the stain for the woodwork, they were very intentional about the level of matteness as they didn't want the shine to draw any attention, Major said.

They didn't add much furniture, but did include lighting around the ledge that carries around the perimeter. At night it added a subtle glow to the kitchen, and in the day the skylight shines through, which makes the space feel airy, she said.

Structurally, nothing changed in the dining room.

The cabin's dining room before, left, and after, right. BHDM Design/Tim Williams.

Having a dining table that could seat eight people for entertaining was important for the clients, Major said. BHDM Design chose a white square concrete table, as they felt it was a nice, clean contrast to all of the wood.

As a nod to the cabin's Japanese origins, they complemented the table with Japanese-inspired chairs, Major said.

They added lights that were "designed to sneak around the top" as a graphic element, she told Insider.

The bathrooms were completely transformed. They're "a little more jewelry perhaps than in other spaces," Major said.

The bathroom before, left, and after, right. BHDM Design/Tim Williams.

There are two bathrooms, one for guests, and one primary bathroom. The renovation aim was to modernize it and create a clean, organic aesthetic, Major told Insider.

In both bathrooms they added new black toilets, new plumbing fixtures, Marquina marble countertops, new light fixtures, and new sinks, Major said.

It was important to the clients to keep the original flooring. They kept the original cabinet as a base but stained it black. "It definitely needed a refresh," Major added.

There were a lot of other important touches around the cabin.

The stairs had open space underneath and no railings before, left. BHDM Design added black railing and closed off the open space to add storage space, right. BHDM Design/Tim Williams.

BHDM Design updated the stairs with black railings to make it more user-friendly.

"We certainly didn't want anyone falling from the third story down the center of the A-frame," Major said. It was challenging to integrate metal, glass, and rustic wood, but they made it work.

They also added extra storage space here. Thanks to its remoteness, quickly going to the grocery store was not an option, she said, so you need to have all your ingredients on you at all times.

They closed off previously open space under the stairs to create extra storage space, she said. They also elevated the cabin further by adding a laundry area and a small wine cellar.

It was a long, challenging renovation.

The dated hallway and bathroom that needed a refresh. BHDM Design.

The location made the renovation more complicated. Finding contractors who were able to take on the project in such a remote area was a challenge  Major said she recalls calling 40 contractors for the job.

Anyone from New York City had to make a two or three-hour trek on sometimes unpaved roads, Mazzarini added.

It was made even more difficult when 75-80% of the renovation was done, and a COVID-19 lockdown happened. To ensure safety, as a team they would get tested for COVID before meeting and also had self-enforced masking, Mazzarini said.

For Major, however, the biggest challenge was being pregnant during the process and "trying not to fall down the center core of the stairs," she said.

The BHDM Design staff's advice for anyone looking to renovate their home is to look to the space for answers.

"Take cues from the existing structure, take cues from the landscape, and sort of enhance that," Major advised.

It's also important to be patient, Mazzarini added. "If this project taught us all anything, it was really that projects like this take time," he said.

Read the original article on Insider
Photo Illustration by Erin OFlynn/The Daily Beast/Reuters

I owe Sen. Tom Cotton an apology. Early in the pandemic, I called a theory he was pushingthat COVID leaked from a Wuhan labhot garbage. I should not have. The partisan heat of the 2020 elections got the better of me, and shame on me for that.

A recent estimate from the Department of Energy reported (with low confidence) that COVIDs origin can be traced to a lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Its brought the lab leak issue back to public debate.

Partisan talking points from the right include apologize to me and Fauci lied about everything. From the left, its the theory was plausible, but we dont like that Trump and Republicans put it forward, and its only a low confidence estimate, so whatever.

Stop Being a Jerk About Nikki Haleys Name

Lost in the partisan fights over where the virus originated (which we will not know for certain for a long time, if ever) is our continued overarching national security vulnerability.

It took three years for us to collectively admit something that should have not been controversial: If theres a virology lab somewhere, if the government of that country is tyrannical, secretive, and paranoid, and if there is an epidemic in that area, it is possible that we are dealing with a human conspiracy, not undercooked bat steak.

But that we still cant tell where the virus came fromand that we knew little about it when it arrived in the United Statesopens us to national security vulnerabilities and realities we must acknowledge.

Something in the Department of Energys report that surprised many Americans is the fact that the department has its own intelligence agency. Its but one of 18 intelligence agencies, all overseen by the White Houses Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

The quantity of intelligence agencies, however, does not match the quality.

With the end of the Cold War, U.S. policymakers cut back on U.S. spycraft. The spread of the internet and the digital era shifted the focus of the intelligence community to signal intelligence (SIGINT). The U.S. government has far fewer people on the ground than it used to, but many more at their desks hacking enemies and deciphering signals picked up from satellites. While its great that the intelligence community is investing in SIGINT, thats no substitute for human intelligence. This problem is manifested in two ways.

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First, some intelligence agencies have concluded that the COVID leak likely came from the lab, while others have rejected that estimate. What all have in common is that they have low confidence in their conclusions.

What the U.S. National Security Community Is Getting Wrong About China

So Americans must ask why it isafter being told that China is the great challenge of the coming decadesthat we are so clueless about the internal dealings of the Chinese government? Certainly, over the past three and a half years, Chinese politicians have discussed COVID and its origins substantiallyit is unfathomable that such a monumental issue went undiscussed. How could U.S. intelligence not have found a way to eavesdrop on those discussions?

Second, it is hardly controversial to say that the Chinese governments leadership is comprised of a bunch of untrustworthy actors. In late 2019, COVID was still a mostly localized epidemic. Meanwhile, China was engaging in deception, lies, and coverupsbecause that is what paranoid totalitarians do.

We will never know whether the coronavirus could have been contained at the time, but the world did little to jump ahead of the virus by quickly moving to shield itself from transmission and develop treatments and vaccines. A major reason we knew little about the virus and its epoch-defining potential was that the intelligence agencies were neither paying attention, nor capable of collecting the necessary data and information.

In 2019 and 2020, the Chinese government was trying to hide the then-epidemic from the world. It contemptibly cracked down on whistleblowers, manipulated the World Health Organization (WHO)whose director ascended to the position with Chinas backingwithheld information, and destroyed viral samples. Instead of helping the world prepare for the horrors to come, Chinese authorities were doing everything to exacerbate it.

Tedros Adhanom, director general of the World Health Organization, meets with Chinese President Xi jinping before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Jan. 28, 2020. Naohiko Hatta/Pool via Reuters

If history is any guide, this was not out of cynicism, but hubris, fear, and a totalitarian instinct for lying and secrecyall stemming from paranoia that their power would be threatened. We should expect more of this so long that we are dealing with a totalitarian China.

Knowing where the virus originated matters in many ways, but it wont change the facts that the Peoples Republics leaders are unreliable liars, and that our intelligence agencies are unprepared for dealing with the threat they pose. But a reflection on whats already happened should teach us a few lessons moving forward.

First, as much as Republicans and Democrats cannot stand each otheras well as the millions of Americans who cannot stand either of themwe are still a free country, while China is totalitarian. Knee-jerk rejection of whatever comes from the mouth of someone from the other U.S. party (again, Ive been guilty of it!) will unnecessarily hinder our ability to resolve important issues that transcend partisan politics.

Second, we all love to talk about shared threats to humanity which we should be able to work with our geopolitical enemies to resolve. After all, climate change and pandemics dont pick and choose which countries they harm. But the COVID pandemic shows that these nice sentiments have their limits.

Tim Ryan Is Right. China Is Our Adversary.

The Chinese government couldnt bring itself to work with us to mitigate the epidemicand then the pandemicand it is still refusing to accept our help to vaccinate their people, much less be transparent about COVIDs origins. Be it climate change, a future viral disease, or an unforeseeable global challenge, we should expect them to remain counterproductive, trying to exploit it for their political aims.

Working with the expectation that Chinese leaders will continue to cut their nose to spite their face, and taking them for liars that they are, we should reinvest in intelligence capabilities, especially human intelligence in China, that can collect information and verify whatever the Chinese government has to say.

The pandemic, a transformational event, is behind us. But it still has many lessons to teach us. The most pertinent of those: We must better equip ourselves, for the China challenge remains ahead.

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Bally's Chairman Soo Kim at a new conference with Mayor Lori Lightfoot to celebrate the passage of the casino deal on May 25, 2022, at City Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

I believe in the power of local news. Strengthening American democracy depends on more engaged and informed citizens at the local level. But in todays fractured media environment, there are fewer credible options for consumers to turn to for their news. Local broadcast news can help fill this void.

My company, Standard General, is acquiring broadcaster Tegna because I want to build a new company that will be a leader in preserving and enhancing community news, investing in newsrooms and programming targeted to local audiences, and adapting in a rapidly changing technical and competitive environment.

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Were ready to invest, but regulators in Washington continue to hold us back.

The Federal Communications Commissions Media Bureau recently announced it would refer the proposed transaction between Standard General and Tegna for review by an administrative law judge.

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This seemingly mundane regulatory action is an unprecedented overreach of authority that, if allowed to stand unchallenged, effectively blocks our purchase. Thus, any future applicant seeking to acquire Tegna or any other TV station will have to be acceptable to the Media Bureau in its sole, absolute and unreviewable discretion. Given the Media Bureau by tradition is responsive to the chair of the FCC, this completely obviates the purpose of a bipartisan commission ratified by Congress and turns the other Democratic and Republican commissioners into mere bystanders.

Indeed, this is the first time the FCC has ever acted through the Media Bureau in a manner designed to kill a pending transaction without referencing a single rule or regulation the transaction might violate and without any consideration of conditions that would address any outstanding concerns. It is also the first time the FCC has ever acted to effectively kill a TV merger without a vote by the full commission.

Furthermore, this will turn the public interest standard on its head by restricting investment in and ownership of wide swaths of the economy to those deemed acceptable by regulators armed with this new precedent. The plan for Standard General to acquire Tegna presumed careful review by the Department of Justice and FCC, but we had no reason to doubt final approval given that we were purchasing an existing company made smaller by a couple of upfront divestitures.

While having a few public objectors is not uncommon, we were surprised by the level of vitriol and vague allegations made about foreign influence, despite me being a U.S. citizen and my company being U.S.-based. Counsel for NewsGuild-CWA shamelessly said the deal does not promote ownership diversity as it is understood by the public interest and civil rights community, implying that Asian Americans are not included within the concept of diversity.

Nevertheless, we trusted the system and were confident we had followed all the rules and precedents. Our faith was tested as a review that was expected to last six months stretched to nearly a year. The customary public comment period went an unprecedented three rounds. During this time, we tried repeatedly but with little success to engage the FCC and the Media Bureau to get feedback on our responses to petitioners concerns. We were led to believe that there was nothing to discuss.

Then with no warning, the hammer dropped: The Media Bureau ordered an administrative hearing, which pushes the process beyond the May 22 final deal termination date and effectively scuttles the deal without ever bringing it to a vote with no clear recourse.

The Media Bureau claimed the administrative judge needs to review additional evidence related to potential impacts on jobs and consumer prices. Yet the parties have already turned over millions of pages of evidence, sat through hours of depositions, responded to all comments and inquiries of fact and law, and offered concrete commitments to address these very issues.

Put simply, the Media Bureau is being allowed to scuttle this deal because it doesnt seem to think I should own these stations. Who knows why? And therein lies the danger. By arbitrarily defining public interest, the Media Bureau has effectively made itself judge and jury. This issue merits broader public attention and scrutiny, and our deal deserves a full vote by the commission on its merits.

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If this outcome stands, it is impossible to know where it ends.

Soo Kim is managing partner and chief investment officer of Standard General and CEO of Ballys Corp., which is seeking to build a casino on the site of Chicagos Freedom Center, where this and other newspapers are printed.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
A Blackstone man is facing murder charges after allegedly stabbing a man inside his home Saturday morning, the Worcester County District Attorneys Office announced.

Investigators responded to a home on Blackstone Street at 11:15 a.m. for a report of an assault. A 42-year-old man was discovered inside the home suffering from apparent stab wounds. The victim was transported to a Rhode Island hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Investigators from the Blackstone Police Department and Massachusetts State Police then arrested a 32-year-old man, charging him with murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.

The DAs office says they will not release the identities of the suspect or the victim because the incident was domestic in nature.

The suspect is expected to be arraigned in Uxbridge District Court on Monday.

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Three people were shot in Dayton Sunday overnight.

>> TRENDING: Man stabbed, killed in Englewood

Dayton Police received reports at around 4:20 a.m. of a person who checked themself into Miami Valley Hospital with a gunshot wound, Montgomery County Regional Dispatch told News Center 7.

As per state law, the hospital was mandated to inform law enforcement of the possibly violent circumstances that led to a shooting injury.

Officers questioned the victim and learned that the shooting took place near Germantown Pike and Lakeview Avenue, specifically in the 1800 block of Lakeview Avenue, dispatch stated.

Then, police proceeded to search nearby areas and found at least three shell casings, dispatch confirmed. At least one of the shell casings was found in front of a local supermarket.

As police inspected the vicinity, two more shooting victims checked themselves in at Miami Valley Hospital.

The three victims conditions are unknown at this time.

Dayton Police led the investigation into the shooting. News Center 7 reached out for more information.

We will update this story as we learn more.
Michael Renard Jackson listen to the proceedings for his new trial in February in the 2007 death of Andrea Boyer in Clay County.

In late February, a Clay County jury recommended that Michael R. Jackson will be sentenced to life in prison without parole instead of death. Had Jacksons retrial come later this year, it is likely (based on proposed legislation urged by Gov. Ron DeSantis) that Jackson would have been sentenced to death.

Jacksons crimes were committed in 2007. After a trial, he was sentenced to death following the jurys recommendation by a vote of 9-3. In the penalty phase, Jackson waived mitigation  meaning he did not allow his attorneys to present evidence that might make him less deserving of death.

In 2012, the Supreme Court of Florida Court of Florida determined that the state committed a reversible error in Jacksons original trial and granted Jackson a retrial.

This time, Jackson allowed his attorneys to present mitigation evidence to the jury, which included his extensive childhood trauma, including exposure to drugs in utero, as well as his positive adjustment and nonviolence in prison for the last 16 years. This change likely made the difference for Jackson.

Ultimately, the jury did not unanimously agree that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigation. A unanimous finding is required to impose a sentence of death under Floridas current capital sentencing statute. Therefore, the jurys process ended, and the jurys recommendation had to be life in prison without the possibility of parole. The jurors never got to the point of voting between life in prison without the possibility of parole or death.

Somber milestone:Florida reaches 100 executions with lethal injection death of Donald Dillbeck

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The Legislature enacted the current statute in 2017 after the U.S. Supreme Court decided in 2016 that the way Florida imposed death sentences violated defendants right to jury trial under the Sixth Amendment. The litigation that followed caused a wave of chaos that resulted in at least 100 resentencing proceedings, which forced victims to relive the tragedies once again. To be clear, that same outcome is likely to occur if this new statute is passed and then overturned as unconstitutional.

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Under the 2017 statute, the jury must unanimously make each finding required to impose a sentence of death. The 2017 statute applied at Jacksons retrial. But if Jacksons retrial occurred later this year, it is possible the outcome would have been different.

In early 2023, after a push by DeSantis, the Florida Legislature proposed a new statute (SB450/HB555) that would make it much easier to sentence defendants to death in Florida. The new statute seeks to erase the procedural safeguards that were implemented in 2017. For instance, the jury would not be required to unanimously determine that the aggravation outweighs the mitigation  as they were in Jacksons recent retrial. The proposed legislation also decreases the jury vote necessary to sentence a defendant to death. In its current iteration, the proposed legislation allows the judge to sentence the defendant to death if just eight jurors recommend death  the lowest standard in the country.

The proposed legislation was heard in committee hearings last week. If passed, the proposed legislation will position Florida as an extreme outlier even among death states and perhaps the most death-friendly state in the country. The governor and the legislators who support the proposed legislation claim that the change is necessary to protect victims.

But, especially in cases like Jacksons, where the victims family has denounced the death penalty, what purpose does the legislation serve? Is it really protecting victims to introduce constitutionally precarious legislation that will undoubtedly create uncertainty and instability?

Kalmanson

DeLiberato

Melanie Kalmanson, a graduate of the Florida State University College of Law, has been a member of The Florida Bar since 2016. She clerked for Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara J. Pariente in 2016-19 and serves on the steering committee for the American Bar Associations Death Penalty Representation Project.

Maria DeLiberato is a capital defense lawyer in Tampa and the executive director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. She has served as an assistant state attorney in Miami-Dade County and spent 13 years at Capital Collateral Regional Counsel representing death row prisoners, including Clemente Aguirre-Jarquin, Floridas 28th death row exoneree.

This guest column is the opinion of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Clay County killer could have been sentenced to death under change
Three teenagers were shot near Waterford Lakes Town Center Saturday, the Orange County Sheriffs Office said.

Update March 12:

Deputies said Sunday that the three teens included two young men and a young woman, who all suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Two of the victims were transported to a hospital from the scene and one was transported to the hospital by someone else.

There are no additional details on the teens conditions nor any suspect information.

The sheriffs office said this investigation remains active and will provide updates as it becomes available.

Original report:

According to a news release, Orange County deputies were called around 8 p.m. to a parking lot on North Alafaya Trail.

Once they arrived at the scene, they discovered the teens who had been shot.

Read: Brevard County deputies are investigating a shooting in Melbourne Beach

Deputies said the teens were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Read: Palm Bay man accused of shooting, burning & burying his girlfriend after argument

Investigators said there are no suspects or other details at this time.

Channel 9 will provide updates to this developing story as it becomes available.

See a map of the nearest 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.
A Lemoore man is in critical but stable condition after he exchanged gunfire with deputies near a casino south of Lemoore, according to the Kings County Sheriffs Office.

Timothy Jeff Jr., 37, reportedly was brandishing a handgun at a driver in the parking lot of the Tachi Palace Casino Resort shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, according to Sheriffs Sgt. Nate Ferrier.

A deputy arrived and said he confronted Jeff, who ran toward the nearby intersection of 17th and Jersey avenues. As the deputy gave chase, Jeff reportedly fired at least one shot but missed the deputy. When he reached the intersection in front of the Yokuts Gas station, Jeff attempted to take cover behind a vehicle that was stopped at the four-way stop, Ferrier told The Bee.

Thats when two more sheriffs deputies arrived, confronted Jeff and shot him. It all happened pretty quick, Ferrier said.

Deputies said they recovered a .32-caliber H&R Magnum handgun.

Jeff was taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for treatment. Ferrier said that once Jeffs is released from the hospital, he is likely to be booked on suspicion of attempted murder, being a convicted felon in possession of a gun, and other charges.
(Bloomberg) -- Advisers to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are talking to Republican operatives about joining his team to work in Iowa, the latest sign of preparation for his expected presidential bid.

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DeSantis wasnt personally involved in the interviews and no formal job offers have been made, according to people familiar with the discussions. But the news coincided with DeSantiss debut swing through Iowa, just days before former President Donald Trump makes his first trip to the state as a declared 2024 candidate.

On his much-scrutizined Iowa swing, DeSantis had in-person meetings Friday with pastors and congressional and state lawmakers  some of whom have gotten calls from Trump seeking to lock in early support and stave off signs of cracks in his appeal.

The Trump campaigns demands for immediate endorsements irked some Republicans, who prefer a slow courting before they hold the GOPs first-in-the-nation presidential nominating contest. Among those who have agreed to support him are Muscatines Mark Cisneros, who became the Iowa Houses first Hispanic member in 2020, and Jeff Reichman, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel from the Keokuk area.

Spokespeople for DeSantis and Trump didnt immediately comment.

Trump kicks off in Iowa on Monday with an event in Davenport, the same largely blue-collar Mississippi River town DeSantis visited on Friday.

DeSantis has hinted at White House aspirations without spelling them out. In a closed-door meeting with Iowa GOP legislators, he didnt mention the words president or Trump or endorsement, according to people in the room.

He is just getting warmed up, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said on stage Friday in Davenport at one of DeSantiss two events, which are officially part of a book tour. This guy is a man on a mission.

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Reynolds, a Republican who was reelected to second term in November, was at his side throughout most of the day, flying with DeSantis between the Quad Cities and Des Moines.

DeSantiss audience in the state capital drew several prominent Iowa Republicans, including lawmakers, business leaders and political operatives. It also included activists who have been firmly in Trumps camp such as Gary Leffler, known for riding an antique tractor decorated with Trump insignia at political events, and Nick Van Patten, the former chairman of Polk County, Iowas largest county.

Republicans at DeSantiss events privately speculated that Reynolds could be a potential running mate and said they were studying their rapport as DeSantis delivered a similar stump-like routine at each stop.

DeSantis told the Des Moines audience they called Kim and I a lot of names when the two governors called for schools to be open during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid Kim and DeathSantis, Reynolds said, to laughter.

A March 5-8 Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll found that 74% of the states Republicans say their feelings about DeSantis are favorable, while 20% say they dont know enough about him to have an opinion. Only 1% said that about Trump in the poll.

People have been very, very nice, DeSantis told the crowd at the Iowa State Fairgrounds shortly before leaving for Nevada, another early state in the nominating calendar. Very obvious that people pay attention to these issues up here in a really significant way.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Sunday laughed off the idea that a trip to Iowa over the weekend was an indication that he was preparing to run for president, instead saying his travels were focused on promoting his new book.

When asked by Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo if DeSantiss trip was a first indication that he was running for president, DeSantis briefly paused, then let out a laugh.

Its the first indication that we have got a great book that people are buying, DeSantis responded. We had a lot of interest.

The trip to Iowa by DeSantis on Friday comes as the governor is widely expected to launch a 2024 White House bid, teeing him up to be one of the main opponents of former President Trump. As his political profile has rapidly grown since his election as Florida governor in 2018, DeSantis has become a preferred GOP primary nominee for some conservatives looking for an alternative to Trump.

DeSantis has yet to launch a campaign or acknowledge his presidential aspirations and has mostly avoided addressing Trump, who also lives in Florida. Instead, DeSantis is promoting a new book that has quickly become a bestseller in the U.S. He also said the visit to Iowa was to also honor Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), who DeSantis said has enacted similar policies as he has in her state.

Governor Kim Reynolds is a friend of mine, DeSantis said. And I often tell people when they ask me in Florida, who else has done a good job, and I always say, you look what Iowa has done, they have done a lot of the things that Florida has done.

The trip to Davenport and Des Moines was still largely seen as DeSantis introducing himself to Republicans in Iowa, which will hold its caucuses less than a year from now. Trump also plans to be in Iowa on Monday.

As Trump has come out strong in attacking DeSantis, seen as his main competitor, the Florida governor has receded to focusing on the states legislative session and promoting his book. On Fox News, DeSantis took a jab at what he sees as a deficit of leadership in the U.S.

But we got a great response across two different cities, DeSantis said. And I think its just people look and they see, we have a deficit of leadership in this country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former Vice President Mike Pence. Alex Brandon/AP

In a rare GOP move in this current climate, former VP Mike Pence praised journalists for reporting on the Capitol riot.

Reporters covering the attack helped lawmakers "stay at our post" during the vote certification, Pence said.

Pence is one of several Republicans expected to launch a presidential bid alongside former President Trump.

Former Vice President Mike Pence did a rare thing for members of today's Republican party  he praised the media for its thorough reporting on the January 6 Capitol riot.

"The American people have a right to know what took place at the Capitol on January 6, and I expect members of the fourth estate to continue to do their job," Pence said at the annual Gridiron Club Dinner in Washington, DC, on Saturday night, according to CNN.

Pence repeated his argument that former President Donald Trump was "wrong" when, leading up to and on January 6, 2021, he claimed that the vice president had the ability to overturn the 2020 election results.

"President Trump was wrong. I had no right to overturn the election, and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day," Pence said Saturday, per CNN. "I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable."

Addressing the press, he added: "We were able to stay at our post, in part, because you stayed at your post. The American people know what happened that day because you never stopped reporting."

Pence became one of a few Republicans to acknowledge the media's key role in reporting on the assault on the seat of the government, New York Times correspondent Maggie Haberman pointed out on Twitter. Since the attack, most Republicans have channeled their initial outrage into criticisms of Democratic-led investigations, suggesting the riot was "legitimate political discourse" and that the rioters were "patriotic."

Over 1,000 people have been criminally charged in the Capitol insurrection, and over 475 have pleaded guilty.

"For what you do to preserve and strengthen this great democracy, you have my heartfelt thanks and I know the thanks of a grateful nation. Thanks for what you do to preserve freedom," Pence said to reporters on Saturday, according to CNN.

He is one of several Republicans expected to enter the 2024 presidential race, which currently includes GOP candidates Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
I understand how you must feel right now. The possibility of being the mayor of Chicago, this massive, shiny and troubled metropolis, is likely intoxicating. I know my father, Bernard Epton, known as Bernie, had such feelings in 1983. The way popular history characterizes him now, a consequence of his role in the 83 campaign against Harold Washington, is not who he was in the years leading up to that election.

In 1950, my father ran for Congress in the Republican primary against Richard Vail, then a former congressman and a red-baiting, race-baiting echo of the notorious Wisconsin senator, Joseph McCarthy. Among Bernies supporters in that race were leading South Side Black ministers such as Archibald Carey Sr.. Dad also received the endorsement of the Chicago Defender, perhaps the countrys most prominent Black newspaper at the time. But he lost that race.

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In 1968, after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, rioting in Chicagos South and West sides caused extensive damage that still scars the citys neighborhoods 55 years later. At the time, Dad was a candidate for an open Republican seat in the Illinois House of Representatives. During that campaign, he took the time to go to Memphis to join the memorial march for King, organized and led by the Memphis sanitation workers union.

After the march, he returned to Chicago, resumed his campaign and won  the beginning of 14 years of service as a Republican representative from Hyde Park. Twice during those 14 years, the Independent Voters of Illinois named him the states Best Legislator.

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By late fall in 1982, when Bernie decided to run for the Republican nomination for mayor of Chicago, his reputation, earned over 40 years of political activism, as a supporter of open housing, an opponent of redlining and an ally of the Black community and of anti-machine Chicago voters was well established. But in the 83 campaign against Washington, Dad became the champion for white supremacists citywide. Though the campaign was characterized by recurring racist incidents, two facts stand out.

First, of course, was the historic Washington victory, due largely to a strategically mobilized Black community. But the second most striking feature of the campaign was Dads slogan, Epton, before its too late.

Chicago mayoral candidate Bernard Epton explained that a 1983 campaign ad slogan, Before it's too late, wasn't a racial barb referring to Harold Washington. (Val Mazzenga/Chicago Tribune)

Dad claimed, often and always, that the slogan meant that the city was teetering on bankruptcy and he was the guy to rescue it before it collapsed. Some family members and lifelong political supporters took him at his word. But everyone else in Chicago who gave a damn about such things knew the slogan for what it was, a dog whistle, beckoning white voters to the ramparts. And many of those white voters would have shrugged away any criticism. To them, it didnt really matter what it meant; Bernie was their guy. He was the white hope.

Imagine what it took for Dad to play that role. The Bernie Epton who had been a colleague of Timuel Black and Harold Washington in the creation of a Chicago-focused Henry Wallace for President Committee in 1948 and had walked in the Memphis memorial march for MLK in 1968, had somehow transformed 15 years later into the George Wallace of Chicago. And he had brought it on himself.

The legacy of his campaign would be an empowered white majority on the City Council that opposed every Washington reform initiative for the next four years. Chicagos bitter power struggles would earn the city a reputation as Beirut by the lake. That, too, would be something that would forever be associated with Dads name.

So, consider now, before this campaign goes any further, your lets take Chicago back message. This message is landing as a dog whistle only slightly less shrill than Epton, before its too late. Stop saying that it means something else. The senders of messages dont get to dictate their meaning. Ultimately, the audience decides.

Do what my dad did not do: Pivot to a different message. One that unites. That envisions a single city, unified in its pursuit of equity and justice. Hit that message hard, even if it costs you a victory. Because no victory is worth the price of your reputation. And no victory is worth the price Chicago would pay if a Vallas victory depended on an appeal to white supremacists.

Jeff Epton grew up in South Shore and graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1965. He ran for and won a seat in 1983 on the Ann Arbor City Council in Michigan, winning his race eight days before his father lost his election to Harold Washington. A poet and writer, Epton lives in Bronzeville.

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Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Prince Edward has been announced as the Duke of Edinburgh, a title that previously belonged to his late father, Prince Philip.

King Charles III conferred the title on the former Earl of Wessex in celebration of Edwards 59th birthday on Friday (10 March). Doing so also honours the wishes of their late parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Philip.

But, while it was long expected that the dukedom would be passed to Edward after Philips death, the King was reportedly reluctant to give the title to his youngest brother.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement today that Charles was pleased to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon the Prince Edward, adding that the title will be held for Edwards lifetime.

The dukedom was last created for Prince Philip in 1947, upon his marriage to Princess Elizabeth, who held the title of Duchess of Edinburgh before acceding to the throne in 1952, the statement continued.

The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philips legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential.

However, it has taken the King six months since he ascended the throne to confer the title to Edward. He became the new monarch after Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022.

Heres everything you need to know about what the title change will mean for Edward and his family.

What are Prince Edward and Sophies new titles?

Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, were given the titles of Earl and Countess of Wessex when they married in 1999.

Prince Edward and Sophie pose with their children Lady Louise and James as they take part in the Great British Beach Clean on September 20, 2020 (Getty Images)

They will know be known and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

Edwards old title has been passed down to his 15-year-old son, James. James was previously the Viscount Severn, but is now the new Earl of Wessex.

The couple also have a daughter, Lady Louise. She will remain as such.

The Succession page on the royal familys website has been updated to reflect the title change.

Why has it taken six months for King Charles III to give the title?

It was reported in 2021 that Charles was reluctant to hand their fathers title to his youngest brother.

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After Philips death that year, the Duke of Edinburgh title was inherited by Charles, who was previously the Prince of Wales.

When Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, Charles acceded the throne and became King. The Duke of Edinburgh title was then reverted to the Crown.

It was the late Queen and Philips wish that Edward should inherit his fathers title when the time came. In 1999, Buckingham Palace said in a statement: The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown.

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Countess of Wessex attend the Duke of Edinburgh Award's 60th Anniversary Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 16, 2016 (Getty Images)

But a source close to Charles told The Times in 2021, when Charles held the title: The prince is the Duke of Edinburgh as it stands, and it is up to him what happens to the title. It will not go to Edward.

Last year, it was also reported that the King was in favour of a slimmed-down monarchy, which would have included Edward not inheriting the title.

A source told the Daily Mail: The King wants to slim down the monarchy [so] it wouldnt make sense to make the Earl the Duke of Edinburgh

Its a hereditary title which would then be passed on to the Earl and Countess of Wessexs son, James, Viscount Severn.

It appeared that Edward knew about his eldest brothers reluctance. During an interview with the BBC to mark what would have been their fathers 100th birthday, he was asked: You will be the next Duke of Edinburgh, when the Prince of Wales becomes king, that is quite something to take on?

Edward answered: It was fine in theory, ages ago when it was sort of a pipe dream of my fathers and of course it will depend on whether or not the Prince of Wales, when he becomes king, whether hell do that, so well wait and see. So yes, it will be quite a challenge taking that on.

Will Prince Edwards son inherit the title when he dies?

No. The dukedom will not pass to James when Edward dies  paving the way instead for one of the Prince and Princess of Wales children to potentially be given the title in the future. The most likely candidate is their youngest son, Prince Louis, as their eldest, Prince George, will be heir apparent when William becomes king.

Prince Edward and Sophie pose with their children Lady Louise and James as they take part in the Great British Beach Clean on September 20, 2020 (Getty Images)

James will become the Earl of Wessex and Forfar when the title of the Duke of Edinburgh reverts to the Crown, the Palace said.

Edward will also remain for his lifetime the Earl of Forfar, another of his titles, but will use the Duke of Edinburgh because it is the more senior Scottish title.
Central Juvenile Hall near downtown Los Angeles, pictured here in 2022, is one of two troubled juvenile holding facilities in current operation. L.A. County supervisors are considering whether to reopen a third. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

For the record:

8:28 a.m. March 13, 2023: An earlier version of this editorial stated that the credible messengers were volunteers. They are paid for their work.



At Los Angeles Countys troubled juvenile halls and probation camps, its sometimes hard to distinguish between imminent rescue and impending collapse. For example, the Probation Department is transferring 100 less-experienced officers from the field to supplement a juvenile hall staff so diminished by vacancy, injury, fear and contempt for management that barely 11% of officers come to work.

Also, 16 credible messengers  trained workers with a history of incarceration, whose time will be paid for by the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and Healing Dialogue and Action  will report this week to the dangerous Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar and the newer, safer, but still struggling Campus Kilpatrick in Malibu to offer young offenders the benefit of their experience. They are being sent by the countys new Department of Youth Development, which was first envisioned as an agency that could take over all of probations juvenile operations as early as 2025. At present, that transfer seems unlikely to happen.

Conditions at Sylmar (almost universally referred to by probation staff, youths and families as Barry J) are dire. Officers work nearly 24-hour shifts to cover for their missing colleagues, leaving them exhausted and short-tempered. Classes and activities are often canceled because teachers and contract service providers are too afraid to come in. Interior walls are covered with graffiti, windows are broken, living quarters are trashed. Juveniles who are accused of crimes and awaiting court hearings have little to do each day but play video games or  because security is lax despite razor wire, guards and X-ray machines  get high on illicit substances that somehow find their way inside. Earlier this month, at least two juveniles overdosed on fentanyl at Barry J and were administered Narcan.

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The situation is only marginally better at Central Juvenile Hall near downtown, which like Barry J is meant to hold, protect and educate young people accused of crimes for a few weeks while they wait for their court dates. In fact, some youths linger at the juvenile halls for as long as two years.

Problems also plague the handful of probation camps  facilities like Campus Kilpatrick in less-gritty settings where juveniles are committed by courts for longer periods of rehabilitation and treatment. The Board of Supervisors directed Kilpatrick to be rebuilt from the ground up to accommodate a new format of care based on small group settings and consistent staff mentoring. County officials proudly called their program the L.A. Model. But it was never put in place as envisioned because it is incompatible with labor contracts that require work schedules designed to suit officers rather than the juveniles.

The crisis is exacerbated by an influx of young offenders from the Division of Juvenile Justice, part of the California prison system. The state is getting out of the juvenile justice business on July 1, returning the more challenging cases to the counties. The Board of Supervisors had time to prepare for the transition last year but spent it poorly, squabbling over which camp in whose district would have to house the transferred juveniles.

On Tuesday, the supervisors fired Chief Probation Officer Adolfo Gonzales and briefly entertained a series of directives intended to stem the chaos at the halls and camps, but they put off discussion for two weeks. One plan that might have been timely a year ago includes temporarily reopening a third juvenile hall  the currently vacant Los Padrinos in Downey  to relieve pressure on Barry J. Companion proposals include a variety of transfers and remodelings. But the situation was allowed to degrade to the point at which juveniles and staff are in danger and the facilities are falling apart.

The county's population of incarcerated youth has plummeted, and the greatly diminished caseload ought to have been an opportunity to improve rehabilitation programs for the most difficult juveniles. Instead, having fewer cases has somehow translated into negligent care, absent staff and organizational meltdown.

We are lucky that no one has died, Probation Oversight Commissioner Mili Kakani said at a meeting Thursday. If were counting on luck, we dont have much left.

At the same meeting, interim Chief Probation Officer Karen Fletcher told the commission  which earlier this month called for her resignation, along with Gonzales  that the department was committed to employing the L.A. Model at every hall and camp. But this is the real L.A. Model: a foot-dragging Board of Supervisors, unmet standards, looming deadlines  and unconscionable treatment of youths entrusted by the courts to the countys care.

The Probation Department is now being scrutinized by the Board of State and Community Corrections, which has power to revoke permission to operate juvenile facilities and is subject to a 2021 settlement with the state Department of Justice, which found alarming failures with detention conditions and education. The intervention is needed.

But it's worth remembering that a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice more than a decade ago over similar deficiencies resulted in short-lived improvements followed by a return to dysfunction. If state oversight fails to impose lasting improvement, there will be little choice but for the feds to return, this time with a civil rights action and a consent decree, and a lot less tolerance for objections by probation employees and county supervisors.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A standoff Sunday afternoon between hundreds of migrants and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in riot gear blocked the Paso Del Norte international bridge connecting Downtown El Paso and Juarez.

There also were temporary disruptions when groups of migrants showed up at two other border bridges in El Paso, a CBP spokesman said in a statement. Barricades were used at the Stanton Street Bridge from 2 to 2:45 p.m. and at the Bridge of the Americas from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

At the Paso Del Norte Bridge, CBP officers stood behind concrete and plastic barriers topped with barbed wire blocking the border at the middle of the top of the bridge before what appeared to be hundreds of migrants.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers guard the Paso Del Norte Bridge on Sunday after hundreds of migrants walked onto the bridge wanting to enter the U.S. to seek asylum.

About 1:30 p.m., the CBP Mobile Field Force, a riot-control team, was deployed when a large group of migrants threatened to make a mass entry, CBP said. A special response team and U.S. Border Patrol agents assisted CBP officers.

By 5:30 p.m., most of the crowd had returned to Mexico, but the bridge remained closed to vehicle traffic as pedestrians could be seen walking to the port of entry. Mexican National Guard troops stood watch on the southern side of the border. By 6:30 p.m., the bridge had reopened to vehicles.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers guard the Paso Del Norte Bridge on Sunday after migrants walked onto the bridge wanting to enter the U.S. to seek asylum.

The migrants of various nationalities, but mainly Venezuelans, were demanding entry into the U.S. amid rumors the border would be opened for express asylum, the Norte Digital news website reported from Juarez.

Some of the migrants could be heard on various videos during the bridge rush saying that the CBP online asylum application launched earlier this year was not working properly.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers guard the Paso Del Norte Bridge on Sunday after migrants walked onto the bridge wanting to enter the U.S. to seek asylum.

Archives 2020:Paso Del Norte Bridge blocked after more than 100 Cuban migrants show up at El Paso border

Crowds of migrants had been gathering at the Mexican foot of the bridge since the morning before the tidal wave of people ran up to the border at the top of the bridge.

Another video shared with us by @ElPasoYa showing a closer look of the current situation at the Paso del Norte International Bridge in #ElPaso. pic.twitter.com/VGnmB9Dm9D  Lianna Golden (@LiannaKFOX_CBS) March 12, 2023

Similar standoffs have occurred in recent years on the Paso Del Norte Bridge as groups of undocumented migrants hoping for asylum tried to enter the United States, usually spurred by false rumors that the border would be opened to them.

Immigration:Juarez again becomes a waiting room for migrants who hope to seek asylum in the United States

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Migrants, CBP standoff blocks El Paso border bridge
Twitter overlord Elon Musk showed sympathy on Friday for the Capitol rioter dubbed the QAnon Shaman, in the billionaires latest effort to downplay the deadly events of Jan. 6, 2021.

Free Jacob Chansley, Musk tweeted to his 130 million followers, apparently suggesting the rioters sentence was unwarranted.

Chansley had earned his nickname by raiding the U.S. Capitol bare-chested on Jan. 6 with a furry Viking-style hat and face paint, carrying an American flag zip-tied to a spear.

For making threats and disrupting Congress as its members attempted to certify the results of the 2020 election, Chansley got 41 months in prison, or just shy of three and a half years.

He is one of 1,000 people to be arrested for their participation in the attack on the Capitol and the law enforcement officers defending it. More than 300 people have been charged with physically assaulting or resisting officers or employees.

Jacob Chansley, right, expressing his feelings in the halls of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021.

Jacob Chansley, right, expressing his feelings in the halls of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021.

Yet Musk has recently begun to promote the false idea  pushed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Fox News host Tucker Carlson and other conservatives  that the Capitol attack was actually a mostly peaceful event.

In a segment last week that was criticized by U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, among others, Carlson used selectively edited footage to make the breach seem far tamer than it truly was.

Musk promoted the segment repeatedly on his Twitter page with credulous commentary.

Free Jacob Chansley https://t.co/8BbeXF2Fye  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 10, 2023

On Friday, Musk reacted to a video clip that showed Chansley using a bullhorn to read a tweet sent by former President Donald Trump at around 3:15 p.m. on Jan. 6.

Respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue, Trump wrote, as read out by Chansley.

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This, combined with other footage that showed Chansley walking alongside law enforcement through the halls of the Capitol, seemed to absolve him in Musks mind.

Chansley got 4 years in prison for a non-violent, police-escorted tour!? the Twitter and Tesla CEO marveled. (The sentence was less than four years.) In another tweet, Musk claimed Chansley was falsely portrayed in the media as a violent criminal who tried to overthrow the state and who urged others to commit violence.

Im not part of MAGA, but I do believe in fairness of justice, he added.

Chansley pleaded guilty to charges of civil disorder, disorderly and disruptive conduct, violent entry to a building, and other counts at his November 2021 sentencing hearing. Prosecutors said he pushed past a police barrier to enter the Capitol and made his way to the Senate floor, where he shouted Mike Pence is a fucking traitor from the dais, and led other protesters in a chant against all the tyrants, the communists, and the globalists.

He also left a note: Its Only A Matter of Time. Justice Is Coming!

Related...
Key Insights

Using the Dividend Discount Model, National Grid fair value estimate is UK10.43

National Grid's UK10.50 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate

Our fair value estimate is 6.1% higher than National Grid's analyst price target of UK11.07

How far off is National Grid plc (LON:NG.) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for National Grid

Is National Grid Fairly Valued?

As National Grid operates in the integrated utilities sector, we need to calculate the intrinsic value slightly differently. Instead of using free cash flows, which are hard to estimate and often not reported by analysts in this industry, dividends per share (DPS) payments are used. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.2%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.7%. Compared to the current share price of UK10.5, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

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Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate)

= UK0.6 / (6.7%  1.2%)

= UK10.4

dcf

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at National Grid 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 6.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. 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 National Grid

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Integrated Utilities market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Paying a dividend but company has no free cash flows.

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the British market.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For National Grid, we've compiled three additional aspects you should consider:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for National Grid (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does NG.'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 British 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.

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Following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, Etsy is warning sellers it may take longer than usual for the company to process some payments. We wanted to let you know that there is a delay with your deposit that was scheduled for today, Etsy told affected merchants on Friday in an email the company shared with NBC News. Please know that our teams are working hard to resolve this issue and send you your funds as quickly as possible.

An Etsy spokesperson attributed the delay to the unexpected collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, noting the company used the bank to facilitate payments to some merchants. They added Etsy is working with other payment partners to facilitate deposits. The company expects to pay affected sellers within the next several business days. More than 7.5 million merchants use Etsy to sell their wares online.

Federal regulators took over SVB on Friday amid the largest bank collapse since the 2008 financial crisis. With its close ties to Silicon Valley, SVBs failure has created knock-on effects throughout the tech industry. On Friday, Roku said it could lose as much as 26 percent of its cash reserves, or more than $487 million, due to the collapse. One day later, the value of USD Coin, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, fell to a low of $0.87 after Circle, the firm that manages the currency, disclosed it had $3.3 billion stuck at the bank. While USD Coins value has mostly recovered, the news nonetheless sparked fears of a possible financial contagion within the cryptocurrency industry.

More importantly, there are many people whose next paycheck wont come on time. That includes employees at early-stage startups and small business owners who depend on Etsy for their livelihood. One seller, Owen McKinney, told NBC News the deposit delay could have a catastrophic" effect on his business.

What comes next is hard to say. On Sunday, US Treasury Secretary Janey Yellen told CBSs Face the Nation the federal government would not bail out SVB and would instead focus on assisting depositors. Let me be clear that during the financial crisis, there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed out and the reforms that have been put in place means we are not going to do that again, Yellen said. But we are concerned about depositors and are focused on trying to meet their needs.

Update 03/13/22 11:07AM ET: In an update Etsy shared late Sunday evening, the company said would begin processing delayed payments as early Monday morning. "This issue has impacted a small group of sellers. Approximately 0.5 percent of our active seller base had their payments delayed on Friday. We are working to pay these sellers today and weve already started processing payments via another payment partner this morning," an Etsy spokesperson told Engadget.
Stephanie Grisham, an ex-White House press secretary and communications director in former President Donald Trumps administration, dished about her administrations very cozy working relationship with Fox News on Saturday.

Grisham, during an interview with CNNs Jim Acosta, weighed in on the news outlet following startling revelations about network stars seen in documents from the Dominion Voting Systems $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit.

The former press secretary, after Acosta remarked about a perceived hand in glove working relationship between the two parties, said Fox News stars such as Judge Jeanine Pirro, Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson would call her at the White House.

If I didnt get back to them right away, they would then call the president and then I would get a talking to for not speaking with them, Grisham said.

She later recalled a town hall event and said she directly talked with Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott who wanted to be making sure it was full in the venue.

We did work hand in hand with them and that came at the presidents direction. If he didnt like something, we were to immediately call Fox and have them fix it or try to make a new story out of it, etc.

You can watch Grishams appearance on CNN below.

Related...
By Yew Lun Tian and Ziyi Tang

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's parliament on Sunday approved the cabinet line-up nominated by Premier Li Qiang, who took office on Saturday in a once-in-five years reshuffle.

Also during the National People's Congress (NPC), Xi Jinping was confirmed for a third five-year term as president.

Here are other key personnel moves made during the NPC, which closes on Monday.

China's four new vice premiers:

Ding Xuexiang, 60, is the first-ranked vice premier who also sits in the ruling Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee, China's top echelon of power. He is a trusted acolyte of Xi, and was Xi's chief of staff first in 2006 in Shanghai and for the past 10 years in Beijing.

He Lifeng, 68, replaces Liu He as the next economic tsar. He is a long-time ally of Xi and was formerly in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the powerful state planning agency.

Zhang Guoqing, 58, has a PhD in economics and spent 20 years working in defence corporations before turning to politics and holding top positions in the provincial-level cities of Chongqing and Tianjin, as well as in Liaoning province.

Liu Guozhong, 60, was formerly Communist Party chief of Shaanxi province, where Xi has ancestral roots.

China's five new state councillors, who rank below the vice premiers but above cabinet ministers:

Li Shangfu, 65, also becomes the defence minister. He had worked in China's satellite programme and is under U.S. sanctions over the purchase of combat aircraft and equipment from Russia's main arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.

Wang Xiaohong, 65, also holds the post of public security minister, or police chief. He is considered a close ally of Xi, having worked as a police chief in the city of Fuzhou when Xi was party chief there in the early 1990s.

Wu Zhenglong, 58, is secretary-general of the state council and was formerly party chief of Jiangsu province.

Shen Yiqin, 63becomes the highest-ranking woman in China. Observers were surprised when the Communist Party broke with tradition and did not appoint any woman to its 24-member Politburo in October.

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For the first time in decades there were no female vice premiers as well. Shen, the former party chief of Guizhou province, is the only female state councillor.

Qin Gang, 57, is also the foreign minister. The former ambassador to the United States had worked closely with Xi when he was chief protocol officer between 2014 and 2018.

The only cabinet-level personnel changes were at the NDRC and the defence ministry.

The following cabinet ministers held on to their positions:

Yi Gang, 65, unexpectedly stays on as governor of the People's Bank of China. Yi, appointed as PBOC governor in 2018, had widely been expected to retire after being left off the ruling Communist Party's Central Committee during the party's once-in-five-years congress in October.

Zheng Shanjie, 61, takes over from He Lifeng as head of the National Development and Reform Commission. Zheng has spent most of his career in his native Fujian province where he had served as director of Fujian Provincial Development and Reform Commission and vice governor of Fujian province.

Liu Kun, 66, remains as minister of finance, another surprise since he is past the usual retirement age of 65.

Wang Wentao, 58, stays on as minister of commerce. He had served as governor of Heilongjiang province and was once Xi's colleague in Shanghai.

Jin Zhuanglong, 59, stays on as minister of industry and information technology.

Wang Zhigang, 65, remains minister of science and technology.

Huai Jinpeng, 60, remains minister of education

Pan Yue, 62, remains head of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission

Wang Xiaohong, 65, remains minister of public security

Chen Yixin, 63, remains minister of state security. Considered a Xi ally, he had worked with Xi when the latter was party chief of Zhejiang province from 2002-2007. Chen was sent to the central city of Wuhan in 2020 to help lead anti-COVID efforts and in recent years led to purge corrupt security and legal officials.

Tang Dengjie, 63, remains minister of civil affairs

He Rong, 60, remains minister of justice

Wang Xiaoping, 59, remains minister of human resources and social security

Wang Guanghua, 59, remains minister of natural resources

Huang Runqiu, 59, remains minister of ecology and environment

Ni Hong, 60, remains minister of housing and urban-rural development

Li Xiaopeng, 63, remains minister of transport

Li Guoying, 63, remains minister of water resources

Tang Renjian, 60, remains minister of agriculture and rural affairs

Hu Heping, 60, remains minister of culture and tourism

Ma Xiaowei, 63, remains head of the National Health Commission

Pei Jinjia, 59, remains minister of veterans affairs

Wang Xiangxi, 60, remains minister of emergency management

Hou Kai, 60, remains auditor-general of the National Audit Office

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian, Ziyi Tang, additional reporting by Albee Zhang; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Here is a summary of the situation in parts of the Middle East where Iran and Saudi Arabia have been involved in proxy conflicts and which could be affected by a Beijing-brokered deal to re-establish relations between the two regional powers.

YEMEN

Riyadh intervened in Yemen at the head of a Western-backed coalition in 2015 against the Houthi movement after the Iran-aligned group ousted the internationally recognised government from power in the capital, Sanaa.

The war has been in military stalemate for years. The Houthis, de facto authorities in North Yemen and holding areas of its border with Saudi, have launched repeated missile and drone strikes on the kingdom, which has tried to extract itself.

Riyadh and the Houthis last year resumed direct talks, facilitated by Oman, following a U.N.-brokered truce. The truce lapsed in October, but has largely held.

Restored ties between Riyadh and Tehran could facilitate agreement between Saudi and the Houthis.

The Yemen war has also been a point of tension with the United States under President Joe Biden's administration, which has slapped restrictions on U.S. arms sales to the kingdom.

SYRIA

Iran has offered military, economic and diplomatic support to President Bashar al-Assad since his crackdown of protests in 2011 left him isolated.

China also provided cover for Syria at the United Nations and kept up economic and political ties with Damascus.

Early on, Riyadh backed insurgents trying to topple Assad to weaken Tehran. But as Iran's support helped Assad turn the tide, Saudi backing for the armed and political opposition has waned.

The Saudi-Iranian deal comes as Arab isolation of Assad is thawing. Saudi has said more engagement could lead to Syria's return to the Arab League.

Syria's foreign ministry welcomed the deal as an "important step" that could boost regional stability. The opposition's umbrella body did not comment.

Israel, which wants to normalize relations with Saudi, has struck Iran's positions in Syria.

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LEBANON

Lebanese politics have been broadly split for years between a pro-Iran alliance led by powerful armed group Hezbollah and a pro-Saudi coalition.

In 2021, Saudi and other Arab Gulf states withdrew their ambassadors over what they said was Hezbollah's hold over the state.

The envoys returned but Lebanon has since sunk deeper into financial meltdown and now faces an unprecedented political crisis, with no president for months and a cabinet operating with limited powers.

The rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh has sparked hope that paralysis could end. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the "positive reading" of the news should prompt Lebanon's politicians to "quickly" elect a president.

Hezbollah said the deal was a good development but cautioned its full implications were still unknown. The group backed Christian politician Suleiman Frangieh for president but two sources say Saudi opposes him.

IRAQ

After the toppling of Saddam Hussein in the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, Iran deepened its political, security and economic influence in Iraq, sparking Saudi alarm.

In 2019, Iran launched a drone attack on Saudi oil facilities that flew through Iraqi airspace. The following year, the re-opening of a Saudi-Iraqi border crossing after more than two decades prompted hopes of improved ties.

Baghdad has hosted direct talks between its two neighbours but they stalled last year as Iraq faced a political crisis.

Baghdad welcomed the deal as a way to "turn the page". Iraqis hope for a general regional detente that would allow their country to rebuild, instead of being destabilised by U.S., Gulf Arab and Iranian score-settling.

MARITIME SECURITY

Friction between Iran and the West has also played out in Gulf waters, through which much of the world's oil transits.

There were several attacks on tankers there in 2019, after then-U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned a nuclear pact with Iran and re-imposed sanctions on it. Seeking to de-escalate, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi began engaging directly with Iran.

The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, has seized shipments of weapons suspected to have come from Iran. Iran and Israel have also traded accusations of attacking each other's vessels in recent years.

(Reporting by Regional Bureaus; Editing by Alexander Smith)
Junaid Ahmed went into hospital with a 'slight temperature' but ended up having multiple amputations. (SWNS)

A father-of-two who went into hospital suffering from a "slight temperature" ended up having his leg, arm and toes amputated after battling sepsis.

Junaid Ahmed, 35, went to A&E with suspected flu but ended up in a coma for six weeks and having to have multiple amputations.

He is now back at home, but is trying to raise 100,000 for a bionic arm so he can finally hug his children properly again.

Ahmed now has a prosthetic leg and is able to walk after a period of rehab. (SWNS)

Ahmed, from Ilford, east London, went to his local hospital in June 2022 after having a temperature for a couple of days.

But he collapsed and the next thing he remembers is waking up in hospital six weeks later.

Read more: Police officers 'using food banks' as they struggle to heat homes and feed families

The father-of-two had previously had a spinal procedure at a private hospital to help with chronic back pain, and after his collapse was diagnosed with sepsis  potentially as a result of the procedure.

The sepsis caused his liver, heart and lungs to fail, and Ahmed was placed into an induced coma and transferred to hospital in London in a bid to save his life. He woke up in intensive care at University College London Hospitals in July 2022.

The father of two spent over eight months in hospital recovering from multiple amputations. (SWNS)

He said: "Waking up six weeks later was the biggest shock of my life. I was terrified and so confused.

"Shortly after medics broke the news that to give me the best quality of life, I'd have to have my right calf, left forearm and left toes amputated.

"In that moment, I told them to do whatever they could. I just wanted to live for my family, my kids and wife."

Doctors explained that Ahmed had hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare disease caused by an overactive, abnormal response of the immune system, which was further compounding his health problems.

He had undergone multiple bloody transfusions during his coma, but the combination of HLH, low blood pressure and sepsis meant the blood flow to his foot, arm and toes dropped so low they started to die.

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In September 2022, he had two four-hour amputation surgeries and spent a further two months in UCLH before starting physiotherapy in November 2022.

Ahmed said wife Rabia had been his 'rock' throughout the ordeal. (SWNS)

The 35-year-old now has a prosthetic leg and is able to walk, but is fundraising for a bionic arm so he can hug his children properly again and his GoFundMe already raised 10,000.

He said: "I arrived at the rehab centre on a stretcher as I was unable to move at all. Within two days they had me in a wheelchair - it was incredible.

"Every time I told the nurses there that I 'couldn't do it' they'd tell me that 'no wasn't an option'.

"It was the tough love that I needed, and after two weeks I saw a massive improvement in my strength.

"I kept thinking about my wife and kids and that kept me going."

Ahmed is now back at home in Ilford and praised wife Rabia for being his "rock" throughout the ordeal.

"Life is different," he added. "My teeth have become my 'left' forearm and I used my left armpit to use shampoo but I'm on the mend.

"Whilst it's going to take me some time to get back on my bike, I am hopeful that it'll be this year!

"If I can get my bionic arm, I'll be able to get back into the gym properly.

"I miss being active  it makes me the best version of myself for my wife and our kids."

"I can't wait to be able to hug them properly with my new arm and I've been so overwhelmed with the support so far with the fundraiser."
Alba Rueda, of Argentina, receives the International Women of Courage Award from Secretary of State Antony Blinken with first lady Jill Biden during a ceremony March 8, 2023, in the East Room of the White House. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Whats Speak Out?

Speak Out allows readers to comment on the issues of the day. Email Speak Out at speakout@southtownstar.com or call 312-222-2427. Please limit comments to 30 seconds or about 100 words and give your first name and your hometown.

First lady Jill Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken just pushed back the womens movement 100 years. These liberal equity backers just awarded their Woman of the Year Courage Award to a transgender male. It was hysterical to see Blinken flinch when he/she kissed him.

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RHS, Oak Forest

Shelly, the money spent for Ukraine aid, really mostly equipment, etc. would never go to Medicare and Social Security. The way to save them is to drop the payroll tax limit, but as usual the Republicans are opposed, because they want to continue to protect the wealthy and corporations, while claiming to be for their suckers, their supporters.

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Paul, Tinley Park

I just read where former Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson wants to keep his law license while appealing his conviction for lying to the feds, but not tax fraud. He wants to rebuild his life and said his family has suffered, he has suffered and so has his name and reputation. Well, hello, thats what happens when you break the law. I have more respect for a common thief who steals to support his family than a greedy politician making hundreds of thousands of dollars.

YCM, Orland Park

To Jim of Homewood, wokeism as you call it is not communism, it is treating all people the same as human beings. Evidently you dont believe that.

Mark, Orland Park

To Jim in Homewood, until you understand the difference between the truth and lies you will be ill-equipped to understand where todays Republicans hope to take this country. Authoritarianism and diverseness is where the Republican Party is heading at the expense of truth and your pocket book. To maintain ratings and corporate profit the Fox trio of Hannity, Ingraham and Carlson did not speak out against the attack on the Constitution. If you cant figure out when you have been conned then as you say, those who ignore history are destined to repeat it.

Mike, Tinley Park
BEIJING (AP)  China on Sunday reappointed Yi Gang as head of the central bank in an effort to reassure entrepreneurs and financial markets by showing continuity at the top while other economic officials change during a period of uncertainty in the world's second-largest economy.

Yi, whose official title is governor of the Peoples Bank of China, plays no role in making monetary policy, unlike his counterparts in other major economies. His official duties lie in implementing monetary policy, or carrying out decisions made by a policymaking body whose membership is a secret.

But the central bank governor acts as spokesperson for monetary policy, is the most prominent Chinese figure in global finance and is in charge of reassuring bankers and investors at a time when Chinas economy is emerging from drastically slower growth.

At the March 5 opening of the annual session of Chinas rubber-stamp parliament, the National Peoples Congress, China announced plans for a consumer-led revival of the struggling economy, setting this years growth target at around 5%.

Last years growth fell to 3%, the second-weakest level since at least the 1970s, putting president and head of the ruling Communist Party Xi Jinping under exceptional pressure to revitalize the economy.

A longtime veteran of monetary policy departments, Yi was first appointed governor of the Peoples Bank of China in March 2018, taking over from the highly regarded Zhou Xiaochuan.

Before becoming governor, Yi spent 20 years at the central bank after getting his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and working as a professor of economics at Indiana University from 1986 to 1994.

He is also a co-founder and professor at Peking University's China Center for Economic Research.

The party made a similar decision to opt for continuity in 2013, when then-PBOC governor Zhou, who already had been in the job for a decade, stayed on as governor while all other economic regulators changed.

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Yi's reappointment came on the congress's penultimate day, which also saw Xi loyalists appointed as finance minister and head of the Cabinet planning agency to carry out a program to tighten control over entrepreneurs, reduce debt risks and promote state-led technology development. Incumbent Wang Wentao was reappointed minister of commerce.

The congress also named four vice premiers, individuals who may be in line for higher office. They include sixth-ranking member of the party's all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, Ding Xuexiang, as vice premier overseeing administrative matters. Veteran bureaucrats He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing and Liu Guozhong were also named to the post. Liu and Zhang were incumbents.

Foreign Minister Qin Gang was also appointed to the position of state councilor, a position also held by Wang Yi, his predecessor and current superior as director of the party's Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

Defense Minister Li Shangfu, an aerospace engineer by training, was also named one of the five state councilors, along with Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong and Secretary General of China's Cabinet, known as the State Council, Wu Zhenglong. Shen Yiqin was the only woman named to the position and is China's highest-ranking female politician.

No women sit on the 24-member Politburo or its standing Committee, and the party's more-than-200-member Central Committee is 95% male.

A priority for finance officials will be to manage corporate and household debt that Beijing worries has risen to dangerous levels. Tighter debt controls triggered a slump in Chinas vast real estate industry in 2021, adding to the COVID-19 pandemics downward pressure on the economy.

At the same time, the ruling party is trying to shift money into technology development and other strategic plans. That has prompted warnings too much political control over emerging industries could waste money and hamper growth.

Xi has favored promoting officials who sometimes lack the experience of their predecessors and exposure to global industry and finance markets. That reflects Xis effort to purge the Chinese system of Western influence and promote homegrown strategies.

___

Associated Press writer Joe McDonald contributed to this report.
Federal authorities took aggressive action Sunday to end days of global uncertainty and panic, agreeing to backstop all depositors for two failed lenders  and to prevent runs on any other financial institutions.

The Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and FDIC vowed that taxpayers would not bear losses from the moves to bolster the depositors at the two shuttered lenders, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The agencies said Silicon Valley Banks depositors would have access to all their money on Monday.

In a stunning move, the Fed also announced that it would offer cash loans of up to a year for any bank putting up safe collateral  an action that in theory would allow banks to handle deposit withdrawals of any amount. The goal: to reassure people that they dont need to take their money out at all.

The agencies were praised by lawmakers from both parties for taking swift action to stem a financial panic. But Federal Financial Analytics managing partner Karen Petrou said the situation was one of their own making, criticizing regulators for not acting on problems at both banks before they failed.



The massive intervention was required because the Fed and FDIC "were caught flat-footed at SVB, failing not only to anticipate its structural weakness due to concentrated deposits and illiquid assets, but also the broader shock [that] closing a big bank would do after decades of depositor bailouts," said Petrou, who advises bankers on policy.

The moves will raise questions about the extent to which new rules put in place after the 2008 financial crisis are sufficient to keep banks operating safely.

Officials sought to assure investors and depositors those rules, intended to prevent government intervention, had worked.

The U.S. banking system remains resilient and on a solid foundation, in large part due to reforms that were made after the financial crisis, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg said in a statement. Those reforms combined with todays actions demonstrate our commitment to take the necessary steps to ensure that depositors savings remain safe.

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The dramatic moves marked an attempt by the Biden administration and regulators to contain any financial contagion triggered by Silicon Valley Bank's sudden collapse in a social media-fueled bank run on Friday.

Fear of a possible financial panic gripped Washington as policymakers and industry groups raced for information on whether the banks customers  which included roughly half of all Silicon Valley-backed businesses  would be able to make payroll and transact on Monday morning.

I doubt that anyone that has anything to do with Silicon Valley Bank, both here at home and across the country, has really slept a full night without worry, Rep. Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat whose district includes a large swath of Silicon Valley, said in an interview late Sunday afternoon.

There were also concerns that depositors might yank their funds from similar institutions, a senior Treasury official told reporters.

While the FDIC had explored a sale of SVB on Sunday, it was ultimately determined that emergency measures would offer more clarity to depositors more quickly. But the official did not rule out sales of either of the failed banks.

Sundays announcement, which arrived shortly before Asian markets opened, included news that Treasury, the Fed and the FDIC had made a special determination that failing to back customer deposits at the banks risked feeding out and harming the broader financial system. As a result, all the deposits of both collapsed banks will be guaranteed by the FDIC, which has a dedicated fund  financed with fees paid by banks  for this purpose.

Right decision, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) tweeted in response to the news.

The Fed also made adjustments to its longstanding backstop, known as the discount window, which like the new temporary lending program provides collateralized loans, but with a shorter maturity.

Historically, the Fed has charged borrowers a penalty rate, but it is now offering those loans at market rates. The discount window accepts a broader range of assets as collateral than the new emergency program.

Over the weekend, the FDIC collected bids on the assets of Silicon Valley Bank in a race to offer a path forward for businesses whose funds are stuck at the failed lender.

Venture firms and startups celebrated the announcement on Sunday, including major crypto businesses whose products were buffeted by choppy markets in the wake of SVBs collapse.

We were heartened to see the US government and financial regulators take crucial steps to mitigate risks extending from the fractional banking system, said Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of the stablecoin issuer Circle. 100% of deposits from SVB are secure and will be available at banking open tomorrow."
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, is clearly a concern, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday, but a federal bailout is not on the table.

During the financial crisis, there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed out, and we're certainly not looking [at that]. And the reforms that have been put in place means that we're not going to do that again, Yellen told host Margaret Brennan during an interview on CBS Face the Nation.

SVBs collapse Friday, the biggest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis, sent shockwaves through markets across the world. The bank's downfall was brought about by a bank run, after depositors became concerned about the bank's solvency, something that used to be common but has become quite rare in the United States in recent decades.

The bank had $209 billion in assets, and many of its depositors were Silicon Valley-backed startups and health-care businesses  many of them small businesses, Yellen said. Some have payrolls to meet this week.

But although the collapse is concerning, Yellen emphasized that the American banking system is safe and well-capitalized and resilient.

Americans can have confidence in the safety and soundness of our banking system, Yellen said Sunday.

We want to make sure that the troubles that exist at one bank don't create contagion to others that are sound, Yellen added.

Although SVB's failure is being compared to the financial crisis of 2008 that led to the collapse of hundreds of banks across the country, there's reason to believe the government can steer the country away from a nation-wide fiscal emergency, Gary Cohn, former director of the National Economic Council said during an interview on CNN's "State of the Union."

"In 2008, the regulators did not have nearly as a robust toolbox that they have today," Cohn said. "Today, the regulators have enormous tools at their disposal. They have enormous discretion to go through and really do whatever they want in this situation.  So, Im cautiously optimistic that they will use their tools."

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Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), agreed that the government should avoid bailing out SVB's investors. "I'm not ready to offer them a bailout by any stretch of the imagination," he told NBC's Chuck Todd during an interview on Meet the Press.

The best outcome would be for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to find a buyer for the bank, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), said Sunday.

I've been in conversations with the regulators, the administration, the [Federal Reserve], the best outcome will be, can we  can they find a buyer for this SVB bank today before the markets open in Asia later in the day? Warner, a member of the Banking Committee said during an interview on ABCs This Week.

SVB's collapse shouldn't be seen as a sign that banks need to more regulation, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said; it's more likely a sign of mismanagement, he said during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Small banks "certainly don't need any more regulation. That doesn't mean that you can you can be mismanaged," Cramer said. "Maybe better oversight, but certainly not more regulation."

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also addressed the banks failure Sunday, saying the federal government was working to come up with a solution before the markets open in Asia Sunday evening.

I have talked with the administration from [Fed Chair] Jay Powell and Janet Yellen. They do have the tools to handle the current situation. They do know the seriousness of this, and they are working to try to come forward with some announcement before the markets open, McCarthy told Fox News Maria Bartiromo during an interview on Sunday Morning Futures.

Im hopeful that something can be announced today.
A federal judge on Saturday denied a request from news outlets to provide access to records related to former President Trumps compliance with a grand jury subpoena to turn over classified materials held at his Mar-a-Lago residence.

Chief District Judge Beryl Howell rejected the outlets argument that secrecy was no longer necessary given the extensive public judicial disclosure and the profound interest in and gravity of a request by the government to hold the former president and current 2024 presidential candidate in contempt.

Even though the government disclosed the existence of the Subpoena in connection with another judicial proceeding pending in another circuit, that disclosure  did not reveal the details of ancillary proceedings relating to the governments efforts to enforce, and the former presidents efforts to comply, with the Subpoena, Howell said in Saturdays order.

Howell added that it would be infeasible to respond to the news organizations request without disclosing grand jury material, noting that redaction is simply not possible in this case.

The news organizations sued for access to the records in December, after Howell declined to admit press into a hearing reportedly related to contempt proceedings, according to Politico, who was part of the suit.

Howell denied a similar request from Politico and The New York Times in February that sought to unseal court filings from a grand jury investigation into the Jan. 6 riot and Trumps use of executive privilege.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP)  Federal officials are pausing a plan that could lead to new names for Georgia's Lake Lanier and Buford Dam after locals objected to changing the monikers of landmarks now named for Confederate soldiers.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a statement Friday announcing the pause pending further guidance from the Department of the Army.

U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, a Republican who represents much of northeast Georgia, said he called the Corps of Engineers Friday to express opposition. He said the pause is a a tremendous victory and that renamings would have attempted to rewrite history, impose massive burdensome costs on our community, and create unnecessary mass confusion.

Lake Lanier is an enormous reservoir spanning almost 58 square miles (150 square kilometers) and impounding the Chattahoochee River northeast of Atlanta. It was named for poet Sidney Lanier when it was built after World War II. Lanier served as a private in the Confederate army and later wrote Song of the Chattahoochee, a poem about the river.

Buford Dam is named after the nearby town of Buford, which takes its name from Lt. Col. Algernon Sidney Buford, who served in the Virginia militia during the Civil War. The Georgia town is named after Buford because he became president of a railroad that helped create the town after the war.

Hours before announcing the pause in the renaming process, The Times of Gainesville reported that the Mobile District of the Corps of Engineers sent out a news release and unveiled a website seeking input and aiming to pick new names by year's end. The corps said it was following a 2021 federal law which governs renaming military bases christened for confederates, including Georgia's Fort Gordon and Fort Benning. Fort Gordon is becoming Fort Eisenhower, while Fort Benning is becoming Fort Moore.

The Mobile District said it will continue to solicit public comment about new names for the lake and dam, but said choosing them is up to Congress.

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U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, a south Georgia Republican who was a member of the commission that suggested new military base names, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the commission never intended for Lake Lanier to be renamed.

Officials in the Gainesville area also oppose the change.

Clyde Morris, a board member with advocacy group Lake Lanier Association, told The Times on Friday that connections between the Confederacy, Lanier and Buford are really too remote" to justify changing the names, saying each man is better known for something other than their time in the military.
With hours to go before the trading day begins in Asia, top U.S. regulators have mulled guaranteeing all deposits at Silicon Valley Bank to prevent broader panic in the global financial sector, the Washington Post reported late Sunday.

Breaking news: Federal authorities are seriously considering safeguarding all uninsured deposits at Silicon Valley Bank, according to three people with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private deliberations. https://t.co/rUd6C4wEcJ  The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 12, 2023

Among the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury, FDIC, and White House, an outright buyer for the failed bank is the best-case scenario. "Most bank failures are resolved that way and enable depositors to avoid losing any money," according to the Post. The FDIC reportedly launched an auction for SVB assets yesterday, with final bids due at 2 p.m. EST.

That leaves them fewer than six hours before the trading markets open in Shanghai and Tokyo, where the global impact of the bank's failure late last week will become clear.

One of the options on the table includes providing a "backstop" for all uninsured deposits at Silicon Valley Bank, the Post reported, quoting an anonymous source as saying that federal officials are mulling a "legal and politically justifiable way to protect all uninsured deposits."

Such a move would not technically be a bailoutsomething Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ruled out over the weekendas it would tap into an insurance fund paid into by U.S. banks rather than falling back on taxpayer funds.

Silicon Valley Bank was among the 20 largest banks in the U.S. when it failed Friday after a bank run by customers. California state regulators placed the bank under the control of the FDIC, which in turn created a new entitythe Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clarathrough which to manage remaining assets.

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The FDIC guarantees deposits at member banks for up to $250,000, but many Silicon Valley Bank customers kept significantly larger balances. The bank catered to tech companies and startups, describing itself as "the financial services partner for the innovation economy," and many firms deposited the proceeds of entire fundraising rounds.

According to Silicon Valley Bank's most recent regulatory filings, more than 85% of its deposits were uninsured.

The Silicon Valley Bank Twitter account, @SVB_Financial, was also deleted on Sunday.

To proceed with the "backstop," Silicon Valley Bank's failure would have to be classified as part of "systemic risk" and agreed to by multiple regulatory bodies. This is a high bar, as many financial industry analysts remained confident in the stability of the U.S. financial sector despite Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.

This isnt a systemic eventthis is a midsize bank that was badly managed, University of Chicago business professor Anil Kashyap told the Post. It may be a little messy, but thats different than if you have somebody at the core of the financial system stop making payments to somebody else at the core of the system and then the core implodes."

Others, meanwhile, stepped up criticism of federal regulators, asserting that the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank revealed shortcomings in their practices.

WHERE WERE REGULATORS? @mcuban, heres what the Feds top bank supervisor said as the SVB bank run was in full swing on Thursday. Source: https://t.co/7UsHDKfQ0a https://t.co/yWM3vw3jD0 pic.twitter.com/Qg2eZIDS0b  Caitlin Long  (@CaitlinLong_) March 12, 2023

The Post report is attributed to three people with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private deliberations. None of the cited agencies commented on the record.
RIVIERA BEACH  A person was shot and wounded Saturday afternoon in a city neighborhood, Riviera Beach police said.

Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies, who were assisting Riviera Beach on Saturday, responded to a call in the 1400 block of West 36th Street at around 1:17 p.m. Deputies found a female wounded by gunshot and transported her to St. Mary's Medical Center.

Her injuries and medical condition were unknown Saturday afternoon. Police also released no further information about the victim, including her age, or further details about the shooting.

'Flagrant, reckless behavior': Street racing focus of West Palm Beach police task force

The incident was isolated, and there is no threat to the public, police said. Detectives from the city's Criminal Investigations Division were on the scene Saturday afternoon, and there have been no arrests in the case.

The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office responded to the call because many members of the Riviera force were attending a funeral for one of their detectives.

Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Loxahatchee and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on Twitter at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Female victim shot and wounded in Riviera Beach
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Finnish Air Force Commander Juha-Pekka Keranen backed up Niinistos position that no talks have been held, the Finnish outlet Helsingin Sanomat reported on March 11.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said during her surprise visit to Ukraine on March 10 that her country might consider transferring its old F-18 Hornet fighter jets to Ukraine. She emphasized that the discussion was at the very beginning and it required wide international cooperation.

Keranen says that Finland cannot give up its Hornet fighters until it receives F-35 fighters in return.

Finland doesnt expect to receive U.S. F-35s until 2026 and needs its Hornets until then, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen told MTV Uutiset on March 10.

According to Keranen, preparing the Hornets for Ukrainian use is a difficult task that will have many stages and requires large investment.

Kaikkonen, in turn, added that the Hornets working lives would expire in several years, and there would not be much operational time left in them after. Therefore, the handover of the fighters to Ukraine in the next few years or even later would be quite a challenge.

"Finland has helped and will help Ukraine, but I believe that we have to think over the ways that suit better both us and Ukraine," Kaikkonen said.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Leopard 1

Poulsen made the announcement after visiting the Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) company, which is preparing Leopard 1 tanks for transfer to Ukraine, the Danish Ministry of Defense wrote on its site.

Poulsen said he was there to check on the progress.

"I am proud that Denmark, in cooperation with other countries, supports Ukraines fight for freedom with a large and important donation, and we still hope to be able to deliver the first tanks to Ukraine in the spring," he said.

Read also: Ukraine to receive no more than 50 Leopards tanks promised by West by April, newspaper claims

The Danish MoD wrote that its collaboration with Germany and the Netherlands aims to donate at least 100 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine.

"Denmark started the project to refurbish a large number of Leopard 1A5 tanks together with the Netherlands and Germany in early February," the message reads.

"The first sub-goal of the project is to be able to deliver tanks to two battalions  corresponding to about 80 tanks  as the first tanks should be ready in the spring and will be used to train Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine will receive training on the use of the tanks, as well as spare parts and ammunition.

Read also: Ukrainian military already training in Spain on Leopards, more tanks may be coming  Sanchez

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin named the countries working on the transfer of Leopard tanks to Kyiv at the Ramstein meeting on Feb. 14. Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Canada, Portugal, Spain, and Norway are on that list. Finland has also confirmed its participation in the tank coalition.

However, governments from several countries have changed their initial decision to transfer battle tanks and decided against supplying them to Ukraine.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Quarterly parking spaces in Naperville's commuter rail station lots will be phased out in favor of a daily, pay-by-plate system to be implemented in July. (Scott Strazzante / Chicago Tribune)

All parking spaces in Naperville commuter rail lots will transition to daily fees in the coming months.

The Naperville City Council Tuesday voted to eliminate the parking permit system at the Route 59 and Naperville/Fourth Avenue Metra rail stations and require commuters to pay only for the days they park.

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City staff said the move will optimize parking in the lots and provide fair access for all commuters.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic changed the frequency people commute to Chicago, city staff was working to address the problem of spaces not be used in permit lots.

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Effective immediately, no new permits will be issued for any Naperville commuter parking lots.

In the coming months, staff will modify the municipal code for council consideration with a goal implementing the daily pay-by-plate fee model in July.

Quarterly permits will be valid until the end of 2023, giving permit holders time to adjust to the new program while freeing up unoccupied permit spaces to be used by other commuters who do not hold a quarterly permit.

Not all residents are on board with the change. Naperville commuter Michael Hackett told the council it took 10 years for his family to get a parking permit in 2008, and hes not ready for the city to throw out the system.

Its a convenience that I enjoy and that I need, Hackett said.

He doesnt want to return to the days of juggling schedules and dropping off his car early to ensure he has a parking spot when he catches the train later in the morning.

Councilwoman Theresa Sullivan said she and her husband also performed crazy calisthenics when they worked downtown and her kids were in day care.

It was insanity, and the problem was we didnt have a parking permit, said Sullivan, whos been working to fix the commuter parking problem since joining the council in 2019.

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Permit parking is an antiquated system because people shouldnt have to wait 10 years to receive a permit, she said. The daily fee system should be flexible enough to deal with parking when rail ridership increases.

This is the first step in giving us the flexibility to make sure that everybody who needs to go or wants to take the train downtown from Naperville now has a chance, instead of The Hunger Games for parking that weve lived with for years thats been just a real problem, Sullivan said.

Jennifer Louden, deputy director of Transportation, Engineering and Development, said the decision was not taken lightly.

We do understand that there are many people who still rely on these permits and this is presenting a considerable change, Louden said.

By switching to a pay-by-plate model, commuters wont have to remember the space they parked in that day. Theyll use their own license plate as an identifier.

Louden said the four machines at Main Station and the five at Route 59  as well as the pay-by-phone app and the call-in system through pay-by-phone  will support the change.

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Right now, the city has more parking than it needs for commuters, she said.

When demand does return, the city can look into implementing more technology, such as parking guidance and reservations systems, Louden said.

Staff has yet to determine the cost of daily fees.

Because revenue from parking fees pay for maintenance of the commuter lots, fees will need to cover those costs.

Councilwoman Jennifer Bruzan Taylor said one concern is whether the city will offer discounts to people who commute four or five times a week.

Louden said while the city cant discount for individuals, one option may be to discount certain days where ridership is lower, such as a Monday or Friday.

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Naperville resident Paul Biles, in a letter to the council, called on the city to refund the fees made by those waiting for a parking permit.

He has two deposits for the Kroehler and Burlington/Parkview lots near the main Naperville station.

Administrative or not, these deposits were made in good faith that permits would be issued when available, he wrote.

In its Commuter Connection, the city said the wait list fee was a nonrefundable administration fee, not a deposit, therefore it will not be refunded.

Anyone with questions about the transition to daily fee parking can contact the city at 630-420-6100 and choose option 4 or email commuter@naperville.il.us.

Elise Crawley, a Naperville resident with a parking permit for the Route 59 lot, said in a letter to the council that she commutes five days a week.

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Allocating spots on a first-come, first-served basis always advantages the same people whose work schedules start earlier in the day. It is the same as saying were always going to pass out leftover cupcakes in alphabetical order, Crawley said.

The plan imposes increased time, money and convenience costs on those who utilize the parking lot the most and provides only a modest benefit and access to closer spots to those who use it less frequently, she said.

subaker@tribpub.com
Throughout their relationship, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski have been by each others side, both on and off-screen. As theyve continued to gush over their marriage over the last 12 years, theyve also become one of the most beloved celebrity couples in Hollywood.

The pair first met in 2008 and went on to have their first date the same year. They quickly hit it off, as Krasinski has said that he knew Blunt was the one after their initial date. After tying the knot in 2010, their family grew, with the couple becoming parents of two daughters by 2016.

In addition to their separate careers, Blunt and Krasinski have also worked on the big screen together, and have become known for celebrating major career milestones together.

From their first date to their happy marriage, heres everything to know about Blunt and Krasinski and what theyve said about their relationship.

They met and went on their first date in 2008

The pair first met in Los Angeles through a mutual friend. During an episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2018, Blunt recalled how she was introduced to Krasinski while he was sitting next to another one of their friends: Justin Theroux.

I was in a restaurant, [Krasinski] was in the restaurant. I was sitting with a mutual friend, she explained. And my friend Gray goes Oh my god, thats my friend John. And that was it. He was sitting with our friend Justin Theroux, and he abandoned Justin and came over to us. He just stood there and made me laugh.

Later that year, they went out on their first date. While they wouldnt share too many details about the occasion, during a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the couple told the publication that their evening together included pizza and a visit to Krasinskis apartment in Hollywood.

The Office star continued to play coy about the date, explaining: Its so precious, I dont want to talk about it. Is that all right?

The couple got engaged in 2009

Krasinskis representative confirmed to People in August 2009 that he and Blunt were engaged after less than a year of dating. However, both stars kept details about the proposal private.

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Blunt and Krasinski got married in 2010

(Getty Images)

The couple officially tied the knot in July 2010 at George Clooneys estate in Lake Como, Italy. However, during an interview with Elle in 2016, Krasinski revealed that he didnt plan on getting married in Clooneys home at first.

I grew up with the Boston vibe and the Catholic vibe, he explained. I dont want to put anybody out. George said: I have this place and you should feel free to use it. Only on the fourth ask did I say yes. Because the first three times I thought: Theres no way he is serious. But I started to see his feelings get hurt. I actually hurt George Clooneys feelings.

During their first few years of marriage, they both expressed how meeting each other changed their lives

Following their wedding, the couple started to open up more about how their relationship came to be. During an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2011, Krasinski said that he knew Blunt was the person for him right away.

It was one of those things where I wasnt really looking for a relationship and I was thinking Im going to take my time in LA, he recalled. I met her and I was so nervous. I was like: Oh god, I think Im going to fall in love with her. As I shook her hand I went: I like you.

During an interview with InStyle in 2013, Blunt agreed with her husbands sentiment, and explained how being introduced to him ultimately impacted her life.

Meeting John really changed my life, she told the publication, as reported byE! News. When I feel the support that I have from him, I feel invincible. Theres someone behind you on your good days and someone in front of you on your bad days.

They welcomed their first child in 2014

In February 2014, Krasinski announced the birth of his and Blunts daughter, Hazel, on Twitter. Wanted to let the news out directly. Emily and I are so incredibly happy to welcome our daughter Hazel into the world today! Happy bday! he wrote.

The couple went viral in 2015 when Krasinski crashed his wifes award acceptance speech

In 2015, the pair walked hand-in-hand at the Critics Choice Awards, where Blunt won the Best Action Movie Actress award for her role in The Edge of Tomorrow. As she was about to give her acceptance speech, her husband came out from backstage to congratulate her. He went on to give her a hug and kiss on the cheek before running off the stage.

Blunt and Krasinski welcomed their second child in 2016

The actor took to Twitter in July 2016 to reveal that he was now a father of two. What better way to celebrate the fourth... than to announce our fourth family member!!! Two weeks ago we met our beautiful daughter Violet, Krasinski wrote at the time.

In 2017, they announced their first film together

Although the couple had been known for their separate acting projects, Krasinski took to Instagram in March 2017 to announce that he and Blunt would be starring in A Quiet Place together.

In the post, he shared a screenshot of an article confirming the news, along with a caption that read: Question: John, whos the one actor youve been wanting to work with? Answer: (see above)

Krasinski opened up about working with his wife in 2018, ahead of their movies release

In Blunts January 2018 cover interview with Vanity Fair, her husband also spoke about her acting skills. Krasinski, who directed A Quiet Place, went on to detail how meaningful it was to witness his wifes performance on the movie set.

The air changes in the room when she starts doing what she does, he said. Its so honest and so pure and so powerful. Its like a superpower that she can just unlock and do so specifically with not many attempts.

He continued: For me, I love acting, and Im so lucky to be doing it. But shes on another plane. This weird intersection happened while filming where I totally forgot I was her husband. I was just watching her performance and was lucky enough to be in the front row.

Four months after the interview was published, A Quiet Place was officially released.

They began filming a sequel to A Quiet Place in 2019

Krasinski took to Twitter in July 2019 to confirm that another Quiet Place film was in the works. At the time, he shared a photo of the films clapperboard, which had Part II written on it.

However, Blunt later revealed that she and her spouse werent initially set on making this film. We were both really reluctant and unnerved at the idea of trying to do another one, she told Variety in March 2020. A lot of people came into the studio and tried to pitch ideas and we were both like: Were not going to do it.

(Getty Images for Paramount Pictu)

Three months after the first Quiet Place movie was released, Krasinski changed his mind and decided he wanted to do a sequel, as reported by Variety.

The couple attended the world premiere of A Quiet Place Part II in March 2020 at Lincoln Center in New York City. The film wasnt released in theatres until July 2021, due to the pandemic.

Blunt opens up about raising their children during the pandemic in 2020, ahead of her 10-year wedding anniversary

During an interview with People in May 2020, in celebration of her 10-year anniversary, Blunt explained how much she values her marriage.

Having Johns support is everything, because we are each others confidant, the Mary Poppins Returns star said. That shared understanding has really been a very vital anchor for me.

She also described how her daughters had been her and Krasinskis lifeline throughout the pandemic.

Being around little ones during the pandemic was such a saving grace because they would just be bouncing around the house, and your job is to protect them from what is happening and make sure their life remains joyful, she said. That was a pretty great lifeline for John and me during the pandemic, for sure.

Krasinski and Blunt discuss showing their movies to their children in 2022

During an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in July 2022, Krasinski said that his daughters saw his movie, DC League of Super-Pets, and really enjoyed it.

They loved it, he said. They were laughing very very hard. I think up until now they didnt actually believe I was in the business, because theyve never seen anything Ive done.

One year before his interview with Jimmy Fallon, his wife also opened up about showing one of her films to her daughters. During an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan, she said that, while her children havent been invested in her movies in the past, there was one film that they really liked: Jungle Cruise.

They are usually disinterested in seeing me on screen, but theyre really into Jungle Cruise, she said. They love the jaguar; they love DJ [Dwayne Johnson]; they love the dynamic; they love the whole world.

Krasinski says he wouldnt be anywhere without his wife in December 2022 interview

During an interview with Parade at the end of last year, Krasinski continued to gush over his spouse and the impact shes had on his life.

I wouldnt be anywhere in my life without her, he said. On a daily basis, but certainly career-wise, as a dad, she pushes me to be better every single day at everything I do.

The pairs appearance at the SAG Awards in February made headlines

(Getty Images)

Last month, the couple attended the SAG Awards, where Blunt was nominated but missed out on a Best Actress award. While walking the red carpet, they were seen exchanging a few private laughs and whispers with each other. Krasinski also continued to support his wife by standing back and smiling as she posed for photos on the red carpet.

On social media, fans were quick to praise the couples relationship and flirtatious interactions.

If I dont grow up and have a love like Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, then I dont want it, one person wrote on Twitter.
Exes Florence Pugh and Zach Braff have reunited for the premiere of their new movie, A Good Person.

On Wednesday (8 March), Pugh, 27, posed on the red carpet alongside Braff in a sequined black crop top with tie sides, high-waisted gray trousers, and opera-length black gloves with individual trains, while her former partner wore a purple and gray plaid suit and a white button down.

The former couples reunion came after Braff revealed that he wrote the screenplay for the film for Pugh while living with her during lockdown.

There was nothing to do other than to start a screenplay because thats what I meant to do, thats what I like to do, and I wanted to write something for Florence, and this is kind of what came out of me, he told Variety.

Pugh then noted that the role was perfect for her because her former partner knows her.

He knows how I talk, he knows how I take the piss out of people and I think he just put that in his script and I was allowed to come and fill in where it was needed, she said. But reading something that is dedicated for you written by someone who knows you so well is a wonderful gift.

When did Pugh and Braff date and what has the Midsommar star said about their relationship and breakup?

In August 2022, Pugh revealed that she and Braff had parted ways after three years during a cover interview for Harpers Bazaar.

(Getty Images)

Weve been trying to do this separation without the world knowing, because its been a relationship that everybody has an opinion on, she said. We just felt something like this would really do us the benefit of not having millions of people telling us how happy they are that were not together. So weve done that.

The update came three years after the pair were first romantically linked in 2019, when they were spotted taking a trip to New York City together after working alongside one another on the film In the Time It Takes to Get There.

In December of that year, Pugh seemingly confirmed the romance when she shut down criticism of their 21-year age gap on Instagram.

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In response to a troll whod written: Youre 44 years old, to Braff, Pugh wrote: And yet he got it.

The couple became slightly more open about their relationship as the time went on, with Pugh dedicating a 45th birthday tribute to her partner on 6 April 2020.

Today we shall smile wider than the clouds are grey. April 6th and were celebrating hard! Happy Birthday wishes, boogies and cheers for this special person. Raise those bubbles and jiggle! Pugh captioned a photo of Braff on her Instagram.

Pugh spoke out in defence of her and Braffs age gap the same year, with the Little Women star condemning the abusive comments in a video posted to her Instagram.

I am 24 years old. I do not need you to tell me who I should and should not love and I would never in my life tell anyone who they can and cannot love. It is not your place, she said in the video. The abuse that you throw at him is abuse that you are throwing at me, and I dont want those followers. I do not want to have to be protecting my comments every time I post a picture of him. I really hope that I can continue this relationship with a lot of you.

At the time, Pugh also encouraged any critics of her relationship to unfollow her on social media.

Pugh addressed the criticism of her relationship again during an interview with Elle UK in May 2020, where she noted that she has the right to hang out and be with and go out with anyone.

At the time, she also said that her fame shouldnt mean people feel entitled to hurl abuse at the couple.

I know that part of being in the spotlight is that people might invade your privacy and have opinions on it, but its bizarre that normal folk are allowed to display such hate and opinions on a part of my life that Im not putting out there, she said. Its a strange side of fame that youre allowed to be torn apart by thousands of people even though you didnt put that piece of you out there. My point to all this is that isnt it odd that a stranger can totally tear apart someones relationship and its allowed?

While appearing on the Sue Perkins: An hour or so with... podcast in July 2020, Pugh admitted that the comments about her relationship had made her feel like sh*t before she recognised how ridiculous it was to let others dictate her relationship.

Pugh also noted that shed tried dating someone her age, and that there was a reason it hadnt worked, before alleging that the criticism towards her relationship was solely intended to make a young woman feel like s**t for no reason.

Ive always found it funny, how I can be good enough for people to watch my work and support my work and pay for tickets, and Im old enough to be an adult and pay taxes, but Im not old enough to know who I should and should not have sex with, she said. Yet again, once again, its making a young woman feel like s**t for no reason.

In April 2021, Pugh shared another birthday tribute to Braff on Instagram, where she referred to him as a magical person.

In July of that year, Pugh told the Sunday Times that she believed people criticised her relationship because Braff was not who they expected her to date.

But its my life and Im not doing anything to please people or to make it a better headline or story. I want to also be a person! she said at the time.

Amid speculation that the pair was no longer together, Pugh confirmed that she and Braff had broken up in August 2022, also revealing at the time that she automatically gets a lumpy throat when I talk about it.

However, despite the couples breakup, Pugh has continued to express her support for Braff.

In December 2022, she shared the first trailer of A Good Person, which was directed by Braff, on Instagram, where she praised the film.

This is the first time Ive had the pleasure and the privilege of watching how the art is made from the very beginning to the very end, she wrote. I am so proud of this creation, Im so grateful to all those who jumped on board this crazy journey with us.

Pugh again addressed criticism of her relationship with Braff in a January 2023 Vogue cover story, where she reiterated her belief that fans expected her to be with someone else.

They imagined me with someone younger and someone in blockbusters, she said. I think young relationships in Hollywood are so easily twisted because they add to the gossip sites. Its exciting to watch. And I think I was in a relationship that didnt do any of that.

In the same interview, Braff also praised his ex-girlfriend, with the actor describing Pugh as one of the greatest actors of her generation.

Shes just magnetic. You cannot take your eyes off of her. And its not just her beauty and its not just her acting ability, its that thing, that magic thing that transcends the screen, where anyone and everyone goes: I want to see whatever this person does, he said.

During the interview, Pugh also admitted that she was still healing from the breakup.

My breakup has been very new, so Im figuring that out, she told Vogue.
The Florida Commission on Ethics on Friday dismissed a long-running dispute about whether former Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried violated state law by not properly disclosing financial information.

The decision came after an accountant and an attorney for Fried filed affidavits vouching for information that was initially filed showing her income in 2017 and 2018. The forms were later amended to show substantially higher income  spurring a complaint that Fried had violated the law.

Benedict Kuehne, an attorney for Fried, told the commission that Fried filed amended forms after the firm Igniting Florida, LLC, restated its income twice. The restatements affected income for Fried, who worked as a consultant and lawyer for the firm, he said.

In so doing (filing the amended forms), the commissioner (Fried) followed the letter and the spirit of the constitutional requirement for full and public disclosure, Kuehne said.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The ethics commission dismissed the complaint in a voice vote after little discussion.

The case involved income from periods before Fried was elected agriculture commissioner in 2018. Fried worked, at least in part, as a medical-marijuana lobbyist.

Evan Power, chairman of the Leon County Republican Party, filed the ethics complaint in June 2021. The case played out as Fried, a Democrat unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2022.

Fried last month was elected chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, while Power was elected vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.

Read: 1 person killed, another in critical condition after shooting near Brevard County park

The ethics commission in December 2021 issued an order finding probable cause that Fried did not properly report income and later sent the case to the state Division of Administrative Hearings. But Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early in November sent the case back to the ethics commission.

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Attorney Elizabeth Miller, who serves as an advocate for the commission, filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. She cited affidavits from Frieds accountant, Jeffrey Stern, and attorney, Jason Blank, who helped prepare the financial-disclosure forms.

Miller wrote in the motion that Stern and Blank said the initial forms reflected available information at the time they were filed.

In summation, the reason respondent (Fried), her preparing lawyer and her CPA did not have access to the income information upon the original filings was that the underlying income information pertaining to Igniting Florida was initially incorrect and incomplete but was not known to be incomplete at the time of submitting the form  in both 2017 and 2018, Miller wrote.

Read: Deputies: 3 teens shot near Waterford Lakes Town Center in Orange County

State elected officials are required by law to file annual forms that detail information such as income, assets, liabilities and net worth. Disclosure requirements also apply to state candidates, as Fried was for the first time in 2018.

Generally, the reports reflect financial information from the end of the prior year. For example, a report filed in 2018 would reflect financial information from 2017. They are designed, in part, to shed light on any conflicts of interest for public officials.

Fried initially filed a report showing an income of $84,000 in 2017 from Igniting Florida. But in May 2021, she filed an amended form that reported $165,761 in income for 2017, according to Millers motion to dismiss.

Also, Fried initially reported zero income in 2018 from Igniting Florida. In May 2021, she filed an amended form showing an income of $351,480.

Read: Central Florida firefighters use specialized equipment to rescue victim trapped under golf cart

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.
State Sen. Clay Yarborough and a parent with child protesting for trans rights

A Florida lawmaker pushing to outlaw transgender medical care for minors said hes not trying to take kids from parents  at least not all of the time.



Florida state Sen. Clay Yarborough, the sponsor for SB 254, said he has spoken to LGBTQ+ advocates about the legislation. While he showed no signs of backing off a push to outlaw gender-affirming care for trans children, he plans to bring an amendment to his bill limiting threats to parents' custody found in the bill initially.

Parents have the right and a responsibility to raise their children as they see fit, and government intervention should be a last resort, the Republican lawmaker said in a statement. I filed this legislation because I believe as lawmakers, we have to draw the line when drastic, life-altering gender dysphoria therapies and surgeries are mutilating young children.

Gender-affirming health care for transgender people is widely supported by the country's leading medical organizations.

The Florida Senates Health Policy Committee will consider the bill on Monday. The amendment will be considered at that time.

But he doesnt plan to altogether remove any threat to a parents custody of a child in the event another parent opposes the care.

Both parents have a right to be involved in the upbringing of a child, Yarborough said. With the exception of extreme circumstances, custody arrangements typically respect the rights of both parents to be involved in major decisions and events in a childs life. If one parent is attempting to authorize drastic, life-altering gender dysphoria therapies and surgeries that would forever change the life of a young child, and would be illegal under other provisions of this bill, then by all means the other parent should have the ability to have a court review the custody agreement.

The senators amendment would alter Floridas Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act and allow a judge to change custody agreements to protect the child from gender-affirming health care.

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By every measure, children live happier and healthier lives when their parents work together to make important decisions, Yarborough said.

This bill gives the court discretion on whether and how to act to protect a child when a parent is subjecting a child to sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures that this bill makes illegal in Florida. Again, both parents have a right to be involved in the upbringing of a child, and one parent should not be able to unilaterally attempt to change the sex of their child.

Its unclear if Florida House sponsors will agree to any such adjustment to Yarborough's legislation. Florida Rep. Ralph Massullo, one of the prime sponsors for the companion to Yarboroughs bill, recently called gender-affirming care child abuse in a social media post.

Lakey Love,of the Florida Coalition for Transgender Liberation told The Advocate before the amendment was put forward that the original proposal goes further than much legislation she has seen.

We have a lot of questions as the state moves toward treating this as child abuse, Love said. Can the state come at parents for just supporting a child through a transition and becoming who they are?

When the initial bill was proposed last week, Equality Florida's director of transgender equality ,Nikole Parker said, "Senator Yarborough should be ashamed, and every parent should be alarmed by this dangerous, authoritarian precedent."

Florida under anti-LGBTQ+ Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has targeted LGBTQ+ rights repeatedly, including signing into law the "don't say gay" bill. Lawmakers have proposed several bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights already this legislative session. The session began last week.
Sheila Bair, former chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., said Sunday that finding a buyer for Silicon Valley Bank is the best outcome after regulators shut it down last week over concerns about its solvency.

The shutdown of Silicon Valley Bank, one of the leading lenders to the tech sector, was the second-largest bank collapse in U.S. history. It prompted a wider sell-off in stocks and sparked fears that other banks may be at risk of failure.

"That's the smoothest way to handle these," Bair said on NBC News Meet the Press. "In almost all of our bank failures during the great financial crisis  we had about 400 of them  we did purchase an assumption, we sold a failed bank to a healthy bank. And usually the healthy acquirer would also cover the uninsured, because they wanted the franchise value of these large depositors, so optimally, that's the best outcome.

The problem is this was a rush, this was a liquidity failure. It was a bank run, so they didnt have time to prepare to market, she added.

The banks are having to do that now and playing catch-up."

The banks funds are in the hands of the FDIC. All those who banked with SVB, a lender insured by the FDIC, had only up to $250,000 in money guaranteed by the federal government.

Those who banked more than $250,000 with SVB  totaling 90% of SVBs deposits  were left in financial limbo. The group includes Roku, which said it has nearly $500 million with SVB; Roblox, which said it has $150 million with SVB; and many others. SVB claimed to have about 50% of all U.S. venture-backed tech and life science companies and more than 2,500 venture capital funds as its customers.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday on CBS Face the Nation that there wouldnt be a bailout but added that the federal government is trying to figure out a way to help depositors.

SVB has been looking for a buyer as deposit outflows continued to accelerate, CNBC reported Friday morning. By noon Friday, California officials announced they were taking over SVBs deposits and placing the bank into receivership.

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Senators swiftly aired their concerns.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., a member of the Banking Committee, said on "Meet the Press" that he hasn't received a briefing yet about the shutdown and was not ready to offer the bank a bailout.

The FDIC briefed members of the California congressional delegation about the collapse Saturday night, multiple offices in the House and the Senate told NBC News on Sunday.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., a member of the Banking Committee, also said Sunday he believes the best outcome will be an acquisition.

I know Ive been in conversations with the regulators, the administration, the Fed. The best outcome will be can they find a buyer for this SVB bank today before the markets open in Asia later in the day, Warner said in an interview on ABC News This Week.

That would be the best, making sure that depositors  remember that shareholders in the bank are going to lose their money; lets be clear about that  but the depositors can be taken care of. And the best outcome will be an acquisition of SVB, he added.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen testified for about three hours Monday before a grand jury in New York that is hearing evidence of former President Donald Trump's alleged role in a hush payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Cohen's attorney, Lanny Davis, declined to comment on the substance of the testimony but said Cohen will return Wednesday to finish answering questions.

"This is about accountability, the facts and the truth," Davis said.

MORE: Trump has 'no plans' to participate in Manhattan grand jury probe, attorney says

Cohen said he feels fine and noted that he has been living with the case for the last five years.

Cohen paid $130,000 to Daniels in the closing days of the 2016 campaign to keep her quiet about an affair she claimed to have had with Trump. The former president has denied the affair and his attorneys have framed the funds as an extortion payment.

The Manhattan district attorney's office has been investigating whether Trump falsified business records when the Trump Organization allegedly reimbursed Cohen for the payment then recorded the reimbursement as a legal expense.

In recent weeks former Trump advisers Hope Hicks, Kellyanne Conway and several other witnesses have testified in the probe.

PHOTO: Former Trump Attorney Michael Cohen gives a short statement to members of the press as he arrives to meet with the Manhattan District Attorney on February 8, 2023 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Cohen served prison time after he pleaded guilty to federal charges that included campaign finance violations related to the hush payment. Charging documents said Cohen acted at the behest of "Individual 1," who he has identified as Trump.

The district attorney's office recently informed Trump of his right to testify before the grand jury, sources previously told ABC News. New York law requires so-called "cross notice" so potential defendants are afforded a chance to tell the grand jury their side of the story, but the invitation is typically only extended if prosecutors are planning to move forward with an indictment.

Trump attorney Joe Tacopina told George Stephanopoulos Monday on ABC's Good Morning America that the former president has "no plans" to participate in the probe.

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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has previously won the tax fraud convictions against Trump's company and its former finance chief, Allen Weisselberg, but Trump himself has never been charged with a crime. The Trump Organization said it would appeal the conviction.

Trump has dismissed the Stormy Daniels investigation as a witch hunt and has insisted he did "absolutely nothing wrong." His spokesman has called the possibility of an indictment in New York "simply insane."

MORE: Manhattan DA invites Trump to testify in grand jury probe of Stormy Daniels payoff: Sources

Trump is also awaiting charging decisions from two other entities. The district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, is investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the state, and a special counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland is investigating Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol and his handling of classified material.

Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen testifies before Manhattan grand jury originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Fox News pundits found themselves in a difficult spot when they had to brush off the results of a recent poll that found most Americans do not view the word "woke" as an insult.

Former Trump White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, now a Fox News host, and host Brian Kilmeade discussed the results of a recent USA Today-IPSOS poll asking how respondents would feel if someone described them as "woke."

The term generally refers to progressive ideologies that acknowledge concepts of social justice, civil rights, and labour issues.

The poll found that 56 per cent of respondents said they understood "woke" to mean "informed, educated on, and aware of social injustices."

"Believe it or not, 56 per cent have a positive view of the word woke," Kilmeade said.

Ms McEnany brushed off the results, suggesting "normal people" would not respond to a request to participate in a poll.

"I'm a Floridian so I get calls from pollsters all the time. I hang up on them," she said. "I think normal people who don't like woke just click, click, click."

However, the USA Today-Ipsos poll did include Republicans, and nearly a third of GOP-identifying respondent were among those who shared a favourable definition of the word woke.

Only 39 per cent of respondents had an unfavourable definition of woke, which they took to mean "to be overly politically correct and police others' words."

Kilmeade: Believe it or not 56% have a positive view of the word woke.

Kayleigh: I'm a Floridian so I get calls from pollsters all the time. I hang up on them. I think the normal people who don't like woke just click click click. pic.twitter.com/ELEDXIRVnM  Acyn (@Acyn) March 12, 2023

Despite the widely-understood favourable definition of woke, the word is most used as an insult by Republicans and those with conservative ideologies.

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Former Trump official and upcoming presidential candidate Nikki Haley recently told a CPAC audience that wokeness is "a virus more dangerous than any pandemic, hands down.

More than three million people died due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the World Health Organization.

GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who authored a book taking aim at "woke" companies in the US, bragged that he "traveled the country calling out the woke-industrial-complex in America.

In Ms McEnany's native Florida, GOP legislators introduced the "Stop WOKE Act" into state congressional consideration, and Twitter CEO Elon Musk motioned to his largely conservative fan base by frequently lamenting the "woke mind virus.

Even banks can be woke, according to GOP Congressman James Comer, who tried to explain away the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank to its wokeness and not the Trump-era rollback of Dodd-Frank banking regulations.

The poll results may suggest that the GOP building its platform on "anti-wokeness"  like book bans and civil rights rollbacks  is not a popular strategy with the "normal people" Ms McEnany thinks don't answer polls.
State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, gestures while speaking during the 2023 NWI School Superintendent Forum at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, Indiana Friday Feb. 24, 2023. The program was sponsored by the IUN School of Education. (Andy Lavalley for the Post-Tribune) (Andy Lavalley / Post-Tribune)

A bill that would prevent police from lying to minors during interrogations has passed Indiana State Senate with unanimous support and is now under consideration in the State House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 415, authored by Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, would render statements made during an interrogation inadmissible if a minor was mislead regarding evidence in their case, dishonestly threatened with harsher consequences, or issued false promises of leniency.

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Pol, an attorney who formerly worked in criminal defense, told the Post-Tribune that the legislation would help shield children and teens from unfair treatment and prevent false confessions.

They dont have a fully developed frontal lobe. Typically their decision making isnt very informed and theyre easily manipulated, he said. The idea that you could use that manipulation and use deceptive tactics to get a confession out of somebody in that state, to me, is just so counterintuitive to a fair and just criminal justice system.

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Another provision, adapted from an earlier bill authored by Sen. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City, would require that a law enforcement officer who arrests a child on school grounds contact the childs parent, guardian or emergency contact before moving them to a different location.

Attempts to rein in law enforcement officers ability to deceive have gained traction elsewhere in the country. In 2021, both Illinois and Oregon passed similar laws preventing deceptive interrogation tactics.

Indiana would be the first Republican-majority state to follow suit. Pol said he was surprised that a Democratic-backed police reform bill on its first introduction received such widespread support in the Republican-dominated Indiana Senate. He credited the bills passage in part to the support of Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, who chairs the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law and who worked to shore up Republican support for Pols legislation.

Pol voiced support for eventually passing a more expansive version of the bill in the future, pointing to the United Kingdom, where police are disallowed from lying during interrogations in all cases.

I dont think that this bill alone restores or reforms criminal justice in the way that we that we need, he said. This is going to be a continuous conversation.

He added, however, that he currently has no plans to introduce such a bill anytime soon. Trying to do so, he said, might risk provoking a more negative response from Republicans at the Statehouse.

Were in this process of having a good conversation right now, he said. I dont want it to go sideways, because I think thats potentially what could happen.

adalton@chicagotribune.com
In the predawn hours of May 8, 2014, Stephanie Fernandes was desperate to learn from police what had happened to her fiance, Andrew "Andy" Wagner.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES (crying): I  I don't know what's gonna happen. Please.

OFFICER PERO: Stephanie, just 

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Please, tell me if he's OK.

OFFICER PERO: Stephanie 

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Please, no

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: This is like a nightmare, a walking nightmare 

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: what happened to him I can't take it.

OFFICER PERO: I know this is, I know this is a traumatic night, OK?

STEPHANIE: No, no. Please tell me Andy's OK.

OFFICER PERO: We have to get through this, OK?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Oh, please tell me Andy's OK, please 

At around 10:30 the night before, after a sudden bloody encounter with Andy at their home in Worcester, Massachusetts, Stephanie says she couldn't find her cell phone, so she rushed to a neighbors' house to get help.



Angelina Fernandes (driving with Peter Van Sant to her former home): It's coming up on the left.

Peter Van Sant: Which house?

Angelina Fernandes: Right here on the left.

Stephanie's daughter Angelina Fernandes now 20, was just 11 years old that night.

Peter Van Sant: Where was your bedroom?

Angelina Fernandes: Um, I don't know, upstairs.

Peter Van Sant: But can you still remember.

Angelina Fernandes: Yeah, it's like pictures.

Angelina Fernandes, 20, talks to

Angelina Fernandes: So, I was sleeping, and I heard the door slam shut, and it woke me up. And then I just heard my mom from outside, "Help me, someone help me." And then I just hear my mom screaming and crying.

Peter Van Sant: When you looked from that balcony down and could see your mother and Andy 

Angelina Fernandes: Mm-hmm (affirms)  there's blood everywhere.

Angelina Fernandes: And then I saw them giving CPR on him.

Angelina Fernandes: I just remember my mom.  And then she spotted me upstairs and she pointed at me, and she was like, "Someone get her, someone get my daughter!"

Police took Angelina to a relative's house. Andy was rushed by paramedics to the hospital. Police took Stephanie to the station, where she was led into an interrogation room and interviewed for almost three hours.

Story continues

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: No. No. Please tell me Andy's OK.

OFFICER PERO: We have to get through this, OK?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Oh, please tell me Andy's OK  I can't even talk. Like, he's my life. It doesn't even matter. Like, I love him so much 

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Please. I don'tno, no. I don't know what to do. Like,

I'm gonna freak out ...

OFFICER: Sit down for a second.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: I don't wanna hear nothin'. I don't wanna hear nothin'. And if anything bad happened to my family, no, please don't tell me. I know I look psycho. Please.

OFFICER PERO: Stephanie 

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Please.

OFFICER PERO:  just for right now, I just want to get some basic information.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: OK.

Stephanie Fernandes was taken to the Worcester Police Department where she was interviewed for almost three hours. / Credit: Worcester Superior Court

Detective William Pero led the questioning

OFFICER PERO: Before we talk about the incident that occurred tonight, I have to read you your rights.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: OK.

OFFICER PERO: You have the right to use a telephone to  contact an attorney. Do you understand this right Stephanie?

OFFICER PERO: Right now, we can't talk to Andrew. I can talk to you, OK.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Why can't you talk to him?

The officers press on, telling Stephanie that Wagner is in the hospital. Stephanie appears to settle down a bit.

OFFICER PERO: Well, something did happen. You're covered in blood.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: I know. No. Oh yeah ...

OFFICER PERO: You have a lotta blood on you and that's, I would assume that's Andrew's blood?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Yes. This is Andrew's blood.

Stephanie changes into a white coverall. And two hours into her interview finally learns Andy's fate.

OFFICER PERO: Andrew is no longer with us. And there's a reason why that happened, but we don't know that reason yet.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Oh my God. Oh my God.

Stephanie is told Andy is dead. She begins to reveal details of what happened that night.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: What happened was we got into an altercation, and he was hitting me. And that's what happened. And he pulled out a knife and guns.  He started like choking me and hittin' me and stuff.

An autopsy would later reveal Wagner had bled to death after being stabbed in the neck. Stephanie was later charged with first-degree murder.

Stephanie Fernandes is talking publicly for the first time about the death of her fiance Andrew Wagner.

Stephanie Fernandes: I never, never, and never would kill someone, harm someone in that way, on purpose.

Stephanie Fernandes: I will always love him.

Stephanie Fernandes and Andrew Wagner moved in together almost immediately after meeting and eventually got engaged. / Credit: Maura Tansley/Defense team

But how did it come to this? Just five years earlier Stephanie was smitten with Andrew Wagner.

Stephanie Fernandes: Blue eyes, really nice smile,  Nice hair.  just really handsome and

Um, really fun personality, very talkative.

Peter Van Sant: And did you feel an attraction to him right away?

Stephanie Fernandes: Yes, I did. We had chemistry, a lot.

At the time, Andy worked at the tire shop of a Costco. He dreamed of working in law enforcement. In the beginning, Angelina got along with him.

Peter Van Sant: What kind of things would  did you guys do together?

Angelina Fernandes: We used to watch "Criminal Minds" together.

Peter Van Sant: Did your mom ever tell you  "Angelina, I, I love Andrew, I  I'd like to  I'd like to marry Andrew someday?"

Angelina Fernandes: Yes. She wanted that so bad.  a stable family for me and her.  She just  she wanted that.

But what Angelina didn't know at the time was that her mother's life with Andy Wagner also had a violent side, recalled Stephanie's friend Danielle Lord.

Danielle Lord: She constantly had, like, grab marks on her arms. She had marks on her inside of her legs, like I have never seen in my life.

A VOLATILE RELATIONSHIP

Angelina Fernandes (referencing a photo with her mother): The little girl is me, and my mom is next to me, Stephanie Fernandes.  so tender and loving and  She was high energy and  I was like her little sidekick.

Angelina was just 6 years old when Andrew Wagner came into her life. She remembers good times at the beach, family gatherings and vacations.

Angelina Fernandes: We would actually go to Cape Cod every summer to his parent's Cape house, which was fun.

Angelina Fernandes: She loved him. She wanted a house with him. She wanted to get married to him. She wanted babies.

In those early times, Angelina says her mom never said how she met Andy Wagner and never revealed what she did for a living that kept her away at night.

Danielle Lord: She was beautiful.  she just had these piercing eyes, first, that you notice. And her hair was just beautiful.

Danielle Lord worked with Stephanie in a Massachusetts night club.

Danielle Lord: We both were very intimidating. A lot of men would say that we were intimidating, especially together. That's attractive to men.  We just became this kind of duo.

Peter Van Sant: What did you do at the nightclub?

Stephanie Fernandes: I was a topless dancer.

Peter Van Sant: Exotic dancer 

Stephanie Fernandes: Exotic dancer, stripper, yeah.

Peter Van Sant: And had you been trained in dancing at all?

Stephanie Fernandes: I took dance classes when I was younger, not in that way.

Stephanie was a single mom. She says after she split up with Angelina's father, she needed to earn a paycheck.

Stephanie Fernandes: I would go in there, make a lotta money, and then I would get out

And  and be there for my mom  and my daughter.

Andrew

One night, back in 2009, a new guy at the club caught her eye.

Stephanie Fernandes: I was on stage. And he was there

Stephanie Fernandes: We just started talking and talked for, like, an hour.

Danielle Lord: She was instantly attracted to him. She wanted to be with him. She didn't look at him like a customer. She was like, "Oh, this is a cute guy. I like him."

At first, Stephanie loved the attention.

Stephanie Fernandes: I thought, "Oh he's just into me. He just really likes me."

Danielle Lord: I think she just had stars in her eyes.

Danielle says Stephanie and Andy's relationship quickly became a little obsessive.

Danielle Lord: A lot of alarms went off whenever Steph met Andy. And  you know, alarms that she couldn't hear.  He was completely  possessive right from the beginning. Andy was calling her nonstop, messaging her  and showing up at the club right from the beginning.

Stephanie and Andy moved in together almost immediately in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Danielle says their relationship moved from obsessive to dangerous.

Danielle Lord: I've never in my life seen bruises like that ever. And I don't  I don't even wanna think of what she went through to get the  those bruises.  We were covering it with makeup.  when she had the bruising down there, there was nothing you could do to cover it.

Soon after moving in together, Stephanie says, Andrew demanded some changes.

Peter Van Sant: Did he demand that you stop dancing?

Stephanie Fernandes: Oh, yeah. Yes.  His girl was not gonna dance at a club. And I said, jokingly, nervously, jokingly, "Well who's gonna pay my bills?"

Peter Van Sant: And why did he want you to quit?

Stephanie Fernandes: Because of the attention, the men  taking off my top in front of men.

Stephanie says she stopped dancing, but the violence continued.

Stephanie Fernandes: He's hit me in my head and my face. He's choked me 

Stephanie Fernandes says she took this photo of her black eye in 2010. / Credit: Credit: Worcester Superior Court

Stephanie says she took this photo of her black eye, shown above, in 2010.

Stephanie Fernandes: Oh, body shots. All over the place. My mouth. My eyes. Everywhere.

Peter Van Sant: Why didn't you ever call the police and report this violence?

Stephanie Fernandes: I was told that bullets can go through paper. It would mean nothin' with a restraining order. He would get to me way quicker than the cops would. And just  I would die if I left him.

Danielle Lord: I can't explain it. It's very hard to leave a domestic violence situation.  You don't have your own money. You don't have anywhere to go.  you know, you're broken down completely.  Your brain is like scrambled eggs, and you can't think for yourself. And you just walk around every day like  you're in shock.  You just wanna end the day, and when you wake up the next day, it's just another day doing the same thing. So  I think she was just stuck in a situation that she didn't know how to get out of.

In spite of their volatile relationship, in 2012, Stephanie and Andy were engaged. A short time later, Andy became a corrections officer.

Peter Van Sant: You and Andy had bought a condo together. You were planning a wedding, correct?

Stephanie Fernandes: Yes.

Stephanie Fernandes said Andrew Wagner would become jealous, and threatened to kill her if she did not listen to him. But Fernandes admits she antagonized him, teasing and tormenting him with texts. / Credit: Worcester Superior Court

Peter Van Sant (hands photo to Stephanie): You seem happy in that picture. What went wrong?

Stephanie Fernandes: Severe jealousy.

But Stephanie admits it wasn't just Andy. Sometimes she antagonized him, teasing and tormenting him with texts.

Peter Van Sant: They're pretty vicious.

Stephanie Fernandes: Yeah.

Peter Van Sant: You admit that, right?

Stephanie Fernandes: I do. It's embarrassing.

Van Sant asked Stephanie to read a few.

Stephanie Fernandes: "I'm gonna F your best friend." "You should kill yourself." "Hope a car falls on you."

Stephanie Fernandes: I admit I'm flawed.  Yeah, I can get upset.

She says Andrew would get upset too  especially when she wore outfits that might make her attractive to other men.

Stephanie Fernandes: He's freaked out over  the tank top that I was wearing, grabbed me, and then threw me on my bed in the room, and tore it off. Took out his gun, made sure I knew there was bullets it in, and jammed it down my throat.

Peter Van Sant: Did he threaten to kill you? Did he threaten to pull the trigger?

Stephanie Fernandes: If I  during that time  it was if I didn't listen to him, yes that he was gonna kill me.

Angelina Fernandes: When he was mad, he'd turn into a different person. His whole face would get red. His pupils would dilate. It was like possession of demonic entity.

Angelina recalls seeing Andrew trying to headbutt her mother.

Angelina Fernandes: He'd go like  like that (demonstrating a headbutt).

Peter Van Sant: Would he bump her? When he headbutt 

Angelina Fernandes: No.

Peter Van Sant:  would he literally make contact?

Angelina Fernandes: No.

Peter Van Sant: But it would go right up in her face?

Angelina Fernandes: Yeah.

Peter Van Sant: And 

Angelina Fernandes: Yeah.

Peter Van Sant: And she called that a headbutt, right?

Angelina Fernandes: Yeah.

Peter Van Sant: And did that bother her

Angelina Fernandes: Mm-hmm (affirms).

By early 2013 Stephanie decided she and Angelina needed a change. She left Andrew and began a new relationship with an old boyfriend, Mike Laramee.

Stephanie Fernandes: I left Andy to get away from the abuse and a number of things.

By early 2013 Stephanie Fernandes left Andrew Wagner and began a new relationship with an old boyfriend, Mike Laramee. / Credit: Worcester Superior Court/Rena Johnson

Stephanie says both men knew about each other.

Stephanie Fernandes: What I did with Andy, Mike knew about. What I did with Mike, Andy knew about.

She says Mike treated her very well.

Stephanie Fernandes: He spoiled me in every way.  He would carry me into bed if I fell asleep on the couch.

And just months after they got back together, Mike proposed, and Stephanie accepted.

Stephanie Fernandes: Mike brought me to Niagara Falls.  he did take out  the ring and

asked if I would marry him.  And I did wear the ring.

Peter Van Sant: Both men knew that you were engaged to the other man?

Stephanie Fernandes: Yes.

About a month later, Laramee says he broke off the engagement. Stephanie got back together with Andy, but she says it was more out of fear than love.

Stephanie Fernandes: If I didn't go back with Andy  he woulda killed Mike or definitely myself if I didn't go back with him. He never woulda let me live.

Once Stephanie was back, she says the cycle of abuse resumed. Just three days before his death, Andy texted her.

Peter Van Sant: He said, "I'm going to f****** kill you." Do you remember him texting that to you?

Stephanie Fernandes: I remember him texting that, saying that all the time.

Then, on the night of May 7, 2014, everything exploded.

Angelina was upstairs in bed. Stephanie says she was in the kitchen preparing dinner when Andy started an argument about what she'd been doing that week while he was away at work.

Stephanie Fernandes: That's what started  the questions  what have I been doing all week, things like that  just escalated.

She says Andy wanted to have sex. Stephanie didn't.

Stephanie Fernandes: He was punchin' me in the head. Tryin' to pin me down. Tryin' to remove my pants.

Then, she says, he pulled out a gun and tried to pin her against the couch.

Stephanie Fernandes: I was in fear of my life. I was trying to get away.

On May 7, 2014, Andrew Wagner and Stephanie Fernandes got into another altercation. This time, only one of them would survive. An autopsy report would later reveal that Wagner died from a stab wound to the neck. / Credit: Worcester Superior Court

Stephanie says she grabbed a knife to scare him. What unfolded would soon end one life and destroy another.

Stephanie Fernandes: It just was so quick. He just charged at me, went to headbutt me, as he always would do.

Stephanie Fernandes says the night Andrew Wagner died, he pinned her to her a couch and tried to choke her. Fernandes grabbed a knife from the kitchen and says Wagner tried to headbutt her as she held the knife in her right hand. Using a pen, she demonstrated to

Peter Van Sant: How are you holding the knife?

Stephanie Fernandes (holds a pen to demonstrate): Like this.

Peter Van Sant: Show me. So, you have it up. And he's coming at you, right?

Stephanie Fernandes: Yeah.

Peter Van Sant: And what happens?

Stephanie Fernandes: That's when I'm like, "Stay away from me, stay away from me" as he's screaming, "I'm gonna f****** kill you." He's on the other side. And he goes to grab my hand.  and it must have nicked his neck, the one-and-a-half- or two-and-a-half-inch, whatever it was.

Peter Van Sant: You held the knife that cut your fiance's artery and he bled to death. And people would think, well, you murdered him.

Stephanie Fernandes: My actions led to him dying. They did. But I didn't make a decision to take his life. I did not want that to happen but if it wasn't him, that would have been me in the ground.

WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT OF MAY 7, 2014?

As Stephanie Fernandes' trial finally approached, her legal team prepared her defense.

Maura Tansley: Domestic violence or intimate partner violence was central to the entire case.

Maura Tansley was one of Fernandes' attorneys.

Maura Tansley: It set up the nature of the relationship between these two people and I think raised questions about what happened  that night that Mr. Wagner died.

The trial had been delayed by procedural arguments, and then the COVID pandemic.

Stephanie had spent those years in home custody, wearing an ankle bracelet. In June 2022, eight years after Andrew Wagner was killed, the murder trial of Stephanie Fernandes finally began.

Andrew Wagner's family was there. His mother Melissa, his father Tom, and his sister Jillian Cristaldi. They declined "48 Hours"' request for an interview. Surrounded by supporters, they were hoping that by the end of this trial, Fernandes would be behind bars.

In his opening statement, prosecutor Terry McLaughlin said Stephanie Fernandes stabbed her fiance, Andrew Wagner, in the neck, cutting an artery and killing him. McLaughlin says that Stephanie told different stories about what exactly happened that night. She said, "He was waving a gun around, so I stabbed him." And to a neighbor she said, "He hit me, so I hit him." And McLaughlin said Stephanie had fits of rage and that she was the aggressor.

Angelina Fernandes recalls seeing her mother in distress, her mother's fiance, Andrew Wagner, on the floor, and blood everywhere. / Credit: Worcester Superior Court

Lead defense attorney Peter Ettenberg told jurors that Andrew Wagner was quote "189 pounds of fury and frustration" who violently came at Stephanie and said, "I'm going to kill you." Ettenberg says Stephanie thought she would be killed, so she acted to protect herself.

Peter Ettenberg: We believe that when he grabbed her hands and went to go and headbutt her, he pulled and that pulled the knife into his neck.

But prosecutors presented witnesses who testified Stephanie has a long history of violent outbursts.

ASSISTANT DA JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: How many times did you see Ms. Fernandes strike Mr. Wagner?

DANIEL DISTEFANO: Multiple times, ma'am.

Daniel DiStefano was a friend of Wagner's and a former police officer. He says he saw Fernandes hit Andy at a wedding reception back in 2010.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: And can you please tell the court where Ms. Fernandes hit Mr. Wagner?

DANIEL DISTEFANO: She very precisely struck him in the face and the head with a closed fist.

Peter Van Sant: Do you admit that, at times, you have hit men in your life with a closed fist?

Stephanie Fernandes: Hit?

Peter Van Sant: Hit them.

Stephanie Fernandes: No, I hit, well, yeah, I hit Andy once.  He punched me in the head I punched him back.

And Stephanie's former fiance, Mike Laramee, testified. He told the court that Stephanie pulled a knife on him at his home. This is audio of Laramee's testimony.

MIKE LARAMEE: All of a sudden, I heard a ching of a knife coming out of the butcher block. And I came inside, and I hit it out of her hand.

And there was another knife incident.

MIKE LARAMEE: She went to my dining room table. And she was gonna carve it up. And I was afraid for my life. I grabbed a chair. And I wasn't gonna let her come near me with it.  And she stabbed the chair with it like three or four times.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: After this happened, what, if anything, did you do?

MIKE LARAMEE: I grabbed all the knives. And I got rid of 'em.

Stephanie Fernandes: The things, that, like, Mike Laramee said are not true.

Peter Van Sant: You never came after Michael Laramee with a knife in your hand?

Stephanie Fernandes: I never did.

Peter Van Sant: You never damaged his furniture with a knife?

Stephanie Fernandes: No. I did not.

As Stephanie's defense began, they called an unusual witness.

OFFICER PERO: My name is William Pero  I'm a Worcester police sergeant

The detective who interviewed her the night Andrew died. The defense showed the jury that police video  a video the prosecutors had decided not to show. In that interview, Detective Pero points out Stephanie's bruises.

OFFICER PERO (police video): I look at the bruises on you, OK? And they're not old 

STEPHANIE FERNANDES (sitting on floor crying): Please tell me he's OK 

OFFICER PERO:  and they're not old bruises. I mean, they're fresh.

Maura Tansley: The fact that there are fresh bruises on her  that's consistent with how she described Andrew Wagner grabbing her and coming towards her, I don't know what else  would be better to lay the foundation that she was acting in self-defense.

OFFICER PERO (police video): You have bruises on your face, on your arm, on your body.  I can see them, Steph.

Prosecutors show Pero photos taken that night. He says he sees a bruise on her arm, but not on Stephanie's face.

TERRY MCLAUGHLIN (showing pictures) And do you see any injuries to the defendant's face in this photograph?

PETER ETTENBERG: Objection judge.

JUDGE: Overruled.

OFFICER PERO: I do not.

TERRY MCLAUGHLIN: And do you see any injuries to the face of the defendant in this photograph?

OFFICER PERO: I do not.

The prosecutor suggests that during that interview he may have been playing Stephanie.

TERRY MCLAUGHLIN: Some of your questions or comments are designed to get the person you are interviewing to drop their guard and or talk to you, correct?

OFFICER PERO: To show empathy and to, to relate to me.

PROSECUTOR: You want them to start talking, correct?

OFFICER PERO: I do.

Two people fought that night back in 2014 and only one survived. The defense decided they had no choice but to put Stephanie on the stand.

Her defense attorneys walked her through the hours leading up to Andy's death.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: We tried bein' intimate.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY MAURA TANSLEY: That morning?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Yes.

MAURA TANSLEY: OK. And did it happen?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: No.

She says Andy became angry when she made fun of him.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: I made the comment as I got outta bed, walkin' into my bathroom. And he came in there and smacked me a few times.

In June 2022, the murder trial of Stephanie Fernandes began. It had been delayed by procedural arguments and the COVID pandemic. While she awaited trial, Fernandes was on house arrest with a GPS monitor. / Credit: CBS News

Later that evening, with Angelina upstairs in bed, Stephanie says Andy with a gun in hand, attacked her.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Hit me in the head with the gun. Choked me. And he wanted  sex. Somehow, we were on the floor, and I was cryin' and  I ended up gettin' away  and I ran screaming and away, like, "Don't come near me. Don't come near me." And he was screamin', "I'm gonna kill you, you f*****' bitch." When I ran and I kept on sayin', "Don't come near me. Don't come near me," I I

DEFENSE ATTORNEY MAURA TANSLEY: Did he, did he listen to you when you said that? Or did he keep coming near you?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES (crying): It happened so quick where I ran to the kitchen  I picked up a knife and held it and said, "Don't" like, screaming, anyways, the whole time, "Don't come near me. Don't come near me." Andy, um, ran right to me and said, "Give me the knife, you f*****' bitch", and put his hand on my throat, and grabbed my hand, and went to headbutt me  and he went, "Steph, I think I got stabbed." I just stood there I was in shock. I we  I think we both were in shock.

THE CASE AGAINST STEPHANIE FERNANDES

After Stephanie Fernandes took the stand and told her version of events, the prosecutors got their turn to challenge her as Assistant DA Julieanne Karcasinas zeroed in on Stephanie's history with men.

ASSISTANT DA JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: You claim that you were a loyal woman. Isn't that correct?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Correct.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: Now were you loyal to Andy when you cheated on him with Mike?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: I don't 

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: Yes, or no?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: I didn't cheat on him.

Mike was Mike Laramee.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: Now July 26th, 2013, you were in Niagara Falls. Isn't that correct?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Correct.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: And you accept a $44,000 engagement ring from Mr. Laramee while on that trip. Isn't that correct?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: That is correct.  I put it on my finger, yes.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: Do you get engaged to all your guy friends?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: No.

On Stephanie's second day on the stand, the prosecutor tried to pick apart her account of the day Andy died.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: Ms. Fernandes, how many times did Andy choke you that day on May 7th, 2014?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: That day?

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: Yes.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: In the, in the morning and  at the nighttime of the event.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: And then how long did he choke you for that morning?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: I'm not sure. I didn't count. I'm not sure. It was quick.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: And you had no marks on your neck?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: I don't remember.

Stephanie had described a struggle around the couch in the house that night. But the Assistant DA says the crime scene pictures don't show any sign of that.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: The coffee table was in front of the couch on then 

JULIANNE KARCASINAS: Yes.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES:  at our house, yes.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: Yes, and it's not pushed out of the way, correct?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: I can't tell with that couch and how close the couch and coffee table is, but it does not look crooked.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: Correct, it's not pushed to the side or anything like that.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: How was he choking you on the couch?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: At one  it  all happened so quick.

And Karcasinas tries to cast doubt on Fernandes' recollection of the night.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: So, you do not have a memory of certain parts of that evening, isn't that correct?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: I would say that's correct, like, the time and stuff like that.

And finally, Karcasinas questioned Stephanie's credibility, especially her claims that she had lived her life in fear of Andy Wagner.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: Were you afraid of Andy Wagner when you told him he was stupid?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Yes.

JULIANNE KARCASINAS: Were you in fear of Mr. Wagner when you said to him, "I hope a car falls on you"?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: No.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: And were you in fear of Mr. Wagner when you sent him a photograph  of yourself performing  sex on Michael Laramee? Yes or no, ma'am?

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: No.

JULIEANNE KARCASINAS: No further questions, Your Honor.

STEPHANIE FERNANDES: Thank you.

JUDGE: Alright.

Both sides called in domestic violence experts who interviewed Stephanie. Carol Ball testified for the defense saying that Andrew Wagner's escalating verbal threats and physical violence left Stephanie with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

CAROL BALL: My opinion is that she experiences the symptoms of battered woman syndrome also known as intimate partner violence.  That cycle repeats itself over and over.

And prosecutors called up their expert, David Adams, who concluded that Andrew  not

Stephanie  was the victim of abuse.

DAVID ADAMS: Well, I  I actually didn't see any evidence that she was fearful of him.

Maura Tansley: I think this case raises some interesting questions about what it means to be a victim. Stephanie is not a sympathetic victim, right.  she is a flawed person and yet she is still a victim and still has a right to act in self-defense.  it's much easier for us to understand someone as a victim of domestic violence where they have a perfect past, where there's no other anger issues or anything else, but that's not what we have.

The defense believes that this case will ultimately come down to whether jurors believe Stephanie intentionally murdered Andrew Wagner. A medical examiner who testified couldn't say for sure.

Peter Ettenberg: He couldn't rule out the fact that this was an accident.

And after 10 days of witnesses, the defense presented their closing arguments.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY PETER ETTENBERG: She picked up a knife and said, "Andy, stay away. Stay away." He didn't. This time for whatever reason it was too much. And the prosecution hasn't proved that this wasn't an accident. And they have not proved that it wasn't in self-defense.  What the prosecution hasn't proved is that Stephanie Fernandes is a murderer.

Prosecutor Terry McLaughlin disagreed.

ASSISTANT DA TERRY MCLAUGHLIN: She's the aggressor. She's the one with the temper. She's the one with the mouth.  Ladies and gentlemen, I would suggest to you that this is first-degree murder. Premeditated and planned.

TERRY MCLAUGHLIN: She got him from the side, or she got him from the back from behind.  She grabs the knife, and she stabs him when he's not lookin' or he's not ready for it.

With that argument, the case would go to the jurors.

SELF-DEFENSE, ACCIDENT OR MURDER?

If convicted of first-degree murder, Stephanie Fernandes could face life in prison.

Peter Van Sant: But the question is, did you murder him?

Stephanie Fernandes: No.  It makes me nauseous just to even think of that.

After about 9 hours of deliberation, jurors reached their verdict: guilty of a lesser charge  voluntary manslaughter  which carries the possibility of up to 20 years in prison. Shane Bernard and Gayla Bieksha sat on the jury.

Shane Bernard: I think they're both  that both of them are equally controlling and abusive to each other, you know.

Gayla Bieksha: I agree.

Gayla Bieksha: I think they were both in this vicious cycle that just, they couldn't stop themselves.

Shane Bernard: He was a more physical abuser where she was more psychological abuse.

Gayla Bieksha: I do believe she didn't want to kill him, but she did.

As for Fernandes' claims of self-defense, juror Gayla Bieksha believes Wagner made contact with the knife when Stephanie says he attempted to headbutt her.

Gayla Bieksha: The headbutt was a huge piece for us.

Shane Bernard: Yeah, right.

Gayla Bieksha: We  went off the medical examiner's report saying that the knife went in from the front. The angle was in from the front and downward.

Shane Bernard: And that she had actually had a stabbing motion. So that, that in a sense, was what ruled out self-defense.

Before sentencing, Andrew Wagner's family finally got to speak directly to the woman they believe murdered their son and brother.

JILLIAN CRISTALDI: My name is Jillian Cristaldi. I am the sister of Andrew.

My parents and I have waited to speak, to have a voice, to give my brother a voice, and to get him the justice that he deserves, to clear his name from the blatant lies that have been spewed from Stephanie Fernandes and her attorneys' mouths for over eight years.

When you look at Stephanie Fernandes, you are looking at a face of evil, of someone who gives no consideration for her actions, who is incapable of love, and has shown no remorse or guilt for killing my brother.

Andrew Wagner's mother, Melissa Wagner, pictured with her husband and daughter, addressed the court at Fernandes' sentencing. She said that Stephanie took everything from her son, and justice needed to be served / Credit: CBS News

Andrew's mother Melissa Wagner.

MELISSA WAGNER: She took away Andrew's joy and love of life. She took away all of Andrew's family and friends. She took away Andrew's dreams of a family of his own. She took away all of Andrew's money. She took away Andrew's dignity and self-respect. And when there was nothing, nothing, nothing left for her to take, she took away Andrew's life.  I beg you Judge Reardon, and I beg you, I beg you, I beg you, take away the one thing that matters most to her. Take away her freedom for as long as possible. Please, please, please. Thank you.

JUDGE REARDON: I realize that no sentence I impose in this case can do perfect justice.

Judge James Reardon reminds everyone that Stephanie Fernandes was found guilty not of murder, but of voluntary manslaughter.

JUDGE REARDON: Ms. Fernandes is being sentenced for that conviction. Not for her relationship with Andrew Wagner or any other individuals or for her past life.

JUDGE REARDON: I sentence Stephanie Fernandes to a term of not more than 10 years and not less than eight years in state prison.

Peter Van Sant: After all this  According to what you have said, Andrew struck you, chocked you, threatened you with a pistol  do you still have some sort of emotion for this man? Some sort of love for this man?

Stephanie Fernandes: I do. I know it bothers a lotta people. I will always love him.

Stephanie Fernandes says she will always love Andrew Wagner. / Credit: Maura Tansley/Defense team

Stephanie says the night Andy died could have been avoided.

Stephanie Fernandes: Maybe the night wouldn't have happened if I'd got him help. If I got us counselin', if I got him therapy.

Peter Van Sant: Angelina, why did this happen?

Angelina Fernandes: Because he was abusive, and my mom was his victim.

Peter Van Sant: But his family blames your mother for that.

Angelina Fernandes: They're going to believe what they want to believe.  I can't imagine the pain they're going through. I don't think they want to see their deceased son that way.  So, they're trying to blame my mom for all of the wrong he did towards her.

Angelina is now studying to become a forensic psychologist and she hopes to work with victims in court and with children. Angelina says she looks forward to the day she'll be able to reunite with her mom.

Angelina looks forward to the day she'll be able to reunite with her mom. / Credit: Angelina Fernandes/Instagram

Angelina Fernandes: When she's out of jail, she'll be able to see all of my successes and she'll be able to see everything that I've accomplished.  I want to accomplish all of my dreams so my mom can experience the happiness afterwards.

If you or someone you know is a victim of intimate partner violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Stephanie Fernandes' trial lawyers say she may be eligible for parole as early as 2026.

Produced by Chuck Stevenson. Hannah Vair is the field producer. Ryan Smith and Tamara Weitzman are the development producers. Annabelle Allen is the broadcast associate. Greg Kaplan, Michelle Harris, and Grayce Arlotta Berner are the editors. Anthony Batson is the senior broadcast producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

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PARIS (AP)  An unpopular bill that would raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64 got a push forward with the French Senates adoption of the measure despite labor strikes, street protests and tons of uncollected garbage piling higher by the day.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne tweeted late Saturday after the 195-112 vote that she looked forward to the bills definitive passage to "assure the future of our retirement system.

The showcase legislation of President Emmanuel Macron  which carries risks for the government  must now move through tricky political territory with multiple potential outcomes.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne called a Sunday night meeting and ordered ministers to seek a consensus among lawmakers in the days ahead.

The government hopes it wont need to resort to a special constitutional option that would force the pension reform through without a vote. Borne has used that mechanism 10 times before, and invoking it for the politically delicate retirement issue could trigger a no-confidence motion.

Government spokesperson Olivier Veran stressed after the meeting that the government wants to avoid employing the constitutional option. But when questioned, he added, We wont renounce our reform of the retirement plan.

With labor unions opposed to the bill, uncollected trash has piled up in Paris and other cities while garbage workers strike. Services in other sectors, such as energy and transportation, also have been affected, through were improving.

Paris City Hall said that as of Sunday, some 5,400 tons of garbage were piled in streets of the French capital, which included in front of the building where the Senate meets. The stench of rotting fish and other food wafted in the wind, especially around some restaurants.

Television news channel CNews quoted Colombe Brossel, deputy mayor for sanitation, as saying the problem was mainly due to blocked incinerators.

Such trials may not end soon. Unions plan more strikes and an eighth round of nationwide protests on Wednesday, the day the pension bill heads to a committee of seven senators and seven lower-house lawmakers.

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The joint committee is tasked with finding a compromise between the Senate and National Assembly versions of the legislation.

Parliamentary approval would give a large measure of legitimacy to the pension plan, the reason the government hopes to refrain from invoking its special constitutional power to pass the bill.

But there are multiple scenarios before the legislation could become law, making its path uncertain.

If the parliamentary committee reaches an accord Wednesday, the approved text would be voted on the following day in both the Senate and the National Assembly. However, the outcome in the National Assembly, where Macrons centrist alliance lost its majority last year, is hard to predict.

If the committee does not reach an agreement, the bill would likely return to the National Assembly for more debate and a vote, then get considered by the Senate before going back to the Assembly.

Borne, the prime minister, tweeted her optimism that the measure would be definitively adopted in the coming days.

Macron has not yet responded to a union request for a citizens consultation on the legislation, made Saturday after protests against raising the retirement age drew far fewer people than a previous round of marches four days earlier.

Unions maintain that French people are voting their opposition to the reform in the streets and through strikes.

___

Masha Macpherson and Sylvie Corbet contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP's coverage of the French government at https://apnews.com/hub/france-government
Protests in Paris over proposed pension reforms. Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The French Senate on Saturday adopted a controversial reform to the country's pension system that would raise France's retirement age from 62 to 64. The motion passed even as thousands of people continued taking to the streets in opposition to the move.

The Senate passed the reforms by a margin of 195 to 112. The reforms will now undergo one last committee draft, and will then be moved to the full French Parliament for a final vote to become law.

Following the vote, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne tweeted that the move was a "decisive step to bring about a reform that will ensure the future of our pensions." However, this was not a sentiment that seemed to be shared by the public, as France entered its seventh-straight day of massive protests and labor strikes in opposition to the pension change.

French newspaper Le Monde reported that police tallied 48,000 protesters in Paris, and 360,000 total across France on Saturday. However, the outlet noted that these figures were "far fewer than the more than one million people who marched in cities and towns" last week. Despite this, the protests were expected to continue Sunday, and likely into next week.

While the protests have been mostly peaceful, small bouts of violence were seen. Uncollected trash is also piling up in numerous cities due to strikes among garbage companies, Le Monde reported.

The pension reforms have been a key part of French President Emmanuel Macron's agenda. Despite polls showing that a majority of French people do not want the retirement age to change, Macron has stood by the reforms. The Guardian noted that Macron has "twice turned down urgent calls by unions to meet with him in a last-ditch attempt to get him to change his mind," further angering protesters.

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A 100 mile motorcade procession for the funeral of former Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah was led by the Navajo Nation Police Department from Tse Bonito, N.M. to Low Mountain, Ariz. on Saturday, March 11, 2023.(Photo: Darren Thompson for Native News Online)

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.Peterson Zah, the first president of the Navajo Nation, was remembered Saturday with a memorial service and 100-mile funeral procession that stretched from western New Mexico to eastern Arizona.

Zah, who walked on last Tuesday at the age of 85, was a legendary leader many described as an inspiration and one of the greatest American Indian leaders in history. He served as chairman of the Navajo Nation Council from 1983 to 1987, and later won the Nations first presidency in 1990, after the Tribe changed its government to three branches: executive, judiciary, legislative.

On Saturday, Zahs funeral procession was led by the Navajo Nation Police Department and began at 8:00 a.m. in Tse Bonito, N.M., drove through Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation, and ended in Low Mountain, Ariz. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority hoisted 150-foot American flags from their utility trucks along the route. Many families stood with Navajo Nation flags waving to the family and friends of Zah and live-streaming the procession for their families.

"He was a great man, he was always out there with the people," said Jimarison Bizahaloni, Navajo Nation citizen, who brought his son to watch the motorcade along the route in Cottonwood, Ariz. Bizahaloni was recently honorably discharged by the U.S. Army while stationed in Texas.

Zah was buried on his family's lot in Low Mountain, Ariz., where he was also born in 1937. After the burial, a memorial service and reception were hosted at the Bee Holdzil Fighting Scouts Events Center in nearby Fort Defiance. Many leaders, dignitaries, and community members came to pay their respects in a memorial service that lasted more than three-and-a-half hours.

Speakers for Peterson Zah's Memorial included Navajo Nation President Dr. Buy Van Nygren and Navajo Nation Speaker Crystalyne Curley, as well as Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis, former Hopi Tribal Chairman Ivan Sidney, journalist Mark Trahant, and other dignitaries and friends.

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(Photo: Darren Thompson for Native News Online)

Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Van Nygren welcomes visitors to the memorial for former Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah at the Bee Holdzil Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona on Saturday , March 11, 2023. (Photo: Darren Thompson)

"I've known Pete Zah for more than 40 years," Dr. Manley Begay Jr., one of Zah's memorial speakers, told Native News Online. "We were absolutely close and we called one another brothers. Today, for me, is a celebration of his life. It's a beautiful day, it's raining outside. He brought the rain."

Zah was described by many as a loving father, husband, and respected and trusted leader of the Navajo people.

Robert Joe, the master of ceremonies for Zahs memorial, remembered his friend's effect on people throughout Navajo Nation and Indian Country.

His footprints and fingerprints are monumental. He led with compassion and a crystal clear vision of what is right for the people first. He always put the people before him, to do what is right."

While chairman, Zah established the Navajo Nation Permanent Trust Fund in 1985 with some of the proceeds of a $217 million award the Tribe won in a taxation lawsuit against Kerr McGee. The case was heard by the Supreme Court of the United States and established that Navajo Nation had authority to tax extraction companies operating on the reservation. He renegotiated oil, gas and coal leases as well as pipeline and electric transmission right-of-way to increase revenues for the Tribe. The Permanent Fund now has billions of dollars.

Navajo Nation President Dr. Bu Van Nygren welcomed visitors and spoke of Zah's mentorship and influence on his life, which began while he was a student at Arizona State University.

"I learned what leadership really meant, to be there, to witness the passion Zah had for education," Nygren said. "He always said education is how we're going to get ahead."

Nygren also read a letter from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris that was sent to Zahs family.

"History will forever remember President Peterson Zah as the first president of the Navajo Nation and a great leader who cared deeply about the future and prosperity of his people," they wrote. "We join the Navajo people in mourning his loss and offer our heartfelt condolences to your family."

After his term as president, Zah became the first special advisor to the president of Arizona State University (ASU) on American Indian Initiatives in 1995, where he worked until 2011.

While Zah was at ASU, the American Indian student population doubled from 672 to more than 1,400 and he is credited to the increase of retention rates of American Indian students from 43 percent to 78 percent.

Lewis, governor of the Gila River Indian Community, said Zah's loss is the passing of an era.

"I'm here to represent my family and my community, to show respect and to honor a great and charismatic leader," Lewis said. "All of Indian Country mourns for you today in the loss of a husband and a patriarch of a family. We mourn the loss of his brilliant mind, his personality, his words of wisdom and a shining example of a humble, courageous and dignified leader."

Mark Trahant, a former Navajo Times editor and currently editor-at-large for ICT, reflected on Zahs leadership traits and how they mirrored those of other great leaders hes interviewed over the years.

"I've been lucky enough to interview the Dalai Lama to Mary Robinson, the president of Ireland," Trahant said. "I've spent time with some of Indian Country's most brilliant leaders and there are traits they all share. First, a clear vision. He knew where he was heading and why it was important. Second, he could explain things and make it understandable. The third aspect of leadership I saw was he could get people to do things they didn't know they could do."

Zah played a role in advocating for the traditional use of peyote in ceremonies, too. He was instrumental in advocating for legislation that protects the use of peyote in religious ceremonies in 1967 on the Navajo Nation as well as leading the national effort to amend the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) in the 1990s to include the possession and use of peyote in ceremonies.

David S. Clark, the founder of Azee' Bee Nahagha of Dine Nation (ABND), recalled efforts he and Zah took together to advocate for the use of peyote in traditional ceremonies in 1995.

"It was through President Zah's leadership that peyote legislation was passed in the American Indian Religious Freedom Act Amendment of 1994," Clark said. A few months after the amendment was signed into law, the Navajo Nation hosted a celebration in Window Rock with many U.S. congressional representatives and President Zah thanked them, Clark said.

"Across Indian Country we are mourning alongside the Navajo Nation," Ryan Wilson, former president of the National Indian Education Association and current president of the National Alliance to Save Native Languages, told Native News Online. "Together, with sister Lorraine Zah Babe, the Zah family has made immeasurable contributions to Indian education leaving a prodigious legacy at Navajo Nation and with all of us who love Indian education."

Actor Robert Redford also sent a letter to Peterson Zah's family that was read by Mark Trahant. "It was with a heavy heart to learn of the recent passing of Mr. Zah and we wanted to express our collective condolences and deep sympathy for a tremendous loss," the letter said. "Mr. Zah was an inspiration, a strong and compassionate leader loved by all. His legacy will live on with the many people he touched."

About the Author: "Darren Thompson (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe) is a staff reporter for Native News Online who is based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Thompson has reported on political unrest, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous issues for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Indian Country Today, Native News Online, Powwows.com and Unicorn Riot. He has contributed to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Voice of America on various Indigenous issues in international conversation. He has a bachelor\u2019s degree in Criminology & Law Studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "

Contact: dthompson@nativenewsonline.net
A Gadsden man will face kidnapping and burglary charges in Lauderdale County, according to a news release from the Lauderdale County Sheriffs Office.

Jason Larry Burns, 43, was hospitalized Saturday in Gadsden after what authorities said was an overdose attempt with narcotics as he was captured.

He was being guarded by Lauderdale County deputies and was to be transported back to Northwest Alabama after his release from care to face first-degree kidnapping and first-degree burglary charges, with the possibility of more charges moving forward.

According to the news release, deputies received what was described as an urgent call at 2:41 p.m. Friday from someone who said their mother had been kidnapped and was being held hostage in a vehicle.

Deputies responded to a residence in the 27000 block of Lauderdale County Road 14. They found no one inside, but saw that someone had forced their way into the residence.

The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service were contacted, and deputies soon were able to monitor phone conversations between a suspect and his former girlfriend.

The man said hed taken her mother and would kill her unless the former girlfriend met him in a trade-off. He threatened suicide by cop in those conversations, and said hed kill the mother if stopped by law enforcement.

Further monitoring of the conversations over the next several hours allowed authorities to track the suspect, who made repeated threats to kill his hostage and himself. They eventually were able to determine that the two were in a rental vehicle, and identified the make and model.

They tracked the suspect to his home in Gadsden in the early hours of Saturday, and were able to arrest him and rescue the hostage, who was treated at the scene.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and its SWAT and aviation teams, Florence and Gadsden police, and sheriffs offices from Etowah, Cullman, Lawrence and Marshall counties assisted in the operation.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden man faces charges in hostage incident
Photo Illustration by Erin OFlynn/The Daily Beast/Reuters and Jesus Huerta

From the outside, Kelly DuFord Williams had it all: high-end cars, designer clothing, a flourishing private practice, and recognition as one of the best business attorneys in southern California.

After a brief stint as a Las Vegas deputy district attorneyand a contentious divorceWilliams told anyone whod listen that she opened up her own law firm to focus on employee development and justice for her clients. Within a few years, the 36-year-old raven-haired mother-of-three had about a dozen employees at Slate Law Group, a 10,000-square-foot office in downtown San Diego, and frequently appeared on local TV.

She was named one of San Diego Business Journals 40 Next Top Business Leaders Under Forty and a Woman of Influenceand was among San Diego Magazines 2021 Women of the Year Rising Stars. In a July 2021 Entreprenista interview, Williams defined her work ethic through two Beyonce songs.

From Flawless, Feminist: the person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes, Williams said, nodding to the songs sample of Nigerian activist and author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. From Diva, Diva is a female version of a hustler. These two songs capture it perfectly and I recommend giving them a listen anytime you need to be inspired.

But the self-described girl boss may have taken her favorite anthems too literally.

The California State Bar Court last March established disciplinary charges against Williams, alleging she misappropriated more than $104,000 from at least two clients and made at least two false 911 calls in Utah where she posed as a district attorney concerned about the welfare of a child because she was angry at a former romantic flame. Williams was also accused of allowing a lawyer who was not yet licensed to practice in California to appear in court.

After a September 2022 trial, the court recommended in January that the California Supreme Court disbar her.

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Former clients and employees, however, say the state bars findings only scratch the surface.

Several told The Daily Beast that Williams chaotic management style mirrored Jekyll and Hyde, where she would fluctuate between singing Cardi B in the office and making TikToks with co-workers to allegedly demanding they pad their own hours to bill their clients, verbally abusing staff and firing at least one employee over Slack, the internal messaging platform.

Kelly DuFord Willams Jesus Rogelio Huerta

She was living her own Mean Girls life, Bryan Morgan, who worked as a paralegal at Slate Law Group, told The Daily Beast. She always pretended she was the biggest, baddest of them all and she was only out for justice.

Court documents suggest that Williams was not only a bad manager who allegedly stole from clients and lashed out at former lovers. At least three lawsuits filed in San Diego allege she owed thousands in backpay for her office space, over-billed clients, and committed malpractice.

This woman is an evil conniver. A little scammer, said Fernando Rodriguez, a former client who says Williams stole tens of thousands of dollars from him.

Last October, Williams ex-husband filed for custody of their three children, citing in his request for domestic violence restraining order that the state bar case against her, and a potential criminal investigation based on the same conduct that gave rise to her disbarment.

Williams, who is currently ineligible to practice law in California, did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this story.

Early dreams of becoming a lawyer

According to Williams, her dreams of being a litigator started in the third grade after her family moved from Ireland.

I knew I wanted to be a lawyer from 8 years old, she said in a March 2020 Business Bros podcast. I told my parents I wanted to be a district attorney.

After earning a bachelors degree from the University of San Diego, Williams went to law school at California Western School of Law. After graduating in 2011, she worked as a law clerk in the San Diego County District Attorneys Office before becoming a Las Vegas deputy district attorney a year later.

Williams married fellow attorney Craig DuFord in May 2013, and the pair had three children together, according to court records obtained by The Daily Beast. In her Entreprenista interview, Williams noted that while she felt incredibly proud of her work at the Clark County DAs office, there was still a missing piece in her career.

In 2017, Williams returned to San Diego and opened her first firm with DuFord to focus on business and employment law litigation. It lasted three years. She and DuFord separated in December 2019 and legally divorced two years later.

The split didnt stop Williams from pursuing her dream of owning her own firm.

In February 2020, just weeks before the coronavirus would paralyze the country, Williams closed DuFord Law and opened Whiteslate LLP, which did business as Slate Law Group. Williams told Entreprenista that Slate sought to provide legal, tax, and HR services for small and medium-sized businesses and corporations.

It is damn hard work, Williams added in the Business Bros podcast. When it comes to the end of the day, like, your name is the one on [the door] who owes everyone their paycheck.

But at least three former Slate employees told The Daily Beast that Williams management style was more scary and vicious than collaborative.

It was a disorganized mess, one former law intern, who started in August 2020, stressed. She was the cause of the chaos.

Multiple, confusing Slack channels forced employees to piece together what Williams wanted, the former law intern noted. He said many of his peers were afraid of Williams. Known for her quick temper and lashing out, the former intern said that Williams once went as far as firing a paralegal over a firm-wide Slack channel.

Although Williams touted herself as a feminist, several former employees said she treated female employees poorly. On one occasion, Williams posted an Instagram story on her personal account, tagging a female Slate Law Group employee she was unhappy with. Williams wrote that the employee had had an abortion, according to a copy of the video seen by The Daily Beast. Williams also tagged the womans church. (Employees told The Daily Beast the woman had not had an abortion and the woman in question did not respond to a request for comment.)

She portrayed herself as a feminist, said one former intern, who thought that employees, clients, and local media were hoodwinked by this person she outwardly portrayed.

You will be hard-pressed to find someone to defend this woman, a second former intern added. Shes a really bad person, a really bad attorney, and a really bad boss.

For Morgan, who worked at Slate from April 2020 to April 2021, his experience with Williams was nothing short of traumatizing. He said he started seeing red flags just weeks into the job, including how she treated her subordinates, and how Williams would make simple mistakes in cases.

Bryan Morgan and Kelly DuFord Williams. Joshua Goens

Internal Slate Law group documents obtained by The Daily Beast show Williams personally editing invoices submitted by her employees, crossing out their entries, and increasing the number of hours they worked. The documents show her changing billing rates so that clients would be charged her top hourly rate rather than that of junior colleagues.

She would go through [billing documents] and say, This isnt enough time, you need to add more time, Morgan says. He says he too found some of his invoices had been altered in the companys internal management system, and his hours increased.

Morgan says Williams had a penchant for fashion.

She loved to spend money, he said. She used to sing that Cardi B song, Money. Theres one part in the song that goes [something like]: Theres nothing in the world I like more than checks.

Ashley Toriceswho was a nanny for Williams children and became a personal assistant in her law firm until the pair had a falling out in September 2021said that her former employer seemed like she was always spending more than she would have.

Jesus Rogelio Huerta told The Daily Beast that he noticed the lawyers appetite for luxury goods when the pair went on their first date. He said that she had a Tesla, a Range Rover, and a closet full of Christian Louboutin shoes, Prada, Givenchy, and YSL bags everywhere.

One day we went out to lunch and we went shopping. She dropped $11,000 at Nordstrom in 30 minutes, he added.

It did not take long, however, for the dominos to fall for Williams.

Short changing others

Joshua Goens keeps meticulous notesbecause in the car business, detailed records are important.

So when his boutique auto dealership experienced a flood in 2018, he knew he had lost $200,000 in equipment. Desperate, he went to his lawyer, Craig DuFord, who said that he had a strong case to get some of his money back. That case was successfully settled a couple of years later and Goens said he received his money.

Joshua Goens Joshua Goens

But after the DuFords divorce, Williams took over Goens file. Goens hired Williams on another case involving a tenantand he believes that the lawyer did not properly handle his case. He says that over those next two years, Williams billed him thousands of dollars a month for what he says was pointless, ineffective work.

I started feeling like I was Kellys credit card, he said, adding that as his anger with Williams grew, so did her temper. A lot of vile, nasty emails were sent back and forth, he says.

The car business Joshua Goens says he lost because of Kelly DuFord Williams. Courtesy of Joshua Goens

Goens said that Williams high billing was part of the reason he had to shutter his business last October. And it didnt end there. He said his experience with Williams has left him broke, angry, and more anxious than ever.

I hope to be able to earn that money back at some point. But what upset me the most is the breach of trust, Goens added. With Kelly, I trusted her blindly.

While he is not sure how much he paid Williams over the years, he estimates the tab is around $250,000 and has yet to see major results in his legal cases. (Goens did not participate in the state bar case.)

And Goens is not the only one who came to believe that they were being allegedly deceived by Williams.

In December 2020, Williams and her law firm were hit with a lawsuit for failing to pay rent at the DuFord Law offices in San Diego. In the suit, obtained by The Daily Beast, Third Avenue News claims that after Williams and her husband split up, she agreed to take over the 10,000-square-foot office for Slate Law Group.

The lawsuit alleges that when Williams signed a new lease that February, she lied about the financial stability of her new firm, claiming she would be able to cover the rent. Instead, she didnt pay, the suit says, eventually owing the landlord over $1.4 million. The status for this lawsuit is not immediately clear.

Two months later, Williams was sued againthis time for failing to pay her rent on a three-bedroom townhouse just five minutes from the heart of the citys Little Italy. The civil case says Williams did not pay rent from April to June 2020, and owed $9,870. The case was eventually dropped in August 2021.

Around the same time, it appears Williams misdeeds escalated from failing to pay her rent to allegedly stealing from her clients.

The California State Bar Court alleges that after hiring Williams, Anna Koparanova won a $61,750 settlement on Feb. 23, 2021, in a wrongful termination case against her former employer. In May, Williams gave her client a $40,910 settlement checkbut Koparanova was unable to cash it because the bank said that the funds in the account were insufficient.

By July 2021, the state bar court said in their 2022 decision for disbarment that Williams gave Koparanova a second check for the same accountthis time from another account that was overdrawn with a daily balance of -$3,591.62.

Torices said it was around that time when Koparanova started calling the office asking for her money. She remembers after one of Koparanovas emails, Williams told her to let Anna know I just sent her the wire.

Kelly would say she sent the wire and it would take a couple of days, Torcies said. Kelly always had an excuse. Honestly, her repeating I sent the wire kind of reminded me of Anna Delvey.

The constant back and forth with Williams eventually prompted Koparanova at the end of July to submit a complaint to the State Bar, according to the courts decision. In January 2022 Koparanova received $26,000 in four separate electronic transfers from Williams. Days later, the courts decision says, Williams sent Koparanova an email letting her know that she would transfer the outstanding settlement balance owed the following week.

As of January 2023, the state bar court said Koparanova has yet to receive the remaining $14,910. (Koparanova did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

Taking the law into her own hands

While dodging clients, Williams had no problem communicating with potential boyfriends.

Recently divorced, Huerta first began dating Williams in early 2021 after matching on Bumbleand their relationship escalated fairly quickly.

I felt super lucky at first, he said. She was the kind of person who would go running in a pair of Christian Louboutin sneakers. I am just a normal dude.

Jesus Huerta and Kelly DuFord Williams started dating in 2021. Jesus Rogelio Huerta

The honeymoon phase was short-lived. Huerta said Williams began to tell weird lies and would get extremely intoxicated. During that time, Huerta said that he had been planning a St.George, Utah, trip with one of his best friends and his friends wife, Nickole Workman.

Williams immediately inserted herself into the plan. Workman told The Daily Beast she only spoke with Williams when the two briefly discussed renting jet skis on the trip. Huerta, however, said that days before the trip, he and Williams broke up for the most part.

Then suddenly, as I was preparing to leave, she randomly started sending me a bunch of pictures of her in Lululemon and talking about the trip. It was too late, Huerta said.

During the seven-hour trip with Workman, her husband, and their 2-year-old daughter, Huerta said his phone received a constant stream of texts and phone calls from Williams. Huerta estimates he received 120 texts and at least 30 missed calls from Williams by the time he arrived in Utah. In text messages reviewed by The Daily Beast, Williams berates Huerta in an attempt to get him to respondstarting with a simple breakup message.

You have no respect for me and apparently you cant even respect me breaking up with you, Williams wrote in one message.

The messages, however, began to escalate when Williams claimed she had been sexually assaulted in the line for the bathroom. She then stated she was pregnant and had purchased abortion pills. When Huerta did not respond, Williams said she would come for you like you dont even know.

Ok, Ill do an emergency 911 in St. George, Williams wrote according to messages reviewed by The Daily Beast and the state bar courts decision.

The threat became a reality at around 2:30 a.m. on April 24, 2021, when the state bar court said Williams made two phone calls to the Hurricane City Police Department.

Williams said in the first call that she had a friend who needed a welfare check because they were having a panic attack. She then falsely identified herself as Amanda Mathis and claimed that she was the aunt of the daughter there and that they were freaking out about the daughter, the state bar courts decision said. The courts decision notes that Williams named Workman as the person involved in the incident.

In a second 911 call, Williams again identified herself as Amanda Mathis and claimed to be a deputy district attorney in San Diego. She then provided dispatchers with the streets near the rental house before stating that Workman was worried about her 2-year-old child.

Huerta and Workman both told The Daily Beast they were awoken in the middle of the night by loud knocking on the front door of their rental. When Huerta opened the door, officers questioned them, asking Workman to bring out her daughter to make sure that she was unharmedafter her aunt had called out of fear for the childs safety.

I was confused because I dont have an aunt named Amanda, Workman said. [It was a] pretty scary situation.

A few minutes into the conversation, Huerta showed his phone to the officers. Workman said the group then realized that Williams had made good on her threat to call the police.

Williams has since admitted to the state bar court that she was never a San Diego deputy district attorney, nor is she related to Workman or her daughter. The state bar court also noted that while the Hurricane City Police Department completed a criminal complaint request form for Williams false report, they could not arrest her because she lives out of state.

Huerta said that when he got home from his trip, Williams would sporadically text him and the pair did meet up one last time in 2022. Eventually, he said he was approached by the state bar court once they began their investigation in September 2021 after Workman reported the 911 incident.

He admitted that he never expected how his once-paramour would respond to the bar courts case.

California State Bar chief trial counsel George Cardona told The Daily Beast that Williams represented herself during the 2022 trial. The courts decision notes that while on the stand, Williams testimony about the 911 calls was evasive, incredible, and inconsistent.

Among Williams incredible actions: she denied seven times she sent the text message barrage to Huerta, and separately repeatedly stated that she did not remember making the 911 calls or identifying herself as Amanda Mathis. At one point, Williams even asked the court, so my dating life is a thing now?

Jesus Huerta says Kelly DuFord Williams called 911 on him when he was on vacation pretending to be concerned about the welfare of a child. Jesus Rogelio Huerta

After being confronted with the recorded 911 calls, however, Williams' story completely flipped. She confirmed it was absolutely her voice on the call and suddenly remembered that it was Huerta who put her up to making the emergency call because he was worried about Workmans child. Huerta denies this allegation.

She also admitted to falsely identifying herself as the childs aunt, lying about her name, and claiming that she was a deputy district attorney, the courts decision states. Still, [Williams] insisted this dishonesty was justified because there was a child in danger. The court rejects [Williams] incredible denials of fabricating the emergency situation.

Former clients detail deception

By the middle of 2021, Williams professional and personal life was unraveling. More and more clients were contacting Slates office looking for the money they were owed.

One of those was Kia Vaara, whom Williams represented in a sexual harassment suit against her former employer. On July 8, 2021, the case was settled and Vaara was awarded $42,500. The state bar investigation found that the funds were sent to Slate Law Group shortly afterward, but Williams never told Vaara, who expected to receive two-thirds of the check.

Over the next month, Williams transferred at least $29,000 of the funds to other accounts, the investigation found, marking the transactions as attorney fees, and expenses. By November, Vaara had still not received any money and had been seeking answers from Williams for months.

Where is my money!!!!!! This seriously should be illegal! I feel like youre stealing from me now. So unprofessional! Vaara wrote in an email to Williams in November 2021, according to the state bar investigation. Again and again, Williams promised to get the check to Vaara, the documents show.

What are the calculations? You never even showed me what you were paying yourself, Vaara wrote in another email to Williams, according to the state bar courts decision. Its been 2 months. Its crazy to think you wouldnt even tell me what you charged?? Is this even ethical?

When she realized Williams was never going to give her the money, Vaara filed a complaint with the state bar, according to the courts decision. (Vaara did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

Another client trying to get answers from Williams was Fernando Rodriguez, 68, who she had represented in a wrongful termination case against his former employer. Rodriguez was fired from his job as a manager at the Omni Hotel just before Christmas in 2018, after working for the company for 14 years. The lawsuit Rodriguez filed claims he was discriminated against at work and unjustly fired.

Fernando Rodriguez says he doesnt know how much money Kelly DuFord Williams took from him. Fernando Rodriguez

The case took two years, but Landrys finally settled with Rodriguez in January 2022, he says, offering a payout of $175,000.

The money was desperately needed. Rodriguez had not been able to find full-time employment since he was laid off, he told The Daily Beast, and now works three part-time jobs to make ends meet.

Rodriguez had agreed Williams would take 33 percent of any settlement, he told The Daily Beast. But she then changed her mind, upping the percentage to 40 and then 50 percent, he says. Williams also told Rodriguez she would need to take various other fees and charges out of the settlement money and he would get the remaining balance. He never understood what the charges were for, he says, and the check never came.

I dont know how much she stole, he says.

For three months, from January and March 2022, Rodriguez emailed and texted Williams almost daily, begging her to pay him the money she owed. One day, he says, he waited at the Slate offices for seven hours, only to be told Williams was not available and neither was his check. Williams gave Rodriguez different excuses as to why the money wasnt available. At various times she told him she was sick or in hospital, or that the check was lost by UPS, according to texts and emails viewed by The Daily Beast.

She always said: The check is in the mail. It was never in the mail, Rodriguez says. She played so many games with me mentally.

Eventually, Williams stopped replying to Rodriguezs texts and emails.

Ultimately, Rodriguez says, he ended up with only $55,000 of the settlement. He still doesnt know what happened to the additional $120,000.

It hurts my feelings that you work so hard, and you get screwed. And then you get a lawyer. And the lawyer screws me, Rodriguez says. Its really ugly and its really sad.

As Rodriguez was desperately texting Williams, looking for his money, she had other things to worry about.

That February, another former client filed a civil lawsuit against her for professional negligence.

Alexander Groisman, a professor of physics at UC San Diego, hired Williams ex-husband, Craig DuFord, to represent him in a legal dispute with former business partners, according to the suit. When Williams and DuFord broke up, his file was transferred to her new law firm, but no new retainer agreement was ever executed, and Williams raised her hourly rate to $505 without telling him, he alleges.

Groisman alleges Williams committed gross malpractice, grossly overbilled him and failed in her duties as an attorney according to court filings. Groisman alleges that Williams failed to keep him updated about motions being filed, failed to file motions in his case, and billed him $120,000 without any cognizable benefit. Groisman also alleges in the suit that Williams simply charged [his] credit card at her will. (The case is still pending.)

Five months later, in July 2022, more former clients sued Williams. Damian and Lori McKinney hired the DuFord Law Firm in 2018 to represent them in two lawsuits, according to the lawsuit. They also accuse Williams of professional negligence, alleging in their suit that she billed them for work that was never done, and intentionally over-staffed their cases.

Like Groisman, the McKinneys also allege that their credit card was charged without their permission. They say their complaint that Williams firm failed to give them a $15,000 payout the firm was holding in trust. Finally, they say during the period of time Williams firm represented them, at least one senior attorney attached to their case was not even licensed to practice law in California. (The State Bar also alleges that Williams allowed an employee that only had a New York license to appear in California court.) The case is ongoing.

Girl boss down

Now, Williams is poised to lose everything she once banked her girl-boss lawyer reputation on. Her law firm is shuttered. Shes facing lawsuits from former clients accusing her of professional negligence. The California state bar has recommended that the state Supreme Court disbar her, meaning she would be unable to practice law in the state for at least five years.

Once feted as a leading light for women business owners in San Diego, one former client now describes her as just another sleazeball lawyer who spiraled. But that doesnt give her former clients or former colleagues much comfort.

I know she belongs in jail, Goens said. Do I feel bad for her? I almost would if she wouldnt have ruined so many people.

Because thats what she did. And theres no way to defend that.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Sunday called for the U.S. to take up a Declaration of Independence from China.

Im leading the way in calling for a Declaration of Independence from China. Because the key difference today is, unlike the USSR in the last century, we never depended on the Soviet Union for the shoes on our feet or phones in our pocket. That is the case today, Ramaswamy said on CNNs State of the Union.

And I think its the number one threat we face, the conservative entrepreneur added. And so Im actually delivering a vision of national identity that hopefully allows us to make the short-run sacrifices well need to on the global stage to actually win as a country over the long run.

Ramaswamy entered the 2024 Republican race last month, joining former President Trump and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Ramaswamy has called several times for such a declaration to separate the U.S. from China, which he characterized on Sunday as the Biden administrations top foreign policy challenge.

The Declaration of Independence from China is what Thomas Jefferson wouldve signed if he were alive today, Ramaswamy wrote on Twitter last month.

The Declaration of Independence we need in this country is a Declaration of Independence from China. We are in a co-dependent relationship that will not end well. The only question is who ends it first, he wrote in another post.

Ramaswamys comments come amid heightened U.S.-China tensions after last months takedown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over American airspace and concerns from the State Department that Beijing could be considering equipping Russia with lethal aid in Moscows war on Ukraine.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A stall owner introduces products to tourists at an ancient-style market during the Dongpo cultural singing competition in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, on Feb. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Huimin)

As night falls, a festival featuring Dongpo food culture welcomes an influx of residents and tourists, including many young people to enjoy the feast of food and culture at a commercial street in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province.



Dongpo pork, Dongpo fish, and other delicacies related to Su Dongpo, a famous litterateur of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), are mouthwatering, and the poetry recitation of Su's masterpieces is fantastic.

At a food stall hung with Su's poems about food, Xu Yue, a senior student at Qiongtai Normal University, enjoyed Dongpo food and the famous works of Dongpo.

"What I see in these poems is not only the food but also Su's open-mindedness and heroic attitude towards life in the face of difficulties and adversity," she said.

Xu said Su's poems and his spirit, as the precious heritage of China's traditional culture, have had a profound influence on later literati and following generations. "I believe Su's spirit will be better spread in the future, and Chinese culture will pass on more power to us in a new form," she said.

"I've felt a strong cultural atmosphere in this festival," said Wang Wenxi, a sophomore at Hainan Normal University, donning a traditional Chinese costume.

"There are many people around me who like Dongpo culture and traditional Chinese culture. We would organize activities during festivals to promote traditional Chinese culture," she said.

As a Chinese cultural icon, Su Dongpo not only had remarkable achievements in poetry, painting, and calligraphy but was also famed as a gourmet and expert in water conservancy.

Since ancient times, Su's influence is extensive and far-reaching. In 2000, Le Monde, a French newspaper, named the world's 12 heroes who lived around the year 1000, and Su Dongpo was the only Chinese among them.

Su has a deep bond with Hainan. In his later years, Su was relegated and exiled to Hainan for three years. Su became an important initiator of Hainan's culture and was deeply loved and remembered by people here.

The first Hainan Dongpo Cultural Tourism Festival, which was celebrated on February 18, still continues in Hainan, promoting Dongpo culture through various activities, including performances of Dongpo culture, Dongpo food culture festival, and Dongpo cultural singing competition.

During the Dongpo cultural singing competition, Liu Tairan, 27, won the best original award by composing and singing two poems by Su Dongpo. As a director and music producer, Liu said he was Su's big fan and was very happy to have the opportunity to perform his song for more people.

He said Su lived 1,000 years ago, but he is not far away from modern life as he has the temperament needed in this era. "The Dongpo culture and excellent traditional culture give me cultural confidence, and also provide inspiration and materials for my creation," he said.

Peng Tong, deputy secretary-general of Hainan Su's Research Association, gave a lecture on Dongpo culture at Hainan Normal University last month. Peng said the college students were absorbed in the lecture and were passionate about Su Dongpo, while welcoming Dongpo culture to enter the campus.

As a researcher of Dongpo culture, Peng said he is very pleased to see young people love Dongpo culture and traditional Chinese culture.

"Young generation needs to gain strength and nourishment from traditional Chinese culture," he said, adding that the excellent traditional Chinese culture represented by Dongpo culture has appealed to more and more young people, and will have a profound influence on the young generation.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said Sunday that the GOP is in desperate need of new leadership, a dismissal of former President Trump, who is running for another White House term in 2024.

Donald Trumps not going to take advice from the party or from me, but I think what will happen is if hes indicted, that becomes one of the factors [on] whether he wins primaries or not. The other factor is who else is in the race and who may make the best case, Cramer said on NBCs Meet the Press.

At the end of the day what is most important for primary voters to think about is not just who they love the most, but who can win for the country and who can win for the party because were in desperate need of some new leadership.

The Republican senator, an ally to Trump during his time in the White House, cited possible presidential candidates Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who havent yet announced bids but are rumored to be mulling entering the race.

Cramer lauded Pence, Pompeo and Scott as good candidates who understand the Trump doctrine but have a demeanor thats probably more suited to the swing voter than the former president, though he acknowledged it could become a challenge if there are too many people in the race.

Theres no theres no glory in losing spectacularly compared to winning humbly, so Id rather  see humble victory, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ATHENS (Reuters) - Thousands of people rallied in central Athens on Sunday to protest over the country's deadliest train disaster that killed 57 people on Feb. 28, as Greece's largest labour unions geared up for a nationwide strike.

The head-on collision of a passenger train with a freight train nearly two weeks ago has stirred public anger and daily protests against the conservative government and a political system that has repeatedly ignored calls by railway unions to improve safety systems.

More than 10,000 supporters of the Communist PAME group, public sector workers, pensioners and university students rallied outside parliament in central Athens on Sunday. Some of them chanted Murderers!" and We will not forget".

Most of the 350 people aboard the passenger train were university students heading north to Thessaloniki from Athens, after a long holiday weekend.

Greece's largest labour unions GSEE and ADEDY, jointly representing more than two million workers, will stage a nationwide strike on March 16, to protest over the train crash.

Last week, tens of thousands rallied in Athens and other cities across Greece in the largest street demonstrations the government has faced since being elected in 2019.

Rail workers, who have staged rolling 24-hour strikes, say years of neglect, underinvestment and understaffing - a legacy of Greece's decade-long debt crisis - are to blame.

Before the crash, the conservative government, whose term ends in July, was planning to call elections in the coming weeks. Last week, it promised to fix the ailing rail system and support the families victims.

(Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas and Alkis Konstantinidis; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
The number of guns found in carry-ons at Asheville Regional Airport has risen so sharply that passengers will now be criminally charged, airport officials said Friday.

Flyers who forgot they had a gun in a carry-on previously received only the prospect of a civil penalty from the federal Transportation Security Administration, according to an airport statement. Now theyll be criminally cited, too.

Guns, guns and more guns

The Asheville airports public safety department updated its enforcement practices to reflect the change, which started Friday, airport officials said.

The TSA and other state and federal law enforcement agencies are encouraging criminal citations after the number of firearms found at airport checkpoints hit an all-time high across the country last year.

Nearly 88% of the firearms were loaded, TSA Administrator David Pekoske has said.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Asheville Regional Airport saw a record number of firearms seized at security checkpoints last year, while overall statewide numbers declined, The Charlotte Observer reported in January, citing TSA data.

Agents confiscated 117 firearms at CLT in 2022, compared with 106 the previous year, according to figures released by the Transportation Security Administration. Thats a 10% increase.

Charlottes airport is an American Airlines hub and one of the busiest airports in the world.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport had the largest drop in weapons found, The News & Observer reported, leading the overall statewide decline.

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100% increase over previous record

The number of firearms seized at Ashevilles airport rose from 15 in 2021 to 26 last year, while dropping from 100 to 75 last year at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, according to the TSA.

Already in 2023, the airport is on pace to see another increase, Samuel Sales, chief of public safety at the airport said in the statement.

We believe that through active criminal enforcement, in conjunction with community outreach and ongoing TSA civil penalties, we can reduce the number of firearms that people bring to the TSA screening checkpoint, the chief said.

Safety for the traveling public is my No. 1 concern, and we need travelers to leave their guns at home, Sales said.

This will happen to you

The airports public safety department will seize firearms found during security screening and the flyer will be criminally charged per the states carrying concealed weapons law, Gen. Statute 14-269.

The passenger will receive a written citation mandating an appearance in state court and will then be released to continue their travel, unless other criminal activity is suspected, according to the statement.

The flyer also will face TSA civil penalties up to $14,950 and having their concealed carry permit revoked.

For details about how firearms may be placed in checked baggage, visit TSA.gov.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP)  Tony Stewart ended up in the NHRA winner's circle to start 2023  as a team owner.

Stewart red-lighted in the second round of eliminations in the Top Alcohol class Saturday, but the three-time NASCAR champion finished drag racing's season opener with Matt Hagan, one of his drivers at Tony Stewart Racing, winning the Funny Car finale at the Gatornationals on Sunday.

Hagan covered the 1,000-foot strip in 3.926 seconds, just enough to drive around JR Todd and leave Stewart hugging and high-fiving his team at Gainesville Raceway.

Bossman's happy, Hagan quipped.

Stewart is beginning his second season as an NHRA team owner. The 1997 IndyCar champion added to his storied racing resume by getting behind the wheel for a full season driving for McPhillips Racing in a lower division.

Little went right during his first two weekends in Gainesville: He lost in the opening round last week at the Baby Gators, an NHRA regional event, and then bowed out earlier than a sellout crowd had hoped for on Saturday.

It was a stark contrast to his first professional drag-racing event last October, when Stewart made the final in his debut at the Nevada Nationals. He lost to college student Madison Payne by an inch  officially a difference of .0002 on the clock.

Stewart hoped to get another shot in Gainesville. But he settled for winning with Hagan, who notched his 44th Funny Car victory and fifth in two years with Stewart. This one moved him into fourth place in Funny Car history, breaking a tie with Tony Pedregon.

It was his second straight victory at the Gatornationals, an event that eluded him for the first 14 years of his NHRA career.

To win back-to-back Gators, man, tried pretty much my entire career just to win one, he said. Super special deal.

Mike Salinas won the Top Fuel division, with Troy Coughlin Jr. taking Pro Stock and Gaige Herrera claiming Pro Stock Motorcycle.

None of the four reigning series champions even made the semifinals. Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Mike Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were upset in the first or second rounds Sunday.

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Force's trouble was one of many for powerhouse John Force Racing. Austin Prock (Top Fuel) had an issue on the starting line, Robert Hight (Funny Car) spun his tires early in his run and John Force (Funny Car) got edged at the line.

For decades, Force has been the sport's biggest draw. But Stewart, who married Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett in 2021, has become a fan favorite in a hurry. It was noticeable by the cheers in the stands and the lines throughout the garage.

When I sign at the T-shirt trailer, my line versus when Tony signs, his line's a lot longer, Hagan said. "He's great for the sport and now hes involved in driving, so hes really bitten by the bug. ...

You dont get a golden goose very often, you know what I mean? You got to support it.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
According to the most recent federal data, only seven percent of all teachers nationwide are Black. Thats compared to 79 percent who are white.

According to the most recent federal data, only seven percent of all teachers nationwide are Black. Thats compared to 79 percent who are white.

Teachers say diversifying the classroom can have a major impact on a childs education.

I just really appreciate how he kept it kept his culture, how he was so intentional about being authentic in the classroom, said teacher Kurt Russell. Everyone loved Mr. Thomas because he was true, and he was real and I saw in him myself.

That was 8th grade and the first time Kurt Russell had a Black teacher. He said this example set by Mr. Thomas inspired him to pursue a career in education.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Now Russell is a history teacher in Ohio, and the 2022 National Teacher of the Year.

When you see someone that looks like you that is having fun, thats enjoying a profession, it makes you say to yourself, wow theres something special about being a teacher, said Russell.

A Johns Hopkins University study shows Black students who had at least one Black teacher experienced improved outcomes including higher graduation rates.

Russell believes this impact also goes beyond grades.

For so long, we have had black children who have been traumatized by school being removed from class, being suspended, expelled, said Russell. So if we could provide a good experience for our children, I think that can to help with this pipeline of educators.

Former teacher Lavar Edmonds says another solution is turning Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Its a low-cost initiative - the colleges are they exist. They are producing the teachers, said Edmonds. Its really a question of, are you actively looking to recruit them? Are you actively seeking to get them into your schools and into your classrooms?

TRENDING STORIES:

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In his recent study, Edmonds reviewed nearly ten years worth of data from North Carolina elementary school students. Edmonds found Black students performed better in math when they were taught by HBUC graduates. He said both Black and White HBCU-trained teachers are more effective with Black students.

If youre on HBCU campus, theres a particular potential for a wealth of knowledge, you can sort of learn and absorb when youre in a community, a climate that is made for and by Black students and Black professors, said Edmonds.

The Biden Administration says HBCUs play a role in diversifying classrooms. This year, the U.S. Department of Education announced $18 million in awards for HBCUs and other minority serving institutions.

This week on Capitol Hill, several Senate Democrats introduced new legislation that would set minimum pay at $60,000 a year for teachers to incentivize recruitment and retainment.

Republicans havent responded directly to this proposal. But many GOP lawmakers are critical of Democratic efforts to cancel federal student loan debt because they argue its too expensive

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IN OTHER NEWS:
For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad.

If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Hannover Ruck (ETR:HNR1). Now this is not to say that the company presents the best investment opportunity around, but profitability is a key component to success in business.

View our latest analysis for Hannover Ruck

Hannover Ruck's Improving Profits

Even modest earnings per share growth (EPS) can create meaningful value, when it is sustained reliably from year to year. So it's no surprise that some investors are more inclined to invest in profitable businesses. It's good to see that Hannover Ruck's EPS has grown from 10.21 to 11.66 over twelve months. There's little doubt shareholders would be happy with that 14% gain.

One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. While we note Hannover Ruck achieved similar EBIT margins to last year, revenue grew by a solid 21% to 32b. That's a real positive.

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image.

Fortunately, we've got access to analyst forecasts of Hannover Ruck's future profits. You can do your own forecasts without looking, or you can take a peek at what the professionals are predicting.

Are Hannover Ruck Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

It's a good habit to check into a company's remuneration policies to ensure that the CEO and management team aren't putting their own interests before that of the shareholder with excessive salary packages. Our analysis has discovered that the median total compensation for the CEOs of companies like Hannover Ruck, with market caps over 7.5b, is about 4.5m.

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The Hannover Ruck CEO received 2.8m in compensation for the year ending December 2022. That seems pretty reasonable, especially given it's below the median for similar sized companies. While the level of CEO compensation shouldn't be the biggest factor in how the company is viewed, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense.

Is Hannover Ruck Worth Keeping An Eye On?

One positive for Hannover Ruck is that it is growing EPS. That's nice to see. Not only that, but the CEO is paid quite reasonably, which should prompt investors to feel more trusting of the board of directors. So based on its merits, the stock deserves further research, if not an addition to your watchlist. What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Hannover Ruck you should know about.

There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a free list of them here.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

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.

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MUNCIE, Ind.  In the decade prior to the COVID pandemic, work from home rose steadily to 5.6 percent of all workers. Most of this growth was likely attributable to technology that made remote work possible, but work at home pre-dated the personal computer and internet. In 1980, a modest 2.2 percent of workers worked at home.

Today remote work has exploded. As of February, 22.4 million Americans reported working from home full time, and another 22 million working remotely at least one day a week or more. Numbers like this are so large, they are difficult to fully appreciate. A full 28.3 percent of American households had at least one person working remotely full time, and more than half had someone working remotely at least 1 day a week.

Michael Hicks

The post-pandemic shift to remote work has spawned the largest potential shock to household location decisions in our nations history. In terms of affected families, this is larger than the exodus of Americans from farms since 1900 and the Great Migration of African-Americans to the North, combined. The number of remote workers is today larger than all the migration from Europe, Asia and African from 1600 to World War II. There are more remote workers today than there are immigrants in the U.S.

This is a very large and increasing number of people who can now live wherever they wish. The fact that 22.4 million U.S. workers can now keep their job and move anywhere ought to be the number one long-term concern for elected leaders in every state, county and municipal government in the U.S. Remote work should precipitate massive change in economic development policies, workforce training, business attraction spending, and local focus on public services. But, alongside the real likelihood of stark changes to local population growth, it is important to think a bit about what remote work will do to labor markets.

There was a growing body of research on remote work before COVID. The best known study was a randomized control trial of Chinese workers that reported modest productivity gains from remote work. The post-COVID studies of remote work report both managers and workers are responding well to the new environment.

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My colleagues and I are researching, writing and speaking about the geography of remote work, so readers can expect that issue to grace this column frequently in the years ahead. However, there are likely significant, emergent labor market changes that are worthy of discussion.

Remote work is popular, and there are large differences between and educational attainment and remote work. About half of college graduates report working from home, while 12 percent of high school graduates do so. Theres also a stunning income difference. A full 70 percent of families earning more than $200,000 per year have someone doing remote work, while just 15 percent of those earning $35,000 to $50,000 do so.

Today, remote workers are better educated and better paid than average. If remote remains popular, this will increase the demand for higher education. Importantly, we know most migration in the U.S. is among workers who are better educated and better-paid. Remote work will compound that trend.

Remote work also changes the task mix of jobs. Remote workers might find themselves doing fewer different tasks, and instead focusing on just one or two. Over the past few centuries this has boosted worker productivity and pay. Some workplace tasks might largely disappear as the number of offices shrink substantially. This also results in demand for workers to do support for remote workers. The best example I have is IT support. Once a firms workforce is dispersed across the country, an in-house IT staff will have different skills than in the past.

It is easy to imagine new IT businesses that emerge to operate locally, but service remote workers from many different firms. I can also imagine that larger businesses might aggregate some tasks, such as productivity monitoring, in ways they have not done in the past. Other tasks, such as routine administration, might experience significant changes, with some being more centralized and requiring fewer workers. Workers may need to attend more training to improve skills that become rusty with remote work or were unnecessary in a business office.

These sorts of changes challenge the boundaries of the traditional firm. Indeed, remote work itself might be a place where independent contractors doing work for several different firms can thrive. Training, travel and pay processing, onboarding, managing technology and productivity, even mentoring might be outsourced to other businesses.

These changes will challenge the legal and managerial considerations in firms, offering opportunities for entrepreneurs and workers alike. Other opportunities also exist for new commerce. Remote workers miss out on social contact of work. There is emerging interest in Third Places that are neither work nor home. Remote workers will likely look for these when they relocate, and this might be a domain that both the public and private sector consider.

Remote work might be cheaper than commuting. Smaller wardrobe of suits, lower gas or toll costs, and less wear and tear on the automobile are all potential savings. However, homes must be modified to include a workspace, and broadband often must be more robust. If remote work remains popular, these cost savings might be slowly built into wages. At the same time, if workplace duties remain less popular, there may be a premium for workers willing to staff an office, warehouse or classroom. Economists call these compensating differentials, and they are sure to emerge across some occupations.

Theres at least the possibility that families will be able to more easily manage children, pets and home duties. This is especially true if workers labor across different time zones. At least one recent research paper suggests this will boost fertility among families who engage in remote work. The implications for population change among places favored by remote workers is pretty clear.

It is possible that a focus on pure productivity in remote work will lead to clearer connections between pay and work quality or quantity. This might mean less workplace discrimination, but larger income inequality. Itll be years before this is clear. Also, if there is a wage premium for the inconvenience of being in the office or onsite, this should close some of the very large college wage premiums. Because better-educated workers are more likely to work remotely, a larger share of less-educated workers will receive that in-person bonus.

Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Hicks: Remote work and labor markets
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Prices start at $5, and most of these game-changing travel items are on sale.

Travel + Leisure / Reese Herrington

For countless travelers, theres truly no better way to see the world than by hopping on a cruise for a few days (or weeks). Whether your ship is taking you to tropical Caribbean islands, lively European cities, stunning Alaskan locales, or somewhere else on your bucket list, youre bound to have the adventure of a lifetime. Packing for the trip, though, can be a lot less fun, but thanks to Amazons new cruise-focused storefront, you can score tons of must-have travel items to take on your next big outing.

Inside this storefront, youll find cruise essentials ranging from portable power strips to motion sickness patches, plus versatile travel bags like waterproof pouches thatll keep your valuables safe as you explore each port. And best of all, every item listed costs under $75, so you can load up on a number of valuable products before sailing off.

To help you navigate the options, weve rounded up 17 of our favorite travel items featured in Amazons newest storefront that should be on every cruise packing list. Trust us, you're going to be so thankful that you brought them along.

AiRunTech Waterproof Pouch With Waist Strap

Amazon

No one wants to discover that their valuables have gone missing on vacation, so keep your items safe and sound with these waterproof pouches from AiRunTech. Theyre big enough to hold your smartphone, wallet, cash, and more, and will keep them dry if you go snorkeling or sailing. They come in eight color varieties, including clear, so you can see your items easily. We used this when we were on a cruise excursion at Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica, one reviewer said. We were fully submerged multiple times, and all of our stuff stayed completely dry."

To buy: amazon.com, from $13 for set of two (originally $15)

MQ Motion Sickness Patches

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Amazon

Nothing ruins a cruise faster than a spell of nausea or dizziness. If you or someone in your party tends to experience motion sickness while on the high seas, stock up on these top-rated patches from MQ. They last up to three days and are made of 100 percent natural anti-nausea herbs like cinnamon, safflower, and dahurica angelica, so they shouldnt make you feel drowsy or give you dry mouth. All you have to do is stick one of the patches behind your ear or on your stomach 10 minutes before traveling, and it'll start working. One user called them literal magic and a game-changer, explaining that their child almost immediately felt better after popping on a patch.

The Amazon cruise storefront also features reviewer-loved nausea aids like Dramamine, which avid travelers also recommend keeping stocked in your toiletry bag: "We had a day and night of really high swells on the cruise and this was a lifesaver. I felt so incredibly sick. It kicked in sooner than most medications, which I was definitely happy about and lasted the entire night."

To buy: amazon.com, $10 for pack of 20

Spesoul Unisex Water Shoes

Amazon

It doesnt get more uncomfortable (or inconvenient) than slipping on a pair of flip-flops when your feet are wet from the pool, and then trying to navigate the slippery deck in them. Plus, between all of the cruise water activities and the off-deck opportunities to enjoy the beach and surrounding towns, you'll want a trusty pair of water shoes like these from Spesoul that can double as sneakers. Vouching for the support, an Amazon reviewer said, "I bought these for a cruise to Hawaii and used them both on the beach and while extreme parasailing. I actually once walked 3 miles on city streets in them while in Honolulu."

To buy: amazon.com, $19 with on-site coupon (originally $29)

ProCase Universal Waterproof Phone Pouch Case

Amazon

We bet you'll be taking in some of the most breathtaking beaches during your cruise, and that you'll want to snap some pictures of all the fun you're having on them. Instead of being nervous that you'll drop your smartphone or camera in the ocean, recruit the help of the top-rated ProCase Waterproof Pouch. It securely locks your tech inside and protects it from water damage, so you can splash around and enjoy yourself with peace of mind. One cruise-goer shared, "Our iPhones fit perfectly, and [it was] easy to use the touch screen." Another traveler added, "I used this for snorkeling on our cruise. It took amazing photos and videos."

To buy: amazon.com, $9 (originally $20)

Holifesy Valente Premium Family Travel Document Organizer

Amazon

If youre on a cruise with your family, keep all of your documents together with this helpful water-resistant organizer, made by Holifesy. Its spacious enough to fit up to six passports, as well as boarding passes, cash, IDs, and much more inside its 21 pockets and slots. I bought this for our cruise and you can fit so much in there, one shopper wrote in their review. It kept everything so organized and in one safe place.

To buy: amazon.com, $25

Jollyants Cruise Luggage Tags

Amazon

Say goodbye to spending too much time searching for your bags, because these best-selling luggage tags from Jollyants will be your new best friend. Sturdy, waterproof, and transparent (so you can insert your cruise tag), theyll ensure that you never lose sight of your precious belongings. This was perfect for my cruise cabin printouts, one Amazon customer recalled, adding that they are very helpful and durable. Did we mention that you can get a pack of five for 52 percent off right now?

To buy: amazon.com, $8 for pack of five (originally $16)

Mifaso Power Strip with USB

Amazon

If you feel like cruise cabins never have enough outlets, pick up this great non-surge power strip, which features three outlets, three USB ports, and a long, 5-foot-long extension cord. Its compact, lightweight, and has a genius non-slip design, so it wont slide off your table if the ship experiences some bumps. But, its also mountable in case you want to prop it up on a wall. This makes charging my electronics a breeze, a reviewer shared. Plug it in and all [of] my electronics (my laptop, iPad, iPhone, and smartwatch) can all charge in the same place.

To buy: amazon.com, $12 with on-site coupon (originally $19)

Veken Packing Cubes

Amazon

Packing cubes are hugely helpful for keeping your items organized and easily accessible (especially when youre embarking on a long trip), and we love this set of six from Veken. They come in four sizes and are made with a thick, waterproof nylon fabric, so you dont have to worry about anything ruining your clothes  or the cubes ripping from wear and tear. One shopper said the cubes were a lifesaver during a long sailing trip, explaining that they helped "organize and stow our stuff in multiple different ways depending on the situation" and they keep your clothes tidy, but enable you to reconfigure your packing situation easily and with no fuss. They concluded their review, writing, "I'll be using them on every trip in the future."

To buy: amazon.com, $22 (originally $35)

DiyMag Magnetic Hooks

Amazon

Cruise cabins can be pretty tiny, so why not maximize the space by adding some magnetic hooks to the walls and hanging up your items? Available in a pack of six, the easy-to-install DiyMag hooks can each hold up to 25 pounds, more than enough to support jackets, backpacks, umbrellas, and more. These hooks were so helpful on our cruise, one shopper commented. We hung our cruise cards, hoodies, drawstring backpack, clothes, and other things.

To buy: amazon.com, $5 for pack of six (originally $6)

iWalk Mini Portable Charger for iPhones

Amazon

This compact-yet-powerful portable iPhone charger from iWalk will come in handy during a long day spent off-ship exploring the sites. Heck, you'll also want to keep it close by if you've got a night of cruise activities planned. It features a built-in cable and is so tiny that you wont even notice it taking up room in your bag (or pocket). I used it on vacation almost every day, an Amazon shopper exclaimed.r. I didn't have to worry about my phone dying because it lasted very long, and I felt comfortable taking it everywhere because it didn't take up too much space.

To buy: amazon.com, $24 with on-site coupon (originally $30)

Venture Pal 40-Liter Lightweight Packable Backpack

Amazon

Cruises keep your itinerary pretty packed. Between all of the sunbathing on the pool deck and off-ship excursions, you'll need a trusty travel bag to keep your must-haves secure and at the ready. This packable backpack weighs only 1 pound and folds down into its own pocket so it will take up virtually no space in your suitcase. Speaking of pockets, it's stocked with plenty of pouches and compartments  including a convenient wet pocket for damp towels, bathing suits, water shoes, etc. One customer called it a "great backpack for travel" and wrote, "I purchased this bag for a seven-day cruise to use for my shore excursionsI was able to pack all of my essentials and even had room for souvenirs."

To buy: amazon.com, $29 (originally $34)

Towel Craber Towel Bands

Amazon

Planning on spending most of your cruise time at the pool or on the beach? Youll definitely want to grab this set of six towel bands from Towel Craber  trust us, they're a game-changer. These handy accessories secure your towel to your lounge chair no matter how windy it gets, so you can catch some rays hassle-free with zero interruptions from your towel falling or blowing away. These worked great for our cruise towels, one shopper vouched, adding that they were lightweight, easy to pack, and easy to use. Chiming in, a second reviewer, who was happy to report that they held down their heavy towels, added, "I even looped small items through them such as a headband, sunglasses, and smaller hand towels instead of putting them on my lounger or on the sand."

To buy: amazon.com, $12 for pack of six

Lewis N. Clark SinkSuds Laundry Detergent

Amazon

Even if youre using a laundry service on your cruise ship, you still might want these handy travel-size detergent packets at your disposal. You can use them in your cabin sink to easily and quickly clean your items. In fact, one packet works on up to three pieces of clothing. Impressive, right? It's no wonder one reviewer dubbed them "perfect for travel." They also noted that they're strong enough to clean things well and easy to rinse out after.

To buy: amazon.com, $7 for pack of 8 with on-site coupon (originally $15)

Pack Gear Suitcase Organizer

Amazon

Living out of a suitcase is hard, especially for weeks at a time. To make yourself feel more at home, add this genius suitcase organizer to your Amazon cart. Similar to packing cubes, its five-pouch design helps you organize your clothes, shoes, and cruise essentials for easy packing. But, when you get to your room, you can hang it up in your closet like a make-shift dresser, which will come in clutch if there's not enough actual dresser space in your room for everyone you're traveling with. After testing it out on a cruise, an Amazon shopper said, "It was perfect because given the small size of the cabin, the organizer provided extra space to keep my clothes. It was super convenient and made packing way easier."

To buy: amazon.com, $70

Sun Bum Premium Day Tripper Sun Care Pack

Amazon

For cruisers planning on spending their days basking in the sun, protect your skin with the help of this travel-size sunscreen set from Sun Bum. It contains the brand's SPF 30 moisturizing sunscreen, SPF 30 lip balm, and hydrating, after-sun Cool Down Lotion, so you can stay safe and feel good during your relaxing vacation. And, it comes with a handy carrying pouch, which is spacious enough to fit your other toiletries and sunbathing essentials. "We all used this on a Caribbean cruise and none of us burned [like] we usually do  even with 100 SPF," a traveler wrote. "The Cool Down Lotion was perfect as well. We barely peeled!"

To buy: amazon.com, $19 with on-site coupon (originally $23)

Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier

Amazon

Lets be honest: It can be hard to stay hydrated and eat well when youre busy enjoying yourself on a cruise (and soaking up so much sun). If you find yourself starting to feel a little off, add some of this best-selling Liquid I.V. electrolyte drink powder mix into your water and get an immediate influx of essential vitamins and nutrients. One pack comes with 16 travel-sized, lemon-lime flavored packets. And, as most reviewers can attest, it comes in handy if you've opted for a drink package: "My husband and I used the product on our cruise. I definitely felt more hydrated and didnt feel hungover from the unlimited drinks."

To buy: amazon.com, $24 for pack of 16

Ododos Unisex Mini Belt Bag

Amazon

When youre running around all day having a great time, you dont want to be encumbered by a hefty purse or backpack while you're jumping from activity to activity. Instead, throw this tiny, lightweight belt bag from Ododos around your waist, or adjust its straps to use it as a shoulder bag, handbag, or crossbody bag instead. And, according to shoppers, it's surprisingly spacious: "I used this on a cruise. I could fit a plus-sized smartphone, sunglasses, money, chapstick, cards, etc."

To buy: amazon.com, $17 (originally $19)

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
For a long time in history, the world was shrouded in the myth that modernization equals Westernization. The emergence of Chinese modernization dispels it, making modernization no longer a single-choice question, but a multiple-choice one.

For the world, China's task to modernize a country of 1.4 billion people, or nearly one-fifth of the global population, is unprecedented. The Herculean pursuit not only captures global attention, but also has global ramifications.

Among a series of concepts and initiatives that China promotes in both state governance and global interactions, the Chinese path to modernization is the most popular keyword that people would like to know more about, according to an overseas survey conducted by Xinhua News Agency recently.

What are differences between Chinese and Western Modernization?

China's path to modernization is one of peace and development, win-win cooperation, and harmony between humanity and nature, rather than external expansion and plundering.

"China's path to modernization reflects Chinese wisdom, Chinese civilization and history," said Keith Bennett, a long-term China specialist and vice chair of Britain's 48 Group Club.

"The modernization of a small number of Western countries was based on the exploitation, oppression and colonization of almost the entire world. China is not developing by exploiting any other country; China is developing itself and modernizing itself, and at the same time helping other countries to develop and modernize," he said.

China does not seek to exploit or control other nations, and it plays no role in inciting conflicts, said Mokhtar Gobashy, deputy chairman of the Cairo-based Arab Center for Political and Strategic Studies, adding that's why China has gained respect and popularity in the Arab world.

Meanwhile, Chinese modernization emphasizes both material and cultural-ethical advancement, which distinguishes it from Western modernization, said Chen Gang, assistant director of the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore.

The coordination of material and cultural-ethical advancement leads the way to realize all-around material abundance as well as people's well-rounded development, Chen said.

What Chinese Modernization can offer for the world?

China stands in the world as the second-largest economy and a responsible major country. It always keeps the world's development and peace in mind in its modernization process. That is because Beijing fully understands that it will do well only if the world does well, and vice versa.

Firstly, China is committed to making the world less poor and more equitable.

By the end of 2020, China had lifted out of poverty all rural residents living below the current poverty line and met the poverty eradication target set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.

Commenting on China's poverty reduction drive, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said those achievements are "the biggest contribution for dramatical reduction of poverty."

More than eradicating absolute poverty, Chinese modernization promotes common prosperity, thereby shrinking the enormous wealth gap and inequality that have risen in tandem with Western modernization.

British scholar and political commentator Martin Jacques highlighted China's pursuit of common prosperity, lamenting how Western countries have never taken it seriously.

"For China to embrace common prosperity, to establish a society of greater fairness, greater equity, that is a very important message not only to China, Chinese people but to the world as well," he said.

China, on its way toward modernization, has also been sharing its development dividends with the rest of the world.

Take the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). According to a World Bank forecast, if all Belt and Road transport infrastructure projects are carried out, the initiative would generate 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars of global revenues annually to 2030. Up to 90 percent of the revenues would go to partner countries.

"The most important thing about the BRI is that developing nations could benefit from the great experience in the development of China. BRI gives them the opportunity to create an industrial society and join the modern age. This is something that in the long run would bode well for the future of humanity," said Khairy Tourk, professor of economics with the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

Secondly, China is committed to making the world greener and more biodiverse.

China ranks first globally in the area of planted forests and forest coverage growth, contributing a quarter of the world's new forest area in the past decade.

From 2012 to 2021, China's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP declined by 34.4 percent, and energy consumption per unit of GDP decreased by 26.4 percent, equivalent to saving of 1.4 billion tons of standard coal.

So far, China has also emerged as a major proponent of renewable energy, and it is working hard to capitalize on the potential of a green BRI.

UNFCCC (the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell spoke highly of China's firm and consistent stance on actively addressing climate change, as well as its efforts to translate climate commitments into concrete actions.

At a time when the world is facing an energy crisis, China continues to make solid progress in dealing with climate change and plays an important role in advancing the global response to climate change, Stiell said.

Meanwhile, under China's presidency, the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity has adopted the global biodiversity framework ahead of schedule. China has shown leadership in global biodiversity protection, Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, has said.

Thirdly, China is committed to making the world more peaceful.

For more than 70 years, China has never started a war, never occupied a single square mile of foreign territory, never engaged in proxy wars, and never been a member of or organized any military bloc.

It is the only country that has incorporated peaceful development in its Constitution, and the only country among the five nuclear-weapon states to pledge no first use of nuclear weapons. China's track record on peace can stand the scrutiny of history, and its peaceful rise is an unprecedented miracle in human history.

Since China's restoration of its lawful seat at the United Nations in 1971, China has actively participated in the political settlement of major regional hot issues, including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iran nuclear issue, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and the Palestine-Israel issue.

In response to mounting conflicts and security challenges in today's world, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI) at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022.

And in the GSI Concept Paper released last month, China further expounded the core ideas and principles of the initiative, identified the priorities, platforms and mechanisms of cooperation and demonstrated China's sense of responsibility for safeguarding world peace and firm resolve to defend global security.

"China's idea of being a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of the international order and provider of public goods are consistent with the ideals of the UN Charter," former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.

An alternative approach?

Chinese modernization is a new model for human advancement, and it dispels the myth that "modernization is equal to Westernization," presents another picture of modernization, expands the channels for developing countries to achieve modernization, and provides a Chinese solution to aid the exploration of a better social system for humanity, Xi once said.

China's rise as a global economic power shattered the long-held notion that modernization means Westernization, said David Monyae, director of the Center for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

The Chinese path to modernization serves as an "example" for developing countries, especially African countries, when they have been confronted with multiple crises that hinder their development in recent years, General Secretary of the Congolese Labor Party Pierre Moussa has said.

"They could find in this model elements for the construction of a development path that can enable them to handle present and future challenges," he said.

"Modernization has never been simply Westernization," Chen said, adding that "Chinese modernization is a new development model, which can be used as a reference for other countries with similar national conditions or at a similar stage of development."




The former Soviet state of Georgia is caught between its historic ties to the East and a future that may lie closer to the West. Its government, viewed by critics as too friendly with the Kremlin, has been rocked by mass protests in the capital.

Parliament on Friday voted to drop a bill that fueled fears of Russian influence and comparisons to Ukraine, after tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Tbilisi to rally against the legislation they saw as a threat to the countrys democratic freedoms and a barrier to any future hopes of joining NATO and the European Union.

NBC News takes a look at what we know so far.

What sparked the protests?

The massive and energetic protests in Tbilisi last week began after the ruling Georgian Dream party introduced a bill on foreign influence that passed its first of two readings on the Parliament floor.

The bill would have obliged media outlets, nongovernmental organizations and even individuals to register with the state as foreign agents if they receive more than 20% of their annual income from foreign entities.

Protesters wave the Georgian, Ukrainian and European flags outside Georgia's Parliament in Tbilisi on March 8, 2023. (Vano Shlamov / AFP - Getty Images)

The ruling party claimed it was necessary for national security, and the bills authors said it was modeled on the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, which the U.S. enacted to expose Nazi propaganda; it requires people to disclose when they lobby in the U.S. on behalf of foreign governments or political entities.

Critics called the proposal a Russian law and warned it could be used to curtail media freedoms and stifle dissent.

Opposition lawmaker Salome Samadashvili told NBC News on Thursday that it was similar to a law enacted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2012 that has been used to shut down or discredit organizations that criticize the government.

There, she said, it was used to suppress the democratic opposition  NGOs, journalists and basically everyone who had any financial or political independence.  That is why we call it the Russian law.

After it was introduced and voted on swiftly by Georgian Dream, which holds a sizable majority in Parliament, tens of thousands of protesters swarmed the capital and rallied outside the Parliament building for several days, undeterred even after they were met with tear gas and water cannons.

Story continues

What did the government do?

With the protests showing little sign of abating, lawmakers in the Black Sea nation of 3.7 million began to back away from the bill Wednesday evening, and a discussion about the proposal was canceled Thursday.

But the demonstrations continued into Friday morning, with protesters calling for the bill to be abandoned entirely.

And in a session that lasted minutes, Parliament obliged as its members voted to drop the bill Friday after Georgian Dream said it would withdraw the legislation.

Where does Ukraine come in?

In the years leading up to Putins fateful decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine last February, the Kremlin liberally used its foreign agent law to suppress what remained of the political opposition and the independent media in Russia.

The war in Ukraine has made this even clearer, Ana Tsitlidze, a Georgian opposition MP, said in an interview. With this law, the government is trying to do the same thing that Putin did in Russia: kill free speech and nongovernmental organizations.

A man waves a Georgian flag in front of a burning barricade as other protesters stand behind not far from the parliament building in Tbilisi on March 9, 2023. (Zurab Tsertsvadze / AP)

Georgia, one of the most pro-Western states, has for more than a decade now pursued a publicly stated goal of joining the E.U. and NATO.

Like Ukraine, it is a former Soviet republic and has had its own history of war with Russia this century.

In August 2008, Georgia attempted to recapture the Russia-backed breakaway republic of South Ossetia, which had fought a separatist war with Tbilisi in the 1990s. Moscow responded with a massive invasion and regained control of South Ossetia, while also seizing another breakaway Georgian province, Abkhazia, and it continues to support separatist movements in both the regions, although they are internationally recognized as Georgian territory.

In recent years, however, political figures more sympathetic to Moscow than Georgias typically pro-Western mainstream have come into power, while opposition parties have also accused Georgian Dream of pursuing pro-Kremlin policies while claiming to be Western oriented.

Opponents have also charged that the partys founder, former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire who amassed his fortune in Russia, calls the shots even though he doesnt hold a government job.

The party has repeatedly denied any links to Russia or accusations that it leans toward Moscow.

Right now, Russia is testing Georgia, Samadashvili said. It is testing Georgia to see how far it can go through the government that runs this country. So we do not believe that this bill was written in Georgia, or that this plan to have this bill passed was something that the Georgian government came up with on its own.

For its part, Moscow has distanced itself from the Georgian legislation

Russia has nothing to do with this, neither in essence nor in form, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news conference Friday. We do not interfere in internal Georgian affairs.

What does it mean for Georgias future?

The protests in Tbilisi this week have been compared by some to the 2013 Maidan movement in Ukraine, which resulted in the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.

There were visual similarities, such as protesters carrying E.U. flags, and Ukrainian flags, and many of those who took to the streets in Georgia were young, born after the fall of the Soviet Union. Authorities also responded in a similar manner, with tear gas and water cannons.

Police in riot gear face protesters in Tbilisi late on March 8, 2023. (Zura Tsertsvadze / AFP - Getty Images)

Young people who grew up in this miraculous free country are now protecting Georgias European choice at the cost of their lives, said Ana Tsitlidze, an opposition MP who took part in the demonstrations.

However, the E.U. agreed to make Ukraine and Moldova candidates for membership of the bloc in June, but held back on doing the same for Georgia, citing the need for reforms.

Some protesters like Tsitlidze also feared that the government would try to enact similar legislation in the future.

This is not the end, she said. We still have a pro-Russian government. They can bring this law back, or any other laws, at any time.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
By Andrea Shalal, Trevor Hunnicutt and Gram Slattery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence offered his most forceful rebuke to date of his one-time boss Donald Trump on Saturday, saying that history will hold him accountable for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Pence was in the Capitol when thousands of Trump supporters breached the building in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden.

As the vice president has the constitutional role of Senate president, Pence was presiding over what had always been the ceremonial task of approving the votes of the Electoral College to select the president and vice president.

Throughout the siege, Trump sent several tweets, one calling on Republicans to "fight" and others making false claims of voter fraud. He also criticized Pence for certifying the results.

"President Trump was wrong," Pence told assembled journalists and their guests at the Gridiron dinner, an annual white-tie event in Washington, D.C.

"I had no right to overturn the election, and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable."

Pence, who is considering a run for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, was whisked to safety by law enforcement during the attack.

He rarely addressed Jan. 6 in the months following the incident, but has since upped his criticism of the rioters and the behavior of his former boss that day.

He has sharply criticized Trump's conduct in recent media interviews, and in a memoir released in November, he accused Trump of endangering his family.

Still, Pence's comments on Saturday were his most pointed to date.

"What happened that day was a disgrace," he said. "And it mocks decency to portray it any other way. For as long as I live, I will never, ever diminish the injuries sustained, the lives lost, or the heroism of law enforcement on that tragic day."

Story continues

A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside business hours.

Pence's relationship with Trump has been complex since the two left office. He had criticized the former president's behavior but refrained from the most stinging rebukes of Trump. He also declined to cooperate with the House of Representatives committee investigating the Capitol attack, describing the work done by the mainly Democratic body as partisan.

The former vice president's comments on Saturday indicate he is willing to more forcefully distance himself from Trump as the 2024 campaign heats up - even if that means alienating the millions of Republican voters still loyal to the former president.

His remarks came just days after conservative television host Tucker Carlson aired security footage of the Capitol attack, claiming that many of the rioters were "orderly."

Carlson's depiction of Jan. 6 was sharply criticized by Democrats and several high-profile Republicans in the Senate, though many other Republicans - particularly in the House - shrugged off the episode.

(Reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by William Mallard and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Mike Pence said he knows history will hold Donald Trump accountable over the Jan 6 insurrection and also made jokes at the expense of his former boss about the secret documents found at Mar-a-Lago.

The former vice president and Trump loyalists comments are some of the harshest he has made about the one-time president.

Mr Pence, who once seemed reluctant to confront Mr Trump, made the remarks on Saturday evening during the white-tie annual Gridiron Club Dinner in Washington, DC.

President Trump was wrong," he said at the event attended by politicians and journalists.

"I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.

Speeches at the annual white-tie event are usually humorous affairs with politicians cracking light jokes at each other.

Mr Pence began his speech by mocking Mr Trump, president Joe Biden, vice president Kamala Harris and several Republicans who are expected to run for president in 2024.

He joked that Mr Trumps ego was so fragile, he wanted his vice president to sing Wind Beneath My Wings, of which one of the lines is did you ever know that youre my hero?, during their weekly lunches.

He also took a potshot at his former boss over the discovery of classified documents during raids at Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence.

I read that some of those classified documents they found at Mar-a-Lago were actually stuck in the presidents Bible," Mr Pence said. Which proves he had absolutely no idea they were there.

Mr Pence then said the one thing he didnt joke about was the insurrection and called it a tragic day.

He berated Republicans and right-wing media outlets accused of trying to downplay the insurrection.

Tourists dont injure 140 police officers by sightseeing, Mr Pence said. Tourists dont break down doors to get to the Speaker of the House or voice threats against public officials.

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Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace, and it mocks decency to portray it in any other way, Mr Pence said.

Mr Pences comments come amid speculation that he might announce his own candidacy for the 2024 presidential elections and the criticism is to lay the groundwork for it.

In the days leading up to Jan 6, Mr Trump had reportedly pressured Mr Pence and wanted to use his position overseeing a joint session of Congress on 6 January to render election results null and void.

Mr Pence rejected his calls and when rioters stormed the Capitol, several chants of hang Mike Pence were heard.

The House select committee that led an extensive investigation into the attack said in its final report that the President of the United States had riled up a mob that hunted his own Vice President."
Science is the reason you aren't reading this by firelight nestled cozily under a rock somewhere however, its practice significantly predates its formalization by Galileo in the 16th century. Among its earliest adherents  even before pioneering efforts of Aristotle  was Animaxander, the Greek philosopher credited with first arguing that the Earth exists within a void, not atop a giant turtle shell. His other revolutionary notions include, "hey, maybe animals evolved from other, earlier animals?" and "the gods aren't angry, that's just thunder."

While Animaxander isn't often mentioned alongside the later greats of Greek philosophy, his influence on the scientific method cannot be denied, argues NYT bestselling author, Carlo Rovelli, in his latest book, Animaxander and the Birth of Science, out now from Riverhead Books. In in, Rovelli celebrates Animaxander, not necessarily for his scientific acumen but for his radical scientific thinking  specifically his talent for shrugging off conventional notion to glimpse at the physical underpinnings of the natural world. In the excerpt below, Rovelli, whom astute readers will remember from last year's There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are Less Important than Kindness, illustrates how even the works of intellectual titans like Einstein and Heisenberg can and inevitably are found lacking in their explanation of natural phenomena  in just the same way that those works themselves decimated the collective understanding of cosmological law under 19th century Newtonian physics.

blue and green geometric dot, circle and tube design on a black background with the title and author name overwritten in white.

Excerpted from Animaxander and the Birth of Science. Copyright  2023 by Carlo Rovelli. Excerpted by permission of Riverhead, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Did science begin with Anaximander? The question is poorly put. It depends on what we mean by science, a generic term. Depending on whether we give it a broad or a narrow meaning, we can say that science began with Newton, Galileo, Archimedes, Hipparchus, Hippocrates, Pythagoras, or Anaximander  or with an astronomer in Babylonia whose name we dont know, or with the first primate who managed to teach her offspring what she herself had learned, or with Eve, as in the quotation that opens this chapter. Historically or symbolically, each of these moments marks humanitys acquisition of a new, crucial tool for the growth of knowledge.

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If by science we mean research based on systematic experimental activities, then it began more or less with Galileo. If we mean a collection of quantitative observations and theoretical/mathematical models that can order these observations and give accurate predictions, then the astronomy of Hipparchus and Ptolemy is science. Emphasizing one particular starting point, as I have done with Anaximander, means focusing on a specific aspect of the way we acquire knowledge. It means highlighting specific characteristics of science and thus, implicitly, reflecting on what science is, what the search for knowledge is, and how it works.

What is scientific thinking? What are its limits? What is the reason for its strength? What does it really teach us? What are its characteristics, and how does it compare with other forms of knowledge?

These questions shaped my reflections on Anaximander in preceding chapters. In discussing how Anaximander paved the way for scientific knowledge, I highlighted a certain number of aspects of science itself. Now I shall make these observations more explicit.

The Crumbling of Nineteenth Century Illusions

A lively debate on the nature of scientific knowledge has taken place during the last century. The work of philosophers of science such as Carnap and Bachelard, Popper and Kuhn, Feyerabend, Lakatos, Quine, van Fraassen, and many others has transformed our understanding of what constitutes scientific activity. To some extent, this reflection was a reaction to a shock: the unexpected collapse of Newtonian physics at the beginning of the twentieth century.

In the nineteenth century, a common joke was that Isaac New ton had been not only one of the most intelligent men in human history, but also the luckiest, because there is only one collection of fundamental natural laws, and Newton had had the good fortune to be the one to discover them. Today we cant help but smile at this notion, because it reveals a serious epistemological error on the part of nineteenth-century thinkers: the idea that good scientific theories are definitive and remain valid until the end of time.

The twentieth century swept away this facile illusion. Highly accurate experiments showed that Newtons theory is mistaken in a very precise sense. The planet Mercury, for example, does not move following Newtonian laws. Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, and their colleagues discovered a new collection of fundamental laws  general relativity and quantum mechanics  that replace Newtons laws and work well in the domains where Newtons theory breaks down, such as accounting for Mercurys orbit, or the behavior of electrons in atoms.

Once burned, twice shy: few people today believe that we now possess definitive scientific laws. It is generally expected that one day Einsteins and Heisenbergs laws will show their limits as well, and will be replaced by better ones. In fact, the limits of Einsteins and Heisenbergs theories are already emerging. There are subtle incompatibilities between Einsteins theory and Heisenbergs, which make it unreasonable to suppose that we have identified the final, definitive laws of the universe. As a result, research goes on. My own work in theoretical physics is precisely the search for laws that might combine these two theories.

Now, the essential point here is that Einsteins and Heisenbergs theories are not minor corrections to Newtons. The differences go far beyond an adjusted equation, a tidying up, the addition or replacement of a formula. Rather, these new theories constitute a radical rethinking of the world. Newton saw the world as a vast empty space where particles move about like pebbles. Einstein understands that such supposedly empty space is in fact a kind of storm-tossed sea. It can fold in on itself, curve, and even (in the case of black holes) shatter. No one had seriously contemplated this possibility before. For his part, Heisenberg understands that Newtons particles are not particles at all but bizarre hybrids of particles and waves that run over Faraday lines webs. In short, over the course of the twentieth century, the world was found to be profoundly different from the way Newton imagined it.

On the one hand, these discoveries confirmed the cognitive strength of science. Like Newtons and Maxwells theories in their day, these discoveries led quickly to an astonishing development of new technologies that once again radically changed human society. The insights of Faraday and Maxwell brought about radio and communications technology. Einsteins and Heisenbergs led to computers, information technology, atomic energy, and countless other technological advances that have changed our lives.

But on the other hand, the realization that Newtons picture of the world was false is disconcerting. After Newton, we thought we had understood once and for all the basic structure and functioning of the physical world. We were wrong. The theories of Einstein and Heisenberg themselves will one day likely be proved false. Does this mean that the understanding of the world offered by science cannot be trusted, not even for our best science? What, then, do we really know about the world? What does science teach us about the world?
A shooting Saturday in the Carolina Forest area left two people injured, including a security guard whos expected to be OK after being shot twice in the head.

Phoenix Security Solutions identified one of its patrol officers as a victim in a Facebook post. Lt. Ricky Wise was shot in the face and back of the head but is expected to make a full recovery, the post states.

The shooting happened about 5:30 p.m. near Birnamwood Court in the Avalon community, according to a Twitter post by Horry County Police Department, the investigating agency.

Wise encountered two neighbors involved in a dispute when one of them snatched his body camera and ran into his house, according to Phoenix Security.

After Wise requested backup from the police, the neighbor returned to his doorway and pointed a shotgun at the other neighbor, the post states. Wise then pulled out his gun, and ordered the man to drop his weapon. Instead, the neighbor allegedly shot Wise in the face from 25 feet away and again in the back of the head as he tried to hide behind a car.

At some point, Wise shot at the armed neighbor three times, according to the company.

When officers arrived, they found the suspect injured.

Both people were taken the hospital. The suspects condition is unclear.

Just before the altercation, Wise had switched out his contacts for his glasses, which saved his right eye from severe damage, the post states.

He also received help from the neighbors after the shooting, who rushed to his aid to apply towels to his wounds. Once a police officer arrived, he dragged Wise to safety through a yard to get him to an ambulance, according to the company.

Residents in the area were told to go inside immediately and stay inside. Those driving in the area were asked to use alternative routes.

No additional details have been released. It is not clear if anyone is facing charges.
Beaten Ukrainian military in Germany

The diplomat said that the Ukrainian serviceman was admitted to hospital with a broken jaw and concussion. He needs surgery.

According to Kostiuk, the consulate will provide the victim with the necessary legal and other assistance.

According to our information, on Friday evening, our serviceman entered the hotel bar in uniform. After several remarks by the hotel staff and security regarding (the inappropriateness of) his dress, there was a verbal altercation, and then a fight after an attempt by the security (from the Caucasus) to kick out our soldier, Kostiuk said.

Read also: German far-right activists attack Ukrainian women at rally in support of Russia

As a result of the incident, our citizen suffered a fractured jaw and concussion. The police have recorded this fact, the consul general said, adding that the police will be able to provide more detailed information on March 13.

On March 13, the consulate will help our citizen with translation in preparation for the jaw surgery, which is scheduled for March 14. The next step will be help with filing a police report and finding a lawyer, Kostiuk added.

The diplomatic mission also said that they will try to get video footage from the bar where the incident took place from the police.

Currently, the consulate is clarifying all the norms of the legislation of the two countries regarding the wearing of military uniforms by Ukrainian servicemen abroad and visiting similar institutions there.

Read also: Its not Putin, its Russia  VoxUkraine

According to the consul generals preliminary information, in Germany, a special permit must be obtained to wear a military uniform off duty.

For foreigners, however, it is allowed during joint training, internships and in other cases stipulated by a separate bilateral agreement. Ukraine has not signed such an agreement, however.

In the Facebook group Ukrainians in Frankfurt am Main, it is noted that the conflict took place in the Roomers hotel, and the attacker was a 23-year-old Chechen.

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Furthermore, the Ukrainians who live there noted that among the injuries of the Ukrainian soldier were a broken nose, damaged teeth and numerous bruises.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Worried your kid might be in danger and not be able to get help? Here's how mom is teaching her kids to call 911. (Image: Getty; illustration by Liliana Penagos)

I was cleaning up the bathroom just a few steps away from my toddler son while he bathed when he slipped below the surface. As I raced toward him, reaching over the edge to scoop him up, I slipped on the wet floor, hitting my back and head. Luckily, I wasnt badly hurt, and was with it enough to continue my water rescue successfully.

But the incident got me thinking. I have four kids age 8 and under, and not one of them could probably have called 911 to communicate our emergency if theyd watched this scene unfold differently. How is this possible? We are surrounded by devices! Yet thanks to passcodes and knowledge obstacles and shouts of where the heck is Mommys phone? it wouldnt have mattered.

When we parents were kids, the phone was always in the same place: hanging on the wall. It was easy to pick it up and dial 911 in an emergency. "Phones are more sophisticated today, and smartphones each have their own idiosyncrasies that can make it harder for a child without phone experience to know what to do, says Dr. Melissa St. Germain, vice president and medical director of Children's Physicians and Urgent Care in Omaha, Neb. Children are also less likely to 'dial a phone' and more likely to communicate with others via text, apps and social media, so we have to teach our kids what to do in an emergency.

So, pregnant with my fifth child, I went on a journey to figure out the 911 conundrum that we never had in the '90s when home phones were the norm. Heres what I learned.

Realizing the limitations to access for kids

Once I really started considering how few options my kids had, I taught them to run to the neighbors house, since they are usually home. From there, I struggled to figure out how to connect our family's Alexa to emergency services, instead settling for them using the device to call my mom, who lives nearby. Then, I tried to teach the kids how to repeatedly push the side of my iPhone  assuming they could even find it during an emergency  but their little fingers were fumbling through that. Finally, we fought with their iPads, which would only allow them to call a few preset numbers. Clearly, I was either tech-illiterate, or Id come across a more widespread problem, or both.

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Turns out Im far from alone. In a 2021 study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics medical journal Pediatrics, researchers found that "most primary schoolaged children, and particularly those in kindergarten and first grade, are not prepared to respond to an emergency using a smartphone to dial 911 and communicate the emergency to a dispatcher. Additionally, most children in kindergarten and first grade were unable to recognize an emergency." That said, we do see random and inspiring stories in the media from time to time of kids stepping up to the plate in an emergency. Recently, for example, a Minnesota mom who was struggling to breathe was saved when her 4-year-old told Siri to call Daddy, since they hadnt taught him about 911 yet, resulting in lifesaving care. But the study shows its not the norm.

To eliminate having to delete phone's password protections, I resorted to other measures.In my only effort to revert technology back to the good old days, I decided an old-school phone would solve this once and for all. I leaned into the retro vibe of my idea, purchasing a yellow phone with a cord that looked like it was from Mad Men. Within minutes of setting it up, it started ringing off the hook. Junk calls interrupted my Zoom calls, and now I had a new problem. So, I returned it in favor of a more modern office phone in which you can actually silence the ringer. Though I currently have hundreds of missed calls from spammers, my kids now know where a phone is in the house at all times.

Teaching kids to identify an emergency

Teaching them the process of calling 911 was still harder than I thought. First, we went over what is and isnt an emergency.

Role play is a great way to practice communication skills with our kids. Tell your child that its really important to know what to do in an emergency, so youre going to help them practice. Talk through what an emergency is and when they should call for help, and how to do that, St. Germain says. Have a pretend emergency and let your child or children go through the steps of identifying the emergency and the need to call for help. Let them practice finding the phone, turning it on and navigating to the screen to dial.

I found out quickly that my 4-year-old forgets which number is the 9, which he confuses with 6, and how many times to push the 1. Not so promising. As a solution, I put a Post-It note next to the phone showing which numbers to push, and used some bright nail polish to label the big buttons themselves. The older kids, 8 and 6, were more successful, and seem confident that they have a stationary phone to use now.

Preparing for the emotional reaction

Its not just the technology that can be a barrier to accessing help for kids, but the shock and upset as well, should an actual emergency occur. After resolving the phone dilemma, it was time to approach that subject. Pediatric ER nurse Shannon Tripp, who has created courses educating moms on how to navigate medical emergencies in their own home, recommends preparing children for those big emotions.

its very likely that your child will be scared. Preparing them for these emotions in advance will help them if the situation arises," Tripp says.

She has other specific tips to help kids feel ready for emergencies:

If a family member has a medical need, talk in detail about what this would look like so they recognize it

Prevent prank calling by talking about how its only for true emergencies, defining what this is and isnt

Teach children your phone number, and your address, along with numbers 1 through 10 (help them understand to hit the 1 twice, and clarify that its not the number "11")

Print out a practice phone online to try it on

Differentiate the 911 dispatcher from strangers so they know its OK to give out information to them

Ask them questions as if you are the dispatcher during role play

Teach the kids to make sure they themselves are safe before calling

Its essential to prepare your kids for an emergency situation, because it not only empowers them but can save a life, Tripp says.

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.
Representatives of the Red Cross managed to visit places of detention of prisoners in Donetsk and Horlivka

A representative of the Cabinets Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War told the families that ICRC representatives continue to work to meet with prisoners in Luhansk Oblast, a report on the meeting posted on Telegram on March 11 reads.

Read also: Red Cross still has no access to Ukrainian prisoners in Russia, Lubynets says

The government official noted that the Ukrainian side does not know where all Azov prisoners are detained because they were moved to different camps and kept isolated from other Ukrainian prisoners following the terrorist attack in the village of Olenivka in Donetsk Oblast on July 29, 2022. Because of this, prisoners who have returned to Ukraine are unable to provide more information on the Azov fighters.

Read also: Russia bars Red Cross from Olenivka

At the end of 2022, more than 3,000 Ukrainian servicemen were in Russian captivity.

Previously, officials in Kyiv criticized the activity of the ICRC in Ukraine because of its inability to access the detention centers in Russian-occupied Ukraine.

Read also: Ukrainian Red Cross condems Russian colleagues for fundraising for Russian occupiers' families

The organization was also criticized for its inaction in investigating the alleged mass murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war, including Azov fighters, at the detention center in Olenivka.

Ukrainian intelligence says that Russia does not allow international organizations to participate in prisoner exchanges.

Read also: Ukraine initiates international mission to monitor conditions of Ukrainian POWs

In December 2022, representatives of the ICRC were finally able to get access to the places of detention of Ukrainian prisoners on Russian territory.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Idris Elba may have shied away from becoming the next James Bond, but the actor, who reprises his role as DCI John Luther in Netflix's "Luther: The Fallen Sun," admits there are some similarities between his detective character and the infamous 007.

"I really don't want to compare John Luther to James Bond, but in the whirlwind of conversations around me playing James Bond, I've always said, 'Look, wait till we see John Luther in a movie because I feel like the real estate is the same,'" he told Sunday Sitdown host Willie Geist in the March 12 episode.

Elba said both characters can be seen as "relatable," although on very different scales.

"In a sense that James Bond is this sort of ... very charismatic character in these really unusual situations and some of them are relatable, but most of them are not," he said. "John Luther is an ordinary detective with sort of extraordinary circumstances, but very relatable."

In the original BBC crime drama "Luther," which ran for five seasons between 2010 to 2019, Elba's character took on psychopaths, serial killers and other violent criminals while often bending the law to take them down. The new film serves as a continuation of the series with his character intently focused on making sure justice is served.

"Were not talking about end of the world crime," Elba explained. "Were talking about guys that have real bad sort of ethics ... And he cant stand that."

But it's not lost on the "Harder They Fall" actor that his character's desire to take the law into his own hands could be seen as a parallel to the justice exacted by James Bond.

"But what the film has now given us is taking this central character, Luther, and putting him in these landscapes, in these scenarios," he said. "That could be as epic as the ones that James Bond sort of covers. You know what I mean? And I hope people kind of go, 'Wow, James versus John.' Like, I really hope that."

While it's unlikely that the two British tough guys will ever cross paths in an actual film project, there was a small, but direct nod to the James Bond franchise in Luther: The Fallen Sun. Geist recounted the scene to Elba, who admitted there was no mistaking the reference.

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Willie Geist and Idris Elba. (Nathan Congleton / NBC)

"I didn't write that. I didn't write that," he said, with a laugh. "I remember seeing that in the script and was like, 'Are we sure bro? I mean, this is like right on the nose.' And he was like, 'Yeah, let's do it."

Elba called the scene "a little bit of fun," telling the TODAY host that it wasn't "purposely" done to allude to the chatter about him taking up the mantle of 007. But he added cryptically, "Those who know, know."

In regards to joining new franchises, Elba may still have some work to do in the one he's in. The actor said he hopes to see another chapter of "Luther."

"I think that the ending, again, really sort of opens that door for what are the possibilities," he said. "Where does John go next? And I think that's quite on purpose."

"I feel like there's so much we can offer," he added.

"Luther: The Fallen Sun" is now available to stream on Netflix.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
SOUTH AMBOY, N.J. (AP)  Bruce Springsteens planned performance Tuesday in Albany has become the third concert in a week postponed by the New Jersey rocker, who cited illness as the reason in a tweet Sunday but did not give specifics.

The postponements come a month into Springsteen's first major tour in six years.

The Boss, as he is known to his fans, also gave himself and his E Street Band sick days last Thursday when they were to have performed in Columbus, Ohio, and again for a scheduled concert Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Details were lacking in Springsteens social media posts. Though the Twitter feed blamed the latest postponement on illness, it did not specify who was ill or what kind of illness was involved.

It merely said: Due to illness, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Bands concert at MVP Arena in Albany on Tuesday, March 14 has been postponed. We are working on rescheduling the date so please hold on to your tickets as they will be valid for the rescheduled show.

The post made no mention of a major winter storm forecast to hit Albany late Monday.

On Saturday, E Street Band member Little Steven Van Zandt posted an encouraging message about the concert postponements on Twitter, saying: No need to be anxious or afraid. Nothing serious. Just a temporary situation. We will all be back in full force very soon.

Springsteen, 73, began the tour on Feb. 1 in Tampa, Florida, before 20,000 fans who mostly stood through the 28-song arena show that included staples like Born to Run, Glory Days, Rosalita, Promised Land and Backstreets.

In a story last month that began COVID has come to E Street, the Asbury Park Press reported that E Street Band members Van Zandt and Soozie Tyrell missed a Feb. 10 show in Dallas.

The newspaper, quoting one of the show spectators, said Springsteen from the stage blamed their absences on COVID-19.

In his Twitter feed at the time, Van Zandt answered a fan who asked why he missed the show with: Sorry folks. Covid.

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He added that he had a very mild case, crediting his vaccines and adding: No real danger or damage. He returned to the tour soon afterward.

The setbacks come several months after Springsteen released his latest album, Only the Strong Survive, in November.

The famed musician has sold about 140 million albums while winning 20 Grammys, an Oscar and a Tony award in a career that has spanned all or parts of six decades.

The first leg of his U.S. tour is to end with an April 14 homecoming in New Jersey before the band goes abroad starting with an April 28 show in Barcelona, Spain. Springsteen then returns for more U.S. concert dates this summer, including a performance at Wrigley Field in Chicago, and other dates into December.
Chinese FM spokesperson's remarks on Saudi Arabia-Iran Talks in Beijing

Xinhua) 09:44, March 12, 2023

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Saturday made remarks on the Saudi Arabia-Iran Talks in Beijing this week, which has received extensive attention from various quarters.

In response to the initiative of President Xi Jinping of China's support for developing good neighborly relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the delegation of Saudi Arabia headed by Dr. Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and National Security Advisor, and the delegation of Iran headed by Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, held talks in Beijing from March 6 to 10, the spokesperson said.

Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi held talks with the two delegations respectively and chaired the opening and closing ceremonies of the talks, the spokesperson added.

Noting China, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached an agreement and issued a Joint Trilateral Statement, the spokesperson said Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, resolve the disagreements between them through dialogue and diplomacy, respect the sovereignty of states, and not interfere in internal affairs of states.

They agreed to resume diplomatic relations, and carry out cooperation in various fields, the spokesperson added.

The three countries expressed their keenness to exert all efforts towards enhancing regional and international peace and security, the spokesperson said.

Saudi Arabia and Iran also expressed their appreciation and gratitude to China for hosting and sponsoring the talks, and the efforts it placed towards its success, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that China looks forward to seeing closer communication and dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran and stands ready to continue playing a positive and constructive role in facilitating such efforts.

With the concerted efforts of all parties concerned, the talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Beijing produced major outcomes, the spokesperson said.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have identified the roadmap and timeline for improving their relations, which provides a solid foundation for their cooperation going forward and turns a new page in their bilateral relations, the spokesperson said.

"Their dialogue and the agreement set a good example of how countries in the region can resolve disputes and differences and achieve good neighborliness and friendship through dialogue and consultation," the spokesperson said, adding this will help regional countries to get rid of external interference and take the future into their own hands.

The spokesperson said that Saudi Arabia and Iran reaffirmed their adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms in international relations including non-interference in internal affairs of states. "This is in line with the trend of the times. China applauds this and congratulates both sides," the spokesperson added.

Stressing that China pursues no selfish interest whatsoever in the Middle East, the spokesperson said China respects the stature of Middle East countries as the masters of this region and oppose geopolitical competition in the Middle East.

"China has no intention to and will not seek to fill so-called vacuum or put up exclusive blocs," said the spokesperson, adding China always believes that the future of the Middle East should always be in the hands of the countries in the region.

"China always supports the people in the Middle East in independently exploring their development paths and supports Middle East countries in resolving differences through dialogue and consultation to jointly promote lasting peace and stability in the region," said the spokesperson, adding China will be a promoter of security and stability, partner for development and prosperity and supporter of the Middle East's development through solidarity.

China will continue to contribute its insights and proposals to realizing peace and tranquility in the Middle East and play its role as a responsible major country in this process, the spokesperson added.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Kou Jie)
Xi Jinping shakes hands with Li Qiang at the fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2023. The fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC was held on Saturday. Li Qiang was endorsed as Chinese premier at the meeting upon nomination by President Xi Jinping. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Li Qiang was endorsed as Chinese premier Saturday morning, upon nomination by President Xi Jinping, at a plenary meeting of the ongoing first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's national legislature.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi attended the meeting.

Xi signed a presidential order to officially appoint Li as premier shortly afterwards.

Li, born in July 1959, joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in April 1983 and received a graduate education at the Central Party School, holding an executive MBA degree. He is also a member of the Standing Committee of the 20th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the State Council.

NPC deputies voted to endorse Zhang Youxia and He Weidong vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), upon nomination by Xi, also chairman of the CMC of the PRC.

Li Shangfu, Liu Zhenli, Miao Hua and Zhang Shengmin were endorsed as CMC members.

Deputies also elected Liu Jinguo director of the National Commission of Supervision, Zhang Jun president of the Supreme People's Court, and Ying Yong procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

At the same meeting, altogether 159 people were elected members of the 14th NPC Standing Committee.

The newly appointed premier made a public pledge of allegiance to the Constitution and so did the other new leaders and legislators.
While the tight U.S. labor market is already a major headwind for companies trying to hire, American employers are also finding themselves forced to outsource talent overseas due to a slew of immigration barriers.

According to Envoy Global CEO Dick Burke, there are three main reasons why foreign destinations for workers have become "much more attractive."

Take, for instance, "the confluence of, still, a very tight STEM market  STEM unemployment is only 2%," Burke told Yahoo Finance Live (video above). "Take challenges with the U.S. immigration system, where there's just not enough spots to go around, and take employers' comfort with remote work."

A new report from Envoy Global, a global immigration services provider, found that 81% of companies transferred foreign national employees to an office abroad and 80% of companies relocated employees to work remotely overseas, both because of visa-related issues in the U.S., in the past year.

Additionally, the survey found, 94% of companies would be willing to sponsor foreign nationals for a work visa if there were fewer immigration obstacles in place.

Supply and demand

The most common work visa sponsorship is the H-1B, which extends up to six years.

The H-1B visa is a temporary non-immigrant work visa often filed by large tech companies. It provides less flexibility for an employee, who cannot switch jobs unless another employer files for an H-1B petition within 60 days of the employee leaving their current job.

The recent tech layoffs that have swept through Silicon Valley have left many H-1B holders scrambling to look for a new job within two months or leave the country. In fact, 51% of companies laid off foreign national employees in 2022, according to the Envoy Global report.

Supply and demand with H-1B visas have become a major challenge for both employees and their companies.

"H-1B  which is one of the bread-and-butter for employment-based immigration to the United States  85,000 [are] issued a year," Burke said. "For the last three, four, or five years, demand has outstripped supply by three-to-one or four-to-one."

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Most H-1B holders are STEM workers  employees in the field of science and technology  and while the industry suffered major layoffs in 2022, STEM jobs are still expected to increase by nearly 11% by 2031, further creating a supply-and-demand imbalance.

In 2022, there were 483,927 applications for 85,000 available H-1B visas, meaning that applicants had an 18% chance of being selected in the lottery system, according to the Capitol Immigration Law Group.

Leo Wang packs a suitcase at his home in San Jose, Calif., on Feb. 4, 2019. Wang has found himself trapped in an obstacle course regarding H-1B work visas for foreigners. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

Green cards, which allow immigrants to stay in the U.S. and work permanently, are similarly capped. And because of demand, certain foreign nationals, particularly those from India and China, have to wait up to 10-15 years for approval.

"So the first big problem is a lack of supply and a supply that cannot keep up with demand," Burke said. "The second problem is processes which are still deemed by employers to be too slow, too analog, particularly compared with those in foreign jurisdictions."

To retain talent in the already strained labor market, some U.S. companies have begun relocating their foreign employees to countries with more lenient immigration systems.

And it's not just tech companies: Finance, manufacturing, insurance, and consulting are a few examples of industries that have offshored their foreign workers, according to Burke. The go-to destination is Canada, followed by Mexico and the United Kingdom.

In addition, 93% of companies surveyed by Envoy Global expect to "turn to nearshoring or offshoring to fill positions abroad due to immigration barriers and labor shortages in the U.S." Specific hurdles listed include limited H-1B slots, slow processing, regulations/paperwork, and the cost of sponsoring a foreign employee.

"The challenge we face as a citizenry is to have a discussion around how do we focus on this issue, take our eye off the southern border for a moment, and address this perennial issue of not enough slots to go around for folks that everyone seems to want to have in the country," Burke said.



Tanya is a data reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter. @tanyakaushal00.

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Prime Minister Modi's alliance with Putin complicates any co-operation with the West - AP Photo/Press Trust of India

Deciding the agenda for the recent G20 meeting of finance chiefs was always going to be a little tricky. The US and its allies wanted to discuss new sanctions against Russia and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Moscow and Beijing preferred to criticise Western blackmail and threats.

Indian officials hosting the meeting of the worlds largest economies in Bengaluru were busily working behind the scenes to try and avoid using the word war in any joint statement. Ajay Seth of Indias finance ministry had even suggested Russias attack on Ukraine was beyond the mandate of finance ministers and central bank governors.

Other attendees pointed out it was quite hard to argue Vladimir Putins illegal invasion of a neighbouring country almost exactly a year ago hadnt had an impact on the global economy. It was probably, therefore, worth at least a passing mention.

In the end, they agreed to disagree: no joint communique was issued.

The world will probably find a way to survive without the usual bland diplomatic tropes and empty verbiage. But Indias discomfit is emblematic of how the war in Ukraine is driving a wedge between the worlds most powerful economies.

In a motion at the United Nations General Assembly earlier this month calling for an end to the fighting and Moscows immediate withdrawal from Ukraine, Russia voted against, while China, India and South Africa abstained. Everyone else was in favour.

But, whereas Beijing has repeatedly been called out for its tacit support of Moscow, New Delhi, which has increased its imports of Russian crude oil by 33 times since the war started, has avoided censure.

Thats because, in the increasingly complicated three-dimensional chess of global geopolitics, India is seen by Western governments as an important potential bulwark to Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.

As an increasingly muscular China prompts businesses to rethink their reliance on the countrys factories, and as defence policies are redrawn around the world in the face of a bellicose Russia, India is becoming increasingly important politically, economically and militarily on the world stage.

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It probably helps that the country boasted the second fastest growing large economy behind only Saudi Arabia last year. For years, countries around the world were more or less forced to hitch their wagons to the Chinese engine of global growth or risk being left behind.

But Covid, an increasingly authoritarian regime in Beijing and retreating globalisation have all led to a recalibration of the political and economic calculus.

There are two other reasons that leaders are rethinking their approach to China to the benefit of India, though they are less likely to be mentioned out loud by Western diplomats: ongoing efforts to ensure that Beijing continues to struggle in its attempts to achieve technological parity with the US; and the fact that Chinas own economic growth appears to be plateauing.

These trends are all fast reshaping the worlds approach to relations with Beijing.

Hawks in the West have long argued that China policy should be shaped by the character of the regime rather than economic self-interest. It is much easier to make their case when growth is in the low single digits.

But this presents another problem: where should the world now turn for fresh economic impetus?

At first glance, India is a good candidate. Its population has just overtaken (or, depending on how you calculate it, is just about to overtake) that of China. Crucially, its working age population is still growing unlike China, which continues to be hobbled by the disastrous one-child policy.

The median age in India is a full 11 years younger than in China. According to Shilan Shah at Capital Economics, Indias working-age population will exceed Chinas by an astounding 235m by 2040, roughly the population of Pakistan today.

Internal reforms mean that the Indian economy is on a tear. Morgan Stanley has predicted that India will be the worlds third largest economy by as soon as 2027 and that the countrys gross domestic product will more than double from $3.4 trillion to $8.5 trillion over the next decade.

The UK, with its long history of cultural ties and a shared language, should be in prime position to benefit from the shifting geopolitical axis.

Yet an attempt to agree a bilateral trade deal by Diwali in October last year was torpedoed when Suella Braverman, the home secretary, expressed concern about a potential increase in Indian migration to the UK.

A reciprocal migration deal was finalised a month later ahead of Rishi Sunak's first face-to-face meeting with Modi in November. Sunak, a practising Hindu with strong family links to India, has said a trade deal is just one part of a broader relationship with New Delhi and stated he doesnt want to sacrifice quality for speed in trade negotiations.

However, while talks progress, concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modis efforts to undermine democracy and marginalise Muslims are raising red flags.

Gauging the best approach to managing relations with India, the rising superpower, will be a delicate balancing act.

Economic awakening

The end of socialist controls in the 1990s has unleashed a wave of entrepreneurialism - Anindito Mukherjee/Bloomberg

Much of Indias post-colonial history has been a pretty eloquent counter to Auguste Comtes suggestion that demography is destiny.

Despite the countrys population exploding from around 340m at the time it gained independence from Britain to 1.4bn today, its economic story has been far from straightforward.

As Ruchir Sharma, the chair of Rockefeller International, points out, at independence in 1947, India was the sixth largest economy in the world and average incomes were 18pc of the global average; 75 years later, it was the sixth largest economy in the world and average incomes were 18pc of the global average.

This apparent stagnation actually hides a huge dip and rebound. At one point the economy had sunk to 12th in the world rankings, before recovering.

India has long held the promise of becoming the next China but repeatedly failed to deliver.

Its own domestic market was too fragmented, with different rules and tax regimes in all the separate states. It could not nurture enough home-grown large companies or seed a long-expected manufacturing boom, a tried and tested method for developing nations to turbocharge their growth.

The country only began to make up lost ground when the government started to release the private sector from the iron grip of socialist controls in the 1990s.

This unleashed a torrent of pent-up entrepreneurialism. Shares listed on the Indian stock market have risen by 12pc a year, in dollar terms, since 1990  twice the global average.

The number of Indian billionaires has almost tripled from 55 to 140 in just the last decade  a fact that simultaneously highlights both the countrys struggles with inequality and its dynamism.

Encouragingly, many made their money in areas like technology and manufacturing, where India has traditionally punched below its weight.

When Modi first took power in 2014, India was the 10th largest economy in the world. In the subsequent seven years, it grew by a full 40pc. Only China performed better over the same period. But now the rampaging elephant is catching up with the limping dragon.

Last year, India overtook the UK to take fifth spot on the global economic league table. Its stock market is already the fourth largest in the world  behind just the US, China and Japan  and it is home to the third largest number of unicorns (start-ups worth more than $1bn)  behind only the US and China.

The progress has been staccato. Modis ill-considered decision to ban bank notes in 2016, a crisis in the shadow banking system in 2018 and Covid lockdowns in 2020 all resulted in disruption.

But overall, progress has been made.

Many of the reforms that have helped forge a single national market predate Modis tenure but he deserves credit for expediting them.

There are no longer huge queues of lorries waiting to have their paperwork checked as they cross between states, thanks to the adoption of a nationwide goods-and-services tax that replaces a bewildering array of local levies.

The higher revenues the new tax has raised have been ploughed into big infrastructure projects.

The countrys highway network has increased by 50pc since 2014. Modi has promised to connect every corner of the country with 75 Vande Bharat Express semi-high-speed trains.

More recently, the country has rolled out a set of state-sponsored digital services that furnishes all Indians with electronic identities, bank accounts and tax systems.

A once highly inefficient, cash-based economy is being dragged into the 21st century at lightning speed. And there's room for further acceleration.

Crucial to India making the most of its demographic potential will be the development of a globally competitive, labour-intensive manufacturing sector, says Shah at Capital Economics.

He points out that every economy in Asia that successfully moved beyond low or lower-middle income status (including Korea in the 1960s, Taiwan in the 1980s and China in the 2000s) did so by establishing a thriving manufacturing sector.

But at the moment this only accounts for a relatively small share of Indias economy.

Shah adds: The well-worn argument goes that it is relatively easy to increase the productivity of low-skilled workers by taking them out of other sectors (typically agriculture, but also relevant in Indias case, low-end services) and putting them to work in factories using machines that require only basic training to operate.

Here, too, recent developments have been positive.

Last year, Apple, which makes most of its iPhones in China, began producing its iPhone 14 in southern India. It was a small step (and initial reports suggest the smartphone maker is having some issues with quality control) but it was nevertheless a big moment: where Apple goes, others tend to follow.

Shah says Apples decision could prove pivotal, especially if it helps to form an ecosystem of suppliers or encourages other multinationals to follow suit.

Companies around the world are looking at friend-shoring their supply chains after finding out the hard way that they were over reliant on China.

Beijings harsh Covid policies and sweeping lock down rules have repeatedly hit production in recent years. Now, rising geopolitical tensions between the US and China are dragging companies, especially those in the technology sector, into conversations theyd far rather swerve  can they still afford to be in China?

Modis government has been looking to boost domestic manufacturing and exports through its Made in India campaign. Costs are low. The country is English-speaking. Theres a huge and growing local market  India already has, for example, the second-largest number of smartphone users in the world after China.

Where better to set up shop and diversify your supply chains?

The Modi problem

The West has turned a blind eye to Narendra Modi's growing reliance on Russian gas - Alexandr Demyanchuk, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

In reality, however, moving supply chains to India is not as obvious a decision as it may at first seem.

Modi has signed trade deals with the European Union, the US and Australia. However, most of these are quite narrow in scope. Worryingly, India has a long history of protectionism and import substitution (advocating for locally produced goods rather than those bought from overseas).

Worries about Chinese competition have so far stopped India from joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and instead adopting the policy of Atmanirbhar Bharat, of self-reliant India.

This approach includes a range of subsidies for domestic industries and higher tariffs to protect them from foreign competition.

The former have, in fairness, resulted in a big increase in business investment as the countrys large conglomerates plough money into clean energy, electronics and pharmaceuticals, in particular.

But the latter may be part of the reason why more of the foreign manufacturers that have quit China in the past decade as costs there increase have instead chosen to set up in Vietnam and Bangladesh.

Modis electoral prowess has delivered a good measure of political stability but he is prone to big missteps.

The evidence from Modis nine years in power is that implementation of the structural reforms needed to boost manufacturing will be stop-start at best, ebbing and flowing depending on the political climate, says Shah at Capital Economics.

More worrying still is the ruling Bharatiya Janata Partys tendency to deliberately stoke religious tensions with its anti-Muslim chauvinism and the possibility that Modis strongman political dominance will harden into outright autocracy.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's recent gas price hike has triggered protests - NOAHSEELAM/AFP via Getty Images

The recent signs have not been encouraging in this regard. Two senior Indian opposition politicians from different parties have been arrested in recent days. One, a spokesman for the countrys main opposition party, was detained for merely insinuating a controversial tycoon was so influential he was effectively Modis father.

Last month, the BBCs offices in India were raided by tax officials just a few weeks after a documentary critical of Modi was blocked by the government. Documents and phones belonging to several journalists were seized and the offices sealed.

The series  called India: The Modi Question  focussed on the role the now-prime minister played in violent Hindu-Muslim riots that took place in Gujarat in 2002 when he was chief minister of the state.

Allegations of Modis complicity in the violence, which left more than 1,000 people dead, resulted in the politician being denied a visa to travel to the US in 2005.

The Indian government has accused the BBC of bias and a colonial mindset and pointed out that Modi was cleared of all charges by a supreme court panel in 2012.

The episode is unlikely to escalate into a full-blown diplomatic spat; the Beeb prefers to avoid asking for formal political support if it can, in order to demonstrate it has an arms-length relationship with the British state.

Regardless of the outcome of the current situation, Western governments will have to tread carefully when dealing with India  especially with regards to the thorny subject of foreign policy.

In a meeting with Vladimir Putin in September, Modi said the friendship between India and Russia was unbreakable. He has called for a ceasefire in Ukraine but has steadfastly refused to apportion blame for the situation.

India has long had close ties with its northern neighbour. During the Cold War, Moscow repeatedly vetoed Security Council resolutions concerning the disputed region of Kashmir, which lies on Indias border with Pakistan.

Spectators watch as a US Air Force's (USAF) fifth-generation supersonic multirole F-35 fighter jet flies past during a flying display on the second day of the 14th edition of Aero India 2023 - MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP via Getty Images

Russia supplies over half of all Indias military kit  amounting to something like $13bn worth of arms in the last five years alone.

India is also the worlds third largest importer of oil, which presented something of an opportunity for both Moscow and New Delhi when the rest of the world started shunning Russian crude and gas.

The Biden administration and Western allies may have concluded that if India is to act as a counterweight to China, they will have to turn a blind eye to how it acquires that heft.

India and China share a 2,000-mile disputed border and India is seeking to tool up in order to offset Chinas increasing assertiveness in the region.

Its even possible that in the medium-term this could help the West to cement closer ties with India. New Delhi is, for example, desperate to modernise its airforce and worried about supply delays from Russia, whose war machine is working overtime to supply its own troops operating in Ukraine.

Washington looks willing to step into the breach. It showed off its most advanced fighter jet, the F-35, at the Aero India air show in Bengaluru last month, the first time it had appeared in the country.

For the US and Britain, Indias rise is simply too significant to ignore or resist. Engagement, with caveats, is the order of the day.

For now, the best approach to managing relations with India appears to be an adaptation of Theodore Roosevelts maxim about diplomacy: speak softly and carry a squadron of stealth multirole combat aircraft.
Photo courtesy of SXSW

How did one discredited biography ignite one of Americas most memorable moral panics? Thats the central mystery that the new documentary Satan Wants You seeks to unravel. The film debuted Saturday as part of SXSWs Documentary Spotlight and tells the story of Michelle Remembersan account that claimed to share repressed memories from Canadian woman Michelle Smiths childhood, with help from her psychiatrist Lawrence Larry Pazder.

(Disclosure: Allegra Frank, a Daily Beasts Obsessed editor, is a member of the SXSW documentary jury. She was not involved in coverage of any documentaries or editing of the story.)

Beyond setting off a national wave of paranoia, Satan Wants You examines how Michelle Remembersand Pazder and Smiths questionable relationship both before and after its publicationaffected the personal lives of many around the pair.

In the 1980 co-written biography, Smith claimed to have endured a 14-month period of detainment and torture by a satanist cult to which her mother also allegedly belonged. She alleged that shed been caged with snakes and forced to watch cult members kill kittens before her eyes.

Michelle Remembers went gangbusters when it hit shelves, sending Smith on a whirlwind tour that would come to include sit-downs with both Oprah Winfrey and the Pope. The book also launched a nationwide conspiracy theory that wound up falsely imprisoning dozens of people. Satan Wants You purports to explore not only why that happened, but how our limited collective memory has already allowed history to repeat itself.

As viewers learn, Smith first began treatment with Pazder after a miscarriage. The two claimed that Pazder eventually used regression hypnosis (a highly controversial technique) to help Smith supposedly recover repressed memories of ritualistic abuse by a Satanic cult. I couldnt get away, Smith cries out at one point during the doc, in audio from a 1976 session with Pazder. No one was good. They hurt me and they didnt take care. I can see them standing there, and I remember I tried to crawl inside the mirror.

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My mother, her role was to keep me quiet, Smith says at another point. She picked me up by the skin and she threw me. By the end, we learn, Pazder and Smiths sessions had stretched to up to six hours long apiecea practice that became common for future patients who claimed to be experiencing similar memories.

For 14 months, Smith claimed, shed come face to face with the Devil. She said that the Virgin Mary had appeared to her, the doc recounts, and that all of the physical scarring from her injuries had been supernaturally healed. As Smith and Pazder made the media rounds their story seemed to spark credulity wherever they went; almost no one seemed to have follow-up questions.

After the books publication, other alleged survivorsboth children and other adults who claimed to have recovered memoriescame forward with their own harrowing accounts. Satanic ritual abuse became a buzzword among police officers and mental health professionals nationwide. Some of the accused lost their jobs or went to prison, on top of the social ostracization that comes with such awful allegations.

Has True-Crime Podcasting Become a Dangerous Hobby?

Over time, however, scrutiny toward Pazder and Smith began to grow, both in the national conversation and at home. A law enforcement officer, for instance, recalls in the doc that during one of Pazder and Smiths presentations, he found himself asking why Pazder seemed to answer every query about Smiths experience for her. (Good question!)

Both Pazders daughter, Theresa, and first wife, Marylyn, also appear in Satan Wants You to share their feelings about the psychiatrists questionable relationship with his clientwho seemed to obsess over him and who eventually became his wife. Pazder and Smith married; as Marylyn tells viewers, she left Pazder after Michelle Remembers book came out. Marylyn also recounts her decision to begin looking into Smiths story, sharing in the process a yearbook photo she found from Smiths school, taken during the time Smith was supposedly abducted.

Theres no shortage of true-crime documentaries in 2023, but Satan Wants You has all the ingredients needed to stand out: exclusive interviews with close sources, newly surfaced archival material, and, most importantly, a story thats as lurid as it is bizarre. Directors Sean Horlor and Steve J. Adams say that this is the very first time that certain sources have spoken upincluding Marylyn and Theresa and Smiths sister, Charyl. The film also includes newly surfaced audio from one of Smith and Pazders sessions, provided to the production by an anonymous source.

The Devil might often be subtle in his work, but the same cannot be said about Satan Wants You. At times, the doc leans into the natural sensationalism of its material with dramatic orchestral music and hyper-stylized re-enactments. We close on the image of an upside-down crucifix rotating in the air above a desk, as Smith wails through a particularly painful moment in one of her sessions and begins questioning what is real.

The College Student Whose Face Was Deepfaked Onto Porn

At the same time, the doc is also empathetic in its treatment of Smiths widely contested story. Beyond establishing the many doubts that have been cast against Smiths claims, even by her own sister, Horlor and Adams also make sure to include a more sympathetic witnessSmiths friend, Cheetie, who maintains to this day that she believes Smiths account. Smiths absence from the doc feels as conspicuous as one might expect. (Pazder died in 2004.)

Shes a good person, Cheetie says of her friend. She had her life ruined. First, by whatever experience she did go through and then the book. Its ruined her life; she hates the book, because when people see her, thats all they see. Cheetie added that she believes Pazder, not Smith, was ultimately responsible for the book. Smiths sister Charyl, meanwhile, remains baffled by her story and laments that she has yet to apologize to the rest of the family.

Netflixs Murdaugh Murders Exposes the Grisly True-Crime Scandal Thats Still Unfolding Today

Beyond the immediate ramifications of the satanic panic, which sent dozens to prison on later debunked accusations, Satan Wants You explores the parallels between that conspiracy theory and more modern bouts of paranoia, like QAnon and Pizzagate. Many of the parallels, laid out in multiple pieces in the past few years, are somewhat obvious: both involve a moral panic centered around the supposed corruption of American youth by a cabal of secretive, terribly powerful cultists, and both proliferated thanks to a dearth of official information debunking their foundational claims.

And yet, as one journalist who investigated the satanic panic laments, it seems weve learned nothing from the pastor at least, whatever knowledge we took away from it has not made us any less susceptible in the present. Among the experts in Satan Wants You is Sarah Marshall, who co-hosts the podcast Youre Wrong About and who made a five-episode series devoted to the satanic panic. She sums up early on why this bizarre tale cannot be forgotten in the past: This book helped shape the world we now live in, she says toward the beginning of the doc. We have to have some understanding of it if were going to know how we got here.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Anna Sophia Robb, Viola Davis, Nika King at GBK Brand Bar

EGOT extraordinaire Viola Davis examines a sparkling piece of fine jewelry from Stephen Silver. Vicki Berlin  who portrayed a luxury cruises crew chief catering to the whims of the ultrarich on Triangle of Sadness  tries on a pair of sunglasses from Joe Pescis company, Badazz Glazz. RuPauls Drag Race star Monet X Change poses for the camera out of drag; her Sibling Rivalry podcast cohost Bob the Drag Queen is scheduled to arrive later in the day, a publicist confides.

This was a snapshot of the GBK Brand Bar, a pre-Oscars luxury lounge that took place Friday and Saturday at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood. It was one of about seven major gifting events that swirled around Oscars weekend. Largely unseen to the public, these happenings leverage the swarm of celebs that take on L.A., providing them with gifts and a quick elevator pitch in exchange for a bit of Hollywood spotlight in return.

The experience is both surreal and VVIP. After ones car is valeted at the hotel, the tour begins with a red-carpet arrival moment with a photographer. (Photographers are ubiquitous at these events, often stopping guests at each station to pose with products.) Then, a woman with a large black bag guided me through a maze of stations  a bag that grew progressively heavier as the afternoon wore on. When empty, she wore it lightly on her shoulder. When full, she had to drag it down the hotel hallway. One vendor referred to it as the body bag.

Of course, there are always hierarchies when stars gather. Different colors of bags and admission bracelets communicated different tiers of celebrity and media. So, good luck taking home a Schwank Grill  a $1200+ portable grill that can cook a steak in a three-minute flash  if youre not in Everything Everywhere All at Once. (As media, I received a $300 gift certificate for a grill, a common practice with some of the pricier items on display.) A taste of perfectly cooked meat was also its own reward.

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Overall, the offerings comprised the kind of random, fantastical assortment of prizes you might see on The Price Is Right: A Cync Full Color Light Strip, which pulses to music in 16 million vibrant colors ($89.99); a tasting of Cardinal du Four, Frances oldest spirit and accompanying history lesson ($399+); the Netvue Birdfy, a smart bird feeder that records and recognizes its winged visitors ($199); a RenPho Eye Massager, which heats and massages the face while playing soothing music ($69+); a gift set from California Caviar, including sample bumps of caviar that day; a $300 gift certificate for Read Ended, an apparel company founded by a man with a deep appreciation for the female derriere; a wall of Remington hair products; and a membership to Myavana, which connects folks with textured hair to the right products.

In addition to the magical touch of RenPho, the suite also featured the Kahuna Chair, a full-body massage chair that was a welcome end to the three-hour tour. These elite seats can cost upward of $12,000, so unfortunately, it was not an addition to my little black bag, though the company did offer a handy branded Thermos. For those at the suite seeking a more human experience, Kame Bodywork offered an in-person, 90-minute intuitive bodywork therapy session valued at $750.

The suites coffers teemed with actual treasures. In addition to the Titanic-sized pieces from Stephen Silver, which were guarded by a hovering security guard, I visited booths for Higher Calling Bracelets, which encode spiritual messages like all is well and miracles abound into its designs ($69+); and the Artisan Group, a company whose mission is to connect individual artisans with celebrities at gifting events such as these. One of the most stunning stops featured paper sculptures from artist Jeff Nishinaka. The 15x15 framed carvings were valued at $2,000, although the credit can also be applied to a commissioned piece of a grander scale. A past sculpture of a tree stretched to 20 feet, he shared.

The gifting suite also boasted travel packages. Lush Africa Travels, a travel agency, offered a six-day, five-night safari experience in Kenya valued at $30,000  although airfare is not included (and sodomy laws make the trip problematic for queer travelers). Sailrock Resort gave out a $4000 redemption certificate to its luxurious Turks and Caicos property. But read the fine print  that amount covers only one night of a three-night minimum in a three-bedroom beachfront villa.

Booze abounded. Cardinal Du Four didnt pass out its pricy bottles, but it did give an in-home sensory experience of its Rebellion Armagnac 21 for up to 10 guests. There were tastings of the Debate, a cabernet sauvignon ($149+ per bottle) and an offer to imbibe more in Napa Valley; samplings from the Lorenzi Estate and an invitation to tour its Temecula vineyard; and a tequila tasting with El Cristiano Silver Tequila ($39+).

And then there was my favorite type of station: food. Hibachi House prepared a delish shrimp and chicken bowl on-site. With the proffered $1000 dinner certificate, one can also later host a party for 10 guests, which a chef will cater. Soultox gave out cases of its flavored water beverage infused with nutrients and electrolytes. There were samples of VGAN chocolate bars and Core Bars packed with protein and fiber. And Ike himself gave out a $1000 VIP card to Ikes Sandwiches. It was a great social media opportunity for the bald artisan sandwich maker, who posed with actors stopping by for a taste of offerings, some of which were also named after stars, like the Halsey.

There were also areas dedicated to connecting celebs with charity, including Childhelp, which aids survivors of child abuse, and Educating Young Minds, which helps at-risk youth excel in academics and beyond.

Keep in mind that all these gifts are taxable. Some actors may not accept a $30,000 safari, for example, because the taxes to be paid may not fit in the budget. But overall, it pays to have some Hollywood connections during Oscars weekend. And you dont have to take home a trophy to bring home some gold.
Even if it's not a huge purchase, we think it was good to see that Glenn Pountney, a Mirasol Resources Ltd. (CVE:MRZ) insider, recently shelled out CA$64k to buy stock, at CA$0.71 per share. Although the purchase is not a big one, increasing their shareholding by only 1.5%, it can be interpreted as a good sign.

Check out our latest analysis for Mirasol Resources

Mirasol Resources Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The Independent Director John Tognetti made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for CA$600k worth of shares at a price of CA$0.60 each. Even though the purchase was made at a significantly lower price than the recent price (CA$0.76), we still think insider buying is a positive. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices.

In the last twelve months Mirasol Resources insiders were buying shares, but not selling. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Does Mirasol Resources Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Mirasol Resources insiders own 41% of the company, currently worth about CA$19m based on the recent share price. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

So What Do The Mirasol Resources Insider Transactions Indicate?

The recent insider purchases are heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. But on the other hand, the company made a loss during the last year, which makes us a little cautious. Along with the high insider ownership, this analysis suggests that insiders are quite bullish about Mirasol Resources. Looks promising! So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. To help with this, we've discovered 6 warning signs (3 are concerning!) that you ought to be aware of before buying any shares in Mirasol Resources.

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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.

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Insiders who bought CA$350k worth of General Assembly Holdings Limited's (CVE:GA) stock at an average buy price of CA$0.23 over the last year may be disappointed by the recent 27% decrease in the stock. Insiders purchase with the hope of seeing their investments increase in value over time. However, due to recent losses, their initial investment is now only worth CA$61k, which is not great.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

Check out our latest analysis for General Assembly Holdings

General Assembly Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when insider Timothy Nye bought CA$350k worth of shares at a price of CA$0.23 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of CA$0.04. 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. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when an insider has purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. Timothy Nye was the only individual insider to buy during the last year.

The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

General Assembly Holdings is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Does General Assembly Holdings Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that General Assembly Holdings insiders own 33% of the company, worth about CA$337k. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

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What Might The Insider Transactions At General Assembly Holdings Tell Us?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded General Assembly Holdings shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Insiders do have a stake in General Assembly Holdings and their transactions don't cause us concern. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 6 warning signs for General Assembly Holdings (of which 4 are a bit concerning!) you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Key Insights

Significantly high institutional ownership implies Valero Energy's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions

A total of 17 investors have a majority stake in the company with 50% ownership

Analyst forecasts along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business

If you want to know who really controls Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 82% 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).

No shareholder likes losing money on their investments, especially institutional investors who saw their holdings drop 6.4% in value last week. However, the 49% one-year return to shareholders may have helped lessen their pain. They should, however, be mindful of further losses in the future.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Valero Energy, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for Valero Energy

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Valero Energy?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

We can see that Valero Energy does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Valero Energy's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

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Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Valero Energy is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc. with 11% of shares outstanding. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 9.9% of common stock, and State Street Global Advisors, Inc. holds about 7.5% of the company stock.

Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 50% of the ownership is controlled by the top 17 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Valero Energy

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.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our information suggests that Valero Energy Corporation insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$221m worth of shares (at current prices). It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 17% stake in Valero Energy. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Valero Energy better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Valero Energy you should know about.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Sunway Construction Group Berhad fair value estimate is RM2.50

Sunway Construction Group Berhad is estimated to be 35% undervalued based on current share price of RM1.63

Our fair value estimate is 23% lower than Sunway Construction Group Berhad's analyst price target of RM1.92

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Sunway Construction Group Berhad (KLSE:SUNCON) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

Check out our latest analysis for Sunway Construction Group Berhad

The Calculation

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM94.0m RM63.0m RM131.4m RM192.4m RM257.0m RM320.1m RM378.6m RM431.0m RM477.4m RM518.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 46.42% Est @ 33.56% Est @ 24.56% Est @ 18.27% Est @ 13.86% Est @ 10.77% Est @ 8.61% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 12% RM83.6 RM49.9 RM92.7 RM121 RM144 RM159 RM168 RM170 RM167 RM162

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM1.3b

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 12%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM519m (1 + 3.6%)  (12% 3.6%) = RM6.1b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM6.1b ( 1 + 12%)10= RM1.9b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM3.2b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM1.6, the company appears quite good value at a 35% discount to where the stock price trades currently. 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

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Sunway Construction Group Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 12%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.096. 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 Sunway Construction Group Berhad

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Construction market.

Opportunity

Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Paying a dividend but company has no free cash flows.

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Malaysian market.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Sunway Construction Group Berhad, there are three important elements you should consider:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Sunway Construction Group Berhad (1 is potentially serious!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does SUNCON's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran and the United States have reached an agreement to exchange prisoners, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told state TV on Sunday, but Washington denied it as a "false" claim by Tehran.

"Regarding the issue of prisoner swaps between Iran and the U.S. we have reached an agreement in the recent days and if everything goes well on the U.S. side, I think we will witness a prisoner exchange in a short period," Amirabdollahian said.

"On our part everything is ready, while the U.S. is currently working on the final technical coordination."

A White House official denied Amirabdollahian's statement about the prisoner swap, but added that the United States was committed to securing the release of Americans held in Iran.

"Claims by Iranian officials that we have reached a deal for the release of the U.S. citizens wrongfully held by Iran are false," a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said.

A source briefed on the talks said the prisoner exchange is "closer than it has ever been," but one of the remaining sticking points is linked to $7 billion in frozen Iranian oil funds under U.S. sanctions in South Korea.

"The logistics of how these funds will be exchanged and how oversight will be provided are unresolved," said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.

The source added that Qatar and Switzerland have been involved in the prisoner exchange talks. Iranian sources told Reuters that two regional countries were involved in the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington.

One of several Americans held in Iran is Siamak Namazi, a businessman with dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship, who was sentenced in 2016 to 10 years in prison for spying and cooperating with the U.S. government.

Emad Sharghi, an Iranian American businessman first arrested in 2018 when he was working for a tech investment company, is also jailed in Iran, as is Iranian American environmentalist Morad Tahbaz, who also holds British citizenship.

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For years, Tehran has sought the release of more than a dozen Iranians in the United States, including seven Iranian American dual nationals, two Iranians with permanent U.S. residency and four Iranian citizens with no legal status in the United States.

The Islamic Republic, which is holding dozens of Iranian dual nationals and foreigners, has been accused by rights activists of arresting them to try to extract concessions from other countries. Iran has dismissed the charge.

Some Iranian media reported last week that Iran had reached a prisoner swap deal in exchange for the release of the $7 billion in frozen Iranian oil funds.

In 2018, then-U.S. president Donald Trump ditched a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled the Islamic Republic's economy.

The deal had imposed restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions. In reaction to Washington's sanctions, Tehran has gradually violated curbs of the pact on its nuclear programme.

Indirect talks between Tehran and U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on reviving the agreement have stalled since September. The deal imposed restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions.

(Additional reporting by Elwely Elwelly in Dubai, Moira Warburton in Washington and Andrew Mills in the Gulf Bureau; Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Hugh Lawson, William Maclean and Bill Berkrot)
RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will watch Iran's behaviour during the two-month window agreed upon to restore relations, Saudi columnists said on Sunday, reflecting continued wariness in the longtime rivalry between the region's Sunni Muslim and Shi'ite powers.

The breakthrough on Friday brokered by China, a major trade partner of both countries, followed several rounds of Saudi-Iranian talks held in the region in a bid to contain tensions, at a time of Gulf frustration over what they perceive as gradual U.S. disengagment from the region.

Tehran and Riyadh said they had agreed to resume diplomatic relations and re-open embassies within two months, adding that their foreign minister would meet to implement the deal, without mentioning a more detailed timeline.

"The two-month period ... is the first test of Iran's credibility and proof of good intentions as we must see the start of real change in the regional landscape and a real correction in its dealings with the Kingdom," Saudi columnist Hamoud Abu Taleb wrote in Okaz, a Saudi daily.

A main source of tension is Yemen, where Riyadh leads a military coalition that has since 2015 been battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement -- which has during the war launched missile and drones at the kingdom.

Abdullah al-Otaibi, in an Op-ed in Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, agreed the timeline to reopen embassies would "test" Iran's commitment and said Beijing could play a more effective role than "failed" Western efforts with Tehran.

Gulf states have grown increasingly disillusioned with key ally and security guarantor the United States, including over global powers' 2015 nuclear pact with Iran which they deemed flawed for not tackling Iran's missile programme and proxies.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have moved to assert more control over regional stability by pursuing conciliatory foreign policies they hope will allow them to focus on economic priorities.

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"It is natural to have diplomatic ties even if at a low level because Iran's expansionist approach has created many touch points with Saudi Arabia....(But) we have to keep our eyes open," wrote Saudi columnist Tariq al-Homayed.

"China is the guarantor for this agreement. This will be important if Iran does not comply," he added.

The United States has voiced reservations about deepening ties between Gulf states and its economic rival China, whose president attended a Gulf summit in Riyadh last year at a time of severe strains in the strategic U.S.-Saudi relationship.

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have repeatedly said they are looking to diversify their strategic partners while pressing Washington for concrete commitments to regional security.

(Writing by Ghaida Ghantous in Dubai; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Iran's top diplomat claimed Sunday that a prisoner swap was near with the U.S., though he offered no evidence to support his assertion. The U.S. immediately dismissed his comments as a cruel lie.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has made similar comments in the past about possible deals with the U.S. on frozen assets abroad and other issues that never came to fruition. Some of those remarks have appeared aimed at shoring up domestic support amid the mass protests challenging Iran's theocracy and supporting the country's troubled rial currency.

However, in an interview Sunday with Iranian state television, Amirabdollahian claimed that Iran had reached an agreement in recent days regarding the exchange of prisoners between Iran and the United States.

If everything goes well on the Americans side, I think we will see the exchange of prisoners in the short term, he added. He alleged a document between Iran and the U.S. laying out the exchange had been indirectly signed and approved since March 2022.

Reached by The Associated Press, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price called the comments another especially cruel lie that only adds to the suffering of their families.

We are working relentlessly to secure the release of the three wrongfully detained Americans in Iran, Price said. "We will not stop until they are reunited with their loved ones.

A separate statement from the White House's National Security Council also called the remarks false.

Unfortunately, Iranian officials will not hesitate to make things up, and the latest cruel claim will cause more heartache for the families of Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz, the council said, naming the three Americans known to be held by Tehran on widely disputed espionage charges.

Iran long has taken prisoners with Western passports or ties to use in negotiations with foreign nations.

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The evidence against them has never been made public. The detainees all have dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship, something Tehran does not recognize.

In recent days, however, Namazi was allowed to conduct an interview with CNN from Tehran's notorious Evin prison  something that would not have happened without the acquiescence of security forces.

Meanwhile, Ali Bagheri Kani, a deputy Iranian foreign minister who has handled nuclear talks with world powers, made a trip Sunday to Oman, a longtime interlocutor between Tehran and Washington.

Amirabdollahian's comments also come after Iran and Saudi Arabia, with Chinese mediation, announced Friday they would reestablish diplomatic ties and reopen embassies after a seven-year freeze in relations.

___

Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
BAGHDAD (AP)  Iraq's prime minister Sunday promised sweeping measures to tackle climate change  which has affected millions across the country  including plans to meet a third of the country's electricity demands using renewable energy.

Climate change for years has compounded the woes of the troubled country. Droughts and increased water salinity have destroyed crops, animals and farms and dried up entire bodies of water. Hospitals have faced waves of patients with respiratory illnesses caused by rampant sandstorms. Climate change has also played a role in Iraq's ongoing struggle to combat cholera.

More than seven million citizens have been affected in Iraq ... and hundreds of thousands have been displaced because they lost their livelihoods that rely on agriculture and hunting, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a speech to open the two-day Iraq Climate Conference in Basra.

Al-Sudani said the Iraqi government is working on a national plan to tackle climate change that consists of a series of measures it hopes to take by 2030. The plan includes building renewable energy plants, modernizing inefficient and outdated irrigation techniques, reducing carbon emissions, combating desertification, and protecting the country's biodiversity.

Among the projects is a massive afforestation initiative, where Iraq would plant 5 million trees across the country. Iraq also hopes to provide one-third of the countrys electricity demand through renewable energy instead of fossil fuel.

Al-Sudani said he is hoping to organize a regional conference on climate change in Baghdad in the near future as well.

Developments in neighboring countries have also compounded Iraq's water woes.

Iraq relies on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers for nearly all of its water needs. They flow into the country from Turkey and Iran. Because those countries have constructed dams that have either blocked or diverted water, shortages have worsened in Iraq.

Climate change and its impact on Iraq's water resources and agriculture also comes at an economic cost, destroying people's livelihoods and making it more likely for Iraq to hike up its imports for basic staples that were once heavily produced in the country, such as wheat. The government once subsidized seeds, fertilizer and pesticides to soften the blow of increasing costs on wheat farmers and maintain a high level of production, but slashed them two years ago.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the government would assess the effect of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse on Israeli companies and determine whether or not to assist them.

Israel is home to a vibrant high-tech industry, and local media said Sunday that hundreds of local firms could be exposed to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

Israeli business paper Globes said the bank was considered the major funding body for Israeli companies and that its fall was closing the oxygen pipe for the sector.

Silicon Valley Bank, the U.S.'s 16th largest bank, served mostly technology workers and venture capital-backed companies. Its collapse is the biggest bank failure since the collapse of Washington Mutual in 2008.

The bank had a branch in Tel Aviv. It was not immediately clear how many local companies did business with the bank.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said he and senior Israeli officials would consider whether or not actions are necessary to assist Israeli companies in distress, mainly with cash-flow, due to the collapse of SVB.

A day earlier Israels finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said he formed a team that would track the issue and assess the bank collapses impact on Israels economy.

Israels banking regulator, Yair Avidan, said that Israel was closely examining the case and following developments.

The bank failure came as Israeli tech leaders and economists are warning that the Netanyahu governments proposed overhaul to the countrys judicial system could drive away investment and impact the economy.

Israel's currency, the shekel, has dropped in value over the past two months since the government announced its plan, in part because companies have transferred funds outside the country because of concerns about the judicial overhaul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the government would assess the effect of Silicon Valley Banks collapse on Israeli companies and determine whether or not to assist them.

Israel is home to a vibrant high-tech industry, and local media said Sunday that hundreds of local firms could be exposed to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Israeli business paper Globes said the bank was considered the major funding body for Israeli companies and that its fall was closing the oxygen pipe for the sector.

Silicon Valley Bank, the U.S.s 16th largest bank, served mostly technology workers and venture capital-backed companies. Its collapse is the biggest bank failure since the collapse of Washington Mutual in 2008.

The bank had a branch in Tel Aviv. It was not immediately clear how many local companies did business with the bank.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said he and senior Israeli officials would consider whether or not actions are necessary to assist Israeli companies in distress, mainly with cash-flow, due to the collapse of SVB.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

A day earlier Israels finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said he formed a team that would track the issue and assess the bank collapses impact on Israels economy.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Israels banking regulator, Yair Avidan, said that Israel was closely examining the case and following developments.

The bank failure came as Israeli tech leaders and economists are warning that the Netanyahu governments proposed overhaul to the countrys judicial system could drive away investment and impact the economy.

Israels currency, the shekel, has dropped in value over the past two months since the government announced its plan, in part because companies have transferred funds outside the country because of concerns about the judicial overhaul.

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.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israeli forces shot and killed three Palestinian militants Sunday who opened fire on troops in the occupied West Bank, the military said, the latest bloodshed in a year-long wave of violence in the region.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, claimed the men killed as members.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the men were killed by Israeli fire near the city of Nablus and identified them as Jihad Mohammed al-Shami, 24, Uday Othman al-Shami, 22 and Mohammed Raed Dabeek, 18.

The military said it confiscated three M16 rifles from the militants after the shootout and that one gunman turned himself in and was arrested.

The deaths Sunday bring to 80 the number of Palestinians killed since the start of the year, as Israel has stepped up arrest raids in the West Bank. A spasm of Palestinian attacks against Israelis has killed 14 people in 2023.

The fresh violence follows an Israeli military raid last week on the West Bank village of Jaba, where three Palestinian militants were killed. Hours later, a Palestinian gunman opened fire on a busy Tel Aviv thoroughfare at the start of the Israeli weekend, wounding three people before being shot and killed.

The current round of violence is one of the worst between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank in years. It began last spring after a series of Palestinian attacks against Israelis that triggered near-nightly Israeli raids in the West Bank.

Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 2022, making it the deadliest year in those areas since 2004, according to the leading Israeli rights group B'Tselem. Palestinian attacks against Israelis during that same time killed 30 people.

The military says most of the Palestinians killed were militants. But stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions and others not involved in confrontations have also been killed.

Israel says the raids are essential to dismantle militant networks and prevent future attacks. But attacks appear to be intensifying rather than slowing down.

The Palestinians view the raids as a tightening by Israel of its 55-year, open-ended occupation of lands they seek for their future state.

Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek those territories for their future independent state.
 Flash

The United Nations (UN) and Middle East countries have welcomed an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic ties, saying that it will contribute to regional security and stability and promote constructive cooperation that will benefit the region and the world.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and missions within two months. They have also agreed to hold talks between foreign ministers to arrange ambassadors' exchanges and explore ways to strengthen bilateral relations, according to a tripartite joint statement between Iran, Saudi Arabia and China in Beijing on Friday.

On behalf of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Spokesman Stephane Dujarric welcomed the agreement, stressing that good neighborly relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia are essential for the stability of the Gulf region.

"The Secretary-General reiterates his readiness to use his good offices to further advance regional dialogue and to ensure durable peace and security in the Gulf region," said Dujarric in the daily press briefing on Friday.

What has been reached, in terms of affirming the principles of respect for the sovereignty of states and the non-interference in internal affairs of states, is considered a basic pillar in the development of relations between states and enhancement of security and stability in the region, which would, in turn, benefit both countries and the region in general, and strengthen regional and international peace and security, said representative for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban on Friday in Beijing.

"We value the agreement we reached, and hope we will continue to maintain a constructive dialogue, in accordance with the principles and foundations included in the agreement, while expressing the value and appreciation we attach to the continuous, positive role played by the People's Republic of China in this regard," he said.

Noting that the agreement will hopefully enhance security and stability in the Middle East, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on Friday called on Arabs to engage in an Arab-Iranian dialogue based on respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and good neighborliness.

"It is hoped that this step will contribute to strengthening the pillars of security and stability in the region and the consolidation of positive and constructive cooperation that will inevitably benefit the countries of the region, their peoples and the world," Bou Habib was quoted as saying by the Lebanese National News Agency.

Applauding the positive Chinese role that contributed to reaching the agreement, the Palestinian Presidency expressed hope that it would lead to stability and strengthening of the positive atmosphere in the region.

It is hoped that the step will enhance stability and security in the region in a manner based on the preservation of the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs, Jordan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

As a country that has hosted several rounds of Saudi-Iran dialogue, Iraq also welcomed the agreement, saying that "a new page of diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries begins," according to a statement by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The resumption of Tehran-Riyadh relations will "lead to the development of regional stability and security," Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani told Nour News, a news outlet affiliated with the SNSC.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tweeted that restoring normal diplomatic relations with Riyadh will provide the two sides, the region, and the Muslim world with "great capacities."

Both Saudi Arabia and Iran extended their appreciation and thanks to Iraq and Oman for hosting multiple rounds of dialogue between 2021 and 2022, and to Chinese leaders and the Chinese government for hosting, supporting and contributing to the success of the talks, the tripartite joint statement said.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in protest against the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran following the Saudi execution of a Shiite cleric.

To improve bilateral relations and ease regional tensions, Iraq hosted four rounds of direct talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2021 and the fifth round in April last year.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Andrew Harnik/AP

Janet Yellen said she's "concerned" about Silicon Valley Bank depositors after the bank's collapse.

Yellen told CBS Sunday that banking regulators are working on "meeting their needs."

However, she said bailing out investors was out of the question.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she was "concerned" about Silicon Valley Bank depositors following the bank's collapse on Friday, but warned that investors wouldn't be get bailed out.

"Let me be clear that during the financial crisis, there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed out," Yellen told CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

"The reforms that have been put in place means that we're not going to do that again. But we are concerned about depositors and are focused on trying to meet their needs."

Yellen said she'd been working with regulators all weekend after hearing from depositors to "design appropriate policies to address the situation," without giving further details.

She wanted to "emphasize" that US banks were safe and well-capitalized and that Americans "can have confidence in the safety and soundness of our bank system," adding that the crisis hadn't spread to other banks.

Yellen declined to comment when asked if customers with funds stuck in Silicon Valley Bank would be able to get their cash. "We're very aware of the problems that depositors will have. Many of them are small businesses, that employ people across the country. Of course, this is a significant concern."

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) took control of SVB Friday after California regulators shut it down when a failed $2.3 billion capital raise sent its stock crashing. The agency protects deposits of up to $250,000, but higher sums are at risk.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jeremy Hunt - pixel GRG

New 500 bonuses will be offered to people who become childcare workers in a pilot scheme to be announced in the Budget on Wednesday.

The financial incentive is designed to convince Britons to join the industry after problems finding employees fuelled a decline in the number of available childcare places.

It is one of a string of childcare moves that Jeremy Hunt will unveil this week as he includes support for parents in his new back-to-work drive.

Another change will increase the cap for how many two-year-olds a childcare worker in England can look after from four to five in an attempt to drive down costs.

Decline in childcare facilities

There has been a stark fall in the number of facilities offering childcare in recent years, with a drop of 10,600 providers since August 2019 in England  a decline of 14 per cent.

The Chancellor is set to herald the policies, alongside changes to when childcare support is paid to those on Universal Credit, as an important move to help parents work.

The UK is the only major developed country to have suffered a sustained rise in economic inactivity since the start of the pandemic and there are 1.7 million jobless Britons who say they want to work.

It is hoped that a boost for the childcare sector will cut costs for parents who will then find it easier to return to the workforce.

But the changes are much smaller in scale than the big bang reforms Liz Truss was preparing as prime minister, which included a major expansion of free childcare.

Both policy changes will only apply in England, given early-years policy is devolved to Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish parliamentary bodies.

The ratio change will mean a childcare worker can look after five two-year-olds rather than four and brings the English rules into line with those in Scotland.

Boris Johnson and Ms Truss both looked at ratio changes during their premierships.

Fierce debate on loosening ratios

The issue has been fiercely debated, with critics questioning whether loosening ratios could impact safety standards and whether they will really reduce costs as some reformers want.

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The 500 bonus scheme will be a pilot. It is unclear when it will come into force, how long it will last and whether the scheme will apply in all regions of England.

Announcements and full details are expected in the Budget on Wednesday.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Year Alliance, the largest membership organisation representing early-years providers in England, was critical of the moves.

Mr Leitch told The Telegraph: If the Government moves on ratios it will completely fly in the face of what parents want, it will fly in the face of what educators want and it will do nothing to reduce the cost of early years.

He also questioned whether the 500 bonus would really incentivise the childcare sector enough to convince new workers to join, saying he feared the move was a gimmick.

Mr Hunt said on a BBC interview on Sunday that childcare support was expensive as he explained why much of the new support was focused towards those on Universal Credit.

The Chancellor said ministers would like to help everyone but added you cant always do everything at once.

Slashing customs red tape

This week, Mr Hunt will also unveil a slashing of customs red tape to help UK businesses trade overseas, using freedoms that come from Britain being outside of the EU customs union.

Mr Hunt said: A simpler tax and customs system lets businesses focus on what they do best  creating wealth and generating economic growth  instead of getting tied up in red tape.

Post-Brexit freedoms offer an outstanding opportunity for us to do this and I want to make sure we take full advantage of them.

Bridget Phillipson, Labours shadow education secretary, used a speech last week to argue that improving childcare was one of the partys focuses, while noting the need for reform.

Ms Phillipson said: Labour will not invest in a broken system of childcare provision that doesnt deliver for families, for children or our economy.

The Conservatives failure on growth means we do not know what the fiscal inheritance of the next Labour government will be.

But we will not be straitjacketed by the piecemeal jerry-built system left to us by the Conservatives. Our focus will be on reform.
Ed Durrs ascension to the New Jersey state Senate could have been a movie plot.

Durr, a blue-collar Republican truck driver whose campaign spent just $10,000, rode a wave of populist discontent in 2021 to beat Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney, a 20-year incumbent who exercised sweeping authority as the longest-serving leader in history.

Durr took on New Jersey's most powerful political machine and won, becoming a cause celebre on the right and a sign of an impending midterm red wave that ultimately never came. He was proof that Republicans could still win in blue states even after then-President Donald Trump lost New Jersey to Joe Biden. He soon sold red "Ed the Trucker" hats that bore resemblance to Trump's famous "Make America Great Again" cap and other memorabilia.

But not long after Durr donned a suit and entered the Statehouse in Trenton, the TV cameras stopped following him. He soon faced the reality of his situation: Hes a backbencher in a minority party  someone with little clout and, on top of that, someone who Democrats want to work against.

Durr now finds himself facing rivals within his own party who believe his election was a fluke, who fault him for politically-damaging social media posts that emerged after his surprise victory and who believe hes wasted a year by focusing on culture war issues that have already proven to hurt Republicans in the post-Roe era.

In terms of making laws, hes accomplished little to nothing. And Democrats, of course, are plotting to take him down.

There are going to be certain bills of mine theyre never going to touch because theyre too conservative, Durr, 60, acknowledged in a phone interview. Ive had bills that even Democrats will probably appreciate, but they wont move them because its Ed Durr.

Since taking office, Durr has been among the top sponsors of 167 pieces of legislation  the 10th most of the states 40 senators. None have been signed into law, ranking him in a tie for dead last among senators who have served since the beginning of the term.

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Durr has introduced many bills that reflect right-wing causes and have near zero chance of passage. They include several measures that would severely restrict abortion access; ease New Jersey strict firearm carry and permitting restrictions; repeal vaccine requirements; punish educators and school districts that teach critical race theory; and a bill that would ban teaching younger students about gender identity and sexual orientation that critics called the New Jersey version of the Florida law activists have labeled Dont Say Gay.

I didnt have any expectations. I just knew that I wanted to get in there and be a voice for my constituents, Durr said. And I think I have, to be quite honest with you.

Democrats eye a comeback as Durr, GOP feud

Democrats are working to oust Durr this year. Sweeney, who is considering running for governor in 2025, had been mulling whether to challenge Durr in November but reportedly will stay out of the Senate race and his old district running mate, former Assemblymember John Burzichelli, will run instead.

As such, Durr said that hes even gotten shunned by Democrats on his more policy-focused bills, like a measureinspired by Billy Cray, a developmentally-disabled man who died in his group home. The bill, which would allow adult group homes to give residents the choice to have electronic monitoring devices in common areas and private rooms, had been sponsored by state Sen. Fred Madden, another South Jersey Democrat, before Durr entered office.

Durr said he asked Madden to again sign onto that bill, and he chose not to. The Democratic chair of the state Senate Health Committee, Joe Vitale, has refused to advance it as well, Durr said.

You tell me why he wont. He'll give you a lame excuse, but its clearly me, he said.

Vitale said hes not blocking the bill because of Durr.

I told him to do the hard work. There are likely as many individuals and organizations in favor and as many opposed, Vitale said. Ive asked him to do the hard work and reach out to those who dont support the bill, work with them on potential language changes and let me know how he wants to proceed."

Madden also cited advocates' opposition to the measure as the reason he chose not to sign on again, saying hed rather stay off the bill until those issues are resolved.

"That's it," Madden said. "Here we are a year later, and youre telling me hes claiming I wont go on a bill because I was told not to do something? Its just bizarre.

Burzichelli, who lost in 2021 to Durrs Assembly running mates, said Durr has not reached out to the right people to be an effective senator.

Clearly the people who took our place have been ineffective at building relationships, ineffective at delivering anything of significance for the legislative district. And theres no indication it will get better, Burzichelli said.

Burzichelli, who was chair of the influential Appropriations Committee, said he and his defeated district-mates had lined up somewhere around $1 billion in programs that were to find their way to the district but that momentum stopped with Durrs swearing-in.

Im not aware of anything theyve gotten done, Burzichelli said. Thats not a harsh statement about personalities. Its just a fact like a report card.



Meanwhile, Durr and one of his two former running mates, Assemblymember Beth Sawyer, have spent much of the last year feuding. Now, Sawyer is expected to run for Assembly in the Republican primary on a slate opposite Durrs, headed up by Salem County Commissioner Mickey Ostrum. (Sawyer did not respond to a call seeking comment and Ostrum said he would hold off commenting pending a formal announcement).

But Adam Wingate, a Republican candidate for Gloucester County commissioner in 2022, blamed Durr in part for his loss  noting Democrats tried to link him to Durrs social media posts, including one 2020 Facebook post in which Durr said, A woman does have a choice! Keep her legs closed.

Eds been polarizing since day one, Wingate said. Just his social media presence and the way he carries himself.

Nevertheless, Durr has managed to secure Republican Party backing in two of his districts three counties, which makes him the favorite for reelection.

Durrs brief national fame never translated to fundraising prowess, however. In the last three months of 2022, his campaign reported raising just $1,800, and he began the new year with about $35,500 in the bank. Should Burzichelli run, hed likely be able to count on the help of multi million-dollar super PAC unofficially controlled by South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross.

Durr said hes worked hard on constituent services in the district, telling POLITICO his office has fielded calls from constituents to help navigate the bureaucracy of the Motor Vehicles Commission and Unemployment Insurance fund, both of which have had major customer service issues since the pandemic.

When Im out and about throughout the district, just to have someone come up and say how good they feel that somebodys actually listening to them and paying attention, Durr said.

And Durr said the district was still plagued with problems after 20 years of Democratic representation, like one town where the only place to buy food is a dollar store.

There are issues throughout the district that were not addressed when Sweeney was Senate president and Burzichelli was Appropriations chair, Durr said. To complain about our ineffectiveness given that weve only been in one year and are the minority seems laughable for the lack of progress they made for the 20 years they were in office.
In an effort to strengthen and unite the local Jewish community, the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte hosted its annual Super Sunday phone-a-thon fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sam Lerner Center in Shalom Park.

The group gathered about 100 volunteers to man the phones for this years Rock n Roll themed Super Sunday, with hopes of topping last years record of raising a whopping $5 million.

ALSO READ: Police respond to person waving antisemitic flag at Jewish temple in Boone

Money raised at the Super Sunday events will go to more than 70 of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlottes different agencies, programs, and incentives to strengthen Charlottes Jewish community. Additional donations will be used for four new 2023 community initiatives: Outshine Hate, Safety and Security, Jewish Identity, and Center for Jewish Education Capital Improvements.

Kara Culp, the co-chair of Super Sunday, told Channel 9 one of her favorite things about the event is getting to know so many different people throughout the community.

Its just a great opportunity to meet some of our community members, hear them talking about their why to donors on the phone, and getting to hear some donor conversations on why theyre donating, Culp said.

For more information about the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, please click here.

(WATCH BELOW: Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte discusses growing anti-Semitism in U.S.)




The special intelligence unit destroyed two observation towers on the territory of Russia

The remotely-controlled Murom tower in Bryansk Oblast was able to observe 15 kilometers into Ukrainian territory, spotting troop movements and adjusting artillery fire, assisting Russian reconnaissance and sabotage groups, and performing other military functions.

Read also: Ukraines allies wondered how the country got real-time data about the enemy  HUR

The Russians built another such tower in Kursk Oblast. Both towers were successfully destroyed by the Ukrainian military, the HUR said.

On Feb. 28, the Russian Telegram channel Astra reported that three drones attacked the tower of the FSB observation post in Bryansk Oblast of the Russian Federation the day before. According to the channel, the tower was disabled.

Read also: After a spate of drone attacks, another air defense system spotted in Moscow

On March 5, the Kraken special unit of the HUR destroyed the remotely-controlled Grenadier observation tower, which is also located in Bryansk Oblast.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Paul Flores Daniel Dreifuss / Monterey County Weekly via AP

A California man convicted of murdering his 19-year-old college classmate 27 years ago was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Friday.

Paul Flores, 46, was found guilty in October of the first-degree murder of California Polytechnic State University student Kristin Smart. His sentencing brought a close to a case that had gone unsolved for decades and captivated true crime audiences. Flores was only arrested in 2021 after the podcast Your Own Backyard uncovered new evidence, but Smarts body has still never been found.

After nearly 27 years of unspeakable anguish, the Smart family has finally seen their daughters killer sentenced, Deputy District Attorney Christopher Peuvrelle said in a statement. Their strength and determination serve as an inspiration to us all.

Smart was reported missing in May 1996, and several witnesses said that she was last seen with Flores walking back to the dorms from an off-campus party.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that a clandestine grave was underneath the deck of his fathers home, and they said they believed it held Smarts remains for some time. Investigators also found human blood beneath the deck, but it was too old to do proper DNA testing.

The trial also included testimony from two women who said Flores had drugged and raped them.

The district attorneys office acknowledges the witnesses and other testifying victims in this case, prosecutors said after Flores was convicted. Each showed tremendous courage in coming forward to testify after carrying trauma for so many years.

Floress father, Ruben Flores, was charged with being an accessory to murder after police said he helped his son hide the body. He was found not guilty at trial.

Though the case had made headlines for years, it gained new attention from Your Own Backyard, a podcast by Chris Lambert, who had grown up passing a billboard seeking information about Smarts disappearance. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson credited Lambert with helping to bring Flores to justice. Lambert had interviewed key witnesses, uncovered new details, and provided evidence against Flores.

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We acknowledge the tireless efforts of Chris Lambert in persistently and compassionately keeping the memory of Kristin alive through the podcast Your Own Backyard, the sheriff said.

A billboard seeking information on the disappearance of Kristin Smart is seen on the street on May 18, 2006. Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

In 2020, Lambert stood in front of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and said he was determined to find answers in Smarts death.

A lot of people dropped the ball on this over the years: Cal Poly, the San Luis Obispo Sheriffs Department, [and] even citizens who knew a little piece of the puzzle but were too afraid to come forward because they didnt want to get wrapped up in something like that, he said. I tried to remedy that.

At Floress sentencing hearing, Monterey County Superior Court Judge Jennifer OKeefe called Flores a cancer to society and ordered him to register as a sex offender for life in addition to his prison sentence, according to the Associated Press.

You deserve to spend every day you have left behind bars, OKeefe said.

More on this
Dmytro Kuleba

Kuleba called on the German government to resolve the issue, noting that during the recent Munich Security Conference German arms manufacturers confirmed their readiness to arrange deliveries, but they need the governments approval for the contracts.

Read also: Moment for peace in Ukraine hasnt yet arrived, Germanys Scholz says

I think Germany could really help more with ammunition, Kuleba said.

We sat down with Ukrainian representatives and the German armaments industry (...) and German industry, in my presence, asked the German government for one thing: signed contracts. (They said they were) ready to deliver. So, the problem lies with the (German) government.

Read also: Work has already begun on supplying fighter aircraft to Ukraine, Kuleba says

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that his country intends to increase the production of ammunition for the Ukrainian army.

Read also: This is the beginning of the end. The main reason for the West's determination to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons

On Nov. 26, 2022, U.S. newspaper The New York Times reported that small NATO member states have exhausted their potential to supply weapons to Ukraine. According to the publication, NATO countries are discussing investing in old factories in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria in order to resume the production of Soviet-caliber 152-mm and 122-mm shells for Ukraines still largely Soviet-era artillery forces.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg previously called on the alliance countries to increase the production of weapons to support Ukraine, as NATO has exhausted a large part of its stockpiles of weapons and ammunition.

On Feb. 18, Reuters reported that the countries of the European Union are urgently studying the possibility of joint procurement of 155 mm artillery shells for Ukraine.

Read also: EU could extend temporary protection for Ukrainians until 2025

On Feb. 20, the European Unions chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, said that if the countries fail to provide Ukraine with ammunition, Ukraine might be defeated by Russia.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
These lawmakers are pushing hard to make it easier for Americans to maximize their Social Security benefits  plus 3 tips to make it work even without their help

Every year, countless Americans voluntarily shrink their own retirement funds by claiming Social Security benefits too early.

Don't miss

And at a time when your dollar doesnt have the same spending power and health care costs are creeping up, its leaving retirees at risk.

Now, a bipartisan group of politicians is looking to improve retirement security for Americans with legislation aimed at helping them better plan for retirement.

We can make it easier for countless Americans to claim Social Security at the best time and get the most out of their retirement income, said Sen. Chris Coons, one of four senators to introduce the commonsense bill earlier this week.

Whats the problem with Social Security?

The earliest Amercians can start claiming Social Security is 62. But those who opt to delay receive higher monthly payments, with the maximum benefits (and available to those who claim aged 70 or older.

The problem, say U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, Tim Kaine, Susan Collins and Coons, is that most people dont claim benefits at an age that would maximize their income in retirement.

For anyone born from 1943 to 1954, full retirement benefits are payable at age 66. The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960 until it reaches 67. If you were born in 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

That means if you reach your full retirement age of 67 this year, your maximum monthly benefit is $3,627. But if youre still a sprightly 62 this year when you decide to claim your Social Security, the maximum monthly payment youll get is $2,572  thats 29% less.

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Lets say you were very patient and waited until 70 to start collecting benefits. In that case, you can claim a maximum monthly sum of up to $4,555  almost $2,000 more a month than those who are claiming at 62.

The estimated average monthly Social Security retirement benefit in January was $1,827, which is far less than the maximum monthly benefits  perhaps proving the senators point that Americans forgo a significant amount of retirement income.

In fact, according to a recent study, Americans forfeit nearly $200,000 in lifetime spending by claiming their benefits too early.

Senators seek to change terminology

To help people decide when to claim their benefits, lawmakers want to change the Social Security Administration (SSA)s terminology from early eligibility age, full retirement age, and delayed retirement credits to to minimum benefit age, standard benefit age, and maximum benefit age.

Additionally, the new legislation would require the SSA, the government arm that administers retirement benefits, to provide workers with updates on how much theyve paid into the Social Security and Medicare programs. For those aged 25 to 54, that should be at a cadence of every five years, and that increases to every two years between 55 and 59. Once you hit 60, youll get an annual update.

Americans have earned their Social Security and should have the best financial information available when they retire, says Cassidy. Our bill ensures Americans planning for retirement get the most out of their benefit.

You dont have to sit back while politicians debate Social Security policy. Here are three ways to secure your retirement finances.

Read more: Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market  and are betting on these 3 assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds

Understand when to claim

Deciding when to claim Social Security is a personal decision. There are many reasons why people claim before their full retirement age.

Some need the money for essential expenses, to pay debts, or to weather financial shocks  and weve certainly felt those in the past few years.

Others dont think theyll live long enough to make the most of the benefits theyve earned, while some people worry that Social Security will run out of money  a concern President Biden has promised to address in his 2024 Budget.

While you may be tempted to get your payments going early, keep in mind that waiting will secure you a bigger monthly check that will help you in old age, when you may be less able to go back to work to earn some quick cash.

If youre worried about the size of your benefits, its worth looking into your spouses benefits. You are allowed to claim 50% of your spouses benefits  but you should first consider how much you earn.

If 50% of your spousal income is more than 100% of your income, you might as well go ahead and just retire to live out your retirement dreams together.

Plan for unexpected healthcare expenses

While you might have a clean bill of health when you retire, remember that no one is immune to unexpected health emergencies  and they can get very expensive.

An emergency fund can help retirees weather financial storms, like extended hospital stays or illnesses where insurance or Medicare doesn't cover the full cost.

Remember that Medicare benefits dont kick in until you reach 65. The sign-up process for Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) is completed through the SSA.

If you decide to sign up for Part B, the cost will be taken out of your monthly benefit amount, so you should plan ahead for that reduction.

The SSA encourages people to sign up promptly for Medicare to avoid gaps in coverage or late enrollment penalties. But if you're already covered through an employer group health plan, it might make sense for you to sign up for Medicare later or delay Part B.

Bridge your benefits

One strategy that some Americans are using to delay claiming retirement benefits so they get the maximum payout is the so-called Social Security bridge.

This is a phased approach to retirement income where people are tapping into their 401(k) or other assets as soon as they can without triggering penalties  instead of claiming Social Security benefits before their full retirement age.

Typically, people who use this strategy only withdraw an amount equal to what they would pull from Social Security at age 62.

But remember that bridging isnt risk free. There are tax considerations and other consequences to dipping into your 401(k) assets early.

If youre considering this option, or are unsure about how to maximize your retirement benefits, it might be worth seeking guidance from a financial adviser or planner who can help you to safeguard your retirement nest egg and come up with the best plan for your specific situation.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
KINSHASA, Congo (AP)  Rebels in eastern Congo killed at least 19 people and set fire to a health fire and houses, authorities reported Sunday.

Gunmen suspected of being part of the Allied Democratic Forces, a militia with links to the Islamic State group, attacked civilians in Kirindera town, Carly Nzanzu, the former governor of North Kivu province, said in an interview with state media.

ADF attacks have killed dozens of people in several North Kivu villages in recent days. Congos authorities say people were slaughtered with guns, knives and machetes.

Aamaq, a news agency linked to the Islamic State group, posted a statement Saturday in which IS claimed responsibility for killing more than 35 Christians and wounding dozens in eastern Congo last week.

Conflict has simmered for decades in eastern Congo, where more than 120 armed groups fight for power, influence and resources, and some to protect their communities. The ADF has been largely active in North Kivu province but recently extended its operations into neighboring Ituri province.

Efforts to stem the violence against have yielded little. A nearly year-long joint operation by Uganda and Congos armies did not defeat or substantially weaken the Allied Democratic Forces, a panel of U.N. experts concluded in a December report.

The U.N. and human rights groups have accused the ADF rebels of maiming, raping and abducting civilians, including children. Earlier this month, the United States offered a reward of up to $5 million for information that could lead to the capture of the groups leader, Seka Musa Baluku.
 Flash

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on Friday sent congratulations to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, warmly congratulating him on his election as president of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and chairman of the Central Military Commission of the PRC.

Expressing their warmest congratulations to Xi on his election, they said they firmly believe that as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the Party, Xi will continue to lead the Party, the Chinese army and the Chinese people in achieving greater victories on the new journey of building China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful.

The Vietnamese party, the country and people have always attached importance to consolidating and developing good-neighborly friendship and all-round cooperative relations with China, which is a strategic choice and the top priority of Vietnam's foreign policy, they said.

The two leaders said they are willing to continue to promote and deepen the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership so as to increase political mutual trust, cement mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthen popular support between the two countries.

They also wished Xi new and greater achievements in his noble post.
What happened to the letter inside the envelope remains a mystery. (SWNS)

An envelope sent by a pilot in the US more than 80 years ago has arrived at a care home in the UK with no letter inside.

Dated 1942, the letter was sent during the Second World War by a British pilot who had been working as a flight instructor in Florida before joining the RAF.

It is thought he was trying to update his mother and father on his life in the US, but what happened to the contents of the envelope remains a mystery, as Royal Mail was unable to provide any answers.

Kevin Beattie, manager of The Sands Meadows care home in Hest Bank, Lancashire, immediately realised it "wasn't your average letter" and said it was something he had "never seen" before.

Intrigued by the old stamp and aged tinge of the paper, Beattie was eager to find out who'd sent the letter and what his story was, and managed to track his family down in Canada after appealing on social media.

Read more: Letter lost in 1916 delivered in London after 100 years

The letter was addressed to Phillip's parents, Cornelius and Ethel Tattersall. (SWNS)

Beattie discovered the letter was from Phillip Tattersall, who had been living in Florida while training for the British Flying Training School.

It is thought Tattersall, who died in 1996, tried to send the letter from the Sunshine State to his parents, Cornelius and Ethel Tattersall, who lived at the property which is now the care home.

After seeing an appeal on social media, Tattersall's daughter Phillipa and granddaughter Tessa contacted Beattie to provide more information his life.

They revealed that when he returned from Florida, Tattersall became a RAF flight lieutenant and later served in northern Germany and flew a fighter bomber.

Read more: Why Gary Lineker migrant row has reopened calls for BBC chairman to resign

Phillip Tattersall and his daughter Phillipa in 1988. (SWNS)

The family also said that Tattersall married his wife Ruth, whom he lived with in Morecambe, Lancashire, before emigrating to Canada and having four children.

Phillipa, who lives on an island near Vancouver, Canada, said: "I have been thinking about the power of social media and how quickly information gets passed to all of us.

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"Certainly much quicker than that envelope delivered to The Sands Meadow. I recognised my father's handwriting as soon as I saw the envelope."

She added: "The envelope probably contained a letter to update his parents on his life during training in Florida."

Read more: Moped riders split seconds away from death after narrowly avoiding train

Phillip Tattersall had been living in Florida while working for the British Flying Training School. (SWNS)

Beattie has tried to contact Royal Mail to find out why the envelope has only been delivered now but said he thinks it had just "fallen through the gaps".

He said: "They were unaware of where it had actually been so whether it has been found behind a desk while cleaning or whether it has just been on a shelf somewhere.

"It has just kind of fallen through the gaps really. They couldn't tell us which depot it had come from either, unfortunately.

There have been similar examples of decades-old post being delivered in recent years, including one of a letter from 1916 arriving at a flat in London more than 100 years later, much to the surprise of the home's current owner.
Currently only 1 in 10 homes in California have solar. For the state to meet its current energy goals, it needs to increase rooftop solar quickly.

One of the biggest obstacles to solar growth is the cost and time it takes to get a permit from our cities/counties to install solar panels. It is twice as expensive to go solar in California than in many other places because local permitting requirements drive up the cost of going solar here.

Permits are good because they ensure safety. But outdated permitting requirements and chronic staffing shortages can add months of delays and thousands of dollars to solar projects.

Streamlining solar permitting can cut red tape and make it cheaper and easier for all of us to install solar panels and/or batteries.

There is good news on this front. In September 2022, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 379 which requires most cities and counties in the state to expedite their permitting process for solar installations. And there is a simple tool to help: a software system called Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus (+). SolarAPP+ was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the nations leading building safety organizations. This system drops wait times for a solar permit from days or weeks to mere minutes.

SolarAPP+ is already used in 20 cities and counties in California. SolarAPP+ permits pass inspection with rates at or better than traditional permitting systems. The system is free for cities to use. California has made grants available to cover the cost of the work hours needed to adopt it. However, the grant money is finite, so our cities and counties need to act now.

Carl Francis Enson, Oak View

Bad decision to host DeSantis

Re: your March 7 story, Florida Gov. DeSantis draws fans and protests to Reagan library:

I was appalled at the decision to host Ron DeSantis at the Reagan Library. Ronald Reagan did not embrace any of DeSantis fascist ideas and would be most unhappy to have his name attached to this man

Story continues

Things like book banning, never say gay, his ongoing feud with Disneyworld, his lack of support for any reproductive rights of women, and many more, are representative of the government dictating your rights.

Reagan believed the government should stay out of people lives. How shameful to use this beautiful venue to host a would-be dictator.

Nancy Schwartz, Simi Valley

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Cutting solar red tape; library wrong to host DeSantis
Israelis protest plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government to overhaul the judicial system in Jerusalem on Feb. 13. (Ohad Zwigenberg / Associated Press)

To the editor: Nadav Ziv is partly right about denouncing Israel. Unprovoked acts of violence by Israelis against innocent Palestinians should be condemned. But to denounce an entire state for the bad behavior of a small group of people is also wrong.

Contrast this with the Palestinian Authority paying the families of slain terrorists who kill innocent Israelis. Why are the media so strangely silent about such atrocities? The answer is clear: There is now, and always has been, a double standard when it comes to Israel and the Palestinians.

The American public has the right to expect the media to publish the news accurately and free from bias. Otherwise, its readers will be forced to rely on groups like the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, which openly advocate the delegitimization and dismantling of the state of Israel, the only democracy in the entire Middle East.

Right now, Israelis are marching in the streets by the thousands to express their opposition to proposed legislation allowing its legislature to overrule the Israeli Supreme Court, as well they should. Yet, compare this to conditions in the West Bank and Gaza, both governed by an anti-democratic group of terrorist despots.

Again, why the double standard?

Bruce Friedman, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Thank you, Mr. Ziv. You speak for me and, I hope, for the majority of Jews around the world.

The actions of this Israeli government, which disrespects democratic values and Jewish values, are shameful and deserve being denounced. I applaud the thousands of Israelis who are in the streets protesting in the name of justice and human rights, and those organizations here and in Israel who are supporting them in wanting to take back their country.

This is the moment when our country can show itself as a true friend of Israel by speaking out strongly and in no uncertain terms against the intended gutting of the judiciary, and by refusing to support any longer a brutal occupation.

Judith Glass, Studio City

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Key Insights

Occidental Petroleum's estimated fair value is US$60.11 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

With US$59.86 share price, Occidental Petroleum appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

The US$71.81 analyst price target for OXY is 19% more than our estimate of fair value

Does the March share price for Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY) 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. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Occidental Petroleum

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. 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 discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$8.70b US$7.37b US$5.92b US$5.13b US$4.68b US$4.42b US$4.28b US$4.21b US$4.18b US$4.19b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x6 Analyst x5 Analyst x2 Est @ -13.41% Est @ -8.77% Est @ -5.52% Est @ -3.24% Est @ -1.65% Est @ -0.53% Est @ 0.25% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 10% US$7.9k US$6.1k US$4.4k US$3.5k US$2.9k US$2.5k US$2.2k US$1.9k US$1.7k US$1.6k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$35b

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 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 10%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$4.2b (1 + 2.1%)  (10% 2.1%) = US$52b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$52b ( 1 + 10%)10= US$20b

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$54b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$59.9, the company appears about fair value at a 0.4% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

Important Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Occidental Petroleum as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 10%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.383. 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 Occidental Petroleum

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Oil and Gas market.

Opportunity

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Occidental Petroleum, we've compiled three further items you should assess:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Occidental Petroleum (1 shouldn't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does OXY's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American 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.

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Louisiana's largest manufacturer of adult consumable hemp products has filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent regulators and enforcement officials from removing items from hemp retailers throughout the state.

The lawsuit, which was filed in 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, argues that all of the products manufactured by 318 LABZ and distributed and sold by STRSW8 Cannabis are legal under federal and state law.

It comes as lawmakers, regulators and entrepreneurs in the exploding industry grapple with what consumable hemp products from gummies to inhalables containing THC should be legal and how they can be packaged and sold, especially in relation to serving sizes.

THC is the chemical that creates a high or euphoria and is often credited with helping manage pain, stress and insomnia, among other conditions. Hemp's THC levels are much lower than in its cannabis-cousin marijuana.

Louisiana law limits THC levels in hemp products like edible gummies, chocolate bars, cookies and beverages to 8 milligrams per serving, but manufacturers often stack multiple servings into a single package, as do other makers of other products like soft drinks, candy and food items.

The House Health and Welfare Committee has conducted two oversight hearings this year to debate a proposed emergency rule by the Louisiana Department of Health that would modify packaging requirements, among other product aspects. Lawmakers on the committee have twice postponed action on the rule.

But the lawsuit claims the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control began illegally removing products from retailers on Jan. 31, 2023 through "aggressive enforcement" against hemp products, "regardless of LDH approval."

"ATC subsequently seized, and continues to seize, products from the shelves of distributors, wholesalers and retailers throughout the state of Louisiana without warning, notification or justification," the lawsuit claims.

The owner of STR8W8 Cannabis, who owns this hemp store in Monroe, La., is suing prevent the state from removing products from the shelves.

During the recent House hearings, the top attorney for the state health agency said it has mistakenly approved at least 230 hemp consumable products that should be illegal.

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Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Ernest Legier Jr., who is being sued along with his agency, told USA Today Network Thursday he hasn't yet been served with the lawsuit and can't comment.

Hemp industry businessmen and businesswomen said during the House hearings that the crackdown on what they believe are legal products could bankrupt them and tank the industry, a claim repeated in the lawsuit.

More:Louisiana health agency approved hundreds of illegal hemp products

Jason Garsee of Monroe, president of the Gulf South Hemp Association, owns both of the companies suing the state.

"We're being destroyed today because of all of this," Garsee testified during the March 1 hearing.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana hemp manufacturer sues state to keep products on shelves
Akeem Francis-Kerr, 29, was stabbed to death at a nightclub in Walsall, West Midlands. (West Midlands Police)

The family of a 29-year-old man stabbed to death at a nightclub in the West Midlands have paid tribute to him, as police warned his killers: "We're going to catch you".

Akeem Francis-Kerr was fatally stabbed at Valesha's nightclub, also known locally as Colliseum, on Newport Street in Walsall town centre just after 5am on Saturday morning (11 March).

He was pronounced dead en route to hospital.

West Midlands Police has launched a murder enquiry and is appealing for people to come forward with information, while warning those responsible that they will be brought to justice.

In a tribute issued through the force, the 29-year-old victim's family said: "The universe has lost one of the greatest of men and his unmatched energy, mindset and love will forever live on."

Ch Supt Phil Dolby, of West Midlands Police, urged anyone involved to come forward. (BBC)

Nobody has been arrested in connection with the stabbing yet, but Chief Superintendent Phil Dolby, from West Midlands Police, told the BBC: "My first message is to the offenders, we're going to catch you.

"So I would encourage you to hand yourself in as soon as possible, as the longer you leave that, the more that might go against you in a later court of law."

Read more: Bearded dragon saved after being founded dumped in a park in freezing cold weather

He added: "You may have people who know who's done it, and we would encourage them to come forward as well because ultimately friends and family have lost a young person."

Police said Francis-Kerr's family are being supported by specialist officers who are keeping them updated.

Police were called to Valesha's nightclub, also known locally as Colliseum, on Newport Street in Walsall town centre just after 5am on Saturday. (SWNS)

Floral tributes were left at the scene following the stabbing. (SWNS)

The force said officers are speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage from the area and a dedicated contact portal has been set up for anyone with information to get in touch.

Detective Inspector Ade George, who is leading the investigation, said: "Our thoughts are with Akeems family and friends as they come to terms with this terrible loss.

"We continue to urge people to come forward with information, a man has died and his family have the right to know what happened to him."
Mesa Police Department.

A Saturday morning disturbance call to a Dutch Bros. in Mesa led to the arrest of a man who police say left three officers injured after attacking them.

Officers were dispatched to a Dutch Bros. in the area of South Power Road and Roosevelt WCD Canal Road about a man trespassing and "being verbal" with employees, according to Mesa police. The man left before officers arrived but then returned and confronted them in "a hostile manner," prompting the deployment of a stun gun, police said.

The stun gun did not make contact with the man and a physical fight ensued between him and the officers, according to police. At least three officers were injured, police said. Their status is unknown, but there are officers in the hospital as a result of the fight, police said.

The man is in custody and being evaluated for driving under the influence, according to police.

He will be jailed on multiple felony charges, police added.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man arrested after 3 officers hurt in attack at Dutch Bros. in Mesa
Casa Grande police badge

The body of a man was discovered early Saturday morning near Casa Grande Mountain, according to Casa Grande police.

Just after 4:30 a.m., the Casa Grande Police Department received a call regarding a person shot in the roadway off Isom Road on the west side of Casa Grande Mountain. When they arrived, they found a man with gunshot wounds who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the victim appears to be a man in his thirties; his identity has not been released.

Suspects are unknown, and police are actively investigating.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Casa Grande Police: Man found shot, dead near Casa Grande Mountain
 Flash

Foreign tourists may have a chance to apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia and receive a payment card in 2023, Tatyana Sharshavitskaya, head of the Russian Department of Tourism Development of the Ministry of Economic Development, said on Saturday.

She made the notice at the Fifth Congress of Travel Agencies organized by the Russian Union of Travel Industry. To solve payment problems associated with the departure of Visa and MasterCard from the Russian market, a special payment tool named the "Tourist Card" will be introduced, Russian news agency Interfax quoted her as saying.

In July 2020, a law was adopted allowing citizens of more than 50 countries, including EU states, to apply for an electronic visa to enter Russia. According to the document, the electronic visa is valid for 60 days and allows foreigners to enter for tourism and business purposes. In January 2021, the Russian government delayed the implementation of e-visas due to COVID-19.

According to Interfax, 5 million foreign tourists visited Russia in 2019. The number later dropped sharply owing to the pandemic. In 2022, slightly more than 200,000 foreign tourists visited the country.
A 42-year-old man opened fire with a hidden gun from the back seat of a patrol vehicle just after his arrest, California police reported.

Officers returned fire, injuring the man and setting off a standoff that lasted several hours before he surrendered Friday, March 10, the Ontario Police Department said in a news release.

Christopher Urena of San Dimas faces charges including attempted murder of a police officer, the release said.

Officers contacted Urena at 3:12 p.m. while investigating reports of a disabled vehicle and arrested him on a warrant, the release said.

While in the back of a patrol vehicle, Urena pulled out a concealed handgun and shot at the officers, police said.

Officers returned fire and Urena barricaded himself inside the vehicle for several hours before surrendering, the release said.

He was taken to a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, police said. No officers or bystanders were hurt.

Police ask that anyone with information call 909-986-6711 or detective Gregg Clinton at 909-408-1033.

Ontario is a city of 178,000 people about 40 miles east of Los Angeles.

Intruder at high school attacks teen girls in restroom, California police say

Man sold prized rookie Michael Jordan trading cards  but they were fake, feds say

65-year-old robs a bank of $1 and asks to go to prison, Utah cops say. Thank you
Police found two bodies in a Houston-area home after responding to a call from a concerned neighbor, authorities in Texas say.

The neighbor told deputies with the Harris County Sheriffs Office that they hadnt seen a man who lives at the nearby house  on the 16800 block of Kilwinning Drive  for a long time, the sheriffs office said.

Deputies went to the home after 6:30 p.m. on March 11, a sheriffs office spokesperson said at a media briefing near the scene.

They soon noticed a lot of flies and a bad odor coming from one end of the house and decided to make their way into the home, the spokesperson said.

As soon as they entered, the deputies heard a gunshot, according to the sheriffs office. They found a 63-year-old man dead in a bedroom, having shot himself, and the body of a second man in another bedroom.

The second man, who officials say was 64 years old, was badly decomposed and had been dead for several months.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of death for the 64-year-old.

Its not clear what the relationship was between the two men but officials said they lived together at the home.

Woman vanished weeks ago, NC cops say. Her body was just found 200 miles away

Boy finds 5-year-old sister with sock in mouth, MO cops say. Two face murder charge

Concertgoer found dead not far from stage at Florida music festival, deputies say

Man crushed to death while trying to steal catalytic converter, GA car salesman says
The Belgorod Regional Court has sentenced a 21-year-old man accused of trying to leave Russia to fight on the side of Ukraine to three years in a general regime penal colony.

Source: "Novaya Gazeta"

Details: It is noted that the man allegedly said during the interrogation that he was "moved by the desire to solve his material problems," and "most of the money" he wanted to give to restore the infrastructure of Ukraine.

Propagandists claim that he "admitted guilt and repented" and that "he tried to leave for Ukraine to participate in military operations as part of the Ukrainian national battalions."

A man, who was born in 2001, was sentenced to 3 years in a general regime penal colony.

The verdict came into force.

The Mass Media writes that we are talking about a 21-year-old employee of "Yandex.Eda" (Yandex.Food) Maxim from Tyumen, Russia.

In February 2022, he went on a picket with a placard "instead of Phantom Nazis (National Sozialist), innocent people are dying in Ukraine!", and soon left for the Belgorod Oblast, Russia without warning his family. At the end of April, the young man was arrested.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Residents of the Kupiansk district in Kharkiv Oblast in northeastern Ukraine are being evacuated due to active hostilities in the area.

Source: Ukrinform, citing Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on the 24/7 national newscast

Quote from Syniehubov: "Regarding evacuation from the Kupiansk front, which is currently the hottest: it is where the frontline is currently located, and enemy forces are relentlessly trying to attack the positions of our forces. Thats why we announced mandatory evacuation. We are trying to explain this to local residents."

Details: Syniehubov said that Russian forces shell cities, towns and villages in the Kupiansk hromada [an administrative unit that comprises the city of Kupiansk and its adjacent territories - ed.] every day. In light of this, civilians  especially families with children and individuals with limited mobility  were being evacuated from the area.

"The Oblast Military Administration and volunteer organisations are making efforts to evacuate everyone who wants to leave unsafe locations," the head of the administration said.

He explained that everyone who had been evacuated received humanitarian aid and free accommodation in safer parts of Kharkiv Oblast or in other Ukrainian oblasts.

The city of Zhytomyr, for instance, is prepared to welcome and comfortably accommodate 500 families with children from Kupiansk.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Mark Cuban wants the Fed to buy Silicon Valley Banks debt, pronto. Not doing so, he believes, will shake confidence in the financial sectorand hurt tech startups and their employees.

On Friday, the bank failed following a bank run that saw investors and depositors trying to withdraw $42 billion on Thursday alone. Many are now worrying about what ramifications will play out next week.

One widespread concern is that many technology ventures that banked with SVB will be unable to pay their employees, starting next week.

Cuban tweeted on Friday night, The Fed should IMMEDIATELY buy all the securities/debt the bank owns at near par, which should be enough to cover most deposits.

He shared a tech entrepreneurs confession about difficulties caused by the banks failure, adding, "This is who the Fed needs to think about."

In that confession, Champ Bennett, cofounder of a small A.I. video production startup called Capsule, tweeted: This is somewhat embarrassing to reveal publicly, but I feel obligated to tell our story to combat some misconceptions...30 days ago our small team was celebrating closing a $5M fundraise that would enable us to make a bet on our future. Today we are unable to access those funds due to the SVB shutdown. What happens next is anyone's guess, but it doesn't look good.

Cuban himself was once a cofounder of a small video-oriented startup. That venture, Broadcast.com, was eventually acquired by Yahoo for $5.7 billion during the dot-com boom.

The tragedy of the SVB failure, he tweeted, is that its not the wealthy taking the hit. It's the thousands of companies who borrowed from SVB and were required to keep their cash in SVB. Those entrepreneurs and their employees and vendors are feeling the pain. And they are who the Fed should protect.

The billionaire added, "And for the record I have zero personal funds there, although several of my portfolio companies do. Probably all in about 8 to 10m dollars. So I can help them. But it's the other 200b and how many employees and vendors? I'm concerned about them."

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SVBs assets are now under the control of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Customers will have access to their insured deposits on Monday, says the agency, but FDIC insurance tops out at $250,000. Many startups kept far more than that with the bank.

The FDIC said it will pay uninsured depositors an "advance dividend within the next week," but it's unclear what that will amount to and exactly when it will arrive. If it's too small, Cuban warned in a Twitter Spaces on Friday night, there would be a contagion effect.

Greg Martin, founding partner of the investment firm Liquid Stock, told Bloomberg that in the worst-case scenario next week, tens of thousands of workers wont get paid.

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers chimed in, too. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of startups that were planning to use that cash to meet their payroll next week, he said on Bloomberg Televisions Wall Street Week. If thats not able to happen, the consequences really will be quite severe for our innovation system.

Elon Musk, for his part, indicated on Friday night that he was open to the idea of buying Silicon Valley Bank as he lays the groundwork for Twitter payments.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

More from Fortune:






A conservative parent group in Massachusetts has accused a high school of barring students from joining a play about people of colour.

The US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights is investigating claims made by Parents Defending Education in October 2022, Fox News Digital reported.

They alleged white teens at Newton North High School were discriminated against and deterred from participating in the play Lost and Found: Our Stories as People of Color, which was open for BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of colour) students.

... the application to register for an audition slot requests a headshot (You can take a selfie with a phone if you choose), which appears to reinforce the identity-based nature of this event; furthermore, it asks students how they identify racially/ethnically, the group wrote in its website.

But the school denied the allegations in a statement to Fox, saying that while BIPOC students were especially encouraged to take part in the production of the play, white students were not banned.

While centered in the stories of the lives of our students of color, no one is turned away or excluded from participating or having a role in the Lost and Found production of Theater Ink, a spokesperson for the school said.

The Newton Public Schools do not exclude students based upon color, race, ethnicity or religious background.
Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Republican speaker of the US House, Kevin McCarthy, said on Sunday he would slowly roll out to networks other than Fox News more than 40,000 hours of security footage from the January 6 attack on Congress.

Related: Mike Pence: history will hold Donald Trump accountable over Capitol attack

We will slowly roll out to every individual news agency, McCarthy told Sunday Morning Futures, a show broadcast by Fox News. They can come see the tapes as well. Let everyone see them to bring their own judgment.

McCarthy has only let Fox News see the tapes so far, giving access to the primetime host Tucker Carlson.

The move was blasted by Democrats in Congress and Republican critics of Donald Trump  who incited the Capitol attack in an attempt to overturn his election defeat  even before Carlson showed his first excerpts this week.

Carlson claimed the tapes showed mostly peaceful chaos, Trump supporters acting like tourists, and that many of more than 1,000 people arrested, some convicted of crimes including seditious conspiracy, had been unjustly targeted.

Carlson continued to show the footage even as filings in a $1.6bn defamation lawsuit against Fox News by a voting machine company showed that in private messages, Fox News hosts said Trump was lying about voter fraud in the 2020 election and Carlson himself professed to passionately hate the former president.

On Sunday, McCarthy claimed he did not give the tapes to Carlson.

I didnt give the tapes, he said. I allowed [him] to come see them, just like an exclusive with anybody else. My goal here is transparency.

McCarthy also wielded a common rightwing talking point, likening January 6  a violent assault linked to nine deaths including law enforcement suicides  to protests for racial justice after the police murder of George Floyd in summer 2020 which sometimes turned violent.

McCarthy said: Why did I watch federal courts, why did I watch cities burn, federal agencies or something, and nobody arrested there? I think we should have equal justice across this country.

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Nancy Mace, a relatively moderate Republican from South Carolina, tried to make the same point on CNNs State of the Union.

Though she said the tapes should have been given to every media outlet, Mace added: We saw very few arrests when there were attacks by  members of Antifa and Black Lives Matter. I had my house spray-painted two summers ago and no ones been held to account for that.

Mace was not pressed by her host. But other Republicans spoke unfavourably of McCarthys decision to give the Capitol tapes to Carlson, and how Carlson used them.

At a Washington dinner on Saturday night, former vice-president Mike Pence, who the mob targeted on January 6, said: Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace. And it mocks decency to portray it any other way.

On Sunday, speaking to CBSs Face the Nation, Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the House homeland security committee, said: I think the American people deserve to see all the footage from that day, and all the footage is not going to be, you know, tourism at the Capitol.

Its going to show a very dark, tragic day that I witnessed firsthand, that included our Capitol police being assaulted, 140 of them injured, two pipe bombs. One Capitol police officer killed, and a protester killed. Thats not a good day.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) speaks at a California GOP luncheon in Sacramento on Saturday. (Juliana Yamada / San Francisco Chronicle via Associated Press)

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, making a homecoming appearance in front of California Republicans on Saturday, said that after his successful yet protracted fight for the gavel both he and the GOP emerged as a tougher and more formidable political force in Washington.

McCarthy had to grant numerous concessions to Congress most conservative members to win the speakership, and even then it took 15 rounds of voting  the first time in a century that a speaker was not elected on the first ballot. He called the experience, a spectacle that played out on live national television, a test from God.

He just thought we would be stronger if we went through it, McCarthy said to hundreds of delegates and guests at a California Republican Party luncheon, his first speech to the state party since winning the post.

McCarthy made no mention of former President Trump, with whom he has a complicated relationship. He was an early ardent supporter of the real estate baron turned reality-television star during the 2016 campaign, leading Trump to call him my Kevin.

But McCarthy was furious with the then-president for not quelling the insurrectionists who breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That was followed by a number of contradictory statements about the presidents responsibility for the violence, first publicly blaming him, then saying Trump did not incite the mob.

Nearly a year ago, audio recordings emerged of McCarthy telling fellow GOP leaders in early 2021 that he planned to urge Trump to resign during the waning days of his presidency. But recently, McCarthy decided to hand over some 41,000 hours of Jan. 6 security video to Fox News Tucker Carlson, who used the material to fuel an effort to explain away the deadly Capitol attack.

The California Republican Party remains home to a large number of Trump acolytes, some of whom were irked by McCarthys criticism of the former president in the aftermath of Jan. 6.

To be honest with you, I don't really think he's handled it as well as he should, said Elvira Moreno, a 54-year-old delegate from Orange County.

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She said he should have hashed out his differences with Trump privately in order to present a united front: With him not backing his friend, if they were ever friends, just from what I saw, I didn't feel that he took a strong stand.

But Moreno, who wore a Trump lanyard and brought along a years-old picture of herself with McCarthy from a previous convention, said she felt pride in seeing the Bakersfield native rise to become second in line to the presidency. She also supported the actions he has taken since becoming speaker, such as booting Democratic Reps. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, Eric Swalwell of Dublin and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from congressional committees.

Hes showing us that hes doing the job, Moreno said. Accountability is very important, transparency. What he said was really what I wanted to hear as a Californian, as an involved individual for over 35 years.

Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland, who recalled entertaining and hosting poker nights when he shared a Sacramento house with McCarthy and Doug LeMalfa when the trio were in the state Legislature in the early 2010s, said he was proud of McCarthy and not surprised that he was successful.

I said, He will be speaker, I dont care if it takes 100 votes, Strickland said. Hes a fighter and, quite frankly, he works well with people, but when he makes up his mind, he fights. I think a lot of members of Congress and a lot of the people here very much appreciate that fight.

They were among the 500 or so attendees who bought $250 to $350 luncheon tickets to see McCarthy, who did not speak with the media during the event. Some spent an additional $500 to go to a VIP reception with the speaker and take a picture with him.

McCarthys speech included popular Republican touchstones such as fortifying the border, expanding parental rights, supporting law enforcement, opposing China and making fun of Gov. Gavin Newsoms coiffure as he criticized the Democrat's spending priorities, including funding for the California bullet train.

"The only thing I think Gavin spends more time on than high-speed rail is spending time on his hair, McCarthy said.

Though the state GOP does not yet have a prominent candidate running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, McCarthy did blast one of the Democrat's top contenders, Schiff, who has earned the ire of Republicans because of his role as a top Democratic foe to Trump.

"He should never become senator," McCarthy said, arguing that Schiff took his "eye off the ball" on issues such as foreign policy and the supply chain.

The speech was the marquee event of an otherwise relatively sleepy three-day convention at the Hyatt Regency.

No presidential candidates attended despite the states primary taking place less than a year from now, and California offering the largest cache of delegates of any state in the nation. Orange County GOP Chairman Fred Whitaker referred to the 2024 presidential race as a crusade during an invocation Saturday.

Former Rep. Devin Nunes, who left Congress to lead Trumps social media company, was supposed to speak Friday night but canceled because of weather problems. Two members of Congress spoke in his place, and three more spoke Saturday night, including newly elected Rep. John Duarte of Modesto and Rep. Michelle Steel of Seal Beach, who beat back a challenge in a tight district that includes swaths of Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Such electoral results were among the few causes of celebration for a party that last won statewide office in 2006, and whose voters are outnumbered nearly 2 to 1 by Democrats.

Republicans would not have their five-seat majority in Congress without these two wins, plus three other pickups in California in 2020, McCarthy said, as he called for the reelection of state party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson during Sundays internal party elections.

In the last two cycles, we have done nothing but win, McCarthy said, ignoring the lack of statewide success and the partys dismal showing in last years attempted recall of Newsom.

Millan Patterson, a protege of McCarthys whom he first urged to run for the party post in 2019, is widely expected to easily win reelection.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Marisa Rohn serves as the president of the Sisters Charity Foundation of Canton. She calls the position a "dream career move."

Marisa Rohn is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton.

I have been in this role for about six months now, and I feel beyond blessed," she said. "I had the opportunity to learn (and still connect with her from time to time) from one of the most innovative and positive leaders in our community, Joni Close, who retired as president after onboarding me in July.

Rohn began her career working with the United Way of Central Stark County on the campaign team. After that, she spent over 11 years at Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio as vice president of marketing and fund development and assisted with the formation and funding of The Ken Weber Community Campus.

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I then transitioned into higher ed where I spent nearly eight years at Stark State College," she said. "Since July 2022, I have had the great honor of serving as president of Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton. Leading the foundation is a dream career move and one that I consider to be my last. It is so rewarding to be able to get back to working in the nonprofit arena and to see how we can support those who are really making an impact on Stark County and beyond."

Rohn lives in Jackson Township with her husband of 21 years and high school sweetheart, Rich Rohn. They have two daughters, Haley, a junior in college, and Alayna, a junior in high school; and two dogs (boxers) Estabon and Duncan.

She graduated from Washington High School after which she earned her bachelors degree in corporate communications and a minor in Spanish and a masters degree in business administration from Walsh University.

Marisa Rohn serves as the president of the Sisters Charity Foundation of Canton. She calls the position a "dream career move."

Would you share what the Sisters of Charity Foundation is all about and how it helps other organizations in Stark County?

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton supports and furthers the mission and ministry of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine.

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The principal components of their ministry are health, education and social services. We fulfill this mission and ministry through focused and intentional giving in areas that help the poor and underserved in our local communities.

Our foundation has three foundation-led initiatives that we have played a leadership role in and have been committed to for long periods of time, in one case, decades: early childhood, homelessness, and mental health. These are areas where our team gets deeply involved in the work through leadership, board and committee roles, ongoing funding and other avenues.

We also have strategic collaborations that we partner with others in the community on to address a current need or issue. We fund these areas for a period of time, with others, but do not lead.

Finally, we fund responsive grants that are based on the requests and explanations of need from our nonprofit, community partners. While our grant funding is what most people know us for, we are very involved in collaborating, convening and problem-solving in the community.

What are some of your daily job duties as president of the organization?

Today, in my role as president, I have the great fortune of working with one of the best teams and boards in Stark County. Our staff is small, but mighty, and gets involved in the focus areas of the foundation beyond just funding. Our board of directors is very strategic and are great stewards of the foundation funds.

On any given day, I collaborate with my staff and community agencies to find community solutions, work with other local funders to leverage each others work to make the largest impact, review proposals and visit the agencies that have submitted for funding, work directly with the Sisters of Charity Health System on issues impacting our foundation and network, serve as liaison to our local ministry the Early Childhood Resource Center, and more.

Would you share your past and current involvement with Stark State College and the Stark State College Foundation?

I really have been blessed with a rewarding career. Prior to the foundation, I was vice president of advancement, human resources and partnerships at Stark State College, and executive director of the Stark State College Foundation.

I oversaw advancement, marketing & communications, human resources, career services and workforce, partnerships, and the Stark State College Foundation. I also was an adjunct professor for a few semesters.

Stark State instilled in me a strong passion for higher education and the local workforce. I think a lot of people dont understand how impactful a community college is in more than just the academic sense. Stark State connects students to in-demand careers and employers to a skilled workforce.

The college can be a strong partner in helping drive economic development through academic pathways, certificates and workforce opportunities. I really enjoyed my career at Stark State and the people I worked with, but I feel like I have been called back to the nonprofit arena to make an impact in a different way.

What is your philosophy for being involved with and serving others in Stark County?

I have been involved in the community at different levels throughout my career and in different capacities. My current philosophy having learned so much about the needs in Stark County is that if there is something I can do to move the needle on a community issue, I need to step up and get involved.

I think that is my role as president of the foundation; to connect, convene and collaborate with others to address the needs of the most underserved in our community.

One for Fun: Would you rather read a good book, lunch with friends or family or watch a movie when at home?

When I have a few spare minutes, I prefer to visit with friends and family. Nothing beats time spent with my busy teenage daughters and husband, regardless of what we choose to do, and spending time with my other family members or friends is so meaningful!

Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com.

Marisa Rohn serves as the president of the Sisters Charity Foundation of Canton. She calls the position a "dream career move."

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Five questions with Marisa Rohn at Sisters of Charity Foundation
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) on Sunday said hes not ready for the federal government to offer Silicon Valley Bank a bailout after its collapse shook the tech sector last week.

Im not ready to offer them a bailout by any stretch of the imagination. We have to see exactly everything that is pertinent to the specific set of circumstances and to see what else is out there  if anything else is out there  that we should be thinking about, Menendez said on NBCs Meet the Press.

The broader question will be, Should the regulators have been on the ball to ensure that this bank could not have had this risk? And what else is out there, in this regard? As someone who sat in 2008 in the banking committee when we met with that last crisis, the goal is to try to avoid a crisis, not to deal with it, the senator said.

The banks shutdown on Friday constituted the second-largest bank collapse in U.S. history, after the 2008 financial crisis. Executives said theyd move to raise more than a billion dollars in capital, prompting customers to make a bank run.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) also said on the Sunday show circuit that she doesnt support a bailout, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen essentially ruled it out.

Let me be clear that during the financial crisis, there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed out  and the reforms that have been put in place means that were not going to do that again, Yellen said in an interview with CBSs Face The Nation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
 Flash

The Global Center for Mekong Studies (GCMS) Think Tank Forum was convened via video link on Jan. 18.

Rong Ying, deputy director of China Institute of International Studies and director of the GCMS China Center, Zuo Wenxing, counselor of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as researchers from the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies and GCMS Myanmar Center, delivered speeches at the opening of the forum.

The event was jointly hosted by the GCMS China Center and the GCMS Myanmar Center.

More than 20 scholars and researchers from the six national centers of GCMS, the Mekong Institute, the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies of Indonesia, China Foreign Affairs University, and Yunnan University attended the forum.

During the forum, participants discussed issues such as building a community of shared future among the Lancang-Mekong countries and cooperation on post-epidemic recovery.

They believed that over the past seven years, the Lancang-Mekong cooperation had met the actual needs of countries in the region and achieved a series of fruitful outcomes thanks to the concerted efforts of all parties, making positive contributions to regional peace, prosperity, and development.

The forums participants agreed that the Lancang-Mekong countries should join hands to speed up the building of a Lancang-Mekong community of shared future in the next stage.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) on Sunday expressed concerns that President Biden could become known as an asylum denier-in-chief after reports last week that indicated the administration is weighing re-starting a controversial family detention policy.

If the administration does go down this path, I am afraid that the president will become the asylum denier-in-chief, Menendez said on NBCs Meet the Press.

Menendez said the best part of the Biden administrations immigration policy so far is that they ended family detention, which proved to be a failure under both the Obama and Trump administrations as a way to deter individuals from coming.

The White House is reportedly floating a reversal to restart the family detention policy, in which migrant families who cross the border illegally are held in detention facilities, shocking many lawmakers on the left.

Menendez noted that many migrants flocking to the U.S. border are fleeing dictatorships in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

If my situation is I am in a country where staying means where I will most certainly die, see my daughter raped or my son into a gang, Im going to flee. Well, we need to understand that and deal with it, the senator said.

People fleeing those dictatorships, when the admin opened up a legal pathway for those fleeing, it dramatically saw the reduction. Its just an example of what you can do in a way that both is good for the border and preserves our nation as a nation that preserves asylum, Menendez said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Michigan State Shooting

People embrace during the vigil at The Rock on Michigan State Universitys campus in East Lansing, Michigan on February 15, 2023. Credit - The Washington Post/Getty Images

Michigan lawmakers are aiming to pass an 11-bill gun safety package across the state this week, considering provisions that would require background checks on gun purchases, create safe storage laws, and establish extreme risk protection ordersalso known as red flag laws.

Democrats, who have control of the state government for the first time in some 40 years, hope to deliver on the promise of advancing gun safety following a Michigan State University mass shooting last month that left three dead and five wounded.

The package, which includes Senate Bills 76-86, was introduced days after last months tragedy at Michigan State University, but much of the legislation was written by lawmakers after a 2021 shooting at Oxford High School in Oxford Township, Mich. that left four students dead and seven more injured. Democrats previously sought to pass legislation after the Oxford High shooting, but bills were blocked by Republicans, who then-controlled the state legislature.

Gun violence has touched the lives of countless Americans. I personally have family members who have been the victims of gun violence and the impact of that violence reverberates for a lifetime, said House Speaker Joe Tate in a press statement. As elected leaders, it is our responsibility to do what we can to help keep our kids and our communities safe, and that means taking action on common-sense gun reforms. This is not a political issue; it is a public health emergency.

Heres whats inside the gun reform package.

Stricter background checks

The bills would require criminal background checks to be performed for all gun purchases. Individuals would also have to obtain a license to own a firearm.

If passed, gun owners will have to register for any firearm purchase, including rifles and shotguns sold outside of federally licensed dealers, such as gun shows.

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People who inherit a gun from a family member would also have to obtain a license moving forward.

The House is also considering a gun control package that is similar in scope. Under House Bill 4138, individuals who already own a long gun and rifle would not have to complete a background check, the Detroit News reports.

The bill would also shift the responsibility to perform background checks and register firearms to gun sellers. If the gun is passed onto a family member, then the responsibility to register the gun would fall on the person who inherited it.

More from TIME

Red flag laws

Also in the package is an extreme risk protection order, or red flag law, which allows family members, friends and others to petition the court to remove guns from people who may use it to harm themselves or others.

Proponents of this provision argue that it can help prevent suicide, mass shootings, and domestic violence.

Under federal law, only gun owners who have been convicted of a felony, entered a mental institution, or been accused of domestic violence, can get their firearm taken. The proposed law, however, allows the weapon to be taken if someone is showing alarming behavior.

Nineteen other states have enacted their own red flag law.

Extreme risk protection orders save lives by allowing family members and law enforcement to act before warning signs escalate into tragedies, Sen. Rosemary Bayer said last year, when the state was also considering a red flag bill. Michigan needs red flag laws on the books to not only help us prevent the next school shooting, but so that we can also help protect our loved ones in their darkest hour.

Gun storage safety

Senate Bills 79-82, which are a part of the package, would require gun owners to be proactive about keeping their guns away from children and teens.

The legislation asks gun owners to practice safety by storing their weapon in a locked box, keeping the firearm unloaded, or locking up the firearm if they know a minor is present. As part of the bills, lawmakers will remove the sales and use taxes on firearm safety devices to ease the financial responsibility that it would impose on gun owners.

The legislature also proposed changes that would make firearm dealers and manufacturers legally liable for crimes committed with their weapons. Under the Protection of Lawful Commerce Arms Act, manufacturers are federally protected. But, the proposed amendments would allow civilians to pursue lawsuits against dealers and manufacturers in the state if they can prove they were harmed by a firearm industry members knowing violations of that state law regulating firearm industry commerce, the Detroit News reports.

Mandating the responsible, safe storage of firearms will help keep children from accessing dangerous weapons, said state Rep. Felicia Brabec in a statement. We owe it to the people of our state to pass this common-sense legislation.
Former Vice President Mike Pence was one of the featured speakers at the white-tie Gridiron Club dinner in Washington on Saturday, an event that typically is a showcase of biting humor.

But speaking to the crowd of about 600 journalists, administration officials and lawmakers, Pence turned serious at the end of his monologue, this time to condemn Fox News host Tucker Carlsons downplaying of the attack on the Capitol on January 6. He also used his strongest language yet to criticize Donald Trumps conduct on that day.

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Pence didnt call out Carlson by name, but chided his characterization of January 6th rioters as sightseers.

January 6 was a tragic day for him. I was there at the Capitol, and let me assure you it was not, as some would have us believe, a matter of tourists peacefully enjoying our Capitol.

He added, Tourists dont injure 140 police officers by sightseeing. Tourists dont break down doors to get to the Speaker of the House. Or voice threats against public officials. The American people have a right to know what took place at the Capitol on January 6. I expect members of Fourth Estate to continue to do their job. Make no mistake about it  what happened that day was a disgrace and it mocks decency to portray it in any other way.

Pence recounted his experience at the Capitol that day, as he refused Secret Service pleas to leave the complex to ensure his safety.

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When I was escorted off the Senate floor Secret Service told me that I had to leave the building, Pence said. But I was determined to stay. I believed that law enforcement would soon have the situation in hand, never imagining what would unfurl, would occur. But it was there in that small office just off the Senate chamber, there was a small television set, and we watched what was unfolding outside  the mayhem and the rioting. You could hear it echoing outside, and soon thereafter in the hallways.

He added, I always told my kids that the safest place in the world is to be in the center of Gods will. I knew where we were supposed to be, doing what we were supposed to be doing.

Pence then said that Trumps conduct put his family in danger.

I was not afraid but I was angry. President Trump was wrong. I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day. And I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable for what happened.

Pence told Deadline afterward that he made the remarks about Carlson because he was concerned about that narrative taking hold, meaning the Fox News hosts effort to minimize the severity of the attack.

Pence said that as the riot worsened on January 6th, his lead Secret Service detail came in for a third time, speaking with greater urgency in his voice, saying that we need to leave the building. But I felt resolved. The more he insisted the more I did. I finally put my finger in his chest and I said, Youre not hearing. Im not leaving. Im not giving those people the sight of a 16-car motorcade speeding away from the Capitol. 

Pence also praised the news media, telling the crowd that we were able to stay in our post [at the Capitol] in part because you stayed in your post. The American people know what happened that day because you never stopped reporting. Your work inspired our actions and the actions of all the elected officials who reconvened the very same day and turned a day of tragedy into a triumph of freedom.

The former vice president, who is considering a 2024 presidential bid, received a standing ovation at the end of his remarks.

Most of the dinner is devoted to song and dance satire from its journalist members and humor from Republican and Democratic speakers  this time Pence, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The motto is singe, not burn, although there were plenty of jokes about George Santos, Matt Gaetz and Kevin McCarthy that had a wicked bite.

Some of the best zingers were self-deprecating. Pence opened his remarks with a word of prayer. The room grew silent for a few seconds before he said, Just kidding.

Theres this idea that I am some kind of religious nut, Pence said. I mean, just ask my sons: Jedediah, Obadiah and Zacariah.

I am a man of deep faith. In fact, my preferred pronouns are thou and thine.

Then he got in a few jokes about his former boss.

I do try to share my faith. I once invited President Trump to a Bible study. That was an experience. He really liked the passages about smiting and perishing of thine enemies. As he put it, You know Mike, theres some really good stuff in there, Pence said, doing a bit of an impression of Trump.

Which reminds me. I read that some of those classified documents they found in Mar-a-Lago were actually stuck in the presidents Bible. Which proves he had absolutely no idea.

Honestly, I learned a lot working beside Donald Trump  like subpoenas, for instance.

Pence is fighting a subpoena issued by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, who is seeking his testimony about January 6.

In his comedy material about Trump, Pence also did his best Bette Midler and Wing Beneath My Wings. People are often curious whether his ego was as delicate as it appeared, Pence said. Not really. Although before our weekly luncheons, he actually liked me to sing one of his favorite songs. Did you every know that youre my hero? Youre everything I would like to be.

Afterward, Pence was asked what it was like coming up with the jokes. It was brutal, he quipped.

President Joe Biden was invited to the dinner, but did not attend, instead sending Blinken to represent the administration with stand-up material. I am apparently the first Secretary of State in modern history to do this job while my wife and I are raising toddlers. So I hear a lot about ice cream and fast cars and choo choo trains, and thats being in the Oval Office with President Biden.

Blinken got in some quips about media. Now, according to the guest list, there are 600 attendees here tonight. CNN would kill for an audience like that.

His humor also included a singe at Fox News, grappling with the Dominion lawsuit release of thousands of pages of emails and text messages showing that personalities and executives doubted Trumps unfounded election claims yet allowed them to be amplified on air.

Seriously, though, it is wonderful to be with so many journalists who are dedicated to reporting the truth or, if you are Fox, privately texting it, Blinken said.

He also got in a zinger about Pence. The vice president and I have one thing in common: Neither of us will ever be president. After some ooohs, Blinken said, OK, thats a little unfair. I still got some gas left in the tank.

The event at the Omni Shoreham Hotel drew figures ranging from Bill Nye to Dr. Anthony Fauci. Unlike the larger White House Correspondents Association dinner, to be held in April, the Gridiron does not allow cameras at the event, which dates to 1885.

As is tradition, at the end of the evening all attendees lock arms and sing Auld Lang Syne.

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On Saturday evening, Mike Pence delivered his sharpest rebuke yet of former president Donald Trumps role in the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

In remarks at the Gridiron Club Dinner in Washington, D.C., the former vice president asserted President Trump was wrong in his efforts to cast doubt on the 2020 election results, increasing the rift between the two men as the 2024 presidential election gains steam. Pence has not declared his candidacy yet, but he has laid the groundwork to run.

I had no right to overturn the election and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable, Pence said, as quoted in CNN.

Though the dinner is generally a lighthearted affair, with speakers ribbing Washington bigwigs, Pence decided he needed to be serious regarding January 6. He said its one thing I havent joked about and called it a tragic day.

In his role as president of the Senate, Pence ceremonially presided over the vote certification on January 6. Trump unsuccessfully attempted to pressure him into overturning Joe Bidens victory.

Some of those who stormed the U.S. Capitol that day called for Pence to be hanged.

Mere days after Tucker Carlson called most participating sightseers and portrayed the attack at large as mostly peaceful chaos, Pence thought it important to take those who have downplayed January 6 to task.

Tourists dont injure 140 police officers by sightseeing, said Pence. Tourists dont break down doors to get to the Speaker of the House or voice threats against public officials.

Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace, and it mocks decency to portray it in any other way, he added.

He also said the public have a right to know what took place, despite the fact Pence recently asked a judge to block a federal grand-jury subpoena for his testimony relating to January 6.

The former vice president even took a shot at Trumps handling of classified documents, which led the FBI to raid Trumps Mar-a-Lago mansion.

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I read that some of those classified documents they found at Mar-a-Lago were actually stuck in the presidents Bible. Which proves he had absolutely no idea they were there, Pence said humorously, as quoted in the Associated Press.

The former vice president joked that as of yet, Trump hasnt mocked him in the way hes mocked others.

I mean, hes never called me a low-energy moron. Not yet, Pence said.

More from National Review
Odesa City Council has issued a warning stating that a recent storm in the Black Sea has heightened the level of mine danger.

Source: Odesa City Council on Telegram

Quote: "North-west wind of 9-14 m/s, gusts of 15-18 m/s in the morning."

"Mine danger in the Black Sea has increased due to the storm."

Details: Stormy weather can dislodge sea mines from their anchors and the mines can wash ashore or drift along the coast.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
WASHINGTON  In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country last week.

Save the Date  HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultations This Summer 2023

Each of the ten HHS regions will again be hosting consultations with regional Tribes to discuss programmatic issues and Tribal priorities. Each session will include one-on-one opportunities with regional leadership. The sessions will largely take place in-person, with two regions offering virtual. Dates and locations for the following regions have been set:

Region 2  June 6 in Syracuse, NY

Region 9  June 28-29 in Phoenix, AZ

Region 7  June 20-22 in Kansas City, MO

Region 10  August 9-11 in Anchorage, AK

The save the dates for all regions are noted in the same Dear Tribal Leader Letter as the Annual Tribal Budget Consultation. More details will be coming directly from each region to the Tribes in that region.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

National Endowment for the Humanities Appoints Jason Packineau as Strategic Advisor for Native & Indigenous Affairs

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Jason Packineau (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Pueblo of Jemez, Pueblo of Laguna) as NEHs first Strategic Advisor for Native and Indigenous Affairs.

Packineau will serve as the lead policy and strategy advisor for NEHs outreach and engagement with tribal nations and Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. He will also coordinate NEHs Tribal consultation policy, develop partnerships that enhance the agencys support of Indigenous communities, and support convenings, listening sessions, capacity-building, and information sharing among state and jurisdictional Indigenous networks.

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Most recently, Packineau was the Associate Director for the Harvard University Native American Program and currently serves as the Board President for the NACA-Inspired School Network (NISN), a nationwide organization that supports and promotes Indigenous-led education efforts.

Behavioral Health Tribal Advisory Committee to Meet on March 15 - Open to the Public

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Naitonal Tribal Advisory Committee on behavioral health will be holding its first quarterly meeting of 2023 on March 15 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm - EDT. The session is open to the public with participation limited to the NTAC members

Access to the meeting via Zoom will be available HERE.

Interior Department Announces Funds to Help Create Jobs and Revitalize Land in Coal Communities

The Department of the Interior on Thursday announced that the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is awarding $135 million in fiscal year 2023 funding for Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grants. The six Appalachian states with the highest number of unfunded high priority abandoned mine land (AML) problems and three Tribes with approved AML programs are eligible for the grants.

The Crow Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, and the Navajo Nation are each allocated $3.91 million. States and Tribes will continue to work with local partners to identify projects that will bring the most environmental and economic benefits to their communities.

For more information about the AMLER Program and the grants process, please visit OSMREs website.

Rep. Peltola Opens Community Project Funding Request Forms for FY 2024 Appropriations Process

Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is making Community Project Funding Request forms for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) available for interested Alaskans on her website beginning today.

Interested Alaskans are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the CPF guidance, which is also provided on the website. Requests must be submitted by Friday, March 17, at 11:59pm EDT.

Alaskas Congressional delegation has a strong track record of delivering results for our home, Rep, Peltola said. Alaska is a unique place with unique needs, and the federal appropriations process provides significant opportunities to address those needs. I look forward to advocating for Alaskans through this process and am excited to see what great ideas come forward.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
As a Kansas municipality takes on Netflix and Hulu in court, lawmakers are considering a bill to help the streaming giants.

As a Kansas municipality takes on streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu, in court, lawmakers are considering a bill that would exempt the media giants from paying fees that cable companies are required to cough up.

In Kansas, statute requires "competitive video service providers" and other utilities to pay up to 5% of their revenues in a given city to the local government. Because cable providers use infrastructure supported by local tax dollars, the logic is the payments are to help compensate local governments.

Senate Bill 144 comes amid a lawsuit from Fort Scott, alleging that the now ubiquitous streaming services are short-changing Kansas municipalities by not paying those franchise fees.

More:A small Kansas town is taking on Netflix and Hulu over lost franchise fees. Does it stand a chance in court?

As more residents cut the cord and eschew traditional cable packages, local governments across the country argue that streaming services use the local right-of-way also and should pay their fair share  something vigorously disputed by the companies.

"To the viewer, the programming offered by television stations and (Netflix and Hulu) is indistinguishable," a brief in support of the lawsuit said.

Bourbon County District Court Judge Andrea Purvus rejected this argument, dismissing the case under the logic that Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and others do not use the local right-of-way. Because of that, she wrote in her October ruling, they were not covered by the Kansas Video Compensation Act.

"This is not how the KVCA was intended to be applied," Purvus wrote.

Attorneys representing Fort Scott have appealed to the Kansas Court of Appeals, which is considering the case.

More:In leaving Topeka, Hill's Pet Nutrition gets $3M from taxpayers to keep headquarters in Kansas

Could franchise fee debate lead to higher costs for consumers?

Fort Scott's lawyer, Michael Fleming, argued it was unusual for the Legislature to wade into an issue that is the subject of active litigation before Kansas courts.

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"I find it troubling that a bill could be introduced and passed while a matter is pending before the courts," Fleming said. "I think that sets a dangerous precedent."

Rep. Patrick Penn, R-Wichita, took aim at the Fort Scott lawsuit as "frivolous," something Fleming said he "resents."

"If we do some action on this bill, might it stop the Kansas taxpayers from paying for frivolous lawsuits in the courts?" Penn said. "I would enjoin us to do that as well."

More:Why a quiet, unassuming Topeka couple left nearly $9 million to Hayden Foundation

Proponents argue the legislation is an important clarification that would prevent customers from seeing a 5% rise in their monthly Netflix and Hulu bills.

Sean Ostrow, a lobbyist for Dish Network, argued that the notion that streaming services should pay franchise fees was "nebulous." But he warned that consumers could be harmed if cities like Fort Scott  or their counterparts in a dozen other states with lawsuits  succeed.

He argued that, if successful, the legal argument could also be applied to telemedicine, remote learning and even livestreams of the Kansas Legislature.

"We dont know where it would start and where it would end," Ostrow told the House Energy and Utilities Committee Thursday. "They are going after streaming services now, but there is nothing to stop them from going after anyone that charges for content over the internet."

But others have argued that the bill as currently written would exempt companies that offer content delivered both via traditional cable and streaming services, such as Dish Network and their subsidiary, Sling, from paying a franchise fee.

"That is not codifying the (Bourbon County) district court opinion, it is expanding it," said Michael Koss, an attorney representing Overland Park.

Dish and other providers dispute that would be the case.

More:KPERS could see billions in losses if Kansas GOP plan to combat 'woke investing' passes

It is unclear what effect the bill might have on the Fort Scott lawsuit, were it allowed to proceed. The bill does not appear to be retroactive, meaning that it is possible the city could attempt to seek past unpaid franchise fees before it might take effect.

But Fleming noted the lawsuit might fail anyway, rendering the legislative effort moot. In the meantime, he said it was supporting a system that is unfair.

"The goal of a bill should be uniformity and not picking winners and losers," he said.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Amid Netflix, Hulu lawsuit, Kansas weighs helping streaming services
A 25-year-old woman has been arrested in California for attempted murder and felony child abuse after a newborn baby was found abandoned in a trash can in a gas station restroom.

In a press release shared March 10, the Fullerton Police Department said they had arrested the woman after reviewing surveillance footage and vehicle information.

Gas station on Orangethorpe Ave. in Fullerton, California. (Google Maps)

At around 3:35 p.m. March 9, officers from the Fullerton Police Department responded to a call from the service station on Orangethorpe Avenue about a baby that was found in a trash can at the establishment, according to a press release.

When fire crews arrived, they heard the newborn child crying from the trash can, KNBC, an NBC affiliate in Los Angeles, reported. The fire department then took the child to a nearby hospital to receive further medical care. The newborn was in critical but stable condition as of March 9.

TODAY.com has reached out to the Fullerton Police Department for further information on the infant's condition.

The state of California has a Safely Surrendered Baby Program, which was first created in January 2001 and signed permanently into law in January 2006.

According to the California Department of Social Services, the laws intent is to save lives of newborn infants at risk of abandonment by encouraging parents or persons with lawful custody to safely surrender the infant within 72 hours of birth, with no questions asked.

The law requires the baby to be taken to a designated fire station, a public or private hospital or a safe surrender site that is designated by the County Board of Supervisors.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has ordered the closure of the Vatican Embassy in Managua and that of the Nicaraguan Embassy to the Vatican in Rome, a senior Vatican source said on Sunday.

Nicaragua signalled that the move, which came a few days after Pope Francis compared the Nicaraguan government to a dictatorship, was "a suspension" of diplomatic relations.

The Vatican source said that while the closures do not automatically mean a total break of relations between Managua and the Holy See, they are serious steps towards that possibility.

Ortega's administration has been increasingly isolated internationally since he began cracking down heavily on dissent following street protests that erupted in 2018. Ortega called the protests an attempted coup against his government.

Bishop Rolando Alvarez, a vocal critic of Ortega, was sentenced to more than 26 years in prison in Nicaragua last month on charges that included treason, undermining national integrity and spreading false news.

Alvazez was convicted after he refused to leave the country along with 200 political prisoners released by Ortega's government and sent to the United States. Alvarez refused to board the plane and was stripped of his citizenship.

In an interview published last week with Latin American online news outlet Infobae ahead of Monday's 10th anniversary of his pontificate, the pope pointed to Alvarez's imprisonment and likened what was happening in Nicaragua to the "1917 Communist dictatorship or that of Hitler in 1935".

Staff in both embassies had been down to barebones for years with only a charge d'affaires for the Vatican in Managua and almost no one for Nicaragua in Rome.

The relationship between the Nicaraguan Catholic Church and the government has been severely strained since the crackdown on the anti-government protests in 2018, when the Church acted as a mediator between both sides.

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The Church had called for justice for more than 360 people who died during the unrest.

Nicaraguan Bishop Silvio Baez, also a critic of the government, went into exile in 2019.

A year ago, the Vatican protested to Nicaragua over the effective expulsion of its ambassador, saying the unilateral action was unjustified and incomprehensible.

Archbishop Waldemar Sommertag, who had been critical of Nicaragua's slide away from democracy, had to leave the country suddenly after the government withdrew its approval of the envoy.

(Additional reporting by Ismael Lopez and Dave Graham, Editing by Frances Kerry and William Maclean)
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP)  Nicaragua s government said Sunday it has proposed suspending relations with the Vatican days after Pope Francis reportedly compared President Daniel Ortegas administration to a communist or Nazi dictatorship amid a crackdown on the Catholic Church in the Central American country.

Relations between the church and the Nicaraguan government have been deteriorating since 2018, when authorities violently repressed antigovernment protests. Some Catholic leaders gave protesters shelter in their churches and the church later tried to act as a mediator between the regime and the opposition.

Ortega branded Catholic figures he saw as sympathetic to the opposition as terrorists who had backed efforts to overthrow him.

Dozens of religious figures were arrested or fled the country. Two congregations of nuns  including from the Missionaries of Charity order founded by Mother Teresa  were expelled last year, and prominent Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez was sentenced to 26 years in prison last month after he refused to board an airplane that would have flown him to exile in the United States. He was also stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship.

Pope Francis had remained largely silent on the issue, apparently not wanting to inflame tensions, but in a March 10 interview with Argentine media outlet Infobae he called Ortegas government a rude dictatorship led by an unbalanced president.

In Nicaragua we have a bishop in prison, a very serious and capable man, who wanted to give his testimony and did not accept exile, Francis said, referring to Alvarez. It is something from outside of what we are living, as if it were a communist dictatorship in 1917 or a Hitlerian one in 1935.

Amid rumors that Nicaraguas government had broken off ties with the Vatican following the comments, its foreign ministry released a statement Sunday saying: a suspension of relations between the Republic of Nicaragua and the Vatican State has been proposed.

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Vatican sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because there has not been any official announcement, said Sunday evening there was a request, from Nicaragua, to close each sides diplomatic missions.

A human rights organization, Nicaragua Nunca Mas, has estimated that more than 50 religious leaders have fled since 2018, when a social security reform triggered massive protests. Other church personnel -- including priests, seminarians and lay staff members, were among the 222 Nicaraguans released from detention and forcibly expelled to the United States on Feb. 9.

Nicaragua Nunca Mas and CSW, a British-based organization that advocates for religious freedom around the world, have gathered testimonies from dozens of people who have described harassment, threats, physical violence and arbitrary detention targeted at a range of religious workers. There are multiple accounts of masked men breaking into churches, theft or destruction of religious objects, and the prohibition of religious processions.

One year ago, the Nicaraguan government expelled the apostolic nuncio Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, who had advocated for the release of hundreds of imprisoned opponents in 2018 and 2019. At the time, the Holy See expressed its surprise and pain at the measure.

Last August, the Nicaraguan police imposed a siege of more than two weeks around the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa, holding Bishop Alvarez captive along with three priests and four other people, who were later arrested and sentenced for conspiracy.

When the government deported 222 political prisoners, Alvarez refused to get on the plane and was put in the Modelo prison, where thousands of common criminals are held.

The crackdown on the 2018 protests by police and government-affiliated paramilitaries left 355 people dead, more than 2,000 injured and 1,600 detained at various times, according to human rights organizations. ____

Frances DEmilio reported from Rome.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphys (D) term is up in 2026, but he said he has not given any thought to possible presidential ambitions, instead throwing his full support behind President Biden.

I [am] 1,000 percent behind President Biden, Murphy said in an interview with CBSs Face The Nation. And I havent really looked beyond that he certainly is going to run. He deserves to run. Hes earned that right. I think hes had a great run here. And Im gonna be 1,000 percent behind him.

Murphys comments come as he has made some noise in the D.C. political scene, including his appearance at the annual Gridiron Dinner in the city over the weekend. Facing term limits that will not allow him to run for governor again, some are pointing to the 2028 presidential race as a possibility for Murphy.

Murphy, who leads the National Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association, has positioned himself as the antithesis of some popular conservative governors that have latched onto education and cultural issues to rise to national prominence.

He targeted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) decision to reject an Advanced Placement African American studies class in the state in Sundays interview.

Do we believe in teaching our whole history, Murphy said. The good, the bad, the ugly, nothing but the truth? The answer affirmatively is yes. So in this case, AP African American Studies, New Jersey has one high school teaching it this year, were expanding it to 26 next year.

Murphy took even more direct aim at DeSantis, saying he was trying to divide people.

Hes just trying to divide us, Murphy said. Hes trying to change the subject. Hes doing it for political reasons, I assume.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In a rare show of consensus, congressional lawmakers from both parties on Sunday said they would oppose any potential bailout options for Silicon Valley Bank, which collapsed on Friday in the largest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ruled out a bailout possibility for the banks owners and investors, and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle piled on to say that wouldnt be the right move to deal with the second-largest bank collapse in the countrys history.

Let me be clear that during the financial crisis, there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed out  and the reforms that have been put in place means that were not going to do that again, Yellen said in an interview with CBSs Face The Nation.

Regulators shut down the bank on Friday over concerns about its solvency as customers withdrew their funds. Federal officials are reportedly looking for ways to safeguard uninsured bank deposits in an effort to avoid a panic in the hours before the first markets open in Asia, The Washington Post reported.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez (N.J.) said on NBCs Meet the Press that hes not ready to offer Silicon Valley Bank a bailout by any stretch of the imagination.

We have to see exactly everything that is pertinent to the specific set of circumstances and to see what else is out there  if anything else is out there  that we should be thinking about, Menendez said.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace (S.C.) stressed on CNNs State of the Union that she wouldnt support a bailout at this time.

You know, we cannot keep bailing out private companies, because theres no consequences to their actions. People, when they make mistakes or break the law, have to be held accountable in this country, Mace said.

Its still very early. I dont even think its been 48 hours. But at this time, I would not support a bailout, the congresswoman said.

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Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) reportedly said at a SXSW panel that she doesnt think theres any appetite in this country for bailing out a bank and that she hopes instead for another bank to buy it.

The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that regulators were auctioning the bank in an effort to pay back depositors.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures that he thinks a larger bank acquiring Silicon Valley Bank is a great potential and something the administration was considering.

Silicon Valley Bank has a lot of assets. Its just where the capital is currently at. So it is attractive for someone to want to purchase it. Its just a timeline of where to move forward. And the administration has tools to deal with this, McCarthy said.

Pelosi reportedly said that there are several potential buyers, but did not identify them  and that she hopes to see a buy by tomorrow morning. McCarthy said he hopes the administration makes an announcement on the matter by tomorrow before U.S. markets open.

I have talked with the administration, from [Federal Reserve Chair] Jay Powell and Janet Yellen. They do have the tools to handle the current situation. They do know the seriousness of this, and they are working to try to come forward with some announcement before the markets open, the Speaker said of the administration. And Im hopeful that something can be announced today to move forward.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), whose home state hosts the tech-heavy South by Southwest festival, said on CBS Face the Nation he hopes the banks failure was an isolated event.

We want to make sure this is an isolated event, and not a systemic event that could impact things like in 2008 when we did bail out the financial sector, he said.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) meanwhile said he was waiting to see what, if any, decisions were made on Sunday before deciding.

Theres generally been a feeling that, you know, the people responsible, the shareholders of the bank ought to lose their money, Warner said on ABC This Week. Depositors have been a different circumstance, but there are questions around moral hazard. Ive got a lot of faith that the overall system is quite strong.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The film, based on the famous anti-war novel, has enjoyed success beyond its director and casts expectations (Reiner Bajo/Netflix/Getty/The Independent)

In an Oscar season defined by its surprises, from the bizarre, celebrity-led campaign to earn Andrea Riseborough a Best Actress nomination, to Normal Peoples Paul Mescal getting a nod aged 26, the biggest has been the rise of a movie no one cared about a few months ago. Netflixs All Quiet on the Western Front was released in October to little fanfare. It felt like one of those random original films to appear on a typical Friday morning with no real stars and (it seemed) few corporate expectations. Cut to today, though, and it swept the 2023 Bafta Awards  winning 6 of the 14 categories it was nominated for. At the Oscars, the film has been nominated in nine categories  second only to the 11 for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

All Quiet on the Western Front represents Netflixs best chance of winning its first Best Picture Oscar since 2018s Roma. Its a prize the streamer covets deeply, having thrown everything at the wall in recent years: from humouring Martin Scorseses three-and-a-half-hour-long The Irishman to enlisting the help of critics favourites Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story. Just this year, millions of dollars were pumped into the marketing campaigns of movies you saw (such as Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) and movies you definitely didnt (White Noise, we hardly knew ye). Even those involved in All Quiet cant quite believe whats happened. I really dont really understand whats going on at the moment, Felix Kammerer, the movies baffled leading man, tells me over Zoom from his home in Vienna. To see something that I hoped would work out fine now taking this path is just unbelievable.

Based on Erich Maria Remarques famed 1928 anti-war novel of the same name, All Quiet on the Western Front follows Paul Baumer (Kammerer), a young German soldier brimming with naivety. So eager to join his schoolmates in battle, he lies about receiving his parents consent, marching blindly into the hellscape of the Western Front. The events of the movie begin in 1917 when Germany is taking a battering from the Allies, whove been reinforced by swathes of American soldiers. The propaganda-driven illusion of an imminent German victory implodes almost instantly, and Paul is faced with the untold horrors of trench warfare.

The best-selling German novel of all time, the book has sold 20 million copies worldwide, despite the Nazis quickly banning the text. They, unsurprisingly, called it anti-war propaganda and burnt thousands of copies while they were at it, forcing Remarque to flee the country to save his life. Huge pressure, director Edward Berger tells me over Zoom about adapting the seminal text. Aside from him, most of that pressure fell on Kammerer, who had never worked on a film before. The 27-year-old theatre actor was discovered by All Quiets producer, whod been convinced by his wife to see him act at the prestigious Burgtheater in Vienna. He offered him an audition on the spot. He carries the movie like a heavy bag, Berger says of his lead actor. Its a job you have to do and thats the way Felix comports himself.

Kammerers shattering performance as Paul is another reason why All Quiet was such a hit with critics. He has a singularly striking face  thin but bright, with huge eyes  that feels tailor-made for a war drama. Its a fresh canvas for mud, blood and s*** from the battlefield. To prepare for the role he ran 10km with a weighted vest every day for six months. He also delved into the archives of the British Library, pouring over 2,500 letters written by soldiers from the front. He even watched interviews with murderers to try and grapple with the emotions that killing someone might invoke.

Its also a huge production for an actor making his silver screen debut. The $20m (16.6m) budget makes it one of the biggest movies to ever come out of Germany. To stand in this 30-acre field with two and a half thousand extras... You suddenly feel what the movie is going to be, Kammerer says. As a theatre veteran, the actor was unprepared to film scenes out of chronological order. He therefore devised a uniquely unglamorous strategy to help him keep track of Pauls journey, one few actors would be prepared to reveal: an Excel spreadsheet.

Germans are always sceptical of ambition. Whenever you try something a little bit different than the norm, they get worried

Edward Berger

It looks like a tax return form, he says, smiling. He attempts to find a physical copy of the sheet, rifling through carefully organised scripts and scrapbooks, all of which are crammed with Post-It notes. In Kammerers spreadsheet, every moment in the film is divided into one of three categories, each tied to a singular emotion: Fear of Death, Will to Kill, Pulse. Only once in the film did all three categories reach their peak simultaneously, he says. It left such a mark on him that he even remembers its number: Scene 95. It sees Paul experiencing acute remorse after stabbing a French soldier. In vain, he attempts to save him. We watch in agony as the man slowly dies gracelessly in the mud, with Pauls tears falling on him.

Academy voters will be all too aware that scenes such as this have taken on a new resonance due to the war in Ukraine, which coincided with the films release last year. The pictures from Ukraine look exactly like pictures from the First World War, Kammerer says. Its the same mud, the same trenches And thats absolutely devastating.

Edward Berger and Felix Kammerer at an awards event for All Quiet on the Western Front in December (Getty Images for Netflix)

The film was given a two-week run in select theatres before moving on to Netflix on 28 October, where it remained in the sites Global Top 10 Films for 11 weeks. Its success is also a testament to English-speaking audiences growing receptiveness to non-English speaking media  Netflixs Squid Game and Bong Joon-hos 2020 Best Picture winner Parasite being two obvious examples. It doesnt make any sense to make this movie in English, Berger says. Its a German novel in the German language and it should be told by a group of German filmmakers in our language.

Indeed, All Quiet has already been done in English, twice. Once in Lewis Milestones Best Picture-winning 1930 movie, and again by Delbert Mann as a television film in 1979, which won a Golden Globe. As a German, Berger says his expertise in the subject matter is the main reason he decided to remake the movie. Germany, unfortunately, does have a background of starting two World Wars, he says. Thats something inherited. We can put this DNA into the movie.

Despite staying mostly faithful to the text, Bergers adaptation introduced new characters, omitted old ones and added new subplots. Thats largely why German critics were not quite as effusive as those abroad. Like several other national outlets, Munich-based broadsheet Suddeutsche Zeitung suggested that the books reputation had been abused to create Oscar-bait. One-hundred and forty-eight minutes of blockbuster-compatible war kitsch is being slapped with a title that is internationally known and guarantees prestige and good sales. Maybe even an Oscar, the newspapers film critic seethed. Berger has little time for such detractors. Germans are always sceptical of ambition, is his retort. Whenever you try something a little bit different than the norm, they get worried.

Soldiers go to battle in All Quiet on the Western Front (Reiner Bajo/Netflix)

At the 95th Academy Awards on 12 March, All Quiet is in with a real shot to make history as Netflixs first Best Picture winner. When I mention this possibility to Kammerer, a lurking Netflix publicist hastily reminds me that the service hasnt been completely unsuccessful with Oscar so far: Roma won in three categories, including Best Director for Alfonso Cuaron. But their latest contender faces stiff competition from Everything Everywhere All at Once, Martin McDonaghs The Banshees of Inisherin, and Steven Spielbergs The Fabelmans. Whatever the outcome may be, Kammerer refuses to be drawn on his films chances: Im there to just be absolutely grateful and happy and astonished  what would you even do with nine Oscars, anyway?

Im sure Netflix could think of something.

All Quiet on the Western Front is streaming now on Netflix and can be watched at select cinemas
Anthony Fauci has lashed out at crazy comments made by figures on the political right baselessly demanding his arrest.

During a CNN appearance on Saturday, Dr Fauci dismissed calls from GOP politicians and Twitter CEO Elon Musk for his arrest.

Theres no response for that craziness. I mean, prosecute for what? What are they talking about? he told host Jim Acosta. I wish I could figure out what the heck they are talking about I think theyre just going off the deep end.

The countrys former top infectious disease expert went on to say that those types of remarks were irresponsible and put his family in danger.

Every time somebody gets out and spouts some nonsense that is misinformation, disinformation and outright lies, somebody somewhere decides they want to do harm to me and or my family, he said.

Dr Fauci said those threats are the reason he still has security protection, even after stepping down as a chief medical adviser to the President and from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2022.

Dr Fauci was also responding to a Tweet by Mr Musk telling his 131m followers that [His] pronouns are prosecute/Fauci.

Criticism against Dr Fauci reignited last week after FBI Director Chris Wray told Fox News his agency thought the most likely explanation was that the Covid-19 pandemic was caused by a Chinese lab leak  a theory that GOP leaders say was dismissed as a conspiracy by Dr Fauci.

Acosta: You've been vilified on the far right. Weve seen Elon Musk tweet that his pronouns are prosecute Fauci.

Fauci: There's no response to that craziness. Prosecute me for what? What are they talking about? pic.twitter.com/88q7AFDJ9n  Acyn (@Acyn) March 11, 2023

Asked if Dr Wrays statements held any truth, Mr Fauci said it was difficult to tell.

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Well, its very tough to tell that, Anderson, because theyre talking about information that they have that we dont have privy to. So we dont really know, Dr Fauci told CNNs host Anderson Cooper.

However, Dr Fauci said the possibility had not been completely ruled out.

I mean, we had SARS-CoV-1, which was clearly shown to go from a bat to a civet cat to a human. And if theres a possibility, which there is, certainly  we havent ruled it out  of there being a lab leak, there are things that you can do to prevent the recurrence of these things.

His comments come after House Republicans kicked off an investigation into the origins of Covid-19 in February by issuing a series of letters to current and former Biden administration officials, including Dr Fauci, for documents and testimony.

Dr Fauci has previously said he believes the virus emerged in nature and jumped from animals to humans, a phenomenon known as a spillover event. But Republicans have accused him of lying to Congress when he denied in May that the US funded gain of function research  the practice of enhancing a virus in a lab to study its potential impact in the real world  at a virology lab in Wuhan, China.

Earlier this month, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Senator JD Vance slammed Dr Fauci for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Cruz had previously urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Dr Faucis statements.

Dr Fauci has done more damage than any bureaucrat in the history of our nation, Mr Cruz said in a live recording of his podcast The Verdict on the stage at CPAC. He would be prosecuted for lying under oath and he would go to jail for lying under oath.

Mr Vance echoed the sentiment of the panel as well.

There should be accountability. Tony Fauci lied under oath. Its not just that, he compelled and persuaded the FBI to censor information about the pandemic as it was unfolding, he said. Its absolutely disgraceful what Tony Fauci did.

No concrete evidence exists that gain of function research was funded by NIH, but Dr Fauci said last year he would cooperate with Republicans if they decided to open a probe.
(Bloomberg) -- North Korea said its taking important and practical measures to deter any acts of aggression by the US and South Korea as the two allies prepare to hold large-scale military drills through the next two weeks.

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Pyongyang discussed and adopted steps for making more effective, powerful and offensive use of the countrys war deterrent in coping with the present situation, North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said Sunday. War provocations by the U.S. and South Korea are reaching its red line, it said.

The decision was made at a meeting of the Central Military Commission of North Koreas Workers Party in which leader Kim Jong-un was present, according to KCNA.

North Korea Slams US War Preparation, Fires Off Missiles

The US and South Korea are planning to hold their Freedom Shield exercises March 13-23, aimed at bolstering their joint defense posture in the face of North Koreas nuclear and missile threats, according to the militaries of the two countries. The drills are expected to be some of the largest the two have held in years.

North Korea, which for decades has decried such drills as a prelude to an invasion and nuclear war, has pledged an unprecedented response. It has demanded that the US and South Korea halt hostile military actions, criticizing the US for deliberately increasing tensions in the Korean Peninsula and the broader region. Last week, Kim presided over live-fire drills where his military launched several suspected short-range ballistic missiles.

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The National Transportation Safety Board said on Sunday that Norfolk Southerns proposed safety goals are not robust enough, after the railroad giant experienced several recent accidents that include the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in rural Ohio.

Norfolk Southerns CEO, Alan Shaw, testified before the Senate on Thursday  over a month after one of the companys trains carrying 20 cars worth of hazardous material derailed in the small Ohio town of East Palestine, creating a fiery disaster that threatens residents health and safety.

The company has also come under scrutiny after another of its freight trains derailed earlier this month near Springfield, Ohio. Last Tuesday, Norfolk Southern said one of its conductors was killed in Cleveland, Ohio, when he was struck by a dump truck as a Norfolk Southern train was moving through a crossing at a steel facility.

Shaw promised senators on Thursday that Norfolk Southern will clean the East Palestine site safely, thoroughly and with urgency. He also said he is committed to improving the companys culture of safety, but refused to pledge to several safety-specific actions lawmakers presented to him.

On Sunday, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said that Shaws attempt to set safety goals are not up to the boards standard.

Some of the safety goals laid out by Norfolk Southern after the train derailment in East Palestine are not robust enough, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy tells @MarthaRaddatz.



I think well be looking at more recommendations as part of our investigation. https://t.co/jMPxxGu821pic.twitter.com/6W50op3Wck  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 12, 2023

They are not robust enough, she told ABCs This Week. I think well be looking at more recommendations as part of our investigation.

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The NTSB, which probes transportation accidents, launched a special investigation last week into Norfolk Southern to look into what it says is the companys organization and safety culture. The board said that the East Palestine derailment occurred due to an overheated wheel bearing.

In addition to the railroad companys recent accidents, the board said it is also probing three additional Norfolk Southern incidents  two fatalities in 2021 and 2022 respectively, as well as a train derailment last year in Sandusky, Ohio.

Homendy said that the NTSB this week will be testing the valves responsible for releasing pressure of the five vinyl chloride cars in the train that derailed in East Palestine. The train was transporting hundreds of thousands of pounds of vinyl chloride, a chemical that has been linked to many types of cancer.

Well see what comes of that testing, she said. We may have recommendations towards the end that are much broader.

Related...
Retired Editorial Page Editor Michael Douglas.

Those Ohioans seeking to ensure access to abortion have moved quickly, and good thing. They want to place a proposed amendment to the state constitution on the November ballot. The change declares that every individual has a right to make and carry out ones own reproductive decisions.

The ballot language has won initial approval. Once the Ohio Ballot Board completes its assessment, the way will open to collecting petition signatures, more than 400,000 required.

Other states have advanced on this front, notably Kansas voters reaffirming reproductive rights. All of this comes in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the court neglecting five decades of precedent upon which women relied for privacy and equality.

Abortion in Ohio: What does proposed constitutional amendment say?

There also is a need for urgency. The high court decision has generated real and troubling consequences, something Jessica Valenti has tracked in her newsletter, Abortion, Every Day. She writes about the damage done, from a distraught cancer patient denied an abortion to a woman left bleeding for more than 10 days after an incomplete miscarriage.

At the lead, in Ohio and elsewhere, are doctors and other medical workers citing the suffering and stressing action now.

The situation too easily could get worse.

Consider the lawsuit launched by abortion opponents designed to thwart medication abortion, the most common method for terminating a pregnancy, a two-pill regimen that is safe, effective, more accessible and less costly. The lawsuit calls for reversing federal Food and Drug Administration approval of the first drug, mifepristone, and thus ending medication abortion nationwide.

As I write, the judge has not ruled. Yet the deck appears stacked. Abortion opponents looked for a favorable judge, and they found him in Amarillo, Texas, where he sits alone. A Trump appointee, Matthew Kacsmaryk, is an ideological soulmate of the far right.

Just as vexing as one federal judge on the cusp of such an unprecedented step are those cheering for him to do so. The crowd includes Dave Yost, the Ohio attorney general who joined nearly two dozen other Republican state attorneys general in a friend-of-the-court brief.

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Yost and colleagues rally to the side of the plaintiffs. In doing so, they embrace arguments of little merit, pushing conjecture to the point of a shoddiness far from the standards expected of their offices.

The brief goes back to 2000, when the FDA first approved mifepristone. The Republican attorneys general contend the agency followed the wrong regulatory path in assessing the drug, arguing the section of the law does not permit the agency to greenlight elective abortions on a wide scale.

The suggestion is that the FDA somehow went easy on the maker of mifepristone. Yet the agency rejected the application twice. It added a clinical trial and set restrictions on the distribution. It took the regulatory path that allowed for such conditions. Since approval, the agency has conducted peer-reviewed, scientific analyses.

The Government Accountability Office found the FDA process consistent with the evaluation of other drugs.

Michael Douglas: Accurate African-American history courses critical for our country's success

The attorneys general also argue that in permitting delivery by mail of the abortion drugs, the agency violates federal law. The attorneys general echoed this claim in a recent letter to Walgreens and CVS threatening repercussions if the pharmacies mail the drugs to customers.

The law the attorneys general have in mind dates to 1873. Legal analysts note that federal courts have held that to violate the law, a sender must know the recipient intends to use the materials illegally. That makes sense, especially when the drugs, as in this case, are used to treat multiple conditions.

More, Congress has amended the law in the past, but it hasnt done so in response to where federal courts have stood. Thus, it follows that the Justice Department recently concluded the Postal Service may deliver the pills.

Most outlandish, perhaps, is the claim of abortion opponents and allies the drugs are unsafe. The country has nearly a quarter-century of experience with medication abortion. Given the intense scrutiny, evidence of big trouble surely would surface. Yet a 2016 FDA review found severe complications very rare, for instance, hospitalization in 0.7 percent of cases and hemorrhaging in 0.1 percent.

The numbers reveal medication abortion safer than penicillin, and 14 times safer than childbirth, the United States with dismayingly high maternal and infant mortality rates compared to peer countries.

A poll conducted last fall found 59% of registered voters in Ohio support amending the state constitution to ensure a right to abortion in the framework of the Roe decision. For his part, Dave Yost missed in the mark when skeptical about reports of a raped and pregnant 10-year-old girl leaving the state to get an abortion. Now, in backing this ill-conceived lawsuit, he reinforces the case for urgent action.

Douglas was the Beacon Journal editorial page editor from 1999 to 2019. He can be reached at mddouglasmm@gmail.com.

Michael Douglas: Frank LaRose's misguided agenda seeks to expand Republican power, not serve Ohioans

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio AG Dave Yost errs in joining fight to stop abortion pills
A person was found dead on the 1800 block of Lockbourne Road on Saturday afternoon.

Columbus police are investigating after a person was found shot to death Saturday afternoon on the city's South Side.

Officers were called around 3:45 p.m. Saturday to a two-story apartment building on the 1800 block of Lockbourne Road on a report of a shooting.

Responding officers found a person with gunshot wounds, who was pronounced dead at the scene by medics, according to Columbus police.

Homicide detectives were on the scene.

No additional details were immediately available.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: One killed in Saturday afternoon South Side shooting
Missouri lawmakers gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill aimed at allowing students to transfer out of their home school district, adding a pair of amendments limiting its scope.

The bill was approved Tuesday with 82 legislators voting in support  the exact number needed to reach a majority. Only one Democrat supported the measure, St. Louis Democrat Ian Mackey, and 24 Republicans were among the 67 no votes.

The House must approve the bill one more time before it is sent to the Senate.

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Rep. Bill Pollitt, R-Sedalia, has tried to pass similar legislation for the last two years, falling short in 2022 when the House passed it but the Senate failed to take up his proposal.

Pollitt has attempted to pass the bill the past two legislative sessions. His bill last year passed the House 85-66, but the Senate didnt vote on it.

Its hard to understand the issues our public schools face each and every day, Pollitt said during Tuesdays debate. That being said, I think its imperative that we continue to work to improve and offer more choices, and I believe open enrollment is a step in the right direction for education reform.

Youre hearing things like it forces districts to compete against each other, he continued. I believe this country is built on competition. Why should any school district in the state that is funded by part of taxpayer dollars be afraid of a competitive program?

The bill would limit students to districts who have opted into the program.

An amendment offered by Rep. John Black, R-Webster permanently limited the portion of students who can transfer out of a school district to 3%. The original legislation had a temporary 4% cap that would have been removed after four years.

Rep. Justin Hicks, R-Lake St. Louis, proposed an amendment to bar race-based quotas from impacting open enrollment.

I believe what this amendment does altogether is ensure that open enrollment is open to all students, he said. Its not its not based on race, ethnicity, national origin or anything like that.

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The original legislation has exemptions for desegregation plans and districts diversity plan, but Hicks amendment cuts that language.

Rep. Paula Brown, D-Hazelwood, asked Hicks if he had considered whether the amendment would lead to some school districts becoming segregated.

It ensures that it doesnt matter what race you are.. in determining which individual goes, he said.

The House passed Hicks amendment 107-46 along party lines, with Rep. Gary Bonacker, R-House Springs, just voting present.

Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, asked Pollitt: Does open enrollment improve student achievement?

He said he had been waiting for that question and has seen different reports online, some noting improvement, others not.

Multiple lawmakers Tuesday questioned one of the bills provisions regarding special education services.

The bill does not require receiving districts to accommodate students with existing learning disabilities if it does not have the staff to provide the needed services. Some lawmakers criticized the legislation for discriminating against disabled students.

Which school district would be responsible to ensure that a child receives an appropriate education? Rep. Sarah Unsicker, D-Shrewsbury, asked Pollitt.

He read from his bill stating that schools do not need to hire more staff or create a program to accommodate disabled students.

Basically a school can reject a child based on their disabilities, is that correct? Unsicker asked.

They can reject a child if they dont have staff or a program in place, Pollitt said.

He said if a child enrolls in a nonresident school district and later requires special education services, the nonresident district would be responsible for providing those accommodations.

Unsicker said the bill does not state which district, the resident district or the one a student chooses to enroll in, is responsible for testing the child for learning disabilities.

Pollitt later said that provision was based on a Wisconsin court case.

Rep. Jamie Johnson, D-Kansas City, questioned whether local funding would follow a student into their new district. She thought only federal and state money would transfer, creating a gap in funding.

Pollitt said local funding does not transfer.

Is it possible that my district paid by my tax dollars will be spread thinner by the larger number of students? Johnson asked.

Possibly, Pollitt answered, adding that districts opt into the program to receive students.

This is an educational shell game to dismantle public education, Johnson said. And if youve ever played fair games, you know that everyone loses.

As first reported by the Springfield News-Leader, school boards statewide have signed resolutions opposing the bill.

The legislation does not allow students to transfer into charter schools.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter.
Lets go back over 100 years to a modest village on the West coast of India. As often happens in places by the sea, years of trading have left a polyglot mixture; Hindus live here but also Muslims and a few Christians and Jews. But they have a problem. Their few Jewish families have only daughters. Traditionally, the women would marry into neighboring families and adopt the faiths of their in-laws. But if it happens that way, soon, there will be no Jewish presence in town. This presents a problem worthy of a town meeting.

The problem is explained  and soon solved. Some of the local young men agree to marry Jewish women and to study under their rabbi to become Jews themselves. Thus the town preserved its diverse qualities and all was well. Ive long cherished this true story as emblematic of what civilization could be. The more stories we hear, the more wisdom we get.

Its 1999 and were at the Parliament of the Worlds Religions in South Africa. During an evening program, Rabbi Hoffman from Cape Town rises to speak. Hes a barrel-chested man with a dense, cropped beard.

"It's 1943," he says. "A young woman is running down a narrow, darkened street in occupied Holland carrying a battered old suitcase with holes in it. Its been raining and the streets are wet and glistening. She bangs on every door she comes to. Finally, an elderly couple opens to her. 'Will you take this?' she asks and thrusts the suitcase at them. They open it; there is a baby inside. 'There is no time. Will you take responsibility for this or not?' They take the suitcase inside and the girl continues running down the street and vanishes from sight forever.

They were old, this couple, presumably theyd raised their children already. The Nazis would shoot them if they found out. But they did it anyway.

"Had that couple said 'no,' the Rabbi said, had they refused her  I would not be standing before you at this moment."

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The couple not only raised the boy; they raised him Jewish. And here he was, this product of love and desperation.

Presuming the old couple was Christian, they could have raised the boy Christian, too. Instead, they honored this child's presumably murdered mother by raising him Jewish. There are stories that momentarily stop the heart  then fill it.

Now we're going back to the late 1970s. I was living another life back then, supporting my family as a salesman. In New York City, I had a sales representative named Max who was Jewish. I was much younger than he was, and Max taught me a lot.

In the long run, Max used to tell me, it's both good business and good morals to take care of people.

We were on a business trip together, driving late one night down the Jersey Turnpike. We had become good friends by then and our rambling conversation touched on many things. Finally, after a long silence, Max asked me a question.

You seem to know about religion  did we kill Jesus?

What do you mean we, Max? That was 2,000 years ago.

A car went by and threw some light on Max's face.

You know it's just  it's just when I was a kid, all my way through school in New Jersey, the kids called us 'Christ killers.' Ever since I've always wondered if it was true.

A generation had passed since then and it still hurt. It still haunted him. I was years from becoming a history teacher, but I already knew enough. If the ancient Jews had wanted Jesus dead, they had numerous opportunities  especially the night he was arrested and hadn't yet been turned over to the Romans. But they didn't do it. Instead, Jesus was tried Roman-style, flogged Roman-style and crucified Roman-style, all for Roman reasons.

Max always worked hard and when it finally paid off, he had brought in two huge new accounts. Seeing this whopping commission check lying on his desk, my boss suddenly refused to sign it.

Do you know why I hired you? My boss had asked me a few months before. Because the word is out that you're good with Jews. Can't stand them, myself.

Not being able to stand Jews, my boss took over Maxs accounts and tore up his commission check.

I like telling stories and today I've told you a few. The more stories we hear, the more wisdom we can get. Look for creed and race, and youll see creed and race. Look for humanity, and youll get humanity. Let's try for that.

Lawrence Brown is a columnist for the Cape Cod Times. Email him at omamerica1@gmail.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Brown: Stories on love, hate, kindness and prejudice
People line up to speak during a Reparations Task Force meeting at Third Baptist Church in San Francisco on April 13, 2022. The task force is set to release recommendations by July 1 of this year. (Janie Har / Associated Press)

Californians are weighing in publicly on the idea of reparations to Black Americans, with the states Reparations Task Force set to report their recommendations by July 1. This initiative builds on smaller-scale efforts, such as in my hometown of Evanston, Ill., which in 2021 became the first U.S. city to promise limited financial reparations for slavery and city-sanctioned discriminatory housing policies.

Nationwide, much of the reparations conversation has focused on the financial burdens set in place by slavery and subsequent racist government policies. As a direct result of these factors, the median wealth of white households is about eight times that of Black households in the U.S. today.

This racial wealth gap on its own makes a strong case for reparations. But it should be joined by an equally egregious and often less acknowledged health gap: In the U.S., Black lives are years shorter on average than white lives. And as with the wealth gap, racism is a key culprit.

I am an anthropologist and epidemiologist who studies health inequity, and last year I began my testimony to the California Reparations Task Force by recounting stark figures compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics: Life expectancy for Black women in the U.S is three years less than for their white counterparts. For men, the difference is a striking five years lower.

This racial health gap largely traces to stress-related diseases like heart attacks and strokes, and it is not related to genetic differences. In fact, racial groups do not map neatly onto our genes. Instead they are fluid categories that societies establish in response to cultural norms, defined and perpetuated by those in power to maintain social control.

One example from the U.S. is the arbitrary Jim Crow-era one-drop rule, aimed at preserving white racial purity in some formerly slaveholding states. It specified that Americans could be considered white only if they showed no signs of past intermarriage with people of non-European ancestry. This meant that an American could have majority European ancestry and still be considered Black, and the same is true today.

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Studies of human genetic diversity teach us that humans evolved in Africa and then migrated relatively recently to other continents. As a result, all human populations outside of Africa, including Europeans and Asians, are effectively just slightly modified subsets of the human species original African genetic diversity. Although we may vary in superficial ways such as skin color or hair type, all people share the vast majority of the same pool of genes.

Genetics dont explain the huge racial health gap in America. However, the experience of being Black in America does. Specifically, decades of public health research shows that racism is a crucial factor. Racism makes day-to-day interactions more stressful and influences many other factors that affect disease, including healthcare quality and access, educational opportunities and neighborhood traits such as air quality, industrial pollutant exposure and access to healthy food.

Or consider the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among Black Americans, which contributes to the Black-white mortality gap more than any other cause of death. A 2015 review in the American Journal of Epidemiology looking at relevant studies found that evidence of genes driving these disparities is essentially nil. Instead, research links this gap to social inequities. For instance, a 2020 analysis of the Jackson Heart Study, which has followed thousands of peoples health for 25 years, found that lifetime discrimination substantially increased the odds of heart disease among Black participants. A separate 2021 study found that Black participants had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol  which has effects on conditions including blood pressure and heart disease  on days when they reported experiencing racial discrimination.

The health gap looms the minute Black babies are born in the U.S. Black Americans are more prone to low birth weight, which can lead to childhood health problems and to higher rates of hypertension, stroke and heart disease later in life. A landmark 1997 study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that African immigrants in Illinois had babies with birth weights close to those of white mothers  but subsequent research found that after a generation or two spent living in the U.S., this community began to experience lower birth weights resembling those of African Americans whose families have lived here for many generations.

Lower birth weights for these mothers had nothing to do with genetics, and everything to do with the cumulative stress of being Black in America.

Although my testimony to the California Reparations Task Force began with bleak statistics, it ended on a hopeful note: Because the racial health gap is not genetic, we can reverse it. Health improves when we reduce stressors  and when families have access to adequate resources. In a Chicago-area study, upward economic mobility reduced Black mothers odds of giving birth to a small-for-gestational age baby. Initial studies of pilot programs to guarantee a minimum income point to improvements in mental health outcomes, including depression, for the affected communities.

Economists can tally the wealth gap between Black and white families created by centuries of racist policies in the U.S. The stark health inequities caused by systemic racism are harder to put a dollar value on, but they are another historic injustice that merits reparations. Material resources offered by reparations programs will help close the health gap, too. And the years lost from Black lives matter.

Christopher Kuzawa is a professor of anthropology and Fellow of the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University and an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Since assuming office, Gov. Kim Reynolds has placed a priority on fiscally conservative policies, with pro-growth tax reforms and prudent budgeting as centerpieces. This legislative session, the governor is proposing to rein in Iowas administrative state. Forty years have passed since the last time the state government underwent any substantial reform, and Reynolds has introduced a comprehensive measure to streamline and make it more efficient for taxpayers.

In her Condition of the State address, Reynolds articulated her plan to ensure state government is a good steward of Iowans tax dollars. Last year, the Legislature passed, and the governor signed the largest tax reform measure in state history. By 2026, Iowas progressive income tax will be replaced by a low, 3.9% flat tax. The governor has also made clear her goal to eliminate the individual income tax before the end of her second term.

But lowering tax rates is just one part of good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Reynolds has also followed prudent budgeting. Limited spending is the heart of sound fiscal policy, maintaining fiscal health to ensure pro-growth tax reforms are sustainable. As part of this approach to conservative budgeting, Reynolds is proposing to streamline Iowas executive branch.

Its been nearly 40 years since weve undertaken a comprehensive review of government operations and structure, according to Reynolds. Iowa has 37 executive branch cabinet agencies  more than all neighboring states. This includes our larger neighbors, Minnesota and Illinois. Other states with populations similar to Iowas have fewer executive-level agencies.

This excess is evidence Iowa not only has too much government, but also duplicates many services and agencies. The result is unnecessary friction for Iowans, with services spread unpredictably across state government. Eleven agencies currently operate some kind of workforce program; more than 100 professional licensing functions are spread across eleven agencies. And these are just two of the most glaring examples, stated Reynolds.

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The governors proposal is to reduce the number of executive-level agencies from 37 down to 16, making government more efficient while saving taxpayer dollars. Agencies would be consolidated, vacant positions would be eliminated, and technology would be shared to improve operations, among other reforms.

Reynolds estimates reforming Iowas administrative state will save taxpayers more than $214 million over the next four years. State government cant realize its full potential while its still set-up to conduct business as it did 40 years ago. We can do better for Iowans.

Finally, Reynolds suggests that making state government more efficient for taxpayers sets an example for local governments. She has demonstrated that income tax rates can be lowered, spending limited, and government made more efficient without sacrificing priorities.

Local governments should heed the call. Property taxes are a major concern for Iowans, and the source of the problem is public spending. As with the state government, locals need to seriously consider their spending and how they operate.

Families and businesses across Iowa must make decisions every day about their budgets, often including consolidation and elimination of their activities and possessions. Reynolds is correct that the time has come for governments to do the same.

John Hendrickson is policy director for Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Opinion: Rein in Iowa's administrative state. Its the right move.
(Ross May / Los Angeles Times; Getty Images)

In the last several years there has been a growing conversation among Black women about what it means to live outside of the struggle of survival. A widespread intention to reclaim and recommit to what social media has coined as a soft life.

My relationship to softness, ease and pleasure has been complicated, which isn't unheard of for a Black woman in America. Words like ease don't always relate to the reality of how Black women get to exist in this country.

The enslaved Black women of my ancestry, who worked the plantation fields of the American South, werent afforded the chance to be familiar with softness. The domestic workers in the homes of white families might not have had the space to explore the concept of pleasure.

Black women in corporate America today, who are expected not only to do their jobs, but also to act as in-house diversity and inclusion professionals, rarely expect to live in ease. And tenderness didn't seem accessible to the raised fists and passionate demands for justice from the Black women marching in America's streets against racism and police brutality.

The narrow and sometimes capitalistic interpretation of the soft life era on social media doesnt account for the significance behind this revived idea. I say revived because this conversation is not new. This intention to cultivate spaces of softness, rest and healing  for Black women in particular  is not simply a millennial hashtag or fodder for online content.

In her 1851 speech Aint I A Woman, activist Sojourner Truth questions her own access to care and softness, saying: That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And aint I a woman?

In the 1970 anthology The Black Woman, filmmaker, activist and author Toni Cade Bambara is quoted as saying: Revolution begins in the self and with the self. A concept that insists that caring for yourself is perhaps one of the most significant ways you can contribute to collective well-being. In her book Sisters of the Yam, the late feminist author bell hooks describes her own attempt to gather women to address what she called a deep, often unnamed psychic wounding that takes place in the lives of Black folks in this society.

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This conversation spans generations of thought leaders who either hint at or loudly insist that we claim gentler ways for Black women to move through the world.

Online, the soft life concept of today operates on a spectrum. On one end, its portrayed as a life that leans into luxury, glorifying things like expensive body oils, lavish vacations and high-end bags. I don't necessarily relate to this side of the spectrum. While adding a bit of lavishness into one's lifestyle isnt all that constitutes a soft life, it doesn't hurt to reimagine our relationship to money and what we understand as for us in this world.

On the other end of the online spectrum is an approach to a delicate work-life balance and saying no to things that dont bring us joy or fulfillment. And it is this side that I relate to most. More than the material opportunities to find ease, the soft life era relates to our efforts to set healthy boundaries, our ability to be introspective, our openness to ask for help and the prioritizing of our physical and mental well-being.

I'm hopeful that the soft life era will open up pathways for Black women to explore the practices and spaces that invite relief and remind us that we were not born to just survive. The concept is an invitation to envision what living well looks like for our community, moving away from our generational inclination to focus on self-sacrifice and instead really consider what a softer standard could look like.

In embracing a softer life, I'm making decisions based on whats best for me instead of through the virtue of martyrdom. It means finding what I see as the tiny joys in living. Things like valuing the rhythm of folding my towels, taking a moment to be mesmerized by the sunrise, slowly enjoying the process of making a cup of coffee rather than rushing toward a busy day.

My soft life commitment includes educating myself on financial literacy and intentionally building toward wealth to avoid living paycheck to paycheck, as so many of my ancestors have had to do. It also includes having a renewed relationship with food, land and nature through things such as growing my own tomatoes, hiking with friends and bird watching in the springtime as an act of joy.

A recent piece titled Muholi V, by South African artist and visual activist Zanele Muholi, speaks directly to this reimagining of rest. The work is a moving, larger-than-life bronze sculpture of a Black figure sleeping peacefully. As the child of a domestic worker during South African apartheid, Muholi has created a work that's a stunning display of art as resistance. A visual call for resting Black bodies to be seen and celebrated just as much as those that are constantly producing for the systems and institutions we exist in.

For those who brush off the conversation around a soft life, who call it overindulgent  you're right. Black women are moving toward a path of less resistance, a life not steeped in struggle. A soft life that ushers us gently toward our birthright to live well.

Rachel Cargle is an author, activist and founder and president of the Loveland Group and the Loveland Foundation. Her book "A Renaissance of Our Own" will be released in May. @rachel.cargle

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, 5N Plus fair value estimate is CA$6.28

5N Plus' CA$3.61 share price signals that it might be 43% undervalued

The US$4.10 analyst price target for VNP is 35% less than our estimate of fair value

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of 5N Plus Inc. (TSE:VNP) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for 5N Plus

The Model

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 discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$6.20m US$14.2m US$19.0m US$23.6m US$27.8m US$31.3m US$34.3m US$36.8m US$38.8m US$40.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 33.94% Est @ 24.29% Est @ 17.53% Est @ 12.80% Est @ 9.49% Est @ 7.17% Est @ 5.55% Est @ 4.41% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 9.0% US$5.7 US$12.0 US$14.7 US$16.8 US$18.1 US$18.7 US$18.8 US$18.5 US$17.9 US$17.2

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$158m

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After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.8%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.0%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$41m (1 + 1.8%)  (9.0% 1.8%) = US$573m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$573m ( 1 + 9.0%)10= US$243m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$401m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of CA$3.6, the company appears quite good value at a 43% discount to where the stock price trades currently. 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

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 5N Plus as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.212. 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 5N Plus

Strength

No major strengths identified for VNP.

Weakness

Interest payments on debt are not well covered.

Opportunity

Expected to breakeven next year.

Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For 5N Plus, we've compiled three essential aspects you should consider:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for 5N Plus that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does VNP'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 Canadian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, BlueLinx Holdings fair value estimate is US$127

BlueLinx Holdings is estimated to be 36% undervalued based on current share price of US$80.94

Analyst price target for BXC is US$105 which is 17% below our fair value estimate

In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of BlueLinx Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BXC) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for BlueLinx Holdings

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$122.2m US$131.9m US$121.1m US$115.0m US$111.6m US$110.0m US$109.6m US$110.0m US$110.9m US$112.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Est @ -8.14% Est @ -5.08% Est @ -2.93% Est @ -1.43% Est @ -0.38% Est @ 0.35% Est @ 0.87% Est @ 1.23% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 11% US$110 US$107 US$88.7 US$75.8 US$66.3 US$58.9 US$52.9 US$47.9 US$43.5 US$39.7

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$691m

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 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$112m (1 + 2.1%)  (11% 2.1%) = US$1.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$1.3b ( 1 + 11%)10= US$456m

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$1.1b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$80.9, the company appears quite undervalued at a 36% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at BlueLinx 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 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.497. 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 BlueLinx Holdings

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Trade Distributors industry.

Opportunity

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 2 years.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For BlueLinx Holdings, we've put together three essential factors you should consider:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for BlueLinx Holdings that you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does BXC'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 NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Everything Everywhere All at Once has dominated the 95th Academy Awards, held on Sunday night at Los Angeles Dolby Theatre.

Michelle Yeoh took home the Best Actress award, becoming the first Asian woman and only second woman of colour to win the trophy. The film also won Best Picture, and Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for writer/directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.

Brendan Fraser cemented his comeback with a Best Actor win for The Whale, while Everything Everywhere stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Quan picked up Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

Netflixs All Quiet on the Western Front was the nights other big victor, taking home Best International Feature, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best Original Score.

Other winners included Women Talking for Best Adapted Screenplay,The Whale for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and Guillermo Del Toros Pinocchio for Best Animated Feature.

A full list of tonights winners so far can be found here.

What you need to know

05:37 , Adam White

Brendan Fraser and his family are photobombed by Best Supporting Actor winner Ke Huy Quan, with his and Frasers appearance together marking an unexpected reunion  both actors starred in the largely forgotten 1992 comedy Encino Man, a star vehicle for comedian Pauly Shore.

(Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

05:27 , Adam White

An unusual coincidence highlighted in this very funny Denise Richards tweet is that the only two women of colour to ever win the Best Actress Oscar also happened to play Bond Girls to Pierce Brosnan

Your move, Denise Richards pic.twitter.com/bgE9zch3MW  Brian Rowe (@mrbrianrowe) March 13, 2023

05:18 , Adam White

Story continues

And heres Malala Yousafzai finally breaking her silence on the Dont Worry Darling controversies of last year.

05:08 , Adam White

From Jamie Lee Curtiss shock win to the dominance of Everything Everywhere All at Once, weve run down the six biggest talking points from tonights show

Snubs, shocks and sweeps: The six biggest talking points from the Oscars

04:58 , Adam White

In case you missed it, Hugh Grants scrotum joke was probably the comic highlight of the evening (what a marvellous sentence, good morning).

04:45 , Adam White

Nigerian singer Tems, a nominee for co-writing Rihannas Lift Me Up, sparked minor controversy (and jokes) tonight as people noticed her otherwise sensational outfit...

Tems on the Academy Awards red carpet (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

...made it slightly tricky for the unlucky soul seated behind her during the show.

Im cryinnnnnnn



tems got that lady fighting for her life pic.twitter.com/Js06VdbyyU  alex medina (@mrmedina) March 13, 2023

Imagine waiting your whole life to be at the Oscars and you end up sitting behind a stratus cloud. pic.twitter.com/HQ8lSYQBUV  Jarrett Bellini (@JarrettBellini) March 13, 2023

04:32 , Adam White

And in a little bit of late-night heartbreak, Vulture is reporting that the Banshees of Inisherin donkey brought on stage by Jimmy Kimmel during the ceremony was not Jenny the Donkey from the film but an impostor! It was just a random donkey, an unverified source told the publication. For shame!

(Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

04:22 , Adam White

Here is Michelle Yeohs mother Janet, who was referenced in her acceptance speech, celebrating her daughters win during a live screening of the Oscars in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last night. Look at her face!

(AP)

04:20 , Adam White

A nice moment from one of the Daniels many speeches tonight involved Everything Everywhere co-director Daniel Scheinert calling out the protests and hysteria around drag.

Everything Everywhere All at Once director applauded for defending drag at Oscars

04:17 , Adam White

One of the funniest gags from tonights ceremony was Jimmy Kimmel reigniting his comic feud with Matt Damon, after asking Jessica Chastain whether it was tricky working with him on The Martian as he smells like dog medicine.

Jimmy Kimmel reignites long-running feud with Matt Damon at the Oscars

04:13 , Adam White

Many are asking about a number of major stars left out of the ceremonys In Memoriam segment, including Paul Sorvino, Anne Heche, Philip Baker Hall, David Warner and Charlbi Dean, who was the female lead of Best Picture nominee Triangle of Sadness.

How the hell do you leave PHILIP BAKER HALL out of the Necrology? #Oscars #InMemoriam pic.twitter.com/cmtjvQ2IVL  Adam Bonin (@adambonin) March 13, 2023

No Anne Heche? We honor her passing.  Ione Skye (@IoneSkye1) March 13, 2023

she was the lead in a best picture this year and you dont add her to the in memoriam?!?! RIP charlbi dean pic.twitter.com/TUEYoG4CSZ  sugar lips (@iamsugarlipsss) March 13, 2023

Among others, people who definitely should have been included in the In Memoriam segment: Pat Carroll, Melinda Dillon, Charles Fuller, Philip Baker Hall, Anne Heche, Robert Morse, Paul Sorvino, Stella Stevens, Topol, Fred Ward, David Warner, and Cindy Williams.  David Darmofal (@david_darmofal) March 13, 2023

04:03 , Adam White

And another extraordinary statistic courtesy of writer and awards specialist Erik Anderson: tonights Oscars marks the first time one studio has won all four acting categories, and that studio is relative new kid on the block A24.

A24 wins all four acting categories, a first for any studio in Oscar history  Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) March 13, 2023

04:00 , Adam White

And a quite extraordinary statistic from New York Times critic Kyle Buchanan: Everything Everywhere All at Once is now the film with the most above-the-line wins (meaning the biggest categories) in Oscar history. Thats more than The Silence of the Lambs, It Happened One Night and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, all of which won five above-the-line awards.

With 3 acting wins, plus Best Director and Best Picture, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE has won more above-the-line Oscars than any movie ever in the 95 years theyve thrown this show.  Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) March 13, 2023

03:56 , Adam White

While its understandably been overshadowed by the wins for Everything Everywhere, All Quiet on the Western Front took home four trophies tonight. That also makes it Netflixs most successful film at the Oscars.

03:50 , Adam White

So as the dust settles on the evening, Tom Murray has gathered together Jimmy Kimmels seven best zingers from the night, including his cracks at Babylons box office gross and the Will Smith slap row from last year.

Jimmy Kimmels 7 best zingers from the 2023 Oscars

03:46 , Adam White

This was quite an extraordinary evening in terms of total shut-outs, with Tar, Elvis, The Banshees of Inisherin and The Fabelmans, all of which were widely embraced and received multiple nominations, entirely missing out on wins.

03:35 , Adam White

And here is the final tally for this evening...

Everything Everywhere All at Once 7

All Quiet on the Western Front 4

The Whale 2

Avatar: The Way of Water 1

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 1

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse 1

The Elephant Whisperers 1

Guillermo Del Toros Pinocchio 1

An Irish Goodbye 1

Navalny 1

Top Gun: Maverick 1

Women Talking 1

03:33 , Adam White

So this means seven wins for Everything Everywhere All at Once, which is an incredible sweep this evening.

03:32 , Adam White

And Best Picture goes to... Everything Everywhere All at Once!

03:32 , Adam White

And now Harrison Ford presenting Best Picture

03:30 , Adam White

This is history in the making, Yeoh says at the end of her brilliant speech.

03:29 , Adam White

This is historic. Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian woman to win the Best Actress Oscar, and the second woman of colour to ever win the award, following Halle Berry in 2003.

03:28 , Adam White

For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is proof dreams do come true. And ladies, dont let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime

(Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

03:27 , Adam White

And Best Actress goes to... Michelle Yeoh!

03:27 , Adam White

This is the biggie!

03:26 , Adam White

Lovely speech from Brendan Fraser, and now Best Actress

03:24 , Adam White

I started in this business 30 years ago, and things didnt come easily to me. There was a facility that I didnt appreciate at the time until it stopped, and thank you for this acknowledgment.

(Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

03:22 , Adam White

And Best Actor goes to... Brendan Fraser for The Whale !!

03:20 , Adam White

If Michelle Yeoh wins tonight, itll be Halle Berry handing her the Oscar. Berry, famously, is the only woman of colour to win the Best Actress Oscar... potentially until tonight.

03:19 , Adam White

This is an exciting next two categories. First up is Best Actor, which could go to Brendan Fraser or Austin Butler. Then Best Actress, which has been neck-and-neck between Michelle Yeoh and Cate Blanchett all awards season, but seems to be going Yeohs way tonight.

03:12 , Adam White

This is quite a spectacular sweep for Everything Everywhere All at Once, with almost every other contender struggling to win a single award tonight. Of the three categories left to announce, only Best Actor is Everything Everywhere-less. Surely Michelle Yeoh is taking Best Actress now?

03:11 , Adam White

And Best Director goes to... the Daniels for Everything Everywhere All at Once!

03:10 , Adam White

Idris Elba and Nicole Kidman next, announcing the award for Best Director. The Daniels have this in the bag, surely?

03:07 , Adam White

And the winner of Best Film Editing is... Everything Everywhere All at Once!

03:06 , Adam White

We are very close to the end now, with Best Editing up next, then Director, Actor, Actress and Best Picture.

03:04 , Adam White

On a lighter note, you may have missed Colin Farrell calling out Saturday Night Live earlier tonight, after their controversial Irish stereotype skit this weekend

Colin Farrell calls out SNL at Oscars over controversial Irish skit

03:03 , Adam White

Among those included are actors Olivia Newton-John, Louise Fletcher, Irene Papas, Robbie Coltrane, Kirstie Alley, Ray Liotta, Irene Cara, Nichelle Nichols, Douglas McGrath, Angela Lansbury, Mary Alice, Gina Lollobrigida, James Caan and Raquel Welch, directors Bob Raefelson , Wolfgang Petersen and Jean Luc Godard, and composers Angelo Badalamenti, Vangelis and Burt Bacharach

What a line-up.

02:59 , Adam White

A clearly emotional Travolta chokes up as he introduces the segment, which sees Lenny Kravitz perform

02:58 , Adam White

And now John Travolta, who seems to be about to present the In Memoriam segment.

02:56 , Adam White

And the winner is neither of them! Rather the smash Naatu Naatu from RRR!

02:55 , Adam White

And now Best Song! Could it be Rihanna or Lady Gaga?

02:53 , Adam White

And now the award for Best Sound, which goes to... Top Gun: Maverick!

Top Gun: Maverick ( 2019 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All rights reserved.)

02:51 , Adam White

For anyone who missed that lovely cameo from Jenny the Donkey...

02:44 , Adam White

Id like to thank the Academy for not being mortally offended by the words women and talking so close to another like that, Polley jokes.

02:43 , Adam White

And the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay goes to... Women Talking! A nice, deserved win for actor turned filmmaker Sarah Polley there.

Women Talking ( 2022 Orion Releasing LLC. All Rights Reserved.)

02:42 , Adam White

This feels like a clear path of victory for Everything Everywhere. It feels as if its practically a sure-thing that itll take both Best Picture and Best Director now.

02:39 , Adam White

And the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay goes to... Everything Everywhere All at Once!

This movie is sweeping.

02:38 , Adam White

And now internet darlings Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield  together at last!  are here to announce Best Original and Adapted Screenplays

02:36 , Adam White

Earlier this evening, Best Supporting Actor winner Ke Huy Quan shouted out his Goonies co-star Jeff Cohen, and now his other Goonies co-star Corey Feldman has praised his win.

Emotional Corey Feldman sheds tears as Goonie brother Ke Huy Quan wins Oscar

02:34 , Adam White

Brendan Gleeson is in tears over that Rihanna performance, which is an unexpected twist.

02:31 , Adam White

Rihanna is draped in diamonds and sounds spectacular singing her Oscar-nominated track Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

(Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

02:29 , Adam White

AND IT IS NOW RIHANNA

02:27 , Adam White

From the audience, Jimmy Kimmel asks literal Malala Yousafzai: Do you think Harry Styles spit on Chris Pine?

02:24 , Adam White

And the winner of Achievement in Special Effects goes to... Avatar: The Way of Water!

Avatar: The Way of Water' (20th Century Studios)

02:22 , Adam White

Elizabeth Banks is now presenting with the Cocaine Bear of Cocaine Bear, who really deserves a long career after that movie

02:20 , Adam White

Not content with just saving the actual ceremony with her rendition of Hold My Hand, Lady Gaga also saved a mans life (not really) on the red carpet earlier.

Lady Gaga helps photographer after he falls on Oscars red carpet

02:12 , Adam White

And the winner for Best Original Score is... All Quiet on the Western Front, which is sweeping the technical categories tonight

02:08 , Adam White

And the winner for Best Production Design goes to... All Quiet on the Western Front!

All Quiet on the Western Front

02:07 , Adam White

Its a Four Weddings and a Funeral reunion as Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell arrive to promote the importance of using good moisturiser.

Andies been wearing moisturiser every day for 29 years  I have not, Grant jokes. [Shes] still stunning. [Im] basically a scrotum.

02:05 , Adam White

Were also two hours into this Oscars, and its... a little dry, right? Kimmel has been middling, the on-stage banter hasnt exactly sparkled. Is everyone on their good behaviour a bit too much?

02:02 , Adam White

While the show has cut to commercials, heres how the awards tally is looking so far...

Best Animated Short The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

Best Documentary Short The Elephant Whisperers

Best International Feature All Quiet on the Western Front

Best Costume Design Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Best Makeup and Hairstyling The Whale

Best Cinematography All Quiet on the Western Front

Best Live Action Short Film An Irish Goodbye

Best Documentary Feature Navalny

Best Supporting Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Supporting Actor Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Animated Feature Guillermo Del Toros Pinocchio

02:01 , Adam White

And we pull back from Gagas performance to see a giant projection reading In memory of Tony Scott  director of the original Top Gun, who died in 2012

01:58 , Adam White

Lady Gaga is giving earnest singer-songwriter realness with this stripped-down version of Hold My Hand from Top Gun: Maverick.

This song is deeply personal to me, she said in a pre-performance speech. We all need each other. We need a lot of love to get through this life ... You can be your own hero, even if you feel broken inside.

01:56 , Adam White

AND NOW IT IS GAGA

01:54 , Adam White

And the award for Best Animated Short Film goes to... The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, which you may remember from its presence on the BBC schedules last Christmas

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse (PA Media)

01:51 , Adam White

And the award for Best Documentary Short goes to The Elephant Whisperers!

01:50 , Adam White

Quick bit of (deeply embarrassing) trivia: Ruth E Carters Costume Design win earlier tonight for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever makes her the first Black woman to ever win two Oscars.

Ruth E Carter (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

01:45 , Adam White

Something you may have missed earlier was this very sweet singalong of Happy Birthday to actor James Martin from the Oscar-winning short An Irish Goodbye.

01:42 , Adam White

And now the winner for Best International Feature goes to... All Quiet on the Western Front!

All Quiet on the Western Front

01:36 , Adam White

The win for Best Makeup for The Whale has been met with criticism, particularly the use of that image from the film as a backdrop...

Everything about The Whale is so violent and nasty  Ira (@iramadisonthree) March 13, 2023

01:28 , Adam White

And the winner for Best Costume Design goes to... Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!

01:27 , Adam White

And now we have Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Paul Dano presenting Best Costume Design

01:25 , Adam White

Heres your friend Brendan Gleeson, whose finger you ate!

01:25 , Adam White

In the biggest celebrity spotting of the night, Jimmy Kimmel has just brought out Jenny the Donkey from The Banshees of Inisherin. My heart!

01:19 , Adam White

The big cheers for The Whale may tease a possible Brendan Fraser win later on, or at least confirm that the Academy dug the movie a lot more than other people did.

01:17 , Adam White

And the award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling goes to... The Whale!

The Whale

01:16 , Adam White

And here we have Jennifer Connelly and Samuel L Jackson presenting the award for Makeup and Hairstyling...

01:09 , Adam White

Were now on to a rendition of Best Original Song nominee This Is the Life by Everything Everywhere All at Once star Stephanie Hsu, David Byrne and Son Lux. Byrne also has hotdog fingers!

01:04 , Adam White

And the Cinematography winner is... All Quiet on the Western Front!

01:03 , Adam White

Creed III stars and all-round internet hunks Michael B Jordan and Jonathan Majors are here to announce the award for Cinematography...

01:02 , Adam White

In things you may have missed, Kate Hudson had to correct an interviewer on the red carpet earlier after she was called an Oscar winner, which... is not the case.

Kate Hudson awkwardly corrects reporter who thinks shes won an Oscar

And Hugh Grant has divided viewers with his very awkward interaction with supermodel and red carpet presenter Ashley Graham

Hugh Grant divides fans with painful Oscars red carpet interview

00:58 , Adam White

So for those just catching up, here are the wins as they stand so far...

Best Live Action Short Film An Irish Goodbye

Best Documentary Feature Navalny

Best Supporting Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Supporting Actor Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Animated Feature Guillermo Del Toros Pinocchio

Everything Everywhere All at Once

00:55 , Adam White

And now were onto Best Live Action Short Film, which goes to... An Irish Goodbye!

00:51 , Adam White

And the Oscar goes to... Navalny!

Daniel Rohers documentary revolves about the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny

00:49 , Adam White

Riz Ahmed and Questlove are now here to present Best Documentary Feature

00:48 , Adam White

Angela Bassett is trending after missing out on a Best Supporting Actress win.

Listen, I'm happy for Jamie Lee, but Angela Bassett was right there...  Tom and Lorenzo (@tomandlorenzo) March 13, 2023

Me stealing the oscar to give it to Angela Bassett #oscars pic.twitter.com/KfkLUJo0h9   (@bvbhive) March 13, 2023

Jaime Lee Curtis????? Over Angela Bassett and Stephanie Hsu??? #Oscars pic.twitter.com/yp7odMPJ77  wine mom yor forger (@autumnvelvets) March 13, 2023

00:41 , Adam White

And now were onto a ghastly performance of Diane Warrens Oscar-nominated song for a film called Tell It Like a Woman that may or may not actually exist.

00:38 , Adam White

Curtis has called out her Halloween fanbase in her awards speech: To all of the people who have supported the genre movies that I have made all these years  the thousands and hundreds of people  we just won an Oscar together!

00:37 , Adam White

So this is a wacky win. A lot of love in the room, but gulp.

00:36 , Adam White

And Best Supporting Actress goes to... Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All at Once!

00:35 , Adam White

And now were onto Best Supporting Actress. A lot of ambiguity surrounds the winner of this category. Gulp.

00:34 , Adam White

To everyone out there, please keep your dream alive!, Quan says through tears. Hes previously called out his Goonies brother for life, actor Jeff Cohen. Quan shot to childhood fame in The Goonies, while Cohen memorably played Chunk.

00:31 , Adam White

My mom is 88 years old and watching from home  Ma, I just won an Oscar!

00:31 , Adam White

A lot of love in the auditorium for Ke Huy Quan, an industry veteran in the midst of an enormous comeback

00:30 , Adam White

And Best Supporting Actor goes to... Ke Huy Quan for Everything Everywhere All at Once!

Oscars - Best Supporting Actor

00:27 , Adam White

Troy Kotsur and Ariana DeBose are here to present the two Supporting Actress/Actor categories  thinking these wins will decide the mood of the night...

00:22 , Adam White

So thats one down, with a voiceover promising (threatening?) a forthcoming appearance by Bafta singing standout Ariana DeBose, who will presumably be presenting the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

00:20 , Adam White

Please help us, keep animation in the conversation, Del Toro says in his acceptance speech.

00:19 , Adam White

And Best Animated Feature is Guillermo Del Toros Pinocchio!

(Netflix)

00:16 , Adam White

And were onto the first prize of the night, with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt presenting the award for Best Animated Feature!

This confirms the updated running order posted by Varietys Clayton Davis an hour ago...

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
Hollywood is gearing up for the Oscars with the 95th Academy Awards taking place tonight (12 March) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Everything Everywhere All at Once has the most nominations and is considered the frontrunner for best picture having won a string of top prizes at the guild awards that precede the Oscars.

Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert are tipped for best director, and former child star Ke Huy Quan is expected to pick up best supporting actor. First-time nominee Michelle Yeoh could also become the first Asian best actress winner.

In a field of ten best picture nominees, Netflixs German anti-war film All Quiet on the Western Front could sneak an upset having picked up the best film trophy at the BAFTAs.

Host Jimmy Kimmel has said that he will address last years The Slap incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock, noting it would be ridiculous not to. The academy will have its first-ever crisis team in place to react to any similar surprises.

The Independent will have all the latest from the [champagne-coloured] red carpet to the final award, including a performance from Rihanna, nominated for best original song for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

What you need to know

The Whales Hong Chau talks to The Independent about backlash, the Oscars and hitting Brendan Fraser

15:10 , Isobel Lewis

Last month, Best Supporting Actress nominee Hong Chau sat down with Adam White to discuss her reaction to receiving an Oscar nomination and the backlash to The Whale.

You can read the full interview below.

Oscars 2023 gift bag revealed, including a facelift, a $25,000 home renovation and three nights at a private lighthouse

14:40 , Isobel Lewis

Even if they dont take home a gold statuette, tonights nominees wont leave the Oscars empty handed.

Story continues

All nominated acts will receive a gift bag worth a whopping $126,000 (104,000)  and you can find out whats inside at the link below.

Whats in the Oscars 2023 gift bag worth $126,000?

Oscar nominees Blonde and Elvis among big winners at Golden Raspberry Awards

13:55 , Isobel Lewis

While the Oscars celebrate the creme de la creme in film, the Razzies do, well, the opposite.

Taking place on Friday night, the annual celebration of the worst in the years movies saw Oscar-nominated films Blonde and Elvis pick up two wins each.

See the full list of winners below...

Oscar nominees Blonde and Elvis among winners at 2023 Razzies

Looking back at The Independents interview with Michelle Yeoh

13:30 , Isobel Lewis

Michelle Yeoh is one of the frontrunners to be named Best Actress at this years Oscars.

Last May, she sat down for an interview with The Independents Annabel Nugent, to talk about Everything Everywhere All At Once, her amazing career and Asian representation on screen.

Michelle Yeoh interview: We want to see our faces on screen

Slapgate wasnt a one-off  the Oscars have always been mired in scandal

13:00 , Isobel Lewis

The slap may have been the most recent Oscars scandal  one that almost certainly will be joked about on Sunday night  but the Academy Awards have long been associated with scandal.

Geoffrey Macnab looks back at Oscar history and says the awards have always been turbulent and continue to reflect the biases of those who greenlight the movies.

Slapgate wasnt a one-off  the Oscars have always been mired in scandal

Giant Oscars are unwrapped ahead of Sundays awards show

12:40 , Isobel Lewis

Anyone else really enjoying these photos of the big Oscars that sit on the red (or gold) carpet being unwrapped?

(AFP via Getty Images)

Chris Rock divulges how Jada Pinkett Smith started Will Smith feud before Oscars slap

12:19 , Isobel Lewis

Will Smith may not be in attendance at this years Oscars, but the show seems unlikely to go ahead without at least a few mentions of The Slap.

Last week, Chris Rock finally opened up about the altercation in his new Netflix special, where he claimed that Smiths wife Jada Pinkett Smith was the cause of rivalry between the pair.

Jacob Stolworthy reports below...

Who will win, should win, and who should have got a look in at the Oscars

11:42 , Isobel Lewis

Wondering whos going to win on the big night tonight? Adam White has broken it down for you, offering his theories on who should win, actually will win, and should have been nominated in the first place.

Who will win and who should win at Sundays Oscars?

Who will present the Best Actress Oscar in place of Will Smith?

11:19 , Isobel Lewis

While last years Oscars was all about the slap, well still be feeling the ramifications of the altercation at this years ceremony.

As Will Smith slapping Chris Rock resulted in the Men in Black star being banned from the Academy Awards, Smith will not be able to give out the Best Actress award on Sunday.

Usually, the reigning recipient of the Best Actor prize  which Smith holds for King Richard  presents the award for this years Best Actress, and vice versa.

Heres everything we know...

With Will Smith out, who will present the Oscar for Best Actress?

Avatar: The Way of Water deserves to win the Oscar for Best Picture

11:10 , Isobel Lewis

Louis Chilton, meanwhile, has argued that we should all stop being such snobs and back Avatar: The Way of Water for the win.

Ignore the snobs  Avatar: The Way of Water deserves to win Best Picture

Why Top Gun: Maverick should win the Oscar for Best Picture

10:50 , Isobel Lewis

Our very own Adam White has also been making the case for Top Gun: Mavericks spot in the Best Picture category, arguing that Tom Cruises long-awaited sequel should take home the top prize on Sunday night.

Why Top Gun: Maverick should win the Oscar for Best Picture

What do you reckon?

Why Everything Everywhere All at Once does actually deserve Best Picture

10:29 , Isobel Lewis

Ahead of tonights hotly anticipated awards show, our writers have been making a case for the films they want to win Best Picture.

Firstly, we have Annabel Nugent on why frontrunner Everything Everywhere All At Once would be a worthy winner, actually.

Everything Everywhere is the rare frontrunner that actually deserves Best Picture

How to watch tonights Oscars in the UK and US

09:48 , Isobel Lewis

The Oscars are kicking off this evening in Los Angeles, but those pesky timezones mean youll have to stay up late if you want to tune in live.

Fortunately, weve got all the details you need on when and where to watch the Academy Awards tonight at the link below.

How to watch tonights Oscars in the UK and US

09:47 , Isobel Lewis

The Oscars are kicking off this evening in Los Angeles, but those pesky timezones mean youll have to stay up late if you want to tune in live.

Fortunately, weve got all the details you need on when and where to watch the Academy Awards tonight at the link below.

Todays the day...

08:44 , Isobel Lewis

Yep, we finally made it  its Oscars day!

To kick things off, Annabel Nugent has looked back at frontrunner Michelle Yeohs incredible career and reflected on why a Best Actress win would be so important for the actor.

Miss Malaysia, stunt legend, Bond Girl: Michelle Yeohs journey to the Oscars

Remembering all the winners at last years Oscars

07:30 , Isobel Lewis

Last years Oscars were, its fair to say, slightly overshadowed by The Slap (a phrase that deserves its own trademark). But it followed a night of interesting winners, including Will Smith, that have been slightly forgotten.

Who won at last years Oscars? Remind yourself below.

Who were the big winners at the 2022 Academy Awards?

Kate Ng writes about Michelle Yeohs accent making her feel even prouder to be Malaysian'

06:00 , Isobel Lewis

In a touching first person piece, writer Kate Ng has discussed the positive impact of hearing Malaysian actor Michelle Yeoh speak while on the campaign trail for Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Michelle Yeohs accent has made me feel even prouder to be Malaysian

04:30 , Isobel Lewis

According to The Independents Jacob Stolworthy, these 17 films should never have won Oscars.

17 films that should never have won Oscars

What do you think?

Razzie winners announced ahead of Oscars  and two Academy Award-nominated films won big

03:00 , Isobel Lewis

Two of the biggest winners at the Golden Raspberry Awards were Elvis and Blonde, both of which are up for major awards on Sunday.

However, the award for Worst Actress ended up being given to the Razzies themselves, following backlash over their decision to nominate as 12-year-old child actor in the category.

Read more of the winners below...

Oscar nominees Blonde and Elvis among winners at 2023 Razzies

Steven Spielberg shares action film he thinks should have been a Best Picture nominee

01:00 , Isobel Lewis

Steven Spielberg is nominated for Best Picture this year with The Fabelmans, but the inclusion of both Avatar and Top Gun sequels in the category has got the director reminiscing about one action film he thinks should have received a nomination in the past.

Steven Spielberg cites major action film the Oscars overlooked

The 13 most confusing Oscar screw-ups of all time

Saturday 11 March 2023 21:30 , Isobel Lewis

Ahead of the live awards show, Adam White has been looking back at those Oscar decisions that made us all go: Really?!

Daniel Day-Lewis over Bradley Cooper?!  the 13 most confusing Oscar mistakes

Oscar nominees in full

Saturday 11 March 2023 20:30 , Isobel Lewis

While Everything Everywhere All At Once has the most nominations, it is closely followed by All Quiet on the Western Front with 10.

The full list of nominations can be found at the link below.

The 2023 Oscar nominations in full

Everything Everywhere All At Once called ingenious by Independent critic

Saturday 11 March 2023 19:30 , Isobel Lewis

Everything Everywhere All At Once is the most nominated film at this years Oscars, with 11 nods in total, including Best Picture.

In her five-star review, The Independents Clarisse Loughrey called it an ingenious, nuanced multiverse that leaves Marvel in the dust.

Everything Everywhere All at Onces multiverse leaves Marvel in the dust  review

From Brad Pitts champagne to mini fish and chips, all the food and drink the 2023 Oscar nominees will dine on

Saturday 11 March 2023 16:39 , Isobel Lewis

Ever wondered whats on the menu at the Academy Awards? Well wonder no further, as Kate Ng has done the investigating...

All the food and drink the 2023 Oscar nominees will dine on

The Woman King director says shell never get over Oscars snub

Saturday 11 March 2023 13:42 , Isobel Lewis

One of the biggest surprises among this years Oscar nominations was the total lack of nominations for the Viola Davis drama The Woman King.

The films director Gina Prince-Bythewood has also now shared her thoughts on the egregious snub ahead of this weekends ceremony.

The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood says shell never get over Oscar snub

The 10 most baffling Oscar victories

Saturday 11 March 2023 13:15 , Isobel Lewis

Meanwhile, weve looked back at 10 of the most baffling Oscar victories in the awards history.

17 surprisingly great performances from critically maligned actors

Saturday 11 March 2023 12:30 , Isobel Lewis

They might not have won Oscars, but these stars  often criticised for their acting abilities  managed to pull out pretty spectacular performances and wowed everyone in the process.

17 surprisingly great performances from critically maligned actors

Blonde and Elvis win big at the 2023 Razzies

Saturday 11 March 2023 12:03 , Isobel Lewis

But while the Oscars will be celebrating the very best in film on Sunday, the Golden Raspberry Awards (or Razzies) returned on Friday night to dish out their prizes for the worst films out there.

Two Oscar-nominated movies were among the biggest winners of the night: Blonde and Elvis.

See the full list of winners below...

Oscar nominees Blonde and Elvis among winners at 2023 Razzies

Why Everything Everywhere All at Once deserves to win Best Picture

Saturday 11 March 2023 11:17 , Isobel Lewis

With the big show kicking off tomorrow, The Independents Annabel Nugent has made her case for why frontrunner Everything Everywhere All at Once does deserve to win Best Picture, actually.

Everything Everywhere is the rare frontrunner that actually deserves Best Picture

Oscars 2023 gift bag revealed

Saturday 11 March 2023 08:00 , Inga Parkel

Each year, Oscar attendees are not only pampered with an entire three-course meal during the ceremony but theyre also treated to some goodies to take home.

Ha, who are we kidding? Some goodies is a complete understatement.

Find out what exactly is in this years Oscar gift bags:

2021 Oscar gift bag (Distinctive Assets)

A facelift, a $25,000 home renovation and... 3 nights at a private lighthouse

Where to watch all the 2023 Oscar-nominated films

Saturday 11 March 2023 07:00 , Inga Parkel

Props to anyone trying to watch all of the 2023 Oscar-nominated films ahead of Sundays ceremony!

If youre among the select few who can miraculously spare an entire day or two to speed run through the 10 Best Picture nominees before the awards show, then this list is for you.

Ready, set, watch!

Oscar Nominations

First-time Prime Video members can even watch Everything Everywhere All at Once for free

Oscar nominations 2023 in full

Saturday 11 March 2023 06:00 , Inga Parkel

In case youre in need of another refresher, heres a list of all the 2023 Oscars nominees.

Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All At Once (A24)

Every nominated movie in one place  from Everything Everywhere All at Once to The Fabelmans

17 films that should never have won Oscars

Saturday 11 March 2023 05:00 , Inga Parkel

Any belief that the Oscars award the right films, directors and performances has faded over the years.

While every ceremony has a smattering of correct decisions  trophies handed to the right people for the right films  more often than not, the pervading feeling is one of pessimism caused by a deluge of undeserving recipients.

The Oscars are a far cry from what they claim to be  a celebration of the previous years cinematic offerings. But this does not stop people from trawling the internet the following morning in the hope that maybe, just maybe, the winners list impresses rather than disappoints.

The Independents Jacob Stolworthy has highlighted 17 films that really should not have been awarded Oscars.

Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl' (Universal Studios)

...and what should have won instead

The 19 most problematic films ever made, from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to Forrest Gump

Saturday 11 March 2023 04:00 , Inga Parkel

In an Oscars adjacent deep-dive, The Independents Louis Chilton selected some of the most controversial movies ever released.

And surprise, surprise, some of the titles include Oscar-nominated films!

Read more:

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, Harrison Ford in Temple of Doom and Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' (Paramount/Lucasfilm/Sony)

From Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to Forrest Gump

All the food and drink the 2023 Oscar nominees will dine on

Saturday 11 March 2023 03:00 , Inga Parkel

The official Oscars dinner is, as one would expect, a lavish affair. On Sunday night 12 March, Hollywoods greatest stars will sit down around the table after the award winners have been announced and feast on all manner of culinary delights.

Read more:

Wolfgang Puck, Master Chef at the 95th Oscars Governors Ball preview at The Ray Dolby Ballroom on March 07, 2023 (Getty Images)

The extravagant dinner will be overseen by veteran Oscars chef Wolfgang Puck

James Cameron reflects on hubristic Oscars mistake after Titanic win in 1998

Saturday 11 March 2023 02:00 , Inga Parkel

James Cameron reflected on his hubristic speech after winning Best Director at the 1998 Academy Awards.

Camerons speech was poorly received by Oscars viewers, with the Avatar director revealing that he knew hed made a mistake after seeing Warren Beattys face backstage.

James Cameron (Getty Images)

Director told onlookers he felt like king of the world

Goldie Hawn doesnt think the Oscars are no longer elegant'

Saturday 11 March 2023 01:00 , Inga Parkel

Hollywood icon Goldie Hawn thinks the Oscars have lost their touch.

Read more:

Goldie Hawn (Getty Images)

Im not old-fashioned, but sometimes jokes are off-colour, Hawn said

Why is there a petition to remove Donnie Yen from presenting at this years Oscars?

Saturday 11 March 2023 00:00 , Inga Parkel

Thousands of people from Hong Kong have signed a petition to have actor Donnie Yen removed as an Oscar presenter due to his support for the Chinese government.

Read more:

Donnie Yen (Getty Images)

Hes helping to whitewash the Chinese regime, petition owner said

Sharon Stone recalls awful first Oscars where no one would dress her

Friday 10 March 2023 23:00 , Inga Parkel

When nobody wanted to dress her, Stone decided to take matters into her own hands.

Sharon Stone (AFP via Getty Images)

The Basic Instinct star dressed herself for her first time at the awards ceremony

Why is the Oscars carpet not red this year?

Friday 10 March 2023 22:00 , Inga Parkel

While many things about the Academy Awards have changed throughout the years, one thing has remained constant over the past six decades: the red carpet.

However, this year, for the first time since 1961, this is changing. But why?

Read more:

Oscars preparation (AP)

We chose this beautiful sienna, saffron color that evokes the sunset, creative consultant said

Who votes for the Oscars?

Friday 10 March 2023 21:00 , Inga Parkel

The Oscars has long been regarded as the highest film award ceremony. But, you may be wondering: who makes up this so-called Academy, the group in charge of voting for the Oscars?

And more importantly, what sets the Oscars apart from all of the other film awards (Golden Globes, SAG Awards, etc.)?

Find out here:

The Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, and Tonys (Getty Images / Shutterstock)

Top Gun: Maverick should win the Oscar for Best Picture

Friday 10 March 2023 20:00 , Inga Parkel

Inexplicably, one of the biggest films from last year is a bit of an underdog at this weeks Oscars despite a handful of nominations.

The Independents Adam White makes a case for why he thinks Tom Cruises blockbuster sequel should win the Oscar for Best Picture

Tom Cruise, a man whose intergalactic fame has outlasted seven US presidents and hundreds, if not thousands, of fly-by-night movie stars (Paramount)

Moment Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars

Friday 10 March 2023 19:30 , Inga Parkel

The 13 most confusing Oscar screw-ups of all time

Friday 10 March 2023 19:00 , Inga Parkel

Ahead of this years Oscars, The Independents Adam White has gone through more than 30 years of ceremonies to find 13 of the most frustrating Academy Award screw-ups in the acting categories.

Clockwise from top right: Rami Malek, Daniel Day-Lewis, Michael Caine and Meryl Streep (Fox/Miramax/Pathe)

From awarding Rami Maleks all-teeth performance as Freddie Mercury to Julianne Moore winning Best Actress for the wrong movie, the Oscars have always inspired confusion and frustration

What are the Oscars doing to prevent another slap fiasco?

Friday 10 March 2023 18:00 , Inga Parkel

This year, for the first time ever, the 2023 Oscars will welcome a team of crisis management professionals, the event that the awards show is rocked by another fiasco.

But exactly how can/will the team prevent something similar?

Read more:

Oscars (Getty Images)

Because of last year, weve opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars, the Academy CEO said

The most iconic Oscars dresses of all time

Friday 10 March 2023 17:30 , Inga Parkel

Since its inauguration in 1929, the Oscars has been eagerly watched by devoted cinephiles but, over the years, it has also become one of the most anticipated events for fashion aficionados.

Among Hollywoods brightest stars walking the red carpet in front of millions of viewers, the strongest candidates set themselves up to be sartorially scrutinised and battle it out for the evenings most hotly contested accolade; that of the best dressed.

As award season nears its close, The Independents Sarah Young looks at all the gowns that have earned a special place in fashion history.

Oscars best-dressed (Getty)

From Audrey Hepburn to Gwyneth Paltrow

Top Oscars records that could be broken this year

Friday 10 March 2023 17:00 , Inga Parkel

The Oscars have always been considered the grandest night in film but this year, in particular, could be extra special  with a number of chances for the awards body to make history.

Read more:

Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and John Williams (Getty Images)

This years award show has the chance of making history multiple times

Oscars 2023 predictions

Friday 10 March 2023 16:30 , Peony Hirwani

Will it be an Everything Everywhere All at Once sweep? Or could Tar prove to be the one to beat? Adam White has looked over the major categories to try and figure them out.

Who will win and who should win at Sundays Oscars?

Battle for Best Picture: Ignore the snobs  Avatar deserves to win the Oscar for Best Picture

Friday 10 March 2023 15:45 , Peony Hirwani

James Camerons hit sci-fi sequel has been all but written off in this years Oscar race. Its a rank injustice, argues Louis Chilton  this earnest blockbuster is pure cinema.

Ignore the snobs  Avatar: The Way of Water deserves to win Best Picture

Oscars boss reacts to Chris Rocks scathing Netflix special

Friday 10 March 2023 15:00 , Peony Hirwani

The Academys chief executive has reacted to Chris Rocks scathing comments in his recent Netflix special, in which he addressed the moment he was slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars.

Asked about the timing of the specials release ahead of this Sundays Oscars ceremony, and whether it would put the incident back into public consciousness, Kramer told US outlet Deadline: I think whats important for us is that were moving forward.

At the Nominees Luncheon... Janet Yang very clearly owned that we, as an Academy, have to be better prepared and have to be much more nimble and clear in our response to things.

I really want to focus on that.

He added: I think its great that Chris spoke his truth. I cant speak to the timing of that, but we are ready to move forward.

Read more:

Oscars boss reacts to Chris Rocks scathing Netflix special

Slapgate wasnt a one-off  the Oscars have always been mired in scandal

Friday 10 March 2023 14:15 , Peony Hirwani

With the Academy Awards happening on Sunday, Geoffrey Macnab looks back at Oscar history and says the awards have always been turbulent and continue to reflect the biases of those who greenlight the movies.

Slapgate wasnt a one-off  the Oscars have always been mired in scandal

How is the academy going to handle the fallout from The Slap in 2022?

Friday 10 March 2023 13:30 , Peony Hirwani

The unfortunate headline-dominating moment from last years ceremony is back on peoples minds as the Oscars draws nearer.

How are organisers handling The Slap?

Annabel Nugent reports.

With Will Smith out, who will present the Oscar for Best Actress?

The 10 worst Oscar Best Picture winners of all time

Friday 10 March 2023 12:45 , Peony Hirwani

The Independents Geoffrey Macnab chooses the more ridiculous films to have ever won Hollywoods most prestigious award.

The 10 worst Oscar Best Picture winners of all time

The 13 most confusing Oscar screw-ups of all time

Friday 10 March 2023 12:00 , Peony Hirwani

From awarding Rami Maleks all-teeth performance as Freddie Mercury to Julianne Moore winning Best Actress for the wrong movie, the Oscars have always inspired confusion and frustration.

Ahead of this years Academy Awards, my colleague Adam White explores the most egregious mistakes in recent Oscar history.

Daniel Day-Lewis over Bradley Cooper?!  the 13 most confusing Oscar mistakes

Oscars 2023 predictions

Friday 10 March 2023 11:30 , Peony Hirwani

Will it be an Everything Everywhere All at Once sweep? Or could Tar prove to be the one to beat? Adam White has looked over the major categories to try and figure them out.

Who will win and who should win at Sundays Oscars?

10 worst Oscar acceptance speeches of all time

Friday 10 March 2023 11:15 , Peony Hirwani

Some are too saccharine, others too long  and the worst are when an actor only thinks of themselves.

My colleague Louis Chilton writes.

The 10 worst Oscar acceptance speeches of all time

How to watch the 2023 Academy Awards

Friday 10 March 2023 10:30 , Peony Hirwani

The 95th Academy Awards are on Sunday 12 March at 5pm PT (8pm ET), with the red carpet arrivals expected to begin from around 2pm PT.

As well as following along with us live, heres how you can watch the entire show in the US and UK.

How to watch the Oscars 2023

James Cameron recalls trousers falling down during Titanic Oscars speech

Friday 10 March 2023 09:45 , Peony Hirwani

James Cameron has recalled an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction he suffered at the Academy Awards in 1998.

The strap on [then-wife] Linda [Hamiltons] dress broke, so Im trying to hold up the back where the strap broke, he told The Hollywood Reporter.

And my tux came together at the very last second. The tailor was supposed to meet us at the Four Seasons before we went over to the Oscars. The guy never showed up, and my pants are three inches too big. So with one hand, Im holding up my pants, and with the other, Im holding up Lindas dress. That was our entire fricking evening.

Read more:

James Cameron recalls trousers falling down during Titanic Oscars speech

Jimmy Kimmel to return as host for 2023 Oscars

Friday 10 March 2023 09:00 , Peony Hirwani

Jimmy Kimmel will be returning to front the 95th Oscars in 2023, marking the talk show hosts third time presenting the ceremony.

Kimmel first hosted the awards in 2017, the year that La La Land was mistakenly announced as the Best Picture winner over Moonlight, the true winner. The second time he hosted was in 2018.

Ellie Harrison has the full story.

Jimmy Kimmel to return as host for 2023 Oscars

Welcome to our live coverage of the Oscars 2023

Thursday 9 March 2023 15:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Welcome to The Independents rolling coverage of the 95th Annual Academy Awards.

Well be taking you through the nominees in all the most-watched categories, priming you with the best in Oscars trivia, and keeping you up to date on the red carpet, controversies, celebrations, touching moments, and of course a full rundown of all the winners.

Stay tuned!
Sophie Turner wears an ethically-made gown at the 2016 Oscars. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The 95th annual Academy Awards are being held in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday.

All attendees have received guides to dressing sustainably from environmental group RCGD Global.

Samata Pattinson, the author and CEO of the group, told Insider what she thinks stars will wear.

At the Oscars this year, expect red-carpet fashion to be green  and not in terms of color.

Ahead of the 95th Academy Awards  which will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday  the environmental group RCGD Global distributed a written guide to dressing ethically and sustainably at the event to all attendees.

The guide, which is serving as an unrequired dress code, was customized for the Oscars by the organization's CEO, Samata Pattinson, who previously authored a 23-page version of it.

Insider spoke with Pattinson about implementing the guide at the Oscars, what we can expect to see stars wear this year, and the impact of red-carpet fashion.

The Oscars are the place for sustainable fashion

When environmental activist Suzy Amis Cameron launched RCGD Global  previously called Red Carpet Green Dress  as a design competition in 2010, she had two goals: create opportunities for emerging fashion designers, and start a conversation about sustainability on red carpets.

So when Pattinson won the contest, she and Amis Cameron took it upon themselves to do just that.

"We went and pitched the Academy, saying, 'Look, this is a conversation you should be part of. This is a great opportunity to show there's a more meaningful way to showcase sustainable fashion. We're bringing the elements together. We just need you to give us a platform and endorse it.' And they did," she said.

Since that meeting, according to Pattinson, RCGD Global has "never relinquished that space."

In years past, they've worked with stars like Tati Gabrielle, Marlee Matlin, and Sophie Turner to display sustainable, ethically-created garments on the red carpet.

In 2016, Turner  in partnership with RCGD Global  wore a Galvan for Opening Ceremony gown that was ethically made.

Story continues

Sophie Turner wears an ethically-made gown at the 2016 Oscars. Todd Williamson/Getty Images

Then in 2022, Billie Eilish supported the organization by choosing a vintage Gucci gown and a deconstructed tiara worn as jewelry for the event.

Her mom Maggie Baird was also an RCGD Global ambassador that year.

Billie Eilish at the 2022 Oscars. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

This year, RCGD Global has taken its initiatives and guide to another level  creating a bespoke version for Oscars attendees.

The guide, which can be viewed online, recommends that attendees consider wearing vintage garments or clothes made from natural textiles, among other ideas.

And as Pattinson noted, the sustainable dress code is a suggestion  not mandatory.

But with so many ways to be sustainable, Pattinson believes "over 70%" of attendees will be participating in some way, "whether they identify it with sustainability or not."

"They're going to be renting, they're going to be tailoring existing pieces they're wearing," she said. "Some will be DIYing, or borrowing archival looks."

Joaquin Phoenix at the 2020 Oscars, wearing a suit he wore five times that year. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Even "that most cynical" attendee can be reached by RCGD Global's initiative, Pattinson said.

"We say: OK, these are a number of ways you can participate. You consider yourself a tech person? You can look into certifications and technology that traces where your garments are from," she said. "You consider yourself somebody that is passionate about biodiversity? You can look for natural or bio textiles."

"We just tried to give them so many options that there wasn't an out," she added.

2023 red-carpet predictions: vintage gowns and unique textiles

So what will your favorite stars actually wear on Sunday? Pattinson envisions three big themes: recycled outfits, natural textiles, and vegan materials.

"Repurposed fashion is a big one, because it's a very obvious thing," she said. "Visually you can see what they wore before, but they've done it differently this time."

"The other big one for me is probably textiles  there are lots of new ways to show color," Pattinson continued. "Textiles can be innovative, and some of them are really out there, you know? There are algae-based ones, bio-based options, and pieces made from regenerated ocean plastic. There's a plethora."

But most importantly, according to Pattinson, it's what happens off the Oscars red carpet that counts the most.

"All of this stuff is great: the textiles, the dyes, vintage clothes," she said. "But if we still don't come back to 'everybody needs to make less stuff,' then that's worrying."

"Fashion is a business industry. It must sell, it must trade, it must buy," she continued. "But I think what we have the opportunity to do is dictate the terms on which we will buy and the terms on which we will be sold to."

Read the original article on Insider
Ukraine's Defence Forces killed over 1,000 Russian soldiers on Saturday, 11 March.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: Total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 12 March 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses - ed.]:

approximately 159,090 (+1,090) military personnel,

3,466 (+8) tanks,

6,769 (+7) armoured combat vehicles,

2,487 (+4) artillery systems,

493 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems,

259 (+2) air defence systems,

304 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft,

289 (+0) helicopters,

2,108 (+0) operational-tactical UAVs,

907 (+0) cruise missiles,

18 (+0) ships/boats,

5,348 (+4) vehicles and tankers,

242 (+0) special vehicles and other equipment.

The data is being confirmed.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar has said heads have to roll over the January 6 Committees now-concluded investigation into the Capitol riot.

In an interview with the right-wing outlet The Gateway Pundit published on Sunday, Mr Gosar agreed that former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney, the vice chair of the committee and one of only two Republicans in the panel, should be prosecuted for her role in the probe.

Mr Gosar, who has relentlessly downplayed the attack had said in January that he was poised to conduct a real investigation into January 6.

 I think theres also military that are involved, the politician told the Pundit. And I think that their heads have to roll. Otherwise, you condone this lawlessness ... we see lawlessness everywhere and thats part of the precipitating actions that Congress is allowed.

Mr Gosars remarks come days after Georgia Representative Barry Loudermilk revealed an investigation into the dissolved committee is already underway and that meetings will be held eventually.

We need to give a serious, in-depth investigation into what happened that day, which the J6 committee didnt do. We need to know, where were the security failures  as well as what do we need to do to fix it? Mr Loudermilk said, per The Hill.

I would hope that, you know, theyd just come and talk. This is not going to be a gotcha. This is getting to the truth.

A heated controversy also ensued last week after some of more than 40,000 hours of surveillance footage from the riot were aired on Fox News.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy handed the tapes to Tucker Carlson, allowing the host to cherry-pick moments from the siege on Congress by Trump supporters and then downplay the threat on those who witnessed the insurrection.

Paul Gosar says he expects there to be criminal referrals coming from the House seeking the prosecution of Liz Cheney, other Members of the J6 Committee, and for some military officers. pic.twitter.com/6s0u41B9Yl  Ron Filipkowski  (@RonFilipkowski) March 12, 2023

In a statement to The Independent, the White House condemned the networks coverage.

Story continues

We agree with the chief of the Capitol Police and the wide range of bipartisan lawmakers who have condemned this false depiction of the unprecedented, violent attack on our Constitution and the rule of law  which cost police officers their lives, a spokesperson said.

We also agree with what Fox Newss own attorneys and executives have now repeatedly stressed in multiple courts of law: that Tucker Carlson is not credible.

Republican and Democrats alike have also decried the release of the tapes, saying Carlsons comments were misleading at best.

If @HouseGOP wants new Jan 6 hearings, bring it on. Lets replay every witness & all the evidence from last year. But this time, those members who sought pardons and/or hid from subpoenas should sit on the dais so they can be confronted on live TV with the unassailable evidence.  Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) March 8, 2023

Elsewhere in the interview with the Gateway Pundit, Mr Gosar said the tapes showed a complete 180 from the evidence presented during the January 6 Committee meetings. He also doubled down on Carlsons remarks that Democrats lied about the death of Capitol officer Brian Sicknick.

They knew he was not murdered by the mob, but they claimed it anyway, Carlson said in his show.

Officer Sicknick died eight hours after suffering two strokes following the Capitol riot, according to NBC. Two men have been convicted for assaulting and spraying Sickinick with chemicals and his family has contended that fighting during the riot caused the strokes.

The first thing is acknowledg[ing] that we were rotten with fraud, and we need the American people to start calling and asking and hoping to plead that Congressman [Jim] Jordan really starts making the impact, Mr Gosar said.

Hiring the attorneys, getting everybody is subpoenaed, because we need to get the bottom of this and it shouldnt stop here.

The Gateway Pundit has been accused of publishing misleading and outright false articles and conspiracies about the 2020 Presidential election and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Ms Cheney said that she would cooperate with the expected new probe.

If @HouseGOP wants new Jan 6 hearings, bring it on. Lets replay every witness & all the evidence from last year, she wrote on Twitter.

But this time, those members who sought pardons and/or hid from subpoenas should sit on the dais so they can be confronted on live TV with the unassailable evidence.
Former Vice President Mike Pence took the rare step of directly criticising his successors in the White House this weekend and opened up a broadside attack on the Biden administrations foreign policy.

It was a move that hinted strongly of Mr Pences own future political ambitions, even if it came on an issue that may not resonate with Mr Trumps base.

The ex-VP and potential 2024 candidate was speaking on Saturday to the Organization of Iranian-American Communities (OIAC), a group that largely aligns its views with the maximum pressure campaign pursued by the Trump administration against Iran for four years. The OIAC events regularly feature Republicans and Democrats alike who favour a stronger stance against Tehran than is represented by the 2015 accord signed under the Obama administration. In recent years that has included Democrats like Eliot Engel, former Foreign Affairs panel chief.

The group is currently rallying support for a bipartisan House resolution, which looks poised to pass with overwhelming support, that urges the Biden administration to change its tactics and put further pressure on Tehran by urging European allies to shutter Iranian consulates and send home diplomats.

Because of the bipartisan nature of the events, speakers generally keep their messages focused on supportive remarks about the Iranian people, statements cheering the widespread protests that have swept the country in recent months and years, and condemnations of the authoritarian Tehranian regime. Mr Pence broke from both that order as well as the typical reluctance that former presidents and vice presidents show towards weighing in on the new administrations decisions on Saturday, assailing what he said was a foolish attempt by the Biden White House to reignite hope for the 2015 nuclear deal.

President Biden and his administration are threatening to unravel all of the progress we made in marginalising the tyrannical regime in Tehran, Mr Pence warned.

Story continues

They are working overtime to restore the Iran Nuclear Deal, he claimed, before adding: These actions are foolish and dangeroush  appeasement has never worked, and it never will.

He went further, calling the Obama administrations support for the Iranian peoples demands for freedom during the Arab Spring halfhearted and warning that rejoining the nuclear accord his administration tore up would lead to more terrorism, death and destruction while paving a path in gold to the Iranian government developing nuclear weapons.

Theres some debate to be had as to whether the vice presidents remarks can be called accurate. Some figures within the Biden administration are thought to still be pursuing an agreement to return to the now-distant 2015 nuclear agreement, but the White House has signalled pretty clearly that those talks are not going anywhere at the moment  at the same time, hinting that rejoining the accord may not be on Mr Bidens list of priorities.

The US envoy to Iran derided the negotiations over returning to the deal as a waste of time amid the resurgent protests across the country late last year, and President Joe Biden himself declared the deal kaput in December.

It is dead, but we are not gonna announce it. Long story, he was seen telling a woman on a ropeline in California.

Still, it was a sharply political message that signaled Mr Pences clear desire to remain a player in national conservative circles  perhaps even a 2024 contender. But the activist base of the GOP, which so far appears to firmly remain in Mr Trumps camp, has never been meaningfully riled up by the kind of hawkish foreign policy rhetoric Mr Pence delivered on Saturday.

Mr Pence has not ruled out a 2024 bid for the presidency and said in late February that he was nearing a decision on whether to run. Hed be a longshot candidate for the GOP nomination, particularly if Floridas popular Governor Ron DeSantis jumps in the race to soak up the voters looking for a Trump alternative.

The ex-VP would likely be one of several former Trump administration figures in the race; ex-UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is already running, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is similarly thought to be readying his own campaign.

His own hurdle to winning the nomination coalesced on January 6, when Mr Pence refused to interfere in the process of certifiying Joe Bidens election victory after a massive wave of Mr Trumps supporters attacked the US Capitol.
Former Vice President Mike Pence. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday delivered another strong rebuke of his old boss, former President Donald Trump, for the latter's role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Speaking at the annual Gridiron Club dinner, a lavish event thrown in Washington, D.C., by a journalistic group, Pence rebuffed Trump's claim that the vice president could have altered the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to President Biden.

"President Trump was wrong. I had no right to overturn the election and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day," Pence said. The former vice president added that "history will hold Donald Trump accountable" for his actions.

In addition, Pence also shot back at Republicans who have attempted to downplay the events of Jan. 6. This includes people such as Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has framed the attackers as tourists.

"Tourists don't injure 140 police officers by sightseeing," Pence said. "Tourists don't break down doors to get to the speaker of the House or voice threats against public officials." He added that "what happened that day was a disgrace, and it mocks decency to portray it in any other way."

The former vice president also claimed that the public has a right to transparency regarding Jan. 6, despite the fact that his attorneys filed a request to block a subpoena for his testimony about the attack just days prior.

All of this comes in the shadow of Pence potentially launching his own presidential campaign for 2024. He has previously said that he was talking about the possibility with his family.

The Washington Post reported that Pence joked about his potential candidacy during the dinner, saying he would "unreservedly support the Republican nominee for president in 2024, if it's me."

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Former Vice President Mike Pence said late Saturday that history will hold Donald Trump accountable for the events of Jan. 6, 2021, levying harsh criticism on the former president as Pence mulls a 2024 White House bid.

President Trump was wrong, Pence said at the annual white-tie Gridiron Dinner attended by politicians and journalists, according to The Associated Press. I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.

The remarks by Pence were some of his sharpest condemning the former president, after Trump waged a pressure campaign to get Pence to interfere with the certification of the 2020 election results.

But as Pence says history will hold Trump accountable, he has also tried to avoid testifying in the federal probe that is investigating the former president for his involvement in the insurrection and his efforts to overturn the election. Pence was subpoenaed by Jack Smith, the special counsel tasked with investigating Trump, but Pence has asked a judge to block the call for his testimony.

Im going to fight the Biden DOJs subpoena for me to appear before the grand jury because I believe its unconstitutional, and its unprecedented, Pence told reporters after an event in Iowa last month.

Pence has continued to try and distance himself from the Jan. 6 rioting. The storming of the Capitol resurfaced in the news recently, after Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) provided access to government tapes of the events to Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The cable host used two nights of his show to portray the Capitol breach as simply a peaceful protest.

Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace, Pence said at the dinner on Saturday. And it mocks decency to portray it any other way.

Pence has been making visits to early primary states in the Republican nominating process, as he mulls a White House campaign against the former president, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Updated at 9:02 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Former Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday harshly criticized former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, widening the rift between the two men as they prepare to battle over the Republican nomination in next year's election.

President Trump was wrong," Pence said during remarks at the annual white-tie Gridiron Dinner attended by politicians and journalists. "I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.

Pence's remarks were the sharpest condemnation yet from the once-loyal lieutenant who has often shied away from confronting his former boss. Trump has already declared his candidacy. Pence has not, but he's been laying the groundwork to run.

In the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, Trump pressured Pence to overturn President Joe Biden's election victory as he presided over the ceremonial certification of the results. Pence refused, and when rioters stormed the Capitol, some chanted that they wanted to hang Mike Pence.

The House committee that investigated the attack said in its final report that the President of the United States had riled up a mob that hunted his own Vice President."

With his remarks, Pence solidified his place in a broader debate within the Republican Party over how to view the attack. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for example, recently provided Tucker Carlson with an archive of security camera footage from Jan. 6, which the Fox News host has used to downplay the day's events and promote conspiracy theories.

Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace," Pence said in his Gridiron Dinner remarks. "And it mocks decency to portray it any other way.

Trump, meanwhile, has continued to spread lies about his election loss. He's even spoken in support of the rioters and said he would consider pardoning them if he was reelected.

Story continues

Speeches at the Gridiron Dinner are usually humorous affairs, where politicians poke fun at each other, and Pence did plenty of that as well.

He joked that Trump's ego was so fragile, he wanted his vice president to sing Wind Beneath My Wings  one of the lines is did you ever know that youre my hero?  during their weekly lunches.

He took another shot at Trump over classified documents.

I read that some of those classified documents they found at Mar-a-Lago were actually stuck in the president's Bible," Pence said. Which proves he had absolutely no idea they were there.

Even before the dinner was over, Pence was facing criticism for his jokes about Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, the first openly gay Cabinet member in U.S. history.

Pence mentioned that, despite travel problems that were plaguing Americans, Buttigieg took "maternity leave after he and his husband adopted newborn twins.

Pete is the only person in human history to have a child and everyone else gets post-partum depression, Pence said. ___

Megerian reported from Wilmington, Delaware.
(Bloomberg) -- Former Vice President Mike Pence offered his sharpest criticism to date of Donald Trump, holding his former boss responsible for the Capitol insurrection in early 2021 as he teased his own White House ambitions for 2024.

Most Read from Bloomberg

History will hold Donald Trump accountable for what happened on Jan. 6, 2021, Pence told an audience of several hundred policy makers and journalists on Saturday night in Washington.

Pence recounted before the hushed gathering how his own life was put at risk as Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol while he stood on the Senate floor to help oversee the certification of the 2020 election. He described how he had to hide, at the direction of security, from rioters rampaging through the building.

President Trump was wrong, Pence said, recalling that he wasnt afraid, but angry. His reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol.

The comments marked his biggest public break with Trump since leaving office in January 2021. Pence has been making similar remarks behind closed doors, including to donors, but his camp felt that tonight was the right venue for him to say it more broadly, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The former vice president chose a high-profile audience for his attack on Trump. The annual Gridiron Club Dinner  a institution thats more than a century old  is regarded as a gathering of some of the most influential figures in Washington, from lawmakers to journalists and other public figures.

Trump has already declared a comeback bid for the White House in 2024, and during his speech Saturday, Pence hinted at his own interest in running as well.

Story continues

I will wholeheartedly, unreservedly support the Republican nominee for president in 2024... if its me, Pence said, drawing laughter.

In his remarks, he expressed gratitude for the actions of law enforcement who defended the Capitol after Trump supporters invaded the building.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday harshly criticized former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, widening the rift between the two men as they prepare to battle over the Republican nomination in next year's election.

President Trump was wrong," Pence said during remarks at the annual white-tie Gridiron Dinner attended by politicians and journalists. "I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.

Pence's remarks were the sharpest condemnation yet from the once-loyal lieutenant who has often shied away from confronting his former boss. Trump has already declared his candidacy. Pence has not, but he's been laying the groundwork to run.

In the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, Trump pressured Pence to overturn President Joe Biden's election victory as he presided over the ceremonial certification of the results. Pence refused, and when rioters stormed the Capitol, some chanted that they wanted to hang Mike Pence.

The House committee that investigated the attack said in its final report that the President of the United States had riled up a mob that hunted his own Vice President."

With his remarks, Pence solidified his place in a broader debate within the Republican Party over how to view the attack. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for example, recently provided Tucker Carlson with an archive of security camera footage from Jan. 6, which the Fox News host has used to downplay the day's events and promote conspiracy theories.

Make no mistake about it, what happened that day was a disgrace," Pence said in his Gridiron Dinner remarks. "And it mocks decency to portray it any other way.

Trump, meanwhile, has continued to spread lies about his election loss. He's even spoken in support of the rioters and said he would consider pardoning them if he was reelected.

Story continues

Speeches at the Gridiron Dinner are usually humorous affairs, where politicians poke fun at each other, and Pence did plenty of that as well.

He joked that Trump's ego was so fragile, he wanted his vice president to sing Wind Beneath My Wings  one of the lines is did you ever know that youre my hero?  during their weekly lunches.

He took another shot at Trump over classified documents.

I read that some of those classified documents they found at Mar-a-Lago were actually stuck in the president's Bible," Pence said. Which proves he had absolutely no idea they were there.

Even before the dinner was over, Pence was facing criticism for his jokes about Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, the first openly gay Cabinet member in U.S. history.

Pence mentioned that, despite travel problems that were plaguing Americans, Buttigieg took "maternity leave after he and his husband adopted newborn twins.

Pete is the only person in human history to have a child and everyone else gets post-partum depression, Pence said.
Pennsylvania State Police are asking for people to come forward with information after a dog was shot multiple times with a pellet gun in Fayette County.

Troopers were called to Kimberly Drive in South Union Township at around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday for reports of animal cruelty.

The dogs owner told police the animal escaped her yard but came back around an hour and a half later.

She said the dog had been shot multiple times with a pellet gun.

The dog is a boxer and weighs around 70 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call PSP Uniontown at 724-439-7111.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

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Peter Kay (PA)

Peter Kay was forced to halt his Newcastle show last week after several members of the audience mysteriously fell ill.

As Kay continues his sell-out comeback tour around the UK, the beloved comedian's performances have become a hot commodity.

Read more: Peter Kay helps couple get engaged live on stage

But three fans, according to The Sun , were sat in the front row when they all became sick  with worried ticketholders shouting for someone to call an ambulance.

Having noticed the commotion, a worried Kay asked from the stage if they were "being serious" before calling for medical attention from stewards.

Peter Kay (Getty)

One was wheelchaired out of the Newcastle Utilita Arena with the others following behind.

Kay took time off the stage to make sure the situation was dealt with swiftly, before continuing the performance.

"Peter came back on and continued the show but said 'three went down then' and he said he hoped 'they were OK'," they told the paper.

Read more: Peter Kay fans 'gutted' as 'unprecedented' demand for tickets causes site crashes

Kay's tour has been widely celebrated by fans following the star mysteriously removing himself from all work commitments.

The Phoenix Nights and Car Share star has been largely out of the spotlight since December 2017, when he cancelled a planned tour due to unforeseen family circumstances.

After that, he only made few appearances in order to fundraise for charity.

Peter Kay (Getty)

His return was announced during an ad break for 2022's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in November.

Foregoing a major publicity campaign, the funny man released a surprise low-budget promo video where he was caught 'carrying a carpet into his mum's house' while a pal posing as a fan filmed him on a phone from his car.

Read more: Peter Kay pokes fun at cancel culture ahead of new tour

During the clip, the 'fan' was seen calling out his famous catchphrases before asking him when he was coming back to the stage.

Story continues

Appearing on Radio 2's Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on 9 November, Kay also confirmed a monthly residency at The O2 in London .

His comeback comedy tour was so in demand that it caused tickets sites to crash , and he's since announced additional dates in order to keep up with demand.

His return dates started on 16 December and will run until 18 November 2023.

Among the surprises, Kay helped one couple get engaged on stage over the Christmas period.

WATCH: Why Peter Kay is coming back to stage
A gospel choir performs during class at Valley State Prison in 2017. Peter Merts

Peter Merts, 72, has captured California's prison arts programs for the past 15 years.

Merts wants his audience to see the "humanness" of incarcerated people and the art they create.

He also told Insider that he wants to "soften" preconceptions of incarcerated people.

Peter Merts, 72, is a photographer who captures arts programs in California prisons.

Peter Merts has spent 15 years taking photos of prison arts programs in California. Photo courtesy of Peter Merts

Merts lives near San Quentin prison, located north of San Francisco, where his photo project began in 2006. Over the past 15 years, Merts has fostered a relationship with the prisons, the arts program, and the incarcerated people themselves.

Since 2002, Merts works primarily with the art rehabilitation organization California Arts in Corrections to capture their work in prisons.

Merts first began photographing for Bread and Roses, a nonprofit organization that organizes live performances for institutionalized audiences.

An actor waits for his cue during a rehearsal of Shakespeare's Macbeth at Solano State Prison in 2015. Peter Merts

Merts told Insider that his 15-year series began at a benefit concert hosted by Bread and Roses at the San Quentin State Prison in 2006.

An Arts in Corrections instructor invited Merts to shoot one of his classes, which piqued Merts' interest of capturing incarcerated artists across the state.

Today, almost all of the classes Merts shoots belong to the Arts in Corrections program.

A mural artist stands in front of his work at Valley State Prison in 2017. Peter Merts

According to their website, the program is a partnership between the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Arts Council, "designed to have a positive impact on the social and emotional well-being of people experiencing incarceration."

Merts immediately fell in love with the California Arts in Corrections program.

Painting students paint in the Catholic chapel at Sierra Conservation Center in 2016. Peter Merts

After his first shoot, Merts knew this was something he wanted to explore.

"I almost immediately fell in love with the program. Just the energy in the room, the creativity that was there, the sharing, the mentoring," Merts told Insider. "It was an amazing feeling in that room of just artistry and excitement and a sense of exploration, and I've been following it ever since."

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When Arts in Corrections shared Merts' work with the California Department of Corrections, the photos took off.

Gerald Moran with his painting in the San Quentin State Prison art studio in 2015. Peter Merts

As Merts continued shooting arts classes in prisons, his work got around the Department of Corrections. Soon, Merts expanded beyond San Quentin State Prison and throughout the state of California.

Soon, instructors from different prisons within the California Arts in Corrections began inviting him to shoot their art classes.

Dancers rehearse at San Quentin State Prison in 2016. Peter Merts

There are 34 prisons throughout the state of California and each of them has an operating arts program. When Merts went beyond San Quentin, the photographer described the process as "rewarding."

The photographer noticed early on that there were negative perceptions of the incarcerated community.

Students learn an improv exercise during theater class at High Desert State Prison in 2018. Peter Merts

Merts was met with a lot of hostility when he would share information about the Arts in Corrections program and the work he was doing.

"They would say 'Oh my kids don't even have art in their grade school so why do these guys get art that are incarcerated,'" Merts shared.

Merts told Insider he wants to evoke feelings of empathy and compassion from his audience.

Theater class is held in the old stone chapel at Folsom State Prison in 2018. Peter Merts

When Merts first told friends and peers about this series, he was met with mixed reactions.

"It seemed to me that there was a lack of empathy or compassion, and I began to think about this and I realized that the general public has a pretty negative view of people who are incarcerated," Merts said.

For Merts, these negative views aren't fair to the incarcerated artists that are "trying to better themselves." Participating in these programs is a step in the right direction.

In 2014, the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice released a study with data showing positive correlations between incarcerated people participating in the arts and better viewpoints on "life effectiveness attitudes" such as time management, intellectual flexibility, self-confidence, and more.

In Merts' own work, he focuses largely on hands while shooting the arts programs.

A student holds his heart textbook at Calipatria State Prison in 2018. Peter Merts

The photographer began focusing more on hands when he noticed a natural pattern of hands in his work.

"And of course for an art class, particularly visual arts, they use the hands as the main way of engaging with the art," Merts said.

The tattoos on the artist's hands make Merts' shots more engaging, he believes.

A songwriting student playing the piano at CCI Tehachapi in 2018. Peter Merts

Tattoos became another important theme in Merts' photographs.

"I would go around the room and men and women are working and just see what they're working on and see the hands, and a lot of the hands are tattooed of course." Merts said. "The artwork on the skin and the artwork that the hands are doing just, to me, was very compelling."

Merts' focus on hands and faces in his work is meant to highlight the humanity of the artists.

A guitar student and his instructor at North Kern State Prison in 2018. Peter Merts

"I think the best way for me to overcome that lack of empathy and compassion in viewers is to really try and show the authenticity, the humanness of these artists," Merts said.

"That's part of why I try to work in close and get faces and expressions and interactions between people, cause I think it shows people's nature, their personality, their authenticity, and I think that's the best way to engender empathy for the folks inside," he continued.

When Merts began taking photos, he went for a "fly on the wall" feel, but realized the photos looked detached.

A theater class rehearses at California Medical Facility in 2018. Peter Merts

Merts initially wanted an objective eye in his photos, but quickly changed his strategy.

"I started doing that but I felt that the images, because I was separated from the action, they didn't really portray the positive imagery in the room, and the excitement, and the mentoring, and the sharing, and the pride that these men and women had in their artwork," he said.

When giving his subjects space didn't work, Merts decided to move in closer.

A classical guitar student plays at Sierra Conservation Center in 2019. Peter Merts

"So I started moving in closer and closer and interacting more with the artists as they were creating their art," Merts said.

In movement classes, Merts becomes an active member of the environment.

Students attend a hip-hop dance class at Ironwood State Prison in 2016. Peter Merts

"So it becomes real, particularly with the classes that involve movement, such as dance or theater, I get right in the middle of things during rehearsals," Merts said.

This requires bending, squatting, and moving with his subjects while they perform.

Merts primarily photographs rehearsals and workshops to capture the artists as they create.

A dancer rehearses at Central California Women's Facility in 2017. Peter Merts

In the 15, or so, weeks these artists have to create their ballet or musical, Merts told Insider he prefers shooting the artists in the middle of the process than at the end.

"I prefer actually to not photograph the performance itself, the final piece. I would rather photograph during the process of the art making, during rehearsals when they're crafting things, because to me that's more real and you get a lot more spontaneous behavior and outbursts and things like that," Merts said.

According to Merts, his work means a lot to the incarcerated people that he photographs.

A theater student performs at Ironwood State Prison in 2018. Peter Merts

Though Merts isn't allowed to give prisoners photos of themselves due to a "no fraternization policy," he allows their loved ones access.

"I've made it so easy for the families to get the photos and the families can send the photos in to the guys. So the guys regularly get copies of the photos that I shoot," Merts said.

Merts told Insider about an instance at Pelican Bay State prison where an incarcerated man showed him a photo he took seven years earlier.

A creative writing class at Pelican Bay State Prison in 2019. Peter Merts

Merts and the incarcerated artist had met years before, at another prison in the state.

"He had transferred, but he heard that a photographer was coming this day. He thought it might have been the same photographer ... so he brought this photograph that his family had sent him, which was really touching to see that," Merts said.

Merts told Insider the program inspired previously incarcerated people to return and teach a class.

Mariachi band class rehearses at Avenal State Prison in 2018. Peter Merts

According to Merts, special mentorships form between instructors and their students.

"Many of the artists, once they do parole and get out, stay in touch with their teacher. Some of them are hired by the teaching organization to go back inside and teach their former peers, I've seen that a number of times."

Merts has noticed some patterns within the artists' work, like imagery around birds and nature.

The view from the art studio at San Quentin State Prison in 2006. Peter Merts

Patterns in the artwork Merts photographs include birds and other elements of nature.

"One [theme] I'll mention just off the top of my head is there are a lot of images of birds in prison, and you can imagine why," Merts said.

Merts added that art shows, like the 2018 San Quentin show "Flying Free" held at the SFO Museum, focus on birds in incarcerated people's art.

Another pattern that Merts sees in incarcerated artists' work is a focus on their respective cultures.

A student practices a traditional Aztec dance at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran in 2019. Peter Merts

"Some artists, when looking for a style or a direction to go with their art, they get focused in on their heritage," Merts said. "Wherever they're from they'll really focus on the religion of their culture, or just the landscape of their culture."

Merts described these arts programs as "refreshing," and he has hope for the future of arts in prisons.

A student inspects his painting in the window light at Pleasant Valley State Prison in 2019. Peter Merts

Though California is the only state with a state-wide program like Arts in Correction, other states in the US want to follow suit.

"There are pilot programs in various states beyond California as well, so there is hope that things are improving," Merts shared.

Merts has considered furthering his project beyond California's borders, but he's built trust with the state.

A prisoner in the Arts in Corrections program holds his origami pieces at San Quentin State Prison in 2017. Peter Merts

"Over the years I've really nurtured my relationship with the department of corrections so that I have pretty strong access now," Merts said. "To start that over again in a different state, I realize, could be daunting."

For now, Merts is focused on the work California is doing with arts programs in its prison system.

Through his work, Merts hopes that the general public will have a more holistic view of incarcerated people.

Improv students depict motherhood at California Institution for Women in 2019. Peter Merts

In 2021, Merts released his first book, "Ex Crucible: The Passion of Incarcerated Artists." In his book, and his work overall, Merts wants to challenge the general public's perception of incarcerated people.

"I would love for people's preconceptions of incarcerated people to soften, to become more realistic," Merts said.

Read the original article on Insider
The red carpet for the Oscars airing on March 12, 2023, is champagne-color for 2023. STEFANI REYNOLDS/Getty Images

The carpet for the 95th Academy Awards will be "champagne-colored" instead of red.

The Academy picked the color because it is "soothing," a creative consultant told The New York Times.

The carpet took around three weeks to make in a mill in Dalton, Georgia, according to The Times.

The carpet at Sunday's 95th Academy Awards is not the traditional ruby red color it has been at more than 60 previous gatherings.

This year the carpet is "champagne colored," and it will lead actors through the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California to a seat at Hollywood's biggest award show.

Lisa Love, a creative consultant for the Oscars red carpet, told The New York Times that the creative team also considered "chocolate brown" as a color for the carpet.

"The sienna-color tent and champagne-colored carpet was inspired by watching the sunset on a white-sand beach at the 'golden hour' with a glass of champagne in hand, evoking calm and peacefulness," Love told The Times.

A champagne colored carpeted stairway leads guests into the Dolby Theatre as preparations continue for the 95th Academy Awards, also knows as the Oscars, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. March 11, 2023. Reuters

The creative team chose the "soothing" champagne color so that it would not clash with the orange tent that will be over the carpet to shield the event's guests from the sun and potential rain, The Times reported.

Steve Olive, the president of Event Carpet Pros, the company that made the carpet, told The Times that it took about three weeks to put the carpet together at a mill in Dalton, Georgia. After the Oscars, the carpet will be recycled and get new life as a new rug or insulation, Olive said according to The Times.

When asked about the potential for the carpet to get dirtier than others have in the past because of its light color, Love said that the carpet will "probably get dirty," according to The Times.

Read the original article on Insider
Pitt is officially back in the NCAA Tournament.

On Sunday night, the Panthers were included in this years field of 68 as a No. 11 seed in the Midwest region.

Pitt will play against Mississippi State in the first four in Dayton, with the winner going to Greensboro to take on 6-seed Iowa State.

The Pitt Panthers are going dancing for the first time since 2016!



They earn the 11 seed, and will face Mississipi St. in a play-in game in Dayton.  Jenna Harner (@JennaHarner11) March 12, 2023

This is the first time Pitt has been in the NCAA Tournament since 2016.

Pitt will play on Tuesday at 9 p.m.

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Newly released bodycam footage shows that Booker T. Pannell III put his hands up and said, Please, please, I dont want to die before Elk Grove police officers chased him down a hotel hallway and shot him Feb. 21.

Pannell was pronounced dead at a hospital later that night. He was 40. In a brief phone conversation, his father  who shares his sons name  said, He was a good person. He was a good man. Thats all I can say right now.

The Elk Grove Police Department on Friday night released footage from body-worn cameras and a hotel security camera. An investigation into the officers use of force is ongoing.

Pannell died during a continued local and national reckoning with policing practices fueled by fatal encounters with law enforcement. In January, the death in Memphis, Tennessee, of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who grew up in Sacramento, renewed scrutiny of police violence; five officers face second-degree murder charges for Nichols beating death.

Mapping Police Violence and local news coverage show that police killed six people in use of force incidents in Sacramento County last year.

Internal and outside investigators have not determined whether officers followed proper protocols the night Pannell died.

What led up to Booker Pannells death?

According to the video, someone called police Feb. 21 to report a carjacking near Shana Way and Whitelock Parkway. Dispatch received the report at 10:32.

In the 911 excerpt in the video, the caller asks police to come to her house. My husband had an altercation with his friend, and the friend took our car, the caller says. And he pulled a gun out on my husband.

An officer went to the house to take a statement from the husband. In the footage, the husband calmly emerges and speaks to the officer. He explains, My friend and his girlfriend came by, and I was asleep. And long story short, he was having some type of side effects or whatever  I think he was on meth. So he was out here with his girlfriend ... hes been paranoid, saying the cops is looking into drones, stuff like that. So I said, look, let me take you to the hospital.

Story continues

He said he was starting to drive to the hospital with his friend, Pannell, and turned on his blinker to make a left turn on Whitelock when the friend said, You in on it, too. He said his friend started screaming, and said, Theyre coming to get me. He said Pannell pulled out his gun, pointed it at him, and then pointed it at his own head.

The husband fled the car. He told the officer, I thought he was gonna kill me.

Around 11:40 p.m., the video says, officers went to the Holiday Inn Express on Stockton Boulevard and Laguna Boulevard, right off Highway 99. A hotel employee had reported a disturbance. A very short clip of security footage from the Holiday Inn shows a man in the lobby leaning over the front desk; that footage has no audio.

When police arrived, they saw the car that had been reported stolen sitting empty in the Holiday Inn parking lot. They determined Pannell was the man in the lobby.

In the video, four officers walk through the automatic sliding doors of the lobby and three immediately raise their guns. One holsters her weapon and switches to a taser.

Body-worn camera footage shows the officers shouting at Pannell: Hands up. He puts his hands up. Multiple officers then yell, Get on the ground multiple times, and one of the officers directs them, One person talk. Pannell says something inaudible, then seems to say, Theres people trying to kill me.

A female officer shouts, You will be tased; get on the ground.

Taser fired, then shots

Multiple officers shout more commands at Pannell. He keeps his hands stiffly raised out in front of him. Pannell says, I dont want to die. Please, please. I dont want to die. Listen, please. Please.

In response, the female officer shouts, Taser, taser, taser, and deploys it.

The interaction from the moment that the sliding door opened to the moment that the officer deployed her taser lasted 35 seconds.

Its unclear whether the taser actually hit Pannell. In the video, he runs away from the officers and they chase him down a hallway.

In the footage from the chase, its difficult to see what happens. One officer says, Hes running, he has a gun. An officer fires his weapon five times down the hotel hallway. The video says officers saw Pannell hold the gun to his own head as he was running away.

By the time the officer fires the first shot, a little over a minute has elapsed since they entered the hotel.

Stop moving! one officer shouts down the hallway. Outside the exit door, which has shattered glass likely caused by the gunfire, a bystander is lying on the ground.

Officers shout, Let me see your hands! Hands! Pannell is lying on the ground, a few feet farther away. The bystander shakily raises his hands. Are you shot? an officer asks the bystander. (The video says the bystander was not hit by a bullet.)

When the officers approach Pannell, they see that he has two gunshot wounds  in the leg and the head. As a male officer holds one of Pannells arms, the female officer takes away his gun.

The video says that police officers found one spent shell casing outside the hotel that matched the ammunition in Pannells gun; they concluded that he fired only one shot, outside the hotel, after police started shooting at him.

Text in the video says it is uncertain whether the head wound was from the police officers gun, or whether Pannell killed himself as police were chasing him. A coroners report is still pending.

The Elk Grove Police Department said it released the video before the investigation into the incident was concluded in the interest of transparency with the community we serve. They published the video on YouTube Friday evening, posting a link to Twitter at 7:15 p.m.
Courtesy of Lethabo Kgadima

Lethabo Kgadima calls herself a "gym bunny" who works out 6 times a week.

However, she said that she was judged during a step class because she is plus-size.

Kgadima said she wants to use her platform to bring awareness to help others enjoy the gym.

Lethabo Kgadima loves the gym.

She loves it so much that she goes six days a week for up to 2 hours, often participating in step or spin classes  despite her friends constantly telling her to take it easy, she told Insider.

"I only rest on Sundays because I go to church," Kgadima, a South African make-up artist and influencer, said.

A self-described foodie and gym bunny, Kgadima says has been documenting her fitness journey on social media since 2018 in a series titled "#LethaboAtGym."

Despite this, Kgadima said she was judged at a Virgin Active South Africa on February 16 because of her size, and the experience left her feeling "emotionally drained," she said.

She shared the incident in a now-viral tweet posted on February 19.

"What I didn't tell you guys is that the minute I walked into step class, a @virginactiveSA instructor (Andile) came to me to tell me I should leave the class as it's advanced," Kgadima wrote in a reply to videos of her at the gym, including the step class she said she was discriminated in. "he looked at me decided I can't handle the class, tell me why? It's screaming fatphobia."

Kgadima told Insider that the comments shocked her. She was a step-class veteran and had even attended classes with the same instructor.

On the day of the incident, Kgadima said she came to class five minutes late, grabbed her step, and was trying to watch her classmates in order to learn what she had missed. That's when her instructor walked up to her.

"In my head, when he approached me, I'm thinking it was because he knows me, he's seen me before," Kgadima said, "so I was assuming he's coming to actually show me like 'oh, this is how the combo routine is' only for him to tell me 'oh, hi, unfortunately, this is an advanced class' and that I need to leave and come at an easier class.

Story continues

Kgadima said she asked him to stop talking to her, and moved to the other side of the room, away from the instructor, to finish the class. She noticed that she was the only one who was approached even though there were newcomers.

"So out of the whole class, he looked at me and decided no, you are the one that won't be able to handle the class," Kgadima said.

She said told the fitness manager about what transpired and left the gym. Afterward, she took to Twitter to air her frustrations.

The tweet eventually led to a call with Virgin Active South Africa, she said, but she said she was disappointed that it took a social media post for them to take her complaint seriously.

In a statement to Insider, Virgin Active South Africa said they "deeply regret" the incident and apologized, saying they "strongly oppose any form of body shaming." They also said they provided sensitivity training to their staff and were committed to turning the "unfortunate incident into a positive learning experience."

'I just felt embarrassed'

After five years of consistent workouts, Kgadima felt comfortable at the gym  a place she says she can be herself.

She says the latest incident left her feeling a bit defeated. She started to question whether she even belonged in the space and began feeling the pressure to prove herself even if it meant pushing herself past her limits.

"I just felt embarrassed. I felt shamed upon, I felt so little  And I think it was even worse because this was a space where I was comfortable," Kgadima said. "He took that from me."

Kgadima is not alone. Weight discrimination is still a pervasive problem in the fitness sphere, and research has found that plus-sized individuals regularly face discrimination in fitness. In a 2021 study in BMC Public Health, participants who experienced "traumatic weight stigma experiences, self-discrimination and fear of stigma" excluded themselves from exercising or avoided certain physical activities.

Kgadima said she is very aware of this stigma and hopes that other people, who may not be aware that they are contributing to fatphobia, learn about these issues.

"When you are a big person and you move into a fitness space, it's not the easiest space to move in because automatically people may look at you and assume you cannot or assume you're going to slow down the class," Kgadima said.

Kgadima continues to help others face their fitness fears

Following her posts about the incident, Kgadima received an outpouring of support.

Kgadima did not quit going to the gym and will continue to document her journey, she said. She still attends the step class as well.

With her platform, she says she's aware of the message that her posts convey, and says her posts helped her connect to so many people who want to go to the gym but may be afraid.

Kgadima also said that when she goes to the gym, she often gets approached by people for help or advice because "I look like them. When they walk into class, immediately they feel safe to say 'Oh, there's somebody that looks like me.'"

And for people who may be afraid to start their fitness journey due to discrimination or outdated stigma, she says the best advice is to find a community, and everything else will work out.

"That is why I really don't want to leave this community," Kgadima said. "They're in my corner all the time."

Read the original article on Insider
The Chancellor and Prime Minister are due to hold talks with the Bank of England governor this weekend in response to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank UK (Jeff Chiu/AP) (AP)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are due to hold talks with the Governor of the Bank of England in response to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank UK.

In a statement issued on Sunday morning, the Treasury said it is treating the issue as a high priority.

The Government is working at pace on a solution to avoid or minimise damage to some of our most promising companies in the UK and we will bring forward immediate plans to ensure the short-term operational and cashflow needs of Silicon Valley Bank UK customers are able to be met, the statement said.

The Government and the Bank understand the level of concern that this raises for customers of Silicon Valley Bank UK, and especially how it may impact on cashflow positions in the short term.

It added that the Government recognises that the Silicon Valley Bank UKs (SVBUK) failure could have a significant impact on the liquidity of the tech ecosystem.

The Bank of England announced on Friday that Silicon Valley Bank UK is set to enter insolvency, following action taken by its parent company in the United States.

While Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has a limited presence in the UK and does not perform functions critical to the financial system, the Coalition for a Digital Economy (Coadec) warned that its collapse could have a significant impact on tech start-ups.

A short update on the current situation with Silicon Valley Bank UK: https://t.co/uuezVasIgy pic.twitter.com/JZ5GbHZQc1  Coadec (@Coadec) March 11, 2023

Coadecs executive director, Dom Hallas, said in a statement on Saturday: It is clear this could have a significant impact on the UKs tech start-up ecosystem.

In light of the concern and panic, I wanted to share an update on what we know and where we are.

We know that there are a large number of start-ups and investors in the ecosystem who have significant exposure to SVBUK and will be very concerned.

Story continues

We have been engaging with the UK Government, including Treasury and No 10, about the potential impact and I know that work has been going on overnight on policy options.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrew Griffith is due to hold a roundtable with representatives from affected firms to discuss their concerns.

SVBUK said it will be put into insolvency from Sunday evening. It is a subsidiary of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and was the first location it opened outside the US.

The insolvency announcement came after SVB was put under US government control on Friday afternoon in the biggest failure of a US bank since the 2008 financial crisis.

The Bank of England said the company will stop making payments and accepting deposits.

The move will allow depositors to be paid up to 85,000 from the deposit insurance scheme.

We are determined to work on the behalf of our clients and are proud of our employees in their engagement with you

SVBUK statement

A statement on the SVB website said: We are announcing that, following conversations with the Prudential Regulatory Authority, there is an intention, barring any intervening event, to put Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited into insolvency from Sunday evening.

We are determined to work on the behalf of our clients and are proud of our employees in their engagement with you.

If clients have any questions please get in touch with us and we will try our best to answer any and all of your queries.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyyy held a meeting via video link with the participants of the 27th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition, who set off for the Akademik Vernadskyi station in March 2022.

Source: The President's website

Details: The meeting took place on the 160th anniversary of the birth of the first president of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Volodymyr Vernadskyi, in whose honour the Ukrainian Antarctic station was named.

Zelenskyy emphasised that the polar explorers' steps towards the development of science brought Ukraine's victory closer.

The head of the expedition Yurii Otruba noted that polar explorers try to contribute to Ukraine's struggle for independence and future, even from a distance. They appealed to the scientific community with the demand to stop any projects with Russia. On Sunday, another relevant appeal was sent to all polar stations.

In addition, Antarctic auctions were held where products of polar explorers, chevrons, etc., were sold to raise funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and charity tours of the station. A separate project supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine was the "Invincibility Postcard" campaign, within which a set of photos from Antarctica is sent to contribute to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ukrainian polar explorers also organised the first art and educational project in Antarctica - the "Home. Memories" art installation. This year, signs with facts about Ukraine and the station and symbolic objects such as a lump of black earth or a fragment of a vyshyvanka were placed around the building.

The National Antarctic Science Center Director Yevhen Dykyi noted that 14 people wintered at the station this year. At the same time, 14 polar explorers are fighting in the Armed Forces' ranks, and most are on the front lines. They were wounded, in particular in the battles for Bakhmut.

The deputy director of the National Antarctic Scientific Center, Viacheslav Marchenko, who currently defends Ukraine in the Armed Forces ranks, also participated in the meeting.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A Bluffton man faces felony domestic violence charges after police accused him of attacking a woman at an apartment on Parklands Drive Friday, according to the Bluffton Police Department.

Leonard Brown, 35, was charged Friday with criminal domestic violence, jail records show.

Police were called to the apartment complex on Parklands Drive around 5 p.m. after a family member reported Brown had allegedly assaulted a woman they are related to, said Sgt. Bonifacio Perez, a spokesperson for the Bluffton Police Department.

When they arrived, police found a woman with moderate injuries who looked like she had been struck by an object, Perez said. The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

No other charges for Brown are expected at this time, Perez said.

In January, Brown faced charges of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, assault and first-degree assault and battery and several counts of kidnapping after two separate incidents.

The first incident happened on Jan. 18 after a woman reported she and her infant, whom she shares with Brown, were attacked and not allowed to leave a car he was driving from their Shell Hall community. Both she and the infant were injured in the incident, according to previous reporting. The second incident happened on Jan. 21 after another woman reported she had been attacked by Brown in the parking lot of an Enmarket gas station and was not allowed to leave the car. In that incident, the woman had severe injuries to her face.

The charges for those incidents are still pending. Attorney information for Brown was not immediately available.

As of Sunday morning, Brown remained in custody at the Beaufort County Detention Center.

If you or someone you know has been affected by domestic violence, help can be found by calling Hopeful Horizons 24-hour Support Line at 843-770-1070.

When we publish mugshots

The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette publishes police booking photos, or mugshots, in the following instances:

In situations where a public figure or someone in a position of public trust is arrested

In cases where there is an immediate and widespread threat to public safety

In cases where the arrested person is accused of a crime reporters have evidence to believe involved numerous, unknown victims

Reporters will avoid using mugshots as lead images for online articles in order to limit their circulation on social media, except in cases where the public is served by the immediate identification of the accused. Reporters and editors may use discretion in situations that dont meet the criteria outlined in this policy but still present a compelling reason to publish a mugshot.
Two men are behind bars and another remains in the hospital after a stabbing in Carroll County.

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On Sunday, just before 5:30 p.m., Carrollton officers were called to Maple Street near South Street regarding a dispute between three or four Hispanic men, where one was possibly stabbed and bleeding badly.

During the investigation, officers learned that Gonzalo Garza-Garcia, 35, was reportedly attacked by Hector Rodriguez,55, and Jesus Rodriguez, 46, with a sharp object.

Witnesses told officers that the stabbing began as an argument over Mexican politics and religion.

As authorities were attempting to arrest the Rodriguez brothers they began to drive away, police say.

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After a short police chase, the car came to a stop and the pair were arrested and transported to the Carroll County Sheriffs Office.

The victim was airlifted to an Atlanta area hospital in critical condition.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Carrollton Police Department at 770-834-4451.

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IN OTHER NEWS:




Highlights of foreign congratulatory messages on Xi's election as Chinese president (3)

Xinhua) 09:46, March 12, 2023

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- World leaders continued to extend congratulations to Xi Jinping on his election as president of the People's Republic of China.

The election reflects the trust of the Chinese people in Xi's valuable contributions to the cause of socialism, said First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez.

Cuba is deeply honored for its intimate friendship with Xi and the Chinese people, the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government, he added.

The wise decision-making by the Chinese president and the important resolutions made at China's "two sessions" have created solid foundations for China's bright future and prosperity, said President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said he believes that under the outstanding leadership of the CPC with Xi at its core, the Chinese people are bound to realize the grand blueprint of building a modern socialist country in all respects and promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

The election shows that Xi's governing philosophy has won the support of the entire nation, said Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

Under Xi's wise leadership, China's international prestige and status have been continuously lifted, Rahmon said.

Under Xi's leadership, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov said, China has developed rapidly with its people's living standards continuously improving, and the country has kept playing a constructive role in international affairs.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that under Xi's leadership, China has achieved unprecedented development.

China's international prestige has significantly improved, and it is becoming a strong nation in an all-round way, Mirziyoyev said, adding that Xi's re-election as Chinese president is a major event in Chinese history.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he firmly believes that under Xi's strong leadership, China will eventually achieve its Second Centenary Goal.

Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah said he believes that China will continue to play a constructive role in global and regional affairs.

In his message, Indonesian President Joko Widodo called on Indonesia and China, strategic partner for each other, to further strengthen cooperation and promote the prosperity of the two countries, so as to continue to contribute to regional peace and stability.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said as China is entering a new stage of development, he is confident that Xi will continue to lead China to sustained development and prosperity.

He said that he looks forward to working with Xi to take bilateral relations to a new level.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said under Xi's visionary leadership, China and the great Chinese nation have made great achievements in the development of human causes, he added.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said he firmly believes that Xi will continue to lead China to extraordinary achievements.

The Cambodia-China friendship is unbreakable, and Cambodia is willing to work with China to build a Cambodia-China community with a shared future, he said.

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he would like to maintain communication with Xi and promote the building of constructive and stable Japan-China relations.

Singaporean President Halimah Yacob, Pakistani President Arif Alvi, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and the Fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, also sent their congratulations on Xi's election.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Kou Jie)
New Hampshire State Police have arrested a man after he did a burnout, prompting a vehicle pursuit.

On March 11, an NH trooper noticed a vehicle traveling at 82 MPH in a posted 50 MPH zone on Route 3A in Hill, NH

The Trooper activated her emergency lights in an attempt to stop and pull the vehicle over.

The driver, John Carter, 33, of Hill stopped in the roadway in front of the Trooper, did a burnout across the width of the roadway, and then accelerated away from the Trooper, police say.

The vehicle was identified as a 1985 Chevrolet K10 pick-up truck. The Trooper continued driving behind Carter with her emergency lights and sirens activated and he refused to stop.

The pursuit continued through multiple roads in Hill. The pursuit ended after the vehicle drove into a snowbank on Old Town Road in the Town of Hill.

After crashing into the snowbank, Carter fled from the vehicle and after a brief foot pursuit was taken into custody at the scene.

Carter is being charged with the following:

Operating after Certification as Habitual Offender

Reckless Conduct with a Deadly Weapon

Possession of a Controlled Drug

Deal/Possession of Prescription Drugs

Resisting Arrest/Detention

Reckless Operation

Disobeying a Police Officer

Unregistered Vehicle

Carter was transported to Merrimack County Jail where he is held on his charges pending his arraignment on Monday, March 13.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Trooper Erin Frost at (603)271-1162.

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
Police are investigating after two men reportedly robbed a west Seattle business at gunpoint on Sunday afternoon.

Officers responded to the business in the 2600 block of Southwest Barton Street at about 12:30 p.m.

Upon arriving at the scene, police spoke with a 21-year-old man who worked at the business, who reported seeing two men robbing the store at gunpoint. He said he saw at least one handgun during the robbery.

According to police, the two men stole cash from the store, as well as a customers wallet.

Both suspects were described as black men in their early twenties. They were wearing black clothing, white shoes, and light-colored masks.

They were last seen running southbound through the parking lot.

SPD robbery detectives will continue to investigate this case. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the SPD Violent Crimes tip line at (206) 233-5000.
By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Police in Moldova kept several thousand demonstrators away from government buildings on Sunday after officials warned of possible organised disorder at the protest, the latest of a series denouncing pro-European President Maia Sandu.

The rally followed weeks of competing warnings of impending trouble in ex-Soviet Moldova, where missiles have repeatedly landed near its border with Ukraine during Russia's year-long invasion of its neighbour.

Moldova accused Russia last month of plotting to overthrow Sandu, while the United States pledged to support her government against destabilisation.

Russia has expressed concern about tensions in Transdniestria, a separatist region where it has kept some 1,500 "peacekeepers" since a brief war that broke out after the collapse of Soviet rule.

On Sunday, some 4,500 protesters decrying high prices massed in the capital Chisinau, but police in riot gear set up roadblocks with buses to confine them to a district far from government buildings.

Officials said 54 people were detained on public order violations. Several busloads of demonstrators were kept from entering the capital.

The main force behind the protests is opposition politician Ilan Sor, an exiled businessman convicted of fraud in connection with a $1 billion bank scandal.

"Why do Moldova's Western partners support Maia Sandu, yet shut their eyes when people are kept away from the government to express their needs," Marina Tauber, head of Sor's party, told the gathering. "Can you see this in any other European country?"

Andrei Spinu, head of Sandu's administration, denounced Sunday's rally as "not a protest. This was yet another attempt by Russia to destabilise the situation in Moldova."

Moldovan police chief Viorel Cernauteanu earlier told reporters that officers had staged a series of raids and detained seven people on suspicion of trying to cause serious disruption at demonstrations.

Story continues

Sandu was elected by a landslide in 2020 on a pledge to clean up corruption and has since started the long process of applying for European Union membership.

A new pro-Western government under former Interior Minister Dorin Recean took office in mid-February in one of Europe's poorest countries. The previous administration was forced from office after protracted turmoil and difficulties in paying high prices for Russian gas.

(Editing by Ron Popeski, Editing by William Maclean)
Pope Francis, whose leadership of the Roman Catholic Church has resonated with many Californians, marks his 10th anniversary as pope on Monday. (Andrew Medichini / Associated Press)

Sitting in her family home in East Los Angeles, Rosa Manriquez kept her eyes on the TV screen as a flood of white smoke came pouring out of the roof of the Sistine Chapel 6,300 miles away  a century-old signal that the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church had chosen a new leader.

Manriquez, now 70, is the mother of two lesbian daughters who supports female ordination to the priesthood. On that day, 10 years ago, she waited impatiently to see who would emerge from behind the red curtain on a Vatican balcony as the head of the church she both loved and struggled against.

So I see this man come out, and I think, Theres something different about this guy, she said. And then I was like, Hes Latino! Oh my God!

A decade later, Manriquez says she does not agree with everything Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires now known as Pope Francis, has said and done. But like many Californians, she has come to respect and even love him.

Rosa Manriquez of East Los Angeles, who has a ministry working with LGBTQ people, would like Pope Francis to do more but figures "he is a creation of the time we are living in." (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Im not declaring him a saint; Im not into titles, she said. But I think this is the first pope since John XXIII who, rather than saying, Your holiness, I would say, My brother.

After Pope Benedict XVI resigned in February 2013, Paul Baumann, former editor of Commonweal Magazine, wrote that he hoped the next pontiff would be a bit of a Californian  sun-nier, more optimistic and more willing to engage with the modern world than his recent predecessors. It was a statement that turned out to be prophetic.

In many ways, Pope Francis is a buzzy pontiff in the California style. And being a California anything means getting lots of love  and lots of derision and disdain.

He has clashed with the states most powerful Catholic leaders  including Jose Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles, the largest Catholic diocese in America, and Salvatore Cordileone, archbishop of San Francisco  on the issue of denying communion to political leaders who support abortion rights.

But he is also the first pope to hail from Latin America, a point of pride and connection for many Catholics in a state that is roughly 40% Latino, and he has consistently refused to remain stuck in the hierarchical, traditionalist thinking that has characterized the churchs bureaucracy at the Vatican.

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Pope Francis met with this boy and other internally displaced people last month in Juba, South Sudan. (Gregorio Borgia / Associated Press)

He has prioritized the environment and the poor, struck a more welcoming tone with LGBTQ Catholics, and appointed more women to leadership roles in the Vatican than any pope before him  demonstrating a commitment to values many Californians share. Its a stance that has gained him enmity.

The church is on the move, and some people dont want to be on the move, said Father Allan Deck, a scholar of theology and Latino studies at Loyola Marymount University. They want to remain where they are.

Immediately after his election on March 13, 2013, it was clear the pope from the end of the world would be doing things a different way. He paid his hotel bill in



person and then refused the ornate papal penthouse in favor of a more modest two-bedroom apartment. Just months into his papacy, he famously answered a journalists question about gay priests with another question: Who am I to judge?

More recently, he launched a global synod, or listening process, that encourages the laity to share their thoughts, dreams and hopes about the future of the church.

Hes much more relatable than any pope in the recent past, said Jacqueline Powers Doud, president emerita of Mount St. Marys College in Los Angeles. I think hes trying to embrace people with love and mercy, and thats a more winning approach than condemning.

Pope Francis is sunnier, more optimistic and more engaged in the modern world than recent predecessors  "a bit of a Californian," as former Commonweal Magazine editor Paul Baumann hoped for 10 years ago. (Andrew Medichini / Associated Press)

Catholic social justice leaders across the state say they have been inspired by his depiction of the church as a field hospital that serves the wounded and marginalized of the world. Spiritual seekers say his emphasis on spirituality and discernment  developing a relationship with God and letting that guide ones way forward  has supported them as they travel their own inner paths.

It may be tempting in a progressive state to claim the pope as a liberal, but experts advise against it. In fact, he has disappointed those who hoped he would do more to support womens ordination, LGBTQ Catholics and survivors of sexual abuse by priests.

The reality is, if you listen closely enough, Pope Francis challenges both liberals and conservatives, said John Gehring, Catholic program director for Faith in Public Life, an advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., and author of The Francis Effect: A Radical Popes Challenge to the American Catholic Church.

He really hasnt changed anything as far as doctrine, Doud said. There are people who wish he would, regarding women priests, married priests, celibacy and all that. And then there are people who think hes gone too much in the direction of leniency and mercy.

In California, his leadership has been felt in his selection of bishops and



cardinals across the state. He promoted to cardinal San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy, author of a recent essay on radical inclusion in the church, passing over the more conservative culture warriors Gomez and Cordileone.

People are tired of being judged by the church, and Francis gets that, said Michael Sean Winters, a columnist at the National Catholic Reporter. He doesnt ask people 10 questions before allowing them to come in and [saying theyre] worthy.

Francis was also responsible for elevating the beloved and recently killed Auxiliary Bishop David G. OConnell, who served parishes in South L.A. and was committed to supporting the most vulnerable people around him.

Like Francis, OConnells actions came not out of a progressive ideology, but out of faith, Deck said.

Faith, unlike ideology, is radically open because were trying to understand God, and God is beyond all ability for us to understand, he said.

Joseph McKellar gave the pope a card picturing this mural at Dolores Mission Church in L.A.'s Boyle Heights, portraying Mary and Jesus as refugees. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Joseph Tomas McKellar, director of Pico California, a large faith-based community organizing network, said Francis had helped deepen his own sense of faith as a Catholic.

What the pope is calling us to is a reexamination of what it means to be a church, said the 41-year-old Highland Park resident. For a lot of church history, the church is understood as the institution, the building, the sanctuary. But the pope is trying to turn that on its head. He says the church is the people, the body of Christ.

McKellar had a one-on-one conversation with Francis in 2019, after being invited by Cardinal Michael Czerny to the Vatican to participate in a meeting of leaders from around the world who were working on human-trafficking issues that affect migrants and refugees.

His heart racing, McKellar greeted the pontiff in Spanish and presented him a card with a picture of Mary and Jesus as a migrant mother and child, leaving a pueblo in Latin America and heading to Los Angeles. Its a fresco at his church, Dolores Mission Church in East L.A. Then, he asked the pope for words of encouragement to share with those who work alongside the most excluded and marginalized in California.

The pope leaned in close to McKellar and tapped him on the chest. In Spanish, he said, Stay close to the people. Stay close to the people. You have to listen deeply for what the people are yearning for and allow them to teach you. Stay close to the people.

The pope leaned back and McKellar put his hand on his chest. Gracias, Padre, he said.

I got super emotional, he said. I was overwhelmed.

Bishop Jane Via, 75, of San Diego has a more complicated view of Francis. Via was ordained as a priest in 2006 through an organization called Roman Catholic Womenpriests, and became bishop through the same group in 2017. (She was excommunicated from the Catholic Church as a result.)

She and a former Orange County priest started Mary Magdalene Apostle Catholic Community in San Diego, where she presides at Sunday Mass for roughly 70 people, in person and online.

Overall, Via sees Francis as a refreshing and welcome new face in the papacy  more open, more real and less engaged with orthodoxy than his predecessor, Benedict.

Hes not a pope who is afraid to say hes sorry for the wrongs of the Catholic Church, of which there have been many, she said. But one of them is the way women have been treated, and he hasnt apologized for that yet.

The pope established a commission in 2016 to study whether women should be ordained as deacons, but he has been clear that he believes they can never enter the priesthood. (Six in 10 American Catholics disagree with him and say the church should allow female priests, according to a 2015 Pew Research Center poll.)

Via says she finds the popes position disappointing but not surprising. She had hoped for more.

If he was to say that women are equal to men and can hold any office in the church that a man could hold, there would be a huge backlash  but also the change would begin, she said.

Melanie Sakoda, a survivor support coordinator in the Bay Area for SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is also disappointed with Francis leadership.

He talks a better game than a lot of the other popes, said Sakoda, who is not Catholic but works primarily with Catholics who have been abused. But I dont see any fundamental change in the way clergy sexual abuse is treated by the Catholic Church at this time.

She noted that in 2019, the pope established Vos Estis Lux Mundi, a church law to hold bishops accountable for the handling of sexual abuse cases, but said it wasnt clear how effective it had been.

Abuse survivors were upset with Francis defense of Bishop Juan Barros of Chile, who was accused of covering up abuse by Father Fernando Karadima, his mentor. The pontiff later apologized to the survivors, acknowledging that he had made grave errors in assessment and perception of the situation. But for Sakoda and others, his initial reaction  which included accusing the survivors of calumny, or slander  revealed what they believe is his true allegiance  protecting the churchs hierarchy.

After the attacks on the Chilean victims, it was sort of like, Oh, theres nothing new to see here, she said.

Still, most Catholics in California look upon the leader of their church with affection.

Pope Francis leaves at the end of a Mass in the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome on Ash Wednesday. (Gregorio Borgia / Associated Press)

Sister Margarita Rico, a member of the Order of the Servants of Mary in Los Angeles, said the pope seems very coherent with his life. When he lived in Argentina, he didnt have a car, and rode the bus instead; and he travels to places rife with conflict like the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He is always preaching peace, unity and an end to violence, she said. He wants to keep the human dignity of each individual, because we are all the sons and daughters of God.

Lori Stanley, executive director of the Loyola Institute for Spirituality in Orange, said that along with Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis has been a guiding figure to her as she continues to deepen her relationship with God.

As the first Jesuit pope, Francis is steeped in the same Ignatian spirituality that Stanley practices and teaches in parishes and on retreats around Southern California.

Ignatian spirituality is inclusive, and it is always striving to find God in the picture, she said. I try to find God in all people and all situations, and I see Pope Francis doing that too.

Manriquez would like to see the pope go further than he has.

A lot of us  alpha females, alpha males, prophets, badass chingones  we want to see people to do more, she said. But I figure he is a creation of the time we are living in, and I trust God he is doing the best he can.

Still, she wishes the pope would more proactively break down the churchs old hierarchical structures and open it up to those who have too often been excluded.

That he would, in other words, be less Rome, more California.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Pope Francis

"I want to go to Kyiv, the Catholic leader said in an interview with the Argentinian outlet La Nacion on March 11.

Read also: Pope addresses Putin and Zelenskyy, calls for peace talks

But on the condition (that I also go) to Moscow. Ill go to both places or to neither."

He then said "it is impossible (for him) to go to Moscow" at this time.

Pope Francis said he believes that a meeting between Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy isn't likely to take place at the Vatican, but it might be possible in another place.

Read also: Pope implicitly condemns Russian dictator for invasion of Ukraine

He also said that he had spoken twice with Zelenskyy by phone and the latter asked him to grant an audience to his wife Olena Zelenska. They scheduled the visit, but it was postponed because of the latest Russian mass missile attack on Ukraine.

The Pope said that he doesn't rule out that, due to its nature, the Russian aggression against Ukraine could be considered genocide in future.

The Popes comments have raised controversy in the past: in particular, he has supported a common Russian propaganda trope that the NATO defensive alliance provoked Russias aggressive invasion of Ukraine.

Read also: Pope Francis calls war in Ukraine global, says he doesn't believe it will end soon

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy comforts relatives of a killed Ukrainian serviceman Dmytro Kotsiubailo, known as "Da Vinci, during the funeral service at Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, on March 10, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy attended the funeral of a celebrated soldier who was killed earlier this week.

Dmytro Kotsiubailo's call sign was "Da Vinci," and he was 27 years old when he died.

He was one of the youngest commanders in Ukrainian history, according to local news.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid his respects at the funeral of a young battalion commander on Friday after his death was announced earlier this week.

Zelenskyy and visiting Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin made an appearance at the ceremony in Kyiv, as thousands of mourners gathered to honor the memory of killed Ukrainian serviceman Dmytro Kotsiubailo.

The service was held at St Michael's Golden Dome cathedral, and Zelenskyy laid flowers on his coffin.

Kotsiubailo was one of the youngest commanders in Ukrainian history, according to local news outlet The Kyiv Independent  a "legendary soldier" well-known for his bravery.



Kotsiubailo's call sign was "Da Vinci"  as the soldier gave up on his dream of becoming an artist to fight for Ukraine, according to NPR. He led a battalion called the "Da Vinci Wolves."

People attend the memorial service for Dmytro Kotsiubailo, nom-de-guerre 'Da Vinci', former volunteer and serviceman, Hero of Ukraine, who was killed in combat against Russian troops in the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura

Ukraine's president announced in a video address on Tuesday that Kotsiubailo was killed fighting in Bakhmut  a bloodsoaked city at the center of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

"It hurts to lose our heroes. Brave, courageous, strong. Loyal to themselves and to the state," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram on Friday.

"I handed over to Oksana Kotsiubailo, Da Vinci's mother, the Cross of Military Merit, which her son was posthumously awarded. We will never forget. And we will always be grateful."

The large crowds later marched through Kviv to Independence Square in honor of the fallen soldier  among them were Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, per Reuters.

Before Russia's invasion of the country, Kotsiubailo was awarded a "Hero of Ukraine" decoration for his role in fighting pro-Russian separatists after joining the ultra-nationalist group Right Sector in 2014, according to the AFP.

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People attend a memorial service for Dmytro Kotsiubailo, nom-de-guerre 'Da Vinci', former volunteer and serviceman, Hero of Ukraine, who was killed in combat against Russian troops in the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura

The honoring of Kotsiubailo has reopened questions about the Right Sector and other far-right elements reputed to have a history of violence, antisemitism, and homophobia.

Russian propaganda has repeatedly sought to justify Putin's invasion of Ukraine as a mission to defeat "neo-Nazis," backed by the West and bent on destroying Russia.

The Independent's Kim Sengupta interviewed Kotsiubailo in the Donbas in 2022. The battalion commander had made strenuous efforts to block any neo-Nazis joining his outfit, he wrote.

Kotsiubailo was quoted as saying: "We are nationalists; I am a nationalist. In this unit, we have Jews, Muslims, Christians; you'll not see anyone with a Nazi or fascist tattoo or anything like that. We have volunteers from lots of different countries; we don't mind where they come from, or their religion."

Read the original article on Business Insider
REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Welcome to this weeks edition of Royalist, The Daily Beasts newsletter for all things royal and Royal Family. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Sunday.

No invite for the kids and a cold shoulder

King Charles Coronation continues to generate ever more bonkers royal soapiness. Now it has emerged that Prince Harry and Meghan Markles children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are not currently invited to the event, the Telegraph reports.

As has been reported, Harry and Meghan have been invited (and not said yes or no yet, ensuring all Coronation media coverage is focused on them), but no mention has been made of Archie or Lilibet who this week assumed their new royal titles of prince and princess after another intriguing slice of royal drama.

According to the Telegraph, the couple have had no information about whether the children have been included in the plans around the Coronation, with friends of Harry and Meghan claiming Archie and Lilibets inclusion will be discussed if and when they confirm their own attendance. Asked if Archie and Lilibet were invited, one royal source told the Telegraphmysteriously/forebodingly/bizarrely/accuratelythat they were very young.

Harry and Meghan Called Charles Bluff Over Princess Lilibetand Won

If Harry and Meghan do show up for the Coronation, members of the royal family are hoping they are seated in Iceland, andto keep the chilly metaphor goingplan to give them the cold shoulder, according to the Mail on Sunday.

A friend of the family told the Mail: They will be given the cold shoulder by very many relatives. One said to me, I hope theyll be seated in Iceland. Many of the family just want nothing more to do with them. If they have to see them at the Coronation then so be it, but they do not want to socialize with them.

The paper says Harry and Meghan are expected at the May 6 ceremony, but not their young kids (Archie turns 4 the same day). The Telegraph says William and Kate are expected to bring Prince George and Princess Charlotte, with George taking on an official role; Prince Louis may or may not attend. Queen Camillas grandchildren will have official roles at the ceremony.

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Harry and Meghan would likely stay at Frogmore Cottage if they do come to the event; their end-of March lease expiry date has been extended a bit to give them some time to sort out the removal and shipping of their stuff.

Palace sources told the Mail that while Harry and Meghan wouldnt appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony, there was a discussion as to whether they would take part in other events surrounding the celebrations.

Andrew has a new money problem

Prince Andrew has a fresh complaint to make. We know, get the sympathy cakes ready! He is in despair after not being left any money by Queen Elizabeth, the Sun on Sunday reports. He has told friends he received none of her 650 million ($782 million). Instead, King Charles got it, and he doesnt have to pay any tax on it.

Andrew is said to be bewildered not to have received any of the dosh, especially as he has lost his Buckingham Palace base and royal security in the wake of the Virginia Giuffre scandal. He may also be kicked out of Royal Lodge soon, and is refusing Charles desire that he move to Frogmore Cottage, Harry and Meghans previous pad.

Its not just Andrew, Queen Elizabeths other childrenPrincess Anne and Prince Edwardare said to have some resentment over inheriting nothing, or get some money from being working royals. A friend of Andy told the Sun on Sunday: I gather hes checked it out and theres no will. Hes in despair. Hes a member of the family, for Gods sake. Whats he meant to do? Go cap in hand to his older brother to keep a roof over his head?

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York attends the Royal Family's Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene's church, as the Royals take residence at the Sandringham estate in eastern England, Britain December 25, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Andrew, the Mirror reported, is also furious that Charles may ban him from wearing all the finery he should wear as a Knight of the Garter. Andrew is no longer Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, but remains a Vice Admiral because of his service in the Royal Navy. One source told the Mirror that Andrew had been left completely in the dark over his role and required dress for the coronation, adding Andrew is furious. Hes already not playing a part and now he feels he is being disrespected and dictated to over something he is fully entitled to (wear).

Charles spiritual guidance sessions

King Charles is having spiritual guidance sessions with Britains top churchman, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Sunday Times reports. In order to prepare for the Coronation on May 6, Charlesas king, the supreme governor of the Church of Englandhas held several private meetings with Justin Welby, who will officiate at the coronation, the paper reports. Welby is giving Charles religious guidance on the significance of his coronation oath, the commitments he will make to his subjects and the Christian symbolism of the regalia, apparently, a source saying, The archbishop is assisting the king with what it all means.

The Sunday Times also reports that the two men are also trying to thrash out a way to make the ceremony more inclusive of non-Protestants. In 1994, Charles famously said he would like to be seen as defender of faith, not the Defender of the Faith, an issue that has dogged him ever since.

The paper says that the king and Welby are looking to make tweaks to the coronation oath, in which the monarch promises to do their utmost [to] maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant reformed religion.

Meanwhile, on the issue of the key invite, a Harry and Meghan spokesperson says that an immediate decision on whether the duke and duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time.

Britain's King Charles III shakes hands with Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, during a presentation of loyal addresses by the privileged bodies, at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London, Britain March 9, 2023. Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERS

The Times and other outlets are also reporting how pissed off various poshos in the U.K. are that are a slimmed down Coronation means fewer aristos and people of influence receiving invites. A senior Whitehall source told the Times: MPs and peers have been up in arms after learning about plans for a slimmed-down coronation and are anxious not to miss out on having a front-row seat in history.

The Mail reports that good friends of Charles and Camilla are getting antsy at not getting a save the date email. Some of them are furious, especially those who have made rather a lot about their royal friendships over the years, an amused grandee told the Mail. Theyre finding the wait excruciating. And, for some, its going to end in humiliation.

The Mail also says the emails are going out in batches. Its a practical arrangement, a source said.

Charles solution to all this high-class social mortification, a soothing of ruffled feathers, is to hold a special audience afternoon tea event on May 2, the Times says. But come on, if you get an invite to that while your best lord and lady friends get the invite for the big do, youll likely never feel sicker to see a scone, cream, and jam.

Subscribe here to get all the latest royal news and gossip with Tom Sykes and Tim Teeman.

Sophie relieved she no longer has to curtsy to Meghan

The recent elevation of Prince Edward to the dignity of Duke of Edinburgh, a title formerly held by, and perhaps forever associated with, his father, the irascible Prince Philip, has a welcome bonus for Sophie, the wife of Prince Edward. Now, as the newly ensconced Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie does not have to curtsy to Meghan Markle.

Britain's Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, meets members of the public, before attending an event at the City Chambers to mark one year since the city's formal response to the invasion of Ukraine, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain March 10, 2023. Jane Barlow/Pool via REUTERS"

Up till now, as a mere Countess (of Wessex), Sophie would have been required to bend the knee to the Duchess of Sussex, but with Sophie now being a duchess too, those days are over. A friend of the couple told the Daily Mail, Sophie is relieved. She no longer has to curtsy to someone in the family who has not only left royal duties but has spent the past three years criticizing the institution that Sophie works so hard to support.

Alright on the night

A full-scale replica of the stage on which Charles and Camilla will be crowned is being built in Buckingham Palace to allow for rehearsals. The idea is that the many rehearsals required between now and the big day can be carried out in private and without causing disruption to day-to-day operations at Westminster Abbey, where the great event will take place on May 6.

A source told the Daily Mail, Its a big undertaking. Builders are working on it at the moment. Its going to be an exact replica of the raised stage or theatre which will be built in the Abbey when the king and queen consort are crowned. There are lots of steps and lots of people taking part. The Queen has chosen her grandchildren to be pages and the King will choose four young people from his side to act as his pages.

These youngsters, along with all the bishops, the Archbishop and everybody involved, will need to rehearse away from the public eye and this seemed like the perfect way to go about it. It also means that the Abbey wont have to shut to the public for the rehearsals so they can continue to earn the revenue from visitors and not disrupt everyone elses plans.

This week in royal history

On March 18, 1986, the engagement of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, aka Fergie, was announced by Buckingham Palace. Long divorced, the two remain close friends.

Unanswered questions

What will the next turn in the endless saga of Harry and Meghans attendance at the Coronation be, now with the added complication of Archie and Lilibets invite? And will Charles and Andrew start figuring out all the latters accommodation and money woes?

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Promotion in Prague

Czech police prevented the protesters from entering the museum and detained 18 persons, it said.

Read also: First group of Ukrainian soldiers complete training in Czech Republic

The incident happened amid the "Czechia against poverty" rally organised by the Czech non-parliamentary PRO party. About 10,000 people came out to the gathering on the central Wenceslas Square demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

According to a Novinky journalist, the police detained a man wearing a Wagner patch and a Z patch.

Read also: Czech energy group CEZ initiates arbitration against Russias Gazprom

After the rally ended, some protesters went to the building of the National Museum and tried to break into it. They attempted to tear down the Ukrainian flag that is hanging there as a sign of Czech solidarity with Ukraine.

The police drove the protesters back, while two police officers were injured and taken to hospital.

The protests ended at about 7.00 p.m.

Read also: Czech company produces inflatable HIMARS for Ukraine to fool Russian military  video

The PRO party promised to organise a new rally on April 16.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Progressive Democrats have welcomed large chunks of Joe Bidens latest budget request, but there is also anger and disappointment on key issues that the left of the party holds dear, notably defense spending and immigration policy.

On Thursday, the president outlined his vision for the next fiscal year, proposing a total budget of $6.8tn, which would decrease the federal deficit by nearly $3tn through a series of tax increases on corporations and the wealthiest Americans.

Related: Biden unveils blue-collar budget plan with tax hikes for Americas wealthiest

For too long, working people have been breaking their necks, but the economy has left them behind, Biden said in Philadelphia on Thursday. My budget is going to give working people a fighting chance.

Bidens proposal has little chance of passage in the Republican-controlled House, but presidents budget requests are carefully scutinized as a reflection of their administrations principles and priorities. If this proposal reflects Bidens principles, progressives say, then his political vision could use some tinkering.

Progressives celebrated Bidens commitment to ensuring corporations and high earners pay their fair share of taxes, praising the presidents plan to use that tax revenue to lower healthcare and childcare costs for working Americans.

But when it comes to Bidens proposed immigration policies and his suggestion to once again increase the Pentagons budget, progressives are less than thrilled.

This is an agenda that the American people can be proud to have voted for  and that progressive movements can feel proud to have fought for, said Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. There are also a few places where we need to do better and ensure record levels of funding come alongside real accountability, particularly for immigration and defense.

On the question of defense spending, Biden has asked Congress to allocate $842bn to the Pentagon, representing a $26bn increase compared with the current fiscal year and a hike of nearly $100bn since fiscal year 2022. If approved, the funding allocation would represent the Pentagons largest annual budget in its history.

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The secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, praised the proposal, saying: The presidents budget request provides the resources necessary to address the pacing challenge from China, address advanced and persistent threats, accelerate innovation and modernization, and ensure operational resiliency amidst our changing climate.

But Bidens request dismayed Jayapal and other progressives, who have spent years demanding cuts to the Pentagons budget. They note that the Pentagon failed another audit in November, marking the fifth consecutive year that the agency was unable to account for its spending.

Stephen Miles, president of the progressive group Win Without War, described Bidens defense spending request as disappointing but not surprising.

Were seeing levels of spending that just defy any sort of rational understanding, and its time for a different course, Miles said. Theyre still failing their audit and getting rewarded for that with ever more money.

Miles also expressed skepticism of Austins argument that the Pentagons budgetary increase was necessary to address the pacing challenge from the Peoples Republic of China.

People who want a larger Pentagon budget always have another reason. For a long time it was terrorism. Obviously for a long time it was the Soviet Union. Now its China, Miles said. The fact of the matter is, though, that the challenges we face with China, while real, are not all going to be solved by throwing more money at the Pentagon.

Progressives were similarly dismayed to see Biden request more money for border security, with Jayapal warning that the presidents proposal threatened to penalize immigrants who are central to our economys functioning.

In his request, Biden allocated nearly $25bn to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), marking an increase of almost $800m from the current fiscal year.

In addition to the requested increase in funding for CBP and Ice, Biden has also proposed the creation of a new $4.7bn contingency fund to assist the Department of Homeland Security with responding to migration surges along the southwest border.

Defund Hate, a coalition of immigrant rights groups co-led by United We Dream, said such a policy would amount to a slush fund for DHS, effectively handing the agency a blank check to carry out recent policy shifts advocates are decrying the administration for considering, like reinstating family detention and extreme bans on asylum.

President Bidens budget proposal recklessly pumps more money into immigration enforcement agencies that wrongly demonize, criminalize, and abuse immigrant and border communities, Defund Hate said in its statement.

Bidens budget announcement comes amid a series of clashes with immigrants rights advocates over his efforts to address the recent rise in attempted crossings at the US-Mexican border.

Immigrant rights groups fiercely criticized Biden over reports that he was considering resuming the detention of migrant families along the US-Mexican border, a policy he suspended when he took office as part of his efforts to build a more humane immigration system. Biden has also sought to restrict who can seek asylum when entering the US, leading to threats of lawsuits from civil rights groups.

The presidents proposal to increase funding for immigration enforcement along the border appears to have added more fuel to those groups criticism.

President Bidens budget should not inject billions of dollars into failed deterrence policies that punish people for exercising their legal right to seek safety in the United States, said Kica Matos, executive vice-president of programs and strategy for the National Immigration Law Center. Instead, it should reflect his promises to uphold asylum rights and finish the work of building a fair and humane immigration system.

Progressives fear that the final budget will only become more conservative as Biden negotiates with House Republicans, who have already demanded significant cuts in government funding. As Democrats prepare for those negotiations, Miles urged the partys leaders to defend the interests of the voters who elected them.

What I would like to see Democrats do is fight for Democratic priorities and start with what they want, instead of starting negotiation with where they think itll end up, he said. Because if thats what they do, which is what they often do, were going to end up in a really bad place.
Prosecutors on Sunday rejected the notion that newly public footage of Jacob Chansley  known as the QAnon Shaman  accompanied by police in the Capitol undercuts his criminal conduct on Jan. 6, 2021.

In their first response since Fox News Tucker Carlson aired the footage  supplied to him by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)  prosecutors indicated that Carlson aired footage only from a four-minute period toward the end of Chansleys hourlong trip through the Capitol, omitting the most incriminating aspects of his conduct.

The televised footage shows Chansleys movements only from approximately 2:56 p.m. to 3:00 p.m, prosecutors said in a 10-page court filing connected to the seditious conspiracy trial of five Proud Boys leaders, including Dominic Pezzola, who used a riot shield to initiate the breach of the Capitol.

Prior to that time, Chansley had, amongst other acts, breached a police line at 2:09 p.m. with the mob, entered the Capitol less than one minute behind Pezzola during the initial breach of the building, and faced off with members of the U.S. Capitol Police for more than thirty minutes in front of the Senate Chamber doors while elected officials, including the Vice President of the United States, were fleeing from the chamber, they continued.

The footage aired by Carlson earlier this month showed Chansley walking through Capitol hallways accompanied by police officers, who at some moments appeared to be facilitating his movements  even opening a Senate-wing door for him at one point  and certainly werent trying to subdue him. But the clips didnt indicate what time of day the footage came from or any of the context about the interactions.

Asked about the Justice Department's characterization of Chansley's actions at the Capitol, a Fox New spokesperson shared a comment from Tucker Carlson Tonight senior executive producer Justin Wells, who said, Our teams review of available surveillance footage of Mr. Chansley is consistent with our reporting."

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The episode  billed by Carlson as a refutation of the prevailing perception of the events of Jan. 6  ignited a firestorm among allies of former President Donald Trump, who have long sought to downplay the Jan. 6 riot and the threat it posed to the transfer of power. Separately, Twitters owner, Elon Musk, came out in favor of freeing Chansley over the weekend. Chansleys current attorney, William Shipley, has indicated he intends to take a creative action to aid his clients legal fight.

But Carlson omitted footage of Chansleys entry into the Capitol, which came amid the earliest wave of rioters overrunning police, as well as footage from a lengthy standoff with police outside the Senate, and Chansleys own trip inside the Senate chamber, where he stood on the Senate dais, recited a prayer and wrote an ominous message to then-Vice President Mike Pence: Its only a matter of time. Justice is coming.

In sum, Chansley was not some passive, chaperoned observer of events for the roughly hour that he was unlawfully inside the Capitol, prosecutors wrote.

Prosecutors emphasized that U.S. Capitol Police officers had been overwhelmed at that point in the riot, resorting to triage to minimize the damage of the riot.

For a period that afternoon, those defending the Capitol were in triage mode  trying to deal with the most violent element of those unlawfully present, holding those portions of the Capitol that had not yet been seized by rioters, and protecting those Members and staffers who were still trapped in the Capitol, prosecutors wrote.

Chansleys defenders have noted that he garnered outsize attention for his role in the riot, in part by his outlandish attire  he strode shirtless through the Capitol, wearing a horned helmet and full face paint, while carrying a flagpole with a sharp finial that led the judge in his case to conclude he was carrying a dangerous weapon.

Chansley is not accused of violence and has contended that he had positive interactions with officers inside the Capitol and encouraged other rioters not to loot the building. He became one of the earliest rioters to plead guilty to obstruction after about eight months in pretrial detention  which was ordered by a magistrate judge in Arizona and upheld by D.C.-based U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth. Lamberth sentenced him to 41 months in prison in November 2021.

Chansley is currently incarcerated and slated for release in July.

Chansleys allies say the footage aired by Carlson might have changed the case against him. In Sundays filing, however, the Justice Department contended that it had shipped all but 10 seconds of the footage to Chansleys attorney by Sept. 24, 2021  about three weeks after Chansley pleaded guilty but more than a month before his sentencing.

Shipley, Chansleys current attorney, said the Justice Departments argument appeared more focused on the substance of the videos than whether it had violated Chansleys rights by not producing them to him prior to his guilty plea. Though prosecutors touted that it had included them in a mass production of Jan. 6 video that it provided to the hundreds of defendants with pending cases connected to the riot, Shipley said the Justice Department was oddly silent about whether it had met its burden to produce specific videos to Chansleys previous lawyer, Al Watkins.

The Government knows its lawful obligations, and artfully avoided making a positive assertion that it complied with them in a timely fashion as to Mr. Chansley, Shipley said in an email.

Watkins similarly took issue with the Justice Departments explanation of Chansleys case. He said prosecutors did provide some specific videos to his case immediately before he pleaded guilty, which led Watkins to visit Chansley to review the footage before signing the plea deal. Watkins said that had Lamberth seen the footage, it might have informed many of his decisions in the case, including his assessment that Chansley was dangerous to others.

This was not a function of a rogue AUSA, but rather, a function of a discovery protocol established at the highest levels of the DOJ, Watkins said, noting that Chansley had been incarcerated in particularly harsh isolation  a function of strict Covid protocols in the prison at the time of Jan. 6  prior to accepting his plea deal. And he noted that Chansley had been living with undiagnosed mental health issues that he only learned of after Lamberth ordered an evaluation during the criminal proceedings.

Remember, the DOJ characterized Jake as the face of insurrection, Watkins said. The assertion that the nondisclosure of the exculpatory footage was a whoops moment is nothing short of unconscionable.

Pezzolas defense seized on the flap over the Carlson footage to urge the dismissal of the entire case against the Proud Boys, contending that it proved there had been prosecutorial misconduct and that the crowd inside the Capitol was nonviolent.

Once tethered to facts and reality, defendant Pezzolas arguments quickly unravel, the Justice Department wrote.
Prosecutors in the Proud Boys seditious conspiracy trial struck back on Sunday at defense attorneys, who had accused the government of misconduct after defense lawyers stumbled upon thousands of inadvertently disclosed messages sent to an FBI agent involved in the case.

The agent, Nicole Miller, provided extensive testimony last week about the Proud Boys march to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, detailing their tactics and movement as they navigated the National Mall and became the vanguard of the riot that disrupted the transfer of presidential power. After she concluded, prosecutors delivered a routine set of evidence to the defense attorneys: Millers internal FBI chat messages about the case.

But as they scoured the 25 lines of messages, the defense attorneys discovered that prosecutors had accidentally delivered thousands of additional messages  primarily sent to Miller from other FBI agents  left in the spreadsheet as hidden rows. Miller had tried to filter them out of the production as she screened for relevant information, prosecutors indicated.

However, the defense lawyers said the filtered messages included significant and suspicious exchanges that appeared to relate to the seditious conspiracy case against their clients.

In one exchange, Miller and another agent discussed learning of defendant Zachary Rehls plan to take the case to trial, in part because they had reviewed messages between him and his attorney at the time, Jonathon Moseley. The defense lawyers said it appeared, on its face, to be a breach of attorney-client privilege.

The lawyers also cited several other exchanges they viewed as fishy: a message from one agent asking that his name be edited out of a report concerning a meeting with a confidential human source; an FBI agents opinion about the strength of the Proud Boys conspiracy case; and a message from an agent discussing an order to destroy 338 pieces of evidence in an unidentified case.

Defense attorneys said they should be permitted to grill Miller about each of these topics when the trial resumes this week. The hidden messages sparked an uproar on Thursday, when Nicholas Smith, attorney for defendant Ethan Nordean, began questioning Miller about them. Prosecutors objected and later indicated they believed there had been a  spill of classified information in the messages  a claim the defense lawyers worried was a pretense to shut down their review. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly called the trial off for the day Friday to give the Justice Department and the defense a chance to clarify the issues.

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In an 18-page filing Sunday, prosecutors went through each topic cited by the defense lawyers and suggested their claims lacked merit  and were not part of any attempt to withhold relevant evidence in the case.

The request for an edit to the report concerning the confidential human source, for example, was a clerical matter in which an agent who had been promoted to a supervisory role requested to be removed from the report because he was no longer handling the source  a request that was ultimately rescinded, prosecutors said. The comment from an agent about destroying evidence pertained to an unrelated 20-year-old multi codefendant trial that had concluded long ago, the Justice Department attorneys said.

As the Court knows, disposal of evidence is a routine part of the lifecycle of every criminal case, the prosecutors wrote.

Prosecutors also dismissed the notion that Miller and other agents had accessed privileged attorney-client information.

She did no such thing, they argued, both because any privilege was waived and, in any event, even assuming  that the email to which the other agent was referring contained privileged information, no privileged information was passed Special Agent Miller.

The exchange between Rehl and his attorney that the agents discussed was sent between Rehl and Moseley, his former attorney, who has since been disbarred, through a jailhouse email system. That system explicitly notifies users that it is monitored and that emails between an attorney and client will not be treated as privileged. Prisoners are supposed to use special legal mail procedures, legal phone calls or in-person meetings to communicate confidentially with their lawyers.

Rehl waived any privilege by knowingly using FDC-Philadelphias monitored email system to communicate with his attorney, prosecutors contended.

Prosecutors also rejected efforts by defense lawyers to introduce a message from an FBI agent suggesting he harbored doubts about the strength of the conspiracy evidence in the Proud Boys case. Typically, such agent opinions are excluded, and in any case, they say Miller contradicted the doubting agents comment, saying: No we can. We DEF can now.

Kelly will decide on Monday whether to permit the attorneys for Nordean, Rehl and their three co-defendants  Enrique Tarrio, Dominic Pezzola and Joseph Biggs  to ask Miller about these topics. Prosecutors contended on Sunday that their unsuccessfully implemented decision to withhold the messages  even ones that related to the Proud Boys case  was proper. Precedents and laws, they said, required the government to turn over only materials connected to what Miller testified about on the stand, not every statement she made about the Proud Boys case in general.

Miller testified last week, after the furor erupted, that FBI headquarters compiled her messages for her, culling them from a secret-level classified system. She filtered out any messages sent from other agents and then manually removed messages she viewed as not subject to disclosure, including many about other cases. But when prosecutors packaged up the remaining messages, they appear to not have realized the filtered messages from other agents were left in the spreadsheet as hidden.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Ballantine, the supervising prosecutor on the case, told the court on Friday that the Justice Department was concerned that the hidden messages contained potential classified information, since they were drawn from the secret-level system and not fully vetted. Ballantine, in particular, was concerned that the message pertaining to destroying evidence was sent by an agent involved in covert activity and could reference classified information.

Its unclear whether defense lawyers will be satisfied by the governments responses. Theyve previously raised alarms that prosecutors would use the pretense of classified information to claw back damaging evidence. Prosecutors indicated on Sunday that they had removed just 80 rows of classified or sensitive messages from a production of nearly 12,000 rows. In addition, they suggested they had provided additional messages to help contextualize the ones cited by the defense.

Smith, one of the defense lawyers, indicated in a Sunday filing that the government had also deleted about 6,000 rows of messages it said were blank, leaving just over 5,000 for the defense to review. And he said he had inquired with prosecutors to clarify how many of the 80 substantive rows of removed messages were classified and how many were dubbed sensitive but not classified.

Smith said he should be allowed to cross-examine Miller on her handling of the messages in part because of her answers to a brief set of questions about them on Thursday, when she indicated that she hadnt removed or filtered out relevant materials.

Whether the agent gave truthful testimony about her legal obligations related to her work on this case is patently a matter of credibility, Smith wrote.

Though cross-examination typically relates only to the substance of a witnesss direct testimony, Smith pointed out that he was also permitted to raise questions about a witness credibility, which he said made the handling of those messages fair game for questioning.

Prosecutors said that if the defense lawyers were allowed to question her at all about the unsuccessfully withheld messages  a step the government largely opposes  it should come during the defenses case, set to begin within the next two weeks, not on cross-examination during the governments case.

The topics in question are miles outside the scope of Agent Millers direct testimony, the prosecutors argued.


Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the September G20 summit in India after skipping the gathering of world leaders for two consecutive years, said people familiar with the Russian leaders schedule.

The Kremlin is clearing up Mr Putins schedule around the same time so he can fly for the summit in Delhi, reported Bloomberg, citing anonymous people familiar with Mr Putins diary.

Mr Putins aides have pushed the dates by a week for an annual economic forum in Vladivostok, from its earlier 9-10 September date, the sources said.

The adjustment could now put Mr Putin in the same room as Western leaders for the first time since the war began  if he attends.

An official confirmation of the Russian presidents participation has not been issued yet. Russia had earlier accepted a formal invitation extended by India for the summit.

The postponing of the economic forum will also open the possibility of senior officials from India and China attending the high-level Vladivostok forum, according to the report.

An adviser for Mr Putin confirmed the date change to 12-15 September for the annual Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in a statement.

The decision to change the dates of the Eastern Economic Forum is linked to the schedule of international events. We are expecting the participation of foreign leaders and high-level guests, said Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Mr Putin and the executive secretary of the EEF Organising Committee.

Mr Putin had skipped the G20 summit last year when it was held under Indonesias presidency.

Last years summit was the first gathering of G20 leaders after Russias invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. He had also skipped the G20 meeting in Rome in 2021 after being under self isolation due to the Covid pandemic, but had attended through a video link.

The Russian leader avoided a potential confrontation with the US and its allies by not attending the Bali summit, where Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron deplored Russias war in the strongest terms.

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The report comes as Russia and China joined forces during the G20 meet for foreign ministers in Delhi and refused to allow the condemnation of the war to be a part of the joint communique as agreed by Western leaders.

The ministers meeting, which was attended by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, ended without a joint statement.

Indias foreign minister S Jaishankar said differences over Ukraine could not be reconciled.

A G20 gathering for finance ministers and central bank chiefs in Bangaluru city before had ended before without a joint statement as well.

The grouping had failed to reach a consensus on the language to be used to describe the war.
Every year on March 2, the National Education Association celebrates Read Across America Day, the nations largest celebration of reading, to kick off National Reading Month. This year, local nonprofit ReadyKids! requested Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves issue an official proclamation to be celebrated as Read Across Pensacola Day. The recognition was a momentous milestone as we collectively work to become Americas First Early Learning City. We know that by instilling the joy of reading in young children we help them become lifelong learners.

ReadyKids! has a mission to maximize childrens potential through increased school readiness. This is of critical importance as only 42% of Escambia County kindergarteners came to school ready to learn in 2021 per state assessments. That ranks us 54th out of 67 counties in the state and lower than the state-wide readiness rate of 50%. We are grateful to the mayor and to the early education agencies and advocates who recognize the significance of school readiness not only for the quality of life of our children and families but for the future workforce of our local economy. Children who are prepared for kindergarten are more likely to read on grade level in third grade, perform on grade level in seventh grade math, and are more likely to graduate high school. Dr. Jerry Parish, chief economist with the Florida Chamber Foundation, has often advised, If you want to improve a community, teach kids to read.

Ruth Noel is executive director of ReadyKids!

Our elected officials are preparing for the 2023 Florida Legislative Session to convene on March 7, and there will be much conversation around funding Floridas early learning programs, increasing options for parents, and celebrating and supporting early learning educators. Here at home, you can get involved and become part of the solution: Join the ReadyKids! mission as a ReadingPal. The ReadingPals program is a state-wide early literacy effort that began right here in Escambia County and is now supported by the Childrens Movement of Florida in over 20 counties. Our ReadingPals program helps improve our highest-need prekindergarten students' school readiness levels by activating community volunteers and pairing them with a 4-year-old in a high-need classroom for weekly one-on-one mentoring sessions.

ReadyKids! provides training, credentialing, and ongoing support to volunteers as they mentor their ReadingPal and increase their social-emotional and early literacy skills. Early literacy skills are built by practicing letters, sounds, and numbers, playing games, using Play-Doh and art supplies, and, of course, reading stories. Social-emotional development is particularly important for 4-year-olds to build a strong foundation of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, interpersonal skills, and decision-making skills, all of which are vital for success in kindergarten and indeed life.

The role of the ReadingPal extends beyond supporting literacy skill development: We want every student to be motivated to learn to read and to know that there are people in their community, outside of their family and school, who truly care about them. It gives them a broader trust of the world. Underpinning the entire program is the goal to instill that joyful love of learning and reading in each child who participates.

As we head into National Reading Month and a new legislative session, our children are counting on us to advocate and show up for them. We hope you will join us as we invest in our youngest citizens and help them prepare for day one of kindergarten and beyond.

Ruth Noel is executive director of ReadyKids!

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: ReadyKids! on mission to maximize childrens potential
Jessie and Olivia on ITVs Love Island (ITV)

In the eight years since Love Island first crashed onto our screens like a reality TV wrecking ball, its become a cliche to describe it as toxic. Toxic relationships. Toxic bullying. Most of all, toxic masculinity. In the last fortnight, after some particularly dramatic, tear-soaked scenes, a new term has been added to this illustrious list: toxic femininity. But... do we even know what toxic femininity really means?

In the past, there have been numerous complaints about toxic behaviour from male contestants. Adam Collard calling Rosie Williams needy. Jordan Hames cracking on with India Reynolds two days after staging an elaborate girlfriend proposal for Anna Vakili. The actions of every dude inducted into the hall of infamy known as Destinys Chaldish. This seemed to peak last summer when Luca Bish and Dami Hope were accused of bullying Tasha Ghouri, prompting Womens Aid to criticise the show for depicting misogynistic and controlling behaviour. The annual tradition of Movie Night, in which clips of private antics are broadcast to the shows entire cast, also sparked an Ofcom storm.

Less than two weeks ago in the current series of Love Island, Movie Night caused another ruckus. This one, though, played out differently to series past. Rather than ending with the fellas smirking and brushing off accusations of foul play, this year it was the girls  specifically Jessie, Olivia and Tanya  who went on the defensive. Both Shaq and Tom were seen breaking down in tears. Viewers have since been questioning whether Love Island producers  wary of replicating the toxic masculinity of earlier seasons  have in fact reset the dial too far, with many fans branding the womens behaviour toxic femininity. This led mens domestic abuse charity ManKind Initiative to call on producers to ensure male contestants were being offered the same duty of care as female contestants. In a further statement, the charity said: Love Island has once again showed [sic] that when it comes to abusive behaviours against partners such as manipulation and gaslighting, it affects men as well as women.

The fact that men can be victims of abuse is, of course, inarguable. But is toxic femininity the right label to apply to the kind of behaviour weve seen in the villa? The phrase has recently gained traction online  popping up in girlbossy workplace features, therapy advice sites, and YouTube videos about femcels. Yet even this cursory glance at its use reveals a vast disparity in what the term is deemed to mean. Is toxic femininity about women behaving in a way we have deemed toxic, such as gaslighting your partner, or using emotional manipulation to get your way? Is it meant to recognise that women can be bad too  that they are, in fact, just as bad as the boys? Or is it about specifically feminine traits? Is toxic femininity meant to capture the gendered expectations placed on women in society? Essentially, are discussions about toxic femininity fair, feminist, or decidedly anti-feminist?

Mark Brooks, chair of the ManKind Initiative, wants to move away from gendered terms in general. There is no such thing as toxic femininity  or toxic masculinity, for that matter, he argues. There [are] just toxic people and behaviour. On the surface, this seems like a fair and egalitarian approach. Yet Brooks goes on to state his belief that the term toxic masculinity is very anti-male and victim-blaming. He says it demonises a whole gender. This is a similar line to the one taken by many mens rights activists over the last few years. They too consider discussions about toxic masculinity as an attack on men as a whole, despite the term being intended to highlight how masculinity can be warped by patriarchy, valorising male displays of violence, anger and disaffection. This damages both the men enacting it and the people it impacts.

Toxic femininity, meanwhile, has often been used in conjunction with cases where women have spoken out against precisely this kind of violent or abusive male behaviour. Amber Heard, for example, was condemned in these terms when discussing her suffering at the hands of Johnny Depp. She was the perfect example of toxic femininity, critics proclaimed, accusing her of playing the victim. In this context, it seems dangerous to give any more weight to mens rights activists anti-feminist claims that they are the most discriminated against in society. But is it right to try and move the conversation away from gender, and onto behaviour?

Women are just as capable of promoting toxic masculine standards as men, and ultimately its a force that is widespread and cultural

Dr Devon Price, social psychologist and author

Alicia Denby is a sociologist and PhD student at Manchester Metropolitan University, who specialises in intimacy, gender, modern dating practices and singlehood. Recently, some of her research has looked specifically at Love Island and its portrayal of gender. There are no intrinsic qualities that make toxic behaviour masculine or male, she says, as weve seen by emotional abuse and manipulation among female contestants in recent years. She points to the case of Faye Winter, who was condemned in 2021 for screaming at her partner Teddy  an altercation which prompted over 25,000 complaints to Ofcom. But Denby highlights that the amount of complaints received in Fayes case was, for example, over 20 times greater than the number submitted about Lucas bullying of Tasha. In the villa and out of it, women who are angry, mean, or demeaning to others often receive more intense and lasting censure, because anger in itself is seen as an unacceptable feminine trait. Certainly this is not to say that women should not be held accountable for causing distress towards fellow contestants, Denby stresses, but this should not be used as an excuse to fuel an anti-feminist agenda. Denby instead suggests that rather than describing behaviours as toxic masculinity or toxic femininity, we should call this what it is, which is emotional abuse.

Psychologist and psychotherapist Nova Cobban seems to agree. In reality, she says, toxic behaviour is not gender specific or even gender related, its all essentially just negative behaviour designed to assert dominance. Yet while this seems like an ostensibly feminist and progressive line to take, there is a risk of losing sight of the specific ways gender is socially constructed and enforced.

Ali Ross, psychotherapist and spokesperson for the UK Council of Psychotherapy, suggests shifting the focus away from the idea that women can also behave in toxic ways; instead, we should explore the inherent toxicity within the expectations of what femininity should look like. He sees toxic femininity as an endorsement of patriarchal values. Slut shaming is a good example, he says. No one wins, as the shamer also has to hold themselves to these standards and close the door on any possibility for them to be sex-positive themselves.

Similarly, trauma and emotional resilience expert Dr Lisa Turner suggests toxic femininity can be understood as a set of negative traits or behaviours that reflect the harmful aspects of gender-based stereotypes of women. Like Ross, she suggests that toxic femininity can involve shaming and ostracising women who do not conform to these standards or who challenge traditional gender roles. Rather than toxic behaviour then, the issue becomes one of gender regulation. Yet by this stage, the term toxic femininity seems confused  used to both advance and critique gender-based stereotypes.

Hannah McCann, a University of Melbourne lecturer in cultural studies, says that shes observed in recent responses to Love Island a suggestion that women are just as bad as men in terms of domestic and emotional abuse. There has clearly been an attempt to use toxic femininity to claim that men can be victims of women, McCann argues. Ultimately these pieces read as a kind of gotcha sensationalism  as if to say, feminism has it wrong, women are just as bad as men. She believes much of the discourse on the Love Island row has been trying to misconstrue the fact that women are overwhelmingly the victims of domestic violence at the hands of men, presenting the events on Love Island as evidence that the phenomenon is in fact equal. She thinks arguments of this kind are dangerous: This is very similar to the kind of rhetoric we see in Mens Rights Activism.

This isnt to suggest McCann thinks men cannot be victims of abuse. She makes it clear that it is all well and good to examine how men can be victims of abuse, and indeed how women can participate in negative or abusive behaviours. Yet she believes discussions of this kind could be a good opportunity to look at the actual data about domestic abuse and how it manifests. Its much more productive and fair to instead look at how certain approaches to gender are toxic, rather than some individual expressions or traits, because this allows us to see the bigger political picture. In the past, she has spoken about whether anti-trans feminists could be seen as having a toxic approach to femininity because of their rigid adherence to a biological gender binary and promotion of the surveillance of womens bodies.

Tom consoles a crying Shaq during a recent episode of Love Island (ITV)

Promotion of a rigid gender binary cuts to the heart of the whole issue. In a 2018 Medium post titled toxic femininity holds us all back, social psychologist and author Dr Devon Price wrote that our current cultural examination of toxic gender roles is too focused on blaming men and masculinity for a variety of ills that are actually caused by the gender binary and our strict adherence to it. He suggested that both toxic masculinity and toxic femininity are cultural diseases that everyone is infected by.

These two forces are systemic, he tells me. They wound up being learned and internalised by just about anybody who exists in our culture, because we all get bombarded with painful lessons about how to do gender correctly, starting when were very young. Dr Price suggests that toxic masculinity in particular is often misunderstood as an insecurity or set of rules individual men have, but in reality women are just as capable of promoting toxic masculine standards, and ultimately its a force that is widespread and cultural.

In a similar vein, Dr Price argues toxic femininity refers to the really punishing set of social standards for what it means to be a woman correctly, and adds that its easy for any person, regardless of their gender, to pass on these standards, because we are basted in them every moment of every day of our lives. One of the things doing this cultural basting right now is Love Islands heterosexual, gender-normative parade. The same punishing set of standards requires the women of Love Island to form cliques and spend hours on their makeup every night, and the men to have a boys will be boys attitude. It also helps explain why viewers have such extreme reactions to seeing men like Shaq and Tom being brought to tears  precisely because it is still rarer to see men on the programme displaying emotional pain than grinning through it and cracking on.

Terms like toxic masculinity and toxic femininity can be misused and misconstrued, flung about to advance a distinctly anti-feminist view of gender relations and systems of power. But we shouldnt lose sight of the real issue, which is how everybody is kept locked in a toxic gendered system. As Dr Price wrote in 2018, the problem was never just masculinity. It was, and is, inflexible gender roles for men and women alike.
DETROIT (AP)  Dylan Larkin scored to help his team take a four-goal lead, and his second assist of the game allowed the Detroit Red Wings to hold on for a 5-3 win over Boston Bruins on Sunday.

The Red Wings were ahead 4-0 late in the second period, but the NHL-best Bruins pulled within a goal midway through the third.

Boston pulled backup goaltender Jeremy Swayman with 2:23 left to add an extra skater. Detroit's Andrew Copp, with an assist from Larkin, put the puck into the empty net with 23.1 seconds left to seal the win.

Great effort, just a little too late, said Matt Grzelcyk, who ended the Bruins' scoreless start with a goal nearly 37 minutes into the game. We kind of put ourselves behind the eight-ball, but really proud of the guys for not giving up.

Detroit's Alex Chiasson broke a scoreless tie midway through the first period on a power play. Moritz Seider had a short-handed goal and Larkin scored with an extra skater midway through the second period, putting the Red Wings ahead 3-0.

Adam Erne gave Detroit its four-goal lead late in the second. Ville Husso finished with 31 saves for the Red Wings.

We got a little loose, but once they got it to 4-3, we just dug in and got the job done Larkin said. I think that starts with Huss making some big saves and we stayed out of the box."

A day after losing at Boston 3-2, Detroit won for just the second time in nine games.

Swayman stopped 21 shots for the Bruins, who had won 11 of their last 12.

Grzelcyk scored with 3:08 left in the second period, and the Bruins pulled within two goals early in the third when Jake DeBrusk's wrist shot beat Husso on a breakaway.

Larkin had a chance to restore a three-goal lead on a breakaway, putting the puck between Swayman's pads only to see it bounce off the left post. Soon after, David Pastrnak scored to cut the deficit to a goal.

Boston beat Detroit on Saturday to take over the record for fewest number of games to reach 50 wins. The Bruins reached the milestone in their 64th game, beating the previous mark by two games set by the 1995-96 Red Wings and 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning.

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I thought our six periods as a whole were great, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. Obviously, thats a very good team. They have a chance to be remembered as one of the best teams in league history, and we never backed down over these six periods.

FAMILIAR FACE

Boston winger Tyler Bertuzzi faced his former team for the first time at Little Caesars Arena, and was warmly welcomed when his return was recognized on the videoboards. Bertuzzi, drafted by Detroit a decade ago and traded earlier this month, responded by tapping his stick on the ice and waving to the fans.

I knew theyre going to do something, he said. Very grateful for my time here as a Red Wing. It was a it was a nice tribute.

ONE-TIMERS

Boston scratched D Hampus Lindhom with a swollen foot, but expects him to miss only one game. ... Chiasson signed a contract with the Red Wings to bolster their depth up front after trading Bertuzzi, Jakub Vrana, Oskar Sundqvist and the 32-year-old winger scored his second goal in five games. ... The Bruins assigned Jakub Lauko to the AHLs Providence Bruins after the 22-year-old forward had three goals and five points in 12 games.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Play at Chicago on Tuesday.

Red Wings: Play at Nashville on Tuesday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
By Andrea Shalal, Howard Schneider and Pete Schroeder

WASHINGTON/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. authorities launched emergency measures on Sunday to shore up confidence in the banking system after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank threatened to trigger a broader financial crisis.

After a dramatic weekend, regulators said the failed banks customers will have access to all their deposits starting Monday and set up a new facility to give banks access to emergency funds. The Federal Reserve also made it easier for banks to borrow from it in emergencies.

While the measures provided some relief for Silicon Valley firms and global markets on Monday, worries about broader banking risks remain and have cast doubts over whether the Fed will stick with its plan for aggressive interest rate hikes.

"We think the steps taken by the Fed, Treasury and (the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp) will decisively break the psychological 'doom loop' across the regional banking sector," said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay in Toronto.

"But, fairly or not, the episode will contribute to higher levels of background volatility, with investors watching warily for other cracks to emerge as the Fed's policy tightening continues."

Regulators also moved swiftly to close New Yorks Signature Bank, which had come under pressure in recent days.

The wider efforts to avert a crisis lifted Wall Street stock futures in Asian trade on Monday, helping broader markets.

Lingering concerns about the financial sector weighed on bank shares in Asia, with Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ hitting a two-month low and Singapore's DBS a four-month low. Hong Kong shares of HSBC and Standard Chartered pared early losses to trade near-flat.

European stock markets fell 0.6% in early trade, while banking stocks fell just over 1%. U.S. stock futures were higher. Asian shares outside Japan climbed over 1% while the blue-chip Nikkei tumbled 1%.

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The Biden administration's intervention underscores how a relentless campaign by the Fed and other major central banks to beat back inflation is putting stress in the financial system and global markets.

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a mainstay for the startup economy, was a product of the decades-long era of cheap money, with unique risks that made it especially vulnerable. But as a run on the bank ensued last week, worries that other regional banks shared similarities spread quickly.

With the Fed poised to continue raising rates, investors said the financial system may not be fully out of the woods yet.

Goldman Sachs analysts said they no longer expect the Fed to raise rates by 25 basis points at its next policy meeting on March 21-22, amid the stress in the banking sector.

"What investors have to expect coming into tomorrow and beyond is that we are going to be dealing with a lot of event risk," said Michael Purves, chief executive of Tallbacken Capital Advisors. "There are still going to be lingering questions with other regional banks."

DEPOSITORS PROTECTED

The collapse of SVB - the largest bank failure since 2008 - sparked concerns over whether small-business clients would be able to pay their staff, with the FDIC only protecting deposits of up to $250,000.

Some 89% of SVB's $175 billion in deposits were uninsured as of the end of 2022, according to the FDIC.

All depositors, including those whose funds exceed the maximum government-insured level, will be made whole, according to a joint statement by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp Chair Martin Gruenberg on Sunday evening.

A senior U.S. Treasury official said the actions taken would protect depositors, while providing additional support to the broader banking system, but officials and regulators were continuing to monitor financial system stability.

"The firms are not being bailed out. The depositors are being protected," the official said.

The risk would be borne by the Deposit Insurance Fund, which has sufficient funds to do so.

Providing the systemic risk exceptions was deemed quicker than waiting for a possible buyer, the official said.

'WIPED OUT'

Treasury officials said depositors of New York's Signature Bank, which was closed Sunday by the New York state financial regulator, would also be made whole at no loss to the taxpayer.

Signature, like SVB, had a clientele concentrated in the tech sector, and the securities on its balance sheet had eroded as interest rates rose. As of September, almost a quarter of Signatures deposits came from the cryptocurrency sector, but the bank announced in December that it would shrink its crypto-related deposits by $8 billion.

While all customer deposits will be protected, new policies adopted Sunday will "wipe out" equity and bondholders in SVB and Signature Bank, a senior U.S. Treasury official said.

Together with the Fed's decision to ensure financial institutions can meet the needs of all their depositors, the steps would "restore market confidence," the official said.

Fed fund futures surged on Monday to imply only a 17% chance of a half-point rate hike by the Federal Reserve when it meets next week, well off the 70% before the SVB news broke last week.

Graphic: GRAPHIC-Total deposits in the U.S. banking system- https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-ECONOMY/DEPOSITS/byprlqgrgpe/chart.png

The Fed said it would make additional funding available through a new Bank Term Funding Program, which would offer loans of up to one year to depository institutions, backed by Treasuries and other assets these institutions hold.

When the coronavirus pandemic triggered financial panic in March 2020, the Fed announced a series of measures to keep credit flowing by lowering borrowing costs and lengthening the terms of direct loans. By the end of that month, use of the Fed's discount window facility shot up to more than $50 billion.

Through the middle of last week, before SVB's collapse, there had been no indications of usage picking up, with Fed data showing weekly outstanding balances of $4 billion to $5 billion since the start of the year.

UK FALLOUT

In Britain, where SVB has a subsidiary, the government and Bank of England held talks over weekend to find a solution that would avert the local lender from failing.

In a move reminiscent of the financial crisis era, early on Monday in London HSBC announced it was buying Silicon Valley Bank UK for 1 pound ($1.21). It said the subsidiary had loans of around 5.5 billion pounds and deposits of around 6.7 billion pounds as of March 10.

While SVB UK is small - HSBC's balance sheet exceeds $2.9 trillion - concerns that SVB's failure would cause Britain's start-up industry to seize up had prompted calls from the sector for government to intervene.

British start-ups backed by venture capital have around 2.5 billion pounds, largely in deposits, "locked" in SVB UK, according to a weekend survey by an industry body, seen by Reuters.

Graphic: The Discount Window- https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-FED/DISCOUNT/zjvqjyrwwpx/chart.png

($1 = 0.8256 pounds)

(Reporting by Lananh Nguyen, Paritosh Bansal, Tatiana Bautzer, Nupur Anand, Ira Iosebashvili and Dan Burns in New York, and Pete Schroeder, Jason Lange, Sarah N. Lynch, Rami Ayyub, David Morgan and Andrea Shalal in Washington, Kanjyik Ghosh and Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru, and Andrew MacAskill, William Schomberg, Amy-Jo Crowley and Pablo Mayo in London; Writing by Megan Davies, Alexander Smith, Leslie Adler, Simon Lewis and Vidya Ranganathan; Editing by Deepa Babington, Heather Timmons, Diane Craft, Leslie; Adler, Sam Holmes, Elisa Martinuzzi and Catherine Evans)
Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket is fueled for flight during its second launch attempt at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 11, 2023.

An attempt by startup Relativity Space to launch the world's first 3D-printed rocket on Saturday (March 11) was cut short by two different aborts amid weather and range safety delays.

The 3d-printed rocket, called Terran 1, was scheduled to launch on a debut flight from Launch Complex 16 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida during a three-hour window on Saturday afternoon. Despite three attempts, the company was unable to launch the rocket after suffering two last-minute aborts, including on that fired up its engines, and one hold when boat encroached in the offshore safety zone.

"Our teams obviously gave it an amazing shot today and we had high hopes for sending our Terran 1 off, but we're going to continue to take a measured approach so we can ultimately see this rocket off to max Q and beyond," Arwa Tizani Kelly, test and launch technical program manager for Relativity Space, said during live launch commentary, echoing comments she made after the company's first launch attempt on March 8, which also ended in a scrub.

The Terran 1 mission, called "Good Luck, Have Fun," is not carrying a payload. It is only carrying an old 3d-printed component from a failed print test by Relativity Space as a memento for the company.

Related: Relativity Space to launch satellite 'tugs' on 3D-printed rocket

Relativity Space's first Terran 1 rocket is fueled for flight during its second launch attempt at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on March 11, 2023.

Relativity Space's attempts to launch Terran 1, a 110-foot-tall (33-meter) rocket designed to launch small satellites into low-Earth orbit, began Saturday at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT), but was delayed for more than an hour due to unacceptable high upper level winds. An attempt to launch Terran 1 at 2:35 p.m. EST (1935 GMT) was thwarted 70 seconds before liftoff by a boat that apparently drifted inside the keep-out zone of the launch safety range.

The company then attempted to launch Terran 1 at 2:42 p.m. EST (1942 GMT), but saw an automatic abort at less than half a second before liftoff. The rocket's nine Aeon 1 engines fired up briefly then shut down due to a "launch commit criteria violation," according to launch director Clay Walker. The company later said an issue with the rocket's stage separation automation led to the abort.

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A third attempt to launch the rocket on Saturday came at 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT), the end of the window, when another abort occurred 45 seconds before liftoff. That abort was caused by a fuel pressure issue on the second stage, which was 1 pound-per-square-inch (PSI) too low, the company said via Twitter.

Video: Relativity Space CEO Tim Ellis on 3d-printed rockets and the future

"We've had to abort the internal count," Walker said in Relativity Space's launch webcast. "We are likely scrubbed for the day. Safing up the vehicle, thanks for playing."

Relativity Space's Terran 1 rocket is a prototype for a larger, fully reusable launch vehicle called Terran R and is the first booster built primarily through 3d-printing manufacturing. About 85% of the rocket is 3D-printed at the California-based company's Long Beach factory, with only components like rubber gaskets, computer chips and valves as its non-3d-printed parts, Kelly said.

Terran 1 uses liquid methane and liquid oxygen (or methalox) as fuel, make it the first U.S. orbital rocket aiming to reach orbit on such a mix, and is designed to carry payloads of up to 2,700 pounds (1,250 kilograms) to low Earth orbit for $12 million per flight. If Terran 1 succeeds, Relativity Space will use its 3d-printing techniques to build out the larger Terran R, which is expected to be able to lift payloads of up to 44,000 pounds (22,000 kg) to orbit.

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Tim Ellis, Relativity Space CEO and co-founder, has said that if Terran 1 makes it off the launch pad and through the phase of maximum dynamic pressure during flight, he'd be happy. The main goal, he's stressed repeatedly, is to show that Relativity Space's 3d-printing processes are viable to build rockets quickly and affordably.

"This launch won't singularly define our long-term success," Ellis wrote on Twitter ahead of this week's launch attempts. "This launch will, however, provide us with useful data and insights that will make us better prepared for our next at-bat, and is a fantastic learning platform for developing technologies directly applicable to Terran R, giving us a lot of confidence we are ahead in the race to become the next great launch company."

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram.
The dairy farm in Dane County, Wisconsin, where an 8-year-old Nicaraguan boy died in 2019.

Learn how to help us investigate the dairy industry. Haz click aqui para aprender como ayudarnos a investigar la industria lechera.

State and local officials in Wisconsin said they were horrified to learn of the conditions leading up to the 2019 death of an 8-year-old Nicaraguan boy on a dairy farm, as well as the flawed law enforcement investigation that followed. Now they say they want to address some of the issues highlighted by a ProPublica investigation, published last month, into Jefferson Rodriguezs death.

What happened should never have happened, said state Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, a Milwaukee Democrat whose mothers family worked as migrant farm laborers in Wisconsin in the 1960s.

Jefferson was run over late one summer night in 2019 by a worker operating a skid steer on a farm in rural Dane County, about a half-hour north of Madison, the state capital. It was the workers first day on the job, and he told us that he had received only a few hours of training. Our investigation showed how the authorities who investigated Jeffersons death wrongly concluded that his father had run him over.

The failure was due in large part to a language barrier between the boys father, Jose Maria Rodriguez Uriarte, and the Dane County sheriffs deputy who interviewed him. Rodriguez does not speak English; the deputy considered herself proficient in Spanish, but not fluent. When we interviewed the deputy, we learned that when she questioned Rodriguez in Spanish about what happened, her words didnt mean what she thought and would likely be confusing to a Spanish speaker.

Jeffersons death was ruled an accident. Nobody was charged criminally.

Proficiency in a crisis isnt good enough, said Dana Pellebon, who sits on the Dane County Board of Supervisors. Unfortunately, until a situation like this happens, sometimes we dont see the gaps in service.

Pellebon and several other supervisors told ProPublica they were looking into measures that could improve language access for non-English speakers who interact with the sheriffs office. According to estimates from the U.S. census, more than 10% of Dane County residents speak a language other than English at home.

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This theme of language barriers for people to exercise and enforce their rights  from law enforcement to human services to our court system  it is widespread, said county Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner. There really needs to be a thorough examination countywide into these barriers, because its not fair.

The Board of Supervisors sets the budget for and can make recommendations to the sheriffs office. But it is limited in its ability to set policy.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office said the agency has a skilled and diverse staff thats equipped with the tools it needs, including unfettered access to language translation services. The department is always looking for ways to improve the services provided to the community which include the evaluation of current practices and consideration [of] received recommendations, the spokesperson said.

At the state level, Ortiz-Velez pointed to a bill that would allow DACA recipients to become police officers or sheriffs deputies. (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a federal program that gives some undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children temporary protections from deportation.) Currently, only U.S. citizens can work as police officers or sheriffs deputies in Wisconsin. For us to have officers that are fluent, that were born in other countries and can speak the language, I think that could be a great help, Ortiz-Velez said.

Our story on Jeffersons death is the first in our series, Americas Dairyland, that intends to explore work, housing and other conditions for immigrant dairy workers in Wisconsin and across the Midwest. Here are three takeaways from our reporting efforts so far:

1. Across Wisconsin, law enforcement officials face language barriers when responding to incidents on dairy farms.

Under the Civil Rights Act, agencies that receive federal funding are required to ensure that their services are accessible to people who speak limited English. The Department of Justice, which drafted guidelines for law enforcement agencies on this issue nearly two decades ago, occasionally investigates departments that fail to meet this requirement.

Last year, we began requesting records of law enforcement agencies responses to incidents ranging from work-related injuries to assaults on dairy farms across Wisconsin. What those records show us is that officials routinely encounter language barriers when interacting with dairy workers. Frequently they rely on farm supervisors or employees to serve as interpreters; sometimes they turn to Google Translate or to children.

The Dane County Sheriffs Office has no written policy about how deputies should respond to incidents involving people who do not speak English, or on when to bring in an interpreter. The department does not assess the language skills of employees, who instead self-report their proficiency. But as a general practice, department officials have said, when deputies need to communicate with residents who speak a language other than English, they are supposed to put out a call to ask if any of their colleagues speak that language and, if none are available, ask for help from other nearby agencies.

2. It is an open secret that Wisconsins dairy industry relies on undocumented immigrant labor.

Because workers are undocumented, they often have a harder time speaking up about unfair or unsafe conditions.

Rodriguez and his son immigrated to the U.S. from Nicaragua in early 2019 in search of economic opportunity. As an asylum-seeker, Rodriguez did not have a work permit. He used fake papers to get a job at D&K Dairy. (In a deposition, the farms owner said he was not aware of Rodriguezs citizenship status.)

Rodriguez earned $9.50 an hour and, like other workers, routinely worked 70 to 80 hours a week. Agricultural work is excluded from many of Americas labor protections, so there was no overtime pay for working more than 40 hours. Like many Wisconsin dairy farms, D&K Dairy provided free housing. But the housing Rodriguez and his son used was not in a house; they lived in an apartment above the milking parlor, the barn where hundreds of cows were brought day and night to be milked by heavy, loud machinery.

For years the dairy industry, complaining of labor shortages, has lobbied unsuccessfully to access the federal H-2A guest worker program, which allows employers to temporarily bring in foreign employees when they cant find local workers. Currently, the program is limited to seasonal agricultural work; dairy is a year-round job.

Critics say the guest-worker program lends itself to abuse and exploitation, as immigrants ability to remain in the U.S. is tied to a single employer, which has led to several high-profile cases of forced labor, wage theft, substandard housing and high recruitment fees, among other problems.

3. Small farms dont always get a safety inspection after a death or injury.

When Jefferson died, an investigator with the Dane County Medical Examiners Office alerted the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is responsible for workplace safety. But OSHA did not investigate because the boy was not a farm employee.

Even when workers die or are injured on small farms, OSHA is limited in its ability to respond. Farms with fewer than 11 workers are often exempt from oversight. (Some states with their own OSHA plans do more, but Wisconsin isnt one of them.) And the federal agency has few safety standards for agricultural work sites.

In recent years, OSHA has attempted to inspect fewer than a dozen of the thousands of dairy farms in Wisconsin each year. The year Jefferson died, six of the nine inspections that OSHA initiated ultimately were not done because the farms were too small to fall under the agencys jurisdiction; three of those six involved fatalities.

Dairy operations these days are big factories, basically, said Michael Engelberger, a Dane County supervisor. They should not be exempt from any OSHA regulations or special agriculture labor laws. To me thats just wrong.

Wegleitner said she hopes to convene a group of supervisors, community advocates, county staff and others to talk about next steps in the coming weeks.

Language access is one piece, she said. We have unsafe housing, lack of inspections and oversight, and all those things may not be things the county can legislate. But if we are talking to and advocating with state and federal policymakers and groups and working in coalition, I think this needs to be addressed on multiple levels.

***

We plan to keep reporting on issues affecting immigrant dairy workers across the Midwest. Among those issues: traffic stops of undocumented immigrants who drive without a license; access to medical care or workers compensation after injuries on the job; and employer-provided housing.

Do you have ideas or tips for us to look into? Please reach out using this form.

And if you know a Spanish speaker who might be interested in this topic, please share with them a translated version of the story about Jeffersons death  which also includes an audio version  or this note about how to get in touch with us.

Aqui esta nuestra investigacion  y una version en audio  en espanol, asi como una carta explicando como usted se puede comunicar con nosotros si quiere compartir informacion sobre la industria lechera de Wisconsin y estados cercanos.

This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Boy's death on a Wisconsin dairy farm moves officials to action
Republican governors including Kristi Noem of South Dakota are coming out strong against the Chinese Communist Party and its attempts to buy land in the United States. Appearing on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, the governor explained that she is being proactive in preventing the Chinese government from buying up valuable farmland in strategically important South Dakota locations.

According to Noem, after the Chinese spy balloon debacle and the White Houses inaction, South Dakota has had to be very aggressive. Theyre purchasing our land so they can have a foothold right here in the center of the United States of America to conduct surveillance on our defense systems. Its alarming, she said. And its very strange for South Dakota to have to be this aggressive, but when you have a lack of leadership in the White House, we have to do what we can do to protect our people.

Noem pointed to the Grand Forks Air Force base and the unsuccessful recent attempt of a Chinese company to buy land near that base. The Air Force said its proximity would have posed a national security risk.

The South Dakota governor explained that she has been following the issue of Chinese investment since she was in Congress. I recognized and saw them buying up our fertilizer companies, our chemical companies, buying our processing systems. Theyre buying our food supply so they can control us, Noem said, broadening out to say that China is also manipulating its currency and stealing Americas intellectual property.

For Noem, this is part of a larger strategy for China to assert itself as a global superpower at Americas expense. The goal is to control us and to destroy us. China recognizes that the only way that they can have world dominance is to take out the United States of America, she explained. We stand in their path and they will use . . . Russia or North Korea or Iran to partner in unique ways to destroy us. So we need to wake up every single day recognizing what theyve been doing for generations.

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The South Dakota governor was also an early opponent of allowing the social-media app TikTok on American smartphones. Last year, she signed an executive order banning state employees and contractors from using the app.

I was the first governor to take action to ban TikTok here in our state. And we saw over two dozen different states take action, and Congress after that. Were thankful that other people are waking up to how China is using its assets to conduct surveillance on the American people, she said.

Is the American people even willing to be inconvenienced to be safe anymore? she said. Will they even be inconvenienced anymore to continue to be free?

Other Republican governors have taken similarly tough stances against China. On the same Fox News program, Florida governor Ron DeSantis committed to an aggressive stance against Chinese land purchases. We are going to prohibit CCP-linked businesses from purchasing land in the state of Florida, he said. They want land grabs in our country, and were not going to allow it to happen in the state of Florida.

Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin also raised the alarm earlier this month on CNBC. What weve seen is the CCP and the Chinese government become much more aggressive about progressing their strategy . . . to dominate the world, he said. Theyre using every arsenal element that they have from military coercion to economic coercion to surveillance.

Youngkin added that in Virginia they have the Pentagon, Quantico, and Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world. Farmland is in close proximity to all of those national defense hotspots. Were not going to allow these bad actors to buy this farmland, he said.

More from National Review
Republicans are bracing for Sen. Tim Scotts (S.C.) increasingly likely entrance into the 2024 presidential race, arguing that he could be a voice for unity in a party that has become dominated by grievance politics.

Scott hasnt made a formal decision on a 2024 run but has moved quickly to lay the groundwork for a campaign. Hes begun hiring staffers and courting would-be donors, headlining the closing dinner of the Club for Growths annual donor retreat in Palm Beach, Fla., last weekend.

His message has, so far, been one of optimism. While he has railed against what he has called Democrats politics of victimhood and despair, hes also laid out a lofty vision for a new American sunrise.

Its a tempting message for some Republicans, who have grown weary of the grievance-driven politics of the era of former President Trump. Yet many Republicans say theyre unsure of Scotts prospects in a GOP primary, arguing that his themes of optimism and unity may not get him far with a conservative base eager for a fight.

Obviously, everyone is trying to figure out what lanes there are in the primary or how many lanes there are, said one Republican strategist, who has worked on presidential campaigns. But I think Republicans right now are angry, and I dont know if Tim Scott captures that.

Indeed, Scotts political brand is a far cry from that of someone like Trump, who used his remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend to telegraph a 2024 campaign of retribution.

In a speech at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, last month that some Republicans saw as a warm-up to a presidential stump speech, Scott criticized President Biden, accusing him of exploiting the painful parts of Americas past. But he also struck a note of unity, describing himself as a messenger of hope.

I see 330 million Americans getting back to celebrating our shared blessings again, tolerating our differences again and having each others backs again, Scott said. This is what I see. A new American sunrise. Even brighter than before.

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Doug Heye, a Republican strategist who first met Scott during his time in the House, said that the South Carolina senator isnt the kind of person to back down from a fight, but described him as a kind of happy warrior who could offer voters a much-needed change from Trumps combativeness.

There are those voters, but thats not the entire party or the entire primary voter makeup, Heye said. He is aggressive and he is a fighter, but he does so with a smile on his face. And after six years of Donald Trump, theres an exhaustion for a lot of people who want new voices and fresh voices, and I think Scott represents that very well.

For now, theres no solid timeline for a potential campaign announcement. Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, is on a listening tour of the country thats set to take him back to Iowa and South Carolina over the next month or so, according to a person familiar with his plans.

The travel is going to continue to pick up, the person said. Hes been well received everywhere hes gone so far. What that actual date means? I dont know. But the listening tour is going to continue and help inform those decisions.

Another source familiar with Scotts plans acknowledged that he lacks the name ID of other current and prospective White House contenders, like Trump, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). But, the source said, that means he has room to grow.

Hes probably the least known of the major contenders  obviously Nikki, Trump, DeSantis, [former Vice President Mike] Pence, the source said. But for folks that know him, hes probably the most liked.

If he ultimately decides to jump into the presidential race, Scott would start with at least one clear advantage. He has nearly $22 million in his Senate war chest that could immediately be transferred to a presidential campaign.

Hes also brought on two prominent Republicans, former Sen. Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Rob Collins, a former executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, to run his super PAC, Opportunity Matters Fund. As of the end of 2022, that super PAC had more than $13 million in the bank, and one Republican source said that it had raised millions of dollars more since then.

Still, Scott would likely have a lot of ground to make up. Polling of the 2024 GOP primary shows Trump topping the field of declared and potential contenders, while DeSantis  the combative Florida governor whos preparing for a likely presidential campaign  is seen as the most serious threat to the former president.

Then theres Haley, a former South Carolina governor who appointed Scott to his Senate seat in 2012. She and Scott remain allies and friends, according to multiple Republican sources, but how the two would handle each other in a primary fight, especially in their home state, remains an open question.

Both have cast themselves as a fresh face in GOP politics and have laid out a similar set of more traditionally conservative policy priorities, ranging from enacting school choice policies to cutting back on federal spending.

Dallas Woodhouse, a longtime Republican operative who heads up the conservative South Carolina Policy Council, said that Scott remains broadly popular in his home state  a critical early primary state that will be the third to hold a nominating contest in 2024. But, he added, even the most beloved politicians cant always find their footing on the national stage.

He definitely would bring a lot to the race. Hes a serious person and a serious thinker, Woodhouse, whos unaligned in the 2024 primary, said. But hes been on a very welcoming stage most of the time. This is going to be different for him. He is beloved for what he represents but that can change when you get in a rough and tumble campaign.

Nevertheless, Woodhouse said, Scotts candidacy could help nudge the race in a new direction.

You have to look at interesting ways and possibilities to change the direction, he said. And a candidacy like Scotts  I think it would bring some new and interesting elements to the table.

Updated on March 13 at 6:10 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This aerial photograph shows a car and market shop in floodwaters in Pajaro, California on Saturday, March 11, 2023. - Residents were forced to evacuate in the middle of the night after an atmospheric river surge broke the the Pajaro Levee and sent flood waters flowing into the community. JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images

A "river in the sky" has poured down on California, causing flooding.

2 people have died in the extreme weather.

Thousands are under evacuation orders as another storm is set to come on Monday.

An atmospheric river, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration compares to a "river in the sky," has poured down on California, forcing thousands to evacuate.

The extreme weather caused the Pajaro River's levee to breach, leading to 8,500 evacuation orders in Monterey County on the Pacific coast.

The California Governor's Office for Emergency Services states that an evacuation order is "mandatory" and an "official order to leave," as the conditions are considered a threat to life.

According to AP, evacuation officials had called on homes on Friday to encourage residents to evacuate. They had to pull some of those who refused from floodwaters on Saturday.

First responders and the California National Guard had to save over 50 people overnight from the water overnight, AP reports.

At least two people died on Friday as a result of the harsh weather conditions, with one person being killed after a portion of the roof collapsed at an Oakland warehouse, according to the LA Times.

But the worst isn't yet over. Approximately 15 million people are under flood watches in California and Nevada as a second "river in the sky" approaches, CNN reports.

The National Weather Service has said that the worst of the storm is predicted to come late on Monday through to early Tuesday, although heavy rainfall has already seen thousands be given evacuation orders.

According to the Weather Prediction Center, from Monday night, "the rain will impact increasingly sensitive portions of central California that were hit hard by the rainfall on Friday and early Saturday," said. They added that it "won't take long once the steady heavy rain gets started for flooding impacts to resume."

Read the original article on Business Insider
DoNotPay founder and CEO Joshua Browder said that the lawsuit has "no merit." Stephen Lam

DoNotPay, which uses AI to provide legal services, is facing a proposed class action lawsuit.

The complaint claims that DoNotPay has been practicing law poorly and lacks a license.

DoNotPay CEO Joshua Browder pledged to fight the lawsuit that he said had "no merit."

DoNotPay, which describes itself as "the world's first robot lawyer," has been accused of practicing law without a license.

It's facing a proposed class action lawsuit filed by Chicago-based law firm Edelson on March 3 and published Thursday on the website of the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Francisco.

The complaint argues: "Unfortunately for its customers, DoNotPay is not actually a robot, a lawyer, nor a law firm. DoNotPay does not have a law degree, is not barred in any jurisdiction, and is not supervised by any lawyer."

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Jonathan Faridian, who said he'd used DoNotPay to draft various legal documents including demand letters, a small claims court filing, and a job discrimination complaint.

Per the complaint, Faridian believed he'd purchased legal documents "from a lawyer that was competent to provide them," but got "substandard" results.

DoNotPay claims to use artificial intelligence to help customers handle an array of legal services without needing to hire a lawyer. It was founded in 2015 as an app to help customers fight parking tickets, but has since expanded its services. DoNotPay's website claims that it can help customers fight corporations, beat bureaucracy, find hidden money, and "sue anyone."

DoNotPay told Insider: "DoNotPay respectfully denies the false allegations." It added: "We will defend ourselves vigorously."

Joshua Browder, the CEO of DoNotPay, said on Twitter that the claims had "no merit" and pledged to fight the lawsuit.

He said DoNotPay was "not going to be bullied by America's richest class action lawyer" in a reference to Edelson founder Jay Edelson.

Browder said he'd been inspired to set up DoNotPay in 2015 to take on lawyers such as Edelson.

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"Time and time again the only people that win are the lawyers. So I wanted to do something about it, building the DoNotPay robot lawyer to empower consumers to take on corporations on their own," he said.

Jay Edelson told Insider: "We understood when we filed suit that Josh and DoNotPay would try to distract from their misconduct in any way possible. They attacked our client and now are attacking me."

DoNotPay grabbed attention earlier this year after Browder said it planned to use its artificial intelligence chatbot to advise a defendant facing traffic court. This plan was postponed after Browder said said he'd received "threats from State Bar prosecutors" and feared a jail sentence.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- Shares of technology companies with money at Silicon Valley Bank may be active after US authorities pledged to fully protect all depositors funds following the collapse of the lender.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Dozens of companies have reported exposure to the bank, which in its four-decade history cultivated deep ties within the tech sector. The Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Sunday jointly announced efforts aimed at strengthening confidence in the banking system in the wake of SVBs failure.

Roku Inc. is among those reporting the heaviest exposure. The maker of set-top boxes used for streaming film and television, had $487 million, or about a quarter of its cash and cash equivalents held at the bank. The disclosure late on Friday sent the stock down 3% in after-hours trading.

Rocket Lab USA Inc., a space launch startup, said it had about $38 million of cash and cash equivalents at SVB. Meanwhile, video-game company Roblox Corp. had about $150 million of its $3 billion in cash and securities at the bank.

Heres a look at many of the companies that have disclosed exposure to Silicon Valley Bank:

Roku

In its filing with the SEC, Roku disclosed that about 26% of its cash and cash equivalents balance as of March 10  roughly $487 million  is held at SVB. Roku said it isnt sure how much of those deposits it will be able to recover. The filing also notes that it has approximately $1.4 billion of additional cash and cash equivalents distributed across multiple large financial institutions.

Roblox

The company said Friday it its filing roughly 5% of its $3 billion of cash and securities balance as of Feb. 28 is held at SVB. Regardless of the ultimate outcome and the timing, this situation will have no impact on the day to day operations of the Company. Shares of the video-game maker fell about 0.9% in post-market trading Friday.

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Juniper Networks Inc.

The networking equipment maker said that while it maintains operating accounts at Silicon Valley Bank, they represent less than 1% of its total cash, cash equivalents and investments. As a result the company say its exposure to loss from SVB is immaterial. Shares of the company were unchanged after the close of trading Friday.

Rocket Lab

Shares of the space startup slumped 2.6% in post-market trading Friday after it said in a filing that it had deposits of roughly $38 million in accounts with SVB, about 7.9% of its total cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities as of the end of December.

AcuityAds Holdings Inc.

The Canadian advertising-tech firm said in a statement Friday that nearly all of its cash is held at SVB. AcuityAds, which sells digital-advertising technology, says it had roughly $55 million in deposits at the now defunct bank and about $4.8 million at other banks, which it says it will use to support continuing operations.

No Exposure

Some firms on the other hand, disclosed that they had no exposure or relationship with SVB at all. More than a dozen stocks filed form 8-Ks with the SEC simply to tell investors that they were aware of the situation and that they had no deposits with the bank.

Others waited until Saturday to clear the air, with Plug Power Inc.s Director of Investor Relations Roberto Friedlander telling investors and analysts in an emailed statement that it only banks with tier one US banks. Shares of the hydrogen and fuel-cell maker had slumped more than 5% during Fridays session.

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Russian authorities are threatening conscripts in occupied Luhansk Oblast with not being paid for their participation in the war if they do not have a Russian passport.

Source: Luhansk Oblast Military Administration



Details: It is noted that the military leadership of the Russian Federation requires conscripts to sign long-term contracts for military service in the Russian army.

For this purpose, it is necessary to have a Russian passport, among other documents.

Otherwise, servicemen and their families are threatened with the denial of all established payments and social protection.

The Oblast Military Administration also reported that about 500 women appealed to the Russian leadership with the claim that Russian legislation does not apply in the occupied territories of Luhansk Oblast.

The claim is that the military command allegedly does not accept retirement statements from men based on their age.

Background: Almost half of the soldiers mobilised in Russia whose names have been identified by the Russian BBC service died in 2023.

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Russia did not appreciate the idea of renaming it to Muscovy

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made a propaganda statement about the transformation of Ukraine into anti-Russia.

The man in the bunker (that Zakharova calls Zelenskyy  ed.) proves us right every day. Here is more evidence of an attempt to create an anti-Russia Ukraine, she wrote on Telegram on March 11.

Russias Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, reacted to the possible return of the historical title to Russia. He returned to the debunked trope ofNazism in Ukraine.

Read also: The most comprehensive answer to the question: is Russia a fascist state?

The Supreme Nazi of Kyiv instructed to work out the issue of renaming Russia to Muscovy. Well, what can I say... Our answer? No, of course not Khokhlandia (khokhol is commonly used as an ethnic slur for Ukrainians  ed.). And especially not Little Russia. Only Schweinisch Bandera-Reich. Exakt! (German: Swine Bandera Empire. Exactly!  ed.), Medvedev said, showing off his knowledge of history and German.

Zelenskyy previously considered a petition proposing to rename Russia as Moskovia, Russian to Moskovian, and the Russian Federation to the Moscow Federation. The popular petition highlighted that the historical name of Russia is Muscovy.

Read also: Kniazhytskyi supports Kyslytsya's proposal to rename Russia Moskovia in Ukrainian language

In response to the petition, Zelenskyy instructed Shmyhal to comprehensively work out this issue with scientists.

Muscovy, based off of current capital Moscow, is the historical name of Russia and its state entities: the Moscow principality, kingdom, and empire. It was used in most European languages and some Asian languages. It appears on most European maps from the 16th-19th centuries.

In the Ukrainian language, the terms Moskivshchyna and Moskovshchyna were also used.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russias advance seems to have stalled in Moscow's campaign to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a leading think tank said in an assessment of the longest ground battle of the war.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said there were no confirmed advances by Russian forces in Bakhmut. Russian forces and units from the Kremlin-controlled paramilitary Wagner Group continued to launch ground attacks in the city, but there was no evidence that they were able to make any progress, the ISW said.

The founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Sunday on the Telegram messaging app that the situation in Bakhmut was difficult, very difficult, with the enemy fighting for each meter.

The ISW report issued Saturday cited the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Eastern Group, Serhii Cherevaty, who said that fighting in the Bakhmut area had been more intense this week than the previous one. According to Cherevaty, there were 23 clashes in the city over the previous 24 hours.

The ISWs report comes following claims of Russian progress earlier this week. The U.K. Defense Ministry said Saturday that paramilitary units from the Kremlin-controlled Wagner Group had seized most of eastern Bakhmut, with a river flowing through the city now marking the front line of the fighting. The assessment highlighted that Russias assault will be difficult to sustain without more significant personnel losses.

The mining city of Bakhmut is located in Ukraines eastern Donetsk province, one of four regions of Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed last year. Russias military opened the campaign to take control of Bakhmut in August, and both sides have experienced staggering casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed not to retreat.

In its latest report, the U.K. Defense Ministry said Sunday that the impact of heavy Russian military casualties in Ukraine varies dramatically across Russia. The British military's intelligence update said Moscow and St. Petersburg remained relatively unscathed, particularly among members of Russia's elite.

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In many of Russias eastern regions, however, the death rate as a percentage of the population is 30-40 times higher than in Moscow, the U.K. ministry said. It added that ethnic minorities often take the biggest hit. In the southern Astrakhan region, for example, about 75% of casualties come from the minority Kazakh and Tartar populations.

Russias mounting casualties are reflected in a loss of government control over the countrys information sphere, the Institute for the Study of War said. The think tank said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed infighting in the Kremlin inner circle and that the Kremlin has effectively ceded control over the countrys information space, with Putin unable to readily regain control.

The ISW saw Zakharovas comments, made at a forum on the practical and technological aspects of information and cognitive warfare in modern realities in Moscow, as noteworthy and in line with the think tanks long standing assessments about the deteriorating Kremlin regime and information space control dynamics.

In a separate statement, Zakharova said Sunday that the next round of talks regarding extending the Black Sea grain deal would take place Monday in Geneva. A Russian delegation is expected to meet with top U.N. officials. The deal currently is set to expire on March 18.

The wartime agreement that unblocked grain shipments from Ukraine and helped temper rising global food prices was last extended by four months in November.

The deal, which Ukraine and Russia signed in separate agreements with the U.N. and Turkey on July 22, established a safe shipping corridor in the Black Sea and inspection procedures to address concerns that cargo vessels might carry weapons or launch attacks.

Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food to countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia where millions of impoverished people lack enough to eat. Russia was also the worlds top exporter of fertilizer before the war.

A loss of those supplies following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had pushed up global food prices and fueled concerns of a hunger crisis in poorer countries.

Zelenskyy said Sunday that he posthumously conferred the highest national title, Hero of Ukraine, on a soldier who is thought to have been killed by Russian-speakers. Zelenskyy identified him as Oleksandr Matsiyevsky, although the Ukrainian military previously gave a different name for the soldier pending final confirmation.

A brief video that surfaced this month and caused a national outcry in Ukraine showed a man standing and smoking a cigarette in a wooded area and exclaiming Glory to Ukraine before being cut down with gunfire. Senior Ukrainian officials alleged, without providing further evidence, that the man was an unarmed prisoner of war killed by Russian soldiers.

Matsiyevsky was a Ukrainian warrior. A man who will be known and remembered forever," Zelenskyy said. Ukraine's national security service, the SBU, said Matsiyevsky had served as a sniper and was shot on Dec. 30.

Ukrainian authorities reported Sunday morning that Russian attacks over the past day killed at least five people and wounded another seven across Ukraines Donetsk and Kherson regions, local Ukrainian authorities reported Sunday morning.

Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said that two people were killed in the region, one in the city of Kostyantynivka and one in the village of Tonenke. Four civilians were wounded.

Also in the Donetsk province, Sloviansk Mayor Vadim Lyakh said the power grid and railway lines were damaged by Russian shelling on Sunday, but didn't report any casualties.

Local officials in the southern Kherson province confirmed that Russian forces fired 29 times on Ukrainian-controlled territory in the region on Saturday, with residential areas of the regional capital, Kherson, coming under fire three times. Three people died in the province and a further three were wounded.

A woman was wounded in Russian shelling in the village of Bilozerka on Sunday, just outside Kherson.

In Kharkiv province, three districts came under fire, but no civilian casualties were reported.

The governor of the Mykolaiv region, Vitali Kim, said the town of Ochakiv at the mouth of the Dnieper River came under artillery fire early Sunday. Cars were set ablaze and private houses and high-rise buildings sustained damage. No casualties were reported.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Russian forces deployed multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) to attack the city of Ochakiv (Mykolaiv Oblast), in southern Ukraine from the direction of the Kinburn Spit.

Source: Serhii Shaikhet, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast Police, on Telegram

Details: Shaikhet said that the city of Ochakiv was attacked from the direction of the Kinburn Spit.

He added that several vehicles were on fire following the attack, and said that the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and police have been dispatched to the site.

According to early reports, there were no civilian casualties.

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JERUSALEM, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Israel's current account surplus totaled 19.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, said the country's Central Bureau of Statistics on Sunday.

This is a decrease of 1.6 billion dollars compared to the surplus registered in 2021, and of 2.9 billion dollars compared to 2020, it said in an annual balance of payments report.

The decrease in last year's surplus includes a 4.4-billion-dollar increase in the goods trade deficit. However, it was offset by an increase of 2 billion dollars in the services trade surplus and an 800-million-dollar rise in the income account, which includes salaries, investments, and assets.

The surplus in the goods and services trade account amounted to 17 billion dollars in 2022, following a surplus of 19.4 billion dollars in the previous year.

The current account balance includes the transactions of Israeli residents with foreign sides in the trade of goods and services, as well as income from financial investments, compensation of employees, and current transfers. 
Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, has reported that Russian invaders attacked the city of Ochakiv, Mykolaiv Oblast, on the night of 12 March. No casualties have been reported.

Source: Kim on Telegram; State Emergency Service (SES) in Mykolaiv Oblast

Quote from Kim: "The enemy deployed artillery to attack the city of Ochakiv in the Ochakiv hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories] on 12 March, at about 00:45-00:49.

Cars caught fire; private houses and a multi-storey building have been damaged. The aftermath of the damage is being confirmed."

Details: No casualties have been reported.

The State Emergency Service has reported that two vehicles, a VAZ 2105 and a MAZDA 626, and an apartment caught fire due to impacts from projectiles and shrapnel.

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Patriarch Kirill

In particular, the Patriarch has complained about the termination of the lease agreement for churches on the territory of the Lavra monastery complex in Kyiv, the press service of the Russian Orthodox Church said on March 11.

Read also: Pope names conditions for visiting Kyiv, but appears to rule trip out

Patriarch Kirill claimed that pressure had been put on the monks in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra before a final decision was made on their expulsion was made.

The repression is also a months-long defamatory information campaign involving state media and TV channels for the monastery, as well as radical politicians, clergy, and public officials  with calls for the community to withdraw from its use and even forcibly confiscate it, the pro-Kremlin Patriarch said.

Read also: Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill spied for KGB in Switzerland in 1970s  Swiss media

The Patriarch claimed that Kyiv's order for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) to leave the monastery complex of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra caves before March 29, published by media, "is notable for its lack of sufficient legal justifications."

He called on the world community to "make every effort to prevent the forced closure of the monastery, which will lead to a violation of the right sof millions of Ukrainian believers."

The message was delivered to the heads of local orthodox churches, Pope Francis, Secretary General of the World Council of Churches, Dr. Jerry Pilla, Council of Europe Secretary General Maria Pejcinovic-Burich, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk, director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Matteo Mecacci, and others.

The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine said on March 10that the UOC-MP must leave all the premises it rents in the Kyiv Cave Monastery by March 29.

Read also: Keeping up ties with Moscow? The processes begun within the UOC-MP

The State Audit Service of Ukraine conducted an inspection of the Kyiv Cave Monastery National Reserve, which revealed the illegal transfer of cultural heritage monuments for use and 36 illegal new buildings.

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More than a dozen Russian women made the brave appeal to the president

A group of Russian women have appealed to Vladimir Putin to stop sending their husbands and children to the front line like meat without adequate training.

In a video shared online, the women say the mobilisation of new recruits to the army has been a betrayal after the Russian President said they would not be sent to the front line immediately.

The women say their sons, husbands and brothers have been thrown like meat to storm fortified areas in Ukraine. In the video shared by the independent Telegram news channel SOTA, they can be seen standing in a group holding a sign in Russian that reads, 580 Separate Howitzer Artillery Division, dated March 11, 2023.

My husband is located on the line of contact with the enemy, one woman says.

Our mobilised [men] are being sent like lambs to the slaughter to storm fortified areas  five at a time, against 100 heavily armed enemy men, she continued.

Putin ordered the mobilisation of more than 300,000 men in September  the first since 1941  to the shock of many ordinary Russians. Of those who were drafted, many have perished.

#Russia The wives of those mobilized from the Moscow region recorded an appeal to Vladimir Putin and Sergei Shoigu. They are complaining that their husbands were thrown as cannon fodder to fight against Ukrainians after only three months of training. pic.twitter.com/oX6zF0ICam  Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova) March 12, 2023

Among the reasons for the high casualties have been poor training and a lack of equipment. New recruits have reported being sent to battle with old weapons and unsuitable clothing.

A team of independent Russian journalists called the No Future project says authorities have attempted to cover up the deaths of dozens of mobilised Russians from Volgograd who were sent to fight without any ammunition. The group says new recruits are also deprived of first-aid kits and hot food, while during one training session the men just played on their phones for two weeks.

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They are prepared to serve their homeland but according to the specialisation theyve trained for, not as stormtroopers. We ask that you pull back our guys from the line of contact and provide the artillerymen with artillery and ammunition, said the woman.

The groups criticism of the Kremlin comes amid growing anger among Russian wives and mothers over the war.

In a rare acknowledgment of the governments failings, Putin last year told a group of angry mothers that he felt their pain during a choreographed sit-down in which he at times appeared emotional.

He has also said mistakes were made in the call-up to reinforcements. Despite that, the Kremlin has hinted at a second mobilisation.

MPs have proposed a law that will give Russias National Guard more power to enforce military draft orders and another that will allow property to be confiscated from Russians who flee abroad.
Consequences of shelling in the Kherson Oblast

Over the past day, the enemy launched 29 artillery attacks, firing 156 shells from heavy artillery and Grads (multiple rocket launcher designed in Soviet Union in 1963). The enemy shelled the city of Kherson three times, Prokudin wrote.

Read also: Russians kill three people, injure another three in attack on Kherson

He said 10 impacts were recorded in the city in residential quarters. Houses and apartment buildings were damaged. Shells also hit the territory of the utility company.

As a result of the enemy shelling, three civilians were killed. Three more people were injured.

On March 10, the Russian army carried out 71 artillery attacks on Kherson Oblast, killing three civilians and wounding five more.

Read also: Russia kills three civilians after hitting another public transport stop in Kherson

Russian invasion troops have regularly attacked the city of Kherson and government-controlled areas ever since the area was liberated by Ukrainian forces in early November.

Earlier, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin falsely claimed that Russia had annexed Kherson Oblast, along with three other Ukrainian oblasts, without having full control of any of them.

Russia also falsely claimed to have annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014, a claim only recognized by a handful of the worlds rogue and pariah states.

Read also: Russian attack on Kherson Oblast kills one woman, two children

Even Iran, who has provided Russia with the Shahed flying bomb drones that Russia uses to target Ukrainian civilians, has clarified recently that it does not recognize Moscows illegal claims to Ukrainian territory  including Crimea.

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Ukrainian border guards have reported repelling Russian attacks and killing two dozen invaders in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine



Details: It is noted that Russian infantry, supported by artillery, stormed a border guard strong point in Bakhmut.

Soldiers of the State Border Guard Service stopped the occupiers with small arms and grenade launchers.

In addition, border guards repelled attacks on two more strong points in Donetsk Oblast. Aerial reconnaissance revealed the training of Russian infantry units. Therefore, the border guards and mortar launchers "dispersed" the attackers as they were moving forward.

As a result of the fighting, the State Border Guard Service reports that nine occupiers have been killed and 12 others have been wounded.

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Consequences of Russian shelling of the Donetsk region on March 11

As a result of shelling, there are dead and wounded, the police said.

The enemy struck from aircraft, with missiles from S-300 air defense systems, Grad and Uragan rockets (multiple rocket launchers designed in the Soviet Union), artillery, mortars, and tanks.

Russian troops destroyed and damaged 41 civilian objects: 27 residential buildings, a tuberculosis clinic, an employment center, transport, shops, a factory workshop, a warehouse, a railway track, power lines, and a garage.

The Russian army launched five airstrikes at the community of Ocheretyn. As a result of the attack, a civilian was killed in the village of Tonenke, a house was damaged, and three houses and critical infrastructure were destroyed in Novobakhmutivka.

The law enforcement officers noted that Kostyantynivka was shelled seven times, with Russia pounding the city with Uragan rockets and artillery. As a result of the hits, one civilian was killed and several injured. Four houses, cars, two shops and other infrastructure was damaged.

The Russians also hit Lyman with a S-300 missile. An apartment building and an infrastructure object were damaged.

The National Police added that as a result of enemy attacks, a woman was wounded in Maksymilianivka, and a man was wounded in Mykolaivka.

The police and the SBU opened criminal proceedings under Art. 438 (violation of the laws and customs of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

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Jenna Ortega during her opening monologue on "Saturday Night Live." (NBC / Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images)

Jenna Ortega, the star of Netflix's breakout hit "Wednesday" and most recently of "Scream VI," made her debut as host of "Saturday Night Live," alongside musical guests The 1975. Ortega was featured in sketches that played into her dark-twisted-girl persona, including an "Exorcist" takeoff, but she was also bright and charming in sketches parodying "The Parent Trap" and the dysfunctional relationships between X-Men characters on a "Family Feud"-style game show.

But first, the show's cold open took a break from politics and news to preview Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony. Heidi Gardner was Maria Menounos or Kit Hoover ("They haven't told me which yet.") and Marcello Hernandez was Mario Lopez, interviewing nominees and others on the red carpet. Chloe Fineman nailed an out-past-her-bedtime Jamie Lee Curtis, who was overly excited about everything, and thrilled to be there: "I sold yogurt that made you poop and now I'm nominated!"

Mike Tyson (Kenan Thompson) showed up as this year's head of security, promising to keep last year's lead actor winner and notorious slapper Will Smith away, saying he is being tracked via an Apple AirTag.

Best jokes of the opener: a reference to the awkward pan-down to women's feet during these types of shows, and George Santos (Bowen Yang) pretending to be Tom Cruise. His sign-off: "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go be everyone everywhere all at once."

In her monologue, Ortega discussed her reputation for being dark and spooky; she joked that she has a face that makes filmmakers say "Hey, let's throw some blood on that!"

She reminded the audience that she's been acting for a long time; a clip of a Colgate commercial she shot when she was nine showed Kid Ortega fighting off germs in a bathroom sink. Ortega said that the same very cute commercial can be recast as scary with a little bit of editing. The resulting clip was indeed hilariously dark and twisted. What's not dark and twisted? "SNL" cast members, whom Ortega characterized as, "Happy, extroverted people who are always trying to perform."

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Planted in the audience was Fred Armisen, an "SNL" alum and her "Wednesday" co-star, who was invited to join Ortega on stage (he later appeared in the "Parent Trap" sketch), but it was basically to say hi before launching into an origin story of his "Californians" sketches. Ortega interrupted him and shooed him off before he could get too far into the story.

Best sketch of the night: Sad stories derail 'Ridiculousness'

In case you're not familiar with it, MTV's "Ridiculousness" is a show where a panel of commentators watch viral videos and offer jokes and criticism. In this parody, Ortega plays a TikTok star, Lee Lee Two Times, who brings down the show by sharing sad tragedies that keep ruining the vibe for host Rob Dyrdek (Mikey Day). A video showing someone falling off a boat prompts Lee Lee to describe a maritime beheading. A cat video leads to a story about the birth of a litter of kittens so horrific that it stuns the entire panel. "It was not fire," Lee Lee says, "it didn't have a mouth so it was screaming from the inside like MMMGGGHHH! MMMGGGGHHHH!"

The reality of road trips with friends

This week's Please Don't Destroy video gets the writers out of the office for a road trip with Ortega, who says she needs a break from all her work stress. The four sing a catchy song about the joys of road tripping with your best pals before microaggressions, missed exits and Ortega slurping the last of her Big Gulp Slurpee ruin the trip for all involved. The bad vibes and a sudden violent road incident even earn the condemnation of a billboard Jesus.

'Weekend Update': James Austin Johnson's two-second impressions

One of this season's success stories has been James Austin Johnson's transition from online video star to key "SNL" cast member. His Trump and Biden impressions are uncanny, and in this short Weekend Update segment, he shows off some short-form impressions that he can't find any use for anywhere else. Among them: Adam Driver as his "Star Wars" villain Kylo Ren portraying his character Adam from "Girls"; rapper Jay-Z yelling to his wife Beyonce from downstairs; and Bob Dylan's cellphone vibrating. Johnson even throws in a little bit of the Trump impression he'll have to do to get the attention of bartenders at the after party. Its more evidence that Johnson is one of the sharpest impressionists in comedy today.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
JERUSALEM  News of the rapprochement between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran sent shock waves through the Middle East and dealt a symbolic blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has made the threat posed by Tehran a public diplomacy priority and personal crusade.

The breakthrough  a culmination of more than a year of negotiations in Baghdad and more recent talks in China  also became ensnared in Israels internal politics, reflecting the countrys divisions at a moment of national turmoil.

The agreement, which gives Iran and Saudi Arabia two months to reopen their respective embassies and re-establish ties after seven years of rupture, more broadly represents one of the most striking shifts in Middle Eastern diplomacy over recent years. In countries like Yemen and Syria, long caught between the Sunni kingdom and the Shiite powerhouse, the announcement stirred cautious optimism.

In Israel, it caused disappointment  along with finger-pointing.

One of Netanyahus greatest foreign policy triumphs remains Israels U.S.-brokered normalization deals in 2020 with four Arab states, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. They were part of a wider push to isolate and oppose Iran in the region.

He has portrayed himself as the only politician capable of protecting Israel from Tehrans rapidly accelerating nuclear program and regional proxies, like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel and Iran have also waged a regional shadow war that has led to suspected Iranian drone strikes on Israeli-linked ships ferrying goods in the Persian Gulf, among other attacks.

A normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state, would fulfill Netanyahus prized goal, reshaping the region and boosting Israels standing in historic ways. Even as backdoor relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia have grown, the kingdom has said it wont officially recognize Israel before a resolution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Since returning to office late last year, Netanyahu and his allies have hinted that a deal with the kingdom could be approaching. In a speech to American Jewish leaders last month, Netanyahu described a peace agreement as a goal that we are working on in parallel with the goal of stopping Iran.



But experts say the Saudi-Iran deal that announced Friday has thrown cold water on those ambitions. Saudi Arabias decision to engage with its regional rival has left Israel largely alone as it leads the charge for diplomatic isolation of Iran and threats of a unilateral military strike against Irans nuclear facilities. The UAE also resumed formal relations with Iran last year.

Its a blow to Israels notion and efforts in recent years to try to form an anti-Iran bloc in the region, said Yoel Guzansky, an expert on the Persian Gulf at the Institute for National Security Studies, an Israeli think tank. If you see the Middle East as a zero-sum game, which Israel and Iran do, a diplomatic win for Iran is very bad news for Israel.

Even Danny Danon, a Netanyahu ally and former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. who recently predicted a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia in 2023, seemed disconcerted.

This is not supporting our efforts, he said, when asked about whether the rapprochement hurt chances for the kingdoms recognition of Israel.

In Yemen, where the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran has played out with the most destructive consequences, both warring parties were guarded, but hopeful.

A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemens conflict in 2015, months after the Iran-backed Houthi militias seized the capital of Sanaa in 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile in Saudi Arabia.

The Houthi rebels welcomed the agreement as a modest but positive step.

The region needs the return of normal relations between its countries, through which the Islamic society can regain security lost from foreign interventions, said Houthi spokesman and chief negotiator Mohamed Abdulsalam.

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government expressed some optimism  and caveats.

The Yemeni governments position depends on actions and practices not words and claims, it said, adding it would proceed cautiously until observing a true change in (Iranian) behavior.

Analysts did not expect an immediate settlement to the conflict, but said direct talks and better relations could create momentum for a separate agreement that may offer both countries an exit from a disastrous war.

The ball now is in the court of the Yemeni domestic warring parties to prioritize Yemens national interest in reaching a peace deal and be inspired by this initial positive step, said Afrah Nasser, a non-resident fellow at the Washington-based Arab Center.

Anna Jacobs, senior Gulf analyst with the International Crisis Group, said she believed the deal was tied to a de-escalation in Yemen.

It is difficult to imagine a Saudi-Iran agreement to resume diplomatic relations and re-open embassies within a two-month period without some assurances from Iran to more seriously support conflict resolution efforts in Yemen, she said.

War-scarred Syria similarly welcomed the agreement as a move toward easing tensions that have exacerbated the countrys conflict. Iran has been a main backer of Syrian President Bashar Assads government, while Saudi Arabia has supported opposition fighters trying to remove him from power.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry called it an important step that will lead to strengthening security and stability in the region.

In Israel, bitterly divided and gripped by mass protests over plans by Netanyahus far-right government to overhaul the judiciary, politicians seized on the rapprochement between the kingdom and Israels archenemy as an opportunity to criticize Netanyahu, accusing him of focusing on his personal agenda at the expense of Israels international relations.

Yair Lapid, the former prime minister and head of Israels opposition, denounced the agreement between Riyadh and Tehran as a full and dangerous failure of the Israeli governments foreign policy.

This is what happens when you deal with legal madness all day instead of doing the job with Iran and strengthening relations with the U.S., he wrote on Twitter. Even Yuli Edelstein from Netanyahus Likud party blamed Israels power struggles and head-butting for distracting the country from its more pressing threats.

Another opposition lawmaker, Gideon Saar, mocked Netanyahus goal of formal ties with the kingdom. Netanyahu promised peace with Saudi Arabia, he wrote on social media. In the end (Saudi Arabia) did it  with Iran.

Netanyahu, on an official visit to Italy, declined a request for comment and issued no statement on the matter. But quotes to Israeli media by an anonymous senior official in the delegation sought to put blame on the previous government that ruled for a year and a half before Netanyahu returned to office. It happened because of the impression that Israel and the U.S. were weak, said the senior official, according to the Haaretz daily, which hinted that Netanyahu was the official.

Despite the fallout for Netanyahus reputation, experts doubted a detente would harm Israel. Saudi Arabia and Iran will remain regional rivals, even if they open embassies in each others capitals, said Guzansky. And like the UAE, Saudi Arabia could deepen relations with Israel even while maintaining a transactional relationship with Iran.

The low-key arrangement that the Saudis have with Israel will continue, said Umar Karim, an expert on Saudi politics at the University of Birmingham, noting that the Israeli occupation of the West Bank remained more of a barrier to Saudi recognition than differences over Iran. The Saudi leadership is engaging in more than one way to secure its national security.
Saudi Aramco billboard (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Saudi oil giant Aramco has announced record profits of $161billion (133 billion) for 2022, equivalent to 134billion, after soaring energy prices and bigger volumes.

The increase represents a 46.5 per cent rise on last year for energy firm Aramco.

Aramco also declared a dividend of $19.5bn (16 billion) for the October to December quarter of 2022, most of which will go to the Saudi government in the first quarter of this year, which owns nearly 95 per cent of the shares in the company.

Aramcos oil processing facility (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

It comes as energy prices spiked following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Brent crude oil, the benchmark oil price, now trades at around $82 (68) a barrel. Prices exceeded $120 (99) a barrel last March and June.

Aramco rode the wave of high energy prices in 2022, said Robert Mogielnicki of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

It would have been difficult for Aramco not to perform strongly in 2022.

In a statement on Sunday, Aramco said the company results were underpinned by stronger crude oil prices, higher volumes sold and improved margins for refined products.

Aramcos president and CEO Amin Nasser said: Given that we anticipate oil and gas will remain essential for the foreseeable future, the risks of underinvestment in our industry are real - including contributing to higher energy prices.

Mr Nasser said the company will expand oil, gas and chemicals production and invest in new lower-carbon technologies to address those challenges.

Aramco is the worlds second-most valuable company after Apple and is a major emitter of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

In August last year, Aramco said its profits jumped 90 per cent in the second quarter compared to the same time last year, helping its half-year earnings reach nearly $88 billion (73 billion).

Aramco said profits were helped by higher crude oil prices and volumes sold, as well as higher refining margins.

The vast oil reserves belonging to Saudi Arabia are among the cheapest to pump and produce in the world.

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Amnesty Internationals secretary general Agnes Callamard expressed concern at the high profits. She said: It is shocking for a company to make a profit of more than $161bn in a single year through the sale of fossil fuel - the single largest driver of the climate crisis.

She added: It is all the more shocking because this surplus was amassed during a global cost-of-living crisis and aided by the increase in energy prices resulting from Russias war of aggression against Ukraine.

Other energy firms have also reported high profits recently. Americas ExxonMobil made $55.7billion (45 billion), and Britains Shell reported $39.9billion (33 billion).

In a separate development on Sunday, Iran said its oil exports had reached their highest level since the re-imposition of US sanctions in 2018 by president Donald Trump when he pulled the US out of a landmark nuclear deal five years ago.

Oil Minister Javad Owji said exports increased by 83 million barrels in 2022 compared with the previous 12 months. In Iran, a new year starts in March.

Analysts say the rise is due to greater shipments to Iranian allies China and Venezuela.
The proceeds from the sale will be donated to help animals

The book, called Saving Four-Paws (and Humans) in Ukraine, contains stories about pets and their loving owners who fled the war, and about the volunteers helping them. It went on sale on March 10.

The collection of inspiring stories, all with happy endings, feature cats, dogs, their owners and volunteers who were forced to evacuate from the war, while supporting each other.

The stories feature, among many, two women managed to evacuate 47 cats from Kyiv to Germany at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion; Soldiers and their dogs at the cutting edge of the war; A couple who rescued pets from abandoned locked apartments; A lady who has over 60 dogs; Cats who warmed up and calmed down their owners in the most despair; and a girl who slept better thanks to her puppy.

Save Pets of Ukraine

It is also about people who take care daily of lots of pets who were left alone on the streets  about people who rescue pets, who in return rescue these caring people.

The book aims to draw attention to the issue of stray animals in Ukraine, the number of which has grown significantly in the past year. According to a survey, this number has increased by 20-30% in the rear areas and by 100% or more in the regions near the front line.

Read also: Stepan the Cat from Kharkiv raises $10,000 dollars to help animals in Ukraine

In total, 25,799 dogs and 19,473 cats are under the care of shelters and volunteers. The survey was conducted by the Socioinform, an independent center of sociological research, at the request of Kormotech, the largest Ukrainian manufacturer of cat and dog food, which founded the national initiative Save Pets of Ukraine in 2022.

Read also: Ukrainian emergency service dogs do their part in securing the nation

The book also presents stories about the adoption of pets that might inspire readers. After all, the adoption of stray animals into families is the best and most humane way to reduce the number of animals in shelters and on the streets. For example, a few weeks before the book's publication, when an editor of a national TV channel learned about it, he made an appointment for an interview to adopt a cat.

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All proceeds from the book Saving Four-Paws (and Humans) in Ukraine will be used to help dog and cat shelters. The price of the book is a donation of UAH 200 ($5.45) or more. The book is distributed via Save Pets of Ukraine website or the initiative's social media.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
CARACAS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed his optimism about integrating Latin America and the Caribbean and affirmed his country's commitment to various regional cooperation mechanisms.

"We are experiencing a second progressive wave in Latin America. We are very attentive to the evolution of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the reactivation of the Union of South American Nations," Maduro wrote Saturday on Twitter after an interview with Radio La Pizarra.

"Venezuela is advancing by leaps and bounds in consolidating strategic alliances with sister nations," he said during the interview.

Noting that he is "optimistic about the future," Maduro detailed "the recovery of bilateral meetings and political, economic and commercial agreements" between Venezuela and the other nations in the region.

Maduro said the new progressive wave in the region is "more diversified and different," adding that "we are taking inevitable and necessary steps toward a freer, more independent, just and egalitarian Latin America." 
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported on March 12 that the results of an investigation showed that the serviceman who was seen in a widely-shared video, executed by his captors after saying the patriotic salute Glory to Ukraine!, was Oleksandr Matsievskyi.

42-year-old Matsievskyi was a sniper of the 163rd battalion of the 119th separate brigade of the territorial defense of Chernihiv Oblast.

According to the SBU, Matsievsky is understood to have been executed on Dec. 30 last year, shortly after his capture near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast.

In the evening of March 12, Matsievskyi was awarded posthumously by President Zelensky as a Hero of Ukraine, the highest individual honor in the country.

On March 6, popular Ukrainian bloggers shared a video in which an unarmed man in a military uniform with a Ukrainian flag was shot by multiple rifle bursts after saying the Ukrainian national salute.

Final confirmation took days as there was initial confusion about the man's identity.

On March 7, Ukraine's 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade tentatively identified the soldier as its serviceman who went missing near Bakhmut on Feb. 3. Shortly after their statement, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces presented the same version in their own post, but added that final confirmation would come after an investigation.
Lizbeth Hernandez is rescued from Casserly Creek after floodwaters carried her truck off of Paulsen Road in Watsonville, Calif., on Friday. (Shmuel Thaler / Associated Press)

Crowds of onlookers stood on the Watsonville side of the Pajaro River Bridge looking at the swollen muddy river rushing below and the closed-off, submerged town of Pajaro on the other side.

Emergency responders  sheriffs deputies, police, county divers and boat rescue crews  were parked along the bridge behind yellow tape.

Police and county sheriff deputies stopped both the curious from crossing, as well as a few people who said they had family members or businesses on the other side.

One man, who declined to provide his name, said his grandmother was stuck on the other side in a flooded home. The police would not let him cross but took down her address and promised to check.

Connie and Victor Alvarez, owner of Alvarez Collison and Paint, said they were trying to get in to check on their business. They said theyd been notified by Monterey County that their business was probably flooded and there was concern that toxic chemicals and solvents could be getting into the water.

As the most recent storm moved out of the region Saturday, this Central Coast community was among the hardest hit. A levee failure on the Pajaro River in Monterey County triggered massive flooding and prompted hundreds of evacuations and dozens of water rescues.

Teresa Fuentes becomes emotional after seeing flood damage to her home on College Road in Watsonville on Friday. (Nic Coury / Associated Press)

So, were here to check, said Connie Alvarez as she waited for a sheriffs deputy to check to see if she had permission to cross.

Javier Gomez, legislative analyst for Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo, pointed to rushing water pouring south and west along the flooded streets of Porter, San Juan and Brooklyn.

The water is still coming in, he said. Its rising.

Three blocks upstream, on the other side of a flooded area, three people were walking east, along the river, carrying large black plastic bags. Gomez said those were probably some of the hundreds of people who didnt heed the evacuation warnings.

I dont know how many stayed, he said. But weve been doing back-to-back rescues all day. Feels like there were at least 100.

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A woman walks through floodwaters in Watsonville on Friday. (Nic Coury / Associated Press)

Monterey County Sheriff Deputy Mike Hampson said many of the same people had been evacuated in January when the river got high.

At that time, they were displaced for about a week, he said, noting that this time its probably going to be longer  as crews will have to clean flooded and contaminated streets and homes and restore electricity to the area.

He said many people who evacuated last night are also now trying to come back to get their pets and belongings. He cant let them in. He said the Fire Department is taking down addresses and checking on animals.

Its hard, he said. You can hear dogs barking in some of the houses.

At the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds, about 150 evacuees from Pajaro were talking, drawing, going through donated items  such as clothing and blankets  and getting ready for what they guessed would be a stay of at least a few weeks.

Andres Garcia, 39, said this was the third time hed been evacuated from Pajaro by the flooding river. He was here in January, and also in 1995  when the town was flooded, even worse than it is now, he said. He added that hes unable to work right now  the mountain bike shop that employs him is also underwater.

Hell probably have to claim unemployment, he said, shaking his head. He, his wife and their 8-year-old daughter left the inundated city early Saturday after they got a knock on the door from a sheriffs deputy urging them to leave.

Garcia said they left before the water got too high, but he has no idea what state his house is in now. His neighbor, Laura Garcia, left after dawn.

She showed a video of water sloshing through her house  lapping against a crib, chairs, dining room set and shelves.

Andres Garcia said many people will be out of work as long as the water stays high  especially people who toil in the now submerged fields around the area.

They cant do anything while its like this, he said.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Seattle police arrested six men that were allegedly involved in selling drugs in downtown Seattle Friday afternoon, said the Seattle Police Department.

The arrests happened in downtown Seattle, Belltown, and Pioneer Square.

Police recovered several grams of drugs, cash, and two guns during the operation.

Officers will keep addressing drug activity and associated crimes to improve the publics safety and adhere to concerns from the community.

Three of the six men were 22 years old, one was 28 years old, one was 42, and the other was 61.

They were arrested for possessing narcotics with the intent to distribute them.

A few of them were arrested for more crimes such as an outstanding warrant, unlawful possession of a gun, and possessing a stolen gun.

All of the men were booked into the King County Jail.

Police recovered the following:

2.5 grams of heroin

4.4 grams of crack cocaine

7.4 grams of methamphetamines

.5 grams of cocaine

75.7 fentanyl powder

154.8 grams of fentanyl pills

166.8 grams of marijuana

Around $2,270 in cash

Two guns
















Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vice President Kamala Harris. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images. Rebecca Blackwell/AP.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has made two calls to Vice President Kamala Harris, who hasn't returned them.

Warren wanted to apologize for a comment that appeared to cast doubt on Harris' future as VP, per CNN.

Some Democrats have expressed anxiety over whether Harris should be on the ticket as VP in 2024.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has called Vice President Kamala Harris twice to apologize for an offhand remark about the upcoming 2024 election, but reportedly Harris hasn't called Warren back.

The perceived vice presidential snub came after Warren gave a radio interview in January in which she was dodgy about endorsing Harris as the VP candidate as President Joe Biden signaled his intent to seek reelection, CNN reported.

"I really want to defer to what makes Biden comfortable on his team," Warren told Boston Public Radio when asked about Harris, shortly after enthusiastically endorsing Biden.

She added: "I've known Kamala for a long time. I like Kamala. I knew her back when she was an attorney general, and I was still teaching and we worked on the housing crisis together, so we go way back. But they need  they have to be a team, and my sense is they are  I don't mean that by suggesting I think there are any problems. I think they are."

Within days, Warren issued a statement saying that she "fully" supports a Biden-Harris 2024 ticket "and never intended to imply otherwise," Boston Public Radio reported.

A source close to Harris told CNN that the incident was "pretty insulting." Warren, however, has not been able to speak with the vice president since, the outlet reported. Instead, Warren has only communicated with Harris' chief of staff, Lorraine Voles, who returned Warren's call in lieu of the vice president, CNN reported.

The feud joins a list of other infractions made by those within the Democratic party who have, in the eyes of Harris' staff, snubbed her performance and abilities.

In February, several Democrats from the White House and congress told The New York Times they had lost hope in Harris, who they felt failed to rise to the occasion of her office.

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Months before that, Biden himself hinted at tensions when he was quoted as telling a close friend that Harris was a "work in progress" in Chris Whipple's book "Fight of his Life," Business Insider previously reported. At the time, according to Whipple, Biden was annoyed that First Gentleman Doug Emhoff had complained about Harris' policy assignments.

Representatives for Warren and Harris did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on Sunday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Form 1040 for 2022 income taxes

My 90-year-old mother's health got to the point where she was no longer ambulatory and could not take care of herself. An orthopedic surgeon told her she would need assisted living. If a doctor declares it, is the cost of assisted living deductible on an income tax return? S.P., snail mail

The above scenario and question lead us to point out some of the unique issues that can challenge taxpayers as they age. This week's column will focus on income tax ramifications for seniors and, in some situations, their children.

Tax Talk:High deductible health plans offer employees some benefits and a few burdens

Here's a checklist of some income tax items seniors (and their children) should be considering:

1. Do I still need to file federal or state income tax returns after I retire? (Short Answer is YES, because there are several provisions that specifically pertain to taxpayers who are at least 65 years old).

2. Can I still contribute to an IRA? (Short Answer is YES).

3. Do the contribution amounts and deductions change as I age? (Short Answer is check out Publication 554, Tax Guide for Seniors).

4. Does it make sense to itemize deductions?

5. Medical costs  which of these payments are deductible?

6. Can I take my parent as a dependent on my tax return?

7. Any special tax credits available for the elderly and/or their children? (Short answer is YES and Publication 554 cited above is helpful).

8. If I am no longer working and no payroll taxes are being withheld, do I need to make quarterly estimated payments? (Short answer is YES).

Because each of the above questions could fill several of our weekly columns, we'll address the items where a "Short Answer" is not provided.

Farm and Food:Paying the price for being sick, old or poor in rural America

SP's mother's medical expenses will come into play only if Mom's itemized deductions (Note: in addition to medical, they typically include state income and property taxes, charitable contributions, and mortgage interest) are higher than her standard deduction (i.e., $14,700 for Mom by herself; $28,700 if Mom and Dad are filing jointly in 2022, assuming both are over 65). Mom's medical expenses must be more than 7.5% of her Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). It's likely that assisted living expenses will exceed the 7.5% threshold, while IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses provides a pretty exhaustive list of items (including capital expenditure) eligible for itemized deduction treatment.

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The IRS requires two tests to be passed for "qualified long-term care services" (like assisted living) to be included in medical expenses. Namely: The expenses are (1) required by a "chronically ill individual and (2) provided pursuant to a plan of care prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner.

To qualify as "chronically ill" (using the previous 12 months as a time horizon), a licensed health care practitioner must have certified (in writing) that the individual either is unable to perform at least two activities of daily living (ADL) without substantial assistance (Note: ADL are eating, toileting, transferring, bathing, dressing and continence) OR the individual requires substantial supervision due to severe cognitive impairment.

How about taking a parent as a dependent? There are rules for both the parent (i.e., typically must be single, pass citizenship and relational tests, and have gross taxable income under $4,400 in 2022) and the child (i.e., must provide over half of their parent's support for the year). The support total includes all money spent on support, including food stamps, housing assistance and other government assistance. If the parent is mentally incapable of caring for themselves, the child may be eligible for a dependent care credit. Details are available in Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses.

Rick Klee

Rick Klee served as the tax director at the University of Notre Dame from 1998 through August 2019. A retired CPA, Klee is a graduate of Notre Dame. You can contact him at rklee@nd.edu.

Ken Milani

Ken Milani is a professor of accountancy at Notre Dame where he served as the faculty coordinator of the Notre Dame Tax Assistance Program. Contact him at milani.1@nd.edu.

E-mail questions to either.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Seniors face unique concerns regarding income taxes
(Reuters) -The managers of Silicon Valley Bank's investment banking arm, SVB Securities, are exploring ways to buy the collapsed lender back from its parent company, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday.

SVB Securities Chief Executive Officer Jeff Leerink and his team are seeking help to finance a potential management buyout of the business, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Silicon Valley Bank and SVB Securities did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

There is no certainty that a deal will be reached and other potential buyers could also emerge for the unit, Bloomberg said.

On Friday, startup-focused lender SVB Financial Group became the largest bank to fail since the 2008 financial crisis.

California banking regulators closed the bank, which did business as Silicon Valley Bank, and appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver for the later disposition of its assets.

Earlier on Saturday, SVB Securities said its business operations would not be directly impacted by the FDIC taking control of its parent company. "SVB Securities is financially stable and will continue to operate as usual," Leerink said in a statement.

SVB Financial Group is working with an investment bank and a law firm to find buyers for its other assets, which include SVB Securities, Reuters reported on Friday, adding that these assets could attract competitors and private equity firms.

(Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh and Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; editing by Grant McCool and Paul Simao)
Silicon Valley Bank's implosion sent shockwaves through startups. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Silicon Valley Bank's sudden implosion came as a surprise for both investors and employees.

On LinkedIn, staffers say they're "proud" of where they worked and "heartbroken" over its demise.

Hussin Baig says he's "thankful" but also "confused" because he "grew up" at Silicon Valley Bank.

An employee says he's feeling "anxious, sad, and confused" following Silicon Valley Bank's collapse because he "grew up" working there.

In a LinkedIn post Friday, Hussin Baig  who says he's worked in the bank's global treasury sales department since 2015  said it'd been a "a difficult day for all of us at SVB."

That's the day Silicon Valley Bank was taken over by federal regulators at the FDIC. It's the largest US bank collapse since 2008.

Only last month, Silicon Valley Bank ranked among the top 20 in Forbes' latest list of best US banks. Its sudden implosion was a shock to both employees and investors, many of whom are now scrambling to raise cash.

Baig wrote on LinkedIn: "I remember my first day on the job in 2015, newly engaged and eager to blaze a trail for my career. Eight years later, marriage, two beautiful kids, I reflect on today and I can't help but feel nothing else but thankful."

He's one of many Silicon Valley Bank employees expressing how they feel on LinkedIn. Many say they're "proud" of where they worked and are "heartbroken" about its demise.

Dan Allred, who says he's worked at Silicon Valley Bank for more than 20 years, wrote on LinkedIn: "We built something truly great, not just a bank and a brand, but real relationships that I know will endure."

Jaquelynne Elliot, who says she's a managing director of the bank in Utah, wrote: "There are no words to adequately describe the emotional turmoil of the past 48 hours. It has been gut wrenching. I am heartbroken."

She added: "I will forever be grateful for the help SVB provided to my family after my mom had her stroke and for the IVF benefits that allowed us to bring our sweet Lucy into the world after years of heart-wrenching losses."

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Ilya Klets, who says he's "loved" working at Silicon Valley Bank over the past three years, asked: "How do you describe your feelings when your Family Home burns down in less than 48 hours?"

The FDIC has offered Silicon Valley Bank staffers 45 days of employment at 1.5 times their salary, according to an email seen by Reuters.

Workers can expect further details about benefits and healthcare over the weekend, per the news agency.

Silicon Valley Bank, Baig, Allred, Elliot, and Klets did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
As Japan moves to push ahead with dumping nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, local residents are expressing their anger and opposition.







Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Silicon Valley Bank was shut down by regulators on Friday. Getty Images

Silicon Valley Bank workers received bonuses just hours before the bank collapsed, CNBC reported.

CNBC's sources said the payments were for work done by staff in 2022.

The bank usually paid annual bonuses on the second Friday of March, per the report.

Silicon Valley Bank workers were paid annual bonuses just hours before the bank collapsed, according to a report by CNBC.

The payments were for 2022, unnamed sources told the outlet, and had been processed before regulators shut the bank down as it usually paid bonuses on the second Friday of March each year.

The report didn't say how much the payouts totaled, but according to the website Glassdoor, bonuses range from just under $12,000 for associates to up to about $140,000 for managing directors. Other roles could get as little as $2,263.

SVB employees in other countries will receive their bonuses later this month, Axios reported, as the bank's non-US operations have not been affected.

The bank's CEO, Greg Becker, sent a two-minute video to employees Friday, telling them he no longer made decisions amid the collapse, per CNBC.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) took control of SVB Friday after California regulators shut it down when a failed $2.3 billion capital raise sent its stock crashing.

The FDIC emailed an unknown number of SVB employees, offering them employment for the next 45 days, Bloomberg reported. The bank had 8,553 staff as of December, according to its annual filing.

According to a 2019 Bloomberg report, SVB employees were paid an average of $250,683, making the bank the highest-paying publicly traded bank the previous year. Per Glassdoor's latest update on March 9, the highest-paid role at SVB was managing director with a salary of $583,566.

The collapse  the biggest US bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis  has left hundreds of startups in limbo as they try to continue operating while their cash remains locked up.

Silicon Valley Bank didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
HONG KONG (Reuters) -Over a dozen Hong Kong-listed companies have stepped forward to say they had little or no exposure to Silicon Valley Bank, the failed U.S. lender which has roiled investors and markets globally.

Startup-focussed SVB Financial Group, which did business as Silicon Valley Bank, collapsed on Friday in the largest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis. U.S. officials have stepped in to stem financial fallout, saying that all customers will have access to their deposits starting on Monday.

Chinese companies are making efforts to reassure clients and investors as the collapse of the U.S. bank could have a negative psychological impact on China's markets, since many tech start-ups, especially those with dollar funding, have opened U.S. accounts at SVB.

On Saturday, SVB's Chinese joint venture with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank said it has a sound corporate structure and an independently operated balance sheet.

Firms scrambled through Sunday to Monday to release statements on the extent of their exposure or to distance themselves from the bank.

China-based drug developer Beigene Ltd said it has uninsured cash deposits held at the bank representing 3.9% of its last reported total cash and cash equivalents. It also said it did not expect the developments to impact its operations.

Mobile advertising platform Mobvista Inc said it has deposit accounts with the bank with a balance of $430,000 and that the accounts represent a minimal portion of cash and cash equivalents.

Six Hong Kong-listed companies, mostly Chinese pharmaceutical firms also over the weekend disclosed cash deposits at Silicon Valley Bank.

Brii Biosciences Limited revealed it had the highest percentage of cash and bank balances at SVB, at less than 9%. It did not provide a monetary figure for the deposits.

"Notwithstanding the closure of SVB, the existing cash and bank balances of the company continue to be sufficient to meet its working capital, capital expenditures and material cash requirements from known contractual obligations for the next three years," Brii Biosciences said.

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Broncus Holding Corporation said it held $11.8 million at SVB, representing around 6.5% of its total cash.

CStone Pharmaceuticals, Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited and Jacobio Pharmaceuticals Group Co said in different statements they had less than 0.2-0.5% of their total cash at SVB.

CANbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc said the amount of cash deposited with SVB is "immaterial and is generally within the amount guaranteed by the FDIC accordingly", without giving any figures.

Ascentage Pharma Group International said in a filing on Sunday is had not had any business dealings with SVB, while tycoon Pan Shiyi, co-founder and former chairman of commercial property developer SOHO China, said on his Weibo account that he had never opened an account or deposited at the bank.

(Reporting by Clare Jim and Bernard Orr; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Lincoln Feast)
Dave Constantine of Durand carves a turkey out of a block of basswood in his workshop. In February, Constantine was inducted into the Grand National Custom Call Competition Hall of Fame.

DURAND - As sunlight streams through a cobalt sky and warms the early March afternoon, a seasonal rhythm is playing out in the Chippewa River valley.

A trio of longbeards has broken from their bachelor winter tendencies and joined a flock of 20 hen wild turkeys picking for grain in a farm field outside Durand. It won't be long before the toms start to strut and display in the birds' annual mating season.

On the river, ice floes break and jostle in the current. Soon the Chippewa will be dominated by soft water.

And in a workshop set in a nearby hardwood stand, Dave Constantine of Durand, one of America's preeminent turkey call makers and wildlife carvers, sits at a bench and chisels life into a block of basswood.

"It's coming," Constantine says, nodding to the sunny landscape and changing season out the workshop window. "I've got a turkey tag in April and I can't wait. For now, I've got a few more things to finish in here."

Constantine grew up in Durand but saw his first wild turkey in Hawaii

Life in this rural stretch of Wisconsin has been marked by these early spring events for several decades.

But it wasn't always so. In fact, the restoration of the wild turkey to Wisconsin and Constantine's carving career share a similar timeline.

The wild turkey is one of the modern conservation success stories in Wisconsin. After being wiped out by unregulated hunting and habitat loss, the native bird was brought back thanks to a reintroduction effort begun in the 1970s by the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Department of Natural Resources. The birds are now found in all 72 counties.

Contantine, 70, grew up in Durand but didn't see a wild turkey until he prematurely ended his college studies in wildlife management and art in 1971 and traveled west to Hawaii.

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As hard as it may be to believe, the Aloha State had wild turkeys (Rio Grande subspecies transplanted from the continental U.S.) before Wisconsin's flock was restored.

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Constantine worked as a commercial fisherman in Hawaii and also hunted turkeys and other game.

"I'll never forget the sight of those birds up in big, tropical trees," Constantine said.

Turkey call making has a centuries-old history

After a couple years in Hawaii, Constantine returned to Durand where he married his wife Nancy and embarked on a career first as a butcher and later as a produce buyer.

But art was his passion. He continued to produce pieces, mostly wildlife carvings and paintings, and in time his work became recognized for its originality. Local conservation groups enthusiastically bought his creations to sell at fundraising banquets.

For those first years Constantine didn't quit his day job. But he made a pact with Nancy that if he reached a point where he earned as much doing art as he did in the grocery business he'd quit the 9 to 5.

That happened In 1983, the same year Wisconsin held its first spring turkey hunting season.

"I was happy and scared all at once," Constantine says, shaking his head at the momentous change 40 years ago. "It's turned out to be a blessing."

Constantine focused his talents and gifts on decorative turkey call making.

Considered one of the true American folk arts, turkey call making has a centuries-old history but is now being rediscovered by sportsmen and collectors.

Woodworking tools line a bench in Dave Constantine's workshop.

Constantine says he was inspired by James Yule, a decorative call maker from Kentucky.

In my early years, James would come to a contest and lay a call on the table and it was a hands-down winner, Constantine said. I wanted to be able to make a call that could create that level of interest.

Constantine's call making awards include top national honors

It didn't take long for Constantine to establish a reputation as one of the nation's best.

He became an annual award winner at the Grand National Call Making Competition held in conjunction with the National Wild Turkey Federation convention, now held each year in Nashville, Tenn.

He declines to say how many individual national awards he's won, but it's in the several hundreds.

And he's won the Earl Mickel Award, given annually to the top call maker at the Grand National event, an unprecedented 11 times. He also won the group's callmaker of the year award - given before the Mickel was created - three times.

His entries earned about $500,000 for the NWTF when auctioned off at the annual convention.

It's not uncommon for Constantine to spend 300 or more hours on a single call. His 2012 grand prize winner called "Snow Birds" depicted Merriam's wild turkeys walking through a snowy, western landscape. It was hand-carved and hand-painted and included American black walnut, red cedar, poplar, Russian linden, fossilized mule deer antler, elk antler, western whitetail antler and silver.

Not only was it a beautiful, original work of art. It was a functional turkey call.

He is the rare combination of artist, wood carver and turkey hunter that can envision a call and execute it with extraordinary detail, Chris Karinja, a call making judge, said about Constantine.

This decorative hand-carved turkey call by Dave Constantine won best of show at the National Wild Turkey Federation 2012 call-making competition.

When a film was produced in 2012 and 2013 about turkey call makers, of course it included Constantine. "Grand National Glory" is a full-length documentary that details the lives of three competitive, decorative, turkey-call carvers as they prepared for the 2013 Grand National Call Making Contest.

The producers described Constantine as The Grand Champ of Grand Nationals and a long-time legendary carver who has won the highest honor of Best in Show at the annual event almost ten times in his competition call-making career. Enough said."

The number is now 14. But their reverence for Constantine's call-making abilities is on target.

Constantine inducted into the inaugural class of the Grand National Custom Call Making Hall of Fame

This year Constantine's trip to the Grand Nationals in Nashville produced two new developments.

On Feb. 17 he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Grand National Custom Call Making Hall of Fame.

And the organizers of the Grand National event created the Dave Constantine Award, bestowed to the top amateur decorative call maker.

"I was very surprised and honored," Constantine said. "It's been a long road and I never saw this coming."

Several years ago he stopped entering the decorative turkey call making competitions. He said he didn't want to prevent less experienced carvers from entering.

However this year he did enter a different category at the Nashville event: wildlife carving. And to no one's surprise he took first place with a creation that depicts a brown trout in a stream. The work also earned him Grand National 2023 wildlife artist of the year.

Constantine says he plans to keep carving as long as his mind and body will allow. This spring he'll finish a few last projects and then take more time to be outdoors, the source of his inspiration.

He's begun to teach, too, and holds seminars in his workshop a few times a year.

"I've been blessed by making a living as an artist," Constantine said. "I'd be gratified if I can help others do the same."

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's Dave Constantine inducted into call making hall of fame
Wednesday co-stars Jenna Ortega and Fred Armisen discovered theyre frickin twins in an SNL remake of The Parent Trap.

Ortega, who hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend, got a rundown on the Lindsay Lohan movie remake from her director (played by Bowen Yang), who explained why he kept a scene where Hallie and Annie find out about their shared parents.

A crew member on the set (played by Armisen) got tasked as a fill-in for the body double and brought a load of not-safe-for-work dialogue along with his part.

You are so annoying, said Ortega after the two debated on whether to keep the lights on in a cabin.

And Im starting to think youre a real bitch, replied Armisen, who claimed his language was part of a little off the cuff thing.

The two, following remarks that poked fun at the age gap between the actors, later brought together their pieces of a ripped-up photo to reveal their parents: Vacation actors Ed Helms and Leslie Mann.

So they just split us up? Why would they do that to us, we gotta kill em, Armisen joked.

You can watch more from The Parent Trap sketch below.

Related...
NBC

Six months after making history by becoming SNLs first out nonbinary cast member, Molly Kearney scored some of the nights laughs during their very first Weekend Update appearance Saturday night.

Appearing as Randy McNally, Tennessees Lieutenant Governor who is staunchly anti-drag show but apparently very pro liking racy pics of young gay men and trans women on Instagram, Kearney apologized for being late to the show. I spent all day printing out Mapquest directions, Kearneys McNally told co-anchor Colin Jost, adding: I dont know if you know this, but I am not good at the internet.

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally stops by the Update desk pic.twitter.com/a4UC00EjfH  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) March 12, 2023

While Jost attempted to get some further explanation on some of McNallys more questionable internet activitylike commenting on a semi-nude photo of a 20-year-old gay mans photo that you can turn a rainy day into rainbows and sunshinethe Tennessee lawmaker admitted that he didnt think people would find out because I used a screen name. That name? Lieutenant Governor McNally.

When Jost persisted, pointing out that McNally commented three hearts and three fire emojis on this naked photo of the same young gay man, Kearney explained, I dont discriminate. I comment on photos of all orientations. Orientations like: from the side, from the front, from the back. There does not have to be a butt, but it helps.

Jost did his best not to break while Kearney flirted with him, insisting that youre claiming these interactions are innocent, but it doesnt look good. McNally assured the co-anchor that he is just looking out for the little guy. Joe Average. Every Tom, Dick, and Hairless.

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Ancient gold disc showing the worlds oldest inscription referring to Norse god Odin National Museum of Denmark

Danish scientists have found the oldest-known reference to the Norse god Odin.

It is the first piece of evidence that Odin was worshipped as early as the 5th century.

One of the experts who made the discovery said "I can't bring my arms down in pure ecstasy."

Danish scientists have found the oldest-known reference to the Norse god of war, Odin, on an ancient gold disc.

The research team from the National Museum in Copenhagen announced that a gold disc discovered in 2020 is unequivocal evidence that shows Odin  one of the supreme gods of the Nordic pagan religions  was worshiped as early as 401.

Odin was also the god of war and death who ruled over Valhalla, a majestic hall dedicated to those killed in battle, according to Nordic religion.

He was predominantly worshipped by Norse and later Viking kings, warrior chieftains, and their men, according to the National Museum of Denmark.

The disc carries the inscription "He is Odin's man." It is believed to refer to the figure portrayed on the disc, an unknown king or great man, who may have had the nickname "Jaga" or "Jagaz," said the National Museum.

There is a recognizable swastika symbol on the disc, which was a sign of well-being and long life to the pagans of northern Europe and Scandinavia.

National Museum's runologist and script researcher Lisbeth Imer, who discovered the disc along with linguist Krister Vasshus, said: "It is the first time in world history that Odin's name is mentioned, and it takes Norse mythology all the way back to the beginning of the 4th century."

Vasshus described It as a "huge discovery" and a moment of "pure ecstasy."

"This type of inscription is extremely rare, we find one maybe every 50 years, and this time it has turned out to be world history," said Vasshus.

The disc was part of a trove discovered by an amateur metal detectorist in 2020. It included 2.2 pounds of gold medallions the size of saucers and Roman coins made into jewelry. It was unearthed in the village of Vindelev, central Jutland, and dubbed the Vindelev Hoard. Historians believe it was buried more than 1,500 years ago.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Four crew members aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule splashed down off Florida's Gulf coast on Saturday, returning safely from a five-month science mission on the International Space Station.

The SpaceX capsule, dubbed Endurance, parachuted into waters off the coast of Tampa just after 9 p.m. EST (0200 GMT) carrying two NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and one Russian cosmonaut after a roughly nine-hour flight from the orbital research lab, a NASA-SpaceX webcast showed.

The Crew-5 team launched from Florida on Oct. 6 to conduct routine science aboard the station. It included cosmonaut Anna Kikina, 38, who became the first Russian to fly on an American spacecraft in 20 years, and NASA flight commander Nicole Aunapu Mann, 45, the first Native American woman sent into orbit.

NASA pilot Josh Cassada, 49, and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, 59, a veteran of four previous spaceflights, were also aboard.

The Crew Dragon spacecraft, a gumdrop-shaped pod designed to launch atop SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets, undocked from the space station early on Saturday morning and re-entered Earth's atmosphere around 8:11 p.m. EST (0111 GMT Sunday), enduring frictional heat that sent temperatures outside the capsule soaring to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,930 degrees Celsius).

Two sets of parachutes deployed to brake the capsule's descent to 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers per hour) just before splashdown.

The mission was SpaceX's sixth crewed flight for NASA since its Crew Dragon spacecraft first flew humans in May 2020, when it restored crewed launches from American soil after nearly a decade of U.S. dependence on Russia's Soyuz program for space station flights.

Kikina, the only woman in Russia's cosmonaut corps, was the first Russian to fly on an American spacecraft under a renewed agreement signed in 2022 between NASA and Russia's space agency to conduct joint flights. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, currently on the station, launched there on a Soyuz rocket in September.

(Reporting by Joey Roulette; additional reporting by Gram Slattery; Editing by Diane Craft and Jamie Freed)
Mindy Dropsey talks about her classroom during an open house tribute tour of Hillsdale Elementary School.

VERMILLION TWP.  Over her 28-year tenure at Hillsdale Elementary School, Missy Dropsey taught first, second and third grades, and she always kept the same classroom.

It's the room her dad, Robert Gosnell, sat in as a first grader, she said.

"It's a special place," Dropsey said as she recalled memories while touring the building on Saturday during an open house.

The halls of the school were densely packed at the first of three building tributes scheduled before the opening of Hillsdale Local School District's new facility.

Ashland remembers early school districtsFlurry of consolidations establishes familiar districts

Alumni recalled their own experiences at the school, and many also reminisced about parents and grandparents who attended before them.

Emily Van Gilder, who is excited for the new school, said three generations of her family attended school in this building.

It started out serving first through 12th grade after it was built in 1928, and ultimately became a preschool- through fourth-grade building. The 2022-2023 school year is its last year of service.

Former Hillsdale students relive memories during school tour

Visitors take a goodbye tour of the old Hillsdale Elementary building on Saturday March 11, 2023. Hillsdale Local will open a new facility next school year.

Van Gilder's grandfather was a member of the class of 1951.

Her father, Rob Van Gilder, class of '88, said his daughter sent a text about the open house. He now lives in Montana and had already planned a trip to Ohio that coincided with the event.

"Everything in this section looks pretty much the same," he said as he lingered in one of the hallways.

Trevor Miller said his daughter Aria's first and only year at Hillsdale Elementary puts her in the same kindergarten classroom he attended.

The new building is "probably a good thing," he said while acknowledging, "there is a lot of emotion tied to this building."

The new school "is beautiful; it's gorgeous," said Dropsey. However, "My heart strings are very attached here.

"All three of my kids graduated from here," she said, going on to become a doctor, a mental health counselor and a teacher. "We are putting out some really special, wonderful kids."

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"I'm glad we were able to do a day like today," said Principal Tom Williams, calling the Hillsdale community close-knit and pointing out a lot of people visiting are connecting with best friends.

School History was on display in the gym during the Hillsdale Elementary School open house on Saturday.

Jacqueline Workman reminded a friend of a room that used to be a study hall when they were sophomores.

"This used to be the everything school," Workman said, referring to when it housed all grade levels.

One study hall memory particularly stood out to her. She was there when it was announced over the PA system  still attached to some of the walls in the building  that President John F. Kennedy had been shot.

"Remember when you rang the fire bell?", a friend asked Beverly Owens, who attended Hillsdale Elementary, as did her children.

Owens said she accidentally set it off when she was putting on her boots, but didn't recall getting in trouble over the incident.

Old class photos, sweet and funny memories shared by all

Old class photos and other historical items were on display during an open house tour of Hillsdale Elementary, one of three goodbye building tours planned before the district opens a new facility next school year. A middle school tour is planned for April 23 and the high school building tour is May 6.

Like others exploring the building and its many rooms and memories, Owens said, "A couple of times I got tears."

Deb Kyle came with her mother, Betty Harner, a former secretary in the building, and her father William Harner, who was a physical education teacher.

Attending school when they were staff members there, she said, the news of any bad behavior on her part "would have been home before I was."

Gene Yeater said he began his career in the building in 1953 as an industrial arts teacher.

"I was the last full-time principal in the building before they opened the new high school," said Yeater, who later served as a principal and a superintendent in the district and then as a county superintendent.

Former principal Gene Yeater talks with Lauren Weaver and former school board member Ted Sours during the Hillsdale Elementary School open house on Saturday March 11, 2023.

His children and grandchildren carried on the family legacy as students at Hillsdale.

"I've been blessed to be able to work in this location without ever moving," Yeater said.

On Saturday, memories surrounded Yeater, who pointed to his sister in one of dozens of copies of class pictures scattered throughout the building.

"I remember building that," he said, looking at a display cabinet.

Former Principal Gene Yeater sits in the office at Hillsdale Elementary. The building was constructed in 1928.

Hillsdale Elementary students work to preserve old building's history

The entire school population has been in on the task of preserving the building's history.

Every student drew a picture of it, and their pictures were copied on papers detailing the history of the building and distributed to guests at the open house.

Student drawings of Hillsdale Elementary line the hallway walls as former students and staff toured the building on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

All of the memorabilia displayed was the work of staff, said Williams, who has been principal for 11 years and has served in the district for 20 years. Most of the staff members in the building have worked at Hillsdale for at least 15 years, he said.

A then-and-now cafeteria exhibit reminded visitors when a paddle was the accepted form of discipline, having given way to missing recess and losing points. Electric typewriters and overhead projectors used to be "cool technology."

Asked about the imposing teachers' desks that used to dominate classrooms, Dropsey said, "Nobody has (one) anymore. We don't ever sit at them."

Guests remarked to one another about their visits as they exited the building.

"Lots of memories," one said. "Good memories."

Two more open houses are scheduled:

Hillsdale Middle School: 2-4 p.m. on April 23, 144 N. High St., Jeromesville;

Hillsdale High School: 9 a.m. - noon on May 6, 485 Township Road 1902, Jeromesville.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Former students, staff bid fond goodbye to Hillsdale Elementary School
ROCKLEDGE, Fla.  NASA's Crew-5 mission wrapped up Saturday night in the Gulf of Mexico with the splashdown return of a SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying a crew of four astronauts.

After nearly six months in space, NASA's Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Japan's Koichi Wakata, and Russia's Anna Kikina departed the International Space Station at 2:20 a.m. EST Saturday before blazing through the atmosphere, their heat shield enduring temperatures up to 3,500 degrees.

Where was the SpaceX capsule splashdown?

The nearly 19-hour return trip concluded with a parachute-assisted splashdown of the Dragon "Endurance" capsule off the coast of Tampa at 9:02 p.m. ET.

This screen capture from the webcast of NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 return shows the Dragon Endurance spacecraft in the Gulf of Mexico during recovery efforts with a crew of four astronauts on Saturday, March 11.

As the 17,000-pound capsule bobbed in an area cordoned off by the Coast Guard, a SpaceX recovery team approached to confirm that no toxic propellants were present. The capsule was then rigged up and hoisted onto the deck of SpaceX's custom-built recovery vessel named "Shannon."

Mission was 'successful'

The crew would complete medical checkouts aboard the vessel before boarding a helicopter destined for the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From there, they travel home. For astronauts Mann, Cassada, and Wakata, the trip's final leg returns them to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, while Kikina will return home to Russia.

Splashdown officially completes a mission dedicated to thousands of hours of science experiments and station maintenance.

All four members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 mission, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, left, NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, right, give a thumbs up upon splashdown of the Dragon Endurance capsule in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, March 11, concluding a nearly six-month mission aboard the ISS.

3D-printed rocket?: Second attempt at launch of 3D-printed rocket from Relativity Space scrubbed on Saturday

Nicole Mann, Crew-5 mission commander and first indigenous woman to travel to space, said just after departure: To the teams at NASA and at SpaceX, thank you for an incredible expedition. It has been your tireless effort and attention to detail that have helped make this mission successful."

A Marine Corps colonel, Mann closed her remarks with the motto of the military branch, saying, "It has been an honor to add to the legacy. Semper Fidelis."

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What to know about SpaceX

SpaceX has launched seven crewed missions for NASA, including May 2020's Demo-2 mission, under a multibillion-dollar Commercial Crew Program contract that restored American access to crewed spaceflight after nearly a decade without the space shuttle.

The Crew-5 mission was SpaceX's sixth crewed flight under contract from NASA and eighth overall when including private spaceflights. It also marked the first time since NASA's shuttle program that a Russian cosmonaut flew aboard an American-made spacecraft.

The latest mission, Crew-6, carried NASA's Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, the United Arab Emirates' Sultan Alneyadi, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev to the ISS just over a week ago after launching on March 2. That mission is expected to return in the fall after about a six-month stay.

The moon could have its own time zone: Space officials push to create standard lunar time

Meanwhile, SpaceX's next mission for NASA, the company's 27th cargo resupply mission to the ISS, will also be the next launch from Florida's Space Coast. A Falcon 9 rocket and uncrewed Dragon capsule are slated for liftoff on Tuesday, March 14, at 8:30 p.m. EDT from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.

Follow Jamie Groh on Twitter at @AlteredJamie.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 landing: Splashdown caps six-month ISS mission
Stalker Igor Gorbochov lived in a tent in the woods in order to be close to his victim. (SWNS/North Yorkshire Police)

A stalker has been jailed after moving from Bedfordshire to North Yorkshire to be near his victim  even living in a tent and getting a job at the factory where she worked.

Igor Gorbochov, 41, was caught by police in the woman's house and pretended he was there to change the locks, York Crown Court heard.

He has been jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to stalking and breaching a previous restraining order.

His victim has told how she often stays at friends' houses as she is too scared to be by herself at home, and is seeing a doctor for depression.

Gorbochov had previously been convicted of domestic violence towards the woman and was banned from contacting her.

Read more: Why Gary Lineker migrant row has reopened calls for BBC chairman to resign

Gorbochov followed his victim after she moved to Selby, North Yorkshire, without telling him. (Getty Images)

She moved to Selby, North Yorkshire, without telling him, but he found out where she was, got a job with her employer, and regularly turned up at her house drunk.

He was sacked after the woman showed her manager the restraining order, but Gorbochov stayed in the market town and continued to contact her.

When police arrested Gorbochov on a different matter, he claimed to be living with the woman at her address and was arrested for breaching the restraining order and released on bail.

Read more: Letter envelope posted in Florida arrives at UK care home 80 years later

Despite this, he continued showing up at her house two or three times a week, until he was eventually caught inside the home in October last year.

At the time, he gave police officers a false name and claimed to be changing the locks, the court heard.

"I am very scared to be alone at home and I cannot go to work," the woman said in a personal statement to the court.

"I stay away from home a lot because I am frightened at home. I stay with friends."

Gorbochov's barrister Harry Bradford said the defendant wanted to return to Bedfordshire to work with his brother, be self-reliant, and send money home to his family in Latvia.

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Gorbochov, who has been in custody since his arrest in October, is "fully supportive" of the restraining order remaining in place, his lawyer said.

Read more: Police officers 'using food banks' as they struggle to heat homes and feed families

Judge Simon Hickey said: "You have a poor record of complying with court orders. There is clearly a risk of a danger to the victim in this case.

"In July 2022, you turned up unannounced, and unexpectedly at her address. She wouldn't let you in and asked you to leave. You started living nearby in a tent in a forest."

Gorbochov, who followed proceedings with the help of a Russian interpreter, was jailed for 20 months and his restraining order was extended by five years.

Not only can he not contact the woman or visit her home or workplace, he is also banned from referring to her in any social media posts.
HANOI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is preparing to mark the birth of its 100 millionth citizen next month with a publicity campaign to promote the positive effect of population growth on the economy, Vietnam News Agency reported on Sunday.

According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam had 99.2 million citizens as of April 2022, making it the 15th most populous country in the world and among the third most populous in Southeast Asia.

The country's statistics office said in the face of rising global economic competition, every country is seeking to achieve competitive advantage through human resources.

Thus Vietnam sees the birth of its 100 millionth citizen as "a proud landmark", combined with policies to incentivize economy and investment growth, in raising the national profile among the international community, said the statistics office.

The government has planned a publicity campaign in mid-April, including a parade and a meeting ceremony to welcome the birth of the 100 millionth citizen.

The total fertility rate, the number of children a Vietnamese woman has in her lifetime, was between six and seven until the early 1960s. It declined to 4.8 in 1979 and then continued to decline, reaching the replacement level fertility around two since 2006, according to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. 
A Stockbridge, Georgia, woman was sentenced to more than four years in prison for committing nearly $5 million in disaster-related loan applications in connection with COVID-19.

According to court documents, Nikki Mitchum, 45, tried to receive disaster-related loan benefits by using Small Business Administration (SBA) sponsored Economic Injury Disaster loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Nikki Mitchum and her co-conspirators, including Malik Mitchum, 27, and Jenna Mitchum, 27, of Hampton, submitted fraudulent claims for government benefits in the name of a fake business they said was struggling as a result of the pandemic.

Between March 2020 and May 2021, around 13 fraudulent applications for pandemic-related loan benefits were submitted using Nikki Mitchums information that contained false statements and incorrect info about their income, employment, and claimed businesses.

Nikki Mitchum is connected with 17 fraudulent loan applications submitted by other co-conspirators who paid kickbacks in an approximate amount of $204,000 to the companies owned and operated by Nikki Mitchum.

TRENDING STORIES:

Malik and Jenna Mitchum previously pleaded guilty and were linked to more than $5.5 million in intended loss and caused approximately $1.4 million in actual loss to the United States and participating financial institutions. Malik Mitchum was sentenced to 51 months in prison and Jenna Mitchum was sentenced to 48 months in prison for their respective roles in the conspiracy.

Nikki Mitchum agreed to pay approximately $1.8 million in restitution to the United States for losses from her role in the conspiracy and is linked with intended fraud loss of more than $5.8 million.

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These programs that were defrauded were designed to provide support for small businesses during the pandemic.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Actress Kerry Washington talks about her new Hulu show, UnPrisoned, during South by Southwest on March 11 at Austin Convention Center.

Kerry Washington doesnt need an introduction, but shed like you to meet her latest character, Paige Alexander. Paige  a therapist who is the daughter of a formerly incarcerated man  made a big splash on March 11 at South by Southwest via a 10-minute trailer from the new Hulu show, "UnPrisoned."

"UnPrisoned" is a homegrown story. Show creator and producer Tracy McMillan drew on her relationship with her formerly incarcerated father to create characters Paige and Edwin, played by Delroy Lindo, a daughter-father duo who struggle to establish their new normal in this 30-minute dramedy. Hulu released all eight episodes of Season 1 for streaming on March 10.

Paiges teenage son, played by Faly Rakotohavana, and Paiges childhood self, played by Jordyn McIntosh, are prominent characters, along with Edwins parole officer, Mal, played by Marque Richardson.

More:Exclusive Q&A: Gabriel Luna discusses 'The Last of Us,' Austin roots

Washington joined a panel of actors from the show that Saturday morning to discuss "UnPrisoneds" themes, filming experience and impact with film critic Valerie Complex. These are highlights from their panel that covered race and identity, prison reform and rehabilitation efforts in the United States.

'UnPrisoned' creators hope to spark incarceration reform through humor, humanity

Not everyone in the United States can relate to being in prison or having a family member in prison. Yet, incarceration impacts more people than most think, Washington said.

Eighty million Americans are living with a criminal record, said Washington. So many of us have been part of the system, or loved someone who was in the system, and many people who have experience with the prison system dont speak up about their experiences out of shame.

The showrunners hope to change all of that with their show about Paige and Edwins experience.

America needs to know whats the real cost of our criminal incarceration in this country, McMillan said about the way she told her adapted story through "UnPrisoned." I just knew people would love (my father) if they knew him. They wouldnt know him as a felon, a criminal, theyd know him as a really nice guy."

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This is our collective story, and we havent been telling it, and its just time, Washington added. If we dont get to see our own story, we can believe that our story isnt important, doesnt matter, and isnt worth being told. Your story matters, and you are not alone.

Lindo agreed with Washington and McMillan, calling the appeal of the show a credit to the writers.

All of the writers in the room did such an extraordinary job building out this really special tone that feels so human, Lindo said, because (the show is) funny and human.

More:4 secrets we can tell you about SXSW premiere of Donald Glover's 'Swarm'

Washington praised Lindos impeccable timing and seasoned experience for infusing his portrayal of Edwin Alexander with the charm necessary to help the audience relate to his character.

I knew we had to find an actor who could be sexy, smart, charming, charismatic  but who you could also believe was a career criminal, she said to peals of laughter from the audience.

I hope ('UnPrisoned') leads to policy change, McMillan said. Thats the next step.

Actor Faly Rakotohavana talks about his new show with others from the cast of UnPrisoned on March 11 at South by Southwest.

Racial identity is complex, and the Black experience is diverse

Colorism is a real thing, said Deadline film critic Complex, who moderated the all-Black panel, referencing Hollywoods tendency to favor actors with lighter-colored skin. Was there colorism in mind when casting the show?

There absolutely was a consciousness about race and identity, but not necessarily to have people look a certain way, Washington said, emphasizing there was an openness about what that would look like but with more clarity around racial identification. The writing team deliberately crafted a show narrative where Paige and Edwin are not exact replicas of McMillans personal experience, she said, because McMillan is biracial and Washington is not.

"Even though I was going to take on Tracys story, I was not going to be a biracial woman, Washington said, so she drew on personal examples to find ways to identify with the experience" without presenting herself as a biracial woman.

Every Black person in America is on a journey, and were trying to figure it out in stages, McMillan said.

At one point (Edwin) says (to me), Defending your Blackness to other Black people is one of the Blackest things you can do, Rakotohavana said about his onscreen grandfather.

I have never felt more validated as a result of hearing Lindos line," Rakotohavana said, referencing his light skin as a factor in his audition and casting experiences in the industry. Theres a lot of roles and opportunities that I have missed out on because Im not Black enough,' so to be a part of this show and to have (Edwin) as part of my generational family has definitely helped me in my journey of finding my identity outside of the silver screen.

At its heart, 'UnPrisoned' is a story about everyday people

The thing that was the most powerful (about this show) is the family, McMillan told the audience. Its that family relationship at the center that actually resonates and makes everything else powerful.

I pray we have future episodes, because we have so much more story to tell for this family, Washington said. Please watch ('UnPrisoned'), post about it, call a friend, watch with the people you love. This is how we keep centering families that deserve to be in the spotlight and not marginalized.

More:Robert Downey Jr., sans armor, fights cybercrime at SXSW

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Kerry Washington, Delroy Lindo talk 'UnPrisoned' Hulu show at SXSW
Michael Brochstein / SOPA Images / Shutterstock.com

While the U.S. Supreme Court weighs the legal merits of the Biden administrations federal student loan forgiveness plan, borrowers might wonder what alternative plans are in place in case that one is struck down. The short answer is none  at least in terms of formal alternatives ready to hit the ground running.

Student Loans: Court Allows $6 Billion in Forgiveness Funds To Proceed for 200,000 Borrowers

More: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero

The White House has been so sure that President Joe Bidens forgiveness plan will survive that it is not considering a formal backup plan, Business Insider reported earlier this year. Thats the case even though the original plan has been stifled by legal challenges almost since the day it was announced last August.

Currently, the Supreme Court is weighing lawsuits that call the plan unconstitutional and allege that the HEROES Act  enacted in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks  does not provide authority to grant relief from student loans. Six Republican-led states claim the enactment of Bidens program would harm them financially.

But administration officials  who have tied the COVID-19 pandemic to the HEROES Act to justify canceled student debt  are confident enough in the legal merits of the loan-forgiveness plan that they dont have an alternative in place should SCOTUS rule against them.

We feel confident in our authority under the HEROES Act to take the action that we have taken, Bharat Ramamurti, deputy director of the National Economic Council, said in a press conference several weeks ago. Obviously, the Supreme Court will weigh in on that soon. But we are not deliberating or considering any other kind of alternative approach. Were fully committed to the approach that the Secretary of Education used in this case, and were confident in our legal authority.

As previously reported by GOBankingRates, the Biden administration does have options at its disposal in the event that the forgiveness plan is struck down. But none of these represent a formal backup plan.

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For example, the administration could extend the student loan pause yet again, which would mark the eighth time it has been extended since it first went into effect in March 2020. The most recent extension is set to expire 60 days after either June 30 or whenever the Supreme Court decides on the loan forgiveness plan.

The White House also could turn its focus to other forgiveness options, such as income-driven repayment plans (IDRs). In January, the administration proposed new regulations to reduce federal student loan payments  especially for lower income and middle-income borrowers.

Biden might also decide to reissue the loan forgiveness plan under a different legal authority. Borrower advocates and some student loan legal scholars have encouraged the administration to restart the program under a provision of the Higher Education Act (HEA), which also governs the federal student loan system.

The HEA gives broad authority to the U.S. Secretary of Education to compromise, waive, or release any right, title, claim, lien, or demand associated with federal student loans. One advantage of this option is that its legal authority doesnt rely on a national emergency such as a pandemic.

Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts?

As Business Insider noted, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pushed for taking the HEA a couple of years ago. But the White House seems to be betting heavy on the HEROES Act.

Were confident the (Education) Department has the authority to ensure the financial impacts of the pandemic do not set borrowers up for failure when payments resume, Jordan Matsudaira, deputy under secretary and chief economist at the Education Department, told reporters recently. And when we hopefully prevail, the Biden-Harris team will do everything it takes to make sure every borrower who qualifies for debt relief is able to get it.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: If Student Loan Cancellation Fails, Biden White House Has No Alternative in Place  What Others Are Proposing
Jacquelyn Martin/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Following oral arguments the Supreme Court heard on Feb. 28 about President Joe Bidens student loan relief program, the Justices are now deliberating about the fate of the program and its legality. The decision, which is expected in June, will affect millions of borrowers across the country.

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While the primarily conservative court is believed to strike down the program, one argument might still be in the administrations favor: the lawsuits standing, which the plaintiffs must prove before the Court can move forward with the arguments the case hinges on  whether the program is an executive overreach due to its use of the HEROES Act.

Article 3 standing, at the federal level, means that legal actions cannot be brought on the ground that an individual or group is displeased with a government action or law, according to Cornell Law School. The Supreme Court created a three-part test to determine whether a party has standing to sue, in which the plaintiff must have suffered an injury in fact; there must be a causal connection between the injury and the conduct brought before the court; and it must be likely, rather than speculative, that a favorable decision by the court will redress the injury.

A litigants failure to establish standing to sue may result in dismissal of his distinct claims for relief without a decision on the merits of those claims, according to Congress.

Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar argued that the lawsuits did not have standing, according to a transcript of the oral arguments.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said that the standing article as applied in such a case would allow the political branches to hash this out without interference, you know, from a torrent of lawsuits brought by states and entities and individuals who dont have a real personal stake in the outcome.

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As Business Insider reports, while the justices discussed the other points pertaining to the lawsuits, they spent most of their time on the issue of standing, as this needs to be determined first.

If there are five votes finding that neither of the parties bringing these lawsuits have standing, then the court doesnt have any authority to decide the issue of whether the action was legal here, Abby Shafroth, director of the Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project at the National Consumer Law Center, told Business Insider. That would be a finding that is not within the courts power to decide.

Shafroth added that it could be entirely possible the Supreme Court ends up siding with the plaintiffs, arguing that while the administration did not have constitutional rights to enact the program, the justices will recognize our own limits on authority by dismissing this case for lack of Article Three standing, Business Insider reported.

Once -and if- the standing issue is established, the justices will move to what is at the crux of the debate: the argument that the program is unconstitutional and that the HEROES Act- enacted in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks-does not provides authority to grant relief from student loans.

When the program was announced in August 2022, the Justice Department said in a brief of support of the program that the HEROES Act authorizes the Secretary to address the financial hardship arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic by reducing or canceling the principal balances of student loans for a broad class of borrowers.

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Yet, Judge Mark. T. Pittman, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, argued in his Nov. 10 decision, said that the program was an unconstitutional exercise of Congresss legislative power and must be vacated, according to the court documents.

In this country, we are not ruled by an all-powerful executive with a pen and a phone. Instead, we are ruled by a Constitution that provides for three distinct and independent branches of government, he said according to court filings.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Student Loan Forgiveness Could Succeed In Spite of Executive Overreach  Heres How
Relatives of the mobilised invaders from the Moscow Oblast recorded a video appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, in which they asked for the return of their sons and husbands from the assault units.

Source: "Meduza" regarding the Telegram channel "Mobilizatsia. Novosti".

Details: According to the women, their relatives were mobilised in September 2022. For the next three months, they were trained as gunners. At the end of December, the service members were sent to the combat zone in Ukraine, where they waited for another two months to be armed. After that, relatives say, the mobilised were verbally notified that they were now assault infantry, after which they were transferred to the front line.

Quote from relatives: "Our mobilised men are tossed like cannon fodder to storm fortified areas. Five men against a hundred well-armed enemy men."

More details: The women ask to recall soldiers from the front and provide them with tools and ammunition. At the same time, as usual in such appeals, they do not see anything wrong with their relatives going to a foreign country to seize territory and kill people.

A video appeal of the mobilised from the 580th separate howitzer artillery division appeared online. They said they arrived in the so-called "DPR" on 31 December. On 1 March, they were announced to be seconded to the 114th Assault Infantry Regiment. On 9 March, the first 15 people were sent to the assault. In their appeal, the mobilised asked Putin to "understand this situation" and recall them from the front line.

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Update: HSBC is now buying SVB UK. Full story here. Earlier story continues below.

In the U.S. today, The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. continued the auction process for the beleaguered Silicon Valley Bank, with final bids due by Sunday afternoon, according to Bloomberg.

Any agreed sale may not be known until late Sunday, if at all. Its still possible that no deal will be reached and the bank will become insolvent. SVB had more than $175 billion in deposits and $209 billion in total assets. The FDIC is reportedly attempting to make at least a portion of clients uninsured deposits available from Monday.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Sunday that the government would not bail out Silicon Valley Bank with public money, but added it was concerned about depositors -- the vast majority being tech companies -- reeling from what is the worst bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis. As TechCrunch reported earlier the Silicon Valley Bank crisis also has implications for firms thousands of miles away. For example, over 60 YC-backed Indian startups have more than $250,000 stuck in accounts with SVB.

And that's just the tip of the overseas iceberg.

Across the Atlantic, after a frantic weekend involving regulators and the U.K. government, Silicon Valley Bank UK Limited (SVB UK)  which is a legally separate company to SVB in the U.S.  is expected to enter an insolvency procedure this evening (Sunday 12 March 2023) as we reported yesterday. The move was confirmed today by London law firm Osborne Clarke.

This means customers of SVB UK would be unable to withdraw, or deposit into the bank, creating huge liquidity issues for many depositors and/or borrowers, leaving many tech startups unable to execute crucial actions such as paying staff.

U.K. tech entrepreneurs and VCs spent the weekend lobbying the government to intervene and provide either support for affected depositors and/or borrowers or shepherd a sale of the bank.

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On Sunday morning the U.K. government was drawing up plans for some kind of emergency cash lifeline for tech firms.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told Sky News: We will bring forward, very soon, plans to make sure people are able to meet their cashflow requirements and pay their staff but obviously what we want to do is to find a longer-term solution that minimises, or even avoids completely, losses to some of our most promising companies.

In a statement, the chancellor warned the sector was at serious risk and a high priority for the government, announcing that it was treating this issue as a high priority and working at pace on a solution to avoid or minimise damage to some of our most promising companies in the UK.

Sources told TechCrunch that this could come in the form of a bounce-back loan approach where tech clients of SVB UK could borrow from a major U.K. bank, with the State acting as a guarantor.

However, as of Sunday night, no obvious solutions had presented themselves, despite much speculation over a possible buyer of SVB UK.

A joint letter signed by over 200 tech executives over the weekend said many companies were facing becoming technically insolvent after SVB UK collapse.

Responding to developments following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) Director General Michael Moore said: Weve been working overnight with our members to collect data and demonstrate the implications of Silicon Valley Banks collapse. We welcome the Chancellors update that the government will announce support for businesses impacted. This is an urgent matter. Help is needed by tomorrow. The immediate implications for the tech and wider private capital ecosystem are far reaching. This is about many highly skilled jobs."

Dom Hallas, Executive Director of Coadec, the UK policy group representing tech startups, put out the statement: There are a large number of startups and investors in the ecosystem who have significant exposure to SVB UK and will be very concerned. We have been engaging with the UK Government including Treasury and No10 about the potential impact.

UK companies will only be able to recover 85,000 under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, or 170,000 for joint accounts. Since SVB UK had over 3,500 customers, with many accounts running into the millions, the situation looks bleak. SVB UK reportedly had nearly 7 billion in deposits when the BoE deemed it insolvent on Friday.

In other developments, Sky News and the Evening Standard reported on Sunday that Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group had been approached by the Government over an emergency takeover deal.

In addition, a new clearing bank, The Bank of London, was also named as a potential suitor by the BBC.

Sky News also reported that Oaknorth Bank, a British neobank -- a digital lender -- previously valued at nearly $3 billion could make an offer to buy SVB-UK, according to its sources, but a formal offer would be subject to due diligence potentially lasting for several days.

Oaknorth, which has declined to comment, was co-founded by Rishi Khosla, who has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Conservative party, the UKs governing party.

The FT reported the field of SVB-UK buyers could also potentially include Abu Dhabis state holding company ADQ, and listed conglomerate IHC.

Bloomberg noted that Sheikh Tahnoon (chairman at Royal Group) oversees the wealth fund ADQ, as well as First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, and the emirates $790 billion wealth fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

And Sunday wore on, HSBC Holdings and JP Morgan were also said to be among those potentially looking to acquire SVB-UK.
Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the audience at a South by Southwest political panel in Austin on Sunday that democracy has been growing stronger ever since the signing of the U.S. Constitution.

However, she said, threats of political violence, extremism and decisions such as Dobbs v. Jackson, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated women's constitutional right to abortion, are reflections of democracy's status at home and abroad.

"It's about our example. I have no doubt that we will have a path to strengthen our democracy as a model to the world," Pelosi said. "That doesn't mean suppressing; it means respecting other views, but to do so in a way that, again, honors the oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Pelosi, D-Calif., who served two stints as speaker and had led House Democrats since 2003 before leaving the post in January to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., acknowledged her own experience with being a target of political violence.

"My dear husband, Paul, was able to make this trip. This is highly unusual, but he's getting out now," Pelosi said.

He was attacked with a hammer by an intruder at their San Francisco home in October.

"I was the target, he paid the price, and you can just imagine what my sentiment is about this," she said.

Briefly touching on global competition with China and the ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine war, Pelosi went on to discuss issues related to the U.S.-Mexico border and a bank failure threatening the technology industry during the SXSW panel Sunday hosted by The Atlantic and moderated by Evan Smith, co-founder of The Texas Tribune.

"I have no doubt that we will have a path to strengthen our democracy as a model to the world," former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday at a South by Southwest political panel.

Texas and the border

Declaring it a responsibility to protect the border, Pelosi flatly denied claims that the Biden administration is considering reinstating a Trump-era rule that allowed law enforcement to detain migrant families that crossed the border illegally.

Pelosi said such a potential deal or policy change, as reported by the New York Times last week, is simply not on the table.

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"The president has never said this," Pelosi said. "This was a notion that was floating in the Department of Homeland Security. It didn't receive resonance or even the support of the secretary" of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas.

Pointing to lawmakers' need to consider the contributing factors driving global migration, such as crime, economic instability and climate change, Pelosi said those factors should be examined before migrants reach the U.S. border.

"I think that we should be doing the adjudication of it at a previous border like Guatemala, Mexico," Pelosi said. "But in any event, the president never said" he'd reinstate the Trump-era policy.

Meanwhile, in the Texas Legislature, Republicans in both chambers have constantly blamed Biden for the influx of drugs and immigrants at the border.

Paul Pelosi, left, listens as his wife, Nancy, talks politics at South by Southwest. He was attacked with a hammer by an intruder at their San Francisco home in October.

As bill filing for the 88th Legislature closed Friday, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, included in his priorities a proposal to create a "Border Protection Unit" that would be able to arrest, detain and deter those who cross into the country illegally.

House Bill 20, filed by Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, would create the law enforcement unit stationed on the border and give it oversight of construction and maintenance of physical barriers on the border.

In the Texas Senate, a proposal from Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, would create a misdemeanor or felony charge for anyone who "enters or attempts to enter this state from a foreign nation at any time or place other than as designated by United States immigration officers."

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the state Senate, said Senate Bill 2424 showcases the chamber's commitment to beef up border security as well as the $4 billion included in its base 2024-25 biennium budget to fund Operation Lone Star, the governor's joint mission launched in March 2021 involving the Texas Military Department and the Department of Public Safety to stem the flow of illegal immigration and drugs, such as fentanyl, across the southern border.

The Mexican American Legislative Caucus has already expressed vehement opposition to HB 20, and House Democratic leader Trey Martinez-Fischer, D-San Antonio, called it a "tinderbox."

"Let's be clear  HB 20 is a 'Show me Your Papers' bill being enforced by a new state police force," Martinez-Fischer tweeted Saturday. "This legislation is a tinderbox waiting to explode that will leave this session in flames. And House Republicans have been warned."

Buyout for Silicon Valley Bank

A central bank for technology startup capital failed Friday, succumbing to a "bank run" that has left many wondering if there's a fallback other than the federal government.

Pelosi, whose congressional district is across the San Francisco Bay from the Santa Clara-based Silicon Valley Bank, said that there "isn't much appetite" for a government bank bailouts and that other suitors, along with regulators, need to move now to protect depositors.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed myriad topics at South by Southwest, including border enforcement and bank buyouts.

"Whatever any differences of opinion that anybody has about how we go forward, they want it to happen by tomorrow morning before the markets open," Pelosi said at the SXSW panel Sunday morning.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has taken over the bank, saying that deposits will be available Monday morning, but the federal government insures deposits only up to $250,000 per depositor.

A vast majority of Silicon Valley Bank's deposits are uninsured, a unique characteristic of the bank due to its customers being largely startups and wealthy tech workers.

The banks failure has also raised concern about a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis, but Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen sought to reassure Americans that the collapse is an isolated incident while also declaring a lack of interest in stepping in.

More:Silicon Valley Bank failed. FDIC covers some of the money, but only up to $250,000.

Were not going to do that again," Yellen told CBS Face the Nation on Sunday. But we are concerned about depositors and are focused on trying to meet their needs.

Similarly, when asked about a potential deal to buy the bank, Pelosi said that amid concern for technology industry participants, and specifically individual depositors, a private purchase of the bank is a real possibility.

"It's about the depositor, and hopefully somebody will buy the bank," Pelosi said. "But I don't see any appetite for the federal government to bail out the bank."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks democracy, border at SXSW in Austin
BEIRUT (AP)  Israeli missiles targeted a western Syrian city on Sunday wounding three Syrian soldiers, Syrian state media reported.

The official news agency SANA, citing a military source, said the missiles were fired at Masyaf in Hama province at dawn. Syria's air defenses shot several of them down.

Syrian state media did not report any deaths.

However, the Britain-based opposition war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the strike targeted a weapons depot for Iran-backed militia and killed three military personnel, without specifying their affiliation.

There was no immediate comment from Israel, which has staged hundreds of strikes on targets in Syria over the years. However, it rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations. It says it targets bases of Iran-allied militias, notably Lebanons militant Hezbollah group. Hezbollah has fighters deployed in Syria and fighting on the side of Syrian President Bashar Assads government forces. Israel also says it targets arms shipments believed to be bound for the militias.

Israel previously attacked Masyaf in May and August 2022 killing five people and wounding two. According to the Observatory, the attacks also targeted weapons depots belonging to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and Iran-backed militias.
(CNN)  Behind the gleaming skyscrapers and multimillion-dollar homes that have made this city the world's most expensive property market lies a far less attractive parallel reality: one of the world's seemingly most intractable housing crises.

Welcome to Hong Kong, where the average home sells for well north of a million dollars  and even a parking space can go for close to a million  but where more than 200,000 people face waits of at least half a decade for subsidized public housing.

Where far below the billionaire's row of The Peak and its ultra-exclusive properties that routinely change hands for hundreds of millions of dollars, one in five people live below the poverty line  defined in Hong Kong as 50% of the median monthly household income before welfare  and many call home a cramped subdivided unit or even a cage in a dilapidated tenement block.

The cause of the problem, according to the city's government, is relatively simple: a chronic lack of supply that is unable to meet the demand of more than 7 million residents crammed into what are already some of the world's most densely populated neighborhoods.

Housing "tops the agenda," the city's chief executive John Lee insisted in his maiden policy address in October, as he pledged to build 30,000 units in the next five years  a promise that follows an order by the central government in Beijing to prioritize the issue.

But critics have long been skeptical of the local government's reliance on land premiums, sales and taxes, which account for roughly 20% of its annual revenues. Critics say this income stream provides an incentive for it to keep supply tight, limiting what can be done to solve the problem.

CNN has asked the Hong Kong government whether its revenue from land sales and premiums affects its housing policy, but has not yet received a response.

Now, the abrupt recent unraveling of the city's harsh anti-Covid measures has thrown a curveball into the mix that  according to those same critics  offers a litmus test as to the government's determination to solve the problem.

Many are now calling on the authorities to repurpose the vast Covid quarantine camps the city built during the pandemic to isolate hundreds of thousands of people and which currently lie empty and unused.

As Paul Zimmerman, a councilor in Hong Kong's southern district and co-founder of the urban-planning advocacy group Designing Hong Kong, put it: "Now the question is: what to do with them?"

Covid hangover and a litmus test

The answer to that question may be less straightforward than it at first seems.

The camps were one of Hong Kong's more controversial anti-Covid measures  alongside the world's longest mask mandate and compulsory hotel isolation periods of up to three weeks  and were opposed at the time of their construction not only among those who decried what they saw as draconian quarantine requirements.

The camps also raised the hackles of government critics who said their speedy and expensive construction gave the lie to the narrative that Hong Kong's housing problem was simply unsolvable.

Hong Kong authorities have not revealed to the public how much the network of quarantine facilities cost. But its total spending bill on the pandemic in the past three years has run to $76 billion (HK$600 billion), according to the city's financial secretary. CNN has reached out to the Chief Executive's office, Security Bureau, Health Bureau and Development Bureau about the costs of building and running these quarantine camps.

Public housing plans are usually subject to years of red tape, but in the case of the quarantine camps the government managed to suddenly "find" around 80 hectares of land and build 40,000 pre-fabricated metal units in a matter of months.

Brian Wong, of the local think tank Liber Research Community, is among those who question why the government can't take a similarly speedy approach and bypass red tape to solve what it has itself acknowledged is an urgent housing crisis.

Wong and others argue the government's alleged reliance on land revenue is at risk of turning housing into "a structural problem" that cannot be "meaningfully solved."

"Even if the government wants to make land affordable, they won't do that because there's too much at stake," said Wong, who is critical of what he sees as official indecision and inaction that he says comes at the expense of the city's poorest people.

He sees the vacant camps as offering a litmus test of the government's determination to act and has called for the units to be repurposed into social housing, arguing that it would be "very embarrassed if those containers are left vacant or wasted."

CNN has asked the Hong Kong government what it plans to do with the former quarantine camps. It said it would announce its plans "after a decision is made."

Small, but still desirable

Only three out of the eight purpose-built quarantine and isolation camps have actually been used; the remaining five were put on stand-by as vaccination rates rose and infection numbers dipped.

The largest and perhaps most infamous of the camps is Penny's Bay, a site next to Hong Kong's Disneyland, where more than 270,000 people stayed in nearly 10,000 units during its 958 days of operation that ended on March 1. A second is located next to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and a third near a shipping container port. The rest are dotted along the city's northern outskirts near the border with mainland China.

Measuring around 200 square feet, each unit is roughly the size of a car parking space and contains a simple toilet, shower and bed. Only some have kitchens.

Still, while the units are spartan, many argue they could still offer an attractive temporary solution for those who cannot afford the city's high rents. In Hong Kong, according to data compiled by property agency Centaline, even "nano-flats" measuring 215 square feet have recently sold for as much as $445,000 -- equivalent to more than $2,000 per square foot.

Francis Law, who was sent to Penny's Bay in late 2022, said that while simple, the facilities were adequate to meet a person's basic needs and would offer an attractive temporary option to those on public housing lists.

"If the government rents the units out for around HK$2,000 to HK$3,000 per month [$254 to $382] and arranges a bus route to the nearest train station, I think it would attract a lot of applicants, even if it's far flung from the main central business district," he told CNN.

While some of the camps have been built on land owned by local tycoons and loaned to the government, some argue that as the units are modular and relatively easily dismantled they could be moved to more permanent locations  if the government were so inclined.

"We obviously have land in Hong Kong, we have a lot of rural areas...but what we do not have land that is readily available for residential or commercial development," said Ryan Ip, vice-president and co-head of research at the Our Hong Kong Foundation think tank.

"The key is whether the government actually expedites its procedures."

Getting creative

Others have more creative suggestions, drawing inspiration from how some of the units were temporarily repurposed during lulls in the pandemic.

At one point, some of the units in Penny's Bay were used to hold a university entrance exam for secondary school students who were close contacts of infected cases; at another time, the camp hosted a small election polling station.

Hong Kong-based architect Marco Siu is part of a group calling for the blocks at Penny's Bay to be turned into a temporary health and wellness center, arguing that this would require only a minimal redesign and give authorities the option of reopening it should another outbreak happen.

Zimmerman, of Designing Hong Kong, said the land next to Disneyland could be used to expand the theme park or be repurposed into a new town.

Whether the government will heed any of these suggestions remains to be seen. It has so far been tight-lipped on its intentions.

A spokesperson told CNN that, "Detailed analysis and study will be conducted with relevant government bureaux and departments. Future plans and arrangements will be announced after a decision is made."

However, a Development Bureau spokesperson added that the units at Penny's Bay and Kai Tak were "structurally designed for a life cycle of 50 years" and confirmed that they are designed to be "dismantled, transported and reused in other locations."

For now, anyone hoping for a glimpse into the government's thinking at the closing ceremony for Penny's Bay earlier this month is likely to have been disappointed.

A band played "Auld Lang Syne" as its gates closed and Michael Cheuk, the Undersecretary for Security, placed a giant cut-out padlock on its bars.

"Penny's Bay quarantine camp has accomplished its mission," Cheuk told the crowd.

Those same words were plastered on a banner hung across its shuttered gates.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "City with world's most expensive housing asks: what to do with 40,000 empty quarantine units?"
By Jeffrey Dastin, Anna Tong and Krystal Hu

PALO ALTO, California (Reuters) - Technology executives, prominent venture capitalists and founders including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman raced this weekend to keep alive companies caught up in the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

Friday's dramatic failure of the bank, which focuses on tech startups, was the biggest since the 2008 financial crisis. It roiled global markets, walloped banking stocks and left California tech entrepreneurs worrying about how to make payroll.

Aiming to avoid what Garry Tan, the CEO of startup accelerator Y Combinator, called a potential "extinction level event" in the tech sector, industry executives moved quickly to do what they could to save small businesses.

Altman, who runs one of Silicon Valley's hottest companies, bailed out some entrepreneurs from his own pocket, according to a Twitter message by his brother and one beneficiary who spoke with Reuters.

"I was running out of options, and so I just emailed him," Doktor Gurson, CEO of Rad AI, said in an interview on Saturday. Within an hour or two, Altman responded, offering him six figures: enough to make payroll and no strings attached, just a request to return the funds once Gurson is able, he said.

Asked for comment, Altman told Reuters, "I remember the investors who helped me out when I was running a startup and I really needed it, and I always try to pay it forward."

Henrique Dubugras, co-CEO of fintech startup Brex, also spent the weekend working the phone after his company announced an emergency credit line on Friday to help startups get through their next payroll.

As of Saturday evening, he said Brex had received $1.5 billion in demand from nearly 1,000 companies. "Were trying to sign up lenders by end of day tomorrow. Everybody is sprinting," he said.

Even small startups are getting in on the action to help others. Aleem Mawani, founder of Streak, a company with about 30 employees, tweeted Friday he would lend his personal cash free of any terms to other small startups worried about paying staff. He said he then had discussions with a few companies and was aiming to prioritize lending for those living paycheck to paycheck.

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I'm a founder and I know how awful it would be to not make payroll, Mawani said in an interview.

'MALFEASANCE OR MISMANAGEMENT'

By late Saturday, more than 3,500 CEOs and founders representing some 220,000 workers had signed a petition started by Y Combinator appealing directly to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and others to backstop depositors, many of them small businesses who are at risk of failing to pay staff in the next 30 days.

The petition advocated "stronger regulatory oversight and capital requirements for regional banks" and an investigation into any "malfeasance or mismanagement" by SVB executives. More than 100,000 jobs could be at risk, the petition warned.

SVB did not reply to a request for comment, and Y Combinator did not elaborate on the petition.

Venture investors have advised startups to seek alternatives to gain short-term liquidity. Some, including Lowercarbon Capital, have offered loans to portfolio companies that have funds stuck at SVB.

Its partner Clay Dumas said Lowercarbon would provide payroll support for the next two weeks and was wiring funds out Monday.

Khosla Ventures told Reuters, Given the rapidly evolving situation, we are talking to 100+ portfolio companies assessing their critical needs and plan to bridge where we are a lead or major investor."

'LIFELINE'

Rad AI's Gurson had not talked to Altman for years when he emailed the OpenAI chief Saturday morning, desperate for help. The startup relied on SVB, the sudden closure of which meant he lacked the money to pay some 65 employees on Monday, he said.

"People's livelihoods depend on us," said Gurson, whose San Francisco-based company helps radiologists work more efficiently and includes staff with wide-ranging roles and wherewithal. "Theyve got mortgages to pay; theyve got bills."

Gurson's co-founder waited eight hours on a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation hotline to no avail, he said. Multiple attempts to transfer funds out of SVB had failed.

But Gurson saw a Twitter post from Altman, whom he met as a founder participating in 2014 in Y Combinator, where Altman was president. The two men did not know each other very well, he said.

"It's like a lifeline," Gurson said of Altman's generosity.

Gurson estimated "conservatively" that Altman has given more than $1 million to support other startups in similar need.

"The crazy thing here is he's not an investor in our company," Gurson said. "He didnt ask for anything."

Altman did not comment on how much he had given companies but said he did not view his contributions as risky.

"Even if SVB can't find a buyer or a loan over the weekend, a lot of the money startups have on deposit will be made available to them. But in the meantime, people are facing a real liquidity crunch through no fault of their own, and employees need to get paid," he said.

(Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in Palo Alto, Anna Tong and Krystal Hu in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; Writing by Kenneth Li; Editing by William Mallard)
China's standing in the international semiconductor supply chain could be on shaky ground once trading partner South Korea closely aligns its interests with the United States and Japan, according to analysts.

That prospect looms large for Beijing this week when South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol visits Japan for two days from March 16, following Seoul's announcement of a plan to resolve a long-standing dispute with Tokyo over wartime forced labour.

In the first visit in 12 years of a Korean head of state to Japan, Yoon is also expected to convince Tokyo to drop export controls on chip-making materials to South Korea and align their positions on supply chains.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The anticipated reconciliation between South Korea and Japan as a result of Yoon's state visit will accelerate the process of China becoming marginalised in the production of advanced chips and in global supply chains, according to Park Ki-soon, a senior adviser and expert in China's economy at Seoul-based law firm Dentons Lee.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo: Reuters alt=South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo: Reuters>

"Global semiconductor production is dominated by countries like South Korea, Japan, the United States, the Netherlands and Taiwan," Park said. "The semiconductor supply chain of this bloc will become more stable, while China will be isolated."

Closer ties between South Korea and Japan highlight the increased US pressure on China's semiconductor industry, after Washington implemented in October updates that further restrict China's ability to obtain advanced chips and US President Joe Biden in August signed into law the CHIPS and Science Act to boost America's hi-tech manufacturing capabilities.

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South Korea already forms part of the US government-backed Chip 4 Alliance that includes Japan and Taiwan. The alliance, which Beijing has criticised as Washington's plot to exclude China from semiconductor supply chains, held their first meeting last month.

In January, the US reportedly secured an agreement with the Netherlands and Japan to restrict exports of some advanced chip-making machinery to China. While no official details of this pact have emerged, the Dutch government recently announced that restrictions on exports of semiconductor technology will be introduced before the summer.

China is particularly sensitive about the position of South Korea, as the country is key to Beijing's semiconductor self-sufficiency drive. Memory chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix both have plants in China, helping the country to integrate into cross-border value chains.

"If South Korea-Japan relations are normalised, it would significantly help [Korea's] imports of semiconductor material, components and equipment," said Kim Dae-jong, a business professor at Sejong University in Seoul. "That [trade] can recover to pre-2019 levels."

But decoupling from China is expected to lead to hefty losses for South Korea.

"Twenty per cent of South Korea's total exports are chips, and 60 per cent of these are exported to China," Kim said. "If South Korea follows the US, it could lose up to 50 trillion won [US$37.89 billion] worth of investments in China."

China's imports from South Korea shrank 29 per cent in the first two months of this year, according to Chinese customs data. The country's imports from Taiwan fell 30.9 per cent and imports from Japan declined 23.1 per cent over the same period, signalling accelerated decoupling between China and its neighbours.

While Seoul seeks ways to allow Samsung and SK Hynix to retain their semiconductor facilities in China, the two companies had earlier won a one-year reprieve from sweeping US export controls unveiled in October that prevent chip makers from bringing in equipment for their facilities on the mainland.

There could be more bad news for Beijing next month, when Yoon goes on a state visit to the US. He will meet Biden at the White House for a bilateral summit, which is expected to include discussions on security and economic ties between the two countries.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Columbus Police said a 15-year-old was shot overnight. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

A teen was seriously injured overnight in a shooting on the Northeast Side of the city.

Columbus Police responded to a call about a shooting in the 2900 block of Sandridge Avenue around 12:25 a.m. Sunday, according to a press release.

Officers found a 15-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the head, according to Columbus Police. Although he was in critical condition, he was stabilized and transported to Nationwide Children's Hospital, according to police.

Crime News:One killed in Saturday afternoon South Side shooting

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Teen in critical condition after overnight shooting in Columbus
While Murphy USA Inc. (NYSE:MUSA) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 12% in the last quarter. But that scarcely detracts from the really solid long term returns generated by the company over five years. Indeed, the share price is up an impressive 235% in that time. We think it's more important to dwell on the long term returns than the short term returns. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean it's cheap now.

So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Murphy USA

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Over half a decade, Murphy USA managed to grow its earnings per share at 35% a year. The EPS growth is more impressive than the yearly share price gain of 27% over the same period. So one could conclude that the broader market has become more cautious towards the stock. The reasonably low P/E ratio of 8.17 also suggests market apprehension.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

We know that Murphy USA has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? Take a more thorough look at Murphy USA's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). 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. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Murphy USA the TSR over the last 5 years was 240%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

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A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Murphy USA shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 45% over the last year. Of course, that includes the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 28%. 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. 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. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Murphy USA (including 1 which shouldn't be ignored) .

But note: Murphy USA may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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More than 8,500 people were under evacuation orders in central California over the weekend after a levee was breached following heavy rainfall.

The Pajaro Rivers levee was breached by flooding after another atmospheric river pounded the state. Officials had warned residents to leave their homes, but some who stayed had to be rescued from flood waters.

Officials in Monterey County, where the evacuation orders were issued, said that more than 90 rescues had been completed since Friday with the help of the California National Guard. No deaths were reported.

As of Sunday morning, there were still over 6,700 customers in the county without electricity, according to the grid tracker poweroutage.us.

Authorities in San Luis Obispo County and Kern County, south of Monterey County, also ordered evacuations. President Biden declared a federal emergency late last week to help with relief efforts.

The rescue efforts in central California come as the state braces for another atmospheric river at the beginning of this week, with forecasters warning it could be worse than the one over the weekend. The Bay Area and the Central Coast are in line to receive the brunt of the next weather event.

This event will be more widespread, Meteorologist Kristan Lund of the National Weather Services Oxnard office said.

A notice on the weather services website said that the coastal areas could expect one and a half to three inches of rain. Wind gusts could range from 20 miles per hour in most places to up to 60 miles per hour in others. The service also said travel delays are possible thanks to flooding and rock slides.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Flag of Estonia

Aivo Peterson, one of the leaders of the KOOS movement, is among those detained. ERR wrote earlier that he visited the Russian-occupied Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Mariupol just before the parliamentary elections in Estonia held on March 5.

Read also: Russian attempt to plant spy in International Court of Justice had two goals, says Kuleba

Peterson posted on social media about the might of the Russian army, disseminating the Kremlin's propaganda, and said a Russian organisation paid for his trip.

The Estonian State Prosecutor's Office initiated a criminal proceeding against Peterson and another Estonian, Dmitry Roosti, as well as Andriy Andronov, a Russian with a residence permit for Estonia, spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor General Kairi Kungas said.

Read also: Reuters identifies key agents of Russian influence in Germany

As there is a risk that the suspects may try to evade justice and continue to commit crimes, a court ordered them to be detained as a preventive measure, ERR said.

However, the court decision has not entered into force and may be appealed against at Tallinn District Court in the Estonian capital.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Three men were stabbed during a family gathering at a Houston apartment complex, Texas police told news outlets.

Police responded to a 911 call from an apartment complex on the citys southeast side after 11 p.m. on March 11, the Houston Police Department told TV station KHOU.

Investigators say a neighbor, who appeared intoxicated, came to the familys get-together and started flirting with the wife of one of the men, KPRC reported.

This led to an argument and the neighbor left, KRIV reported. However, he came back to the apartment moments later with a kitchen knife and stabbed three men.

The men were all taken to hospitals for treatment, and one is in critical condition, police told the outlets.

Police arrested the neighbor, and an investigation is underway.

Man shoots self as police search for source of foul odor inside home, Texas cops say

Pregnant woman shot and killed while trying to rob people in Chicago, officials say

Dad shoots and kills his daughters boyfriend after he insulted her, Texas cops say

Mom stabbed by college athlete trying to run off with her 3-year-old, Texas cops say
Much of the country is no stranger to big swings in the weather this time of year with warm springlike weather often being followed by a more wintry pattern during the month of March. This has once again been the case in the Southeast this week, with wintry weather making a quick return in the wake of warmer, springlike weather.

The change may be especially sudden in the wake of Sunday's weather, which resulted in a cluster of strong thunderstorms sweeping across much of the Southeast. Some storms turned severe as well, with damaging wind and large hail reports stretching from the Mississippi River to the Florida Panhandle.

GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

The storm system responsible for this severe weather is responsible for the rapid change in the weather pattern. As the zone of low pressure slides northward and develops into a powerful nor'easter, winds will quickly shift toward a northerly direction across much of the country. This has brought in enough cold air for a major snowstorm in the Northeast, but also send temperatures crashing farther south through Wednesday.

In Atlanta, where high temperatures were in the 60s and 70s every day this month through Saturday, these changes have been especially sudden. A low of 31 F is forecast for Tuesday night, with the mercury plunging back into the 30s the night after. In some of the chillier northern suburbs such as Kennesaw and Lawrenceville, Georgia, lows in the 20s F cannot be ruled out Tuesday night.

Chilly weather may even make it into places one would least expect, such as Florida. In Tallahassee, where temperatures have been over 10 degrees Fahrenheit above average so far this month, temperatures are set to plunge into the mid-30s F Wednesday night. Similarly, cold air will be in place in Jacksonville, with a low of 36 F forecast. Average low temperatures for the city are around 50 degrees F this time of year. A few spots in far northern Florida could even briefly drop below the freezing mark Wednesday night, a rarity for mid March.

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Farther north, temperatures are set to be even lower. After dropping to around freezing Monday night, a low in the mid to upper 20s F is forecast for Charlotte on Tuesday night, with at least 2 straight nights below freezing in Richmond, Virginia. Downtown Washington, D.C., may struggle to reach the 20s F due to the urban heat island effect, though many of the city's western and northern suburbs are likely to drop into the middle or upper 20s F Tuesday night.

While subfreezing temperatures are certainly not unheard of in March, it will be a stark contrast to recent warm weather for parts of the Southeast. Cold of this level could threaten sensitive vegetation and lead to isolated tree damage.

Those in spots where subfreezing temperatures are forecast will want to bring pets, as well as any sensitive outdoor plants, indoors to avoid the cold air.

As is typically the case with any warm or cold weather in March, this pattern is not likely to last long. By late this week, a northward shift in the jet stream is likely to bring a quick warmup across the Southeast, a sure sign that spring is not far away.

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.
Kyiv authorities have reported that the aftermath of the Kinzhal missile strike on the capital had been dealt with as of the morning of 12 March.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration



Quote: "Heating supply has been fully restored in Kyiv. Electricity and water are being supplied to all districts. The city's infrastructure is operating normally.

Kyiv has survived. The capital will not be broken!"

Details: On the morning of 9 March, the Russians fired a Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missile at a Kyiv infrastructure facility. Dealing with the aftermath lasted more than three days.

Emergency power outages were implemented in some districts of the city. For almost a day, 40% of Kyiv residents were without heating.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Buying a low-cost index fund will get you the average market return. But in any diversified portfolio of stocks, you'll see some that fall short of the average. Unfortunately for shareholders, while the Lennox International Inc. (NYSE:LII) share price is up 16% in the last three years, that falls short of the market return. Disappointingly, the share price is down 4.3% in the last year.

Since the long term performance has been good but there's been a recent pullback of 6.5%, let's check if the fundamentals match the share price.

View our latest analysis for Lennox International

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.

Lennox International was able to grow its EPS at 10% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. The average annual share price increase of 5% is actually lower than the EPS growth. Therefore, it seems the market has moderated its expectations for growth, somewhat.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

We know that Lennox International 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?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). 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. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Lennox International, it has a TSR of 21% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

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A Different Perspective

While it's certainly disappointing to see that Lennox International shares lost 2.6% throughout the year, that wasn't as bad as the market loss of 8.3%. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 4%, each year, over five years. In the best case scenario the last year is just a temporary blip on the journey to a brighter future. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Even so, be aware that Lennox International is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those doesn't sit too well with us...

We will like Lennox International better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  As the investigation into the brazen shooting that killed Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo continues, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos has urged the suspects who are still at large to surrender to the police.

Kilala mo ang sarili mo na ikaw ang pumatay. Kung ako sayo sumuko ka na at umamin ka na. Yung mga kasama niyo nagsalita na. Yung nag-order sa inyo malamang baka kayo pa ang ipapatay niyan, Abalos said in an ambush interview on Sunday.

[Translation: You know yourself that you are the killer. If I were you, give up and confess. Your associates have already talked. The one who ordered the killing will probably be the one to kill you.]

Its better for you na mag-isip at sumurender na kayo sa amin. Pumunta kayo sa akin para matapos na ito at ang hustisya makamit na, he added.

[Translation: It's better for you to think and surrender to us. Come to me so that this will be over and justice will be served.]

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said at least five other assailants in Degamo slay are still hiding in Negros Oriental.

Abalos said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is closely coordinating with the police and military to hunt down criminal gangs nationwide.

He also said they plan to conduct a tough campaign against illegal firearms.

READ: Heightened security in Negros Oriental, nearby areas as manhunt for Degamo slay suspect continues

On March 7, the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that the four people arrested in the killing of Degamo are facing murder and frustrated murder charges.

The suspects are now detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City, the PNP added.

Degamo was gunned down inside his residential compound in Brgy. San Isidro in Pamplona town, Negros Oriental on March 4. Eight others were killed.

The PNP said Degamo was in the middle of a meeting with some of his constituents when around 10 armed men entered his compound and opened fire.

The shooters were later identified as former members of the military.
A traffic stop is usually bad news. But for one South Carolina woman, it likely saved her life.

Police in the coastal South Carolina town of Mount Pleasant responded to a call about a possible drunk driver back in December. Their dash cam recorded the driver, Tamara Palmer, hitting multiple curbs and drifting in and out of her lane.

"Have you had anything to drink today?" one of the officers asked after pulling her over.

Palmer responded that yes, she had some tea.

That answer combined with Palmer's erratic driving and her complaint about a brutal headache prompted the officers to call an ambulance.

Palmer still can't believe what happened next.

This still taken from a body camera shows Tamara Palmer of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina clutching her head following a traffic stop. Police noticed Palmer was driving erratically, pulled her over and thought she may have been experiencing a medical episode.

In shock

Palmer remembers being placed in an ambulance and waking up while getting an MRI. Soon after, doctors told her she had a brain tumor.

One hospital transfer and two days later, doctors performed an emergency, eight-hour surgery on Palmer to remove the tumor, which was not cancerous.

"I'm still in shock," Palmer told USA TODAY on Friday. "The officers recognized my medical condition so fast and sent me to the ER. If they didn't react so quickly and let me go, who knows what would have happened."

Palmer said that her doctor believes the tumor had been growing since 1986, when the 58-year-old lived about 10 miles from the Chernobyl nuclear plant explosion in Ukraine.

Palmer was 22 at the time and said didn't leave the area for about three days, at first believing government assurances that there was no danger. Palmer said she moved to the U.S. 10 years after that to seek treatment for one of her daughters, who developed a dangerous skin condition from the radiation.

Thanking her 'angels'

Officer Raymond Schoonmaker (left) and patrolman Bret Aton are pictured with the woman they helped save, Tamara Palmer.

About two months after her life-saving surgery, Palmer tracked down the two officers who helped save her: Patrolman Bret Aton and Officer Raymond Schoonmaker.

On Friday, Palmer presented them with awards for saving her life. Another ceremony open to the public is set for Tuesday.

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Palmer, a teacher's assistant, said she was grateful to be able to thank the officers.

"I wake up every morning thinking about them and saying, 'Thank you, God, for sending me these angels,'" Palmer said.

Palmer's surgery was on Dec. 4. One week later, it was her 58th birthday.

"They gave me the best birthday gift I could ask for: my life."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Traffic stop saves life of South Carolina woman who had brain tumor
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ruled out a bailout from the federal government for now-collapsed Silicon Valley Bank, but she said the government will step in to help depositors in some capacity.

Were not going to do that again, Yellen said on CBS Face the Nation, referring to the 2007-2009 financial crisis that led to a massive government rescue aimed at heading off a wider catastrophe. But we are concerned about depositors and are focused on trying to meet their needs.

She declined to provide specifics on potential steps the government will take.

I simply want to say that were very aware of the problems that depositors will have, many of them are small businesses that employ people across the country, Yellen said. Of course, this is a significant concern.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen participates in a meeting with Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Jan. 10, 2023 in Washington.

What happened to Silicon Valley Bank?

Silicon Valley Bank, a financial institution deeply connected with technology startups and venture capital, collapsed because of the downturn of technology stocks and the Federal Reserves interest hikes, ultimately resulting in a bank run that led to Friday's collapse.

Why it's not 2008 again: What Silicon Valley Bank collapse means

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation took over the bank and said that deposits will be available on Monday morning, but the federal government only insures deposits up to $250,000 per depositor. A majority of the banks deposits are uninsured, given the banks customer base being largely composed of tech workers and wealthy venture capitalists.

Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter

A customer stands outside of a shuttered Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) headquarters on March 10, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. Silicon Valley Bank was shut down on Friday morning by California regulators and was put in control of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Echoes of 2008 financial crisis

The collapse, the second largest bank failure in U.S. history, has roiled Wall Street ahead of Monday morning's opening of the stock market. It is the biggest collapse of a financial institution since the demise of Washington Mutual in 2008 at the height of the financial crisis.

Silicon Valley Banks parent company, SVB Financial Group, is searching for a buyer as a potential solution, Bloomberg reported. Without providing details, Yellen said the situation will be addressed in a timely way.

Story continues

This is really a decision for the FDIC, as it decides on what the best course is to resolve this firm. And Im sure theyre considering a wide range of available options. That would include acquisitions, Yellen continued.

What is FDIC?: Silicon Valley Bank failed. FDIC covers some of the money, but only up to $250,000.

The banks failure has also raised concern about a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis, but Yellen sought to reassure Americans that the collapse is an isolated incident.

What I do want to do is emphasize that the American banking system is really safe and well-capitalized; its resilient, said Yellen.

A pedestrian speaks on a mobile telephone as he walks past Silicon Valley Banks headquarters in Santa Clara, California on March 10, 2023. - US authorities swooped in and seized the assets of SVB, a key lender to US startups since the 1980s, after a run on deposits made it no longer tenable for the medium-sized bank to stay afloat on its own.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Silicon Valley Bank: Treasury Secretary Yellen rules out bailout
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M.  For centuries, Native American tribal leaders and others have trekked to this oasis to unwind and relax in the abundant hot springs that course underground, bubbling up through the crusty desert floor.

But amid a worsening regional drought, the town with the curious name is losing 200 million gallons of potable water a year because of antiquated underground pipes that leak, spit and sometimes gush 30 feet into the air, putting not only its nearly 6,000 residents at risk of having their water shut off but also threatening operations at the city's five public schools and its only hospital and nursing home.

Schools have already been forced to close without warning several times over the last year as water is shut off while repairs are made, city officials said.

Water Department worker Andrew Curry repairs a pipe in Truth or Consequences, N.M., where new leaks spring up nearly every day. (Paul Ratje for NBC News)

The system is so old it includes wooden pipes built in the 1800s and is patched up by one worker from the citys Water Department and two others on loan from the sewer department. Last week, they were responsible for fixing 14 broken lines, 11 of which occurred on a single day, wastewater director Arnulfo Castaneda said.

Resident Susan Abts, 72, said her water was abruptly cut off last month after a break near her home caused a gusher to shoot 30 feet into the air.

Im concerned where this is going, she said.

Jesus Baray (Paul Ratje for NBC News)

So is Jesus Baray, the manager of El Faro restaurant, which lost its water without warning three weeks ago while meals were being served and dishes were being washed. The downtown business was closed for two days.

I understand to a certain point, but it keeps happening, Baray said. Thats the frustration.

Last year, as many as 30 water pipes broke in one day. As the system continues to fail, water in some parts of the city could be shut off for a week at a time, City Manager Bruce Swingle said.

Its a crisis," he said last week. "Were there.

A geographic divide

Millions of gallons, representing 43% of the city's supply, were lost in the last year as the West struggles under a drought so severe it threatens the power-generating capabilities of lakes Mead and Powell and is drying up the Colorado River, which provides much of the region's water.

Story continues

The situation also reflects the geographic divide in the U.S. as rural communities compete with large metropolitan areas for a chunk of the $555 billion in the federal infrastructure bill to upgrade the country's aging bridges, roads, levees and pipelines.

Elephant Butte Dam and the Rio Grande (Paul Ratje for NBC News)

Water officials in Truth or Consequences estimate it would cost $150 million to overhaul or replace the deteriorating system. Even patching up the leaks more permanently would cost $20 million, which the city says it can't afford.

Passed in 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was hailed by federal officials as a once-in-a-generation investment aimed in part to improve communities that have too often been left behind.

But city officials said that seems to be happening in Truth or Consequences, which has received no response to its applications last year and this year for federal infrastructure money.

Small cities typically rely on federal grants to improve their infrastructure, but what they get usually isnt enough to cover an overhaul, said Ken Rainwater, who retired last year as a civil engineering professor at Texas Tech University.

It costs money to maintain infrastructure, he said.

City manager Bruce Swingle, 62, in Truth or Consequences, N.M., which says it needs $150 million to overhaul its aging water conveyance system. (Paul Ratje for NBC News)

Swingle said that as pipes collapse daily, he fears schools and health care providers could be at risk of biohazard conditions if there isn't enough water to wash hands or flush toilets in an unexpected, prolonged outage.

During previous hourslong water outages at Sierra Vista Hospital and Clinics, emergency room patients were turned away or taken 75 miles by ambulance to Las Cruces.

Officials at Sierra Vista said they have enough reserve water to last a few days, but after that, patients would have to be sent elsewhere.

I cant imagine the hospital would have enough water for three days, said Swingle, who is also the chairman of the hospitals governing board.

Scott Williams, the administrator of the Sierra Health Care Center nursing home, said it does have an emergency plan, but he declined to say what it would do if water were shut off for a long time. He said the facility has enough reserve water for at least a few days.

Swingle predicts outages will become more frequent and last longer in the summer, when usage increases, placing even more pressure on the unreliable system.

A view of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (Paul Ratje for NBC News)

Holiday tourism soars

The city can attract more than 100,000 visitors during holiday weekends as people flock to the hot springs and the state's largest lake, Elephant Butte, 5 miles from downtown. Any of them could suffer a medical emergency during an outage, Swingle said.

Originally known as Hot Springs, Truth or Consequences underwent a rebrand in 1950 when the radio game show "Truth or Consequences" vowed to broadcast its 10th-anniversary episode in the first U.S. city to change its name to the moniker. Hot Springs won the national contest.

Local lore holds that the prominent Apache leader Geronimo would soak in the hot springs after battle.

A present-day political leader, state Sen. Crystal Diamond, a Republican who represents the city, last month introduced Senate Bill 359, which would allocate $20 million from the states general fund to help repair the pipes.

Diamond said she previously asked the office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, for money to fix the problem but never got a response. Lujan Grisham declined to comment.

Susan Abts and Nancy Simpson, (Paul Ratje for NBC News)

The state Environment Department said it gave $5.3 million to the city for its drinking water system, but Swingle said the money came from the federal government for a downtown water project unrelated to the collapsing pipelines.

Diamond, who insists there is enough money in state coffers to pay for the repairs, said: "I dont think theyre taking this seriously.

"In rural and remote areas of New Mexico, when theres not a huge population, they just dont get the investment," she added. "Providing water is a public safety concern and should be prioritized."

Across the U.S., water main breaks occur every two minutes, with an estimated 6 billion gallons of treated water lost daily, according to the 2021 report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

All were doing is repairing the water lines, Swingle said. Once we make the repair, its going to leak in very close proximity. The water will just find the next vulnerable spot and come to the surface.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The grain agreement expires on March 18

"Both sides (Ukraine and Russia) are approaching this positively. We believe it (the agreement) will conclude positively," the Turkish news agency Anadolu said, citing the minister.

Read also: Turkey working to renew Black Sea grain deal, Foreign Ministry says

Akar said Turkey had made great efforts to ensure the implementation of the grain imports agreement signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. Nearly 24 million tons of grain were shipped to those in need thanks to the Grain Initiative, he noted.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Kyiv on March 8. He discussed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative among other topics.

Read also: Ukraine begins negotiating Black Sea grain deal extension

Russia announced on March 1 that it would agree to extend the agreement only if the interests of its agricultural producers were taken into account.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed under the mediation of the UN and Turkey last July, unblocked three Ukrainian Black Sea ports for food exports. The grain corridor was launched on August 1, 2022.

Read also: Russia blocks operation of grain corridor and transports military cargo on merchant ships, says Ukraine

On Nov. 17, 2022, the grain agreement was extended for another four months. It will expire on March 18 this year unless extended again.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Etowah County authorities are continuing to investigate after two men were found shot late Friday on U.S. Highway 278 near the Calhoun County line.

According to a Facebook post by the Etowah Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to reports of the incident and found two men with gunshot wounds.

One was transported by Survival Flight to a Birmingham hospital with what the post described as life-threatening injuries. The other was taken by Piedmont Rescue with serious injuries.

The post said there was no threat to the community, and that investigators were still gathering facts from multiple witnesses across a fairly large scene.

Sheriffs investigators and personnel from Jacksonville State Universitys Center for Applied Forensics were processing the scene and conducting interviews.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Authorities investigate shooting on US 278
By Andrew MacAskill and Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro

LONDON (Reuters) -A would-be buyer for the UK arm of failed U.S. lender Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) stepped forward on Sunday as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his government was working to limit any fallout for companies from the bank's demise.

Bank of London said it had submitted a formal proposal to the UK arm of SVB, as well as sending it to authorities, including the Treasury and the Bank of England.

Friday's dramatic failure of SVB Financial Group, which focuses on tech startups, was the biggest bank collapse in the U.S. since the 2008 financial crisis.

The collapse could have a significant impact on British technology companies, given the importance of the lender to some customers, finance minister Jeremy Hunt said earlier on Sunday,

Bank of London, a clearing bank, said it was leading a consortium of private equity firms in making the approach.

"Silicon Valley Bank cannot be allowed to fail given the vital community it serves," Bank of London co-founder and CEO Anthony Watson said.

SoftBank-owned lender OakNorth Bank is also weighing a bid to buy SVB UK Ltd, a person with knowledge of the talks told Reuters, confirming an earlier Sky News report. Abu Dhabi state-backed investment vehicle ADQ is also looking, Sky reported.

The BoE has said it is seeking a court order to place the UK arm of SVB into insolvency.

Meanwhile, advisory firm Rothschild & Co was exploring options for the subsidiary, two people familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Saturday.

Sunak said he understood "the anxiety and the concerns customers of the bank have", in comments made to reporters flying with him to the United States. He and the government were "making sure we can work to find a solution that secures people's operational liquidity and cash-flow needs," he said.

On arrival in San Diego, Sunak told reporters he had been working over the weekend and during his flight from London with his finance minister, the Bank of England and regulators on "finding the best solution".

Story continues

Earlier, Hunt told Sky News that efforts were focused on finding a "longer-term solution that minimises, or even avoids completely, losses to some of our most promising companies."

"We will bring forward very soon plans to make sure people are able to meet their cash-flow requirements to pay their staff," Hunt said.

The government is weighing involving the British Business Bank to help SVB's customers, said one person, to help address firms' cash needs. The BBB is government-owned but independently managed, specialising in supporting start-up firms. During the pandemic it ran the state-backed loans programmes.

Banks including Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest Group had been approached to see if an emergency takeover deal can be reached, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

But an executive at a major UK bank said it was unlikely a high street lender would buy SVB UK because its credit products would not be a good fit for a mainstream bank.

EXISTENTIAL THREAT

More than 250 UK tech firm executives signed a letter addressed to Hunt on Saturday calling for government intervention and warned of an "existential threat" to the UK tech sector, a copy seen by Reuters shows.

Under insolvency proceedings for banks in Britain, some depositors are eligible for up to 85,000 pounds ($102,000) of compensation, or 170,000 pounds for joint accounts.

Customers may not be able to recover deposits in excess of those sums, which are small relative to the deposits some startups had with the bank.

Hunt reiterated comments by the BoE that overall, SVB had a limited presence in Britain and did not perform functions critical to the financial system.

The pledge to find emergency support was welcomed by tech firms and lobby groups, including startup industry body Coadec, calling it "an acknowledgement of the scale of the challenge".

OakNorth Chief Executive Rishi Khosla told Reuters earlier this month - before SVB's implosion - the bank could make a "nine figure" acquisition in cash given its reserves, and that it was looking at potentially buying another bank in Britain.

Opposition Labour shadow finance minister Rachel Reeves urged Hunt to offer more than "warm words", saying the government had to come up with a plan before financial markets open on Monday.

Sunak has said he wants to turn Britain into the "next Silicon Valley". Britain is behind only the United States and China in terms of the level of venture capital funding for the sector, according to the government.

In the U.S., authorities are preparing "material action" on to shore up deposits in Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and try to stem any broader financial fallout from its sudden collapse, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday.

Officials worked through the weekend to assess the impact of the failure, with a particular eye on the venture capital sector and regional banks, the sources said.

Some financial industry executives and investors are growing increasingly concerned that the collapse of the bank could have a domino effect on other U.S. regional banks if regulators do not find a buyer to protect uninsured deposits.

($1 = 0.8314 pounds)

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill and William Schomberg; Additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Lawrence White, Iain Withers, Baranjot Kaur and Sinead Cruise; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel, David Holmes, John O'Donnell and Alexander Smith)
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has discussed the supply of ammunition and military equipment to Ukraine with General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Source: Zaluzhnyi on Telegram

Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "I had a telephone conversation with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US General Mark Milley.

We discussed a number of important topics. I spoke in detail about Ukraines defence needs, in terms of ammunition and equipment. I stressed the necessity of strengthening our air defence capabilities."

Details: Zaluzhnyi also noted that he informed General Milley about the situation on the front.

The two military leaders agreed to maintain a dialogue and continue to cooperate.

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(Reuters) - Russian forces suffered more than 1,100 dead in less than a week of battles near the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the focal point of fighting in eastern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday.

"In less than a week, starting from 6th March, we managed to kill more than 1,100 enemy soldiers in the Bakhmut sector alone, Russia's irreversible loss, right there, near Bakhmut," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

He said Russian forces had also sustained 1,500 "sanitary losses" - soldiers wounded badly enough to keep them out of further action. Dozens of pieces of enemy equipment were destroyed as were more than 10 Russian ammunition depots.

Reuters could not independently verify the accounts.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Nick Starkov; editing by Diane Craft)
Ukrainian military

The Russian infantry, with artillery support, stormed a stronghold of the Ukrainian border guards in Bakhmut, but were stopped with small arms and mortars, the message reads.

Ukrainian border guards also repelled attacks on two other strongholds in Donetsk Oblast in the past day. Ukrainian Aerial Reconnaissance registered the preparation of infantry units for an attack. Later, Ukrainian border guards repelled an offensive attempt with mortars, the message reads.

The state service reported nine occupiers eliminated and another twelve injured as the result of their attack.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  The Chinese Embassy on Sunday said the expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the Philippines would only serve to secure the dominance and geopolitical interests of the United States.

Peace and development remain the theme of this era and the call of peoples around the world. However, the US, to secure its hegemony and selfish geopolitical interests and out of the cold-war mentality, keeps upgrading military cooperation with the Philippines by adding EDCA bases and military deployment in this country, the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.

It was the embassys response to US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlsons assertion in an interview that the EDCA would bolster the defense capabilities and economies of host provinces.

The expanded EDCA allows the US to indefinitely station troops at four new military camps around the country. Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, and Palawan were the initially proposed sites.

The governors of Cagayan and Isabela earlier said they were against the establishment of troop camps in their provinces, although the Department of National Defense has yet to name the final sites.

RELATED STORIES:

PH, US agree to boost American military presence, create 4 new EDCA sites

Cagayan, Isabela governors not keen on hosting EDCA sites

The embassy said the EDCA expansion was a guise for the US to gain a tactical advantage over China. The four earlier proposed sites face China, Taiwan, and the Korean Peninsula.

The US claims that such cooperation is intended to help the disaster relief efforts of the Philippines and some Americans even tout the EDCA sites as driver of local economy, it is plain and simple that those moves are part of the US efforts to encircle and contain China through its military alliance with this country, it added.

The EDCA was inked in 2014 to allow the US to aid the Philippines in humanitarian crises and disaster response.

The Chinese Embassy also reiterated that increased US military presence would cause tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, and harm Philippine national interests, and endanger regional peace and stability.

READ: 'Endangering peace': China warns PH over EDCA expansion plans with US

On the South China Sea issue, there is no problem of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. When talking about free and open waterways, what the US has in its mind is actually the freedom of rampage of its warships in the South China Sea, the Chinese Embassy said.

Manila and Washington may begin joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea this year amid Chinese aggression towards Filipino vessels in the disputed waters.
By Elizabeth Piper

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will invite U.S. President Joe Biden to Northern Ireland in April to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to three decades of political violence.

Sunak said on Sunday that he would issue a formal invite to the celebrations, which are due to take place in the middle of April.

"I'll be keen to invite him to come," he told reporters on his plane as he flew to the United States for meetings with Biden and Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia. "It's not confirmed yet. But it will be something that obviously I'll be talking to him about.

"We've got this very important milestone to commemorate and celebrate - the 25th anniversary."

The Good Friday Agreement was a peace deal that largely ended the "Troubles", three decades of violence that had convulsed Northern Ireland since the late 1960s. It was signed on April 10, 1998, and partially brokered by the U.S. government of then President Bill Clinton.

The anniversary had been overshadowed in recent months after Northern Ireland's largest unionist party boycotted the power-sharing assembly that made up part of the peace deal, in protest at post-Brexit trade rules that treated the province differently to the rest of the United Kingdom.

Sunak has recently struck a new deal with the European Union to ease the checks and paperwork needed to move goods from Britain to Northern Ireland, but the Democratic Unionist Party is yet to say whether they will support the plan.

"What I'm concentrating on now is talking to everyone in Northern Ireland so we can find a positive way to move forward and get power-sharing up and running - that's my priority," Sunak said.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; writing by Kate Holton; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
In 2018, Levi Axtell (pictured) complained that Lawrence Scully was spying on his 22-month daughter as she was taken for a walk after leaving daycare

A father used a moose antler and shovel to fatally bludgeon a sex offender he believed had been stalking his daughter.

Levi Axtell, 27, set about 77-year-old Lawrence Scully and then, covered in blood, drove to the sheriffs office and turned himself in.

The killing was quite a shocker for the community of Grand Marais, a town of just under 1,340 people in Minnesota, said local sheriff Pat Eliasen.

Scully had been convicted of molesting a six-year-old girl in 1979.

There had been ill-feeling between Axtell and Scully for some time.

In 2018, Axtell complained that Scully was spying on his 22-month-old daughter as she was taken for a walk after leaving daycare.

Stalking children in his van

He has been there many times stalking children in his van, Axtell wrote in a request for the court to issue an order for protection.

He is a convicted paedophile, and him stalking and attempting to groom my daughter is completely inappropriate and needs to stop.

Axtells request was originally granted, but then dismissed a few weeks later, the Star Tribune reported.

Then, two years later, Axtell voiced his anger on Facebook.

His post depicted somebody pointing a gun alongside the caption: Only cure for paedophiles. A bullet.

He continued: People always ask me why I hate paedophiles. They assume Ive been abused. But really I think being protective is just an Axtell trait.

Last Wednesday, according to court documents, police were called by a member of the public who saw a vehicle pull into Scullys driveway before the driver smashed a vehicle and ran into the house.

Screams heard

The citizen then heard screaming coming from the house, the affidavit says. While on the call, approximately a minute later, the citizen told a dispatcher the man was driving to the police station, which is about three blocks away.

A blood-soaked Axtell drove to the police station then, putting his hands on his head, he admitted killing Scully.

Axtell then demanded to be handcuffed, warning that he was planning to hurt somebody else.

Story continues

He told police he had hit Scully 15 to 20 times with the shovel, before finishing off his victim with a giant moose antler.

According to a court affidavit, Scully had suffered serious head wounds. He also sustained injuries to his arms that were consistent with a struggle.

Axtell, who has been charged with second-degree murder, told police he had seen Scully park his van at places where children frequented.

Released from prison in 1982

Sheriff Eliasen confirmed Scullys sexual assault conviction, adding that he had been released from prison in 1982.

He said there had been further allegations against Scully, but investigations had failed to reveal any further offences.

Most of the reports were regarding harassment, Eliasen said.

This was a brutal attack without provocation on an elderly man, said county attorney Molly Hicken, when Axtell appeared in court last Thursday.

Despite objections from Axtells lawyer, bail was set at $1 million.

The court agreed with the prosecution that Axtell represented a significant flight risk, even though he had no serious criminal history beyond convictions for disorderly conduct and underage drinking.

Unable to make bail, Axtell has been remanded in custody. The next court hearing is scheduled for April 10.
U.S. officials dismissed Iranian claims that the two countries were nearing an agreement on a prisoner swap, saying comments from Irans top diplomat were a cruel lie.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Sunday on Iranian state television that Iran was in agreement with the U.S. on a prisoner swap, saying If everything goes well on the Americans side, I think we will see the exchange of prisoners in the short term.

Amir-Abdollahian claimed the agreement had been in place since last March, but U.S. officials told The Associated Press that there was no such deal between the two nations.

We are working relentlessly to secure the release of the three wrongfully detained Americans in Iran, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said to The Associated Press. We will not stop until they are reunited with their loved ones.

Price said the comments from Amir-Abdollahian were another especially cruel lie that only adds to the suffering of their families.

The National Security Council also said that the Iranian claims were false in a statement to the Associated Press.

Unfortunately, Iranian officials will not hesitate to make things up, and the latest cruel claim will cause more heartache for the families of Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz, the council said.

Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz are three Americans that are known to be held in Iran on espionage charges, a practice that the Iranian regime is known to use to gain leverage in negotiations with the west. They all three have dual American-Iranian citizenship.

The claim from Iran comes as the country reached an unexpected, Chinese-negotiated agreement with Saudi Arabia, which will see the two countries reengage diplomatic ties with each other. The Chinese involvement in the deal between the two adversaries has raised alarms about the influence of the U.S. in the region.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The United States has officially returned to Ukraine items of historical and cultural heritage that Russians stole from the temporarily occupied territories and tried to illegally import into the United States.

In particular, the invaders tried to take out a Bronze Age axe head, Scythian swords, and a Polovtsian (Cuman) sabre.

Source: US Customs and Border Protection; the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States

On 10 March, the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States hosted an official ceremony to hand over the items of Ukrainian historical heritage to the Ukrainian side.

"On 2 September 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized a stone axe handle and three metal swords at the international mailroom at John F. Kennedy International Airport," the customs officials said in a statement.

Photo: Embassy of Ukraine in the USA

The swords came from Russia, and the stone axe handle came from Ukraine. The items were identified as Ukrainian cultural property.

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection is extremely proud to have played an important role in the recovery of these artefacts that were stolen from the people of Ukraine," said Francis Russo, Director New York Field Operations.

During the return ceremony, Ambassador Oksana Markarova recalled that the Russian occupiers are deliberately stealing and exporting historical and cultural artefacts from Ukraine in an attempt to deprive Ukraine of its identity.

What happened?



On 10 March, the Embassy of Ukraine in the US hosted an official ceremony handing over historical artefacts

From July to September 2022, law enforcement officers from the Department of Homeland Security's Investigations Division in New York and Newark, New Jersey, detained several shipments of archaeological items.

The cargo arrived in the United States from the territory of the Russian Federation without proper documentary support.

In total, about 20 cargoes with archaeological objects were detained in the United States; they were sent from the Russian Federation (Krasnodar Krai) and the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

Story continues

Law enforcement officials suspected that the archaeological objects might have belonged to Ukraine, and examinations confirmed these fears. The American side also contacted the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, which finally confirmed that the artefacts were of Ukrainian origin.

The stolen valuables included:

Akinaka swords of the Scythian culture of the VI-V centuries BC (the area of distribution is the forest-steppe and steppe parts of Ukraine and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea)

A polished flint axe of the III millennium BC, which, according to the Institute of Archaeology of Ukraine, belongs to the culture of spherical amphorae (distribution area: the northwestern part of Ukraine);

Cuman sabres from the times of the ancient Kyivan Rus of the XI-XII centuries and many other artefacts.

The return of the archaeological items, which were attempted to be smuggled into the United States from Russia, was made possible thanks to the cooperation of Ukrainian diplomats in the United States.

Earlier, the Russian occupiers seized a museum with Scythian gold in Melitopol, took original paintings by prominent artists from Mariupol, and stole a collection of medallic art by Yukhym Kharabet.

The Russians also looted the Kherson Regional Museum; numerous historical artefacts were transported to occupied Henichesk.

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Guest Opinion: China's modernization and economic development an inspiration for Global South

12:52, March 12, 2023 By Anna Malindog-Uy ( Xinhua

After its opening up in the 1970s, China's rapid growth into the second largest economy in the world, with growing global economic and political influence today, makes China not only one of the most influential countries in today's international politics and economics but an inspiration to the developing world.

In a world dominated by the Western economic paradigm of capitalism, and political ideology of liberal democracy, which in many ways have been imposed on the Global South, and are prized as the path toward modernization and economic development for many countries across continents, China is marching towards modernization and economic development on a different path, deviating from the Western-centric prototype and concept of development. China has been pursuing a development and modernization trajectory based on its own historical grounding and experience, unique internal conditions and realities, as well as cultural and civilizational foundations.

In many ways, China's rapid economic growth and prosperity is not only an inspiration for countries in the developing world, but offers an alternative economic and political model for the Global South versus the Western-centric model of development that is exemplified by the "dependence trap," where the Global South is the development aid recipients, while the North, composed of a few affluent countries (former colonial masters), is the provider of development aid with prescribed structural conditionalities and packages intended to underwrite structural reforms, continuing inequalities and inequities, fortified by asymmetries in wealth, power, and resources, which fundamentally reflect the unequal divide between the North and South.

In many ways, China's experience of development and modernization is somewhat unique to itself and was never an attempt to copy and imitate the West. Nevertheless, like many developing countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa, China experienced and lived through the bitter pill of imperialism and colonization. It suffered a "century of humiliation," which refers to the period of intervention with and subjugation by Western powers. Obviously, the Global South and China have a shared and common experience of colonialism and imperialism, bringing them closer as partners in pursuing a development and modernization path more reflective of the Global South's respective conditions, realities, and historical experience.

Although China's economic development and modernization experience can not be copied because each country has its unique conditions and situation, China serves as a guide and inspires countries in the developing world to pursue development and modernization based on their distinct and unique historical experience and their indigenous, local and respective conditions and realities, preserving their independence as a sovereign nation-state beyond the dictates of a superpower or a few affluent countries. For me, this makes China a noteworthy example of a country in the developing world that is pursuing a destiny relying on its own strength and internal capabilities while relating to the world in a responsible, peaceful, friendly, and cooperative manner.

COMMON AND SHARED DEVELOPMENT

As far as China's modernization and development is concerned, some of the noteworthy characteristics, which are based on President Xi Jinping's economic thought, are the pursuit of modernization and development that is inclusive, which means shared prosperity for all by exerting efforts to narrow the gap between the poor and the wealthy, and between rural and urban communities in China.

Another goal of China's quest toward development which is worth mentioning is the concept of comprehensive and balanced development. This fundamentally means pursuing development but not at the expense of the environment, thereby pursuing sustainable development.

Likewise, comprehensive and balanced development means pursuing modernization without neglecting or disregarding Chinese traditions, culture, and values but preserving them against the backdrop of modernity and modernization. Another critical aspect of China's modernization and development that is quite important not only for China but for the rest of the world is the fact that China pursues a trajectory toward development based on harmony and peace, which are core values rooted in Confucian philosophy that the Chinese people adhere to since time immemorial.

But I think the level of development and modernization that China and the Chinese people are experiencing now will not be possible and could not be possibly achieved in such a short period of over only four decades if not because of some key and decisive factors, which include the following:

First, the decisiveness and strong political will of the Communist Party of China, the party discipline, and most of all, its decisive leadership in governance, which is most important.

Second is China's unified and cohesive coordination between the central government, provinces, cities, and counties as the country pursues a modern socialist society with Chinese characteristics.

Third, the cohesiveness of Chinese society and unity in spirit and vision for China among and between the people and its government. This is crucial for any country pursuing a more developed and prosperous society.

Most importantly, the philosophical underpinnings of China's culture and way of life which based on Confucianism, Taoism, and other famous Chinese philosophy, which basically emphasize unity, harmony, cohesion and respect for tradition and culture, compassion for fellow human beings, and the emphasis on community as against to too much emphasis on individualism.

CHINA'S GROWING GLOBAL NICHE

Moreover, to be more specific in terms of China's modernization and development strategies, it is worth mentioning that China's pursuit of high-quality development of innovation and entrepreneurship as an adopted approach by the central and regional government of China targeted at strengthening innovative entrepreneurship is no doubt a phenomenal success, which led to the rapid transition of China to a new economic development phase based on high-tech production and national breakthrough technologies. It also led to the extensive and comprehensive inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises in research and development activities and the development of new innovative structures.

Likewise, the Chinese economy has transitioned to a more technologically driven one. Also, aside from the fact that China undeniably is a very important global manufacturer, the real drivers of its economic performance over the last decade or so have been rapid growth in its huge purchasing power and fixed-asset investments -- including the country's thriving technology sector; its abundant and very competent or competitive labor force is also undeniably one of its competitive edges. All these make China economically resilient to external shocks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the imposed U.S. trade war against China.

On the other hand, China's goal to modernize its agriculture and make the countryside a more beautiful and prosperous place for all is another noble and principled program. Agricultural modernization is one of the critical factors toward national development, which facilitates a more sustainable, healthy, and extended period of stability and development for the country that will, in many ways, change the backwardness in rural areas and improve the plight of the farmers. In this regard, China's rural revitalization strategy that aims to achieve basic modernization of agriculture and rural areas by 2035 has somewhat surpassed the expectations of many countries. The domestic production of agricultural produce in China can fulfill the growing food demands of China's more than 1.4 billion population.

Furthermore, China has increased physical infrastructure and logistics investment by over 20 percent annually over the last 15 years. Also, the Chinese authorities have consistently supported the construction of large-scale information and communication infrastructure networks and encouraged private enterprises to innovate in cutting-edge sectors such as mobile payments, e-commerce, the Internet of Things, and smart manufacturing. This has helped foster the emergence of many locally based international technology firms, including Alibaba, Tencent, and JD.com.

CONCLUSION

In retrospect, indeed, the "Chinese-style modernization and development" are distinct and a deviation from the Western style. I think China's path to development and modernization is an inspiration and a guide for the developing world. China's path to modernization is not in a whatsoever way, an imposition or a copycat of that of the West. It has been based and anchored on the internal realities and historical underpinnings of China as a civilizational state. At the same time, it preserves its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence as a country. At the same time, it relies on its internal capacity and strength as a country, relating to the world in a friendly, peaceful, responsible, and amicable manner. I believe the characteristics of the Chinese style of modernization and development are worth emulating and serve as an inspiration to the Global South.

Also, I think that developing countries can learn the lessons, best practices and China's experience of balanced modernization and development.

On this note, the countries in the Global South, like my country, the Philippines, can be inspired by the Chinese experience of development and modernization rooted in one's country's historical experience, and without losing one's country's independence, its identity, culture, distinct values, and traditions, while avoiding the so-called dependence trap.

Editor's note: Anna Malindog-Uy is vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Kou Jie)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  The oil spill in Oriental Mindoro has affected over 137,000 people in Mimaropa and Western Visayas, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The DSWD said as of Saturday, 30,042 families, or 137,230 individuals, from 121 barangays in MIMAROPA and Region 6 were affected by the slick, and the agency distributed 10,985,250 worth of food and non-food items to affected families.

Moreover, the DSWD has started its cash-for-work program in affected areas in Mimaropa.

Under the program, the fisherfolk deployed to Barangay Batuhan, Pola, Oriental Mindoro to collect materials that will be used in making improvised spill booms and oil absorbents will receive the daily regional minimum wage every five days for 15 days. As of Saturday, at least 70 fisherfolk were deployed.

The DSWD also provided financial assistance to affected residents through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Some 1,116 affected families, 740 of which came from Barangay Algeciras and 376 in Barangay Concepcion, both in the Aguyata town in Palawan, received 5,000 cash assistance with a total amount of 5,580,000, the agency added.

As of March 9, nine of the 13 towns in Oriental Mindoro have been affected by the oil spill. These are Naujan, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay and Bulacacao. The slick also spread to 80% of the 34 marine protected areas in the province.

The provincial government of Oriental Mindoro said the slick has affected the livelihood of over 10,000 fisherfolk in the towns of Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, and Mansalay.

On Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard said the slick reached the shores of Taytay, Palawan, 159 nautical miles or roughly 300 kilometers from Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, where the tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial oil sank last Feb. 28.

READ: Tanker behind Oriental Mindoro oil spill located

READ: Oriental Mindoro oil spill reaches Palawan

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/3/10/oriental-mindoro-oil-spill-reaches-palawan.html

A cleanup drive in Oriental Mindoro began on Friday, a week since the slick spread throughout the province.

Experts from the University of the Philippines' Marine Science Institute projected the slick could reach northern Palawan. They said over 36,000 hectares of marine habitats are at risk due to the oil spill.
(Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp are weighing the creation of a fund that would allow regulators to backstop more deposits at banks that run into trouble in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday.

Regulators discussed the new special vehicle in conversations with banking executives and hope such a measure would reassure depositors and help contain any panic, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The new vehicle is part of the agency's contingency planning as panic spreads about the health of banks focused on the venture capital and startup communities, the report added.

The U.S. Federal Reserve declined to comment on the report, while FDIC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Earlier on Saturday, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with California Governor Gavin Newsom about the SVB failure and the efforts to address the situation.

Silicon Valley Bank imploded after depositors, concerned about the lender's financial health, rushed to withdraw their deposits. The frenetic two-day run on the bank blindsided observers and stunned markets, wiping out more than $100 billion in market value for U.S. banks.

(Reporting by Jose Joseph in Bengaluru; Editing by Paul Simao)
A trio of marine animals leapt out of the water and soared through the air off the coast of the U.K. Mundane? Not at all. Usually when these animals cross paths, the encounter proves fatal for one of them. This time, however, something was different.

Twice over the last few weeks, a pair of bottlenose dolphins and a harbor porpoise have been seen having fun together off the coast of England, the wildlife organization ORCA said in a March 10 news release.

Typically, bottlenose dolphins aggressively attack the smaller harbor porpoises, often playing with them like a football, launching them into the air and eventually killing them, the wildlife organization said.

But this pair of dolphins seems to have teamed up with the porpoise, experts said, in a very rare pairing.

A dolphin is seen breaching beside a smaller porpoise.

Terry Carne was scanning the water off the coast of Newquay when he spotted the animals. I saw two bottlenose dolphins coming in towards land, which were the first Id seen at Newquay for a long time, he told ORCA.

As they got a little nearer, I thought there was a third, all breaching, but realised that one was in fact a porpoise, Carne said. I assumed that the porpoise was trying to escape, and when I saw it leap in the air I thought the bottlenose had struck it.

After watching closer, Carne realized actually what I saw was the porpoise breaching with the dolphins, initially forward leaps, before seeing it jump high in the air.

The unlikely best friends were spotted playing acrobatic games together, ORCA said. The porpoise was even seen copying the leaps of the dolphins, a very unusual site.

A dolphin and porpoise are seen jumping while a second dolphin swims nearby.

The trio was first seen near Newquay on March 2 and seen again near St. Ives on March 8, ORCA said.

Lucy Babey, ORCAs head of science and conservation, explained that while (these species) share the same habitat, porpoises tend to steer clear of dolphins, so to see them playing and sticking together over such a long period is a really rare event.

ORCA encouraged marine wildlife watchers to report any further sightings of the trio of animals.

Story continues

Newquay and St. Ives are located along the northern coast of Cornwall, a region about 255 miles southwest of London.

Baby sloth cuddled up with parents might be cutest thing you see all week. Take a look

Endangered lion is feared dead, then reappears with a surprise in Senegal, video shows

Massive Arctic creature spotted for first time in 25 years along coast of Scotland
Center of

The Moldovan border police noted that the man had arrived in the country by plane, but was detained at the airport.

Read also: Prigozhins Wagner approaching collapse, lost almost all of its mercenaries  Cherevaty

An exchange of information allowed us to pick out the citizen in the flow of passengers at Chisinau airport, identified as a representative of PMC Wagner from Russia, the Moldovan police said.

He was not allowed to enter the country and was returned by plane to the country from which he came.

Border police of Moldova

Human rights activists have also noted that over the past week, 182 foreign citizens and 46 vehicles were barred from entering Moldova. According to border guards, 165 of them had violated Moldovan border and immigration legislation.

Meanwhile, according to border guards, over the past day the flow of those entering in Moldova has increased  more than 23,800 people entered the country, and almost all of them were foreign citizens, including almost 5,000 who are citizens of Ukraine.

Read also: Moldova mulls joining NATO

Molodvan police also warned that on March 12 mass riots are possible at a protest in the Moldovan capital Chisinau, which has been organized by the pro-Russian party Shor.

The National Police has information that (on) March 12, during the protest, actions of destabilization and mass disturbances are planned, the Moldovan police said in a statement.

Read also: Russian assets planning a coup in Moldova, US intelligence says

In this regard, we ask the organizers and participants to comply with the requirements of the law and not allow actions that could endanger peoples lives and health, as well as the security of the state, the police said.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The best outcome for the failed Silicon Valley Bank would be for U.S. officials to find a buyer for it on Sunday, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said, after its collapse last week.

The best outcome will be can they find a buyer for this SVB bank today before the markets open in Asia later in the day, Warner said on ABCs This Week. The depositors can be taken care of and the best outcome will be an acquisition of SVB.

The fall of the bank last week sent shock waves throughout the tech industry, which relied heavily on the bank for financing. Federal regulators took the bank under control last week, as fears of widespread banking difficulties rose.

Warner on Sunday was hesitant to say whether the U.S. government should consider a federal bailout of the bank to ensure depositors receive all of their money if regulators are unable to find a buyer.

Lets see what happens today first, Warner said. Theres generally been a feeling that the people responsible, the shareholders of the bank, ought to lose their money.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, meanwhile, said Sunday that federal regulators were considering a wide range of options with the bank, including the possibility of an acquisition.

While Warner said the government needs to be monitoring other banks that have been flagged by the White House as being potentially vulnerable following the SVB collapse, he also said he is confident that the state of the U.S. banking system is strong.

Im more optimistic this morning than I was yesterday afternoon, Warner said. We will see how this plays out during the rest of the day.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A man died after his body caught on fire while he was being treated by hospital personnel. FS Productions/Getty Images

A woman said that her mommy makeover surgery went wrong and left her "disfigured."

Shannyn Palmer told ABC News that she traveled to Tijuana for the procedure.

She learned that heated saline bags were left on her hands during surgery, leaving severe burns.

A woman opened up about her plastic surgery gone wrong, saying that the "mommy-makeover" she received in Mexico last year left her "permanently disfigured for the rest of my life," ABC News reported.

The woman, identified as Shannyn Palmer, told the outlet that she traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, to receive the procedure. According to the New York Post, the Washington State resident paid $12,500 for the highly anticipated surgery, which included a tummy tuck and breast lift  which are among the most popular procedures for women after having children.

However, when she woke up, she said she felt pain in her hands, according to the reports.

"I'm waking up in agonizing pain and it wasn't from the surgery I just had on my body... it was on my hands," Palmer said, per ABC News. "And I just remember one of the first things I said was my hands hurt. My fingers were cold, numb, and I started to worry about the circulation."

According to the outlets, she later learned from the doctor that they put heated saline bags on her hands, which ultimately burned her. Photos obtained by the New York Posts show the severe burns on her fingers.

"When I got home, they told me the news, saying that you're likely going to have an amputation on your dominant thumb," Palmer said, according to ABC News.

Similar to Palmer, many Americans participate in medical tourism and travel to other countries to receive cosmetic surgery, to save thousands of dollars. Earlier this month, four Americans were kidnapped after crossing the Mexico border. Two were killed and the other surviving victims were transported back to the US to receive medical treatment. It was later revealed by family members that the group traveled to Mexico for one of them to receive a tummy tuck.

Read the original article on Insider
Illustration by Mitchell Preffer for Decrypt

Prices took a dive this week as two banks closely connected to the crypto industry both sank. The first was Silvergate, an actual crypto bank, and the second was Silicon Valley Bank, a tech- and startup-focused institution that holds key crypto players as clients, including stablecoin issuer Circle and crypto VC firms Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Sequoia Capital.

On Thursday Ram Ahluwalia, CEO of SEC-registered investment advisory firm Lumida, criticized Senator Elizabeth Warrens negative reaction to the news of Silvergates collapse.

Silvergate, the first crypto bank, faced a bank run that led to its downfall. Despite facing allegations around AML, it was not these issues that ultimately caused the demise of $SI. The responsibility for bank supervision lies with the Executive Branch, but this process was https://t.co/rOz5EmNdHP  Ram Ahluwalia, crypto CFA (@ramahluwalia) March 9, 2023

The following day, reports emerged that Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was looking for outside acquisition. Not long after they hit the press, California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation shut the bank down and appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to take over operations.

Jamie Quint, a general partner at investment firm Uncommon Capital, wrote a long and helpful primer on SVBs downfall.

An explainer on what is going on with Silicon Valley Bank: - In 2021 SVB saw a mass influx in deposits, which jumped from $61.76bn at the end of 2019 to $189.20bn at the end of 2021. - As deposits grew, SVB could not grow their loan book fast enough to generate the yield they https://t.co/xHDc4ebvsr  Jamie Quint (@jamiequint) March 9, 2023

American investor and entrepreneur Bill Ackman called for government intervention in a multi-tweet thread.

Story continues

The failure of @SVB_Financial could destroy an important long-term driver of the economy as VC-backed companies rely on SVB for loans and holding their operating cash. If private capital cant provide a solution, a highly dilutive govt preferred bailout should be considered.  Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) March 10, 2023

Fintech investor GurGavin cried that there was some double dealing from SVB executives.

THE CEO / PRESIDENT AND THE CFO OF THE SILICON VALLY BANK SOLD MILLIONS WORTH OF THEIR SHARES DAYS BEFORE THE BANK COLLAPSED $SIVB pic.twitter.com/rx2n7gyFXJ  GURGAVIN (@gurgavin) March 10, 2023

Other reports revealed that SVBs top exec was aggressively lobbying lawmakers for weaker banking regulations.

NEWS: Documents show Silicon Valley Banks president personally pressured lawmakers to weaken bank regs. Some lawmakers objected. But the bank spent big on lobbying & regs were weakened. Today the bank became the 2nd largest bank collapse in US history. https://t.co/a8XEifQidA  David Sirota (@davidsirota) March 11, 2023

Raging Capital Ventures, an account that provides financial, political and tech commentary, did a multi-tweet deep dive on SVBs perilous securities investments over the last couple years.

Silicon Valley Bank $SIVB reports earnings tomorrow Investors have rightfully been fixated on $SIVB's large exposure to the stressed venture world, with the stock down a lot. However, dig just a little deeper, and you will find a much bigger set of problems at $SIVB... 1/10  Raging Capital Ventures (@RagingVentures) January 18, 2023

A video showing the reality of a bank run made the rounds on Twitter this week.

Customers lining up outside of Silicon Valley Bank at its Menlo Park, CA branch, per CoinTelegraph. pic.twitter.com/L1hiaghvBf  unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) March 11, 2023

Former SVB employee Samir Kaji called it the quickest bank run ever in a long thread breaking down the collapse blow-by-blow.

6/ Selling any piece of HTM securities would have created a immediate mark to market to a $16B loss. Can't really sell loan assets that quickly either.  samir kaji (@Samirkaji) March 10, 2023

Garry Tan, CEO of startup incubator YCombinator, shared the stark reality affecting the companies under his stewardship as a result of the news.

If you're affected, here's what I would say: Hi, I'm a constituent in your district. I work at X, a startup that has deposits with SVB, which was shut down this morning.. We won't be able to make payroll and we are one of thousands of startups that would have to shut down or https://t.co/SvaR4bD6v1  Garry Tan  (@garrytan) March 10, 2023

In his multi-tweet thread, New York Times journalist Paul Krugman accused SVB of affinity fraud, a form of confidence trickery, though not fraud in the legal sense, he explained.

In a deep sense  though not a legal sense  what SVB actually did was a kind of affinity fraud a la Madoff. It managed to convince the VC/startup/crypto etc world that it was one of them, part of their community, and hence trustworthy 5/  Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) March 12, 2023

On Saturday, Bill Ackman claimed to know what will happen to SVB depositors whose funds were locked in the bank at the time of collapse.

From a source I trust: @SVB_Financial depositors will get ~50% on Mon/Tues and the balance based on realized value over the next 3-6 months. If this proves true, I expect there will be bank runs beginning Monday am at a large number of non-SIB banks. No company will take even a https://t.co/2BoqtCDKJt  Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) March 11, 2023

Crypto companies distance themselves

Many crypto companies used Twitter to assure followers that they werent exposed to the collapsed banks. Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino said that Tethers reserves were safe.

#tether doesn't have any exposure to SVB  Paolo Ardoino  (@paoloardoino) March 10, 2023

Chinese blockchain journalist Colin Wu confirmed Tethers statement.

Tether explained that it doesn't have any exposure to Silicon Valley Bank. The cash arm of the USDT reserves is mainly in various banks in the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. The $39 billion Treasury reserve is managed by Wall Street bond-trading magnate Cantor Fitzgerald.  Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) March 11, 2023

Avalanche admitted some exposure to SVB but none to Silvergate.

In light of recent news, we would like to confirm that the Avalanche Foundation has no exposure to Silvergate and a little over $1.6mm of exposure to Silicon Valley Bank. Avalanche Foundation is saddened by the news about SI and SIVB, and hope that all depositors are made whole.  Avalanche  (@avalancheavax) March 10, 2023

Bored Ape Yacht Club creator Yuga Labs denied it had anything in SVB.

BREAKING NEWS  @yugalabs Co-Founder @CryptoGarga Said that Yuga Labs Had Super Limited Financial Exposure To The @SVB_Financial Fallout. pic.twitter.com/RXxBkyPOwX  The Bored Ape Gazette (@BoredApeGazette) March 10, 2023

Square the Circle

On Friday, fears started growing around stablecoin issuer Circle, a company tied to both collapsed banks.

"Circle's cash held at U.S. regulated financial institutions: Bank of New York Mellon, Citizens Trust Bank, Customers Bank, New York Community Bank, Signature Bank, Silicon Valley Bank and Silvergate Bank." Oi vey..  Adam Cochran (adamscochran.eth) (@adamscochran) March 10, 2023

Circle itself tweeted to admit that it had limited exposure to SVB via its cash reserves, some of which it held with the bank.

Silicon Valley Bank is one of six banking partners Circle uses for managing the ~25% portion of USDC reserves held in cash. While we await clarity on how the FDIC receivership of SVB will impact its depositors, Circle & USDC continue to operate normally.https://t.co/NU82jnajjY  Circle (@circle) March 10, 2023

Crypto holders were spooked regardless, and many ditched their USDC.

Top gas consumers on Ethereum right now. People swapping USDC like maniacs. pic.twitter.com/aM9aLXe0SP  Alex Svanevik  (@ASvanevik) March 11, 2023

Popular crypto exchange Binance closed its in-house offramp, claiming this was standard procedure.

Binance has temporarily suspended auto-conversion of USDC to BUSD due to current market conditions, specifically related to high inflows & the increasing burden to support the conversion. This is a normal risk-management procedural step to take while we monitor the situation.  Binance (@binance) March 11, 2023

Rival Coinbase also halted conversions.

We are temporarily pausing USDC:USD conversions over the weekend while banks are closed. During periods of heightened activity, conversions rely on USD transfers from the banks that clear during normal banking hours. When banks open on Monday, we plan to re-commence conversions.  Coinbase (@coinbase) March 11, 2023

There were some serious signs of slippage on Saturday. At the time of writing, USDC trades at five cents short of its dollar peg.

Circle eventually confessed the full extent of its exposure to SBV, which appears to be very small in proportion to its total cash reserves.

1/ Following the confirmation at the end of today that the wires initiated on Thursday to remove balances were not yet processed, $3.3 billion of the ~$40 billion of USDC reserves remain at SVB.  Circle (@circle) March 11, 2023

Circle CEO and co-founder Jeremy Allaire shared a blog post outlining the situation in more depth.

Sharing an Update on USDC and Silicon Valley Bank. https://t.co/Ug3qpot8sJ  Jeremy Allaire (@jerallaire) March 11, 2023

One seriously unlucky crypto fan would have been better off sticking with USDC after getting burned for virtually their entire $2 million when trying to jettison it quickly Ouch!
From L-R: Ballet Black: Pioneers', The Great British Bake Off Musical, Bonnie and Clyde (Bill Cooper/Manuel Harlan/The Other Richard)

This week, Bake Off gets the musical treatment, Bonnie and Clyde returns for a second run in the West End, and dance company Ballet Black celebrate the life of Nina Simone.

Bonnie and Clyde  Garrick Theatre a a a a a

Though it wasnt exactly critically revered upon its 2011 Broadway debut, Bonnie and Clyde was an instant cult favourite in musical theatre circles. Last year, it won a whole new legion of followers when it first hit the West End for a limited run at the Arts Theatre, with audiences obsessing over Frances Mayli McCann and Jordan Luke Gages portrayal of the controversial outlaws. Less than a year later, its back on stage, and the reason for the hype quickly becomes clear: together, McCann and Gage are a saucy, defiant duo for whom its almost impossible not to root  despite their penchant for greed, fame and bloody murder.

The show begins at the very end of the folk heroes story, with the sound of gunshots and the sight of their bleeding bodies in their getaway car, the pair felled by the authorities after a months-long murder and robbery spree in 1934. Over two acts, we see how a waitress with dreams of Hollywood stardom and a wannabe celebrity gangster fall madly in love and ultimately shoot their way to the top of the FBIs most-wanted list. McCann and Gage are excellent leads; their chemistry crackles, while their triumphant vocals make Frank Wildhorn and Don Blacks sexy, country blues score shine. Clydes act one belter Raise a Little Hell and Bonnies 11 oclock number Dyin Aint So Bad both had the opening night audience roaring with approval.

The cast of Bonnie and Clyde (The Other Richard)

Most of the action surrounds our eponymous criminal pair, but the leads are supported by a dynamic ensemble who bring their poverty-stricken, dead-end hometown of West Dallas to life. As Blanche, Clydes God-fearing and judgemental sister-in-law, Jodie Steele is a real standout, blending a beautiful singing voice with precise comic timing.

Story continues

Though the celebration of a murderous couple may sit strangely with some, for many more, this moral quandary wont matter; Bonnie and Clyde is irresistibly fun with music that lingers in the mind well after the bows.

Nicole Vassell

The Great British Bake Off Musical a a a aa

Have you ever slapped a strudel before? asks Phil Hollinghurst, The Great British Bake Off Musicals stand-in for Paul Hollywood. Contestant Babs nods her head: Three times, and all of them ended in divorce. Its not entirely clear what she means. But... who cares? This is a Bake Off musical! Innuendos that dont always make sense are what were here for!

The show is based on Bake Off as a concept rather than any real-life storylines, set during the filming of a fictional series and charting behind-the-scenes rivalries and romances among the on-screen action. Its hosted by presenting duo Kim and Jim (a hilarious Zoe Birkett and Scott Paige), while our judges are baking demi-gods Pam Lee (Haydn Gwynne) and Phil Hollinghurst (John Owen-Jones), not-so-loosely based on Prue Leith and Hollywood.

John Owen-Jones (centre) and the cast of The Great British Bake Off Musical (Manuel Harlan)

While much of the drama takes place in the Bake Off tent (carved out of neon in Alice Powers innovative design), this show isnt scared to move into more abstract territory, with a wacky opening number about the invention of cake and a battle over the pronunciation of the word scone in which Phil and Pam box one another while dressed as the afternoon tea staple. These moments reveal an unexpectedly offbeat sense of humour in the writing, as well as a willingness to joke about the show itself.

Brunger and Clearys score more than holds its own alongside other noteworthy new British musicals, but is let down slightly when the baking metaphors are forced onto more serious subject matter. Contestant Gemma (Charlotte Wakefield) sings about her mothers death in a song titled Somewhere in the Dough, and when Italian Francesca (Cat Sandison) explores her problems to conceive in Grow, its through a heavy-handed bun in the oven metaphor. The messages in both songs are powerful, but the twee analogies prompt titters among the tears. But even in lyrically dodgy moments, these are songs you wont be able to get out of your head  a rare thing for a new musical. The flavours here may not be subtle  but at least theyre punchy.

Isobel Lewis

Full review here

Ballet Black: Pioneers  Barbican a a a a a

Isabela Coracy lights up Ballet Blacks new work, NINA: By Whatever Means. This danced biopic of Nina Simone is driven by Coracys superb presence, by the imposing strength and sweep of her movements.

Created by company dancer Mthuthuzeli November, NINA: By Whatever Means starts with Simones famous appearance at the 1976 Montreux Jazz Festival, then loops back to her childhood. November creates lively group sequences, but the biographical approach can plod. A flurry of waved placards tells us that weve reached the civil rights movement, but lacks dramatic weight.

Ballet Black in Then or Now (Bill Cooper)

The ballet is strongest when November steps away from his timeline to give space to Simones own art and words. As we hear Simone say that Black people are beautiful, we see Coracy dancing: on pointe, fist raised in salute. Shes claiming the space she deserves  as Simone, and as part of a company that was founded to give a platform to artists of Black and Asian descent. Its a platform to cherish. Started in 2001, Ballet Black has a proud history of commissioned works, and of terrific dancing. This double bill shows a fine new generation of performers coming through.

A revival of William Tucketts 2020 Then or Now opens with a solo for Helga Paris-Morales, moving with flowing line and elegance. Tuckett layers poems by Adrienne Rich with violinist Daniel Pioros new variations on a theme by Biber. Sometimes the steps directly reflect the poetry  a mention of four men, images of everybody sending love. At other times, the dance flows alongside. Its an approach that can lose momentum, but the vividness of the dancing keeps it on track. Zoe Anderson

Full review here
WW International (WW), better known as Weight Watchers, made its fifth-ever acquisition in the company's 60-year history this week with telehealth and medical prescription startup Sequence.

The move opens the door for the legacy weight loss program to enter a new, hot space in which chronic disease drugs are being used for weight loss.

The popularity of drugs like Novo Nordisk's (NVO) Ozempic and Wegovy, and soon Eli Lilly's (LLY) Mounjaro, could help boost the company's membership as it looks to offer these medications  typically used for diabetes  which have been proven in clinical trials to help shed weight in addition to managing the disease.

WW CEO Sima Sistani told Yahoo Finance that this move is not a shift away from the legacy program's core beliefs in behavioral and diet changes with community support.

"The Weight Watchers you know and love is not going anywhere. It's an 'and,' not an 'or,'" Sistani said of the push into clinical services.

But, she acknowledged that in some cases, "Willpower alone is complex. Because of the genetic and biological, environmental, socioeconomic (factors)."

This photograph taken on February 23, 2023, in Paris, shows the anti-diabetic medication "Ozempic" (semaglutide) made by Danish pharmaceutical company "Novo Nordisk". - On TikTok, the hashtag "#Ozempic" has reached more than 500 million views: this anti-diabetic medication is trending on the social network for its' slimming properties, a phenomenon that is causing supply shortages and worrying doctors. (Photo by JOEL SAGET / AFP) (Photo by JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images)

The health industry has in recent years looked to root causes of obesity in certain populations, citing lack of access to fresh or healthy foods as one potential, and inability to afford such foods as another.

With the breakthrough of the new chronic management injectable drugs  and their popularity causing shortages that impact diabetic patients  Sistani sees an opportunity to leverage the company's brand to be a go-to source for the medication's users.

"This represents a paradigm shift in our industry and one that we felt that it was important to address with a full-stack solution. And nobody else out there can do what we can do. When you get a (prescription) for these medications, it is medically advised to do it alongside a lifestyle behavior change program. And as you know, we are the number one doctor-recommended behavior change program," Sistani said on a recent earnings call.

Story continues

A sign for Weight Watchers is displayed at office in lower Manhattan, New York October 19, 2015. Oprah Winfrey will buy a 10 percent stake in Weight Watchers International Inc, adding her celebrity and consumer appeal to a diet brand that has been shedding subscribers. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

She told Yahoo Finance that the company will be prescribing per FDA guidelines.

"These medications, they're not for everyone. I think that there's been a lot of misinformation and misuse, treating it like something where you're going to lose 10-20 pounds for your reunion. That's not the appropriate use for these medications," she said, hinting at the growing trend of celebrities admitting they use the drug.

"These aren't 'weight loss drugs,' these are chronic weight management prescriptions that can help you with the conditions of living with overweight and obesity," Sistani added.

She also noted the company is "in the subscription business not the prescription business."

Sistani emphasized that the company would only allow those with body mass indexes (BMI) over 30, or those over 27 years of age with a comorbidity (chronic disease), to be prescribed the drug, per FDA guidelines. With the growing prevalence of the drugs, more insurers are covering it, allowing more individuals access.

"Now that supply chain challenges are being resolved and more insurance plans are covering these medications, access is expected to increase. The FDA indicates that chronic weight management medication should only be prescribed as an adjunct to behavioral lifestyle changes. However, there has been a lack of holistic care to partner with these medications. They are not magic pills," Sistani said on the call.

But it isn't going to be a quick turnaround. Sistani noted on the call that it will take time to build out the vertical, and there will be a learning curve as to how to integrate the medicine with members' weight loss journeys.

And the company is doing so at a time when there are new tech-based weight-loss startups, and more do-it-yourself resources than ever before  which has lead to a decrease in subscribers in recent years.

But Sistani said the company's scale is its biggest advantage. WW International already has relationships with companies, insurers, and has clients like the City of New York and Cleveland Clinic as business partners. That's something startups are still working on building, Sistani said.

"This is truly the OG social network, this is how people connect around a vulnerable experience," she told Yahoo Finance.

"We're first of all managing to the long term health of the company, not the stock price," Sistani added.

She maintains the company is not pivoting but rather building its service offerings around new science and technology.

That includes providing the platform to ensure that whoever does need access to the drug can do so with the help of WW managing the engagement with insurers. But ultimately the cost of the prescriptions  which has been reported to be more than $1,000 a month in some cases  would fall on the patient, depending on whether their insurers are covering it or not.

Follow Anjalee on Twitter @AnjKhem

Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Key Insights

Significant control over Plus500 by individual investors implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 46% ownership

37% of Plus500 is held by Institutions

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Plus500 Ltd. (LON:PLUS), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are individual investors with 51% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

And institutions on the other hand have a 37% ownership in the company. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Plus500.

Check out our latest analysis for Plus500

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Plus500?

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.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Plus500. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Plus500's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

It would appear that 8.6% of Plus500 shares are controlled by hedge funds. That worth noting, since hedge funds are often quite active investors, who may try to influence management. Many want to see value creation (and a higher share price) in the short term or medium term. The company's largest shareholder is Odey Asset Management LLP, with ownership of 8.6%. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 5.7% and 5.0% of the stock.

Story continues

A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority.

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 Plus500

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. 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.

Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Plus500 Ltd.. It is a pretty big company, so it is generally a positive to see some potentially meaningful alignment. In this case, they own around UK57m 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, who are usually individual investors, hold a substantial 51% stake in Plus500, suggesting it is a fairly popular stock. With this amount of ownership, retail investors can collectively play a role in decisions that affect shareholder returns, such as dividend policies and the appointment of directors. They can also exercise the power to vote on acquisitions or mergers that may not improve profitability.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Plus500 (including 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) .

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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DALLAS - TX JULY 24: The CEO of Pernod Ricard North America Ann Mukherjee photographed in her back yard Dallas Texas.

The CEO of Pernod Ricard North America, Ann Mukherjee. Credit - Zerbe Mellish

Liquor industry leader Ann Mukherjee makes bold moves to fulfill her passionate belief in return on responsibility.

Its not enough to be responsible. You have to get a return on it, says Mukherjee, the 57-year-old chairwoman and CEO of Pernod Ricard North America, the largest operation at the worlds second biggest producer of wine and spirits. It makes Absolut vodka, Malibu rum, Jameson Irish whiskey, and Beefeater gin, among others. I experienced personal traumas caused by others irresponsible drinking. Thats why my responsibility is to lend my voice and humanize issues, she says.

Mukherjee was born in India, and raised in the U.S. An intoxicated adolescent boy sexually assaulted her at age four. A drunk driver killed her mother when she was a teenager. She held marketing management roles at several consumer product makers before surprising friends and family by joining the booze business.

Now shes the first woman, person of color, and industry outsider to lead Pernod Ricards North American unit, which excludes Mexico. Shortly after her December 2019 arrival at the company, Mukherjee launched an Absolut Vodka campaign targeting sexual consent, and painted sex responsibly on her fingernails.

Next up, she will expand a Dallas pilot project that combats binge drinking and impaired driving. The Safe Night program, which Pernod cosponsors, hopes to soon add another major U.S. city. We want to take this nationwide, she says. A self-proclaimed acceleration queen, Mukherjee says she also aims to speed Pernod Ricards U.S. growth to try to make us number one in the world.

TIME recently spoke with Mukherjee about her employers other efforts to prevent drunk driving, the appetizing outlook for ready-to-drink cocktails, war gaming product launches, and why she yearns to own a restaurant.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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How does return on responsibility improve returns for your investors? Do you avoid taking a public stance on certain controversial issues because your position might hurt Pernod Ricard?

Consumers have a higher standard around brands they trust. They expect those brands to be walking the talk. Return on responsibility is what consumers expect of us. It actually drives return on investment. Making it part of your DNA not only future-proofs your business, it also creates the loyalty you need.

We only go after those issues that drive value, our company values, and our purpose of conviviality. Conviviality is about unlocking this magic of human connections. When somebody gets promoted, youre celebrating over two flutes of champagne. We stay away if [an issue] isnt about unlocking that magic.

Employees have asked me to speak against gun violence, a very important issue, but not our mission. So I am not going to [do so].

Why should executives speak out about issues related to their business? After all, most Americans want companies to stay out of social and political issues, some surveys find.

Every company needs to define their value creation model. Youre giving people something to buy into [because] you are a brand standing for timeless values. If sustainability issues are not about how you create value, dont talk about them. Taking on topics du jour is another form of greenwashing. [Saying] you care about sustainability because were supposed to is not good enough. At Pernod Ricard, we talk about sustainability because nothing we make happens without agriculture. We wont have a business if we dont care about our farmers [or] dont understand water conservation.

The Dallas pilot project epitomizes your return on responsibility commitment by training restaurants and bars to assist customers who drink too much. Given your horrific experiences involving alcohol abusers, why didnt you initially launch a nationwide campaign against drunk driving?

The projects approach had never been done before so we wanted to pilot it to make sure we got the right model [before] we start rounding it out to every city. Nationally, we do other things around responsible drinking. You attack it through helping the hospitality industry, education, and legislation. We worked very hard with Responsibility.org on a [relevant] piece of legislation in President Bidens infrastructure package.

The package the president signed into law contains a provision that any car manufactured in the United States must soon be capable of preventing a drunk driver from operating the vehicle. I got pretty emotional the day that law got signed. I posted a picture of my mom to my family and told them how the provision will reduce drunk driving. It was a way to give her death some meaning.

The ready-to-drink cocktail market is flourishing. How much U.S. revenue might Pernod Ricard get from such cocktails five years from now?

I cant give any forward-looking numbers, but it is a part of our growth equation. The U.S. market for ready-to-drink cocktails is expected to grow at a rapid pace. People looking for convenience [also] want brands and cocktails they know and trust. So Malibu making a ready-to-drink pina colada makes sense. Absolut making an espresso martini ready to drink makes sense.

Its important enough for us that we are now investing capital behind it. Weve installed [our first] ready-to-drink canning line in our Fort Smith, Ark., facility. That $22 million investment is expandable so as that business gets bigger, we have the ability to grow with it.

While chief marketing officer of Frito-Lay North America, you helped introduce biodegradable bags for its Sun Chips. But due to their loud crackling sounds, the bags got withdrawn. What key leadership lesson did that noisy flop teach you?

At that time, the company wanted to make bold statements. While [the bag] did not work, employees said, Wow, we were willing to take a risk for what we believed in. But [being] enamored by the technology clouded our better business judgment. Passion, if not done objectively, sometimes is not the smartest thing to do. I learned to have a war game plan ready to go if something goes wrong.

How do you use war gaming to lead Pernod Ricard North America effectively?

We war game to be ready. There could be possible problems involving innovation launches, new marketing campaigns or new technology. And even if its a success, what were the lessons learned?

A great example is Jameson Orange, the first real flavored whiskey launched under the Jameson franchise. It was probably the biggest [U.S.] innovation launch the industry saw last year. We war gamed everything. What did this teach us? You got to make sure your innovation is on the shelf before you do all that [promotional] display stuff. It was 100% against industry norms. Were very excited about the results. We now launch innovation based on learnings around how consumers shop.

You often use nail polish to broadcast your views about hot topics. You painted Black Lives Matter or BLM on your fingernails after George Floyds murder in 2020. And you put a Ukrainian flag on your nails following Russias invasion last year. What message are you sending to your coworkers?

That its OK to be vulnerable. And its a way for me to use something illustratively to say, I care. You matter.

You try to unleash gifts that colleagues dont know they have, so they feel they can do the impossible. What impossible goal have you achieved?

Sitting in the chair Im in today. Ive been told, You should be a homeless drug addict, [because of] my story. I feel very privileged that people believe I can create positive change. Most people can achieve anything they want if they can get out of their own way. I try to get people out of their own way and give them inspiration and hope.

Not long ago, you said you were still trying to decide what you want to be when you grow up. Are you interested in becoming CEO of a publicly held company someday?

Why wouldnt I be? Thats absolutely in the mix. I get [recruiter] calls. And what a training ground Im in now! But Im very happy where I am. I came [to Pernod Ricard] because I wanted to accomplish something from a business and responsibility perspective. Working for a company you believe in doesnt come around every day.

I would [also] love to open my own restaurant and be the Stanley Tucci of India. Cooking is how I get rid of stress. I read cookbooks like novels. I love fusion cooking, bringing different cuisines together, and understanding culture through food. We [recently took] a three-week food extravaganza tour in Vietnam. Ive got lots of dreams. Who knows what Ill end up doing?
Lee en espanol

The largest exodus of Cubans in history has taken place over the past year, and many of the new wave of Cubans coming to the U.S. are settling in Arizona.

Several thousand Cubans fleeing economic and political turmoil have arrived in recent months to the Phoenix area, the largest-ever influx of Cubans to Arizona, according to interviews with a dozen recent Cuban migrants, resettlement officials, and state data.

They come from different cities and towns, including the capital, Havana. A large number have arrived from Las Tunas, a municipality on the eastern end of the island. Most are reuniting with relatives and friends who resettled in Phoenix within the past 20 years.

They paid $8,000 to $15,000 each for tickets to fly from Cuba to Nicaragua and to pay coyotes to transport them by bus, car, horseback, motorcycle and on foot to travel through Central America and Mexico to reach the U.S. border. Once at the border, most crossed without authorization, turned themselves over to Border Patrol agents and then were released shortly after to pursue asylum or legal residency in the U.S. under the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act.

They are fleeing constant blackouts, shortages of food, medicine and baby formula, soaring inflation, rising poverty and growing political repression, the migrants said. Cuba is experiencing the deepest economic crisis to hit the country in decades, a product of the COVID-19 pandemic, a failed Communist government and the tightening of U.S. sanctions, experts say.

Many of the Cubans interviewed said they grew up being taught the decades-old U.S. embargo was to blame for Cubas long-standing economic problems. Now they fault Cuba's Communist government.

Defecting to the U.S. has been difficult in the past, but Cubans who can arrange the expensive passage are having no trouble migrating now.

Our country is going through the worst economic situation ever, Arasi said in Spanish. The 37-year-old Cuban woman asked that her last name not be published for fear it could cause problems for her family still in Cuba. She arrived in Phoenix June 30 after an 18-day journey from Cuba to the U.S. through Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico.

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In Mexicali, she crossed the border into the U.S. during the day with a group of migrants. They waited under a surveillance camera until Border Patrol agents arrived. They were taken to a Border Patrol station in Yuma, where they were processed and then driven by U.S. immigration authorities to Phoenix, where Arasi said she was released at a shelter. Her husband, who had arrived in Phoenix three months earlier, picked her up.

Roberto Roque Rodriguez shows off a photo on Feb. 21, 2023, of his time working as a taxi driver in Cuba. He left Cuba and now helps out at his brother's store, which is located at a Glendale strip mall with several other Cuban-owned businesses.

Weve always been in an economic crisis, but its worse now. There is a lot of shortages, a lot of need, Arasi said.

A pound of pork in Cuba cost 25 pesos, about $1, a year ago, she said. Now the same amount costs 10 times as much, she said.

In Cuba, Arasi was a professional. Her husband ran his own business. They have applied for asylum to remain in the U.S. and are in the process of getting work permits. She was sitting in a booth that sells Valentines Day gifts in a market on the west side of Phoenix, where she volunteers as an assistant.

To pay for their trip to the U.S., they sold all of their belongings in Cuba but borrowed most of the money from friends in the U.S. A Cuban friend living in Phoenix for years encouraged them to come to Arizona.

He said the economy was strong and there were a lot of jobs, Arasi said.

On their way:Migrants from many countries are arriving at the US-Mexico border. Heres why

More Cubans searching for homes outside Florida

The Cubans who have come to Arizona are among the more than 300,000 Cubans who have arrived through the U.S.-Mexico border since February 2022, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. That number surpasses the exodus of Cubans who fled during Castros Communist revolution in the early 1960s.

The arrival of so many Cubans in Arizona is unusual. The states Latino population is predominantly of Mexican descent. Historically, Florida is the main destination in the U.S. for Cubans.

The Miami area, home to the nations largest Cuban population, is saturated with migrants who recently arrived from Cuba and other Latin American countries, experts say.

As a result, a growing number of Cubans are settling in cities such as Phoenix, where many are joining friends or family who arrived in earlier waves. The cost of living is comparatively more affordable, and jobs are easier to get, according to interviews with Cuban migrants, and resettlement officials.

What were seeing is individuals fleeing Cuba primarily to join their family in Phoenix or other areas where their family is living, said Joanne Morales, director of refugee programs at Catholic Charities.

A family of Cuban immigrants, many from Vazquez, Cuba, gathers to roast a pig and celebrate a birthday on Jan. 29, 2023, in Laveen.

Besides the Phoenix area, the Las Vegas, Louisville, Kentucky, and Houston areas also are resettling growing numbers of Cubans coming to the U.S., Morales said. Outside Miami, the areas of New York City and Los Angeles, along with the Tampa, Orlando, Naples and Fort Myers areas in Florida, are home to the largest concentration of Cubans, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a research organization.

The organization ran a program that helped resettle Cubans seeking asylum in the U.S., with funding from the federal government. The program started in 1994 and ended in 2017, when former President Barack Obama terminated what was called the wet foot, dry foot policy. That policy allowed Cubans who touched U.S. soil to remain in the U.S. rather than be sent back to Cuba. The Obama administration ended the policy as part of the normalization of relations with Cuba, which complained that the policy encouraged Cubans to migrate.

Nearly 8,000 Cubans were resettled in Arizona during that period, according to data from the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Refugee Resettlement Program.

Migration from Cuba to the U.S. declined after 2017 but skyrocketed in 2022, when Arizona began receiving record numbers of Cubans.

In fiscal year 2022, nearly 2,400 Cubans who have arrived in Arizona have been designated as refugees, up from zero the year before, according to Arizona Department of Economic security data. Another 1,178 Cubans in Arizona have received the designation this year. The designation makes them eligible for cash and medical assistance for up to 12 months from their arrival date, said Tasya Peterson, a department spokesperson.

The sharp increase in Cubans seeking refugee assistance provides an indication of the size of the influx of Cubans in Arizona. It does not include Cubans who did not reach out for services, Peterson said. So the actual number of Cubans who have recently arrived in Arizona is higher.

The sudden influx has strained local resettlement agencies, Peterson said. And Arizonas tight market is making it hard to find affordable housing.

Housing is an ongoing challenge that continues to pose barriers and instability in the safety and security of all refugees and other eligible beneficiaries, Peterson said in a written statement.

Several Cubans who were interviewed said they are frustrated by the long wait to receive work permits from the federal government.

Peterson said the wait is over nine months, which has created an obstacle for clients accessing employment services and entering the workforce.

The flow of Cubans to Arizona is expected to continue. Many Cubans already living in Phoenix say they are scrambling to fill out the paperwork to sponsor relatives and friends in Cuba who also want to come to the U.S. under a new policy announced by the Biden administration in January.

Roberto Roque Rodriguez shows off some of the Cubano wares inside Botanica Cubana Oshun, which is located at a strip mall with several Cuban-owned businesses in Glendale, on Feb. 21, 2023.

Under that policy, up to 30,000 humanitarian visas will be given to people in Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela with sponsors in the U.S.

Most of the humanitarian visas are expected to go to Cubans because they are being distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Cubans tend to have more ties to family members in the U.S. with money and knowledge of how the immigration system works than Haitians and Nicaraguans, so they will likely end up with the bulk of the visas, analysts say.

Cuban immigrants in the U.S. are well connected, said Ariel Ruiz, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute. They have a higher level of social capital in the U.S. than other immigrants. They tend to be well-informed on U.S. policy and U.S. politics, and these combined factors make them more readily available to be sponsors.

Unlike other immigrants, most Cubans who reach the U.S. can apply for legal permanent residency after living in the U.S. for one year and one day under the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act, a law passed in response to Cubans fleeing the communist regime in Cuba.

Bidens new policy is intended to get control of the humanitarian crisis at the southern border by offering humanitarian visas that allow asylum seekers to fly directly to the U.S. and enter the country legally rather than making the dangerous journey through Mexico and crossing the border illegally.

At the same time, the Biden administration has begun quickly expelling to Mexico Cuban migrants who cross the southern border illegally, using the pandemic-era border policy called Title 42. Until January, almost all Cubans who crossed illegally were exempted from Title 42 expulsions and allowed to remain in the U.S.

Now Cubans who arrive at the border without authorization to enter legally face immediate expulsion to Mexico under Bidens new policy. As a result, the number of Cuban migrants who crossed the southern border has plummeted, from nearly 43,000 in December to 6,400 in January, according to CBP data. Of the 6,400 Cubans apprehended by border officers in January, 40% were expelled, compared with fewer than 0.10% the month before, the data shows.

New reality at the border:Once welcomed into the US, Cubans arriving at southern border now expelled under new Biden policy

No comparison to latest wave of Cuban migrants

Cubas economy plummeted by 11% in 2020, the countrys worst economic crisis in decades, said Jorge Duany, director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.

Cubas failed central economic system, and the loss of revenue and investment from Cubas major trading partner, Venezuela, which is experiencing its own economic crisis, were among the factors.

The pandemic, during which Cuba closed its borders, deepened the crisis, Duany said.

Tough sanctions imposed in 2017 and 2020 by President Donald Trumps administration against Cuba, which reversed actions by the Obama administration, restricted remittances and blocked travel to Cuba, also contributed to its economic downturn, Duany said.

The crisis prompted the largest protests to take place in Cuba in 60 years in July 2021. The government responded with arrests and imprisonment of political dissidents that also helped fuel the mass exodus, Duany said.

Cubas economy is slowly starting to recover, but in October, Cuba was hit by a major hurricane, Ian, which devastated parts of the country.

In November 2021, Nicaragua eliminated visa requirements for Cubans. That prompted speculation that Cubas regime had enlisted the help of Nicaraguas socialist government to help Cubans leave, Duany said. Nicaragua has since become the main gateway for Cuban migration to the U.S. through Central America and Mexico, he said.

Cuba has historically used migration as an escape valve during hard economic times, Duany said. Encouraging dissidents and disaffected Cubans to leave helps keep the Communist regime in power. It puts pressure on the United States for better relations with Cuba, Duany said.

Ubisnel Hernandez (left), 28, talks with a customer as he cuts the hair of Yusniel Ballester inside a barbershop at 64 Plaza shopping mall, a strip mall with several Cuban-owned businesses in Glendale, on Feb. 21, 2023. Hernandez and Ballester are both Cuban immigrants.

Several Cuban migrants also said they believe Cubas Communist regime wants people to flee to the U.S. because the money they send to relatives at home in the form of remittances will help prop up the economy.

The closing of Cubas border during the pandemic created pent-up demand to migrate, said Michael Bustamante, a history professor who chairs the Cuban and Cuban-American Studies department at the University of Miami.

The Trump administrations closing of the U.S. Embassy in Havana in 2017 after claims of a series of mysterious sonic attacks against more than 20 American diplomats also shut down legal migration, Bustamante said. Until then, the embassy was giving out about 20,000 visas a year for Cubans to emigrate to the U.S.

So that explains why theres kind of this pent-up demand of people who want to leave, in addition to the economic crisis, Bustamante said.

The sonic attacks have since been called into question, and the U.S. embassy in Havana again began accepting visa applications in January, coinciding with the Biden administration's new policy.

Since the start of Fidel Castros revolution in 1959, a steady flow of migrants has streamed from Cuba to the U.S., but there is no comparison to the latest wave, Bustamante said.

About 250,000 Cuban refugees fled between 1959-1962; 260,600 Cubans fled during the Freedom Flights from 1965-1973; 125,000 Cubans came during the Mariel boatlift exodus from April to September 1980; and 31,000 arrived during the Balsero crisis from August 1994 to September 1994, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

The nearly 221,000 Cubans who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2022 amounted to 2% of Cubas 11 million population, he pointed out.

Another 112,600 have arrived during the first four months of fiscal year 2023, which started in October, although the number crossing has dropped sharply because of Biden's new policy.

This is the largest surge in Cuban migration to the United States since 1959, Bustamante said.

Changes:Cuban refugees have long been allowed into the US. What's happening now?

Migrant from Cuba: Now I can help my family

On a recent Sunday, about two dozen Cubans gathered in a backyard in Laveen for a birthday celebration. They sat at tables playing dominoes, or stood in small groups drinking beer and chatting in Cuban-tinged Spanish while an entire pig roasted on a spit over a bed of coals. The hosts served black beans, white rice and boiled yuca, traditional Cuban foods.

They all were from the same part of Cuba, Las Tunas, on the eastern end of the island, and many had arrived in the Phoenix area within the past year. Among them was Eddy Cordova, a 51-year-old pastry chef who came in July from the town of Vazquez in Las Tunas.

Cordova severely injured his head on the journey to the United States. Smugglers in southern Mexico transported him and other migrants by boat through the Pacific Ocean from Tapachula to the state of Oaxaca to evade immigration authorities. During the 14-hour trip, his head pounded on hard plastic water containers at the front of the boat on every large wave, Cordova said.

Doctors at a hospital in Phoenix operated on his brain twice to drain fluid after he got very sick shortly after arriving in the U.S., Cordova said.

Cordova turned his head and pointed at a long scar on the left side of his shaved head where doctors operated.

Eddy Cordova shows the scar on his head on Jan. 29, 2023, in Laveen. Cordova was severely injured on the journey from Cuba to the U.S. when his head pounded on hard plastic water containers in the boat that he and other migrants were placed in by smugglers. Doctors at a hospital in Phoenix operated on his brain twice to drain fluid after he arrived in the U.S.

Cordova left behind his wife and a 16-year-old son. He found work packing fruit for a local company. A cousin in Phoenix is applying to sponsor his wife and son so they can join him in Arizona.

Was the trip to the U.S. worth a head injury and risking his life?

At the end of the day, yes, Cordova said in Spanish. Im now in a country (the U.S.) where I can help my family. Cuba is experiencing a horrible economic crisis.

Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-8312. Follow him on Twitter @azdangonzalez.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: More Cuban migrants are going to Arizona instead of Florida
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/YouTube

Can you hear the chanting chorus yet? In 1976, The Omen terrified theaters full of innocent, God-fearing Americans nationwide. A year later, the film took home a well deserved Academy Award for its haunting original scorebecause composer Jerry Goldsmith never comes to play.

Director Richard Donner was wise to bring in Goldsmith to create The Omens signature sound, even in spite of the films meager budget. The Planet of the Apes composer was coming off a hot streak at the time, having scored Papillion, Chinatown, and The Wind and the Lion in the three preceding years (1973 through 1975).

At the same time, 17 Oscar nominations and no wins seem to have taken a toll on Goldsmith, who reportedly planned to skip 1977s ceremony for fear he couldnt handle any further rejection. The Omen producers Mace Neufield and Harvey Bernhard persuaded him to go anyway, convinced that this would be the nomination he would finally win.

Goldsmith is said to have smoked three cigarettes at a time that night, but his nerves were unfounded. Not only did The Omen take home the gold statuette that night; it also remains one of the most instantly recognizable scores in Hollywood history. Goldsmith would go on to score more classics, including Alien (1979) and Poltergeist (1982), before his death from cancer in 2004.

Like many horror films, The Omen would be nothing without its music, which immediately establishes a tense, at times demonic atmosphere. The choral work, which Goldsmith shepherded with assistance from Arthur Morton (born Arthur Goldberg), is the most memorable top notean unsettling, discordant motif that returns again and again. Then there are the frantic violins, the pulsing drums, the tragedy-tinged woodwinds. Requiem Mass has never sounded creepier. At the same time, Goldsmith also establishes emotional depth beyond mere terror. The Omens love theme, which recurs throughout, threads in a brighter, necessary counterpoint to the doom and gloom.

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The Most Gorgeous Film to Ever Win an Oscar

At this point, The Omens Academy Awards win also feels somewhat historic. Its best original score victory came one year after Jaws took home the Oscar in the same category, and no horror has taken the honor since. (That is, unless you count The Shape of Waterwhich, for the record, even its director, Guillermo del Toro does not.) More than that, however, its a testament to horrors emotional range, as well as its ingenuity. The Devil might work hard, but this score works even harder.

Read more of our picks for My Favorite Oscars Win

Three 6 Mafia winning Best Original Song

Parasite winning Best Picture

Marisa Tomei winning Best Supporting Actress

Days of Heaven winning Best Cinematography

Read more of our picks for The Oscars Moment I'll Never Forget

The emotional 2009 acting tributes

John Travolta's 'Adele Dazeem' gaffe

Anne Hathaway and James Francos hosting disaster

The time High School Musical infiltrated the Oscars

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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City Council District 6 candidates Marco Santana, left, Rose Grigoryan, Isaac Kim, Imelda Padilla, Douglas Sierra, Antoinette Scully and Marisa Alcaraz at a debate in Panorama City. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Progressive groups fanned across the western San Fernando Valley to knock on doors and sway voters during the last competitive Los Angeles City Council race in this pocket of L.A.

Their candidate, a climate change activist, ultimately lost. Still, the 2019 race showed that groups such as Ground Game Los Angeles and Sunrise Movement LA could be a potent force in Valley elections.

But in this year's City Council race, an election to fill the Valley seat left vacant by council President Nury Martinez's resignation, some big progressive groups have been staying on the sidelines.

Ground Game hasn't endorsed in the April 4 primary. Neither has Sunrise Movement, a youth-oriented climate-justice organization. The Los Angeles chapter of Democratic Socialists of America also isn't backing a candidate.

Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles doesn't endorse in elections, but some of its members are urging support for a write-in candidate.

The lack of unified support for any of the seven candidates isn't due to a lack of progressive views. All but one of the candidates is a Democrat. There's also a police abolitionist running.

Many of the candidates also talk about the environmental injustices in this majority Latino council district, where residents want more parks and trees and fewer private jet flights from Van Nuys Airport.

Still, some of the city's most well-known progressive groups are staying out for now.

Some far-left activists admit that they don't have a deep network in District 6, which extends from Lake Balboa to Sun Valley. Others say they don't have the resources to support a candidate in the special election, which was prompted by leaked audio that revealed Martinez making racist comments.

"A lack of an endorsement does not necessarily mean a lack of interest in the race," said Bill Przylucki, executive director of Ground Game LA, which works to elect progressive candidates.

Neither Ground Game nor Democratic Socialists of America endorse in every race. A lack of endorsement from Ground Game may mean that no single candidate stood out so far from any other and cleared all the criteria" to earn the group's support, said Przylucki. However, the group will do voter engagement around homelessness and housing ahead of the primary, he said.

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Ground Game has seen a string of wins in recent City Hall elections. The group endorsed the campaigns of Nithya Raman, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Eunisses Hernandez and Kenneth Mejia, who all won their races against incumbents or longtime City Hall politicians. All those politicians want big changes to the city's handling of policing and homelessness.

Loraine Lundquist, who ran for the San Fernando Valley City Council seat ultimately won by John Lee, had support in her race from Food and Water Action Fund Cal PAC. That group helped recruit volunteers from Sunrise Movement, the Democratic Socialists of America and Ground Game. A focus in the race was local anger over the 2015 methane leak in Aliso Canyon.

But she doesn't see the same mobilization from progressives in the District 6 race.

The progressive movement is fractured to some extent," Lundquist said. They dont have a historical base of people working in the Valley who know the candidates."

Ground Game's Przylucki agreed that the progressive movement is not as cohesive as it could be but said that its better than 2019.

The Peoples City Council isn't advocating for any one candidate, said co-founder Ricci Sergienko. The far-left collective, which is focused on anti-racism and abolishing the police, has used its popular Twitter feed to attack and prop up candidates in past elections.

When it comes to support in the District 6 race, the People's City Council's dozen members don't live in the district and the candidates aren't well-known to the group, Sergienko said.

District 6 candidates from left: Antoinette Scully, Isaac Kim, Rose Grigoryan, Douglas Sierra, Marco Santana, Imelda Padilla, Marisa Alcaraz. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Progressive groups that have weighed in include LA Forward Action, a nonprofit focused on housing, environmental justice and government reforms. The group endorsed candidate Marco Santana, but for now won't be spending money, said David Levitus, executive director of LA Forward Action. Lundquist is also a board member.

Another candidate, Isaac Kim, is endorsed by Sunrise Movement at Occidental, which is affiliated with students at Occidental College. Kim also has some campaign workers helping him who also worked on Mejias City Controller campaign, he said.

Antoinette Scully, the police abolitionist in the race, is backed by Feel the Bern San Fernando and East Valley Indivisibles. Scully, who is Black, said that anti-Blackness and patriarchy are influences when it comes to election endorsements.

It's actually really frustrating, said Scully, of large progressive groups staying out of the race. "I have the receipts, I've been doing the work.

Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles co-founder Melina Abdullah said that many members are individually supporting Pastor James Thomas, a self-described activist, as a write-in.

Sunrise Movement, meanwhile, wants a climate champion to lead the district, said group hub coordinator, Nico Gardner-Serna, who pointed to Van Nuys Airport and a Superfund site in the northeast Valley. A years-long methane gas leak at a Sun Valley power plant also outraged residents.

"We urge everyone who cares about the climate to get involved in this election," Gardner-Serna said.

Still, Sunrise Movement isn't endorsing in the primary because it's focused on developing broader advocacy campaigns, Gardner-Serna said, adding that it hopes to make an endorsement in the general election.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
At 100, Marcella Rose LeBeau receiving Special Recognition Award from the National Congress of American Indians in Washington, D.C. (Photo/Levi Rickert)

During the month of March, in recognition of Women's History Month, Native News Online will feature various Native American women who have contributed to the betterment of Indian Country.

Marcella LeBeau (October 12, 1919  November 21, 2021)

Marcella Rose LeBeau, a tribal citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux, lived a long life that was spent in service to othersin Indian Country and beyondas a nurse, tribal councilor, and advocate.

Born in Promise, South Dakota, her grandmother gave her Native name: Wigmunke Waste Win, which means Pretty Rainbow Woman. She became a nurse in 1942 and one year later, LaBeau enlisted in the Army Nurse Corp, and served as a combat nurse during World War II where she served the the Greatest Generation wounded solidiers.

She provided medical care for soldiers injured during the Battle of the Bulge in Normandy, France on D-Day. For her heroic service, LeBeau was honored by the country of France with its highest honor, the French Legion of Honor Medal

Upon receiving a Leadership Award from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) during its winter session in Washington, D.C. in February 2020, LeBeau, 100, told a moving story of having treated a soldier, a tribal citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, who lost both of his legs during the war, and then meeting him some forty years later. He told her then he never forgot the care she provided for him and help restore his will to live.

After World War II, LeBeau returned home to the Cheyenne River Sioux and worked as a nurse and other positions for the Indian Health Service.

She eventually entered tribal politics and served on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council from 1991 to 1995.

Her advocacy led Lebeau even at 100 years-old to still work to have the medals of honor rescinded of those U.S. Calvary servicemen who participated in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre that left close to 300 Lakota men, women and children dead. She was instrumental in getting the Remove the Stain Act introduced in Congress.

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During her response at the NCAI 2020 State of the Indian Nations address, then Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM), mentioned Lebeau.

It is also a tremendous honor for me to say the name of Marcella LeBeau; a leader who has consistently represented her people with grace and unyielding courage. Ms. LeBeau has served Indian Country, and our country in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II, tending bedside in surgical tents while bombs dropped around Her legacy will be carried forward for generations to come, Haaland said.

On November 6, 2021, LeBeau was inducted into the Native American Hall of Fame for contributions to the health and well-being of Lakota people, World War II soldiers, and diverse populations of people.

LeBeau passed away on November 21, 2021 in Eagle Butte, South Dakota after a brief illness. She was 102.

About the Author: "Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
Update: Gladstone police released a statement Sunday confirming the body found Friday was 13-year old Jayden Robker. They said preliminary autopsy results indicate no obvious signs of foul play in his death.

On Friday, police told the mother of a Kansas City teen missing since February that a body found in a pond in Gladstone matches the description of her son.

Heather Robker told The Star in an interview Saturday that police said they believe the body found Friday near North Broadway and Northwest Englewood Road is that of her missing son, 13-year-old Jayden Robker.

I just went hysterical, she said.

Official identification is pending autopsy results.

The boys mother said officers came to her work and notified her just before noon on Friday, shortly after the body was discovered just a mile from their home in a pond, and the death investigation had been launched by the Gladstone Police Department.

Law enforcement had been at the scene since about 11 a.m., according to the Kansas City Police Department. Authorities spent hours Friday combing that wooded area near the pond, searching for clues.

Capt. Karl Burris, a spokesman for the Gladstone Police Department, said KCPD was assisting in the investigation due to the citys close proximity.

Jayden had been missing since Feb. 2, when his mother called police from their home at Northwest Plaza Drive and Northwest Plaza Avenue in the Northland.

Kansas City police were asking the public for help Monday to find Jayden Robker, 13, who was reported missing from the Lakeview Terrace neighborhood since Thursday.

Robker said her son left home on his skateboard after he got off the school bus around 2:30 p.m. that afternoon and never returned. She said she contacted police that evening around 10:40 p.m., when she woke up for her night shift and discovered her son missing.

A media release on Jaydens disappearance wasnt posted until four days after he went missing. A spokesperson with the Kansas City Police Department said the reason it wasnt posted immediately, in part, was because they couldnt find a current photo of him right away.

Capt. Corey Carlisle, a spokesman for the KCPD, said despite the delay in information exchange in getting the news release out, detectives immediately began investigating the case the night he was reported missing.

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Volunteers gather to canvass for missing 13-year-old Jayden Robker in the Lakeview Terrace neighborhood on Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Kansas City. Robker was last seen Feb. 2 at N.W. Plaza Drive and N.W. Plaza Ave.

Last Sunday, dozens of people gathered to participate in a canvass aimed at increasing awareness about Jaydens disappearance. On Wednesday, the FBI announced it was offering a $5,000 reward for information about his whereabouts.

Just days later, the body believed to be Jayden was discovered, less than a mile from his home and near the QuickTrip where he was last seen on surveillance video after using the restroom.

Loving sibling, promising entrepreneur

On Saturday, Robker said she was told she couldnt see the body until after the autopsy, but that the body had been there for a while.

Its the worst thing ever, she said.

Heather Robker, center, speaks to a boy while canvassing for her missing 13-year-old son, Jayden Robker, in the Lakeview Terrace neighborhood on Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Kansas City. Jayden was last seen Feb. 2 at N.W. Plaza Drive and N.W. Plaza Ave.

Robker said she had felt something was off since Jayden disappeared, saying her mothers intuition clued her in.

She said Jayden had left home once before and lived with a family member for a few months before returning home last year, but she was sure he had not run away when he went missing in February. She said he would not be gone this long without telling anybody  it wasnt like him.

I kept telling people, Something is wrong, she said. My son did not run away. Someone took him or did something to him.

She hopes shell have answers to what happened to her son soon, saying shes been devastated by the news.

My son was a very loving person, she said. He was very caring, even with his brothers and sisters.

Before he went missing, Jayden loved spent time with his siblings and friends. Her husband, Eric Givens, had been teaching Jayden how to box.

Kansas City police were asking the public for help finding Jayden Robker, 13, who was reported missing from the Lakeview Terrace neighborhood on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.

He loved to play video games and skateboard, and Robker described the teen as outgoing and bright. In a previous interview with The Star, she said he was a budding entrepreneur, with a plan to start his own car wash business to make some money to build his savings account.

Its like my world has gone silent, Robker said.

Many questions still surround Jaydens disappearance, as his family awaits the results of the autopsy and any updates in the case. Gladstone police said they would not be releasing any further information on Saturday.
The Washington State Patrol is looking for information on recent gold scammers in King County, said the WSP in a news release on Friday.

The WSP has gotten several reports and interviewed three people that were scammed by people selling fake jewelry on the freeways and ramps in the King County area in the past two weeks.

The reports are the same as ones received in King County and other parts of Washington and around the country.

Well-dressed people in higher-end rental cars flag down drivers on the side of the freeway or ramps saying they need money for gas to get back home. They say they will pay the person back more and/or give them gold jewelry in exchange for cash. This is typically an aggressive conversation and they demand cash to help them.

The first case happened on March 2 around 4 p.m. while the driver was eastbound on State Routh 520 to southbound Interstate 405. The person drove to their bank after being stopped by the scammer and handed over $10,000.00 in exchange for the gold jewelry shown below. The person, in this case, described the scammer as a man of Middle Eastern descent.

The second case happened on March 7 around 10:40 a.m. when the driver was westbound on SR 18 to SR 516. Two men in a brown KIA Cerato flagged over the person and ultimately scammed $4,000.00 from him. The person said one scammer looked to be in his 60s and the other 45 years old and both appeared to be of Arabic descent.

The third case happened on March 9 around 2 p.m. when the driver was southbound on I-405 to I-5. The suspect was described as a heavy-set man with a black beard and mustache in a suit driving a gray BMW SUB with no front plate. The person said the scammer told him he needed to get back to Miami. The person was scammed out of $1,000.00.

WSP detectives are looking for anyone that may have information on these cases or any others not described above. Detectives would also like to speak with any other victims of this scam that have yet to contact the police.

Besides being a scam and illegal these situations are also very unsafe as these suspects are stopping on freeways and ramps where pedestrians are not allowed and at times stepping out into traffic in order to get drivers to pull over, said the WSP. If you find yourself in this type of situation DO NOT STOP! Call 911 as soon as possible and give the location and any description of suspects and vehicles.




(CNN)  The four astronauts who make up the Crew-5 team aboard the International Space Station began their return trip home Saturday morning, marking the end of a five-month stay in space.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule disembarked from the space station at 2:20 am ET, beginning the final leg of the astronauts' journey. The spacecraft is set to splash down off Florida at around 9:02 p.m. ET Saturday.

Rescue ships will be awaiting the team's arrival, ready to haul the capsule out of the ocean and allow the crew to disembark, giving the astronauts their first breath of fresh air in nearly 160 days. Shortly afterward, the crew will depart for NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The four crew members  NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, astronaut Koichi Wakata of JAXA, or Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and cosmonaut Anna Kikina of the Russian space agency Roscosmos  launched to the space station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule this past October. They've spent the past few months carrying out research experiments and keeping up with maintenance of the two-decade-old orbiting laboratory.

And for the past few days, the four have been handing off operations to the Crew-6 team of astronauts who arrived at the space station on March 3.

Meet the crew

Mann, a registered member of the Wailacki tribe of the Round Valley reservation, became the first Native American woman to travel into orbit. Like the other astronauts, she devoted time on her journey to public outreach, some of which focused on inspiring Indigenous children. During one outreach event in November 2022, Mann showed off a dream catcher  a traditional totem for Native Americans meant to ward off bad dreams  that she took with her to the space station.

"I am very proud to represent Native Americans and my heritage," Mann told reporters before launch. "I think it's important to celebrate our diversity and also realize how important it is when we collaborate and unite, the incredible accomplishments that we can have."

Kikina's participation in this flight came as part of a ride-sharing agreement by NASA and Roscosmos in July 2022. Despite geopolitical tensions between the United States and Russia as the war in Ukraine has escalated, NASA has repeatedly said its partnership with Roscosmos is vital to continuing the space station's operations and the valuable scientific research carried out on board.

The journey marked the first trip to space for Mann, Cassada and Kikina.

Wakata previously flew on NASA's space shuttle flights and Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. This trip was the Japanese astronaut's fifth spaceflight mission.

This was first published on CNN.com, "Astronaut crew heads home after five-month stay on the International Space Station."
Washington  Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday that the federal government will not provide a bailout for Silicon Valley Bank's investors after the bank was abruptly shuttered, but said financial regulators are "concerned" about the impact to depositors and working to address their needs.

"During the financial crisis, there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed out," Yellen said in an interview with "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "And the reforms that have been put in place means that we're not going to do that again. But we are concerned about depositors and are focused on trying to meet their needs."

Transcript: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on "Face the Nation"

On Sunday, the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve and FDIC said the government will be guaranteeing deposits for SVB account holders. "Depositors will have access to all of their money starting Monday, March 13. No losses associated with the resolution of Silicon Valley Bank will be borne by the taxpayer," according to a joint statement released by the agencies.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on

The Federal Reserve on Sunday also announced the creation of a new Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP) to make additional funding available "to eligible depository institutions to help assure banks have the ability to meet the needs of all their depositors," according to a press release. "This action will bolster the capacity of the banking system to safeguard deposits and ensure the ongoing provision of money and credit to the economy."

California regulators shut down Silicon Valley Bank on Friday after depositors rushed to withdraw money last week amid concerns about its balance sheet. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was appointed receiver, and regulators are working to find a buyer for the institution, which ranked as the 16th-largest bank in the U.S. before its failure.

The collapse of the 40-year-old bank, which catered to the tech industry, is the largest of a financial institution since the failure of Washington Mutual in 2008.

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President Biden spoke with California Gov. Gavin Newsom about Silicon Valley Bank and the federal response on Saturday, and the FDIC spoke with members of the California congressional delegation late Saturday night.

Yellen said that in the wake of Silicon Valley Bank's failure, Treasury officials have been hearing from depositors, many of which are small businesses, and she has been working with bank regulators to "design appropriate policies" to address the situation, though she declined to provide further details. The FDIC, she said, is likely considering a "range of available options" to stabilize the situation, which could include an acquisition by a foreign bank.

"The American banking system is really safe and well-capitalized. It's resilient," she said. "In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, new controls were put in place, better capital and liquidity supervision, and it was tested during the early days of the pandemic and proved its resilience. So Americans can have confidence in the safety and soundness of our banking system."

Still, Silicon Valley Bank's shutdown has prompted nervousness about whether it could trigger a run on other small and regional banks. Yellen, though, said financial regulators are working to prevent the fallout from spreading to other institutions.

"We want to make sure that the troubles that exist at one bank don't create contagion to others that are sound," she said. "The goal always of supervision and regulation is to make sure that contagion can't occur."

In its joint statement, the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve and FDIC said measures were being taken to address the closure of another bank. "We are also announcing a similar systemic risk exception for Signature Bank, New York, New York, which was closed today by its state chartering authority. All depositors of this institution will be made whole. As with the resolution of Silicon Valley Bank, no losses will be borne by the taxpayer," the statement reads.

Following the closure of Silicon Valley Bank, the FDIC said it created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara, to which insured deposits from Silicon Valley Bank were immediately transferred. All insured depositors will have access to their insured deposits by Monday morning, while uninsured depositors will receive an advance dividend within the next week, the FDIC said. Future dividend payments may be made to uninsured depositors as the FDIC sells Silicon Valley Bank's assets.

As of the end of 2022, Silicon Valley Bank had roughly $209 billion in total assets and about $174.5 billion in total deposits, according to the agency.

But more than 85% of Silicon Valley Bank's deposits were uninsured, according to estimates in a recent regulatory filing.

"We're very aware of the problems that depositors will have," Yellen said. "Many of them are small businesses that employ people across the country, and of course this is a significant concern and [we're] working with regulators to try to address these concerns."

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In the face of growing pressure for a federal bailout of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Treasury secretary Janet Yellen explained Sunday that no such intervention will occur. She added that the biggest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis is part of a larger tech industry downturn.

Confronted with a sudden bank run and capital crisis, Silicon Valley Bank collapsed Friday morning in the largest failure since Washington Mutual in 2008. SVB was unique in that it specialized in banking for tech start-ups. Though little known outside Silicon Valley, it is among the top 20 commercial banks in the U.S.

Some have suggested that if a private capital takeover of SVB cannot be accomplished, a bailout should be considered. Pershing Square founder Bill Ackman has suggested a highly dilutive federal bailout.

Yelllen appeared on Face The Nation and was asked by Margaret Brennan to react to the news from London: Yellens counterpart in the United Kingdom said that the government there has ruled out a bailout of the U.K. arm of SVB.

Let me be clear that during the [2008] financial crisis, there were investors and owners of systemic large banks that were bailed outthe reforms that have been put in place means that were not going to do that again, said Yellen. But we are concerned about depositors and are focused on trying to meet their needs.

Depositors are covered by the FDIC up to $250,000, but many had much more than that amount in their account and are hoping for federal government relief.

The tech industry has been suffering from a downturn, with widespread layoffs taking place in recent months. The secretary explained that the problems of the tech sector are at the heart of the problems of this bank.

There are widespread fears that when the markets open tomorrow there will be a deep selloff of U.S. bank stocks, exacerbating the crisis. However, Yellen projected confidence about the banking systems security at large.

Story continues

Let me say that Ive been working all weekend with our banking regulators to design appropriate policies to address this situation. I cant really provide further details at this time. But what I do want to do is emphasize that the American banking system is really safe and well-capitalized, its resilient, Yellen said.

SVB has faced speculation that its collapse is the result of mismanagement, with Brennan pointing out that the CEO of that bank reportedly sold about $3 million worth of shares 24 hours before the bank went under. Yellen declined to comment on that point.

Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis suggested Sunday on Fox News that the banks obsession with diversity, equity, and inclusion ought to be a part of the conversation.

Many have argued a private takeover, not a government bailout, is the solution.

Presidential candidate and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley explained Sunday that private investors can purchase the bank and its assets. It is not the responsibility of the American taxpayer to step in.

Taxpayers should absolutely not bail out Silicon Valley Bank. Private investors can purchase the bank and its assets. It is not the responsibility of the American taxpayer to step in. The era of big government and corporate bailouts must end.  Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) March 12, 2023

In an appearance on Sunday Morning Futures, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) agreed that the private purchase of this bank is the best possible outcome.

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday that while the federal government would not bail out Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), it's working to help affected depositors.

"The reforms that have been put in place means that we're not going to do [a bailout] again," said Yellen in an interview with CBS News' "Face the Nation."

She did note that federal government officials were "concerned" for depositors and are "focused on trying to meet their needs," however. Yellen also sought to calm fears that the banks collapse could lead to a domino effect. The American banking system is really safe and well capitalized, she said.

Roughly 85% of SVB depositors held money in accounts that were not FDIC-insured, meaning those funds could be irretrievable. The FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000 for each ownership category at FDIC-insured institutions, of which SVB was a member.

SVB, a 40-year-old bank, collapsed earlier this week following a $42 billion bank run. The withdrawal rush occurred shortly after SVB Financial Group announced on Wednesday its intentions to sell $2.24 billion in new shares in an attempt to compensate for having sold $21 billion of its portfolio's securities at a $1.8 billion loss. The news spooked high-profile venture capitalists, which prompted them to order their portfolio businesses to pull their money out of the bank, kickstarting a bank run. On March 10, just two days after the bank run began, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) seized SVB.

SVB's failure marks the largest bank blow-up in the history of the United States since Washington Mutual's collapse in 2008. SVBs meltdown came just days after the collapse of crypto-focused bank Silvergate Capital.
York Technical College, the Chester County Sheriffs Office, and Apprenticeship Carolina have partnered to create an apprenticeship program that will give students hands-on law enforcement experience.

According to a release from the Chester County Sheriffs Office, students ages 18 and up who are enrolled in a York Technical College law enforcement program are able to receive paid training at the Chester County Detention Center to build the foundation for a career in law enforcement.

This program is the first of its kind in South Carolina and is being used to combat officer shortages in detention centers.

ALSO READ: York Technical College continues free tuition program for students

Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey says the program is vital to the community and also helps students get the experience they need.

We are happy to partner with York Technical College on such an important program for our community, said Dorsey. It is critical that we encourage our young people to continue their education and gain valuable experience in their chosen profession while completing their degree. It is my hope that this unique opportunity provided by our office and York Technical College will encourage those who are seeking a career in the criminal justice profession.

Dr. Stacey Moore, president of York Technical College, said the college is passionate about their students having the best career preparation possible and is hopeful the program will do just that.

At York Technical College, we are passionate about giving our students the best education and career preparation available, said Moore. We understand that pursuing a career in law enforcement takes a great deal of dedication and hard work. Our goal for this apprenticeship is to better prepare students who are passionate about serving others in the field of law enforcement.

(WATCH BELOW: York County teens hospitalized after pursuit ends in crash)




(Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy bestowed posthumously the honour of "Hero of Ukraine" on Sunday on a soldier who defiantly said "Glory to Ukraine" before being seen to be shot dead in a video posted on social media.

Ukraine's military, on its Telegram channel, had earlier confirmed the identity of the soldier as Oleksandr Matsievskiy, a sniper with a unit from the northern region of Chernihiv.

"Today, I have bestowed the title of Hero of Ukraine on soldier Oleskandr Matsievskiy," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

"A man that all Ukrainians will know. A man who will be forever remembered. For his bravery, for his confidence in Ukraine and for his 'Glory to Ukraine'."

The apparently unarmed man in a uniform with a Ukrainian flag insignia on his arm was shown in a video smoking a cigarette and saying "Slava Ukraini" - or "Glory to Ukraine" - before apparently being shot dead. A voice off camera then says, in Russian, "Die, bitch."

Germany's Bild newspaper said its reporter spoke to Matsievekiy's mother, Paraska, who was quoted as saying: "He stood there unarmed, but proud to be Ukrainian. He was always incredibly brave. At this moment, the only weapon he could defend himself with was to say: 'Slava Ukraini!'"

The term "Glory to Ukraine" is more than a century old but came into general use after Ukraine won independence from Soviet rule.

It has been in widespread use as a greeting during the war, always drawing the response "Heroyam Slava" ("Glory to the Heroes").

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Nick Starkov; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to Oleksandr Matsievskyy, who was executed in captivity after saying the words "Glory to Ukraine!".

Source: President's evening address

Quote: Today I conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine upon Oleksandr Matsiyevskyi, a soldier. A man whom all Ukrainians will know. A man who will be remembered forever. For his bravery, for his confidence in Ukraine and for his Glory to Ukraine!"

Previously: The SSU reported on Sunday that Oleksandr Matsiievskyi, a sniper of the 163rd Battalion of the 119th Territorial Defence Brigade of Chernihiv Oblast, was the Ukrainian soldier executed after saying "Glory to Ukraine!".

Background:

On 6 March, a horrific video of the execution of a Ukrainian soldier whom the Russian occupiers had captured was posted online. In the last moments of his life, the Ukrainian PoW said "Glory to Ukraine!".

The Security Service of Ukraine has opened a criminal proceeding regarding the video in which Russian invaders shot the Ukrainian soldier.

A few suggestions about the name of the dead soldier appeared online.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised that the authorities will not allow Russia to destroy Ukrainian Lavras or steal its valuables.

Source: President's evening address

Quote: "This week there is also a movement to strengthen our spiritual independence. Society sees this. And I see the approval of Ukrainians for these steps, which are quite legitimate. And we will continue this movement.

We will not allow the terrorist state to have any opportunity to manipulate the spirituality of our people, to destroy Ukrainian shrines - our Lavras - or to steal any valuables from them."

Previously: On 11 March, the Minister of Culture and Information Policy, Oleksandr Tkachenko, warned representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (UOC MP) about criminal liability in case of moving museum exhibits, including relics of saints, from the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra to another place.

Background:

On 10 March, the National Reserve Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra informed the UOC MP monastery that from 29 March 2023, the 10-year-old agreement (from 19 July 2013) on the free use of religious buildings and other state-owned property will be terminated.

The warning referred to the demand to vacate the buildings at Lavrska 11 and Lavrska 15 in Kyiv.

The UOC MP stated that there are no legal grounds for this and that the eviction of its men's monastery from the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is just "a whim of officials from the Ministry of Culture."

Oleksandr Tkachenko emphasised that the monks and priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate must leave all premises of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra by the end of March.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






An Amherst County man facing a sex-related offense involving a child was arrested March 5 in Tacoma, Washington, the county sheriffs office announced March 10.

Jeremy Jackson, of Monroe, was wanted for a December 29, 2022 warrant of felony rape of a child, according to a news release from the sheriffs office.

Members of the Amherst County Sheriffs Office, USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the Virginia State Police Central Virginia Drug & Gang Task Force worked in collaboration with each other since January to locate Johnson, the release said.

The information collected during the investigation was forwarded to the United States Marshal Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force and an arrest was made without incident, the sheriffs office said.

 Rodney Robinson Jr.
Franklin Graham  president of Samaritans Purse, president of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and regarded as a world-renowned evangelist  will deliver Liberty Universitys keynote speech at the main commencement ceremony in May.

More than 25,000 degrees will be conferred and the university is preparing to welcome an audience of 60,000 people including graduates, family members and friends for commencement events taking place over three days, marking one of the schools largest commencements in school history, LU said in a news release.

Who better to send the Class of 2023 out into the world as Champions for Christ than Franklin Graham, LU Interim President Jerry Prevo said in a news release. The Graham family has been faithful friends and supporters of Liberty for a very long time.

In his work with Samaritans purse, Graham was instrumental in helping people impacted by major crises, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, for more than 45 years in over 170 countries, and in his time with the BGEA he has held more than 325 outreaches in 55 countries, LU said in a release.

In past years, Graham has visited the university delivering keynote addresses at commencement in 2001, speeches at convocations most recently in 2020 and he also spoke at the funeral of Libertys founder Jerry Falwell in 2007. Members of his family have attended the college, including his four children.

It is a privilege to be invited to speak to the Class of 2023 at Liberty University, Graham said in the release. We thank God for the vision that the founder and my friend, Dr. Jerry Falwell, had to raise up Champions for Christ.

The main ceremony takes place at 7 p.m. Friday, May 12 in Williams Stadium.
Council Bluffs Community School District officials will share more information about a proposal to redraw boundaries for elementary school attendance areas and close Crescent Elementary School during the Board of Educations regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14.

Superintendent Vickie Murillo sent an email about the proposal to families that would be affected on Monday explaining why she recommended it to the board. The changes would take effect for the 2023-24 school year.

The decision to make this recommendation to the board was made after careful consideration and is based on wanting to provide the best possible educational opportunities for all children, Murillo said. Crescent is a wonderful school with caring teachers. However, low enrollment at the school makes it difficult to provide equitable resources in counseling, talented and gifted education, and academic intervention for students at Crescent.

Enrollment at the school has been on a downward trend for years and is currently at 64 students. Thats almost a 25% drop from the 85 who were enrolled five years ago, when the board considered closing the school but ultimately voted to keep it open.

Its also only about half of the 127 elementary-age children who live in the Crescent attendance area. The rest attend other Council Bluffs schools or open-enroll to neighboring districts. The small number of students per teacher makes for a higher per-pupil cost at Crescent than at the districts other schools.

If Crescent Elementary were closed, about 20 of its students would be moved to College View Elementary and the rest would become part of the Lewis and Clark Elementary attendance area, according to a press release from the district.

Closing Crescent would save the district an estimated $935,000 a year, according to Chief Financial Officer Dean Wilson. As the district faces continuing budget challenges due to inadequate state funding and the introduction of state-funded scholarships for students who attend private schools, this is one of the cost-saving measures being considered, the press release stated.

The district has offered to lease the school building to the City of Crescent for use as a community center.

It is a well-maintained and up-to-date building we would want to have available to the school district if enrollment in the eastern part of the district should increase substantially, the press release stated.

The administration will also provide an overview of the districts 2023-24 budget at the meeting.

The board will vote on a proposed agreement with the Council Bluffs Education Association and officially schedule a public hearing on the possible closing of Crescent Elementary for its March 28 meeting.

More information can be found on the school districts website at cb-schools.org. Look under District News (click More if item on considering change to elementary boundaries isnt showing). Questions and comments can be directed to communications@cbcsd.org.
(CNN)  Most men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer can delay or avoid harsh treatments without harming their chances of survival, according to new results from a long-running study in the United Kingdom.

Men in the study who partnered with their doctors to keep a close eye on their low- to intermediate-risk prostate tumors  a strategy called surveillance or active monitoring slashed their risk of the life-altering complications such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction that can follow aggressive treatment for the disease, but they were no more likely to die of their cancers than men who had surgery to remove their prostate or who were treated with hormone blockers and radiation.

"The good news is that if you're diagnosed with prostate cancer, don't panic, and take your time to make a decision" about how to proceed, said lead study author Dr. Freddie Hamdy, professor of surgery and urology at the University of Oxford.

Other experts who were not involved in the research agreed that the study was reassuring for men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer and their doctors.

"When men are carefully evaluated and their risk assessed, you can delay or avoid treatment without missing the chance to cure in a large fraction of patients," said Dr. Bruce Trock, a professor of urology, epidemiology and oncology at Johns Hopkins University.

The findings do not apply to men who have prostate cancers that are scored through testing to be high-risk and high-grade. These aggressive cancers, which account for about 15% of all prostate cancer diagnoses, still need prompt treatment, Hamdy said.

For others, however, the study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that surveillance of prostate cancers is often the right thing to do.

"What I take away from this is the safety of doing active monitoring in patients," said Dr. Samuel Haywood, a urologic oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, who reviewed the study, but was not involved in the research.

Results from the study were presented on Saturday at the European Association of Urology annual conference in Milan, Italy. Two studies on the data were also published in the New England Journal of Medicine and a companion journal, NEJM Evidence.

A common cancer that's often low-risk

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States, behind non-melanoma skin cancers. About 11% -- or 1 in 9 -- American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and overall, about 2.5% -- or 1 in 41 -- will die from it, according to the National Cancer Institute. About $10 billion is spent treating prostate cancer in the US each year.

Most prostate cancers grow very slowly. It typically takes at least 10 years for a tumor confined to the prostate to cause significant symptoms.

The study, which has been running for more than two decades, confirms what many doctors and researchers have come to realize in the interim: The majority of prostate cancers picked up by blood tests that measure levels of a protein called prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, will not harm men during their lifetimes and don't require treatment.

Dr. Oliver Sartor, medical director of the Tulane Cancer Center, said men should understand that a lot has changed over time, and doctors have refined their approach to diagnosis since the study began in 1999.

"I wanted to make clear that the way these patients are screened and biopsied and randomized is very, very different than how these same patients might be screened, biopsied and randomized today," said Sartor, who wrote an editorial on the study but was not involved in the research.

He says the men included in the study were in the earliest stages of their cancer and were mostly low-risk.

Now, he says, doctors have more tools, including MRI imaging and genetic tests that can help guide treatment and minimize overdiagnosis.

The study authors say that to assuage concerns that their results might not be relevant to people today, they re-evaluated their patients using modern methods for grading prostate cancers. By those standards, about one-third of their patients would have intermediate or high-risk disease, something that didn't change the conclusions.

When less treatment is better care

When the study began in 1999, routine PSA screening for men was the norm. Many doctors encouraged annual PSA tests for their male patients over age 50.

PSA tests are sensitive but not specific. Cancer can raise PSA levels, but so can things like infections, sexual activity and even riding a bicycle. Elevated PSA tests require more evaluation, which can include imaging and biopsies to determine the cause. Most of the time, all that followup just isn't worth it.

"It is generally thought that only about 30% of the individuals with an elevated PSA will actually have cancer, and of those that do have cancer, the majority don't need to be treated," Sartor said.

Over the years, studies and modeling have shown that using regular PSA tests to screen for prostate cancer can do more harm than good.

By some estimates, as many as 84% of men with prostate cancer identified through routine screening do not benefit from having their cancers detected because their cancer would not be fatal before they died of other causes.

Other studies have estimated about 1 to 2 in every five men diagnosed with prostate cancer is overtreated. The harms of overtreatment for prostate cancer are well-documented and include incontinence, erectile dysfunction and loss of sexual potency, as well as anxiety and depression.

In 2012, the influential US Preventive Services Task Force advised healthy men not to get PSA tests as part of their regular checkups, saying the harms of screening outweighed its benefits.

Now, the task force opts for a more individualized approach, saying men between the ages of 55 and 69 should make the decision to undergo periodic PSA testing after carefully weighing the risks and benefits with their doctor. They recommend against PSA-based screening for men over the age of 70.

The American Cancer Society endorses much the same approach, recommending that men at average risk have a conversation with their doctor about the risks and benefits beginning at age 50.

Treatment had no impact on survival

The trial has been following more than 1,600 men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK between 1999 and 2009. All the men had cancers that had not metastasized, or spread to other parts of their bodies.

When they joined, the men were randomly assigned to one of three groups: active monitoring or using regular blood tests to keep an eye on their PSA levels; radiotherapy, which used hormone-blockers and radiation to shrink tumors; and prostatectomy, or surgery to remove the prostate.

Men who were assigned monitoring could change groups during the study if their cancers progressed to the point that they needed more aggressive treatment.

Most of the men have been followed for around 15 years now, and for the most recent data analysis, researchers were able get follow-up information on 98% of the participants.

By 2020, 45 men -- about 3% of the participants -- had died of prostate cancer. There were no significant differences in prostate cancer deaths between the three groups.

Men in the active monitoring group were more likely to have their cancer progress and more likely to have it spread compared with the other groups. About 9% of men in the active monitoring group saw their cancer metastasize, compared with 5% in the two other groups.

Trock points out that even though it didn't affect their overall survival, a spreading cancer isn't an insignificant outcome. It can be painful and may require aggressive treatments to manage at that stage.

Active surveillance did have important benefits over surgery or radiation.

As they followed the men over 12 years, the researchers found that 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 of those who had prostate surgery needed to wear at least one pad a day to guard against urine leaks. That rate was twice as high as the other groups, said Dr. Jenny Donovan of the University of Bristol, who led the study on patient-reported outcomes after treatment.

Sexual function was affected, too. It's natural for sexual function to decline in men with age, so by the end of the study, nearly all the men reported low sexual function, but their patterns of decline were different depending on their prostate cancer treatment, she said.

"The men who have surgery have low sexual function early on, and that continues. The men in the radiotherapy group see their sexual function drop, then have some recovery, but then their sexual function declines, and the active monitoring group declines slowly over time," Donovan said.

Donovan said that when she presents her data to doctors, they point out how much has changed since the study started.

"Some people would say, 'OK, yeah, but we've got all these new technologies now, new treatments,' " she said, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, brachytherapy and robot-assisted prostate surgeries, "but actually, other studies have shown that the effects on these functional outcomes are very similar to the effects that we see our study," she said.

Both Donovan and Hamby feel the study's conclusions still merit careful consideration by men and their doctors as they weigh treatment decisions.

"What we hope that clinicians will do is use these figures that we've produced in these papers and share them with the men so that newly diagnosed men with localized prostate cancer can really assess those tradeoffs," Donovan said.

This was first published on CNN.com, "Most men with prostate cancer can avoid or delay harsh treatments, long-term study confirms."
Some members of the Iowa Senate do not think that public notices published in newspapers remain relevant and necessary. A bill filed in the newly formed Technology Committee just over a week ago moved through committee in two days and last week moved through the Ways & Means Committee in one day. Senate File 546 would result in removing a major component of government transparency. This legislation would require legal notices to be posted on a website controlled by the very government legal notices are designed to oversee and notices would not be required to published in a local newspaper.

This is the wrong move today, tomorrow and for the future. Government transparency is more important than ever. In truth it is critical.

While the Daily Nonpareil and other Iowa newspapers have an economic interest in seeing that the public notice publishing requirement remains, the issue goes far beyond a few dollars. Maintaining the legal requirement to publish government actions and meetings in local newspapers is crucial for ensuring accountability and keeping the public informed of important information that affects peoples lives. And it is the job of our local newspapers to serve as a check on government, not the government to check itself.

The proposed savings under the guise of modernization would come at a very high cost to Iowas communities.

While many people now browse digital platforms for information  including the Daily Nonpareil  not everyone has access to the internet or the technological know-how to navigate online platforms. And the staggering amount of information available online, representing every viewpoint, degree of accuracy, hidden agendas and motivations from every philosophy and side of the political spectrum, makes it more and more likely public notices posted online would be lost among the chaff. Worse, they may be vulnerable to manipulation or not easily accessible through search algorithms.

By publishing public notices in newspapers, government bodies can ensure that critical information is available to everyone in a format that has stood the test of time for accuracy and accessibility. It requires governments provide timely information for citizens to participate in their government. The notices are appearing in the communities in or very near where the decisions are made. Public notices cover a range of activities  bids and leads for public projects, minutes from government meetings, foreclosures, petitions, election information, water quality reports and other information that is important to citizens and vibrant communities.

The basis for public notices published in newspapers remains as important as ever:

Requiring an independent, third-party to publish the notices in accordance with the law helps prevent government officials from hiding information they prefer the public not to see. The government cannot be in charge of holding itself responsible. A public notice must be published in a forum independent of the government. As an independent and neutral third party, a newspaper has an economic and civic interest in ensuring that the notice delivery requirements are followed.

Publishing the notice in a newspaper ensures that the information is widely accessible to the public. Unlike social media or other online platforms, newspapers are trusted sources of information that are available to everyone, regardless of whether or not they have access to the internet or social media accounts. This helps to ensure that all members of the public have an equal opportunity to be informed and involved in government decision-making.

A public notice must be archived in a secure and publicly available format. Newspapers have always fulfilled this requirement because a public notice published in a newspaper is already archivable and accessible. This is particularly important for notices that contain information about government decisions and actions that impact individuals and communities for years to come. Requiring governmental bodies to publish legal notices in newspapers ensures that this information is always accessible.

The public must be able to verify that a legal notice is not altered after being published. In a newspaper notice, an affidavit is provided by the publisher, which can be used in an evidentiary proceeding to demonstrate that a true copy was published as well as the exact wording that was used. Legal notices published in newspapers are subject to public scrutiny and can be easily monitored by journalists or concerned citizens. This guarantees that governmental bodies are held accountable and acting in the best interests of their constituents.

Community newspapers have established relationships with readers and have a deep understanding of the issues and concerns that matter most to them. When public notices appear in newspapers, government bodies can tap into these relationships.

Newspapers have a long history of serving as watchdogs for their communities, holding local officials accountable and shining light on issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. By requiring government bodies to publish public notices in newspapers, we are ensuring that these important watchdog functions are preserved and that the public has access to information that might otherwise be hidden from view.

Many newspapers also publish the public notices on their websites and nearly all public notices across the state are also uploaded to a centralized website at iowanotices.org, a site run by newspapers at no additional cost to government or taxpayers. It is available for those who prefer accessing an electronic version.

There may be parts of the country where newspaper readership is receding, but not in Iowa. Iowa has 241 community newspapers with one or more newspapers in every county. Market research conducted in 2022 showed 84% of Iowa adults read local print or digital newspapers. And newspaper readers are more engaged in their community. Newspapers reach 93% of Iowans who report, I feel that I have a responsibility to help share the future of my community.

It is true that newspapers charge a nominal fee, set by Iowa law, for publishing legal notices. This is a very small price for freedom, as it is typically under 1% of any government bodys spending. All Iowans should demand more scrutiny of government affairs, never less.

While the bill does not prohibit local government bodies from publishing public notices in newspapers, it removes the current requirement for doing so. Removing the legal requirement would most certainly result in local governments discontinuing all public notice publications in their local newspapers. But the long-term costs communities and citizens would pay far exceed the price paid by government bodies to publish legal notices in newspapers.

We believe that requiring governmental bodies to continue publishing legal notices in local newspapers is crucial for ensuring transparency, accountability and accessibility in government decision-making. Newspapers  especially Iowa newspapers  remain a trusted source of information that is widely accessible and easily searchable.

As a newspaper, we strongly urge Iowas senators to vote no on this short-sighted bill.

As should all Iowans.
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EuroMed Rights NGO has voiced deep concern over the escalating oppression in Kais Saieds Tunisia which has intensified its campaign of arrests, intimidation, denigration and targeted attacks against political opponents, journalists, trade unionists and civil society representatives.

The vocal critics of the Tunisian regime are unfairly accused of conspiracy to undermine state security, corruption, or contacts with foreign diplomats, said the rights Watchdog in its latest press release.

International trade union activists who have come to participate in activities of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), such as Esther Lynch, the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, have been expelled and any other trade union representatives are now persona non grata in Tunisia, added EuroMed Rights.

These arrests based on the crime of opinion and the widespread repression of freedom of expression in all its forms constitute a serious breach of the rule of law, underlined the NGO, saying such repression prompts fears of a return to the practices of the authoritarian regime that preceded the January 2011 revolution.

The national dialogue that the UGTT has initiated in partnership with the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), the National Bar Association and the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), towards a roadmap to overcome the political, economic and social crisis, must be supported, said Wadih Al-Asmar, President of EuroMed Rights.

Accused of being traitors and terrorists, the opponents of the regime of Kais Saied are challenging the concentration of powers, in particular the supervision of the Ministry of Justice and the dismissal of many judges and prosecutors.

The rule of law in Tunisia is on the brink of collapse, added Wadih Al-Asmar, noting that the ban on demonstrations and the desire to isolate Tunisian civil society from its international contacts are other symptoms of the regimes autocratic drift.

On February 21, President Kais Saied continued his diatribe by calling for urgent measures against the hordes of sub-Saharan migrants. His racist remarks, which were denounced worldwide, triggered xenophobic and violent attacks against migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, in addition to arbitrary arrests and deportations.

Migrants have been expelled from their homes and fired from their jobs; children have been removed from their schools; women of sub-Saharan origin have been reportedly raped. Fear is growing among migrants who have been living in Tunisia, some for years, causing many families to leave the country to avoid facing violence, said Rasmus Alenius Boserup, Executive Director of EuroMed Rights.

The European Union and its Member States, in their bilateral relations with Tunisia, must make clear that arbitrary repression and incitement to racial hatred are unacceptable, and should express solidarity with all those arrested, defamed and subjected to violence, affirmed the NGO official.
Microsoft, through its Africa Transformation Office, and Moroccos OCP Africa announced at the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), held in Doha, March 5-9, a partnership to support smallholder farmers and other stakeholders across Africa by 2025.

OCP Africa, an African company that provides fertilizer solutions tailored to local conditions and the needs of soils and crops across the continent, is partnering with Microsoft to strengthen and expand its digital agriculture platform, a statement released Friday said.

The digital platform is meant to improve the quality of farmers production and enable them to better manage their businesses.

The partnership between the two companies will allow the rapid expansion of the agricultural platforms to new and existing geographical areas, improving the services offered and developing new ones.

In this time of increasing food insecurity, building the resilience and livelihoods of smallholder farmers is necessary to increase agricultural productivity, including reducing losses in the food production chain, the statement said.

With the increasing impacts of extreme weather events becoming more frequent, adaptation and resilience are of critical importance for food system transformation.

Working with African AgriTech startups, agribusinesses, and other partners to increase access to agricultural technology, skills, and knowledge is critical to optimizing the industry and generating new revenue streams that will ensure global food security.

Microsoft aims to support digital transformation in agriculture to drive economic growth. The adoption and integration of technologies such as cloud, artificial intelligence, agricultural data platforms and Azure application modernization in the agricultural space will drive transformation in the form of precision agriculture.

The partnership will enable smallholder farmers to access skills and information through agri-digital services by leveraging OCP Africa programs such as the agri-hub concept to support millions of farmers.

OCP Africa will also work with Microsoft to explore the use of big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence to build their data and artificial intelligence platform to improve operational efficiency and better serve ecosystem stakeholders.

We believe that precision agriculture, brought about by the adoption of advanced technologies in the agricultural sector, will revolutionize food production and help eliminate hunger and poverty in Africa, Microsoft Africa Regional Cluster Managing Director Wael Elkabbany, was quoted in the statement as saying.

He added: Technology is the key factor in enabling and increasing access to finance, equipment and sustainability for rural farmers, empowering local farmers in Africa. Our partnership with OCP Africa will help to directly impact smallholder farmers and improve production.

For his part, the CEO of OCP Africa, Mohamed Anouar Jamali, stressed that African agriculture is at a transformative moment in its history and a time of incredible opportunity and promise for farmers and industry.

The digitization of agricultural practices in Africa enables smallholder farmers to optimize their decision-making, which helps optimize production. The partnership between OCP Africa and Microsoft will allow us to increase the services provided, expand our digital platform, extend our reach and have an even greater impact on food security across the continent, he added.
Two international students at West Central Research, Extension and Education Center have graduated and look to put their education to use as assistant professors.

Nicolas Cafaro La Menza, assistant professor and cropping system specialist, and Abia Katimbo, assistant professor and irrigation management specialist, earned their Ph.D. degrees from the University of Nebraska.

They have accepted positions at the center that will give them opportunity to continue in agriculture research as well as participate in helping producers implement that research to practical use at their farms and ranches.

Cafaro La Menza, originally from Argentina, came to Nebraska to study in May 2022 and Katimbo, from Uganda, is in his fifth year at North Platte. Both earned degrees in their home countries but wanted to continue their studies in the United States.

The Nebraska University system offered them the chance to develop their educational opportunities in agriculture.

I am a cropping system specialist, Cafaro La Menza said. I will be doing 50% research and 50% Extension.

He said the knowledge he learns through West Central will help producers find efficient ways to improve fertilization rates through on-farm research. The extension part of his job will be tailored to each farmers needs.

Growers come to (me) and ask me questions about some of the problems that they have, Cafaro La Menza said. Sometimes we have researched it at the university and we can teach how that applies to what they say. But sometimes we have to say, you know what, we dont know.

Lets do the research and try it on your own farm or we write a proposal to different farming agencies and go to their boards and ask to do research on that matter.

Katimbos role is similar as he focuses on irrigation practices.

My job is to help producers be efficient in how they use the water, Katimbo said. In west central Nebraska there are so many producers that irrigate, sometimes they need information or they need to be guided on how to use different technologies that is available.

Katimbo is available to help producers adopt those tools and also guide them on how to use them to be more efficient with their water use.

Some of the teaching is done through fields days and clinics hosted by the center in North Platte, but a major portion of the education both Katimbo and Cafaro La Menza like is the hands-on interaction with producers.

Katimbo said his desire is to be outside of his office and meeting with producers face to face to gain a better understanding of their needs. There is a time, however, for hosting clinics that bring together experts in a diversity of programs for producers to connect and ask questions pertaining to their own operations.

From there, Katimbo said, the relationships they build will give Cafaro La Menza and him opportunity to observe and offer recommendations. The purpose is not to tell the producer what to do, but to come alongside and work together in collaboration with them to help resolve any issues they might be encountering.

I like Nebraska, Cafaro La Menza said and he hopes to stay for a long time. Katimbo echoed those words and said he enjoys his work at the center.
Members of the North Platte Community College STEM club traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences annual meeting March 2-5.

The members were Daniel Start of North Platte, Camrin Coco of Stapleton, Kaylee Guerrero of Indianola, Taylor Battershaw of Valentine, Juan Zanguitu of 30 de Agosto, Argentina, and NPCC math and physics instructor Jared Daily.

Each year, leading scientists, educators, policymakers and journalists gather to discuss cutting-edge developments in science, technology and policy at the AAAS Annual Meeting. This years conference featured groundbreaking multi-disciplinary research  specifically geared toward responding to the needs of humanity.

STEM club members attended a variety of workshops and seminars and also spent time touring monuments, museums and other historical sites in the nations capital.

The STEM club hosted star-gazing shows throughout the year to help offset the cost of the trip. Additional funding came from NPCCs Student Senate organization.
After one year, five months and 18 days of fear and uncertainty, an Afghan interpreter for U.S. and NATO forces, his wife and three young kids escaped the threat of the Taliban in Afghanistan and landed in America and came to Auburn to start a new life.

The Afghan interpreter Leo (named disguised for safety concerns) had worked side-by-side with U.S. and NATO forces for about 15 years. He, along with countless others who supported the U.S., was left behind after the Taliban took over the country and the U.S. withdrew.

Leo and the others that worked with the U.S. were promised safe passage to America through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, but during the chaos, there was no plan to help evacuate these Afghans.

Hunted by the Taliban, Leo and his family fled their home hoping for a chance to leave the country. With the help of an Auburn family, the Auburn community and Task Force Argo, Leo and his family finally escaped and arrived in Auburn in January.

Collapse

Leo started his job with the U.S. military after graduating from the Kabul Health Institute in 2005. Hes fluent in three languages, has medical training and has also worked with various other countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, Great Britain and more.

In 2020, he was assigned to be a translator for Chris Sramek, of Auburn, who was tasked with training the Afghan National Army at the Kabul Military Training Center. Previously, Sramek served in the U.S. Army, served as a police officer, did contracting work in the Middle East for the State Department and worked as an international police advisor.

Sramek said his life depended on Leo, but they also became fast friends.

In 2020, when I was working with (Leo) it was literally the two of us and a security detail, Sramek said. He was an interpreter assigned to me and me alone, so we had a chance to talk a lot just one on one.

Leo said the training the Afghan army was receiving was a high level of training that had never been done before.

Sramek left Afghanistan in October of 2020 and Leo went back to his position as a deputy risk manager in the Kandahar province, which is in the south region of the country. Leo said this area was a hot spot for Taliban terrorists.

Months later, everything fell apart.

On Aug. 15, 2021, Taliban forces entered the Afghanistan capital city of Kabul and took power.

After the initial shock of hearing the news, Sramek tried to get in contact with his friend. It wasnt until two weeks later that he found out Leo and his family were not able to get out of the country.

A lot of people arent familiar with the country Afghanistan, Sramek said. I spent a whole lot of time there. That country has always, since Ive been there so much, its always held a special place in my heart and when all of that was going on I was just in disbelief. How could we have done this to these people?

Leo said everything changed suddenly and nobody knew what was happening. The Taliban took down the Afghan flag and began beating people, shooting people and searching for people, like him, that supported and worked with the U.S.

Many of them they were just caught through the biometric machine, and they would just pick them up, the people, from their houses, Leo said.

From his window, Leo recorded videos of the Taliban checking vehicles and checking houses. The words stressed and terrified arent strong enough to describe it.

At night, Leo would be on the lookout standing by the window while his children tried to sleep.

The children had nightmares just saying, The Taliban is coming. Theyre going to kill us. They were dreaming of, when they were sleeping, just bad dreams or nightmares, Leo said. They were just waking up in the middle of the night from sleeping and running outside of the room saying, The Taliban is coming. They are going to kill us.

Leo said his wife helped him stay strong through her support, comfort and encouragement to keep moving forward.

While people were still being evacuated from the Kabul airport, Leo received an email from the Department of State saying he could pick up his visa there. When he got to the airport gate, he received a text message from another American military friend that said, Please dont go to that gate. There is a possibility of an attack.

He listened to the warning.

Several hours later, on Aug. 26, 2021, an ISIS suicide bomb attack killed 13 U.S. soldiers and more than 100 Afghans and wounded hundreds more.

During the time the Taliban was not in power, Leo said they still planned ambushes and attacked innocent people, women and the culture. When they returned, Leo said, They were more aggressive than before. I cant call them a human because they had no humanity.

Leo said the reality of what is happening on the ground is not being shown in the media.

They are torturing people. They are forcing women, widows, girls under age, they just make them marry the Taliban members, the Taliban commanders, the Taliban leaders. There are a bunch of females, girls, just been missing, Leo said.

About two weeks after the collapse of the Afghan government when Leo was finally able to get in contact with Sramek, he said, Hello brother, how are you doing?

Sramek said, Of course Im thinking in my head, Who the heck cares how Im doing. How are you doing?

Since then, the two remained in constant contact and Leo frequently sent a pin over the phone with his exact location. Leo said the messages from Sramek and his wife Beth gave them strength. Together they started the journey to freedom.

Death threat

After all U.S. and NATO forces left, Leo received a death threat letter from the Taliban, which labeled him as their enemy. In the letter, the Taliban said they were looking for Leo, and if they caught him, they would kill him and his family.

This was actually the second time Leo had received a letter like this from the Taliban. The first was about 10 years ago, and hes been on their radar since then.

Ten years ago they were looking at me and I received a death threat letter from them. They were looking at my children to abduct them, to kidnap them and kill my wife, but finally we made it, Leo said. Fortunately, within 10 years, (Im) just still alive just have a chance to still be alive.

After seeing the letter, Leo and his family fled their home. Sramek told them to go to Mazar-i-Sharif, near the Uzbekistan border, where they were able to stay in a safe house for several months while Sramek was doing everything he could to find a way to help get them out.

The hardest thing Sramek said he had to do was tell Leo to give his contact information to his wife just in case something happened to Leo.

Beth reached out to three state representatives for help, but Sen. Tommy Tubervilles office was the only one that seemed to care, she said. A representative of his office stayed in contact with them, often checked for updates and showed support.

I just dont understand why the people who stood by our personnel, our military personnel, put their lives on the line for our military personnel, why are they the ones that have been abandoned? Beth said.

With the help of Auburn United Methodist Church and Pastor Cory Smith, Sramek was able to get in contact with Task Force Argo, a volunteer organization made up of current and former personnel across the military, defense, law enforcement and intelligence communities that help the people left behind get out of Afghanistan.

Task Force Argo has helped over 2,200 people escape.

Working with them, my goodness, Task Force Argo they are gold, Sramek said.

Eventually, Sramek sent word that Leo might be able to fly the family out of Pakistan, so Leo and his family traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan. A few days later, he received an email that said hes been manifested for a charter flight out of Kabul, Afghanistan, so he risked the six hour journey back to the capital city.

From the (Pakistan) border to Kabul there was plenty and plenty of checkpoints of Taliban, Leo said.

They were checking vehicles and asking for names, where they were from and where they were going. Leo had to lie.

Fortunately, they had no biometric machines, so if they had a biometric then we would have been caught and in their custody, he said. That was a big chance for us to be alive.

Once they arrived in Kabul, Leo told Sramek they made it, and went to visit his father-in-law who was also left behind. He was an ex-Army general responsible for intelligence between the U.S. Army and Afghan National Army. Hes still trapped there.

A few days later, Leo, his wife and three kids went through the Taliban checkpoint at the Kabul airport. Again, they did not have biometric devices, and Leo did not tell them they were going to the U.S. military installation in Doha, Qatar.

They made it on the plane and landed in Doha. After spending about 8 months at the U.S. military installation there, they finally received a visa allowing them to fly to America.

Reunion

I had my brother, Chris Sramek, just was waiting for me and we finally made it here, Leo said.

The Sramek family anxiously waited to welcome Leo and his family at the Atlanta airport in January. Srameks daughter proudly held up the Afghan flag as they came off the escalator.

One of my friends made the comment, Look at this battle hardened man break into tears, Sramek said. The reunion, it was awesome. I didnt know what my reaction was gonna be, but it was great seeing him come up that escalator at the Atlanta airport. Its just like Oh my goodness, hes really here.

Sramek got to meet Leos wife and kids in person for the first time.

Since arriving, Leo has received messages from military friends that he worked with from Australia, Canada, Fiji, Great Britain, Wales, Ireland and the U.S. All of them happy and relieved to hear they made it.

One U.S. serviceman said theyd only have a problem if he starts yelling, Roll Tide. Sramek had Leo message back, War Eagle!

Leo got to meet the members and pastors of the Auburn United Methodist Church, the people that he said kept them alive while they were trapped in Afghanistan through financial support and prayers.

Our Sunday school class in particular, they went on this journey with us, Beth said. We couldnt have carried that alone.

I cant just explain in one word or in a sentence regarding their support because they are my family, Leo said about the church and the Srameks.

The church members helped them move into a home and helped get his kids in school. Leo said Auburn City Schools and the School Resource Officers went out of their way to welcome them.

I received hospitality from the Auburn community, the entire community, just supporting me, Leo said. I never seen this in my life before that they were sending me dinner each night until I settled in my house.

He and his family received a big dose of Southern American food with casseroles, potato salad, chicken and vegetable sides. He said he finally had to ask people to stop.

Sramek said hed never seen such an outpouring of support in his life. His church and extended church community in other states jumped right on board. Theyve had to turn away people from donating stuff because theyve received so much.

Now, Leos focus is on building a new, independent life here.

I got a second chance of my life, Leo said. The other good thing which we have here is we have freedom.
Auburn Universitys Air Force ROTC is planning a 5K fundraiser to help Vietnam Veterans, and the public is invited to join them in this race.

The Operation: Homecoming 5K will be held on April 1 on the Auburn University campus. It will begin begin at 8 a.m. at the Nichols Center lawn. Snacks and water will be provided. The event is being organized by the ROTCs John Boots Stratford Squadron. Their goal is to raise $2,000 for the nonprofit organization Vietnam Veterans of America.

The 5K is meant to honor and remember the Vietnam veterans and POWs who returned home in 1973 during Operation: Homecoming. This year marks the events 50th anniversary. Between February and April of 1973, there were 591 prisoners of war released from Vietnam and brought home to America.

It concluded at the very beginning of April, so weve got it perfect timing to 50 years ago, said race organizer Sean Miller. Basically, these people were being tortured. They were experiencing horrendous crimes against humanity while being held in Vietnam. And the fact that we were able to bring back so many  bring them back home  was such a great thing.

The course will work its way through campus around several major hot spots including the Agricultural Park, Jordan-Hare Stadium, and the Haley Center.

Auburn has a beautiful campus and so were taking the track through that, Miller said. Its a very walkable campus so we dont have to worry about cars crossing the roads very much.

While registration for the race is normally $25, the Air Force ROTC is currently offering a discounted price of $18. T-shirts are included in the registration price or can be purchased separately for $15. All proceeds will go to help the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Registration will be open through race day.

The John Boots Stratford squadron is part of the Arnold Air Society, a service society for Air Force ROTC cadets. Miller, 20, said his organizations mission is to grow servant leaders into positions in the Air Force after graduation from college.

The Arnold Air Society does smaller service opportunities each month and holds a larger fundraiser once a year. This isnt the first time they have held a 5k. In March of 2020, they held the Boots for Troops race to raise funds for the Hope for the Warriors nonprofit.

However, the Operation: Homecoming 5K is their big fundraiser for this year. This will be the first time John Boots Stratford squadron has honored Operation: Homecoming.

Miller believes the Vietnam Veterans of America is a worthy cause for his organization to get behind. As the veterans have aged, they have not always gotten the support they need.

The support that they need grows greater every day because of things like medical, Miller said. A lot of these people have no families anymore, they dont have that kind of support. And then also, many of them werent given any support when they got back. So, they have long-term medical issues that were never taken care of. They have long-term emotional issues from being held in Vietnam that just werent seen to because they were demonized when they did get back home.

Vietnam Veterans of America is a nationwide nonprofit that promotes and advocates issues that are important to veterans. They help Vietnam veterans with health care access as well as create a positive public perception for them.

Thats been a decades long goal that they have been fighting for, Miller said. And I think theyre doing great work on that.

Miller added: We would like to encourage community members to join this event. This isnt for veterans only, this isnt for cadets only. We want everybody to be a part of this. We are really trying to work towards that $2,000 goal.
the oscars can get fucked in general

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Wasn't there a big push to have him on it last year and/or didn't he turn it down because he was...well, busy?

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I remember that being the case. Which makes his request this time around to be reasonable. If he was invited last year, then there's no harm in asking this year since he's specifically making time for it.

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Im not totally mad about cause its not a political affair (even though some of movies occasionally are political commentary).



Plus I do agree about it being picky-choosy. This is not a complaint towards to people of Ukraine cause I do sympathize with their suffering. But usually these awards do tend to only favor white nations in suffering and completely ignore non-white countries. Like wheres the continued support for the women of Iran??



Edited at 2023-03-12 12:46 am (UTC)

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this is where i've always been about this. i'm glad ukraine's getting support and they need it, but everyone just flat out ignored afghanistan when it was completely taken over and is now an extremist regime not long before that?? where was the oscars outcry for that? why aren't you melting your oscars for them, sean penn you useless ugly fucking twat?



Zelenskyy has enlisted a powerful agent in Hollywood, Mike Simpson, to make requests to appear at the Oscars and Globes.



something about this sits so wrong with me. like how the fuck is that a priority for a government official?



Edited at 2023-03-12 12:52 am (UTC)

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I would guess it's because GOP Congresspeople are trying to cut funding to Ukraine, so Zelenskyy is trying to rally popular support in the US to make it an unpopular position for those Congresspeople.

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it's not like he's getting an agent so he can make speeches to on the lecture circuit to jp morgan



this man is in the middle of the war in ukraine, he obviously needs a middleman in hollywood. or do you think he is personally calling up the producers of the oscars to ask them if he can be on the oscars

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hiring someone else to deal with this doesnt mean its a priority, it means its a task that has been taken off his plate.



I get that the contrast in the western response to Ukraine vs Syria, Afghanistan, Iran is heartbreaking. it infuriates me too. but I genuinely dont know what people expect Zelenskyy to do. he is hustling everywhere for whatever scraps of support he can get not because he wants attention but because he is trying to do what he can, as an individual, to save his country. and even then hes clearly letting others do the scheduling and arranging for him because he still doesnt have time for it.



edit - sorry this came off harsher than I wanted it to. whether he should or shouldnt attend is a question I dont have an answer to, I just dont think Zelenskyy himself is doing anything wrong by asking in the first place. ideally, the Oscars and everyone else that rushed to offer to host Zelenskyy when the invasion first happened would also extend similar opportunities to figures from other countries in need of support.



Edited at 2023-03-12 05:05 am (UTC)

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something about this sits so wrong with me. like how the fuck is that a priority for a government official?



You wouldn't think but he needs the Ukrainian war to remain in the public consciousness, the more it fades the more likely the support they are receiving from other countries will taper off.

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How did you jump to the conclusion thats its a priority to a man whose nation is being brutally invaded by a country thats been colonizing them for a hundred years?

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Yeah there was a post on here just yesterday about how Michael Moore got booed at the 2003 Oscars for condemning the U.S. invasion of Iraq that I havent stopped thinking about it since (I was a kid at the time and hadnt heard that that had happened until now.) Seems like Hollywood is very picky-choosy about which illegal invasions they care about.

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Yeah, that's my take, too. Some people may call it "whataboutism," but I feel like it's justified if it's really flat-out calling out the racism and xenophobia for being selective on the types of countries America and Hollywood tend to support. You're right that it's not a political affair there, and I doubt majority there are smart enough to even think critically and know so much about what's going on there, either. We don't talk about what happened recently in Afghanistan and Iran even recently. I think just NOW, people are now talking about Israeli apartheid, and it's been the elephant in the room that no one was ever allowed to talk about here. I remember how Natalie Portman got shit on for her comments, and that wasn't too long ago (at least for me).

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Let's not have anything political else the ghost of John Wayne will come out and try to attack someone and the Crisis Team will have to zoom in with their flying suits and Ghostbuster guns.





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i understand why zelensky wants to be on the broadcast and i understand why the oscars turned him down

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same. this is an awful and complex situation. Zelenskyy is shooting his shot and doing his best to get his plea out there - I can't blame him for that, and the Oscars isn't a political platform and risks opening a floodgate of political broadcasts from war-torn countries, for which it should not be unfairly selective.

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Somewhere Sean Penn is chainsmoking and pacing!

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Has he melted down that Oscar yet lol

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I don't know why I'm asking but what?

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Don't worry, Matt Damon is on it!

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Hey ppl of the Academy, accept his offer but don't tell the public at what time the message will be televised. Show it at the end. Boom got a huge chuck of audience (finally!) For your dying show.

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Why would this bring an audience?

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Sources say Packer expressed concerns that Hollywood was only showering Ukraine with attention because those affected by the conflict are white. By contrast, Hollywood has ignored wars around the globe that impact people of color, he argued.



He's right. remember when they were all obsessed with that movie about Chris Kyle?

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It's funny how he's saying we can't spotlight A cause we haven't been spotlighting B but then has nothing on the table for spotlighting B as if he's not an actual Oscar producer with a say.

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Also true lol. I guess considering the way theyve responded to B in the past, I think its unlikely that theyd be on the right side of things and I can understand why theyd choose to just stay out of things. They should probably stop jerking off American military movies though if theyre going to make statements like that.

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Sources say Packer expressed concerns that Hollywood was only showering Ukraine with attention because those affected by the conflict are white. By contrast, Hollywood has ignored wars around the globe that impact people of color, he argued.



This reminds of of George Carlin saying that in general, no one (or maybe just the U.S.) cares if a country is making war on their own people. It's when they go into another country that people get mad about it. [paraphrasing]

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What's the point? The US government can't get any hornier for this war, and even if it wasn't, it's not like a sudden re-ignition of public support could influence foreign policy one iota.

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I get it. The war is something that pretty much everyone knows about at this point, and there are much better outlets to continue to focus the importance of the matter. If anything it would have felt a little out of touch, much like how it did during the Golden Globes, in the midst of all the decadence of an award show. I think something like a strong charity advertisement or something of the sort during a part of the broadcast would be, if anything, more fitting. I do dislike how the media has framed this as some sort of malicious snub though.

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I agree that Hollywood favors white nation and I think it wouldn't work well for Oscars, but I also need to add that before 2022 Russia already invaded and took parts of Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, or we can go further back to Chechnya, and nobody gave a shit. This war had to fit the definition of genocide for some Western countries to stop with the 'must be solved in a diplomatic way'. We've been telling the West for 30 years that this is what Russia is like, for 20 years that Putin sees diplomacy as a weakness, so when they talk of diplomacy, we hear 'We're just gonna stand by and watch another country get invaded'. So we didn't take it for granted at all that Western countries would actually help and cut business ties with Russia. I am incredibly relieved and thankful that it happened this time.

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Im so sick of people shutting down conversation about Ukraine I sympathize BUT. You dont sympathize. Like Eastern Europe has ever been on anyones radar, this is the first time an Eastern European country has gotten any sort of international attention.

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Right? One of the multiple reasons why Putin started this war is because when he did it MULTIPLE TIMES before, nobody gave a shit, there was some 'concern' expressed and barely any sanctions.

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seeing people's negative reactions to ukraine or zelenskyy makes me wonder if that's how people felt during the balkan wars in the 90s

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You are correct. "Hollywood only cares about white nations" - no, they didn't give a shit about Crimea.

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The Oscars is the last place for him to pop up now.



The Ukraine war has birthed a whole new batch of right wing conspiracy theories. The war isn't happening, the US started it, Israel is secretly behind everything. Adding Hollywood in the mix just makes it easier for Republicans to cut supplies off.

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wtf? give these people their money. I'm sure Tims can afford it.

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Sue them they can afford to give 10k.

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I mean, it's unspecified how many 10ks there were in total but still, they could have done much better than a $50 card lol.

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This is what is killing me. A $50 gift card? What a fucking insult.



They can afford 10k. It's a drop in the bucket for them. Just own up your stupid contest was a mess and just pay it. They'd look less like the cheap, petty assholes they are. The negative PR they're getting is going to cost them more than 10k. Idiots.

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At least make it into four figures!

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Even if they cant they still should.

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American Express is a sponsor of this contest and it's a "drop in the bucket for them" to issue the money. Source: My dad, who is not a lawyer.



But also there's the PR issue of people still not realizing the contest is on the app. So many people are rolling up their cup rims and then going to bitch to the workers! I think this + the content of this post + "COVID is over" will force them back to the cups next year.

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I would lose my shit. That money would change my life.

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Tim Hortons is fucking awful. Just give them the cash. They should be paying customers to drink their shitty coffee anyway.

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Fuck Timmies, them bitches better pay up!

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Pay me ten times that amount for the distress I suffered after the double crime of being sold the worst hot chocolate in the history of earth and having to drink it through a cardboard cup lid.

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Be lucky you didn't also get a cardboard straw as well. 

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Timmie's is the worsssst I used to work there when I was 19. I lived near sarnia so my location had tons of traffic from chemical refinery workers, tons of orders for like 40 plus coffees or huge food orders. They would ALWAYS tip, and often very well. We were expected to put the tip money in the till and just report it on the cash over/short report lmao. Fuck that. Most of the staff was older and settled in there but I was fresh outta my first year of polo sci so I ended up talking to one of the unions dudes from the refineries and fought with the owner to get our tips. We even split tips w the bake staff. He was such a shitty owner, he died a few years ago and it was both appalling and hilarious how many people I knew that worked for him but never spoke of it because it was such a shitty but short time.

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i used to buy coffee every morning at work (tims was the only thing available), then i started to bring in but i used to buy during roll up the rim. since the app thing, i stopped all together.



its like when we were kids and pop bottles had prizes under the caps and then they moved it to a 'log into this website to see' bullshit? i know they are relying on the fact that most of us are too lazy to do that but its rude

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stuff under the caps is FUN and I love not giving my email address to companies

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This reminds me that I need to finish the pepsi documentary on Netflix about the jet contest





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give these people their elephants I mean 10,000!!!!

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Cough up the cash, you cheap fucks!!!

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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(CNN)  A Chinese city has sparked a backlash on social media after saying it would consider the use of lockdowns in the event of an influenza outbreak.

The city of Xi'an  a tourism hotspot in Shaanxi province that is home to the famous terracotta warriors  revealed an emergency response plan this week that would enable it to shut schools, businesses and "other crowded places" in the event of a severe flu epidemic.

That prompted a mixture of anxiety and anger on China's social media websites among many users who said the plan sounded uncomfortably similar to some of the strict zero-Covid measures China had implemented throughout the pandemic and which have only recently been abandoned.

"Vaccinate the public rather than using such time to create a sense of panic," one user wrote on Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter.

"How will people not panic given that Xi'an's proposal to suspend work and business activities were issued without clear instruction on the national level to classify the disease?" asked another.

While cases of Covid in China are falling, there has been a spike in flu cases across the country and some pharmacies are struggling to meet demand for flu remedies.

However, Xi'an's emergency response plan will not necessarily be used. Rather, it outlines how the city of almost 13 million people would respond to any future outbreak based on four levels of severity.

At the first and highest level, it says, "the city can lock down infected areas, carry out traffic quarantines and suspend production and business activities. Shopping malls, theaters, libraries, museums, tourist attractions and other crowded places will also be closed."

"At this emergency level, schools and nurseries at all levels would be shut down and be made responsible for tracking students' and infants' health conditions."

The backlash comes as the central government in Beijing has emphasized the need to open the country back up following the removal of all Covid restrictions in January.

Throughout the pandemic, China had enforced some of the world's most severe Covid restrictions, including lockdowns that stretched into months in some cities. It was also one of the last countries in the world to end measures such as mass testing and strict border quarantine periods, even amid growing evidence of the damage being done to its economy.

Xi'an itself was subject to a draconian lockdown between December 2021 and January 2022, with 13 million residents confined to their homes for weeks on end  and many left short of food and other essential supplies. Access to medical services was also affected. In an incident that shocked and angered the nation, a heavily pregnant woman was turned away from a hospital on New Year's Day because she didn't have a valid Covid-19 test, and suffered a miscarriage after she was finally admitted two hours later.

Shortly before China removed its pandemic era restrictions the country had been rocked by a series of demonstrations against its zero-Covid policy.

Memories of being confined to their homes and of panic buying that in some areas led to food shortages remain fresh in people's minds and the idea of a return to Covid-style measures appears to have hit a nerve.

However, some voices called for calm.

Epidemiologist Ben Cowling, from the University of Hong Kong's School of Public Health, said he saw the rationale of the move.

"I think it's quite rational to make contingency plans. I wouldn't expect a lockdown to be needed for flu, but presumably there are different response levels," he said.

One user on Weibo expressed a similar sentiment: "It is merely the revelation of a proposal, not putting it in place. It is quite normal to take precautions given this wave of flu is coming at us very strong."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Chinese city proposes lockdowns for flu -- and faces a backlash."
WILLIAM R. SETTLES ADMITTED TO AMERICAN COLLEGE OF TRIAL LAWYERS

William R. Settles has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America.

The induction ceremony at which Mr. Settles became a Fellow took place recently before an audience of approximately 525 during the recent Spring Meeting of the College in Key Biscayne, Florida.

Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers of diverse backgrounds, who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship.

Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. There are currently approximately 5,800 members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including active Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, Judicial Fellows (those who ascended to the bench after their induction) and Honorary Fellows. The College maintains and seeks to improve the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice through education and public statements on independence of the judiciary, trial by jury, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, and fair and just representation of all parties to legal proceedings. The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice.

Mr. Settles is a partner in the firm of Lamson Dugan & Murray LLP and has been practicing in Omaha for 31 years. The newly inducted Fellow is an alumnus of Notre Dame Law School.
A Douglas County judge set bail at $500,000 for a former Omahan who skipped town in 2017 after being charged with first-degree sexual assault of a minor.

Gabino Vargas-Perez, 26, is a legal immigrant from Guatemala who fled Nebraska after he was charged in the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Omaha. He was taken into custody Feb. 16 by the U.S. Marshals Service in Houston, according to Montgomery County, Texas, jail records.

He appeared at a bail hearing in Douglas County on Friday and was ordered to pay 10% of the bail amount, $50,000, to be released from jail. When he was charged in 2017 with sexually assaulting the girl, his bail was set at $50,000. Someone paid 10%  $5,000  and Vargas-Perez failed to appear at a preliminary hearing.

At the time he was charged, Vargas-Perez was a 20-year-old former Central High School student. The girl told police that she met Vargas-Perez in fall 2016 and that he told her he was 16.

Vargas-Perez, who is listed in Douglas County Jail records as being 5 feet tall and 130 pounds, asked her to come home with him to meet his family. He took her upstairs and raped her, the girl told police.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said in 2017 that ICE officials told prosecutors that Vargas-Perez was legally in the country. Kleine said then that he didnt know the nature of that status  whether it was because he has a work visa or another form of documentation.

Court documents indicate that Vargas-Perez, then age 16 or 17, had suffered neglect and abandonment by his parents. So he fled Guatemala for the United States, the court document said.
In a room full of friendly faces, Diamond Johnson smiled at one in particular.

Thats Angie, Johnson nodded toward Angie Temple, a former anti-trafficking specialist at Project Harmony. She puts up with me.

Johnson, a sex trafficking survivor now 20 years old, explained how Temple gained her trust when Johnson was scared and trying to escape her situation.

Temple took Johnson out to eat a few times. When Johnson calls, Temple always answers and talks to her if shes having a bad day. And under the pressure of caring for a baby while working and going to school, Johnson felt defeated by her messy kitchen. Temple helped her clean it.

Its the little things that make a difference, Johnson said, smiling, as Temple wiped away tears. Its the little things for me.

Temple had been a part of Project Harmonys Anti-Trafficking Youth Services Program, an initiative that connects the nonprofits child advocacy experts with local and national law enforcement, trafficking survivors and other outreach organizations. The group works to identify high-risk youths who could be victims of sex trafficking and provide services to them and their families while law enforcement investigates potential crimes by their handlers and attackers.

The program is in its second year, but the collaboration has already been lauded by its members as a way to cut through red tape and easily share ideas and resources in order to best help youths affected by trauma. The team includes people from the Omaha Police Department, Homeland Security, Boys Town and Douglas County, as well as others.

It really is a pretty phenomenal opportunity for us to have all these resources coming together around a really critical issue, said Gene Klein, the executive director of Project Harmony.

Retired Omaha Police Captain Tracy Scherer, who headed the special investigations section, and Colleen Roth, the senior director of response services at Project Harmony, had wanted to learn more about kids who run away from home and their risk factors for getting involved in crime and gangs or becoming victims themselves.

Officers then began diving into the more than 3,000 annual missing youth reports from Omaha police alone to look for warning signs of sex trafficking  running away several times, sexual assault, physical or substance abuse, involvement in the foster care system  and would follow up with those youths. The effort identified hundreds of youths who met those risk factors and could potentially fall victim to that danger or were, in fact, likely trafficked but hadnt yet disclosed that to anyone.

Once we realized just how big the problem was, we realized we needed a lot of help, said Sgt. Brett Schrage, who oversees the missing persons unit.

In 2022, the anti-trafficking program aided 31 juveniles in its first year while Project Harmony served a total of 140 missing youths. The initiative looks to serve even more in its second year, as this year to date 14 youths are already working with the anti-trafficking program.

Schrage said the old thought was that officers would track down missing youths, talk to them, take them back home and close the case. Now, much more time is required to try to build rapport with the youth, figure out what stressors the juvenile faces and connect the teen with services.

Thats the new process, and the new approach is its going to take consistent follow up by law enforcement until they get to that point where theyre ready to leave that world of trafficking, Schrage said.

Since 2016, law enforcement has investigated reports of human trafficking in nearly 50 cities and towns across Nebraska, according to the Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force, which started in 2015.

In the past decade, there have been nearly 100 cases of human trafficking  which includes both forced labor and forced sex acts  filed in county courts across the state, according to the Nebraska Crime Commission, which collects that data from law enforcement agencies.

And since 2020, five cases of sex trafficking of a minor in federal court have garnered prison sentences ranging from seven years to 20 years, plus one that resulted in a life sentence.

Isaac Haldeman and Chrissy Worster, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, work at Project Harmony with the team a few days a week and can give a larger investigative perspective.

We really look into the criminal organization of kids whove been trafficked and their traffickers and were able to bring to the table a lot of interstate and international scope of the investigation, Haldeman said. Were able to work within our agency, because were nationwide, to send these leads out and get information about the trafficking network that these kids are being run by.

In October, officials created a statewide human trafficking hotline available 24 hours per day, at 833-PLS-LOOK (833-757-5665). Callers can provide anonymous tips that will then be disseminated to local authorities.

Omaha Police Detectives Jeff Shelbourn and Lisa Horton are tasked with meeting high-risk youths where they are  at home, school or sometimes the Douglas County Youth Center  and work to build a relationship. Shelbourn and Horton wear plain clothes and drive unmarked vehicles so the juveniles dont get flak from peers.

The detectives expect the youths to push back, be defensive or refuse help, but showing up over and over again is key. Shelbourn said if he promises to see a teen, he keeps that promise.

Were finding that there isnt a lot of consistency in that kiddos life, so you have to be consistent, he said. We have to keep that line of consistency because the moment you mess up, youre back to square one because youve just turned into everybody else thats let them down.

Roth said the sooner kids who run away can get help, the better. Data shows that by the third time youths run away, they likely have picked up a criminal charge. But until that occurs, the youths often dont have resources to turn to, which is why the team is attempting to contact the teens beforehand.

Candias Jones, who attends the teams monthly meetings, said every sex trafficking survivors story is different and each person has various needs.

When your trust is broken, it takes a while for you to develop trust for another person, especially someone whos in a position of authority, Jones said. Our goal collectively is to get the trust back so that these survivors can find their footing, their ground again.

Douglas County helped fund the programs effort, and last year acquired two federal grants for roughly $1.5 million to support the team, said Kim Hawekotte, a deputy administrator for the countys juvenile services.

Currently, Project Harmonys program has one guaranteed bed at the Boys Town emergency shelter for juveniles, with the goal to expand to a second bed, said Ashley Hicks, the director of intervention and assessment program at Boys Town. The shelter is supervised 24/7 but isnt a locked facility, Hicks said.

But members of the team said more safe, emergency shelter space is needed. The Douglas County Youth Center is not the best place for sex trafficking survivors, Hawekotte said, because its not ideal for those runaways to interact with detained youths who are accused of committing serious, violent offenses.

At the Boys Town shelter, the juveniles can start to heal and figure out their future plan. One teen stayed 24 days and another youth stayed for a couple of months. Hicks said the youths only leave when they have a plan and have connected with some services.

Jones is a survivor of sexual trauma and works to help survivors heal.

Weve all needed mentors at some point to grow in our professions. Survivors need it too, to grow in their healing, she said. So I look at myself as kind of a survivor healer, to help survivors be able to come in these spaces and provide the insight that we need to do our jobs well.

Jones, Worster and other team members said they were moved by Johnsons story and her willingness to share and grow. Johnson said she still has a lot of personal work to do and that she isnt fully healed from her trauma.

You can heal, but it will never be the same. Like if you break your arm, it heals, but you might still have that nerve pain, Johnson said. Its the same way with our minds ... it will repair itself, but it might not be the same.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2023
The state auditor is calling for GPS tracking of state vehicles used by a Nebraska Department of Transportation employee after the employee logged more than 1,355 hours of overtime in two years.

In a letter sent to the department Friday, State Auditor of Public Accounts Mike Foley requested immediate action after apparent misuse of a state vehicle by the employee for the second year in a row.

The employee  who wasnt identified by the Auditors Office  recorded over 737 hours of overtime during the fiscal year that ended in June 2022, and most of those hours represented excessive travel time in the employees department-assigned vehicle, according to an audit for the fiscal year. For example, on May 12, 2022, the employee recorded 520 miles and 11.25 work hours. The audit noted that even if the employee drove 60 mph the entire time, it would still mean he spent 8.5 hours of the 11.25-hour day traveling.

An audit for the previous fiscal year found the same employee received 626 hours of overtime pay, also mainly for travel in his department-assigned vehicle, Foley said, citing the previous years report.

That report said a vehicle log showed that the employee took 71 trips for a total of 19,759 miles between December 2020 and July 2021, and that 17 fuel purchases were made on days when no trips were recorded in the vehicle log.

The questionable use of state property was enabled, as least in part, by the departments lack of a comprehensive travel report form and an overall vehicle use policy, the Auditors Office concluded at the time.

The Transportation Department responded at the time by acknowledging the benefit of those policies and said it would enhance its oversight.

That promised oversight never happened, Foley said, and a second annual audit mentioned the specific employees excessive overtime and travel hours.

In its formal response contained in the latest report, which the Auditors Office released this past week, the department acknowledged the benefit of reviewing policies and procedures to ensure travel is reasonable and appropriate.

NDOT will review and update travel policies as deemed necessary, the department wrote.

In his letter, Foley also criticized the department for failing to explain any corrective action taken following the previous years report. State law requires such responses within six months.

In addition to constituting a violation to state law, the departments failure to issue that letter contributed, no doubt, to the employees repeated questionable use of a state vehicle, the auditor wrote in his letter.

He called for all vehicles driven by the employee to be fitted with a GPS system to allow for close monitoring.

Foleys letter Friday expanded on findings in the audit report sent from his office to the Transportation Department on Jan. 30. The audit examined the departments year-end financial reports for the fiscal year that ended in June 2022.

It found the department made nearly $15 million in reporting errors for the fiscal year.

According to the report, the largest error was incorrect adjustments that caused the department to overstate accounts receivable owed from local governments for road projects by $10.1 million.

Other errors included $1.95 million from a highway project that was included in capitalized expenses instead of construction in progress, according to the report. This also led to the fiscal years construction in progress expenses being understated by about $506,000.

The Auditors Office recommended the department implement changes to ensure accurate financial information is submitted to the State Accounting Division.

In a response included in the report, the department said it agreed with the identified adjustments and will work to refine our process for capturing information provided to the State Accounting Division for year-end reporting.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2023
Train derailments are a fact of life for the railroad industry  and always a potential danger for the people who live near the tracks.

Trains derailed 38 times last year in Nebraska, which contains major trunk lines for both the Union Pacific and BNSF railroads. That was up from 33 the previous year, and 36 in 2020.

Fortunately, none of those recent Nebraska derailments involved major releases of hazardous material, such as the cancer-causing vinyl chloride and other chemicals that spilled last month when a Norfolk Southern freight train wrecked in East Palestine, Ohio.

But given the amount of hazardous chemicals that crisscross the country on every major rail line, every day of the week, theres no guarantee that Nebraska will escape problems in the future. Common chemicals transported in the Midwest, experts say, include chlorine, anhydrous ammonia (for fertilizer), propane and ethanol.

The Ohio crash has drawn fresh attention to a problem that has bedeviled railroading since its earliest days. Last year, trains derailed 1,022 times across the nation  about three times per day.

That actually was the lowest total in history  one-eighth as many as 1978, and half as many as in 2003  although the trend surely is small comfort to those in East Palestine affected by the chemicals that spewed into the air or leached into soil and groundwater.

Its really just bad luck, said Russell Quimby, of Omaha, a railroad safety consultant who investigated train crashes for the National Transportation Safety Board from 1985 to 2007. You never know when its going to be your day.

Nebraska has experienced 1,473 derailments since 2000  the fifth-highest total of any state, according to a Lincoln Journal Star review of Federal Railroad Administration safety records. Nebraska trailed only Texas, Illinois, California and Ohio.

Just last month, a Union Pacific train derailed southeast of Gothenburg, Nebraska, throwing 31 cars off the rails. That was the second wreck in nine months in almost the same spot on U.P.s main east-west line. In May 2022, a 3-mile-long freight train traveling 50 mph also derailed, toppling 30 cars and causing $1.1 million in damage to the train and track equipment. No one was injured in either accident.

Other major recent Nebraska derailments:

30 cars and one locomotive of a 103-car Union Pacific coal train that derailed near the River Road crossing in Blair in February 2022 because of a broken rail. Damage totaled $1.8 million.

19 cars of a coal train that jumped the tracks near Bennet, Nebraska, in July 2022, destroying a bridge and causing nearly $3 million in damage. A little more than a year earlier, another coal train had lost 10 cars along the same small Omaha Public Power District feeder line after heavy rains.

Hazardous materials account for about 7% to 8% of the 30 million shipments that railroads deliver across the country every year. 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.

Federal Railroad Administration data showed hazardous chemicals were released during 11 train accidents nationwide last year, out of roughly 535 million miles traveled, with only two injuries reported. In the past decade, releases of hazardous materials peaked at 20 in both 2018 and 2020.

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 fiery derailment in Canada killed 47 people in the town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, 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.

About one out of five derailments in Nebraska during the past two years involved trains carrying hazardous materials.

While Nebraska avoided significant hazardous spills in the past few years, the record is different in Iowa, where 25 of 58 derailments in the past two years involved trains carrying hazardous materials. They include:

In May 2021, a Union Pacific train derailed in Sibley, Iowa, bursting into flames and dumping 47 cars  including a dozen carrying hazardous chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide, asphalt and highly explosive ammonium nitrate. Nine cars leaked their contents onto the ground, and 80 people in the town of 2,800 had to be evacuated while the fire burned itself out. Damage totaled $3.4 million.

In September 2022, a Union Pacific train derailed on a bridge crossing near Hampton, Iowa, tossing 44 cars off the tracks. Fourteen of the cars carried hazardous materials, and five of them spilled liquid asphalt into a creek. Damage came to $2.4 million.

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.

Quimby said shipping hazardous materials by train is still better than crowded public highways, where countless motorists are exposed to risk.

The alternative is shipping it by truck, he said. Statistically, the railroads are much safer.

Quimby said the railroads increasing use of automated sensors has helped drive the sharp drop in derailments since he worked for Burlington Northern 40 years ago.

These sensors, called wayside detectors, are embedded in the tracks. Some automatically measure the shape, impact and temperature of the trains steel wheels to determine if they are wearing out or progressing toward failure. Others hear and record the sound of bearings to detect if they are hot or defective.

The sensors can send instant alerts to train crews about pending problems with individual cars.

Depending on how sophisticated it is, itll tell the conductor to stop right away, Quimby said.

Omaha-based Union Pacific has deployed 7,000 wayside detectors along its track network, according to an article posted last week on the railroads website, UP.com. Each day they process 16 million data points.

Still, the sensors arent foolproof. The crew of the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in Ohio received a warning from one of the sensors, called a hot box detector, that the bearing on one of the freight cars had overheated.

But the detectors were spaced 20 miles apart, and the problem worsened so quickly that the cars axle failed before the crew could prevent the accident.

Had there been a detector earlier, that derailment may not have occurred, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said last month.

On Feb. 28, the Federal Railroad Administration issued an advisory to railroads to improve their use of the detectors, citing five recent accidents caused by overheated bearings.

Hot bearings are really rare. But when they do fail, its critical, Quimby said.

Quimby expressed concern about the railroad industrys move in the past decade toward precision scheduled railroading, which calls for running fewer, longer trains with a mix of freight to reduce the number of locomotives and crews.

Pressure from railroad stockholders has helped push nearly all of the major railroads to cut staff.

Last year Martin Oberman, chairman of the federal Surface Transportation Board, said the seven Class I freight railroads (including both Union Pacific and BNSF) had collectively shed 45,000 employees, or 29% of their workforce, in the past six years, over warnings about safety from railroad workers unions.

Though the strategy may please investors, Quimby said it hurts the railroads in the long run.

They cut back to the bare minimum people needed to run (the trains), Quimby said. Theyre working people to death.

He said worker morale is down, and the railroads reputations have suffered.

Happy workers are safe workers, Quimby said. If people are unhappy and distracted because they dont have a family life, its going to have an impact on safety.

In Nebraska, State Sen. Mike Jacobson, whose district includes Union Pacifics massive Bailey classification yard in North Platte, hopes the renewed focus on railroad safety will build support for Legislative Bill 31, his measure that would mandate two-person railroad crews aboard all trains.

The law is widely supported by railroad workers in his district, many of whom testified in favor at a legislative committee hearing last week.

But both Union Pacific and BNSF oppose it, preferring that crew staffing remain part of collective bargaining between the railroads and their unions.

Similar legislation has failed to get out of committee at least six times before.

Jacobson said hes seen a notable increase in support in the wake of the derailments in Gothenburg and East Palestine.

As people are starting to see whats happening here, theyre getting more concerned that there needs to be some intervention here, he said.

This report includes material from the Associated Press and the Lincoln Journal Star.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2023
IZIUM, Ukraine  In this war-scarred city in Ukraine's northeast, residents scrutinize every step for land mines. Behind closed doors, survivors wait in agony for the bodies of loved ones to be identified. The hunt for collaborators of the not-so-long ago Russian occupation poisons tightly-knit communities.

This is life in Izium, a city on the Donets River in the Kharkiv region that was retaken by Ukrainian forces in September, but still suffers the legacy of six months of Russian occupation.`

The brutality of the Russian invasion in this one-time strategic supply hub for Russian troops counts among the most horrific of the war, which entered its second year last month.

Ukrainian civilians were tortured, disappeared and were arbitrarily detained. Mass graves with hundreds of bodies have been discovered and entire neighborhoods were destroyed in the fighting.

Izium is a gruesome reminder of the human cost of the war. Six months after it was liberated, residents say they continue to pay the price.

Large red signs warning "MINES" rest against a tree between a church and the city's main hospital, which is still functioning despite heavy Russian bombardment.

In this city, everyone has a mine story: Either they stepped on one and lost a limb or know someone who did. The mines are discovered daily, concealed along riverbanks, on roads, in fields, on the tops of roofs, in trees.

Of particular concern are anti-infantry high-explosive mines, known as petal mines. Small and inconspicuous, they are widespread in the city. Human Rights Watch has documented that Moscow has used at least eight types of anti-personnel mines, prohibited by the Geneva Conventions, throughout eastern Ukraine.

In a January report, the rights monitor also called on Kyiv to investigate the Ukrainian military's apparent use of thousands of banned petal mines in Izium.

"No one can say now the total percentage of territory in Kharkiv that is mined," said Oleksandr Filchakov, the region's chief prosecutor. "We are finding them everywhere."

Most residents are careful, keeping to known paths. But even then, they are not safe.

"We have an average of one person a week with wounds" from mines, Dr. Yurii Kuzentsov said. "I don't know when I will ever go to the river or the forest again, even if our lives are restored, because, as a medical professional, I have seen the consequences."

One patient stepped on mines twice: First in June when he lost part of his heel and the second time in October when he lost the entire foot.

Most of Kuzentsov's patients said they had been cautious.

"They were sure this would never happen to them," he said.

Oleksandr Rabenko, 66, stepped on a petal mine 200 meters from his house while walking down a familiar path to the river to fetch water.

His son, Eduard, had de-mined a narrow path with a shovel. Rabenko had walked down it several times, up until Dec. 4, when he lost his right foot while clearing some sticks.

"I still don't know how it got there, maybe it was the snow melting, or the river carried it," he said. "I thought it was safe."

Rabenko still feels excruciating pain from the foot that is no longer there.

"The doctor said it will take months for my brain to grasp what happened," he said.

Halyna Zhyharova, 71, knows exactly what happened to her family of eight.

A bomb struck her son Oleksandr's home last March, killing 52 people sheltering inside the basement. They included eight of Zhyharova's relatives  her son and his entire family, including two daughters.

Seven relatives' bodies were exhumed in September in a severe state of decay. It took months to identify them, she said. Now she is waiting for just one more identification  of her granddaughter.

Of the 451 bodies exhumed in Izium, including nearly 440 found in mass graves, 125 have still not been identified, said Serhii Bolvinov, the head of the Investigations Department of Kharkiv's National Police.

Some are so decomposed it's difficult to extract a DNA sample, he said. Other times, authorities are unable to find a DNA match among relatives. The painstaking work can take months.

Zhyharova hopes her granddaughter's remains will be identified soon so she can finally lay her family to rest.

"I'll bury them, put gravestones," she said. "After that, what to do? Live on."

The scale of destruction in Izium, with a prewar population of 50,000, is breathtaking. Ukrainian officials estimate 70% to 80% of residential buildings were destroyed. Many bear black scorch marks, punctured roofs and have boarded-up windows.

Slowly, residents are returning, horrified to discover their homes uninhabitable or their possessions stolen. They seethe with anger, knowing the Russian advance into Izium was made possible by the help of local collaborators who supported Moscow.

"There were cases in the beginning of the war when collaborators led Russian armed forces units through secret routes and led them to the flanks and rears of our units," said Brig. Gen. Dmytro Krasylnykov, commander of the joint forces in the Kharkiv region. "This happened in Izium."

"Many of our soldiers died because of this, and we were forced to leave Izium for a while, and now we see what the city has turned into," he said.

In the village of Kamyanka near Izium, every house bears the scars of war. Twenty families have returned and many have directed their venom at Vasily Hrushka, the one who remained. He has become the village pariah.

"They say I was a collaborator, a traitor," the 65-year-old said. "I did nothing wrong."

Hrushka says he stayed in the village while Russians overtook it, because he didn't want to abandon his cows and three calves, fearing they would die in his absence. He sent his family away and took refuge in the cellar.

Russian soldiers knocked on the door, asked him if any Ukrainian servicemen lived in the house. When he replied no, they sprayed the place with bullets just to make sure.

Later, they came by with an offering of canned food. He gave them milk. Once they asked him if he had any alcohol.

Residents saw this as a sign of treason. They asked why he didn't do more to help Ukrainian forces by finding a way to give away Russian positions. But Hrushka said there was no way to do that  the Russian soldiers destroyed his phone lines.

"I was living in madness," he said, "I did what I did to survive."

He was called in for questioning by the SBU, Ukraine's security service. They said they heard rumors he was living the life of a chief in Kamyanka.

"I was the chief only of my own home," he told them. They let him go.

In November, his fortunes took another turn.

Foraging for firewood as temperatures dropped, he stepped on a petal mine and lost his left foot.

In liberated Ukraine city, civilians still pay price of war
Its easy to see that Nebraska has a problem with a lack of affordable housing.

House prices have gone up so much in recent decades that its become harder for people in Omaha and elsewhere to move into the ranks of homeowners.

While households are earning more money these days, house prices have skyrocketed. From 2018 to 2021, for example, home prices grew more than three times faster than income.

The available pool of houses on the market at any one time has shrunk, and thats especially true for the most affordable homes. New construction has not rebounded much since the Great Recession, and relatively few starter homes are being built. Rents for apartments are climbing, too.

This isnt just an issue for people who arent able to find decent, affordable places either to rent or buy. It doesnt just prevent more hard-working Nebraskans from gaining the stability and generational wealth that can come from owning a home.

Its also a problem for Nebraskas economic future, adding to the states existing challenge of filling jobs amid a workforce shortage.

Business leaders believe there are at least 50,000 jobs going unfilled in Nebraska because of a lack of available, qualified workers. But as Brian Sloane, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said: If 50,000 people showed up in Nebraska today, wed have nowhere for them to live.

World-Herald reporter Henry J. Cordes examined the issue last week in the first installment of an occasional series on The Affordable Housing Puzzle. Cordes has been tracking the housing shortage for years. So has Omaha demographer David Drozd, who has identified a growing generational demand for housing as millennials became adults and started families. Despite that demand, new home starts in the Omaha metro areas have declined.

Last week, the Nebraska Legislature held a hearing on proposals that would invest more state dollars in stimulating construction of affordable housing in Nebraska. The state already has programs to do so, including low-interest loans to developers, but advocates say more help is needed.

One Lincoln builder illustrated the gap between the cost of housing and typical family budgets. He described how a family at the median income level in his city could afford a home costing about $225,000. But he calculated his cost to build a relatively modest 1,500-square-foot home at more than $330,000.

At this point, were not prepared to endorse any single legislative solution  in part because it seems obvious that getting enough affordable housing will take a combination of efforts involving state and local governments, the real estate industry, other businesses, nonprofit groups and the community at large.

Besides incentives and subsidies, for example, perhaps local communities need to be more open to changes in zoning regulations that might allow construction of affordable housing in places where such dwellings are currently not allowed.

But whats clear now is that a growing group of our fellow Nebraskans are struggling to find decent housing that they can afford. And their struggles are holding back our states economic progress.

For both compassionate reasons as well as our own self interest, Nebraska needs to pay attention to this challenge and try to solve it.
15th Annual Gospel Brunch

Sponsored by the Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.,

Saturday, March 11

HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge visited Bloomington for the 40th anniversary of the BN Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and spoke at the chapters annual Gospel Brunch.

"Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is an organization of college educated women committed to the constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the Black community."

This year's event also marked an important milestone for the local chapter.

"We are celebrating 40 years of serving the community, scholarships, sisterhood, service and social action," said chapter president Goline Lawrence.

Fudge, who was the sorority's 21st national president, noted in her speech the importance of engaging youth and the coming generations.

Lawrence said she was "overjoyed" to have the HUD secretary speak in Bloomington. "Just to have her, it means so much," she said.
BLOOMINGTON  U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia L. Fudge visited a charity brunch in Bloomington on Saturday to speak about the importance of community and leadership.

The 15th annual Soulful Gospel Brunch, hosted by the Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., meets each year to raise scholarship money.

This year's event, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Bloomington, also marked an important milestone for the local chapter.

"We are celebrating 40 years of serving the community, scholarships, sisterhood, service and social action," said chapter president Goline Lawrence.

According to their website, "Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is an organization of college educated women committed to the constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the Black community."

Lawrence said, "We are one of the organizations here (in Bloomington-Normal) that gives away the most scholarships and the most amount in scholarships as well. So we're very proud of that."

Lawrence said they raise and donate over $10,000 a year in scholarships.

Fudge, who was the sorority's 21st national president, noted in her speech the importance of engaging youth and the coming generations.

"It's especially pleasing for me to be here because we talk about uplifting young people who are going through all kinds of changes in this country today," Fudge said.

Fudge acknowledged the chapter's positive community impact.

"You do great work," she said. "But, I will say this: I'm not going to sit here and talk about the great things you do, because you should be doing them ... so pat yourself on the back today. And go back out and do the work you need to do tomorrow."

Fudge said Delta Sigma Theta's mission is not vain or self-aggrandizing, but rather a higher calling of sorts.

"We have to do what we are required to do," she said.

This includes helping youth get scholarships to continue their education, building community resources and helping the less fortunate.

"This (HUD) is my life's work. This is what I'm passionate about doing," Fudge said before her speech.

According to her official biography on HUD's website, Fudge was elected mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, in 1999.

She served two terms as mayor before being elected U.S. Representative for Ohio's 11th congressional district in 2008, where she served until 2021.

She was nominated and approved as HUD's 18th secretary in March 2021.

Lawrence said she was "overjoyed" to have the HUD secretary speak in Bloomington. "Just to have her, it means so much," she said.

Bloomington-Normal NAACP president Linda Foster said the brunch is a chance to "gather in fellowship with one another for a good cause, for scholarships for our young people in the community."

Lawrence said Fudge's visit is especially meaningful "because now we have a voice. We have someone ... who understands the impact of housing and how housing is served in these communities."

She added, "we have a seat at the table ... THE table. She was appointed by the president of the United States. To have that happen, it's just amazing for us."

Fudge said she relates to people who may be struggling with housing or facing economic and social hardships.

"I can say to them, I've been where you are," Fudge said. "It's one thing to hear about (these issues), it's another thing to live it. And I've lived it."

Speaking on the local sorority's endeavors, Fudge said, "I was watching something this morning talking about how so many of them (youth) are depressed, how they don't build relationships, how they have no real direction. This gives them direction."

Fudge said she works hard to improve the lives of millions.

"I am going to do everything that I can to make the lives better of every single person that I touch," she said. "And at HUD, that's about 4 million people a month ... I am going to make them know that we care."

Who had brunch with a cabinet member? Check out these photos
Daylight saving time from spring to fall provides many advantages for most of the year.

One proposed alternative is year-round standard time. This would cut short 240 beautiful spring, summer and autumn evenings and eliminate eight months of daylight times benefits.

Spring-to-fall daylight saving time increases public health and the quality of life by getting people outdoors more, reduces crimes such as muggings, reduces energy use and minimizes energy peaks. And while daylight saving time may affect traffic accidents the first day or so after changing clocks, traffic accidents and fatalities are reduce significantly over the 240 days of daylight saving time.

Year-round standard time would make many spring and summer sunrises extremely early, while most people are asleep. New York, Chicago and Las Vegas would experience sunrises before 4:30 a.m. The sun would rise in Los Angeles, Washington and Cleveland before 5 a.m. We would sleep through morning sunshine for many months when that daylight could be better used later in the day.

Our current system of daylight saving time relocates an hour of otherwise wasted sunshine to a much more useful hour at the end of the day.

Since 1966, when a federal law was passed, every one of the 50 states could choose year-round standard time at any time without any further federal approval. Yet now, after more than 50 years, only two states opt to do that. And those states have unique reasons: Hawaii is the closest state to the equator, and thus daylight hours vary little over the year, and daylight saving time's advantages are smaller. Arizonas most populous areas have extreme summer heat, so instead of additional summer daylight, Arizonans await sunset to go outdoors.

The other major alternative to the current system is year-round daylight time. This isnt a new idea  Americans have tried this option across the entire country and firmly rejected it.

During a 1974 national energy crisis, the federal government installed nationwide year-round daylight saving time for two years. But winter daylight saving time quickly lost support. People disliked traveling to work on very dark winter mornings. They especially detested sending their children to school on very dark mornings  waiting for buses on dark rural roads or walking on dark city streets. Congress followed the national sentiment and eliminated year-round daylight saving time after one year  though the law would have automatically expired the following year.

Already-late winter sunrises are one hour later under year-round daylight time  the sun would rise in New York, Denver and Chicago at about 8:30 a.m.. It would rise in Indianapolis, Detroit and Seattle at about 9 a.m., and in some U.S. areas at 9:30 a.m. or later.

Large numbers of people would travel to work or school in total darkness. And under winter daylight saving time, mornings are also colder  especially unpleasant in more frigid areas. Many would leave home before sunrise when it is coldest.

Year-round standard time and year-round daylight saving time would both eliminate clock changes. Many quickly adjust to the change, while others find it troublesome, with reports of short-term adverse effects. But the effects of changing the clock last just one or a few days, while summer daylight saving's benefits last 240 days and winter standard times benefits last 120 days.

Moving the clock forward one hour is like traveling one time zone to the east (from Chicago to New York, London to Paris, or Beijing to Tokyo), which many do worldwide daily. And many travelers cross multiple time zones.

Rather than changing our time system, other alternatives exist to minimize any negative effects from changing the clock. One option: Several days before a daylight saving time change, a campaign of public service announcements could remind people that the clock change is coming: Try to get more sleep and get to sleep a little earlier on the days near the clock change.

Instead of moving to either year-round standard time or year-round daylight time, each bringing many negatives, the current compromise is very sensible. Changing our clocks brings great advantages throughout the year, eliminates the problems that would be caused by either of the other two systems and results in the best of both.
A former student of both my wife and me, originally from Congo, now works for a local bank where we have an account. He was helping us with the website, and it came up that his oldest was turning 16. To me, 16  and especially the wheels that went with it  were the beginning of real life.

Dad had said that if I had the means to support it, he would buy a car for me. From sixth grade through high school, I delivered papers and washed dishes in the school cafeteria, so I was ready to make that commitment. Dad gave me a choice of a Volkswagen Beetle or a Chevy Corvair (not to be confused with a Corvette!). The Beetle seemed to be a more solid and better assembled vehicle, so that was my choice. The cost was $1,595. Dad said the optional undercoating was not necessary and that we should save the $20 each for seatbelts, which were not required at that time. I did not know what undercoating was, but seatbelts were important, so they went in. The Beetles battery was under the backseat, and years later, in the cars old age, we put coat hangers under the battery so that it did not fall out. Dad had a friend in Springfield, and he got me the license plate CV 2222, so if you see it around town, youll know who is in the now BMW.

You would not believe how basic the instrument panel was. Speedometer, odometer and lights for battery and oil pressure. There was no radio at first, but I was able to save some money and for $50 got an AM-only radio. There was also no gas gauge. When the engine stopped running, there was a lever you pulled to give you about an extra gallon of fuel, enough to get you to a gas station. We only got stuck once, though, in a lonely desert in northern Mexico. That story had a very happy ending, though, as youll see.

It says somewhere, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Driving can confront us with the temptation to engage in some risky behavior. For the young and also for the rest of us, really reflect on how to drive and how to act if authority calls your driving into question. Also, these days, a few words on law enforcement decorum are hardly out of order.

About four years into my own driving adventures, I was at home in Winnetka and was stopped by the Winnetka police just over the local line in neighboring Kenilworth. The officer informed me that I was going a little bit faster than the law allowed. Although he stopped me in Kenilworth, the Winnetka officer was in hot pursuit, so the stop was legal. At the stop and in court where I paid the fine, the officer was friendly, but told me to be careful.

Six years later, by then married, my wife and I were stopped very deep in the heart of Texas by their rangers. We had done nothing wrong, but they were wondering what an Illinois plate was doing so far from home. We told them we were tent camping in Texas for spring break and had also planned a couple of days in Mexico. They wished us well and said Monterrey was a nice city to visit. Coming back to Texas, we mixed up liters and gallons, ran out of gas and were stuck in that Mexican desert. Not five minutes later, a Vocho (Vocho is Mexican Spanish for Kafer, which is German for Bug or Beetle) pulled up behind us. It was high school Spanish to the rescue! No tengo gasolina, and the German girl with me was mi esposa alemana. He opened the front hood, which is where the gas tank is in a Vocho, and with a small hose, was able to siphon some of his gas into a can and then into our car. I asked about dinero (money), but he refused, saying he was glad to be of help. Since then, I have had a soft spot in my heart for anyone from Mexico.

While crossing the border back into the States, you have very few rights and the process can be very intrusive. President Nixon had warned those of us on spring break to be careful and not bring controlled substances back with us over the border. We were a young couple in a Beetle full of camping equipment, so we definitely fit the profile. We were asked three times if we had anything to declare and were then told to unload everything in the car. But it was all polite and soon we were on our way.

Some years after this adventure, my wife was at the wheel with family visiting from Germany  four kids in the back seat, and me in front. While driving down Interstate 55 a few miles southwest of Springfield, she idly thought that the guy in her rearview mirror sure was wearing a funny hat. Well, she was soon pulled over by a state trooper for going 65 mph. It happened to be just a few days before the end of the double nickel (55 mph speed limit), so luckily she was just given a warning. In class a few days later, she asked her students about warnings and they laughed and said students dont get warnings  they just get tickets.

Some years later, we were on the no-speed-limit German Autobahn, a bit late for an appointment, and in our rented Ford Escort, which my wife urged faster and faster. We got to about 102 mph, but the Escort told us it just was not made for that. When we reached that speed, two BMW motorcycles passed us like we were standing still. With all that speed, it is amazing to learn that the Autobahn is twice as safe as our interstates. How do they do it?

Well, for one thing, there is no German word I know of for pothole. Also, vehicles are subject to rigorous inspection, and dents in the fender and rust are forbidden. By their standards, a good percentage of our vehicles would be either fixed on or off the road.

A great part of German driving is habit learned early. The driving age is 18 and the first two years are probationary. A young niece of mine was caught by camera going through a traffic light a mere half-second late. The fine was $250, plus $450 more in driving lessons. That for sure helped her develop good driving habits. More than once while riding with a college friend of my wifes, she pulled away from a stop sign with a car coming right on us. She said it had its turn signal on, so she went. There was no thought that it could have been a mistake; in Germany, you can trust peoples turn signals. Guess she never had an Illinois high school defensive driving education!

With age, our finances improved and it was finally time to upgrade. Our choice was either BMW or Mercedes, where our German brother-in-law worked. A perk there is to buy your first one and then get a free trade-in every year. You start small and pay the difference as you upgrade. My wife wanted German quality, but Bavarian Motor Works? Is that really German? My wife is from East Germany, so Bavarian German-ness is questionable. Most Bavarians agree with that sentiment. When you drive into Bavaria, the sign says, Welcome to the Free State of Bavaria. But in the end, BMW won and we swallowed dealing with our brother-in-law.

Our new BMW (new to us, anyway), up on nearly empty northern Michigan roads, and I had to see what it was built for! I took it up to about 90 mph and it was not long before I was stopped, this time by a female officer. She said another motorist had reported a vehicle going too fast. It was polite on both sides all the way. I think I lucked out because she found an error in our new registration and we got a ticket for that. The registration people here in town said they were not surprised that that particular dealership got it wrong. Oh, well. I dont know what you have noticed, but the overall speed and flow of traffic sure is an important aspect of driving. Both in lonely northern Michigan and on our own I-55 just a few weeks ago, that flow was awfully close to that 90 that got me stopped those many years ago.

So, young man, and the rest of us as well, experience the freedom those wheels bring to life in our day. Please develop your judgment and remember that polite behavior is a good rule should you be compelled to deal with authority. In our years, the road has risen up to meet us in 47 states. Other means have taken us to Alaska and Hawaii, but here in the Lower 48, North Dakota still awaits.

20 of the richest people who ran for president 20 of the richest people who ran for president John F. Kennedy James Madison Andrew Jackson Bill Clinton Hillary Clinton Theodore Roosevelt Steve Forbes Thomas Jefferson John Delaney John Kerry Mitt Romney Al Gore Kanye West George Washington Jon Huntsman Jr. Nelson Rockefeller Tom Steyer Donald Trump Ross Perot Michael Bloomberg
Most people hate springing forward and falling back every year. Moving clocks ahead one hour in March only to return them to their previous settings in November wastes time  literally.

No adjustments to clocks change the length of the day, which is determined by latitude (distance from the equator) and season of the year. Daylight saving time, which kicks in this year at 2 a.m. March 12, simply shifts an hour of sunshine from the beginning of the day to its end. Saving an hour of sunlight requires losing an hour of sleep in the spring, reclaimed in the fall when standard time  observed for a mere four months  resumes.

Daylight saving time has been one of the many irritations of modern life since at least World War II. It became a permanent irritant during the oil crisis of the early 1970s when President Richard Nixon signed legislation mandating that clocks be moved forward one hour on an early March Sunday morning to save energy.

The policys stated justification was that by providing an extra hour of sunlight at days end, people returning home from work wouldnt have to turn on their lights as soon and, hence, consume less electricity than they would otherwise.

The energy-saving argument has been debunked many times since then by careful studies of energy consumption. One of the reasons it doesnt pan out is because electricity provides comfort as well as lighting. Even if a family doesnt turn on the lights until 8:30 or 9 p.m. during the summer, people still want to cool off after returning home from work  and for most Americans, a dip in the backyard pool isnt an option. With millions now working from home, the energy-saving rationale makes even less sense.

Though computers, cellphones and many other digital devices adjust to the time changes automatically, most analog watches and clocks still must be reset manually. Thats an inconvenience, but additional costs are incurred as well.

First, changing time messes up our internal body clocks  in effect, causing people to experience the equivalent of jet lag without traveling to another time zone. Research shows that the shock to our circadian rhythms  the physical, mental and behavioral changes that occur naturally in response to light and darkness  causes sleepiness and inattention, which contribute to lower productivity on the job and spikes in heart attacks, workplace injuries and auto accidents in the days immediately after the time changes.

Implicit costs also are incurred whenever clock time diverges from sun time. According to my back-of-the-envelope calculation, we lose nearly $1.7 billion of valuable time to the annual spring-forward, fall-back exercise. The loss is based on what economists call opportunity costs: the value of time that could be better spent on more productive (or enjoyable) activities.

Economists typically base opportunity cost estimates on individual wage rates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated average hourly earnings in January 2023 at about $33. Assuming it takes everyone about 10 minutes (0.16 of an hour) to change their clocks and watches, the opportunity cost amounts to about $5.28 per person. Just counting the 158 million Americans who currently hold some job, the one-time opportunity cost for the country is more than $834 million each time we change our clocks, or just under $1.7 billion a year.

The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 18 states already have approved legislation making daylight saving time the year-round norm. Several other states are considering such legislation.

But the states cant move forward because permanent daylight saving time is inconsistent with the Uniform Time Act of 1966. While its permissible to adopt standard time year-round, as Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and U.S. Pacific Territories have done, extending daylight saving time beyond the current eight months requires an act of Congress.

Given both the nuisance factor and the significant costs imposed on us by being forced to change our clocks twice a year, its hard to understand why Congress hasnt done away with the irrational time-change regime.

The logical solution, therefore, is year-round standard time, which individual states remain free to adopt on their own.
Some unknown persons have cut parts of some newly laid electricity cables at the Smelter Two Bulk Supply Point by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr. Emmanuel Akinie, Tema ECG Regional General Manager has said.



Mr. Akinie told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Tema that power disruptions that occurred in Kpone, and its environs some few days ago were the result of their acts.



The areas and industries served by the Bulk Supply Point cable include B5 Plus, Mass Industries, Mavis Industries, Blow-Chem, the entire Kpone Township, Community 25, Ghana Steel, Affordable Housing, and Adi Steel among others.



He said ECG discovered the cable cut on the morning of March 08 as part of investigations into the outage which occurred at dawn.



He noted that the cable was part of a set of new cables which had been laid a few days prior to the incident, adding that they were the replacement for some old and worn-out cables



He disclosed that the said cables were replaced due to the challenges of supplying electricity to these places for some time now.



The ECG General Manager said the cutting of the cable after it has been laid and energized (electricity was running thru them) led to the outage.



As it is now, the cable has been decommissioned as work has to be done on it before it can be energized again, he said.



He added however that the load of customers who did not have supply because of the cable cut had been transferred to other networks and were on supply now while engineers worked to fix the cut cable.



He also pleaded with customers and the public to help protect ECG property and equipment as damage to them, such as the cable cut, ended up affecting customers, while adding cost to the company which must spend resources meant for other projects on such repair and replacement works.



Mr. Akinie cautioned criminals against such acts, saying such attempts were dangerous as one could easily lose their life through electrocution.



When cables are laid, you may not know whether there is electricity in them or not; in this case, while the person was cutting it, there was an explosion which then caused the outage and the person also bolted, leaving behind a hacksaw, he said





Source: GNA









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Information gathered by DGN Online indicates that the 22-year-old soldier, Imoro Sherrif who was killed at Taifa, a suburb Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region died because of iPhone 6.



Sources told DGN Online that, the two prime suspects allegedly killed the soldier attached to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) band in Sunyani because they wanted to collect his iphone.



He was said to have resisted and attempted to struggle with the attackers when one of them stabbed him.



The suspects thereby took the iPhone6 which got cracked in the process of struggle and disappeared from the scene, leaving the young soldier to his fate in a pool of blood until he passed on.



Police announced on Saturday March 11, 2023 that the two main suspects involved in the heinous crime have been arrested.



They are preparing them for court.



But four more suspects have also been picked up by the police in connection with the crime and are assisting police with investigations.



The four were persons who bought and also resold the phone among themselves in the municipality.



Police have managed to track down the phone and retrieved it to aid in investigations and prosecution.



The phone, according to DGN Online sources was retrieved from a driver near the Ashaiman overpass Sunday dawn.



Interrogations of the suspects are currently ongoing at the Police Headquarters in Accra in the presence of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare who has shown so much interest in the case by spending a night in Ashaiman on the day the prime suspects were apprehended.



Imoro Sherrif was laid to rest on Thursday, March 9 at the Military Cemetery Burma Camp in Accra.



Imoro Sherrif was gruesomely murdered on Saturday, March 4.



The Military High Command last Tuesday sanctioned an intelligence-led operation to fish out the perpetrators of the crime.







Source: Daily Guide









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Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
The immediate past Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, will today, March 13, 2023, at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), deliver a public lecture on The future of the economy of Ghana.



The event will kick-start in the afternoon at about 14:00 GMT and will see the former agriculture minister share insights into building the agricultural sector into a bedrock for financing the development of other sectors of the Ghanaian economy.



At an encounter with a group of Editors and Senior Journalists in Accra on Saturday, March 11, 2023, Dr. Akoto said the potential in the agricultural sector is huge, believing that the sector has the prospect to turn around the fortunes of Ghana and permanently eliminate the syndrome of going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) whenever there is distress in the economy.



Dr. Akoto who has set his eyes on the flag bearer position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) but is yet to officially declare his intention to contest, noted that at the core of his vision for Ghana when given the nod to lead the UP Tradition and subsequently becomes the President of the Republic, is the prioritization of public resources to the agricultural sector.



Agriculture by far has the biggest potential to turn around the fortunes of this country. It is not gold or oil or any other resource. The potential is so huge. We have a very fortunate situation and you may not be aware. There is something Ive learned about Ghanaian farmers. You give them the smallest incentives and they will run a mile with it and that is a resource we need to exploit to the earth. If we can exploit the willingness of the Ghanaian farmer, our country will be great, he noted.



He added, Look at what our farmers have done with the Planting for Food and Jobs by providing them subsidies  seed and fertilizer? And it is not all the farmers. In 2018, I conducted an agricultural census to count the number of farmers in Ghana which has never been done for 38 years. We came up with 3.1 million professional farmers in this country. Planting for Food and Jobs by 2021 had benefitted 1.7 million professional farmers - that is half of the farmers population and even with half, look at what has happened to Ghanas agriculture. In 2021, agriculture had the highest growth in the 4th Republic, 8.4%. In the eye of the storm of COVID-19 in the year 2020, when all countries were down, Ghanas agricultural sector growth was 7.4%. The Planting for Food and Jobs was working and kept Ghana going. The Ghanaian farmer is a resource sitting and waiting to be exploited and for me, the future of this country is to give incentives to these farmers for them to produce the surpluses and foreign exchanges to finance our industrial development; our education; our hospitals, health and infrastructure and all those things. We can do it.



To Dr. Akoto, also a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso in the Ashanti Region, said the success story of the Planting for Food and Jobs is attributed to the prioritization of public resources to the agricultural sector by the NPP government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



Mondays public lecture, he noted, will share more light on the success story of the Planting for Food and Jobs and other initiatives he executed as political head of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.



The event will also see him share with the public the potential that exists in other agricultural initiatives, which he believes could contribute immensely to turning around the fortunes of Ghana.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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" " Polygamy is associated by some with Mormonism, but the Mormon church officially condemns the practice of polygamy, which is illegal. Photo courtesy Amazon

Polygamy

Polygamy, the "state or practice of having more than one spouse simultaneously," was outlawed by the federal government in 1862 [Black's Law Dictionary]. Still, polygamy exists in the United States, though usually secretly and with great stigma attached. One can also find polygamy in popular culture, such as in the television show "Big Love." In the U.S., polygamy is frequently associated with Mormonism, although the Mormon church condemns the practice, which is also called plural marriage. An estimated 30,000 to 60,000 polygamists live in Utah and the surrounding states, most of them made up of fundamentalist Mormons [ref]. For more information about polygamy, check out How Polygamy Works.

Civil Unions, Domestic Partnerships, Gay Marriage

A civil union is a legal entity that offers same-sex couples the same legal rights and benefits as marriage. Civil union laws have been proposed in various state legislatures, but so far they are only legal in Vermont, New Jersey and Connecticut [ref].

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California allows domestic partnerships for same-sex couples and for opposite-sex couples in which one partner is at least 62 years old, and many employers and universities offer domestic partnership benefits as well. Like civil unions, domestic partnerships offer many of the same legal benefits that opposite-sex married couples receive, including inheritance and hospital visitation rights. Besides California, domestic partnerships are allowed in New York City, Maine and the District of Columbia.

" " Currently same-sex marriage is illegal in most states and on the federal level, but some states, cities and employers offer marriage benefits to same-sex partners, such as in the form of civil unions. Photo courtesy Dreamstime

Hawaii allows "reciprocal beneficiary relationships," which are registered through the state's Department of Health [ref]. Reciprocal beneficiary relationships are only available to people who are at least 18 years old and prohibited from marrying by state law, which includes same-sex couples but can also mean a brother and sister or aunt and nephew [ref]. Two people who enter a reciprocal beneficiary relationship aren't automatically considered a couple -- it simply means that they gain many of the legal rights afforded to married couples, which, for example, could be important to a brother and sister who are supporting each other financially.

The Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 defined marriage as "only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife" [ref]. This definition applies for federal purposes only, and states are free to create their own laws with regards to marriage. However, states are not legally required to recognize same-sex marriages conducted in other states that allow them. Currently, Massachusetts is the only state in which gay marriage is legal. Some states have explicitly outlawed gay marriage, while a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage has failed more than once to pass in the United States Senate [ref].

Common Law Marriage

In order for a couple to be considered to have a common law marriage, they must live together, agree that they are married and present themselves as a married couple, such as by changing their last names and filing joint tax returns. If you've heard that any couple that resides together for seven consecutive years is automatically considered common law husband and wife, that's not true. The amount of time that a couple has to live together is not defined in any state, but if a couple satisfies many of the conditions for common law marriage and lives in a common law marriage state but does not want to be married, they must somehow make that intention clear.

Jumping the Broom "Jumping the broom" is a popular euphemism for getting married, much like the phrase "tying the knot." The phrase originates from a tradition that was common among African-American slaves. Because slaves were often prohibited from officially marrying, they had to come up with their own traditions and ceremonies. Couples would jump over a broom that was set on the floor, symbolizing the beginning of a new life together. The tradition is still used by some African-American couples today, and it is believed to have originated from African customs, though ancient Celtic tribes had a similar practice [ref].
" " Joe Larson, one of the inventors of the polygraph machine, demonstrates it in the 1930s. The validity of the polygraph has come into question increasingly over past decades. Pictorial Parade/ Getty Images

In the 1930s, Leonard Keeler -- one of the men who developed what we recognize today as the modern polygraph -- marketed "The Magic Lie Detector," a tool used during interrogations [source: Larson]. The appeal of the technology, which can give an interrogator insight in the truthfulness of a suspect's tale, caught on quickly. Since then, history has proven that the polygraph isn't very magical, neither in its machinations, nor in the validity of its results.

MRI Image Gallery

The polygraph uses a combination of physiological measurements -- like blood pressure, heart rate and skin temperature -- to determine whether a person may be lying during a series of questions. The data rendered by the test is analyzed afterward to determine whether the person questioned exhibited signs of stress, an indication of deception.

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But there's a two-sided problem with the polygraph that has become increasingly clear over the course of the past century: A person who can remain cool under pressure can beat a polygraph, and conversely, a person who doesn't handle stressful situations well may be inaccurately labeled a liar.

Due to the perceived threat of terrorism that was born out of the Sept. 11 attacks, the U.S. government decided that a better, more reliable way of determining truth was needed. It appears that MRI technology has emerged to fill the void created by a convergence of the lack of faith in polygraphs and the urgency to know friend from foe following Sept. 11.

MRI -- magnetic resonance imaging -- is a technology that has been in ever-increasing use since the first model was built by Raymond Damadian and his colleagues in 1976. As recently as just over 100 years ago, physicians routinely paid grave robbers to steal bodies for their use as cadavers. It was dissection of these cadavers that helped expand our working knowledge of human anatomy. X-ray photographs were the next big leap in this field of study, providing us a view into the human body without needless incision.

Now, MRI has revolutionized the field of anatomical study. Rather than investigating the inner workings of the human body through observation of dead organs or examining flat, cloudy images of bone and tissue, MRI allows radiologists to see real-time, 3-D models of human parts.

MRIs use powerful magnets to charge hydrogen protons within cells. A radio frequency is broadcast at these protons, which absorb the frequency and reflect it back at a receiver. This information is translated into an image of the area scanned. Through this method, MRIs have determined the exact location and size of tumors and mapped the extent of a stroke -- all before scalpel was ever put to skin. In these ways and many others, this technology has saved lives.

But thanks to some emerging research, it's becoming clear that an MRI could also serve a non-clinical purpose -- as a lie detector. Read on to find out how MRIs work as lie detectors and why some people are opposed to this use.
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The capsule of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft, slowed by parachutes, approaches the surface of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico off Tampa, Fla., as it returns to Earth with Expedition 68 Flight Engineers Anna Kikina of Roscosmos, Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann from NASA, and Koichi Wakata of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) after a five-month mission in the International Space Station, on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Credit: Keegan Barber/NASA via AP

Four space station astronauts returned to Earth late Saturday after a quick SpaceX flight home.

Their capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast near Tampa.

The U.S.-Russian-Japanese crew spent five months at the International Space Station, arriving last October. Besides dodging space junk, the astronauts had to deal with a pair of leaking Russian capsules docked to the orbiting outpost and the urgent delivery of a replacement craft for the station's other crew members.

Led by NASA's Nicole Mann, the first Native American woman to fly in space, the astronauts checked out of the station early Saturday morning. Less than 19 hours later, their Dragon capsule was bobbing in the sea as they awaited pickup.

Earlier in the week, high wind and waves in the splashdown zones kept them at the station a few extra days. Their replacements arrived more than a week ago.

"That was one heck of a ride," Mann radioed moments after splashdown. "We're happy to be home."

Mann, a member of Northern California's Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, said she couldn't wait to feel the wind on her face, smell fresh grass and enjoy some delicious Earth food.

The SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina onboard in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tampa, Fla, Saturday, March 11, 2023. The group are returning after a five-month mission in the International Space Station. Credit: Keegan Barber/NASA via AP

In this image from video made available by NASA, a SpaceX capsule, slowed by parachutes, approaches the surface of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico off Tampa, Fla., as it returns to Earth with Expedition 68 Flight Engineers Anna Kikina of Roscosmos, Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann from NASA, and Koichi Wakata of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) after a five-month mission in the International Space Station, on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Credit: NASA via AP

SpaceX astronauts, from row from left, Josh Cassada, Nicole Mann, second row from left, Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata leave the Operations and Checkout building before heading to Launch Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for a mission to the International Space Station Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022. The four are scheduled to return to Earth on Sunday, March 12, 2023, after five months on the International Space Station. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux, File

In this photo made available by NASA, clockwise from left, Expedition 68 Flight Engineers Anna Kikina of Roscosmos, Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann from NASA, and Koichi Wakata of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) gather for a portrait inside the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory module on March 1, 2023. The four are scheduled to return to Earth on Sunday, March 12 after five months on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA via AP

Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata craved sushi, while Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina yearned to drink hot tea "from real cup, not from plastic bag."

NASA astronaut Josh Cassada's to-do list included getting a rescue dog for his family. "Please don't tell our two cats," he joked before departing the space station.

Remaining behind at the space station are three Americans, three Russians and one from the United Arab Emirates.

Wakata, Japan's spaceflight champion, now has logged more than 500 days in space over five missions dating back to NASA's shuttle era.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Men watch as Mount Merapi releases volcanic materials during an eruption in Sleman, Indonesia, Saturday, March 11, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi

Indonesia's Mount Merapi erupted Saturday with avalanches of searing gas clouds and lava, forcing authorities to halt tourism and mining activities on the slopes of the country's most active volcano.

Merapi, on the densely populated island of Java, unleashed clouds of hot ash and a mixture of rock, lava and gas that traveled up to 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) down its slopes. A column of hot clouds rose 100 meters (yards) into the air, said the National Disaster Management Agency's spokesperson Abdul Muhari.

The eruption throughout the day blocked out the sun and blanketed several villages with falling ash. No casualties have been reported.

It was Merapi's biggest lava flow since authorities raised the alert level to the second-highest in November 2020, said Hanik Humaida, the head of Yogyakarta's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center.

She said residents living on Merapi's slopes were advised to stay 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) away from the crater's mouth and be aware of the danger posed by lava.

Tourism and mining activities were halted.

The 2,968-meter (9,737-foot) mountain is about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Yogyakarta, an ancient center of Javanese culture and the seat of royal dynasties going back centuries. About a quarter million people live within 10 kilometers (6 miles) of the volcano.

Mount Merapi releases volcanic materials during an eruption in Sleman, Indonesia, Saturday, March 11, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Slamet Riyadi

Merapi is the most active of more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia and has repeatedly erupted with lava and gas clouds recently. Its last major eruption in 2010 killed 347 people and displaced 20,000 villagers.

Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity because it sits along the "Ring of Fire," a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

An eruption in December 2021 of Mount Semeru, the highest volcano on Java island, left 48 people dead and 36 missing.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Sarah Stapleton, a University of Oregon education professor, holds drawings and letters from elementary school students asking lawmakers to stop climate change, after testifying at a hearing at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Ore., Thursday, March 9, 2023, in favor of a bill that would require climate change instruction in public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. Credit: AP Photo/Claire Rush

Oregon lawmakers are aiming to make the state the second in the nation to mandate climate change lessons for K-12 public school students, further fueling U.S. culture wars in education.

Dozens of Oregon high schoolers submitted support of the bill, saying they care about climate change deeply. Some teachers and parents say teaching climate change could help the next generation better confront it, but others want schools to focus on reading, writing and math after test scores plummeted post-pandemic.

Schools across the U.S. have found themselves at the center of a politically charged battle over curriculum and how matters such as gender, sex education and race should be taughtor whether they should be taught at all.

One of the bill's chief sponsors, Democratic Sen. James Manning, said even elementary students have told him climate change is important to them.

"We're talking about third and fourth graders having a vision to understand how this world is changing rapidly," he said at a Thursday state Capitol hearing in Salem.

Connecticut has the only U.S. state law requiring climate change instruction, and it's possibly the first time such a bill has been introduced in Oregon, according to legislative researchers. Lawmakers in California and New York are considering similar bills.

Manning's bill requires every Oregon school district to develop climate change curriculum within three years, addressing ecological, societal, cultural, political and mental health aspects of climate change.

It's unclear how Oregon would enforce the law. Manning told The Associated Press that he is going to scrap an unpopular proposal for financial penalties against districts that don't comply, but didn't say whether another plan was coming.

For now, the bill doesn't say how many hours of instruction are needed for the state's education department to approve a district's curriculum.

Most states have learning standardslargely set by state education boardsthat include climate change, although their extent varies by state. Twenty states and Washington, D.C., have specifically adopted what are known as the Next Generation Science Standards, which call for middle schoolers to learn about climate science and high schoolers to receive lessons on how human activity affects the climate.

New Jersey's education standards are believed to be the most wide-ranging. For the first time this school year, climate change is not just part of science instruction, but all subjects, like art, English and even PE.

Several teens testified at the state Capitol in favor of the bill. No students have submitted opposition testimony.

"In 100 years are we going to have to teach our children what trees are because there aren't any left? It's a thought that horrifies me," said high school sophomore Gabriel Burke. "My generation needs to learn about climate change from a young age for our survival."

Some teachers testified in support of the bill. But others say they're already struggling to address pandemic learning losses. Adding climate change on top of reading, writing, math, science and social studies is "a heavy lift that will end up coming down on the backs of teachers," said Kyler Pace, a grade school teacher in Sherwood, Oregon.

Recent surveys conducted by Columbia University's Teachers College and the Yale Program on Climate Communication suggest that a majority of Americans think that climate change and global warming should be taught in school. But climate change is still seen by some as a politically divisive issue, and Pace said that mandating its instruction could inject more tension into schools.

Nicole De Graff, a self-described parents' rights advocate and former GOP legislative candidate, testified that her children, ages 9, 15, and 16, are "done being overwhelmed with things that are fear-based, like COVID."

In Pennington, New Jersey, wellness teacher Suzanne Horsley aims for age-appropriate lessons on what can be a daunting topic. In her K-2 physical education classes at Toll Gate Grammar School, she plays a game with pretend trees, using bean bags representing carbon to show students that fewer trees leads to higher levels of atmospheric carbon.

In Horsley's lesson plan for teens, students learn how climate change disproportionately impacts low-income communities. They look at air quality maps in areas with higher industrial activity or car traffic.

There is a push for students to feel as though they have some ability to influence their world, Horsley said. "Whether it's conserving water or finding ways to plant more trees or take care of the trees that already exist ... they want to feel empowered."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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T-Rex skeleton Sue went under the hammer in 1997 for $8.4 million.

A Tyrannosaurus-Rex skeleton dating back 67-million years will be auctioned in Switzerland next month, marking the first such sale in Europe, the auction house said Saturday.

The skeleton dubbed Trinity will go under the hammer in Zurich on April 18, the Koller auction house said.

Towering 3.9 meters (12.8 feet) in the air, Trinity has been valued at between six to eight million Swiss francs ($6.5-8.7 million), according to the auction catalog.

But Christian Link, in charge of natural history memorabilia at Koller, told AFP he believed that was a "very low estimate".

Trinity is "one of the most spectacular T-Rex skeletons in existence, a well-preserved and brilliantly restored fossil," the auction house said.

The sale would mark "the first time in Europe and only the third time worldwide (that) a skeleton of an entire T-Rex dinosaur of exceptional quality will be offered at auction".

Koller pointed to a 2021 study in the scientific journal Nature indicating that only 32 skeletons of adult T-Rex'sone of the largest terrestrial predators ever to walk the Earthhad been found worldwide.

'Incredibly well-preserved'

The Trinity skeleton is made up of bone material from three T-Rex specimens.

They were excavated between 2008 and 2013 from the Hell Creek and Lance Creek formations in Montana and Wyoming in the United States, the auction catalog said.

The two sites are known for the discoveries of two other significant T-Rex skeletons that have gone to auction: Sue went under the hammer in 1997 for $8.4 million, and Stan, which took the world-record hammer price of $31.8 million at Christie's, in 2020.

Last year, Christie's withdrew another T-Rex skeletonalso excavated from Montanadays before it went to auction in Hong Kong, after doubts were reportedly raised about parts of the skeleton.

Link said Koller was intent on being open and transparent about the origins of the bones that make up Trinity.

Just over half of the bone material in the skeleton comes from the three Tyrannosaurus specimens, he said.

Trinity's skull meanwhile is "incredibly well-preserved" and comes from a single T-Rex specimen, according to Koller.

The skeleton was provided by a "private individual", and had been flown in nine large crates to Switzerland, for reassembly, Link said.

Auction sales of dinosaur skeletons and other fossils have raked in tens of millions of dollars in recent years, but experts have warned the trade could be harmful to science by putting the specimens in private hands and out of the reach of researchers.

Koller noted "the rare skeletons of adult T-Rex specimens which have been unearthed are almost all now in institutional collections."

"The Zurich auction is therefore an exceptional opportunity to acquire such a fossil of the highest quality," it said in a statement.

Link also said he would like to see a museum snap up Trinity, adding that several had already voiced interest.

The skeleton will be the star of an auction set to feature a number of other rare fossils, as well as a 2.145-kilo rock that is "among the largest Martian meteorites ever found on earth", according to the catalog.

 2023 AFP
A proposed merger of the Johnsburg and Minerva school districts is proceeding to the study phase, having passed the first two hurdles of public input.

In January, the Johnsburg Board of Education and Minerva Board of Education held a joint meeting with state education officials to work through the logistics of the merger process and discuss what incentives and aid would be available through the state.

That first meeting with the state, that was mainly for administration and the Board of Education to ask questions, Michael Markwica, Johnsburg school district superintendent, said in an interview last week. The public was invited, but we were the only ones able to ask questions.

In February, both boards held separate meetings to gather public input on the matter.

We were asking for the questions ahead of time so that we could go out and find the answers if we didnt have them, Markwica said. There were people at that second meeting who maybe didnt attend that first meeting, and we were giving the answers that we had learned.

For the most part, Markwica said community members have taken a more passive stance on the merger, waiting instead for the results of the study before taking any hard positions one way or another.

What Ive picked up from the people that were there (in February) is that people want the study done, then theyll have questions, he said. Im glad that people want to go on information, because I think thats important.

Having passed through the first preliminary steps, the two boards approved the commissioning of a special study to be conducted, which would focus on the efficiencies of each district and the cost/benefits of going forward with a merger.

The study covers everything from student programming, transportation, building facilities, obviously tax implications for both districts, staffing  those are the big ones, Markwica said.

The boards are now in the process of drafting a request for proposals to send out to companies that could conduct the study.

The RFP is a document that just goes out to the general New York state, asking for people who would be interested in doing the study and put a bid in, the superintendent said.

Johnsburg, Minerva schools considering merger study The Johnsburg and Minerva school districts are considering doing a merger study.

Once a company is selected, Markwica said it would take about a year for the study to be completed. At that point, the boards will reconvene to consider its findings and determine if a merger makes sense for both districts.

If they vote, no, the process is done, Markwica said. If they vote, yes, it goes out to the first community vote, which is called a straw poll vote, and basically it has one question on it and it is, Do you want the schools to merge, and again, if either community says, no, its done.

Markwica explained that as long as the boards and communities of both districts are in agreement that the merger should take place, the question would then move to a statutory, or commissioners vote, where details regarding administration of the newly merged, single district would be worked out.

It again asks the question, Do you want to merge, but it also then gets into some particulars about the board of education, like how many members you would like on the board, what is the term limit for a board member, and there may be a couple other questions, board related, he said.

Once all those details are finalized, the newly formed district would start beginning on July 1 of the following school year.

A new district is only formed on July first, of a given year, Markwica said. And thats because July first is the beginning of a school year.

For more information about the proposed merger process, and scheduled board meetings, visit the Johnsburg Central School District website at www.johnsburgcsd.org as well as the Minerva Central School District website at www.minervasd.org.
Warren County STOP-DWI is urging residents to plan ahead for safe St. Patricks Day outings.

Monica Girard, coordinator for the DWI program, said in a recent news release that between 2015 to 2019, there were 280 drivers killed nationally in alcohol-related motor vehicle traffic crashes over the St. Patricks weekend holiday period, an average of 56 a year.

In light of these statistics, the Warren County Sheriffs Office will join other local and New York State law enforcement agencies for enhanced enforcement during the St. Patricks Day weekend.

To plan an outing with safe transportation, Girard urged Warren County residents and visitors to consider using a new cellphone application dubbed Have a Plan, that can help find sober rides for those who have been drinking.

The Have a Plan app is available in the Apple and Android app stores.

Please do not drink and drive and risk getting arrested, hurt, or worse, kill yourself or someone else, Girard said. All of us at the Warren County Sheriffs Office and Warren County STOP-DWI would like to remind everyone in our community to plan ahead when attending any event that may include alcohol. Designate a driver or utilize ride share options like Lyft or Uber, or use the Have a Plan App.

And as cannabis products become legal, the agency also reminds residents that buzzed driving by alcohol, marijuana or drugs, prescription or not, is illegal.

Stop-DWI provided the following information about DWI arrests:

On average, a DWI arrest can set you back $10,000 in attorneys fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, and more.

The financial impact from impaired-driving crashes is devastating. Impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $44 billion annually.

If youre caught drinking and driving, you can face jail or prison time, depending on your driving history.

Drinking and driving can cause you to lose your drivers license for a year or more, and result in the loss of your vehicle. This could keep you from getting to work, resulting in lost wages and, potentially, job loss.
While the 2022-23 winter has generally been mild, its finishing up with some force.

A second March winter storm is coming to the area Monday, and by the time its over, up to 15 inches of snow could be on the ground in parts of the local area.

The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a winter storm warning for an area that includes all of Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties. The warning starts at 8 p.m. Monday and continues through 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The agency said 8 to 15 inches of heavy, wet snow is expected, along with winds gusting as high as 35 to 45 mph on Tuesday.

Conditions will make driving difficult to impossible, NWS said, and the weight of snow on tree branches could cause power outages. Snowfall rates will reach 1 to 2 inches per hour at times, and the winds, which are expected to be strongest Tuesday into Tuesday night, will dramatically reduce visibility.

This will be a long duration and high-impact snow event, NWS said. Prepare now for this upcoming winter storm event.

People who must drive during the storm should keep a working flashlight, food and water in their vehicle, the weather agency advises.

For the latest weather details, including forecasts and radar, visit poststar.com/weather. And sign up for the weather newsletter at poststar.com/newsletters to have daily forecasts and NWS alerts delivered to your email account.
CAPE MAY  About 4 a.m. local time Thursday, Vesna Palifrova spoke on the phone with her brother, Zoran Donchev, close to 5,000 miles away in the city of Lutsk, Ukraine.

The two speak often, she said.

Just over a year after the start of Russias invasion, she has gotten used to the idea of her brother living in a country at war. This time was different, however.

Russia launched a country-wide offensive before dawn across Ukraine, hitting infrastructure and cities far from the front lines. Targets included Lutsk, a city in the northwest of the country about 60 miles from the Polish border.

He saw smoke in the sky, she said.

Anti-missile systems intercepted the attack before it reached Lutsk, she said, but a nearby city was hit.

The flowers of war: Ukraine smith turns guns and ammo into art Viktor Petrovich Mikhalev, a blacksmith in the Russia-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, takes weapons and ammunition and produces what he calls the flowers of war.

Palifrova is one of the organizers of Cape May Shelters Lutsk, which has sought to support the shelters in that city.

As the war continues, so does the local organization, sending warm clothing and supplies in regular shipments.

As the destruction continues, the local organizers have made adjustments, according to Charity Clark, another organizer of the group.

For instance, because of limited access to electricity and running water, the organization now sends body wipes for people who cannot count on a regular shower, and solar lights that do not need an electricity grid.

The hard part is to keep it from growing, because there is so much need, Clark said.

The organization has tapped local donors again and again and again, and she said the community has been incredibly generous, but she wants to expand the organization beyond Cape May and its neighboring communities, to build a countywide effort.

A global mystery: What's known about the Nord Stream pipeline explosions Nearly six months after the sabotage on the Russia-to-Germany pipelines, there is no accepted explanation as to what happened. And a series of unconfirmed reports are filling an information vacuum as investigations into the blasts continue.

It cant all be Cape May, she said.

Make no mistake, we need money, said Shirley Phinney, describing fundraising as the main goal for the group now. Were emptying our pockets, all of us. We need more help.

The organization continues to ship donations of clothing and other needed items to Ukraine, but shipping costs are adding up. There are questions of efficiency, Phinney said.

She can buy childrens sneakers for $10 a pair, if she gets lucky, which is far cheaper than they are in eastern Europe.

The community support continues to be strong, Clark said. For instance, one Wildwood Boardwalk business owner gave the organization free run of the business warehouse, which meant a large number of warm sweatshirts heading to Ukraine.

Some ended up with Ukrainian soldiers, and front-line commanders have asked for sweatshirts for their troops, as well. The organization shared images of dozens of cardboard boxloads of supplies that made it to Ukraine, as well as photos of soldiers wearing green hoodies and camo fatigue pants.

In September, members of the group visited Ukraine. The organization has raised more than $150,000, which has gone toward food, medical supplies, wheelchairs and even bribes for Russian soldiers to release hostages, according to the organization members.

They are also working with other local groups, including Knitting for Peace, organized by the Seaville Monthly Friends Meeting, better known as the Quakers.

Participants have been meeting regularly to knit hats, scarves and other warm items for people in the shelter in Lutsk, sending items along with the Cape May Shelters Lutsk shipments.

We have a big shipment going in April, said Craig Gras, one of the organizers. A few members meet each Wednesday at the meeting house in Upper Township to knit, and other Quaker meetings have participated as well, according to Liz Shay, another organizer of the effort.

We have contributors from Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware, Shay said.

Many donors want to remain anonymous, she said, so there may be some from other states as well. Shay said they have become friends with the Cape May Shelters Lutsk organizers. She said the efforts are not just about keeping people warm.

Its about being able to do something when you feel like you cant do anything, she said. The colorful handmade items let someone know there are people in the world who care about what happens to them. If all we can do is knit, were going to knit like crazy.

Plans are to include knitting supplies in the next shipment, along with directions to create a hat, scarf, baby blanket or other item.

Lutsk is a city of about 250,000, roughly between the populations of Paterson and Jersey City. It has ancient roots and has seen extensive fighting, as Polish forces fought the Bolsheviks a century ago, and the Luftwaffe bombed it during World War II.

It has also experienced Russian missile attacks but is relatively removed from the fighting. For this reason, it has become a refuge for children from throughout Ukraine, Palifrova said, both orphans and children sent away for a better chance at safety, much like London families sent their children to the countryside during the Blitz.

The local group helped organize Christmas presents and a celebration for about a thousand children last year, she said, and plan to go even bigger for Easter this spring, an equally important holiday in Ukraine.

Cape May largesse heading to liberated city in Ukraine CAPE MAY  On Tuesday, Zoran Donchev and his wife, Tatiana, were preparing supplies and wait

That will include about 50 boxes of toys.

It will bring so much joy to these kids, she said.

The group is working with a church in Lutsk. There, most public building was built with bunkers, including churches, a remnant of the Nazi bombing campaign. Without those shelters, the Easter gathering could not take place, because of the risk of a Russian attack.

Palifrova fears the children will grow up with war. She sees little hope of a peaceful solution, but at the same time, she said Ukraine must continue to stand up against Russian president Vladimir Putin, and the world must do whatever it can to help Ukraine.

Democracys on the line, she said. If they take over Ukraine, the entire world is in trouble.

GALLERY: Cape locals continue to help Ukraine
ATLANTIC CITY  As St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, the St. Patricks Day parade has driven the loneliness created by the coronavirus out of Atlantic City.

The Atlantic City St. Patricks Day Parade was held Sunday, marking the events triumphant return after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds thronged the Boardwalk bearing their proudest green, as scores of parade marchers passed by in renewed celebration of the Emerald Isle.

St. Patricks Day Committee Chair James Sonny McCullough said he was impressed by the turnout at the parade. He said he was grateful for the work of the businesses and parade volunteers who mobilized to bring the event back at full strength. He also was excited by the life it brought the city and the business it delivered to local stores during the normally quiet offseason.

It might be one of the biggest parades to have been on the Boardwalk, McCullough said. Its so rewarding.

The parade began at on St. James Place and Tennessee Avenue, right near the Irish Pub & Inn. Floats, marching bands, dance troupes and other kinds of revelers from across the city joined in the processional. There were 67 parties in the parade lineup, with most floats organized by local businesses and casinos, Atlantic City police and firefighters, Irish heritage organizations, area high schools and local civics groups. Classic cars, bagpipes and drumlines sounded off as the Boardwalk brimmed with green, orange and white. There was even a parachuter who glided adjacent to the boardwalk with a chute that appeared to be decorated in the Irish tricolor.

Local restaurateurs Frank and Joe Dougherty, whose family owns the Knife & Fork Inn and Docks Oyster House, were the parade grand marshals.

City resident Joshua Condry, who he had never seen the parade in person and was thrilled to finally attend, said having the parade was a crucial, celebratory tradition in resort that he was glad to see survive the pandemic.

This is a very big day in the community. We got floats, we got people, we got mascots. Its something Ill never forget, its amazing, Condry said. Everybodys wearing green today.

The parade leaders seemed excited for the event to return as well. John Holzermer, of Atlantic City, said he was asked by organizers to march as the parade leprechaun, something he said satisfied a longtime ambition.

I always wanted to do that, it was my dream, Holzermer said. So, I said sure, no problem.

The parade has been a presence in many attendees lives for decades. Brigid Hughes, came to the parade with her children, Connor, 18; Maddox, 11; and Hendrix 5. She has attended the parade since its start in 1986, when her parents, who are from Ireland, marched in it.

Connor Hughes wore his heritage, having taken on the overcoat, vest, and green tie and flat cap that had been worn by his grandfather.

Weve come to celebrate our heritage, Brigid Hughes said. Ive been here since the very beginning,

While the parade is a longstanding tradition in the city, it was a new experience for some. Ed Griffin, who recently moved to Egg Harbor City from Manahawkin, said he had previously experienced the New York City and Philadelphia St. Patricks Day parades, as well as several events in Ocean County. An Irish American wearing an Irish-tricolor wig, Griffin said he was excited to see the parade in Atlantic City for the first time.

So far, so good, said Griffin said.

There were others who went to great lengths to celebrate their ancestry. Ian Gillespie, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, drove down to the city to celebrate the holiday with drinks and other Irish Americans. He was wearing a kilt to the parade, which he said he got from the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair.

It looks like Im in the right place for it, Gillespie said.

Susan Leibowitz, who is living in Atlantic City and a retired Philadelphia school teacher, came wearing her Eagles scarf. It was her first time seeing the parade.

I thought it was wonderful, everybody was in good spirits and why not enjoy the celebration, Leibowitz said.

Richard Dean and Sara Andreyev came down from Howell, Monmouth County, for the parade and are regulars at the event since the early 2000s. They said they were happy to see the event return.

It brings out the people and helps the businesses prosper, Dean said.

The last parade was in March 2019. The event was canceled in 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to concerns about coronavirus spread. After rumors circulated that the parade would not be held for a fourth-consecutive year, the city and St. Patricks Day volunteers rallied to resurrect the longtime event. While the paradegoers had short notice, with the event only announced on Feb. 21, businesses and volunteers marshaled their resources together to bring the parade back.

McCullough, the parade committee chair, said he was grateful to the support shown by the city in making the eleventh-hour parade possible.

The support of the city and neighboring municipalities for the parade was on full display. Mayor Marty Small Sr. walked in the parade, donning the Kelly-green jersey of Philadelphia Eagles receiving great Harold Carmichael. He was joined by several other area politicians from in and out of the city who turned out with their own marching groups for the event.

The return of the parade facilitated the return of other important St. Patricks Day rites. Rico Sanchez, dressed to the nines in a brown, three-piece suit, a green wig and dyed-green beard, said he was taking part in the St. Pattys Day Bar Crawl, traversing across eight bars in the city. He said the bar crawl was a way for him to unite with friends and bring joy to the city.

Its just something I feel like Atlantic City needed that was different, its like an innovative way to bring a different experience to Atlantic City, Sanchez said of the bar crawl. Its like a religious thing....its what makes Atlantic City alive.

The experience was particularly important to McCullough, who was the mayor of Egg Harbor Township for around 30 years. He said he led the first parade in 1986, walking as an Irish American mayor alongside then Atlantic City Mayor James Usry.

After helping to bring the parade back from the brink of a pandemic demise, McCullough said there was only room to grow in 2024.

Were going to make this parade even bigger and better than this year, McCullough said.
Home visited amid sugar mill irregularities charge

#KOLHAPUR For the second time in two months, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the home and other premises of senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Hasan Mushrif (in pic) in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of a cooperative sugar mill, here on Saturday. This is the second direct action against Mushrif after he was raided on Jan 11 by the ED at Kolhapur and Pune, besides his relatives and aides.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ex-MP Kirit Somaiya had levelled allegations against Mushrif, accusing him of Rs 100 crore irregularities in a cooperative sugar mill, and involvement in a money-laundering scam of Rs 127 crore. An ED team swooped on Mushrifs home in a pre-dawn operation amid tight security and carried out searches inside his home in Kagal. However, Mushrif has steadfastly denied all allegations and said that the agencys raids are a political move by the ruling BJP at the centre and had even raised questions whether people of a particular community are being systematically hounded.

Somaiya has also claimed that Mushrif had allegedly grabbed control of the Appasaheb Nalawade Gadhinglaj Cooperative Sugar Mill Ltd, there were huge payoffs and money-laundering of massive amounts through murky transactions which benefited him, his family or associates. Soon after the raids started early this morning, angry NCP activists, including a large number of women, gathered outside Mushrifs home and staged vociferous protests, raising slogans against the BJP, the government and the probe agencies.

IANS
Editor's note: The Quad-City Times Editorial Board fully supports this editorial written by the Iowa Newspaper Association on behalf of newspapers.

Some members of the Iowa Senate do not think that public notices published in newspapers remain relevant and necessary. A bill filed in the newly formed Technology Committee just over a week ago moved through committee in two days and last week moved through the Ways & Means Committee in one day. Senate File 546 would result in removing a major component of government transparency. This legislation would require legal notices to be posted on a website controlled by the very government legal notices are designed to oversee and notices would not be required to published in a local newspaper.

This is the wrong move today, tomorrow and for the future. Government transparency is more important than ever. In truth it is critical.

While the Quad-City Times and other Iowa newspapers have an economic interest in seeing that the public notice publishing requirement remains, the issue goes far beyond a few dollars. Maintaining the legal requirement to publish government actions and meetings in local newspapers is crucial for ensuring accountability and keeping the public informed of important information that affects peoples lives.

The proposed savings under the guise of modernization would come at a very high cost to Iowas communities.

While many people now browse digital platforms for information not everyone has access to the internet or the technological know-how to navigate online platforms.

By publishing public notices in newspapers, government bodies can ensure that critical information is available to everyone in a format that has stood the test of time for accuracy and accessibility. It requires governments provide timely information for citizens to participate in their government. The notices are appearing in the communities in or very near where the decisions are made. Public notices cover a range of activities  bids and leads for public projects, minutes from government meetings, foreclosures, petitions, election information, water quality reports and other information that is important to citizens and vibrant communities.

The basis for public notices published in newspapers remains as important as ever:

 Requiring an independent, third-party to publish the notices in accordance with the law helps prevent government officials from hiding information they prefer the public not to see. The government cannot be in charge of holding itself responsible. A public notice must be published in a forum independent of the government.

 Publishing the notice in a newspaper ensures that the information is widely accessible to the public. Unlike social media or other online platforms, newspapers are trusted sources of information that are available to everyone, regardless of whether or not they have access to the internet or social media accounts.

 A public notice must be archived in a secure and publicly available format. Requiring governmental bodies to publish legal notices in newspapers ensures that this information is always accessible.

 The public must be able to verify that a legal notice is not altered after being published. In a newspaper notice, an affidavit is provided by the publisher, which can be used in an evidentiary proceeding to demonstrate that a true copy was published as well as the exact wording that was used.

 Newspapers have a long history of serving as watchdogs for their communities, holding local officials accountable and shining light on issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. By requiring government bodies to publish public notices in newspapers, we are ensuring that these important watchdog functions are preserved and that the public has access to information that might otherwise be hidden from view.

 Many newspapers also publish the public notices on their websites and nearly all public notices across the state are also uploaded to a centralized website at iowanotices.org, a site run by newspapers at no additional cost to government or taxpayers. It is available for those who prefer accessing an electronic version.

There may be parts of the country where newspaper readership is receding, but not in Iowa. Iowa has 241 community newspapers with one or more newspapers in every county. Market research conducted in 2022 showed 84% of Iowa adults read local print or digital newspapers. And newspaper readers are more engaged in their community. Newspapers reach 93% of Iowans who report, I feel that I have a responsibility to help share the future of my community.

It is true that newspapers charge a nominal fee, set by Iowa law, for publishing legal notices. This is a very small price for freedom, as it is typically under 1% of any government bodys spending. All Iowans should demand more scrutiny of government affairs, never less.

While the bill does not prohibit local government bodies from publishing public notices in newspapers, it removes the current requirement for doing so. Removing the legal requirement would most certainly result in local governments discontinuing all public notice publications in their local newspapers. But the long-term costs communities and citizens would pay far exceed the price paid by government bodies to publish legal notices in newspapers.

We believe that requiring governmental bodies to continue publishing legal notices in local newspapers is crucial for ensuring transparency, accountability, and accessibility in government decision-making. Newspapers  especially Iowa newspapers  remain a trusted source of information that is widely accessible and easily searchable.

As a newspaper, we strongly urge Iowas senators to vote no on this short-sighted bill.

As should all Iowans.
Three people were killed and one person was injured in a head-on collision on Interstate 80 near Walcott late Friday, Iowa State Patrol Sgt. James Lancaster said in a news release.

The crash occurred at 11:15 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-80 near mile marker 284.

Lancaster said that a 2014 Volkswagen four-door vehicle collided head-on with a 2014 Chevrolet four-door vehicle.

Investigators had not been able to determine the direction of travel for either of the vehicles as of Saturday.

Lancaster said three people were killed in the crash, one of whom was wearing a seatbelt while the other two were not.

A person injured in the crash was taken to Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport, by Medic EMS.

The names, ages and hometowns of the victims were not released Saturday pending notification of family.

The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

Scott County Sheriffs deputies, Davenport Police, Walcott Fire Department, and the Iowa Department of Transportation assisted at the scene.
A Davenport woman is facing charges after police allege she shot a person Saturday morning.

Shalynda Shupree Montgomery, 23, is charged with one count of attempted murder. The charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years.

Montgomery also is charged with willful injury causing serious injury, a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of 10 years, and going armed with intent, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Sgt. Brandon Koepke, at 8:03 a.m. officers were sent to 628 W. 63rd St., Apt. 3, to investigate a shooting.

Officers located a victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport, for treatment.

Multiple 9mm casings were located.

According to the affidavits, Montgomery entered the apartment armed with a 9mm firearm and shot the victim multiple times.

Officers located Montgomery who during a post-Miranda interview admitted to shooting the victim after a brief struggle.

Montgomery was being held Saturday night without bond in the Scott County Jail. She is expected to make a first appearance on the charges Sunday in Scott County District Court when a magistrate will schedule a preliminary hearing in the case and set bond.

Montgomery is currently serving a probation term of one year under Iowas deferred adjudication program after pleading guilty on May 12, 2022, to the lesser included charge of fourth-degree theft.

According to the arrest affidavit filed in the case by Davenport Police Officer Corey Hasley, at 3:53 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2021, officers were sent to Walmart at 5811 Elmore Ave. to investigate the report of a theft.

In a post-Miranda interview Montgomery admitted to loading $3,050 onto gift cards and stole $550 in cash from a register. She explained she made the plan with her co-defendant in the case earlier that week.

Montgomery, who then was a Walmart employee, would load money onto gift cards without paying money and then pass the gift cards to the co-defendant in order to make purchases. The total value of the theft was $3,600. Officers confiscated 10 Walmart gift cards from Montgomerys wallet.

Montgomery had initially been charged with second-degree theft in the case, a Class D felony, before she entered into the plea agreement. She still owes $1,899.11 in fines, court costs and restitution in that case.

As part of her probation and deferred adjudication, Montgomery was to have paid all fines and court costs and to break no laws. A hearing in that case is scheduled for May 12 in District Court.

Montgomery was arrested Jan. 6 for fifth-degree theft while trying underpay for products she was buying at Walmart at 3101 W. Kimberly Road in Davenport.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Officer Omar Alcala, Montgomery was seen by Walmart loss prevention at the self-checkout miss-scanning items. She paid a total of $68.28 for the items that she had picked up.

Loss prevention found torn bar codes hidden on her person and rescanned all the items. The total amount came to $115.03. She had paid $46.75 less than what she was supposed to pay.

Montgomery pleaded guilty to the charge. She still owes $227.50 in fines and court costs in that case.
WHAT'S NEW: High school principal Tom Ryerson on Thursday asked the school board to consider a proposal for piloting a one-hour late start once a week for high school teachers to meet in their respective departments for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Superintendent Adam Brumbaugh said at a recent national convention, PLCs were the one area Geneseo was lacking in comparison to the most innovative school districts in the country. "PLCs have been around for a long time and I think it could really take our district to the next level," he said. The four areas PLCs consider are: one, what they expect students to learn; two, how to know when they learn it; three, how to respond when they already know it and four, how to respond when they don't learn it. Ryerson said the school is not asking for a different or later bus route with the late start. "We are not going to put a hardship on anyone who needs to come early," he said. The school would offer students supervised academic study hall that first hour.
When he was about five years old, Collin Duncan told a therapist screening him for ADHD that he was a boy when answering a standard gender question.

His mother, Jennifer Timm, corrected him.

"And he looked at us like we were crazy," Timm said.

"At the time, the recommendations from the doctors were to correct him and then just kind of leave it alone," she said. "So, he spent 10 years trying to wear dresses and be a girl, and he was always completely awkward. His mental health started suffering severely until he finally let us know that he couldn't deal with trying to be a girl anymore."

At that time, Timm said, Duncan had already been seeing a therapist, and the family felt at the end of their rope.

So, Duncan started using he/him pronouns and began going to the University of Iowa's LGBTQ Clinic. It was a big relief, he said.

"I've just been this cheerful little lad ever since," said Duncan, a student at Davenport West High School.

The clinic prescribed him a puberty blocker, his mom said, but not until after he'd received a recommendation from a mental health provider. Duncan's parents gave a written statement, approving the care and signed off on a multiple-page information sheet that detailed the impacts of the medication and any possible side effects.

Duncan would have to discontinue the medication or look out of state for continued care if a bill passed by Iowa lawmakers last week is signed into law by Iowa's governor, who backs the legislation.

That bill, Senate File 538, would ban doctors from prescribing puberty blockers or cross-sex hormone therapy, such as estrogen or testosterone, to a transgender person under the age of 18.

Major medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends providing gender-affirming care to children and adolescents after evaluations for gender dysphoria."

The bill also bars doctors from performing surgery on a minor's genitalia that would sterilize or reconstruct to differ from their sex at birth. Lawmakers who support the bill say it will prevent young people from making irreversible decisions about their gender identity.

But surgery, Timm said, wasn't an option presented to them, and she wouldn't have approved if it was.

"He's my child. I should get to say what medical care is appropriate for him," she said. "To me, it's just like somebody saying that he's got cancer, but we're not going to give him the medication for it because he's not an adult."

Duncan and Timm were among more than 100 advocates for LGBTQ Iowans that rallied Saturday in Davenport to protest bills passing the Iowa Legislature that detractors say would curtail rights of LGBTQ Iowans.

Rally-goers carried signs, rainbow flags and bundled up to withstand the mid-March cold snap to march and hear speakers decry bills moving through the Iowa Legislature  and to see a few drag performers.

"What's happening to our LGBT community, we will not let stand," said organizer Mary Francis, of Moline, as she welcomed the crowd.

The event, called PROUD to Stand for Equality, follows several others across Iowa, including at the state Capitol in Des Moines and a multi-school student walkout earlier this month that included Bettendorf High School.

Francis listed names of transgender people across the U.S. who have died since the start of the year. The Human Rights Campaign tracks fatal violence against transgender people and reported at least 32 transgender people were killed in 2022.

"This is why showing up, showing our legislators, educating them, matters. We have lost too many so far this year," Francis said.

Organizers also planned performances by three drag performers. Duncan was one of them. He lip synched to, "You Can't Take Me" by Bryan Adams and Hans Zimmer.

One of the lyrics: "Don't judge a thing 'til you know what's inside it."

"If you tell me you want a drag ban, what I do is give you drag performers in a park," Francis quipped.

Iowa lawmakers have rapidly moved LGBTQ-related bills through the Legislature.

Several measures passed one or both of the chambers last week on mostly party-line votes.

Iowa senators passed a bill that specifies which bathrooms transgender students may use. The bill, Senate File 482, prohibits people from entering a school restroom that does not align with their biological sex. Students would need parental approval to request an accommodation, such as using a single-occupancy or staff bathroom. Supporters of the bill say its goal is to protect women in single-sex spaces.

The Iowa House this past week passed a bill that would restrict teachers from instructing on gender or sexual orientation in Kindergarten through 6th grades.

A few LGBTQ proposals did not make it past a funnel deadline, which requires bills to pass out of a full House or Senate committee. Senate File 348, which wouldve banned minors from attending drag shows, did not advance.

A bill that would put a constitutional amendment to voters defining marriage as between a man and a woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage, also did not advance. Davenports Luana Stoltenberg and Muscatines Mark Cisneros were among eight Republicans that introduced the bill.

A Democrat-backed bill that wouldve codified a 2009 Iowa Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage in Iowa also failed the funnel.

Photos: Proud to Stand for Equality march Saturday at VanderVeer Park

Photos: Bettendorf students walkout to protest 'harmful' LGBTQ+ legislation

PHOTOS: Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally at Capitol Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally Iowa LGBTQ Rights Rally
All local private attorneys may be assigned to represent indigent clients as soon as Friday, whether they like it or not.

In a letter sent to the Scott County Bar Association late this week, Seventh District Judge Henry Latham said the court will begin assigning private attorneys in Scott County to defend people who cannot afford an attorney as soon as March 17.

"If there is not a significant increase in the number of contract attorneys by March 17th, the Court will have no choice but to appoint all licensed attorneys to cases to meet the need of the indigent defense in this district the following week," Latham said in the letter.

The county uses full-time State Public Defenders and other attorneys under contract with the county to represent the indigent and to meet the demand. The private-practice attorneys would be required to represent indigent defendants on a case-by-case basis.

Latham's decision comes after he put out a call for contract attorneys in October of 2022. He sent the letter to all attorneys in the Seventh District Bar Association, detailing how the State Public Defender notified all the judges in the district that the Davenport Public Defender's office would represent defendants only in the most serious felony and misdemeanor cases.

According to the judge, public defenders in Davenport can handle Class A and B felonies, but there are not enough of them to represent defendants in lower-class C and D felonies. Making the matter worse is a lack of contract attorneys in Scott County, which are private attorneys who are paid by the State Public Defender.

The reactions to Latham's letter have been mixed.

Eric Tindal, a contract attorney who handles some cases in Scott County, said he understands the need for Latham's letter. Local private attorney Eric Puryear said he will not accept contract work because he finds it "morally offensive."

Both attorneys agreed the state faces a number of intertwined issues when trying to find representation for poor clients and must take a hard look at how much contract attorneys are paid.

'A complex problem'

Eric Tindal is part of the firm Keegan, Tindal & Jaeger, which has offices in Iowa City and Davenport. He is a contract attorney who in 2022 represented indigent clients in four judicial districts and approximately 25 counties, including Scott.

"I was not surprised to get Judge Latham's letter," Tindal said. "Indigent defense is a national crisis."

He offered some numbers for perspective.

"There are 370 attorneys on the contract list in Iowa," Tindal said. "Now exclude the contract attorneys in Des Moines and in the Johnson County and Linn County corridor, and you have 311 attorneys for the rest of the state.

"Last year there were right about 47,000 claims. That means, basically, the number of bills attorneys sent to the state for services  (were) sent to the State Public Defender's Office by less than 400 attorneys."

That's 127 services-for-clients claims per contract attorney in the state.

"There is an incredible strain on the public defense system in Iowa," Tindal said. "And the situation in Scott County is one of the worst in the state."

Because of that strain, he understands the need for Latham's decision and added "the reasons for a lack of contract attorneys in Scott County are complex."

"It goes beyond not having enough attorneys," Tindal said. "Historically, the Scott County Attorney's office has been difficult to deal with in terms of the discovery process  being able to easily see video evidence is just an example."

He said "progress has been made" on that issue.

"The other issue has been that Scott County's scheduling and procedural system has not been conducive to attracting out-of-county attorneys to work on cases in that county," he said. "It has simply been hard to see clients and work with the prosecutors."

He again stressed "the situation has been improving."

"The county attorney's office has definitely been making progress," Tindal said. "Everyone is pulling in the right direction."

There are three things that can be done in Scott County to improve the prospects of luring contract attorneys, he said.

"One, make processing discovery easier for the defense attorneys," he said. "Two, make reasonable plea offers and make them earlier in the process. And three, it would be nice if the county attorney picked up the phone and talked with defense lawyers."

'No dispute'

Back in late December, Tindal sent a letter to Susan Larson Christensen, the Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court, outlining the complex issues threatening indigent defense in Iowa.

He touched on the issue of what contract attorneys are paid.

"There is no dispute: the hourly rate must be increased. There is no need to belabor this point. Briefly, however, we will note how important it is to put the rate issue into context ... in 1979 the rate was $40 per hour, which was an increase from the pre-1978 rate of $25 per hour," Tindal wrote. "The hourly rate has increased some over time, but it has come nowhere close to the rate necessary to maintain a business. By most calculations, $40 is worth approximately $145 today.

"To state the obvious, Iowas court appointed rates for contract attorneys requires us to operate at or near an operational loss."

Contract attorneys representing clients charged with Class C and D felonies are paid $68 an hour. Those representing Class B felonies make $73 an hour, and attorneys handling Class A felony cases are paid $78 an hour.

Several former contract attorneys who worked for the the Iowa State Public Defender pointed out contract attorneys in Illinois make much more  at least $126 an hour  while attorneys contracted through the Federal Defenders program make $150 an hour.

According to a number of private attorneys in Davenport, hourly rates for most legal work start at $225 an hour. Most divorce cases land in the $350- to $400-an-hour range, and criminal defense can run even higher.

Private attorney Puryear said it is his opinion that the pay rate for contract attorneys in Iowa is so low because of basic "structural deficiencies" in the state's public defense system.

"It's a choice," Puryear said. "State's Attorney's offices are budgeted much more than the Public Defender's office. The police budgets of most cities are enormous.

"We have a system in Iowa where a person who makes, say, $15 an hour gets accused of a crime and has to bail out of jail. That alone will wipe out most bank accounts. And then you have to try and pay for an attorney. The system is set up to keep people in that system and puts them at a huge disadvantage."

Tindal said he didn't have hard numbers, but estimated upwards of 90% of the people arrested in Iowa qualify for a public defender.

"If Iowa cared about getting people good criminal defenders, they would pay for it," Puryear said. "The pay rate sends a clear message to the clients of public defenders about just how important their rights are."

'This is akin to slavery'

Latham's letter expressed frustration with the private attorneys in Scott County and the Seventh Judicial District.

"I am completely disappointed at the lack of response that the court has received from the bar. To date there has been only one attorney who has contacted the Public Defender to become a contract attorney," he wrote.

Puryear said he has no intention to volunteer for what he calls a "purposely broken system."

"Here in my office, two attorneys have devoted about 100 hours so far in 2023 to representing people who cannot afford legal help," he said. "But I'm not going to be compelled to support a purposely defective system.

"The state gives huge amounts of taxpayer money to those who investigate, arrest, prosecute, and jail citizens, and at the same time purposefully deprives those citizens of the means to have a fair defense."

Puryear added: "The state doesn't pay public defenders or contract attorneys enough, creating a shortage of defense attorneys for indigent clients. Then Judge Latham asks all of us to support this system by working for the state at rates way below what we would normally be paid. It's ridiculous."

It is "ironic," he said, that the state wants attorneys to volunteer to serve as contract attorneys.

"Judges certainly don't volunteer their time to help with cases," he said. "Do prosecutors donate their time to help clients? Police officers aren't asked to volunteer time to do their jobs.

"Why are defense attorneys asked to do this? This is a big problem. I'm not exaggerating when I say this akin to slavery. Slavery is compelling people to work against their will. That's what this is."

Puryear said he is much more interested in hearing how the state is going to fix what he calls "the system."

That system is headed up by Jeff Wright. He is the director of Iowa's State Public Defenders Office and reports directly to Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Under Wright's office, 200 employees in 10 local Public Defender Offices and the Appellate Defender's Office provide representation for poor and low-income people in all of Iowa's 99 counties.

According to Wright, the Public Defender's office in Davenport has a staff of eight, but three of them are not attorneys. The office is down three attorneys, and the state's job board shows a listing for at least one  public defender fellow  open.

It pays between $55,000 and $85,000 per year.

"Maybe we can look at bail set so high people can't afford an attorney," Puryear said. "And look at the number of Public Defenders there are in the state and what they are paid.

"I'm tired of seeing the responsibility for the broken public defenders system placed on private attorneys. It's not acceptable."
In 2020, over 70 billion chickens were consumed around the world. The system that makes it possible for us to eat so much chicken originated with a clerical error.

The story begins 100 years ago with farmer Cecile Steele of Ocean View, Delaware. Steele, like many other rural Americans in her time, kept a small flock of chickens which were raised for eggs. They were not consumed until their production of eggs dropped off. One day, the local chick hatchery accidentally delivered 500 birds,10 times the 50 Steele had ordered.

Five-hundred hens were a lot considering most large farms at the time had only 200 to 300. It wasn't convenient to do returns in those days (long before Amazon made this easy to do). So, Steele kept them, feeding and watering the chicks by hand in a 256 square foot barn. Four and a half months later, nearly 400 of the original 500 chicks had survived. She made a tidy profit by selling off many of the survivors for meat. Steele decided she could do even better if she ramped up her operations.

Her husband quit his job in the Coast Guard to help Cecile expand. Three years later, they were tending to 10,000 chickens. By 1928, after word of the Steele's success had spread, there were hundreds of farmers in the area who were raising chickens, primarily for their meat. Before the Steeles, most farmers raised chickens only for their eggs.

Compared to today's chicken farms, which average 40,000 chickens per barn, the Steele's operation was pretty small potatoes. But in the 1920s, her operation was massive. The hatchery delivery accident also occurred in a fortuitous era  the Roaring 20s, which saw immense economic growth. Americans had more money to spend on eating more meat. In addition, advancements in agricultural refrigeration and transportation, the emergence of grocery store chains, and the increase in agricultural financing contributed to making meats more plentiful and affordable.

Another significant development was the discovery of vitamin D in the early 20s. Why was this important? Because chickens often died of rickets when kept indoors during cold winter months (rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D, primarily due to a dearth of sunlight). This restricted chicken raising to a relatively small scale. But after farmers started fortifying chicken feed with vitamin D, they quickly realized they could raise them in larger numbers indoors and do so year-round.

Not only was Steeles timing lucky, so was her location. The Delmarva Peninsula, where Steeles farm was located, was an ideal place for large-scale chicken farming. Not only was there plenty of land at affordable prices, it was a relatively short distance to hungry consumers in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.

Over time, chickens also benefited from the perception that they were healthier to eat versus red meat. In addition, they were cheaper to produce than other meats.

Unfortunately, Cecile didnt live to see just how much raising chickens as meat would explode. With profits from their business, Cecile and her husband bought a $10,000 yacht named The Lure. On a beautiful, sunny October day in 1940, the couple took it out fishing, along with three guests. Near Ocean City, Maryland, the carburetor backfired which caused the boat to explode. The three guests survived, but tragically, Cecile and Wilmer Steele perished in the explosion.
The free Teller Youth Expo has exciting changes for May, including more interactive talks and demonstrations, an opportunity to fish and raffle drawings.

Teller Education Program Manager Nicole Ballard said the day will have plenty of fun.

We will have about 30 conservation organizations here this year and we are really stressing to have all of the organizations share a conservation message, she said. We really want to push that messaging this year because we want all the kids, K-12, to leave with some sort of conservation or message. They need to learn something.

She said the mission of the expo is to be an interactive outdoor experience that provides youth a conservation message about everyones organizations while also engaging our youth in safe, responsible and fun outdoor and wildlife-related conservation and recreational activities.

Each organization whose emphasis is conservation, wildlife, or outdoor recreation will have a booth for youth to visit and learn. Plus, there will be four interactive presentations during the day at 11 a.m., noon, 1, and 2 p.m. Those will last 20 minutes to an hour depending on the presenter and their topic. Presenters are Bear Aware, Working Dogs for Conservation with their dogs to demonstrate the work that they do, and Animal Wonders with wild North American wildlife.

Ballard said she is working to have the fourth presenter be the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium.

[The interactive presentations] allow them to dive deeper into what they are presenting at their booth, Ballard said. It will be fun and interactive with people gathered around. The entire event is free.

Additionally, the Teller Youth Expo will have a raffle for youth. Adults are welcome to attend but youngsters are the main focus.

Just by showing up to the event, every kid aged 18 and under gets 10 raffle tickets  just by walking in, Ballard said. There will be a whole section of items donated to us  fly fishing rods, camping equipment, a basket of stuff from the Montana Natural History Museum and BEAR is donating space in one of their camps.

Im trying to get items from every conservation organization so kids can try to win things they were interested in at the event, Ballard said. Organizations may also give away a prize (or prizes) at their individual booths.

She is planning to have a climbing wall, an archery booth plus the Fish, Wildlife & Parks poaching trailer and scat, tracks and skulls display.

We will have the Cabelas fishing pond with live trout in it, so kids get to fish, Ballard said. At the end, all of the trout will be donated to a raptor rehab program. Were hoping this event will be really big and its not too late for people to contact me if they want to be involved.

Ballenger said she has reached out to about 80 people and organizations in the Bitterroot Valley, the Missoula area and beyond.

If anyone thinks they fit this messaging and wants to be involved they can reach out to me, she said.

Call the Teller Wildlife Refuge Office at 406-961-3507 or email nicole@tellerwildlife.org.

We want to have as many people involved as possible this year, Ballard said. It should be fun and exciting. Adults can participate in the activities as can youth. It is free for everybody but only kids can get the raffle tickets.

Teller Youth Expo will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at Teller Wildlife Refuges Slack Barn, 1180 Chaffin Lane in Corvallis.

Ballard said the 2022 event had 400 people attend and the goal is to beat that number.

Weve been having younger kids coming so are reaching out to high school students, Ballard said. It is a great opportunity for older students who want to go into the field of conservation to network and talk to some of these booths to see what they do. When I was in high school, I would have loved an event like this.
Supporters of a change that would provide people with Medicaid coverage for 12 months after giving birth made their pleas to legislators Thursday to approve funding for the proposal.

Originally a part of Gov. Greg Gianfortes budget, the year of postpartum coverage was not supported by a budget subcommittee after opposition from GOP lawmakers. Instead, the committee backed a plan to offer up to six months of coverage for people with a diagnosis of substance use disorder or mental health issue.

About 1,000 women would be covered if the 12-month program went into place, the director of the state health department said in a hearing Thursday. The current coverage period is 60 days.

The six-month option lawmakers gave approval to would cost about $455,150 in state funds each year and $1.03 million in federal dollars every year. The 12-month option would cost $1.37 million in state funds and $3.13 in federal money annually.

On Thursday before the full House Appropriations Committee, Liz Albers, on behalf of the American Heart Association, advocated for the funding.

We know that pregnancy is the first time many women see a physician on a regular basis and  regular visits provide an opportunity to address chronic and pregnancy-related conditions including diabetes and high blood pressure, Albers said. More than one in three maternal deaths occur following birth, with the cause of specific mortality from heart disease and stroke being highest in the six weeks to a year after giving birth.

  Providing continued access to medical care during the first year following birth ensures new moms remain healthy and prepared to take on the responsibility of raising a baby, Albers said.

A CDC report found that 30% of postpartum deaths occurred between 43 and 365 days after birth, Albers said.

The money would be included in the $7.9 billion state health department budget, the largest portion of Montanas $13.4 billion biennium proposed budget.

Melody Cunningham, who spoke on behalf of the Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said overdose risk for moms with substance use disorders is highest from seven to 12 months after giving birth.

Limiting the program to those with diagnoses of mental health issues or substance use disorders makes it hard to get access since many people can't even get into regular care or specialists to get those diagnoses, Cunningham said.

Stephanie Morton, director of programs and impact for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies told lawmakers a six-month limit was too short to capture many problems that happen with mothers after birth.

Limiting coverage to just certain diagnoses and also to six months does not acknowledge the chronic nature of these conditions, nor does it acknowledge the physical conditions that can and do occur in the postpartum period. The stigma associated with asking for help with mental health, including struggling with substance use, makes these conversations particularly difficult, Morton said. Perhaps even more pressing for families is the fear of the loss of custody of a child due to these issues. A trusting, ongoing relationship with a provider is the best way to ensure that moms will ask for help when they need it.

The committee is expected to vote on the health departments budget next week. The full state budget will then advance to the House floor for debate.

The Associated Press reported this week that GOP leaders in more than six states are adding 12 months of postpartum coverage, tying it to bills that limit access to abortions and citing it as support for new mothers.

The AP reported that Wyomings governor recently signed a bill expanding coverage to a year, calling it a signature piece of pro-life legislation.

Montana's Legislature is weighing several bills to restrict access to abortions this session.

 This story contains reporting from the Associated Press.
Tucked inside the massive $1.7 trillion government funding bill passed earlier this year, Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. This law amends Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers, similar to that required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In response, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued intermittent guidance titled What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, in preparation for employers who will need to comply with the new law which takes effect June 27.

According to the guidance, and the new law, the PWFA requires employers who employ 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations to an employee with known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions unless doing so would cause an undue hardship.

Virginia passed a similar law in 2020 that required employers with five or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations to any employee who has a known limitation related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, which can include lactation.

According to the Virginia law, reasonable accommodations include more frequent or longer bathroom breaks, breaks to express breast milk, access to a private location other than a bathroom for the expression of breast milk, acquisition or modification of equipment or access to or modification of employee seating, a temporary transfer to a less strenuous or hazardous position, assistance with manual labor, job restructuring, a modified work schedule, light duty assignments, and leave to recover from childbirth.

The new federal law will largely align with the Virginia law, but provide a federal avenue for a cause of action against the employer for violations.

The EEOC identified as reasonable accommodations to include, the ability to sit or drink water; receive closer parking; have flexible hours; receive appropriately sized uniforms and safety apparel; receive additional break time to use the bathroom, eat, and rest; take leave or time off to recover from childbirth; and be excused from strenuous activities and/or activities that involve exposure to compounds not safe for pregnancy.

Employers can deny an accommodation if it poses an undue hardship which is defined as significant difficulty or expense for the employer.

The EEOC will issue regulations to carry out the law and a proposed version will be published for public comment prior to the implementation of the regulations.

Employers will need to update policies as appropriate.

The Virginia law requires: An employer shall post in a conspicuous location and include in any employee handbook information concerning an employees rights to reasonable accommodation for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Such information shall also be directly provided to (i) new employees upon commencement of their employment and (ii) any employee within 10 days of such employees providing notice to the employer that she is pregnant.

Employers are not required to simply comply with notes from a doctor claiming generalized statements like, Sally is pregnant and can only work 40 hours a week. There needs to be a medical reason why the employee has these restrictions beyond mere pregnancy. Employers can require additional medical documentation and information similar to that which is permissible under the ADA.

Certain things, however, such as lifting heavy objects, would likely be problematic for any pregnant worker, but medical documentation can make sure that the worker and baby remain safe and the employer is able to determine reasonable accommodations.

In all cases, the interactive process is necessary.

The EEOCs guidance is found at EEOC.gov.

As part of the bill, Congress also passed the PUMP Act  Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act, which broadens workplace protections for employees to express breast milk at work. The PUMP Act will be enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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Fifty years ago in May, Secretariat began his incomparable run into horse-racing history and American lore.

The legendary horses dominating sweep of the Triple Crown in 1973  he still holds the records for fastest time in all three races  ensured he would be remembered as a horse for all time. His name has grown to be synonymous with greatness, his achievements mythic.

And, for those who might not recall, Secretariat was a Virginian.

Secretariat was born on March 30, 1970, at what was then The Meadow, a horse farm in Caroline County, that is now The Meadow Event Park, where the State Fair of Virginia is held each fall.

Nearby Ashland also lays claim to Secretariats heritage and, to celebrate its native son, is hosting a series of events on Saturday, April 1, most notably the official unveiling at the Ashland Town Hall of a visiting monument to the horse known as Big Red.

The Secretariat Racing Into History bronze monument is 21 feet long, 11 1/2 feet tall and weighs 3,500 pounds, and will arrive in Ashland in late March following a 1,300-mile journey on a flatbed trailer from the Oklahoma foundry where it came to life. It is scheduled to leave later in April when it will be loaded on the back of the truck again and will continue its Triple Crown anniversary tour to the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.

The monument could return for good to Ashland later in the year if a local group, Secretariat for Virginia, raises sufficient funds  about $600,000  to purchase it. The town and Randolph-Macon College have agreed to provide a permanent site for the statue in the middle of town at the intersection of England Street and Railroad Avenue, just down the tracks from the towns train station.

Spearheading the effort is Kate Chenery Tweedy, granddaughter of Chris Chenery, who in the 1930s purchased The Meadow and founded Meadow Stud, the breeding operation, and Meadow Stable, the racing operation, and daughter of Penny Chenery, who took charge of The Meadow when her father fell ill in 1968. Penny Chenery was running the place when Secretariat came along.

Tweedy said it just seems right for the statue to have its permanent home in Virginia in general and in Ashland in particular, and not only because she relocated there in 2018. Her grandfather grew up in Ashland, and several members of her family, including her grandfather, attended Randolph-Macon.

Tweedy grew up in Colorado, but visited The Meadow as a child and became familiar with Ashland. She started visiting the area again about 15 years ago when she was co-writing the book Secretariats Meadow with Leeanne Meadows Ladin and fell in love with the place.

When its time for me to retire, she decided back then about Ashland, thats where Im going to retire.

While working on the book, she also fell in love with the Virginia part of Secretariats story, she said.

Since others have amply covered his achievements at the track and his retirement in Kentucky, I felt it was important to highlight his home state and our great history with horses.

Her mother always said that Secretariat couldnt talk so she wanted to do it for him, and she worked really hard to keep his legacy alive. I traveled with her and helped her at her events meeting fans. I saw how much they loved him and her as well. Now that Mom is gone, I am the main one of our siblings to carry on Moms mission and to add my own.

n n n

The monument is the work of Jocelyn Russell, a wildlife and equine artist living in the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest. It is the second of two almost identical statues of Secretariat that Russell has created; the first was commissioned by a Kentucky group and installed in 2019 at a traffic circle in Lexington, Kentucky.

The one coming to Ashland is slightly different in that the Lexington version features 1A on the saddle cloth and jockey arm number, which was Secretariats number at the 1973 Kentucky Derby. The second casting bears a 2  the number Secretariat wore for his record-breaking run at the Belmont Stakes, perhaps his most famous race as he galloped across the finish line an astounding 31 lengths ahead of the second-place horse.

Russell says it was an honor to memorialize Secretariat in bronze because he was not just a racehorse. Hes the racehorse of all time.

She deeply researched Secretariat before creating the monument, including traveling to Canada to visit with jockey Ron Turcotte, who was aboard Secretariat on his Triple Crown run. The finished product depicts Secretariat in full stride.

The first monument was delivered via flatbed trailer to Lexington, amid considerable fanfare, Russell said, with even a helicopter following it into Lexington. On the trip to Ashland, she will be driving behind the trailer, and she expects the same sort of attention for a statue roughly 1 1/2 times the actual size of the horse, uncovered and visible, racing along the interstate.

n n n

At its Feb. 21 meeting, the Ashland Town Council unanimously approved a plan to lease the proposed site for the monument at the intersection of England Street and Railroad Avenue from Randolph-Macon  at $10 per year  when and if funds are raised by the Secretariat for Virginia committee to purchase and install the statue.

Having the site conditionally approved allowed the fundraising to commence, said Wayne Dementi, with the Secretariat for Virginia committee. Dementi and Tweedy, among others, are confident they will raise the necessary money.

No town funds would be used to acquire the statue. If the purchase comes to pass and the monument is placed permanently in Ashland, the town would own the statue, while Randolph-Macon would maintain ownership of the land.

The monument would be in the center of things, said Ann Martin, chairman of the board of the Ashland Museum, which is serving as the sponsoring nonprofit organization for the fundraising effort.

It will be seen by lots of people who travel on England Street, as well as those who go up and down Railroad Avenue. People will see it from the train.

The monument would be another boost for the town in terms of bringing outsiders into our community, she said. Anytime you have people visiting the town, it helps the entire town economically. We have a healthy downtown, but it would certainly make it thrive more.

The museum features a Secretariat exhibit  Tweedy is on the museum board and provided much of the memorabilia  and Martin said the town is proud of its connection to the horse.

It will just be raising the funds to make it happen, so we need everybody who loved Secretariat or has any interest in horses to support us in whatever way they can, she said.

Besides the unveiling of the statue on April 1 at 2 p.m. at the Ashland Town Hall Pavilion, other events that day include a free showing of the Disney film Secretariat at Ashland Theatre. Tweedy will be on hand to talk about her behind-the-scenes experience on the movie set.

From 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., there will be a number of displays and childrens activities at the Town Hall and lawn area, including a presentation by Russell on sculpting the monument.

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In an interview for a 2010 story on the 40th anniversary of Secretariats birth, Tweedy talked about the magical memories she had from her visits to The Meadow when she was young. Among them was the first time she saw Secretariat. The big chestnut colt was barely a year old, but even as a teen she could tell there was something exceptional about him.

He was striking ... both in size and personality, Tweedy said in the 2010 interview. He had something in the eye that really made you say, Whoa, whos this character?

When reminded recently of those comments, Tweedy said Secretariat was bigger and so beautiful, always and further described him as very smart and inquisitive and kind of mischievous  not bad or mean, but just a smart and lively foal.

He had this regal presence, Tweedy said. Mom would always say that his mother was the queen of that herd, kind of the alpha mare. Just by virtue of that, he inherited this mantle of, Hey, Im something special.

And he was.

Photos: Secretariat
Richmond School Superintendent Jason Kamras announced in a tweet on Saturday morning that an RPS student died in an accidental shooting on Friday evening.

Im devastated to share that we lost a 13-year-old student last night in an accidental shooting, Kamras wrote in his tweet. If you have firearms in your home, please secure them safely. I beg of you.

The name of the student has yet to be released.

School Board member Jonathan Young said the student attended Binford Middle School.

Young also said the School Board has heard a total of four students were shot Friday evening, across at least two separate incidents. Those have not yet been confirmed by police.

It is only getting worse, and folks are sitting on their hands, Young said.

He said he believes Friday nights violence has its origins in the classroom, where teachers have had their hands tied when trying to discipline students.

My colleagues are unwilling and unprepared to hold anybody accountable, Young said Saturday morning. Im not referring to teachers; Im not referring to principals.

Im referring to our elected leaders who are tying the hands of our teachers behind their backs.

On Friday night, the Richmond Police Department issued a separate news release involving a fatal shooting of a juvenile on Stockton Street in the Blackwell neighborhood of Manchester.

PHOTOS: RPS welcomes 5 new principals 20220902_MET_RPS_AWE02 20220902_MET_RPS_AWE01 20220902_MET_RPS_AWE03 20220902_MET_RPS_AWE04 20220902_MET_RPS_AWE05
The recent racist rant by cartoonist Scott Adams had consequences for his career. Thats good. No one is entitled to demand that they be immunized against responsibility for their own actions.

Adams claim that Black Americans are a hate group and that white people should get the hell away from them shows true ignorance. My own experience in 40 years of immersion in African American churches and civic activities shows the opposite. Embracing people who are different from you can immeasurably enrich your life and your community. Again and again, I am humbled by the welcome reception I receive, particularly when I think back to my own upbringing and remember how unwelcome Black people were often made to feel in the communities where I came up.

I was raised in an overwhelmingly white suburb of Kansas City in the 1960s and 1970s. I remember adults telling racist jokes at parties and even some expressing approval when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. I remember that star Black players on our Kansas City Chiefs were celebrated on Sunday but turned away from buying homes in certain neighborhoods. I still give thanks to this day that my parents modeled respectful behavior toward all and sent clear messages to the three Kaine boys that discrimination was wrong. That wasnt the lesson some of my friends were learning in their homes.

In law school, I took a year off to spend time with missionaries in Honduras and grew to love the extended and intimate Masses I attended. I happened across the words of Dr. King that year  11 oclock on Sunday is one of the most segregated hours, if not the most segregated hour, in Christian America. It certainly captured my own church experience.

When I returned to the U.S., I took Dr. Kings words as a challenge and decided to worship in primarily Black churches. At St. Peter Claver in Macon, Georgia, I felt a spirit similar to what I felt in Honduras. I had only attended a few weeks when someone sitting in front of me heard me singing hymns one Sunday and marched me up to the choir director after Mass, saying this youngster will fit in very well. I was a twenty-something white kid that no one knew, but I wasnt just tolerated, I was embraced and welcomed.

Anne and I moved to Richmond to get married and found our way to St. Elizabeths Catholic Church, a parish in North Side that was established in the 1920s for German families but through decades of transition and white flight had become predominantly African American. People treated us as if wed been parishioners all our lives. It was only a few weeks into our attendance when Shelton, a Vietnam vet, sidled up to me and said: Do you need an engraved invitation to join our Mens Club or will you just show up this Friday and fellowship with the guys? Were still there nearly 40 years later.

I dont think my own boyhood parish was hostile to African Americans, or at least I hope it wasnt. But I seldom saw any Black folks at Mass, and I doubt the welcome was as warm toward any who did enter the sanctuary. That thought also fills me with regret decades later as I reflect on the warmth Ive found in the Black church.

Ive learned so much from my friends at church about life in this city and this country. Many have faced real discrimination within the Catholic Church itself but never let go of their faith or their belief that bigotry would pass if they just persisted in their own spiritual journey. Again and again, Ive been met with love and compassion, only to wonder whether my friends would face such love and compassion in the white community.

I remember my first case as a lawyer, representing a Black woman turned away from an apartment because of the color of her skin. We were nearly the same age and had both just moved to a new city to start a new job. My hunt for an apartment was smooth. Hers was rocky, and it made her worry that future efforts would be just as rocky. We were so similar in so many key ways, but our experiences could not have been more different.

When I was running for Richmond mayor in 1998, I was a bit of an oddity. The nine-member City Council chose the mayor from among its ranks back then. The council was majority-Black, as was the city. In the nearly 200 years that our city was majority-white, Richmond never chose an African American to be mayor. Now here I was, less than 20 years after our city became majority-Black and elected its first Black mayor, putting my name in the ring. Ultimately, I was the only one nominated and received eight of nine votes.

The African American community  in Virginia and beyond  has extended grace toward me even though many have not felt that grace extended toward them at many points in life.

Dont be a Dilbert, hiding frightened in your tiny cubicle. Dont get the hell away from African Americans or others different from you. Invest time and attention in people who are different from you  whether the differences are race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, language, age or politics. Listen to them, learn from them, laugh with them, cry with them  and love them. Your life will be immeasurably enriched.

PHOTOS: Tim Kaine and his family through the years DEMS KAINE PRIM PACK 443 Fathers and sons PARK KAINE WBG14-BB-116 Virginia Senate Race KAL PENN OBAMA ILLU06e SHOE21 VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE ARCHIVED R1107_SENA Beginning the parade DNC CONVENTION DENVER HOLTON BBBALL2 XGR0311C RTD VOTE--26 KAINE1 ILLU06f WBG-JM-217 RTD VOTE--28 RTD DEMS JM--02 R1107_SENA KAIN06b WBG-Ball 5 KAIN06a Carriage ride Governor's family KAINE VOTE ELECTION R1107_SENA CREEPER3 TIM&BILL HAPS15
A couple has bought a Bent Mountain field for what they said will be a new food store.

Terio and Lisa Comerose on Dec. 6 purchased more than 10 acres of farmland fronting Floyd Highway between Treehouse Tavern and B&S Mart, according to online Roanoke County records.

The site, across the street from a state highway department work center, has space for the new store and two dwellings, Comerose said.

The retail shop will emulate Tom Leonards Farmers Market in Glen Allen, Comerose said, describing it as a farm store with fresh meats and fresh product, local produce. He mentioned the possibility that the store will carry seafood. In addition, crews will install electric vehicle chargers for customer use, he said.

Comerose said his wife is from Dublin and he is from Princeton, West Virginia. They have lived in various places of the world, but call Richmond home. On a visit to the area he connected with Bent Mountain as a place he wanted to be. The couple plan to move to one of two homes planned on additional acreage they own on Tinsley Lane. Comerose described his work as the construction of data centers and power generating stations.

Energy award to local cement plant

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored Titan America in Troutville with an Energy Star designation for energy efficiency.

The Botetourt County cement producer, which also operates a plant in Florida, converted production to Portland Limestone (Type IL) cement, which contains up to 15% less carbon than standard Portland cement. Since 2015 the two plants also have cut electricity use 12% and carbon dioxide emissions 18%, the announcement said. Only 86 U.S. factories received Energy Star certification in 2022.

Industrial leadership in energy efficiency is critical in achieving our nations climate goals, EPA officials said in a prepared release. Energy Star-recognized plants demonstrate how energy efficiency is both helping our manufacturing sector reduce costs and propelling Americas transition to a clean energy future.

Luna lands wind contract

Roanoke-based Luna Innovations will contribute technology to a wind energy station planned off Virginia.

Dominion Energy plans to start building the facility 27 miles off Virginia Beach next year. Called the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind venture, the project will consist of 176 wind turbines about 800 feet tall. The 2.6-gigawatt station will feature three offshore substations, undersea cables and onshore transmission infrastructure.

Lunas EN.SURE long-range power cable sensing system will be used to monitor the wind farms export cable system, which will transport power to shore, a company release said. The equipment can detect threats such as anchors from ships and gauge temperatures and depths, the release said.

Online land database up and running

Virginias Land and Energy Navigator has been released at https://valen.ext.vt.edu.

This map-based portal furnishes location-specific information about farmland, forests, utility infrastructure, conservation easements and disturbed lands to support land use planning, officials said.

This project will increase every localitys ability to make complex land use decisions with access to some groundbreaking information all under one source that has been practically impossible to compare before the impressive work done by Virginia Cooperative Extension and stakeholders, according to a prepared statement by Zach Jacobs, a legislative specialist for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.
Tyler Wert brings a beer brewers certificate, job experience at a Richmond brewery, a passion for wild yeast and a beer-themed last name to the challenge of creating Roanokes next craft beer venue.

The former head brewer at Triple Crossing Beer in Richmond, Wert, along with his wife, Nicole Davidson-Wert, say theyll open Blindhouse Beer Co. in late spring. Theyve rented a building a fraction of a mile from A Few Old Goats Brewing, Big Lick Brewing, Golden Cactus Brewing and Twisted Track Brewpub.

Blindhouse, located at 534 Salem Ave. S.W., will be the fifth brand in what some people describe as downtown Roanokes beer alley.

Its going to be a quaint, little, Euro-style cafe vibe, Wert said.

It is not lost on Wert that his name is pronounced identically as wort, the unfermented malt extract that is the foundation of beer. That brewing step, however, he performs at a Winston-Salem, North Carolina, brewery, Lesser-Known Beer Co. He trucks the wort to his production room for the remaining steps to create beer.

Blindhouse will serve a lineup of farmhouse-style beers on tap and in bottles and kegs.

If you had asked folks who attended the recent Business of Brewing workshop in Roanoke whether Roanoke can support another brewery, the answer would have been yes, according to program coordinator Sally McQuinn. An offering of Virginia Tech, the class attracted about a dozen students, most with beer business aspirations, she said.

Most of the breweries that have opened up have been successful and until that changes, we have to believe theres still room for growth, said Will Landry, a workshop instructor and co-owner of Twisted Track Brewpub. Twisted Track, he said, is profitable and boosted sales by more than 10% in 2022.

Wert, 31, a graduate of James Madison University, went to beer school at the University of Richmonds school of continuing education, where he completed a year-long certificate course. While still in school he landed employment at Triple Crossing.

After a year in the head brewers job, he and his wife decided to move to Roanoke to live in the mountains and, since Wert loved working in beer, they decided to start their own brewery. Nicole Davidson-Wert, 31, is a former high school biology teacher now employed as a city learning specialist who will help manage Blindhouse.

Their business plan sounded good to Landry.

I believe theyre bringing in unfermented beer from another location and fermenting it here in Roanoke with wild yeast and some bacteria and things of that nature and really creating some styles that arent available at any of the breweries in the immediate area, Landry said, so theyre going after a niche that is, I think its safe to say, underserved in the area. I really hope they do well with that.

With a tasting room that seats 30 to 40 people adjacent to a small standing bar, Blindhouse isnt aiming to emulate larger local beer venues such as Twisted Track  which will be able to seat about 300 people as the weather warms up  Big Lick; or Salems Parkway Brewing.

Nor will it be an actual blindhouse, an English term for a small, windowless jail. This venue features large windows with a view of a concrete plant, a parking lot and a red brick building that houses a gym.

Wert confirmed that he plans to input wild yeast that he will obtain from 35 acres of forest and prairie in Callaway that belong to his parents. It will be combined with a classic Belgium saison yeast. Those in combination will ferment the beer, he said.

Wert and his wife spoke confidently of their plans.

I felt like there was an opportunity here for somebody offering something a little different, he said.
CHRISTIANSBURG  Adrienne Smiths hardly been someone to back down from challenges and tough tasks throughout her life.

So a few years ago, the registered nurse decided to have a slight career shift and try her hand at teaching.

It was just something new and interesting, said Smith, 40, who now splits her year between Eastern Montgomery and Auburn high schools.

Smith, along with Adrianna Phillips and Kellie Woodyard, make up the first cohort at Montgomery County Public Schools to have completed the Alternative Model for Professional Studies  or AMPS.

Planning for the program dates back to February 2019, said the districts deputy superintendent of operations, Annie Whitaker. The district pursued the initiative as part of efforts to address a teacher shortage, an issue thats continued and even increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

We knew a critical shortage was here, Whitaker said.

The state currently has 1,420 unfilled teacher positions, which is up 62% from the 2018-19 school year, according to figures provided by the district.

One of the root issues behind the shortage is the drop in the number of people enrolling in traditional teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities, Whitaker said. The enrollment into those programs is down 35% to 40%, according to figures from the district.

Whitaker said it was those alarming figures that prompted the district to look at ways to remedy the problem.

Among the prerequisites for those entering the teaching profession in the state are a bachelors degree and, of course, a license. The process, however, can still be a bit discouraging as it usually involves the completion of some additional coursework at the college level and student teaching, work that can be both costly and time consuming, Whitaker said.

AMPS allows participants to obtain their license through teaching work, a process that intends to boost interest in the profession by immediately placing the prospects in the classroom, Whitaker said.

Under the alternative route, the teacher is hired by the school division and holds a three-year provisional license while teaching and completing the requirements.

We use our teachers, our staff. We dont send them to a university, she said. Its an embedded program retention model.

Despite the shortage challenge, Whitaker said the district learned several years ago that there was still significant interest in the field. She recalled the district putting up a Facebook post during the fall of 2018 about an event related to teacher recruitment. Over 80 people from Montgomery County and with degrees signed up, which was seen as a very encouraging sign, she said.

A total of 16 people in MCPS have either completed or are currently taking part in the three-year long AMPS program, Whitaker said.

Smith, Phillips and Woodyard are not just the districts first group to complete the program, but are also among the first cohorts in the entire state, Whitaker said.

Smith and fellow registered nurse Phillips, 33, are teaching classes in introduction to health and medical sciences  with Phillips currently based at Christiansburg High School. They also teach a medical terminology course that provides dual-enrollment credits at New River Community College.

Woodyard, 39, who was an interpreter in the school system, now teaches American sign language. Like one of her fellow cohort members, she is based at CHS.

I worked in the classroom already, and I loved it, Woodyard said about her reasons for getting into teaching. For me, it was the next step, and the timing could not have been better.

The new teachers also touted not having to go back to school and saddling themselves in more debt.

Woodyard described the program as well thought out when it comes to preparing new teachers for the field.

Everything youre taught, you truly use it in the classroom at some point, she said.

Phillips spoke about already performing functions she said all teachers end up doing. She listed parent-teacher conferences and developing lesson plans, among other things.

Its tied to things wed have to individually do as teachers, said Phillips, who added that her reason for signing up was rooted in her passion for teaching clinical skills as a nurse.

Outside of Montgomery County and Virginia, the teacher shortage has been a national issue thats worsened during the pandemic.

The Wall Street Journal, among other national outlets, reported last fall that the number of principals who believed their schools faced a shortage had gone up during the pandemic. The newspaper reported that a National Center for Education Statistics survey of just 900 principals found that 53% of principals believed their schools were short on employees. The newspaper quoted an NCES official who said roughly 20% of principals said their schools were understaffed before the pandemic.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Two groups of Florence One Schools middle school students  one from Williams and the other from Southside  descended on the Jayne Boswell Animal Shelter with the aim to do some chores and to make the facility a better place.

They succeeded.

The two groups of 10 students spread mulch and dug a trench for a water line and then spent time with the shelter residents to help socialize them.

The students might have also enjoyed it.

Today we are helping give back to the community, said Marcus Ford, Beta Club adviser from Williams Middle School.

As part of the Beta Club were making sure they get a certain amount of hours, Ford said. The students donate community service time.

The idea to serve the shelter originated with the students, Ford said.

The Saturday outing also gave the students a chance to enjoy some sunshine and ownership of their community and get some of their own socialization in, Ford said.

Because theyre all in different grades they dont get to socialize as much. This gives them something to do with each other as a club, Ford said.

From Southside Middle School members of the Three-C Club  Cubs Club in the Community  turned out as well.

Each month we focus on a different theme. This month was animals, said club adviser Dawn Walker.

Previous focuses have included the homeless and senior citizens. Next month, Walker said, it will be the environment.

In the Three-C Club we try to introduce students 6-8 grades to work in the community, Walker said.

That helps prepare them to meet high school volunteer requirements as well, she said.

By doing orientation here they can come back and volunteer on their own and thats a big deal, Walker said.

Saturdays chores didnt end the groups obligation to the Florence Area Humane Society, which operates the shelter.

Were going out to the horse barn next Saturday to do the same thing, Walker said.
KYIV, Ukraine  Bound for the battlefield, sounding harried and anxious, the Russian soldier placed a hasty phone call  to a Ukrainian military hotline.

"They say you can help me surrender voluntarily, is that right?" asked the serviceman, explaining that he was soon to be deployed near the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.

"When Ukrainian soldiers come, do I just kneel down, or what? Do you promise not to film me while this is happening?"

In fluent Russian, the hotline operator calmly assured him he'd be given detailed instructions on how to safely lay down his weapon and turn himself in.

"When you get to the front lines, just call us right away," she said.

At a crucial juncture in an extraordinarily bloody war, Ukraine's military is focused on one task: removing Russian soldiers from the battlefield. But faced with a foe whose ranks are known to be riddled with unwilling fighters, Ukrainian military strategists realized there might be more than one means to that end.

With that, the "I Want to Live" outreach was born, aimed at providing invading forces with step-by-step information on how to abandon the ranks. Initially run by Ukrainian police, the program has had a ramped-up, military-operated version in place since mid-September.

On Russian-language social media, Ukrainians have spread the word about the program's website, intended as a portal for the surrender-curious or their loved ones. It has attracted more than 13.3 million visits  7.6 million of those from Russian territory, organizers said.

Russian soldiers also provide personal data through a chatbot on the encrypted messaging app Telegram  information Ukrainian authorities use to winnow down those who are serious about turning themselves in. The chatbot, together with the hotline, has drawn nearly 10,000 contacts, according to organizers.

Citing security reasons, Ukrainian officials declined to disclose how many surrenders have been brokered via the program. But hotline operators field calls around the clock from Russians who are soon to be mobilized, are in the midst of being deployed or are already on the battlefield. Callers might be jittery or stoic, defensive or remorseful, coolly businesslike or floridly emotional  sometimes all of those in a single conversation.

"So, this is not fake?" one Russian soldier asked.

"It is not fake," the Ukrainian operator replied.

The 10-member hotline team, all active-duty service personnel with backgrounds in psychology, is tasked with providing callers with clear, concise instructions, while being alert to signs that the outreach might be a "probe" by Russian intelligence, meant to elicit information about Ukrainian methods and intentions.

However tense the backdrop, those dealing directly with would-be surrenderers try to "calm them down," said Vitaly Matvienko, a junior lieutenant who serves as spokesman for the program, which is run by the department for prisoners of war.

"Hi, I'm listening," goes a typically low-key operator salutation in an audio sampling of recent calls provided by the Ukrainian military. In the recordings made public, callers' voices are distorted to shield their identities.

Hotline operators initially worked out of military headquarters in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, but were later moved to a secret location because they are now seen as a high-profile potential target, Matvienko said. The military refused to make operators available for interviews but said they are male and female, a range of ages and all able to chat easily in colloquial Russian.

When it comes to surrenders in the field, both sides are aware that the moment carries enormous risk for all involved, he said.

"In general, it's a very dangerous process," said Matvienko. But strict protocols, clearly laid out in advance, improve the odds of everyone staying alive.

Russians who want to turn themselves in are told to wave a white cloth, remove the magazines from their guns, point the barrels to the ground and eschew body armor and helmets. They are assured that in the event they want to be sent home in a prisoner swap, their paperwork will reflect that they were captured, not that they gave up voluntarily.

If it's a bring-your-own-tank surrender, which happens not infrequently, the turret is to be turned in the opposite direction. If it's a group surrender  also a fairly common occurrence, with a Russian squad often fearing retribution from commanders but agreeing to act jointly and surreptitiously  the highest-ranking soldier must identify himself.

If a surrendering soldier runs out of options for separating himself from his unit, the hotline offers help.

"We can coordinate with special units that will extract you safe and sound," one operator told a worried caller.

Like so much in this conflict, the "I Want to Live" program employs both high-tech methods and simple communication tools.

Russians facing deployment can communicate with the Ukrainian side using the Telegram chatbot, and before leaving for the front, they're urged to procure and hide a basic flip phone  not a smartphone  and use that to call the hotline.

Ukrainians say they've heard from Russian soldiers already on the battlefield who learned of the hotline by word-of-mouth or from a scrawled-on slip of paper passed from hand to hand.

In Russia's battle to subdue Ukraine, now in its second year, one of Moscow's greatest advantages is the sheer number of troops it can throw into the fight, Western military analysts say  which is why Ukraine is willing to try novel tactics to reduce those numbers.

In addition to the 190,000 Russian soldiers who took part in the initial multipronged invasion that began in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin last year ordered the mobilization of 300,000 more, many of whom are now in Ukraine. And another major mobilization is expected as Russia seeks to mount a spring offensive.

In liberated Ukraine city, civilians still pay price of war
About 2.8 million U.S. consumers reported more than $5.8 billion in losses to fraud in 2021  up 70% compared with 2020, Federal Trade Commission data shows. Those losses include fraud affecting bank accounts. Though banking technology and security have come a long way, bank scams continue to cheat people out of their money.

Keeping your bank account funds safe is critical because unlike with fraudulent charges on a debit or credit card, you dont have much recourse if you give away money from your bank account. Money lost to bank fraud or scams isnt covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (or National Credit Union Administration assurance if you use a credit union). Its like giving away cash  its unlikely to be recovered.

But you can be proactive about keeping your funds safe. Here are three common bank scams and how to avoid them.

1. Automatic debit scams

An automatic debit scam occurs when a scammer gets your checking account information (including the banks routing number and your account number) and takes money out of your account.

The scammer may contact you by email, text or phone to get the information. Then, they'll set up automatic payments to themselves from your account  in the same way that subscription and monthly services are set up to be debited from accounts.

How to avoid automatic debit scams: Don't give up or confirm your account routing number to someone who contacts you. If someone claiming to be from your bank asks for this information, call your banks official phone number to check if the request is legitimate.

2. Fake contest or job scams

Another kind of scam is a fake contest where a scammer contacts you and says that youve won something and you need to send a payment for shipping or processing of the nonexistent prize. A similar scheme may appear as a job requiring you to buy gift cards with your money. Then, youll be asked to provide your "boss" at the fraudulent company with the PIN to redeem the gift cards  and never get reimbursed.

How to avoid fake contest and job scams: Don't give away or spend your money for something that sounds too good to be true.

3. Overpayment or fake check scams

In an overpayment scam, someone whos buying something from you will send a fake check for an amount thats more than what it should be. Then, they'll ask you to refund the excess amount. If the scam works, youll send the money, and when its too late, youll discover the check they gave you was fake.

Similarly, with a check-cashing or fake check scam, someone will give you a personal or cashiers check to deposit and ask you to send some of the money to a third party. While the check is pending in your account, youll send the money only to find out that the initial fake check they sent you didnt go through.

How to avoid overpayment or fake check scams: Don't accept a check youre not expecting or thats for an amount greater than you asked for  and don't agree to refund money thats in excess of that amount.

Best practices for avoiding any banking scam

Regardless of the scam, you can avoid being ensnared by taking certain precautions.

It all starts with sharing information you shouldnt share with people you dont know, says Paul Benda, senior vice president of operational risk and cybersecurity at the American Bankers Association, a banking industry trade association.

Heres what you can do to protect your bank accounts:

Never confirm personal information with someone who contacts you first  even if they have personal details of yours such as your home address. A financial institution will never ask you to confirm your password with them.

Never click on links in an email or text message claiming to be from your financial institution. Its easy for scammers and fraudsters to set up email addresses, phone numbers, websites and communications that appear to be legitimate and may even show up in a web search. Instead, log in to your account or call the phone number listed on your bank card and confirm whether the request is legitimate.

Initiate contact with your financial institution. You should only provide information where you have initiated the conversation, Benda says. Because scammers "can spoof the caller ID, they can sound really good; they can have a lot of your data so they sound like theyre legitimate  were not dealing with amateurs anymore.

If someone contacts you and claims your financial institution needs to verify information, end the call without responding. Then, call your banks official phone number (get it from the bank website or the back of your debit card, not just from a Google search).

Never make a monetary transaction under pressure. If someone youre dealing with says the money needs to be given to them right away or is otherwise expressing urgency, recognize this behavior as a big red flag and step away. A legitimate bank is never going to pressure you to do something, Benda says.

___
Before it was gutted by fire in 2016, Ideal Grocery was a mainstay among Lincoln grocery stores since 1920.

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When I was young we lived in a house on 23rd street between E and F. Ideal was our grocery store. We only had one car and dad took it to work. Ideal was within walking distance and was handy. Before the parkway was built, there was a bridge over Antelope Creek, which ran to the west of Ideal. I would walk up D Street and cross the bridge and find my way to Ideal. They had hamburger 4 pounds for $1. They had a great meat counter even back then. The neighbor kids would get a pound of liver for a quarter and take it to Antelope Creek put it on a string and catch crawdads for bait. Everyone always knew you had to have been to Ideal by the green-colored bags. They were very thick and one year we made scarecrow costumes for my brothers kids out of them. My sister-in-law and I sewed patches on the bags and made head and arm holes. They lasted the whole evening.

I even babysat for the produce managers children. What memories!

-- Janet Jensen Albers

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In the 1940s my family moved to a big stone house on the southeast corner of 27th & Randolph. Soon after that my father started a business on that corner that ended up a store. This required both parents working there.

My sister and I did the grocery shopping on Saturday morning, of course shopping at Ideal. Along with the grocery list was a highlight to buy a dozen cake doughnuts from their new machine (one of the first in Lincoln).

Glen (Curly) Wagner helped us get good produce. The butcher was most helpful to the two kids. Everyone treated us kindly, just as they do now. If we were lucky a high school sacker helped us home (one block) with our groceries, which we thought was great.

Thank you, Ideal, for many years of great service.

-- Jacquline Meister

* * *

In 1946, we came to Lincoln so my husband could attend the University on the famous G.I. Bill. We rented a small duplex from Pauley Lumber Company at 29th & E streets. We had no car, so wed would walk to Ideal Grocery store for our groceries and push them home in the Baby Buggy and later in the Taylor Tot carrier. Lyle Hans was so helpful and nice to us! Our trips were almost daily, as we only had an icebox and our budget allowed $1.50 a day for food.

I am almost 92 years old now and living in the house my husband designed and built for us 64 years ago. Our five children are grown and all have grandchildren of their own and my husband has passed away. I still enjoy shopping at Ideal Grocery.

-- Connie (Mrs. Harold) Fouts

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I grew up shopping at Ideal Grocery. My dad (Howard Boyd) was a partner and head of the Meat Department for 35 years until retiring in 1983.

As a little girl, I remember going shopping there with my mom and my best memory was the donut lady and eating a fresh, warm doughnut while we shopped. As I got older, mom would drop me off at Ideal on a summer day or Saturday and Id do the grocery shopping for our family and then get a ride home at lunch time with my dad.

After I grew up, married and had children of my own, I would take them to Ideal with me. My oldest daughter remembers seeing grandpa behind the meat counter, sliding the packages down the front of the meat case one by one into her hands.

Gardner Moore and his successors created a wonderful family environment to work and shop in. The minute you walked in the door, it almost felt like coming home. Customer service was (and still is) their number one commodity. Its sometimes hard to find that in todays world.

-- Connie Boyd Shaw

* * *

I and my father before me have shopped Ideal for close to 70 years. Three things have not changed in that time: the friendliness of the employees; their conscientiousness, and their ability to quickly learn and remember your name.

In days past, the sackers/carry-out kids that worked after school and on weekends would sometimes become full-timers and be there for years (the Ellenwood boys, e.g).

One of my many happy memories is from the 1950s, when my neighborhood buddy Bobby Brodekey and I would ride our bikes down to Ideal and go right to the wonderful, amazing Do-Nut making machine that sat in one of the center aisles. We would marvel at its gyrations and the beautiful deep-fried, tasty pastry it made.

We would make general nuisances of ourselves until Jack Moore or Lyle, in order to get us out of there, would give us each a brand-new, fresh, hot Do-Nut!

-- Lee Unland

* * *

Some of my favorite memories of Ideal center around the annual Fall Frozen Food Sale. Things were always crazy and fun those weeks. As a new wife, I was assigned to help pass out free popcorn to customers. It was a very fun job! I enjoyed talking to people and helping them find what they were looking for. As the years passed, each of our sons had opportunities to pass out the popcorn as well, two of them with a matching-age cousin, and one with a best friend. Our boys learned so much by interacting with Ideals wonderful customers and friends!

-- Pam Moore

* * *

Ideal Grocery was always a most unusual store for its friendliness and offer to obtain almost any product you asked about that they did not carry.

It began when one entered the door and you would be addressed by your first name. As you moved into the store other staff would greet you as well by your first name. You knew you had reached the intimate stage when you were invited into the cave where product was stored and the office location. Thats where the annual order for my clients Christmas Baskets was offered and agreed to.

We became good friends with the Jack Moores and all their children and were treated to the Ideal Spot outside Estes Park, Colo. We traveled the world with them.

-- Tom Miller

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I always parked on the south side of the store with entry out of sight. Dog always sat in the car. One day I left the window of the car rolled down. I was all the way in the back of the store when I heard one of the guys yelling Tilly! She had jumped out of the car and let herself in on the electric doormat! I went running to the front of the store. They wanted me to leave her in my cart, but of course I took her out to the car. Obviously, I never left the windows that far open again.

-- Linda Lee
The Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District is legally responsible for mold that grew inside heating and air-conditioning ductwork during construction of U.S. Strategic Commands new headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, a federal contract appeals board has ruled.

The decision could potentially cost the corps (and taxpayers) more than $40 million.

A three-judge panel of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals determined the corps defective design led the mold to grow like ants following a line of honey on an adhesive used in fiberglass ductwork that lined the interior of the HVAC ducts.

The discovery of the mold in September 2015  three years into the construction of StratComs $1.3 billion headquarters  forced the lead contractor, KiewitPhelps, to tear out and replace about 3 miles of ductwork.

The snafu set back construction on the trouble-plagued project by 209 days, according to court documents. The building finally opened in 2019, three years behind schedule.

KiewitPhelps (a partnership of Omaha-based Kiewit Corp. and Colorado-based Hensel Phelps) sought damages from the corps totaling more than $40.7 million. The Omaha district commander denied the claim in 2017, alleging that the mold was caused by the negligence of the KiewitPhelps subcontractor in charge of installing the ductwork.

The same year, KiewitPhelps appealed to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, a federal administrative tribunal tasked with hearing contract disputes between government contractors and the Defense Department.

The board heard testimony during a hearing that lasted nine days.

The projects contracting officer, Ann Young, testified that lined ductwork was part of the original design by HDR, an Omaha architecture firm. She said insulation was essential for security so that sounds could not travel between spaces in the building, which she described as a large SCIF, or Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility.

Its the mission thats sensitive and the documentation and the discussions that people have, Young testified. So (SCIF buildings) are built in such a fashion that ... information cannot be detected or heard in other areas.

The plan called for insulating ductwork in the building with a rigid fiberglass liner, using an adhesive to insulate joints and seams. Both HDR and KiewitPhelps argued against the use of lined ductwork, which is generally forbidden by federal construction guidelines due to the risk of bits of fiberglass floating loose inside the ducts.

The corps disregarded their advice, for reasons that arent explained in the boards ruling. KiewitPhelps selected an adhesive called CP-135, and the corps approved its use.

None of them, though, foresaw the mold infestation that would bedevil the StratCom project at the end of the wet summer of 2015. On Sept. 9, a corps inspector discovered mold inside joints and seams of some of the ductwork (as well as a dead mouse). He also found mold in trash piles, wood panels, drywall and buckets of water.

Two days later, the corps issued a stop-work order pending an investigation and remediation plan.

The mold wasnt the first problem to plague the StratCom project.

Soon after groundbreaking in October 2012, the high water table on the 80-acre site  a short distance from the Missouri River  caused moisture to seep into anchor points in a bathtub-like retention wall surrounding the buildings underground command center.

Then, in fall 2014, engineers discovered that some of the concrete floors hadnt been properly designed to withstand a progressive structural collapse of the type that brought down the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

Each problem took several months to correct.

The costly delays hit the project hard, in part because the corps had awarded KiewitPhelps as a high-risk project with only 1.1% in contingency funds for changes or emergencies. That forced the corps to ask Congress for an extra $37 million in funding even before the mold was discovered.

The type of mold that settled in the ducts required very little moisture, according to an experts testimony, and it found an excellent food source in the CP-135 adhesive. In fact, it grew only in the joints and seams where the CP-135 had been applied, prompting one witness to make the ants-to-honey comparison.

In late 2015 and early 2016, KiewitPhelps inspected and removed thousands of feet of moldy ductwork. It once again recommended using unlined ducts, but the corps instead approved new ones that used a different adhesive.

Later inspections showed no mold in the new ductwork.

In its decision, the board rejected the corps contention that KiewitPhelps was to blame for the mold because it selected the defective adhesive, and because a subcontractor allowed some of the ductwork to be stored outside in the rain.

Instead, the board concluded, KiewitPhelps was essentially following the corps orders when it chose the CP-135. And the mold would have formed even in a dryer environment.

The board directed the two sides to come up with a financial settlement. By law, KiewitPhelps is entitled to accrued interest, which could push the figure higher than the $40.7 million originally claimed.

Its not clear whether they have reached an agreement, or if Congress will have to appropriate new funds to cover the damages. Both the corps and Kiewit Corp. declined to answer questions about the ruling.

Kiewit released a brief statement noting the board had found the corps ductwork design was defective, adding, The panel ordered that KiewitPhelps is entitled to compensation ... for construction changes directed by USACE to correct the defective design.

A spokesperson for the corps said it does not comment on ongoing litigation.

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NAIROBI, Kenya  The sight of a red bloodstain on Kenyan Sen. Gloria Orwoba's white pantsuit was so startling that a female security guard rushed over to hide it.

It was an accident, Orwoba said. Just before walking into parliament, she looked down to discover that she had been caught unprepared by her monthly period.

For a moment, she considered retreat. But then she thought about how the stigma around menstruation affects Kenyan women and girls and strode into the building. To those who noticed the stain, she explained she was making a statement.

It didnt last long. Within minutes, colleagues in the Senate became so uncomfortable that another female lawmaker petitioned the speaker to ask Orwoba to leave and change her clothes. Male colleagues agreed, calling the issue taboo and private, and Orwoba walked out.

Women make up less than a third of Kenyas senators: 21 of 67.

A male colleague accused her of faking her accident in parliament, to which she replied in a local media interview that everyone would rather think it's a prank, because if it is a prank then it's acting and that way it doesnt exist in the real world. Yet our girls are suffering.

Whether Orwoba's menstrual stain was an accident or a stunt, the controversy it has elicited shows the considerable stigma that surrounds women's periods in Kenya and in many African countries.

Orwoba hasnt been silenced. The incident last month has inspired considerable debate in Kenya about period shaming of women and the problem of the lack of access to sanitary pads for schoolgirls and others in many African countries.

Inspired, some of Orwobas friends have even paid for a billboard in the capital, Nairobi, that shows her in a white T-shirt with the words I can do bleeding  a spirited message against menstrual stigma in the largely conservative country.

In an interview with The Associated Press, the bubbly first-time senator acknowledged that the incident has prompted her to concentrate on drafting a bill calling on the Kenyan government to provide an annual supply of sanitary pads to all schoolgirls and incarcerated women.

For legislators to feel the urgency of legislating things into law, they must be subjected to the advocacy and the noise, she said of her public campaign.

The 36-year-old said she has never understood why menstruation is spoken of like a secret. She recalled being excited as a teenager to finally have her first period after being the last among her peers to get the mark of womanhood.

My attitude toward menstruation since then has been open, said Orwoba, who has warned her teenage son to never shame a girl for having her period.

Studies have shown that menstruation causes widespread absences from school in many African countries by girls who stay home for fear of staining their uniforms.

In 2019, one schoolgirl in Kenya killed herself after a teacher called her dirty and kicked her out of class.

One in 10 African schoolgirls misses school during menstruation, according to a U.N. survey, and many, after lagging behind, eventually drop out.

Official efforts and promises to provide sanitary pads have fallen short. In Kenya, the government increased budget funds to distribute pads to schoolgirls in 2018 but the amount was halved the next year.

Neighboring Tanzania removed taxes on sanitary pads to make them more affordable, but many still find them too expensive because of high production and import costs.

Now Orwoba receives calls from organizations that want to make menstruation products accessible to the poor, including a British firm that wants to put up sanitary pad dispensers in public toilets. Such dispensers for condoms have long been common in public toilets across Kenya as part of national campaigns against HIV.

In recent years, Kenya has seen the introduction of reusable menstruation products like washable pads and silicon cups. But the lack of access to water to clean them in some rural communities has prevented some users from embracing them.

Virginia Mwongeli, 24, sells menstruation cups in Nairobi and thinks Orwobas bold move will help end period shaming.

We need to normalize periods, she said.

The senators decision to walk into parliament with stained pants was totally acceptable as people need to openly discuss menstruation, said Lorna Mweu, popularly known as Mamake Bobo, who founded Period Party, an organization that holds an annual event in Kenya to help end stigma.

Orwoba said she longs for the day when accidental period stains will be seen as normal, not shameful. Women and girls are using up valuable sanitary pads by wearing them as a precaution out of anxiety, she said: Thats a whole pack that youve wasted because of the fear of staining your clothes.
March is a busy month for Siouxlanders. March was designated by the United States Congress in 1987 to celebrate women during the month of March. The March 8 was International Womens Day.

The day started as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California, in 1978 by The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women. They planned and executed a Womens History Week, according to the Library of Congress. They designated the week of March 8, to correspond with Womens Day.

The following year the movement spread across the country as communities initiated their own celebration. In 1980 womens groups and historians led by the National Womens History Alliance successfully lobbied for national recognition. February, 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8, as National Womens History Week. Presidents continued to declare the week of March 8 as National Womens History week until Congress passed a Public Law designating March as Womens History Month in 1987.

Another festival on March 8, is The Holi Festival. Millions of Eastern Indians celebrate by dancing to the beat of the drums, smearing each other with green, yellow, and red colors and exchanging sweets in homes, parks, and streets. It is known as the Festival of Colours, Festival of Spring and Festival of Love; it is one of the most popular and significant festivals in Hinduism. It celebrates the eternal and divine love of the god Radha and Krishna. Also it signifies the triumph of good over evil. Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and the end of winter, blossoming of love. It is time to forget and forgive whatever upsets you, time to start anew.

It is one of the most popular festivals, according to the Associated Press. It is an opportunity for people to come together, forget resentment and ill feelings towards each other. In my opinion that is what we should be doing as we enjoy all of the different cultural celebrations.

March 12, is a day to celebrate the many cultures we have in Siouxland. There is probably more diversity then one may think. Celebrating all of the cultures is a wonderful thing for our community leaders to do. Its a great way to learn about one another and build stronger bonds among us through music, dance, and food. Join in at the Sioux City Convention Center between noon and four.

Then, of course, theres March 17, St. Patricks Day. Whether folks are Irish or not, many celebrate the day. Many wear something green as well as shamrocks, bar hop and drink green beer and eat corned beef.

However the day is really about something deeper than eating and drinking. It is a day of the Festival of St. Patrick, a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17, according to Wikipedia. He is the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

St. Patricks Day was made an official Christian Feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Church of Ireland, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates St. Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, according to Wikipedia.

March 22 begins Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims world wide as the month of fasting, prayer, reflection, sand community. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts 29 to 30 days from sighting of the crescent moon to the next one. Muslims believe that spiritual rewards of fasting are multiplied during Ramadan. Fasting from dawn to sunset is obligatory for all adult Muslims who are not ill, traveling, breastfeeding or diabetic.

Muslims hold that all scripture was revealed during Ramadan, the scrolls of Abraham, Torah, Psalms, Gospel and Quran having been handed down on the first, sixth, 12th, 13th, and the 24th. It is believed Mohammed received his first quranic revelation on one of the five odd numbered nights that fall during the last 10 days of Ramadan, according to Wikipedia.

They believe fasting is always necessary for believers to have the fear of God. Muslims say the pre -Islamic pagans of Mecca fasted on the 10th day of Muharram to rid sin and avoid drought. Some believe the observance of Ramadan fasting is because of the strict Lenten discipline of the Syrian churches.

I would be remiss if I did not talk about Women Awares banquet, Women of Excellence. It takes place March 24, at the Marriott Riverfront. The banquet is put on by the Women Aware non-profit organization. The origanization is dedicated to transforming the emotional and economic future of women and men in transition through advocacy, education, information and referral. Women Aware helps by removing the barriers that stand between individuals and their goals both long term and short term.

The month of March affords us the opportunity to celebrate other cultures as well as women. Hopefully you participate in some of the activities. Remember do so safely.

Charese Yanney, of Sioux City, is owner and managing partner of Guarantee Roofing, Siding and Insulation Co. She serves on the Siouxland Initiative Executive Committee, the Orpheum Theatre Preservation Board, the Orpheum Theatre Endowment Board and the Iowa Department of Transportation Commission.
This week your newsfeed might have been filled with headlines about freshly unsealed court documents in Dominion Voting Machines $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox Newsand boy did they reveal a lot about the inner workings of the conservative network, including how even Rupert Murdoch struggled to reign in his all-star anchors.

The court documents contain private text messages, emails and links to Fox News footage that seem to show the networks anchors, reporters, and executives urgently trying to hold on to their base by airing false allegations against Dominion while privately acknowledging they were unsubstantiated and harmful. In the words of Bill Sammon, head of Fox News Washington bureau, Its remarkable how weak ratings can make good journalists do bad things.

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Fox has said that Dominion mischaracterized the record and cherry-picked quotes stripped of key context. The case is headed for a jury trial on April 17.

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Theres a lot going on here! But how exactly were the most prominent Fox News hosts involved? Were here to catch you up.

Maria Bartiromo

While the votes in the November 2020 election were being counted, Bartiromo hosted former Trump advisor Steve Bannon on her show and allowed him to perpetuate falsehoods about the 2020 election without any pushback. When Bannon said the election had been stolen during a Nov. 5, 2020, show, Bartiromo simply responded, OK and I understand and you made a great case.

Days after the election, she began posting unfounded allegations of vote dumps  on social media, Dominion wrote in its legal brief.

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Around the same time, as the Fox News host prepared to have Sidney Powell on her showthe infamous attorney who worked alongside Donald Trumps legal team to try to subvert the 2020 election resultsPowell sent along an email that she claimed to have received from a source detailing claims of election fraud. That emailPowells only corroborating evidencewas nonsense and kooky, in Bartiromos own words. It included the claim that Justice Antonin Scalia was purposefully killed at the annual Bohemian Grove camp during a weeklong human hunting expedition. How did the author of Powells smoking-gun email have access to this information? The author explained: Who am I? And how do I know all of this?  Ive had the strangest dreams since I was a little girl.  l was internally decapitated, and yet, I live.  The Wind tells me Im a ghost, but I dont believe it. What did Bartiromo do with this information? She invited Powell on her show to air her claims unchallenged.

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On that program, Powell described Dominion as one common thread in voting irregularities across several states. Bartiromo proceeded to interview Powell on-air and entertain her unfounded allegations.

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Dominion alleges that Bartiromos interview with Powell opened the floodgates for false allegations about the company and became a focal point of discussion within multiple shows at Fox. The company says it tried to refute the charges Bartiromo was making in direct response to the Powell interview, sending regular Setting the Record Straight emails starting on Nov. 12.

Tucker Carlson

Two days after Fox News correctly called Arizona for President Joe Biden on Nov. 3, 2020, Carlson said to his producer that calling the race against Trump was dangerous for Fox News viewership. What [Trump]s good at is destroying things. Hes the undisputed world champion of that. He could easily destroy us if we play it wrong, Carlson wrote, according to court documents.

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Dominion alleges that from that point on, Carlson continued to internally flag problematic claims his fellow coworkers and Fox guests were making on-air. Following Bartiromos interview with Powell, Carlson privately told his producer, Sidney Powell is lying. Fucking bitch.

Carlson ended up bringing Powell onto his show a few weeks later on Nov. 17, and did push back on her unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. You keep telling our viewers that millions of votes were changed by the software. I hope you will prove that very soon  if you dont have conclusive evidence of fraud at that scale, its a cruel and reckless thing to keep saying.

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But that didnt keep Carlson from having guests on-air making similar claims. Weeks after the Jan. 6 insurrection, Carlson invited Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and known conspiracy theorist, to his show. He proceeded to allow Lindell to make false claims of voter fraud, but this time with no pushback. The interview also appears to contradict Fox News chairman Rupert Murdochs guidancehe claimed in his deposition that he suggested on Jan. 5 that Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham should say that the election is over and Biden had legitimately won.

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Sean Hannity

Dominion alleges that Hannity believed in the early weeks of November 2020 that playing up a narrative about election fraud would be critical in winning back Fox News viewers after the Arizona call. He criticized the Fox decision desk in a private group text message to Carlson and Ingraham, according to the court documents. In one week and one debate they destroyed a brand that took 25 years to build and the damage is incalculable, he wrote. (Tucker Carlson replied: Its vandalism.)

Hannity proceeded to lean into the subject of election fraudafter Fox News conducted an analysis that showed its viewers were tuning in to Powell whenever she was on-air. In late November, Hannity hosted Powell on his show, where she claimed that Dominion voting machines shaved votes from Trump and used the machines to trash large batches of votes that should have been awarded to President Trump.

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Hannity later testified that he did not believe Powells allegations for one second.

Laura Ingraham

Ingraham doesnt come up in the available documents nearly as often as her fellow Fox News anchors, but she did text Carlson on Nov. 18 saying that Powell was a complete nut, according to the court filings. She also testified that she had no reason to believe that Dominion committed election fraud or that it is owned by a company founded in Venezuela to rig elections for Hugo Chavez. She said that she would want to make sure they had some type of factual trail that we could trace and unpack, before making those kinds of claims, according to court documents.

Ingraham hosted Powell on-air on Nov. 10, 2020, but tried to refute her claims about Dominions voting software being influenced by China and flipping peoples votes. During the interview, Ingraham pointed out that Powells accusations had been fact-checked by the AP and found to be false.
New trail aims to promote the natural heritage of the Slovak-Czech border region.

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The village of Oscadnica in northern Slovakia is already famous for its Magic Meadow, the calvary, manor, and the lookout towers on Kalinovy Vrch (Hill) and on Dedovka.

But now it has a new attraction - a bandit trail.

The educational trail 'In the footsteps of bandits in the borderland', which ends at a lookout tower, was opened on the last day of February in front of the village's primary school.

Almost 10 kilometres long with a 600-metre ascent, it leads along a relatively wide forest road. Information boards and unique outsized wooden sculptures of bandits with pistols, a sheephook, a cauldron and a treasure chest, all the work of academic sculptor Jozef Mundier, run along the entire route.

The bandit trail, which was financed with funds from the European Union, aims to promote the natural heritage of the Slovak-Czech border region.

Giant bandits
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/belarusian-president-arrives-in-iran-for-official-visit--reports-1108321557.html

Belarusian President Arrives in Iran for Official Visit  Reports

Belarusian President Arrives in Iran for Official Visit  Reports

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has arrived in Iran, kicking off the two-day visit with brief talks with Iranian trade minister Reza Fatemi-Amin, a Belarusian government-linked Telegram channel reported Sunday.

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belarus

tehran

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Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that Lukashenko would meet with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday. The leaders are expected to sign a "roadmap" for comprehensive cooperation. The two nations are reportedly seeking to bolster cooperation in trade and the economy as well as agriculture, transport and logistics.According to the Mehr News Agency, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Aleinik also visited Tehran on Sunday and met with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.According to Mehr, Amir-Abdollahian requested that the two countries speed up their economic cooperation, while Aleinik mentioned wanting to learn from Iran experience with handling Western sanctions.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/biden-sunak-albanese-to-hold-talks-on-aukus-defense-pact-challenges-on-monday-1108321690.html

Biden, Sunak, Albanese to Hold Talks on AUKUS Defense Pact, Challenges on Monday

Biden, Sunak, Albanese to Hold Talks on AUKUS Defense Pact, Challenges on Monday

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - On Monday, US President Joe Biden will meet with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in San... 12.03.2023, Sputnik International

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military

joe biden

rishi sunak

anthony albanese

san diego

nuclear submarines

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The pact, which also includes cooperation on cyber, artificial intelligence, and military technologies, was announced in September 2021 in part as an effort to create deterrence against China's aggression in the Pacific region. Currently, only six countries have nuclear submarines: the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and India. Existing in three parts, the pact positions Australia to host some US submarines before 2030, with Canberra purchasing at least three Virginia-class submarines in subsequent years. As part of Australia's biggest-ever defense project, the country will fund the building of joint UK-Australia nuclear-powered submarines designed after British Astute-class boats, which could come into service as early as the 2040s. There have been concerns about the US's ability to manufacture more submarines, as the two companies currently contracted out to build their own boats often struggle to meet the navy's production goals, often falling short of the two-boats-per-annum goal by half a boat. With its lengthy timeline, AUKUS's success relies heavily on unified political leadership, commitment, and funds. The hope is that with Australia's added funds, additional facilities can be added to the US to bolster its production values, suggesting potential for future deals between the US and Australia. Building the smaller and less-expensive UK-inspired submarines instead of boats modeled after the larger Virginia-class vessels will allow for smaller crews and smaller hulls, a decision that benefits Canberra's small navy. However, these models will still rely on US technology and components, which will require the US, who hasn't yet shared such technology with other nations, to rethink regulations around exports. If all goes well and the three countries are able to pull off such a large industrial endeavor, the AUKUS deal will represent a way to memorialize Biden's national security policy.

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Venezuelan president says U.S. imperialism in decline

Xinhua) 12:59, March 12, 2023

CARACAS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Saturday that U.S. hegemony in Latin America, the Caribbean and the rest of the world is in decline.

"The U.S. empire is in historical decline and no longer has anything to offer for the good of the people of Latin America and the Caribbean, nothing. On the contrary, all its policies are backward," Maduro said in an interview with Argentine media from Caracas.

However, "there is still an expansive wave" of ultra-right groups promoted by the White House that seeks to finance and push ahead with "anti-democratic, totalitarian, exclusionary and ideologized projects to generate intolerance and hatred in Latin American societies," he warned.

Maduro stressed that Venezuela has managed to resist difficult times and contribute to building "a multipolar, multicentric, new world, a common destiny for humanity."

U.S. imperialists and the ultra-right forces believe that "by destroying Maduro, they are destroying Venezuela's Bolivarian and revolutionary project. They are mistaken, very mistaken," he added.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Kou Jie)
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/bidens-visit-to-kiev-cost-ukrainian-taxpayers-more-than-16mln-1108303586.html

Biden's Visit to Kiev Cost Ukrainian Taxpayers More Than $1.6Mln, Reports Say

Biden's Visit to Kiev Cost Ukrainian Taxpayers More Than $1.6Mln, Reports Say

On February 20, US President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Kiev to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss US weapon supplies.

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US President Joe Biden's visit to Kiev has cost Ukrainian taxpayers more than $1.6Mln, according to media reports citing authorities. In contrast, the average monthly salary in Ukraine is approximately $400.The funds were allocated for the protection of the US President, the organization of a tour in Kiev and the preparation of a banquet.A separate expense was "for the organization of a crowd of civilians to chant about the friendship that exists between the US and Ukraine", according to media reports.Biden arrived in Kiev on 20 February. After the visit, Biden announced a new $500Mln aid package to Ukraine, which included HIMARS MLRS, as well as "billions" in direct budgetary support.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/demonstrators-in-bern-demand-switzerlands-neutrality-regarding-ukraine-conflict-1108302037.html

Demonstrators in Bern Demand Switzerland's Neutrality Regarding Ukraine Conflict

Demonstrators in Bern Demand Switzerland's Neutrality Regarding Ukraine Conflict

An estimated 2,000 - 3,000 people took part in a rally in the Swiss capital of Bern, calling on the countrys government to maintain a policy of neutrality in relation to the events in Ukraine, local media report.

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2023-03-12T06:25+0000

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The protest was held on Saturday evening in Berns main square, where the government buildings are located, the Berner Zeitung newspaper said. The demonstrators were urging the Swiss authorities to terminate sanctions against Russia and have Switzerland return to "100% neutrality." According to Berner Zeitung, about 2,000 - 3,000 people participated in the protest. Last month, Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said that Switzerland was ready to mediate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and provide its own platform for negotiations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik in February that since Switzerland had lost its neutral status by joining the sanctions imposed on Russia by the West, it could not serve as a platform for Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230208/switzerlands-political-bias-affects-geneva-international-forums-neutrality---envoy-1107095652.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/four-german-airports-to-cancel-departures-on-monday-due-to-strike-reports-say-1108304633.html

Four German Airports to Cancel Departures on Monday Due to Strike, Reports Say

Four German Airports to Cancel Departures on Monday Due to Strike, Reports Say

Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover and Bremen airports will cancel departures on Monday due to warning strikes, German media reported.

2023-03-12T05:51+0000

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2023-03-12T05:51+0000

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Germany's services sector trade union Verdi has called on security staff to hold a warning strike at Berlin Branderburg Airport as well as at Hamburg, Hanover and Bremen airports, a German newspaper reported. The company managing the airports clarified that nearly 200 flights will be canceled in Berlin, affecting some 27,000 passengers. The union is calling the strike to demand higher compensation for weekend and evening work and better overtime pay for its workers, the report said. Last month, Verdi announced a 24-hour strike to demand a pay raise, which affected airports in a number of German cities.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/fractures-mount-in-us-ukraine-unity-over-crimea-artemosk-nord-stream-attacks-report-1108320244.html

Fractures Mount in US-Ukraine Unity Over Crimea, Artemovsk, Nord Stream Attacks: Report

Fractures Mount in US-Ukraine Unity Over Crimea, Artemovsk, Nord Stream Attacks: Report

Cracks in the relations between Ukraine and the US are beginning to appear behind the scenes over the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the modalities of its end, with Washington and Kiev seemingly disagreeing on the defense of the town of Artemovsk, re-capture of Crimea and the Nord Stream sabotage, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

2023-03-12T17:35+0000

2023-03-12T17:35+0000

2023-03-12T19:01+0000

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Even though US President Joe Biden paid a surprise visit to Kiev on February 20 in a show of unity and solidarity with Ukraine, "new points of tension" are emerging, the report said, citing officials. According to the report, numerous US administration officials are worried that Kiev is spending too much manpower and ammunition to defend Artemovsk, known in Ukraine by its pre-Soviet name Bakhmut, a town that "is more of a symbolic value than it is a strategic and operational value," as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin put it. Fears are mounting that Ukraine's heavy losses in Artemovsk may weaken the army's capacity to launch a reported counteroffensive in the spring, the newspaper said. Furthermore, the recent report claiming that intelligence suggested involvement of a "pro-Ukrainian group" in the Nord Stream incidents prompted the Biden administration to signal to Kiev that "certain acts of violence" outside of Ukraine's borders would not be tolerated. Another point of crisis between Washington and Kiev is Ukraine's insistence that Crimea should be recaptured, something that the Pentagon sees as unrealistic given Russia's entrenched position there. The hotly contested Artemovsk, located north of the city of Donetsk, has been the center of hostilities in Donbass for months now with both Russia and Ukraine pumping it with weapons and military personnel. For Donbass, the city is an important transport hub with many crossroads, which previously served as a vital center for supplying Ukrainian troops stationed in the region at the beginning of the military operation launched by Russia in Ukraine a year ago. However, over the past two months, the situation has come closer to a complete encirclement of the city by Russian troops.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230121/ramstein-summit-showed-lack-of-unity-unclear-goals--no-post-war-ukraine-plan-military-experts-say-1106558413.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230307/us-only-nation-that-could-have-bombed-nord-stream-ex-senator-says-1108156681.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/fresh-strawberry-exports-from-morocco-generate-up-to-70mln-annually-1108307985.html

Fresh Strawberry Exports From Morocco Generate Up to $70Mln Annually

Fresh Strawberry Exports From Morocco Generate Up to $70Mln Annually

Morocco's exports of fresh strawberries have reached historic highs in 2022, generating from $40 to $70 million in revenue annually, according to East Fruit.

2023-03-12T09:41+0000

2023-03-12T09:41+0000

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Morocco's exports of fresh strawberries reached historic highs in 2022, generating $70Mln in revenue annually, new data from East Fruit, a platform for analytics and information on global fruit and vegetable markets, has shown. In 2022, the country exported 22,400 tons of fresh strawberries to the global market, an increase of more than 17 percent from the previous year and is about 1,000 tons more than the previous record registered in 2019. It was noted that even though the export volume of fresh strawberries is lower than that of frozen ones or of other fresh berries such as raspberries and blueberries, they are one of the key items of the country's fruit and vegetable exports. Moreover, fresh strawberries are included in Morocco's top-10 most exported fruits and vegetables.The country has been increasing the exports of this commodity by an average of 3 percent since 2017. However, the data indicated that over the same period, exports of blueberries increased by 28 percent. The platform praised Morocco's efforts made to diversify its supplies. The country is one of the largest exporters of strawberries with most of its exports going to the European Union. But in recent years, some new development trends of fresh strawberry exports from Morocco have emerged. Spain has been one of the main importers of Moroccan strawberries. Almost six years ago, more than three-quarters of fresh strawberries were exported there. As of now, the data showed that Spain's market share stands at 20 percent. Most of the strawberry cultivation projects were focused on deliveries to Spain, which is also one of the main investors in the country's agribusiness. The agency explained that Moroccan exporters, who traded through Spain, used to lose a large amount of revenue they would have gained from direct exports. Thus, over the time, the exporters managed to start direct supplies to other countries. As a result, the UK emerged as a leader in imports of Moroccan fresh strawberries. In 2022, the country imported almost half of the strawberry exports from Morocco. Furthermore, over the past few years, the share of fresh strawberry importers from the Middle East has seen a sharp increase from 0.5 percent to 8 percent. In 2017, the region received just 56 tons of fresh strawberries from Morocco, but in 2022, this figure reached 1,700 tons. The primary buyers included the UAE and Qatar with 900 and 630 tons respectively. The rest was exported to Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/hundreds-of-climate-activists-detained-in-the-hague-1108301922.html

Hundreds of Climate Activists Detained in The Hague

Hundreds of Climate Activists Detained in The Hague

Police in The Hague have detained about 700 climate activists who blocked the A12 motorway during an environmental protest, Dutch public broadcaster NOS reports.

2023-03-12T03:04+0000

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On Saturday, Extinction Rebellion activists protested against state subsidies for mining, blocking one of the main highways in The Hague, the A12. Extinction Rebellion Netherlands said on Twitter that police used water cannons against the demonstrators. According to NOS, Dutch police first urged the protesters to disperse, since the municipality had warned that such a blockade was prohibited. Since most of the demonstrators continued to block the motorway, police detained about 700 people. On Saturday, a demonstration was also called in The Hague by the farmers' organization Farmers Defense Force (FDF), with thousands of people rallying against the government's environmental policy.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/hundreds-of-thousands-protest-against-legal-reform-in-israel-1108301436.html

Hundreds of Thousands Protest Against Legal Reform in Israel

Hundreds of Thousands Protest Against Legal Reform in Israel

About 500,000 people have participated in yet another nationwide protest against the controversial Israeli judicial reform, The Times of Israel reports citing the organizers of the demonstrations.

2023-03-12T02:36+0000

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Israelis have been holding weekly protests against the reform. The Times of Israel said on Saturday that about 250,000 attended the evening protest in Tel Aviv, while in total, about 500,000 participated in nationwide rallies on Saturday. Protests were held near the Presidents Residence in Jerusalem, and in the cities of Raanana and Ashdod. At least three demonstrators were arrested on Saturday during the protest along Tel Avivs Ayalon Highway, the newspaper said citing police. Arrests were also made in the coastal city of Netanya and in Hadera. On Thursday, thousands of people protested across Israel against the government's judicial reform. In January, 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 Knesset to override the court's rulings with an absolute majority. In mid-February, the Israeli parliament approved the first part of the legislation. The second half was approved by the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, at the beginning of March. The reform's opponents argue it will undermine democracy in Israel and put the country on the verge of a social and constitutional crisis.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230311/protests-against-judicial-reform-in-tel-aviv-1108284270.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/lets-love-each-other--unite-rapper-ckayz-on-zambia-youth-day-1108223471.html

'Let's Love Each Other & Unite': Rapper Ckayz On Zambia Youth Day

'Let's Love Each Other & Unite': Rapper Ckayz On Zambia Youth Day

As Youth Day approaches in Zambia, the country prepares to celebrate its young people and the contributions they make to society.

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2023-03-30T11:27+0000

africa

southern africa

zambia

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As Youth Day approaches in Zambia, the country is preparing to celebrate its young people and the contributions they make to society. It is a day to recognize the importance of youth empowerment and to reflect on the challenges faced by young people in the country.Among these young people is a rising rap and Afrobeats artist who is making waves in the music industry, but at the same time focusing on his "bloodline" career, studying economics. His name is Caleb Kalaluka, but he goes by the stage name "Ckayz," which is an abbreviation of his real name (C for Caleb, Kay for Kalaluka, and Z for his beloved country, Zambia).Sputnik has had the pleasure of sitting down with him to discuss his career, music, aspirations, and his thoughts on Youth Day. However, before diving into the interview, let's take a look at the history of Youth Day in Zambia.Youth Day is celebrated in the Southern African country, 65% of whose population is under the age of 25, on March 12 every year. It is a public holiday that was established to commemorate the country's struggle for independence and to honor the youth who played a vital role in achieving it.In the 1960s, young people in Zambia, then called Northern Rhodesia, were at the forefront of the fight against colonialism and imperialism. They organized protests, strikes, and other forms of resistance, demanding the right to self-determination and freedom.On March 12, 1962, following a failed attempt by the British colonial authorities to kill one of the independence movement's leaders, a rally was called in the Chimwemwe suburb in the Kitwe District, Copperbelt Province, to expose the plot. Many young protesters were killed during the rally, as police opened fire with live ammunition in response to the crowds throwing stones at them.The anticolonial activists' efforts paid off on October 24, 1964, when Zambia gained independence from British rule. Since then, Youth Day, which was made a public holiday two years later, has been a symbol of hope and inspiration for young people in Zambia, reminding them of the power they hold to shape their own destiny. A statue known as "Chi Muposa Amabwe" (translated as "Stone Thrower") was built in the middle of the city of Kitwe to commemorate the day.Since Youth Day is regarded as a time to reflect on the challenges faced by young people and to advocate for their rights and empowerment, Kalaluka, who currently studies economics at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) in Moscow, recalls how he used to take part in Youth Day marches when he was in his home country.Kalaluka adds that one of the inspiring figures for modern Zambian young people is the country's first President Kenneth Kaunda (governed from 1964 to 1991), who was at the forefront of the struggle for independence from British rule. Now, thousands of miles away from his hometown Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, Ckayz, along with his Zambian compatriots in Russia, still celebrates the Day of Youth, not with parades, but with various performances, including singing and dancing, and most importantly, by holding discussions on "how our country was built and what our duties are here as youths."Speaking of his experience moving to Russia and studying there, the Zambian says the big city of Moscow is where his professional music career began. However, he has had affiliations with music since his school years  his mother used to have dreams of him performing when he was about seven years old. At the time, he says, he had to "shut down" the dream of becoming a musician and in order to focus on school.When he arrived in Moscow in 2020 and started learning Russian before attending university classes, his language teacher, Sergey Budekhin, changed his mind, encouraged him, and "jump-started [Kalaluka's] music career here." He kicked off his music career in Russia with a remix of one of his old songs about youth life called "Nigne" (which, as Kalaluka explains, means "a crazy good friend") with one of his Russian friends named Fil. The original song was recorded in Zambia, and featured Kalaluka's twin brother.Speaking about the differences and similarities between Zambian and Russian youth, Kalaluka believes the biggest difference is that the Zambian youth "don't really have as much freedom as the Russian youth," but he sees that they both have one thing in common  "they are all chasing something, and they're chasing their dreams."The experience with Nalochi Music has allowed the rising artist to take his hobby to a new level, as he has been able to release several singles and appear in the work of other young African artists contracted with the Moscow-based music promotion label. Among his most recent tracks are "Baddie Wa So," "Dance for Me," and "Sweet Bob." Apart from his music career plans and dreams, Kalaluka believes his country, Zambia, is quickly moving on the path of development thanks to its ambitious youth and its wise political leadership. He thinks every nation has got "flaws and downsides, but right now we got a good president."He says President Hakainde Hichilema, a 60-year-old businessman who was elected president in August 2021 mostly by young Zambian voters, has done a lot for the development of the nation. The 22-year-old student argues that the leader's approach to young people and the way he interacts with them, including on social media platforms, has changed Zambians' traditional views of a president. For this, Kalaluka says, Hichilema is known among young people in Zambia as "Ballie," which in local slang means "father or uncle."In his final message to young people across the globe, the 22-year-old calls for unity and helping, supporting, and empowering each other to grow and give "all your might and all your best" to make dreams become reality. He believes "the youth can change Africa by uniting."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230308/international-womens-day-in-africa-achievements-aspirations-challenges-1108152929.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230123/zambias-president-urges-to-stop-snooping--be-tolerant-amid-unfortunate-divorce-statistics-1106615513.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/netanyahus-entourage-blames-us-for-funding-judicial-reform-rallies-report-1108319636.html

Netanyahu's Entourage Blames US for Funding Judicial Reform Rallies: Report

Netanyahu's Entourage Blames US for Funding Judicial Reform Rallies: Report

Officials traveling with the Israeli prime minister told an Israeli online newspaper that Washington has been suspected of funding mass protests against Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reforms that have been rocking the country for over two months.

2023-03-12T15:58+0000

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A senior government official accompanying Netanyahu on his trip to Italy told the daily this week that the protests seemed to be well organized and amply funded with what he estimated to be millions of dollars. He said it was "clear to us" who was paying for the transportation of thousands of protesters as well as all the flags and stages, while another member of Netanyahu's entourage confirmed to the paper that the senior official was referring to the United States. Separately, Netanyahu's son Yair shared an article from the right-wing website Breitbart that claimed the US State Department was funding one of the groups involved in the protests. Half a million protesters reportedly rallied nationwide on Saturday night to demand that Netanyahu's hard-right government go back on its decision to shake up the judiciary. The reform seeks to curtail the Supreme Court's power to review and strike down laws that it rules to be unconstitutional.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/north-korea-announces-test-firing-of-two-cruise-missiles-from-submarine-1108321831.html

North Korea Announces Test-Firing of Two Cruise Missiles From Submarine

North Korea Announces Test-Firing of Two Cruise Missiles From Submarine

North Korea says it has test-fired two "strategic cruise missiles" from a submarine ahead of the upcoming US-South Korea military drills, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reports.

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Meanwhile, the South Korean military said on Monday that North Korea had launched one unidentified missile from a submarine, according to Yonhap. The missile was launched on Sunday from North Koreas eastern coastal city of Sinpo, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The missiles were test-fired from the 8.24 Yongung submarine during an underwater drill held on Sunday morning, Yonhap said on Monday citing North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).The missiles hit targets in the Sea of Japan after "traveling the 1,500 km-long [932 mile-long] eight-shaped flight orbits for 7,563 to 7,575 seconds," KCNA said as quoted by Yonhap, adding that the drill confirmed the reliability of the new weapon system and "verified the current operation posture of the nuclear war deterrence means."Meanwhile, KCNA reported that the test was to confirm "the reliability of the weapon system and inspected and judged the operational posture of the underwater-to-ground attack of the submarine units."On March 9, North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile. At the end of February, North Korea test-fired two missiles from a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). Also last month, North Korea test-fired the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The launch was carried out from the Pyongyang International Airport and the missile reached a maximum altitude of 5,768 kilometers (3,584 miles), covering a distance of 989 kilometers, according to the South Korean military.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/over-2000-rally-in-northern-spain-in-support-of-russia-1108302620.html

Over 2,000 Rally in Northern Spain in Support of Russia

Over 2,000 Rally in Northern Spain in Support of Russia

More than 2,000 people took to the streets of the northern Spanish city of Bilbao as part of a march in support of Russia, a representative of an anti-NATO movement told RIA Novosti.

2023-03-12T03:36+0000

2023-03-12T03:36+0000

2023-03-12T03:36+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

spain

nato

protest

russia

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"Russia has been striving for peace since 2014. But the West leaves Russia no other choice. For this reason, we express our solidarity with Moscow," the representative said. The protest was held on Saturday , with the demonstrators marching to the Bilbao mayoral building, holding flags of Russia, the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics (DPR and LPR). The protesters said they were against NATOs strategy, against military support for Kiev and against the increase of EU countries military budgets. They were calling for the redistribution of these resources for social spending and support for the population due to rising prices for electricity, basic products and services. Earlier in March, Belgian media reported that the EU had developed a plan to stimulate the supply of NATO standard ammunition to Ukraine both in the short and long term, and had prepared proposals to replenish the arsenals of the European armies through increased production and joint procurement. The first part of the plan to increase military supplies to Kiev involves an urgent dispatch of ammunition that is already in stockpiles. The second part envisages efforts to replenish the empty warehouses of the European armies. The plan could be approved at the upcoming EU summit at the end of March.

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spain, bilbao, russia, anti-nato movement
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/praising-iran-saudi-pact-china-says-agreement-will-help-rid-region-of-external-interference-1108316681.html

Praising Iran-Saudi Pact, China Says Agreement Will Help Rid Region of External Interference

Praising Iran-Saudi Pact, China Says Agreement Will Help Rid Region of External Interference

The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia moved to restore diplomatic relations Friday in a landmark agreement brokered by China, catching Washington off guard.

2023-03-12T13:56+0000

2023-03-12T13:56+0000

2023-03-12T13:56+0000

world

china

us

saudi arabia

iran

rapprochement

relations

ties

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https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105326/76/1053267694_0:100:1921:1180_1920x0_80_0_0_2cb7391c771323c7d447950ca4f378ee.jpg

Chinas Foreign Ministry cast shade on Washington in a statement on the Iran-Saudi diplomatic agreement signed in Beijing, saying the deal would reduce the interference of outside powers in the region's affairs.Applauding the two countries commitment to adhering to the United Nations Charter and avoid meddling in one anothers affairs, Beijing indicated that such a commitment was in line with the trend of the times, and that China applauds this and congratulates both sides.The Foreign Ministry did not mention the US by name, reiterating that the Peoples Republic is opposed to geopolitical competition in the Middle East, and saying China has no intention to and will not seek to fill a so-called vacuum or put up exclusive blocs in the region.Beijings emphasis on regional countries taking the future into their own hands echoes the policy pursued by Iran over the years, with Tehran touting a series of mechanisms for reconstructing the regions security architecture, including through the so-called Hormuz Peace Initiative. The latter proposes establishing joint security in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman by regional countries, without the involvement of any foreign forces, including the United States or its allies.Iran and Saudi Arabia have been major rivals for decades owing to both religious considerations (the two countries informally consider themselves leaders of the Shia and Sunni sects of Islam, respectively) and geopolitical considerations. Riyadhs traditionally close economic and security ties to the United States did not help matters in the past, with Tehran seeing the Saudis as one of Washingtons key regional allies alongside Israel. The neighbors across the Gulf broke off diplomatic relations completely in 2016 after the execution of a Saudi Shia cleric, and consequent protests outside Saudi diplomatic offices in Iran.By 2019, the two countries had quietly resumed talks on normalizing relations, with Iraqi-brokered negotiations broken off in early 2020 after a US drone strike killed Revolutionary Guard Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani during a peace mission in Baghdad.The push toward Iranian-Saudi rapprochement accelerated in 2021 as the Biden administration moved to recalibrate its ties with the Kingdom, including by putting some weapons sales and intelligence support on hold amid the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. Saudi officials responded by floating a Yemen peace proposal, and expressing hopes that the Kingdom could have a good and distinguished relationship with its Iranian neighbors.Saudi-US relations sunk to a new low last spring, with Riyadh reportedly refusing to return Bidens phone calls after the latter called hoping to get the Kingdom to ramp up oil production in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis. Bidens trip to the region for a summit meeting in Jeddah last summer and fist-bumping with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman apparently failed to convince Riyadh to change course on oil output. Months later, Riyadh signed a strategic partnership agreement with Beijing and expressed interest in joining the BRICS group, laying the groundwork for Fridays deal with Iran (which penned a similar deal with China and also applied to join BRICS).

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230311/uae-foreign-minister-calls-restoration-of-iran-saudi-relations-important-for-middle-east-1108293591.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/delusional-israeli-leaders-hit-out-at-each-other-after-iran-saudi-arabia-normalize-ties-1108301247.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230227/number-of-states-seeking-to-join-brics-sco-surged-to-20-lavrov-says-1107833986.html

china

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china, us, united states, iran, saudi arabia, rapprochement, ties, relations, interference
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/switzerland-to-dispose-of-60-operational-rapier-air-defense-systems-reports-say-1108316570.html

Switzerland to Dispose of 60 Operational Rapier Air Defense Systems, Reports Say

Switzerland to Dispose of 60 Operational Rapier Air Defense Systems, Reports Say

The Swiss military began to dispose of 60 operational UK Rapier anti-aircraft missile systems

2023-03-12T13:27+0000

2023-03-12T13:27+0000

2023-03-12T13:27+0000

military

switzerland

air defense

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Kai-Gunnar Sievert, a spokesman for the Swiss Federal Office for Defense Procurement, told the newspaper that the first out of four Rapier batches had already been dismantled. Switzerland purchased Rapiers in the 1980s and has begun to decommission them since late 2022, the report said. According to the Swiss government's decree of 2006, foreign weapons not in service should primarily be sold to the manufacturing country, which is the UK in the case of Rapier. Some Swiss lawmakers believe that Rapiers could have been handed over to Ukraine following their sale, the report said. In particular, a lawmaker of the Green Liberal Party called the decision to write off the current defensive weapons "absurd," saying that the transfer of Rapiers to Ukraine would be legally possible. On Friday, the Swiss government reaffirmed its intention to continue to adhere to the practice of prohibiting the re-export of weapons to countries involved in armed conflicts. Earlier in the week, the majority of lawmakers in the lower house of the Swiss parliament voted against the initiative. The parliament's upper house also rejected a similar proposal.

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swiss military, anti-aircraft missile systems
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/turkiye-expects-positive-outcome-of-grain-deal-extension-talks-1108317423.html

Turkiye Expects Positive Outcome of Grain Deal Extension Talks

Turkiye Expects Positive Outcome of Grain Deal Extension Talks

Turkiye expects the parties to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is set to expire on March 18, to make a positive decision on the deal's extension

2023-03-12T13:55+0000

2023-03-12T13:55+0000

2023-03-12T13:56+0000

istanbul grain deal

turkiye

grain

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"We are looking forward to a positive decision by the parties to extend this deal. This is critical in terms of food security, the parties understand this responsibility," Akar said in an interview to Turkish media. On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated the need to extend the grain deal during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev. He also emphasized the importance of continuing exporting grain and fertilizer from Ukraine and Russia to ensure food security as well as affordable food prices around the world. On July 22, 2022, Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the United Nations reached an agreement to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships with food and fertilizer exports from Black Sea ports. In November 2022, the deal was renewed for another 120 days until March 18, unless it is extended once again. Russia has repeatedly criticized the agreement for failing to ensure unimpeded exports of Russian grain and fertilizer amid Western sanctions.

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black sea grain, deal's extension
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/uk-government-working-to-minimize-disruption-from-svb-collapse-1108310916.html

UK Government Working to Minimize Disruption From SVB Collapse

UK Government Working to Minimize Disruption From SVB Collapse

The UK government is working to "avoid or minimize" the fallout from the collapse of US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)

2023-03-12T10:50+0000

2023-03-12T10:50+0000

2023-03-13T09:21+0000

economy

uk

bank

collapse

us

jeremy hunt

silicon valley bank collapse

silicon valley bank

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"The government is treating this issue as a high priority [and] working at pace on a solution to avoid or minimise damage to some of our most promising companies in the UK," the official said in a statement. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Hunt held talks with the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, over the weekend in response to SVB's implosion, the statement added. According to The Financial Times, over 200 UK-based tech company heads urged the government to intervene, noting that many firms faced an "existential threat" because of banking with SVB. Dom Hallas, executive director of Coadec, a lobby group for UK-based tech companies, told the newspaper that it was "a real moment of crisis for British start-ups." On Saturday, dozens of UK tech companies that had been banking with the UK branch of SVB wrote to Hunt to request state intervention, warning they could become technically insolvent overnight if no action was taken. On Friday, the Bank of England said it intended to apply to the court to place the UK arm of SVB into a bank insolvency procedure. US media said that SVB served start-ups and venture capitalists, but also provided private banking services. The bank's collapse left start-up founders fearing that they may have to cut workforce if the money deposited in SVB is lost or frozen. The US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said SVB became the largest bank to fail in the US after the 20072008 financial crisis.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230311/uk-finance-ministry-rushes-to-contain-fallout-from-svb-bankruptcy-1108299444.html

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uk government, us-based silicon valley bank
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/uks-new-comprehensive-defense-review-to-mention-chinas-threat-to-taiwan-reports-say-1108304001.html

UK's New Comprehensive Defense Review to Mention China's Threat to Taiwan, Reports Say

UK's New Comprehensive Defense Review to Mention China's Threat to Taiwan, Reports Say

A new comprehensive review of the United Kingdom's security, defense and foreign policy will include mentioning the threat that China poses to Taiwan

2023-03-12T05:28+0000

2023-03-12T05:28+0000

2023-03-12T05:28+0000

world

uk

taiwan

china

security

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The updated Government's Integrated Review by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which is to be published on March 13, will attempt to find a balance between taking a tougher approach to China's defiant behavior while maintaining cooperation with Beijing in certain areas, the report said. According to the UK's Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy published in 2021, Russia was identified as "the most acute direct threat" to London. In August 2022, former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss  the foreign secretary at the time  vowed to declare China a threat to national security and toughen the country's policy toward Beijing if she is elected prime minister. Tensions between mainland China on the one hand, and Taiwan and countries boosting cooperation with the island on the other hand, escalated after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in early August. Beijing condemned Pelosi's trip, which it regarded as a gesture of support for separatism, and held large-scale military exercises in the vicinity of the island. Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan  a territory with its own elected government  maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230228/beijing-puts-taiwan-reunification-plans-on-fast-development-track-chinese-lawmaker-says-1107880789.html

china

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united kingdom's security, foreign policy, china taiwan
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/uks-sunak-heads-to-us-for-latest-phase-of-aukus-deal-amid-inflated-allegations-of-china-threat-1108308604.html

UK's Sunak Heads to US for Latest Phase of AUKUS Deal Amid Inflated Allegations of China Threat

UK's Sunak Heads to US for Latest Phase of AUKUS Deal Amid Inflated Allegations of China Threat

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is heading to the US for the latest phase of AUKUS deal amid heightened allegations of "China threat."

2023-03-12T10:09+0000

2023-03-12T10:09+0000

2023-03-12T10:29+0000

world

uk

us

aukus

china

nuclear submarines

australia

xi jinping

president xijinping

anthony albanese

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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is flying to the US on Sunday to meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden amid anticipated new developments linked with the trilateral AUKUS security pact. The trio of leaders will brainstorm their next steps in line with the new defense pact amid increasingly inflated allegations of a "Chinese threat" being fostered by Washington and its allies. The sitdown in San Diego, California, on Monday, will come amid reports that Canberra is hoping to beef up its naval capabilities with nuclear-powered submarines via a multi-stage program.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, when confirming the meeting earlier, shied away from making any clarifying statements about the submarines in question. However, a number of media reports indicated that Canberra planned to acquire up to five Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from Washington as part of the AUKUS pact over the course of the next decade. There were also reports that subsequently Australia sought to build a new class of nuclear-powered submarines based on Britains next-generation submarine design, currently dubbed Submersible Ship Nuclear Replacement (SSNR), which is due to replace the Astute-class design. Speaking in India on March 9, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country would maintain 100 percent sovereignty over the submarines it would operate.On the eve of the visit to the US, Rishi Sunak, referencing AUKUS, hailed global alliances as our greatest source of strength and security.Sunak's trip comes ahead of the unveiling of the UK governments Integrated Review of defense and foreign policy for the 2020s, with the revised version expected to be published on Monday. According to Downing Street, the document will address the grave risks from Putins Russia, the increasingly concerning behavior of the Chinese Communist Party and hybrid threats to our economy and energy security.'Fueling Military Confrontation'In September 2021, when the US, UK, and Australia announced their trilateral defense partnership, its trailblazing initiative was the development of nuclear-powered submarine technology for the Royal Australian Navy. Accordingly, France's military industry was gypped out of a multi-billion dollar diesel-electric submarine deal with Australia, as the latter opted to ditch its earlier agreement, with a full-blown diplomatic row ensuing at the time. However, lingering resentments were overcome, Paris choked down the snub, and AUKUS plans are marching forward. Thus, Australia, which is not a nuclear power, will become the seventh country to have a nuclear-powered submarine. Beijing has been vehemently critical of the entire AUKUS deal, arguing it is a breach of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, while fraught with risks of exacerbating the arms race in the Asia-Pacific.Beijing urged the US, UK, and Australia to "abandon their Cold War and zero-sum mindset, honor their international obligations, and act in the interest of regional peace and stability." China also categorically dismissed the alleged "China threat" being echoed by Washington and its NATO allies. Claims that Beijing is significantly beefing up its military forces and "bullying its neighbors and threatening Taiwan" were slammed by China as deliberately inflated, and only serving to provoke regional confrontation.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230309/sunak-reportedly-confident-australia-will-choose-british-made-submarines-over-american-ones-1108198412.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230201/beijing-says-aukus-fuels-arms-race-in-asia-pacific-undermines-nuclear-non-proliferation-1106883565.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230201/beijing-says-aukus-fuels-arms-race-in-asia-pacific-undermines-nuclear-non-proliferation-1106883565.html

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uk prime minister, rishi sunak, us, meeting with australian prime minister anthony albanese and us president joe biden, latest phase of aukus deal, heightened allegations, china threat, serious nuclear proliferation risks, exacerbates arms race, peace and stability in the asia-pacific.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/us-media-warns-biden-admin-to-face-banking-crisis-if-no-plan-to-rescue-svb-rolled-out-soon-1108319941.html

US Media Warns Biden Admin to Face Banking Crisis If No Plan to Rescue SVB Rolled Out Soon

US Media Warns Biden Admin to Face Banking Crisis If No Plan to Rescue SVB Rolled Out Soon

The administration of US President Joe Biden may face a banking crisis, unless the government urgently rolls out a plan to rescue depositors of the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), US news website Axios reported on Sunday.

2023-03-12T16:28+0000

2023-03-12T16:28+0000

2023-03-13T09:22+0000

economy

us

bank

us economy

joe biden

bankruptcy

silicon valley bank

silicon valley bank collapse

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According to the report, Biden may be in danger of a "catastrophic" banking crisis if no rescue plan is enacted before SVB branches open on Monday. If SVB's depositors do not have access to their deposits by Monday morning, "hundreds of billions of dollars" of corporate deposits are likely to be transferred from regional banks to the so-called systemically important banks that are most unlikely to fail, Axios said. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said that the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation closed SVB on Friday. It became the largest bank to fail in the US after the 20072008 financial crisis. To protect insured depositors, the FDIC created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara (DINB), to which all insured deposits of SVB were transferred. On Friday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen convened the leaders of the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to discuss developments concerning SVB.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230311/how-biden-and-the-fed-caused-silicon-valley-bank-to-tank-1108298080.html

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us banking crisis, silicon valley bank, svb collapse, koe biden
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/us-to-avoid-systemic-financial-crisis-following-silicon-valley-bank-bankruptcy-1108301587.html

US to Avoid Systemic Financial Crisis Following Silicon Valley Bank Bankruptcy

US to Avoid Systemic Financial Crisis Following Silicon Valley Bank Bankruptcy

The US banking system will be in chaos in the next few days due to the bankruptcy of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), but this will not lead to a systemic crisis of the entire system, Kyle Shostak told Sputnik.

2023-03-12T02:46+0000

2023-03-12T02:46+0000

2023-03-13T09:25+0000

economy

economy

us

us economy

silicon valley bank

silicon valley bank collapse

silicon valley

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The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation announced on Friday that it was taking possession of SVB, citing inadequate liquidity and insolvency. It is reportedly the second-largest bank failure in US history. "This is unlikely to result in a full-fledged banking crisis. Its because of the size of this bank - it did not reach $250 billion in deposits, it was somewhere around $210-220 billion. Thus, it was 16th in the list of the largest banks in the US. So it was in the top 20, but wasn't the largest," Shostak told Sputnik commenting on the SVB bankruptcy. Nonetheless, he admitted that banks of comparable size, such as the First Republic Bank, have already been affected and their shares have seriously sunk. He explained that SVB was focused on servicing high-tech companies from the Silicon Valley and crypto clients, with blockchain companies having been among its top clients. According to Shostak, the SVB bankruptcy will worsen the situation of the crypto sector and will undermine the position of crypto-currencies, such as USDC, which has already fallen to a record low. The Silicon Valley Bank was one of the main partners of the USD Coin stablecoin, which is pegged to the US dollar. He also pointed out that winemakers from California will suffer greatly because of the SVB bankruptcy since it was the main bank for the states wine companies. US Council of Economic Advisers Chair Cecilia Rouse told reporters on Friday that US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was closely monitoring the situation concerning the Silicon Valley Bank after its failure. Also on Friday, the Treasury Department announced that Yellen convened the leaders of the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to discuss developments concerning the SVB. Yellen expressed full confidence in banking regulators to take appropriate actions in response to the situation, the Treasury Department said.

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silicon valley bank, financial crisis, california, us economy, tech industry, bankruptcy, bank failure
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/west-never-discussed-sending-military-contingent-to-ukraine-italian-foreign-minister-says-1108319761.html

West Never Discussed Sending Military Contingent to Ukraine, Italian Foreign Minister Says

West Never Discussed Sending Military Contingent to Ukraine, Italian Foreign Minister Says

Western countries have never discussed sending allied troops to Ukraine, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Sunday in response to a recent remark of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on this matter.

2023-03-12T16:16+0000

2023-03-12T16:16+0000

2023-03-12T16:16+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

ukrainian crisis

military contingent

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Earlier this week, Orban said that the West was very close to seriously discussing the prospect of sending allied troops to Ukraine, adding that the likelihood of this local conflict growing into a world war has been increasing with each day. "I have no knowledge of this. We never talked about sending troops to Kiev. The day before yesterday there was a meeting of foreign ministers with [US Secretary of State Antony] Blinken and there was never any talk about sending troops to Ukraine," Tajani told the Radio24 station. Western countries ramped up their military support for Ukraine after Russia launched a special military operation there on February 24, 2022. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against further escalation leading to the US and NATO's direct involvement in the conflict.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230311/sending-nato-troops-to-ukraine-could-have-world-ending-consequences-us-politician-warns-1108290806.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/white-house-fears-austins-refusal-to-work-with-icc-on-ukraine-will-hurt-morale-report-1108320633.html

White House Fears Austin's Refusal to Work With ICC on Ukraine Will Hurt Morale: Report

White House Fears Austin's Refusal to Work With ICC on Ukraine Will Hurt Morale: Report

The White House fears the revelation that the Pentagon chief has been blocking information sharing with the International Criminal Court on Ukraine will damage its moral case for helping Kiev, a media reported on Sunday, citing officials.

2023-03-12T17:59+0000

2023-03-12T17:59+0000

2023-03-12T17:59+0000

americas

us

lloyd austin

international criminal court (icc)

russia

ukraine

war crimes

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White House officials were reportedly "dismayed" when the report came out last week. The publication cited officials as saying that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was opposed to helping the Hague-based court probe alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine over concerns that this would set a precedent for prosecuting Americans for atrocities committed abroad, in countries like Afghanistan.The United States has long kept its distance from the ICC for fear that the tribunal, created two decades ago to investigate war crimes, would one day go after its own citizens, but Congress modified legal curbs on engaging with the court in December to allow for evidence sharing on Ukraine. Despite the readiness of other federal agencies, the Pentagon blocked the Biden administration from reaching out. Russia denies that its troops have ever committed war crimes in Ukraine where they are conducting what Moscow terms a special military operation. Russia argues that Western-backed international organizations have repeatedly ignored Ukrainian atrocities against people in Donbas.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/fractures-mount-in-us-ukraine-unity-over-crimea-artemosk-nord-stream-attacks-report-1108320244.html

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A pair of $30,000 divisions went to gate on Saturday night (March 11) at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the New Holland Pacing Series and resulted in Nautical Hanover and Camara Moment making stops in the winners circle.

Camara Moment capitalized off a pocket ride to take the later division of the New Holland Pacing Series in 1:49.4, matching the fastest mile on Canadian soil for an older pacing horse this season.

Southbeach Hanover, the 6-5 favourite, shot to the top and led unchallenged through fractions of :27 and :55.4. He then faced a challenge from pocket-popper Camara Moment coming to three-quarters in 1:23.3 and the Richard Moreau trainee put away Southbeach Hanover with ease turning into the lane. Camara Moment held control while chased home by The Longest Yard and fought that foe off to the beam to win by a head with Mad Man Hill checking in third and Southbeach Hanover settling for fourth.

Winning his sixth straight race and his 11th race from 21 starts, Camara Moment has now earned $145,760. He competes for owners Mickey Sudar, Brenton Harris, James Borke and Dewitt Stables, and had Doug McNair in the sulky. He paid $9.40 to win.

Nautical Hanover launched a furious stretch charge to snag the first division in 1:50.3 and gave driver James MacDonald his first of five victories on the card.

Woodmere Stealdeal darted to the lead before a :27.3 first quarter and soon yielded control to odds-on favourite Ario Hanover up the backside. Ario Hanover clicked a :55.4 half and then faced a far-turn blitz from a headstrong Highlandbeachlover, who matched strides with the leader to three-quarters in 1:23.1. Highlandbeachlover folded off the corner while Ario Hanover clung to command. All the while MacDonald uncorked Nautical Hanover from third over and blasted down the center of the track to collar the pacesetter by a half length at the beam with Woodmere Stealdeal settling for third and Dontpokethedragon taking fourth.

Benoit Baillargeon trains Nautical Hanover, a four-year-old Captaintreacherous stallion, for owner Richard Berthiaume. He won his sixth race from 34 starts and has now earned $262,827. He paid $17.80 to win.

Driver James MacDonald, after his win in the New Holland Pacing Series in Race 2, collected four more wins to finish the 12-race card with five wins. He scored a natural hat trick following the series win with Red Coin (1:55.2 winning mile; $2.50 to win) and The Will To Play (1:54; $3) and won later with Sometime Somewhere (1:50.3; $4.40) and Silk Road Smash (1:54; $9.80).

To view Saturdays harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results  Woodbine Mohawk Park.
A pair of veterans with gaudy resumes reigned supreme in the co-features at The Meadowlands on Saturday night (March 11), as Backstreet Shadow took the $45,000 Open 1 for pacers and Ahundreddollarbill emerged victorious in the $40,500 Open 2/Open 1 Handicap for trotters.

Backstreet Shadow, his bankroll now at $1,345,061, followed a live tow from even-money favourite Belmont Royale N to score in the pace for driver Jordan Stratton in 1:50.1 racing out of the Travis Alexander barn for just the second time.

The trip worked out really well, said Stratton.

The eight-year-old gelded son of Shadow Play-Backstreet Sweetie raced in the four-hole as American Dealer N took the field past the quarter in :27.2 before Grand Cayman grabbed the top at the half in :55.2.

Belmont Royale N moved to the outside from the four-hole at the half and had to rough it first over, but managed to make steady progress on the leader and raced just off that ones flank as three-quarters clicked in 1:22.4. Stratton then moved Backstreet Shadow, who recorded his lifetime best of 1:47.2 at The Big M last year, three wide for the stretch drive.

Hes a really good horse. He raced on the Grand Circuit last year, said Stratton. Dave [Miller]'s horse [Belmont Royale N] kicked on better than I thought he would. But my horse finished up pretty well.

Backstreet Shadow made the lead soon after they straightened up for the stretch drive before holding off a stubborn Belmont Royale N by a neck. Southwind Gendry rallied for third.

As the 6-1 fourth choice in the wagering, Backstreet Shadow returned $14.80 to his backers while winning for the 36th time from 110 starts for owner Robert DiNozzi.

After beginning the Winter Meet 0-for-61, driver Todd McCarthy finally got into the win column in the trot, guiding 2-1 second choice Ahundreddollarbill to his 15th victory from 38 outings after stopping the clock in 1:53.2.

He was terrific, said McCarthy. Hes been racing very well and the trip worked out.

Lindy The Great led them to the quarter in :27.4 before 8-5 favourite Mississippi Storm took the lead prior to three-eighths. Ahundreddollarbill tracked that one from the get-go and made it to the top before the half, which went in :56.1.

McCarthy was then able to rate the third fraction to a tepid :29 to get some separation on the pocket-sitter at the head of the stretch, and it became clear soon thereafter that Mississippi Storm did not have it on this night, as Ahundreddollarbill cruised to the line an easy one-length winner. Inaminute Hanover was sharp late to get second, with another fast-closer, Platinum As, claiming the show dough. Mississippi Storm was fifth.

I figured I could follow [Mississippi Storm] all the way to the lead, said McCarthy. I was happy with the fractions and was hoping wed have enough kick. He finished up pretty good there. He was pretty comfortable.

While lifting his lifetime earnings to $912,447, Ahundreddollarbill paid $6.20 as the 2-1 second choice. The five-year-old gelded son of Chapter Seven-Swinging Royalty is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and James Crawford, and is trained by Tony Alagna.

Was it nice to get his first win of the year?

Its been a little bit of a slow start, said McCarthy with a chuckle. Its nice to get one. The worst thing has been [fellow driver] Mark MacDonald. He hasnt let me forget.

All-source betting totalled $3,638,285 on the 14-race card, keeping The Big Ms streak of surpassing the magic $3-million mark intact. There have been 19 Friday and Saturday night programs conducted during 2023 and every one has seen wagering exceed $3 million. During 2022, betting went past the $3-million mark 23 times during the 85-program season.

There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick 6, creating a carryover of $10,174 for the next time the wager is offered, which will be Fridays eighth race. Those with five winning selections collected $1,695.90.

Stratton led the driver colony with three victories. Stacy Chiodo trained a pair to victory lane.

Racing resumes Friday (March 17) at 6:20 p.m. (EDT).

(The Meadowlands)
In the latest edition of the weekly Rewind, Robert Smith recalls the opening of a new breeding farm in Central Ontario almost 50 years ago. The grand opening of "Argyle Farms" located on the Guelph Line just north of Mohawk Raceway was celebrated in rather grand style. Read on to hear about some of the details.

When the Ontario Sires Stakes Program was announced in 1973 and started in 1974, it spurred an entirely new chapter in Canadian harness racing and especially in Ontario. The new era would see increased growth and activity in a multitude of directions. The stakes series, which was for two- and three-year-old competitors of both gaits, immediately created a lot of changes. One of the first was a need for more breeding operations.

After the opening of Mohawk Raceway in 1962, the area surrounding the then newly constructed track soon began to attract new residents. Many were folks interested in Standardbred racing, training and breeding. A number of farms and properties with acreage were converted to horse operations from their former usage. A few years ago a Rewind was devoted to this area and some of the people who were local harness racing enthusiasts. (Feb. 28, 2015)

On Thursday, November 14, 1974 the newly created Argyle Farms held their official opening. It was not exactly your regular "tea party" but rather a well planned and detailed get together, complete with a sitdown meal. Hosted by farm owners Howard and Mary Oster, they rolled out the red carpet to a number of people then involved in the sport and business of harness racing.

The central structure of the newly redesigned farm was the refurbished barn which had undergone a complete transformation. A local construction firm Campbell Construction of Milton was in charge of the rebuild with a price tag of $25,000. Work was carried out by Ken Campbell and Clare Mathies of Campbell Construction. The 110 x 40 foot barn contained 22 stalls as well as other necessary quarters. Part of the get together included a ceremonial ribbon cutting to kick off the festivities.



Photo courtesy of The Canadian Champion

Somewhat reminiscent of the old barn raisings of yesteryears, the Oster's barn opening was a good excuse for a feast. Guests sat at one long table which was set up in the centre aisle of the main horse barn. About twenty horses watched from their sideline stalls while guests dug into a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings. The catering staff at the Charles Hotel in Milton were in charge of the sumptuous repast. At one end of the table sat a rather large cake which was inscribed with the words "Congratulations Howard and Mary" flanked by candles.

As a nod to the past, the farm's previous owner Albert Schouten of Milton was also an invited guest. He ran a large turnip growing operation there for many years prior to selling the property. He spoke with pride as he said "We used to fill this barn with 40,000 turnips every fall" as he looked about the area. On this occasion there were no turnips in sight (they may have been on the menu), just tables filled with guests, horse stalls, tack rooms and the makings for a large dinner.

Among but not limited to those mentioned here were the following people, either directly or indirectly associated with some area of the Standardbred industry. Ted and Charles Armstrong of Armbro fame, both very familiar with operating a horse breeding farm, were on hand to offer their best wishes and Ted proposed the toast at dinner. Also attending were such well known figures from harness racing as Mac Cuddy, Ron Waples, Laurance Geisel, Bill Wellwood, Bill Carroll, Don Furness, Clive Blackmore and Vern Barber. A few others were on hand such as Arnold Belore, a senior judge, Ed Bradley, director of racing for the O.J.C. and I'm sure a few more.

The new farm had John Jones as the manager and he came to the job well schooled in all aspects of the Standardbred business. By this time he had been with Mr. Oster since about 1970 having previously worked with the Keith Waples stable so he had learned from one of the best.

Armbro Mystic



Armbro Mystic owned by Howard and Mary Oster appears in the Flamboro winner's circle. Mr. Oster is at the horse's head with Neil MacKay, P.R. man with Flamboro. Driver Brian Webster was joined by a number of unidentified guests.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the sport, Howard and Mary Osler had a very accomplished horse in their stable. Armbro Mystic, a top class pacer, had provided them with a number of wins and thrills on the track already. At one time he was driven by Brian Webster and they won quite a few races for the Osters. They raced at numerous tracks and even went to Sudbury Downs to compete in the annual Nickel Plate Race, their signature event. When the farm officially opened this horse was listed as one of the three stallions available although he was still racing. Also on the farm roster was Smog and Sir Dalrae.



Armbro Mystic paces to victory at Flamboro in this 1974 photo with Brian Webster in the sulky. He also had success with other drivers such as Russ Furness and Nelson White.

See the Trivia question below.



Mr. and Mrs. Wolfgang von Richtofen owners of Wolfhill Farm with their trotting mare Varioca M. They were guests at the opening. Their farm was located on the Guelph Line near 15 Sideroad not too far from the new Argyle operation. He was also a successful thoroughbred trainer as well as being a trustee of the Ontario Jockey Club. Their specialty was European-bred trotters.



Above is an early years ad for Argyle Farms (Hoof Beats)

Closing note: The Argyle Farm is still in existence and serves as a Veterinarian clinic and training centre. It has changed ownership a few times since its opening.

Quote For The Week: "If you even dream of beating me, you'd better wake up and apologize." Words of Muhammad Ali, legendary boxer.

Today's Trivia Question? - Can you identify the driver of the #3 horse in the above photo and while you're at it see if you can name the horse as well. They were both well known for many years.

Who Is It?

Who are these two chaps? This photo came to me without any names attached so any assistance will be appreciated. I think I can get one! The awning you see in the background is a slight clue. Years ago a lot of stables had them as part of their setup. Anyone recognize the two dogs (or deux chiens) ?

Where Was It?

Can you identify where this old photo was taken? Back in the day it was a pretty busy and popular place.
Here's how to follow the Unicameral from afar

Heres how to watch the Legislatures activities and follow bills by using the Unicamerals website at nebraskalegislature.org:

Click on the Nebraska Public Media logo and look under Streaming Now or Coming Soon for the schedule of livestreamed floor debates and public hearings by committees.

Floor debate also is telecast live by Nebraska Public Media on NE-W, formerly known as NET2 (Allo Communications Channel 11 or Spectrum in Scottsbluff-Gering).

If you know the number of a legislative bill or constitutional amendment, type it under Search Current Bills to call up the measures text and related votes and documents. (For the language of current state laws, type their number or keywords under Search Laws.)

Computer users can leave comments of up to 500 words on individual bills by clicking the appropriate spot on the main page for that bill.

If the bill hasnt yet had its public hearing, users may ask their comments to be included in the bills official hearing record. Such requests must be made by noon CT (11 a.m. MT) on the last work day before the hearing.

Nebraskans with disabilities as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act can do likewise but also can attach PDF files or supporting documents.

Click on Hearing schedules on the main Unicameral webpage, choose the appropriate week and click either Submit Comment Online or ADA Accommodation Testimony, depending on whether you qualify for the latter.

The Unicameral website offers many other documents for understanding and following the Legislature, including its online Unicameral Update newsletter.

 Todd von Kampen
Across the nation, a drug called naloxone,  aka Narcan  is seen as a key tool in the fight against deaths due to opioid overdose.

The quick-acting drug is so effective in reversing those overdoses  giving those who experience overdose another chance at life  that a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel last month unanimously recommended making Narcan available without a prescription. If the agency agrees, which is likely, the quick-acting nasal spray could become available over the counter, like aspirin and antacids, in all states by the end of the year.

But few Nebraskans know what Narcan is, where to get it or how to use it, a recent report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Rural Drug Addiction Research Research Center suggests.

The report's authors estimate that between a quarter to one-third of Nebraskans do no not understand Narcan, based on data collected over three years in the Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey.

The researchers also estimated, based on the same three years' data, that only 10% to 20% of Nebraskans know how to get the drug. Among those who said they knew what Narcan was, only about a quarter knew how to use it.

Patrick Habecker, research assistant professor with the center and a co-author of the report, said the researchers were a bit surprised at the low numbers.

One reason they began looking at the issue was a spike in overdose deaths in Lincoln about two years ago. The researchers added questions about Narcan to the survey in 2020. They asked the same questions in 2021 and 2022.

"You really want to see all of those numbers come up," he said.

Nearly 102,500 overdose deaths were reported nationally during the 12 months ending July 2022. Of those, about 75% involved an opioid of some kind. In recent years, the opioid increasingly involved has been a lab-made version called fentanyl. It's either used to dilute other drugs, such as heroin and methamphetamine, or pressed into pills made to look like pharmaceutical-grade prescription medications  like oxycodone, Xanax, Adderall and Percocet.

While Nebraska's drug overdose death rate is significantly lower than many other states, the numbers have increased in recent years. Some 165 overdose deaths occurred in 2015, according to statewide figures. The total rose to 221 in 2021.

In response, the Nebraska Legislature in 2015 eased access to naloxone. A standing order from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services allows residents to purchase the drug from any licensed pharmacist without a prescription. Nebraskans also can get naloxone free of charge at 94 participating pharmacies across the state. They can learn to use the nasal spray by reading the instructions or watching an instructional video at narcan.com.

Habecker said the team also worked to understand the state of knowledge about Narcan across Nebraska. However, the confidence levels in the survey were fairly large, making it difficult to compare one area with another. But there appeared to be a little more knowledge in Omaha and Lincoln.

The researchers, he said, are interested in seeing what happens in the next year. If the FDA approves Narcan for sale over the counter, there likely will be a bigger push from state health officials to get more information out about the medication.

"They've really made it very easy to use and to access," Habecker said in a statement. "This can help combat opioid overdoses, but it requires individuals to know it exists, how to get it and how to use it."
PARIS  With the next U.S. presidential election just over a year and a half away, candidates are already jockeying for pole position. Well, at least on the Republican side. The Democrats are still wrestling over whether to cling to 80-year-old Joe Biden for another four years or try to find someone else who would actually stand a chance against the GOP.

What about banking on current Vice President Kamala Harris, you might be one of the rare few to ask. On average, 7% more voters now disapprove of Harris job performance than approve of it  a figure that has been rising since September 2021. Although the incumbent vice president is typically a shoo-in to succeed the boss in the event that they dont stand for re-election, Harris is an exception. At the rate that her popularity continues to tank, the GOP could run a houseplant against a Harris candidacy and win. And the houseplant at least produces oxygen while Harris tends to suck it out of the room on the rare occasions when shes even visible.

Perhaps theres a strategy at play not to overshadow Biden or make it look like she was biding her time until he was gone. But no one really knows what kind of leader Harris would actually be. Her recent showing at the Munich Security Conference last month was reduced to belting out the greatest hits of the Washington bureaucrats. The talking points were delivered with all the finesse of a Big Mac combo tossed through a car window at the drive-thru.

The Democrats shallow bench is the Republican Partys strength. What they do with the golden opportunity is another matter. Former President Donald Trump has still got it in the sense that theres still an affinity for his ideas. If only he could get out of his own way with the accompanying drama.

No president has ever taken the bureaucracy to task the way that Trump has  and is still doing from the sidelines. World War III has never been closer than it is right now, he said in a recent online video vowing to clean house of all of the warmongers and Americas last globalists. Then Trump unleashed a truth bomb thats almost unthinkable coming from a former American president. For decades, weve had the very same people, such as (current Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs) Victoria Nuland and many others just like her obsessed with pushing Ukraine toward NATO, not to mention the State Department support for uprisings in Ukraine, Trump said. This should have been front page news everywhere: Former US President acknowledges deep state role in fomenting foreign regime change in Ukraine.

Trump isnt wrong. Even NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg alluded recently to the fact that the Ukraine conflict didnt start when many think that it did. And the war in Ukraine did not start last February. It started in 2014. With Russias annexation of Crimea and the attacks in Eastern Ukraine, he said.

Of course, Russias intervention in Russophone Crimea followed the Western-backed overthrow of the Ukraine government  which is exactly what Trump alluded to in his remarks.

Trump knows where the establishments skeletons are buried and is the only president in recent history not to have started a war while in office. Its no wonder that they want to stop him from returning at all costs.

There would be a serious risk of peace breaking out. Which explains why John Bomb Iran Bolton announced that hes running.

Former South Carolina Governor and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley is another neocon in the same mold as Bolton who has announced a run. Its impossible to differentiate Haleys statements from Bidens or Boltons on foreign policy.

Enter Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has almost all of Trumps attributes without the propensity to swing from the chandeliers  or whatever the social media equivalent would be. DeSantis once criticized Trump on several fronts, including foreign policy, but hasnt been afraid to evolve. I dont think its in our interest to be getting into a proxy war with China, getting involved over things like the borderlands or over Crimea, he said recently.

When it comes to holding back the tsunami of leftist social engineering that risks flooding Western society, both Trump and DeSantis tick the same boxes.

But what if Trump and DeSantis split like-minded GOP primary voters, creating a pathway to victory for a more establishment-friendly neocon like Bolton or Haley? DeSantis and Trump are on the same team, whether they know it or not. Its time for them to start acting like it for the sake of the countrys future.
I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved. Its March, the barren no-mans land between winter and spring when we anticipate the arrival of bluebirds and outdoor grilling that bring out the niceness in us.

Our mothers taught us all to be nice people. We all knew what that meant.

Around the age of 15, we thought niceness was uncool and guys may have thought niceness was delaying our development as sex symbols and we may have stumbled around in the dark for a while, being nice and trying to hide it, yet eventually we turned out to be basically a nice person, or maybe a nice once-you-get-to-know-him sort of person. Or not.

Nevertheless here I am, a newspaper columnist raised in the book of Psalms, who likes to think nobody is immune to friendship and niceness, not even balloon-flying North Koreans or the creators of computer security systems that have driven me to the brink of madness, forgetting the password for my laptop and having to replace the password and confirm my identity by typing in a six-digit code sent to me by text on my cellphone and now the phone refuses to unlock and accept the code I believed was the correct password. Unlocknow! should have worked.

I do not have classified documents stored on my laptop or boxed up in my garage beside the bottle of weed killer. I do, however, being politically moderate, receive requests for donations from both Republican and Democratic politicians and organizations something like People United for Diversity and Inclusivity in Newspaper Columns (PUDINC) none of which are subversive, theyre simply people unable to laugh.

My conservative and liberal friends are all aging and theyre perfectly nice people but we talk about the same old same old  redone, repeated, rehashed, recycled, repeated, rehashed, recycled, et cetera. Ours is the talk of swollen joints, grandkids and colonoscopies.

I think I need to broaden my social circles, expand my horizons.

I recently realized I do not have a single friend who is furious over Justin Biebers cancellation of his Justice World Tour. Not one. Nobody. Nor do any of them await announcements regarding congressional hearings into what, in these everything-political times, could possibly become Biebergate.

Ive tried to be fashionably offended about Biebers cancellation. I guess it would help if I reached out to some Bieber fans but Im not good at texting. I use only one finger and they text over 60 w.p.m. with both thumbs and even sitting beside them theyd rather text than talk and Id lag behind, theyd get impatient, roll their eyes, then text C.U., mount their skateboards and theyd be gone.

Im feeling a bit smothered by political correctness, technology and synthesized songs with three-note melodies accompanied with flashing lights and pyrotechnics. I want to go where I can see more of the world before I start the long, grim slide to assisted living.

So, Im headed out to the territories.

Im going to join up with the old gang near Cactus Gulch, just saddle up and go. I want to be with people who talk with their mouths, who know the words to the same songs I know, like Freight Train or City of New Orleans, Me and Bobby McGee and Ill Fly Away. Songs about hearing the train acomin and feel the wind in my face. Im high-tailing it out of here and drive through small farm towns where good people smile and wave as you pass by.

After all, the journey is the reward, my darlings, so dont ever stop.

Back in two weeks.
Dura Supreme Cabinetry has announced a multimillion-dollar initiative to launch manufacturing operations in Statesville. The company expects the 300,000-square-foot manufacturing site to create 200 new jobs in the first few years. Those jobs will include cabinet making, furniture making, finishing, woodworking and machining skills.

In its news release, the company said the North Carolina facility will enable Dura Supreme to meet growing demand with a regional manufacturing site, expanded manufacturing capacity and advantageous delivery times.

Recently, Dura Supreme acquired the manufacturing assets of another cabinet manufacturer and that equipment and machinery, along with considerable additional investments, will be installed in Statesville at the companys newest manufacturing location. Dura Supreme expects to occupy the Statesville site in April and anticipates starting production in the second half of this year.

Dura Supreme is focused on growth and despite some economic uncertainty in the broader market, demand for Dura Supreme cabinetry continues to grow, said Tony Sugalski, CEO of Supreme Cabinetry Brands. A second manufacturing facility enables us to continue meeting ever increasing demand for our premium, quality cabinetry and better serve our dealer partners.

Supreme Cabinetry Brands produces kitchen and bath cabinetry for dealers across the USA with manufacturing locations in Minnesota (Dura Supreme Cabinetry), Iowa (Bertch Cabinetry), and now North Carolina. The company is one of the largest cabinet makers in North America and this expansion for its Dura Supreme brand continues that growth trajectory.

We are excited that Dura Supreme has made a commitment to bring custom cabinetry operation to Statesville. Having an upfitted, state-of-the-art facility available was a key driver in their decision, said City of Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh. We pledge our unwavering support and assistance in every way to ensure their success here.

Partners involved in the project include the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. (EDPNC) and Iredell County Economic Development Corporation, City of Statesville, and Iredell County.
Union minister G.Kishan Reddy, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay, BJP OBC Morcha national president Dr K.Laxman welcome union home minister Amit Shah at Hakimpet air force station on Saturday night. Photo: By Arrangement

Hyderabad: Union home minister Amit Shah arrived here at the Hakimpet station of the Indian Air Force late on Saturday night. He was received by Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar, BJP OBC Morcha president Dr K.Laxman and others.

Amit Shah will address the 54th Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Sunday, the first time the event is being held outside the national capital. He will then leave for Kerala.

Sources said attempts were being made to accommodate a meeting with the core team of the BJP before the Union minister left on Sunday.

Shah was to land in the city by 8.30 pm but was delayed.

In Kerala, Shah is scheduled to visit the Sakthan Thampuran Palace, offer prayers at the Sree Wadakkunathan temple and address a Janasakthi rally at the temple ground.
Experience a few of your favorite things as Center Stage Alliance presents Rodgers and Hammersteins The Sound of Music, opening Thursday, March 16, and running through March 25 at Mac Gray Auditorium in Statesville.

The show features a stellar cast of adults and children from Statesville and surrounding areas, including professional actor, Mike McColl, Ashley Gardner, Tennille Kilby Sherrill, Taurean T.J. Johnson, local musician Karla Kincaid, and many more.

McColl, featured in a previous article, plays Capt. Georg von Trapp and stars alongside Gardner, who plays Maria Rainer. This role comes naturally to Gardner, who actively leads youth alongside her husband at Cornerstone Church.

Another favorite character in this show is Max Detweiler, played by Johnson. He works at Statesville Housing Authority and strives to engage the community in all Statesville has to offer.

Eighteen people will be performing with Center Stage Alliance for the first time. Sherrill is among the newcomers, but is no stranger to the stage. Well-known throughout Iredell and surrounding counties for her vocal talent and involvement with pageants, as well as guiding students in Iredell-Statesville Schools, Sherrill graces the stage to deliver Mother Abbess.

This cast continues to amaze me, said Director Josh Myers. They are all putting so much love and hard work into building their characters. There are first-timers who have risen to the challenge and completely hold their own with an extraordinary veteran actor, who has 25 years of experience on the stage and screen. The performances in our rehearsals have continually given me goosebumps. At our last rehearsal before moving into Mac Gray, they moved me so much that I coined the phrase, deeper goosebumps! We cant wait to share our work with the greater community.

This timeless, classic musical is set in Austria on the eve of the Anschluss in 1938, and tells the story of Maria, who takes a job as governess to a large family while she decides whether to become a nun. She falls in love with the children, and eventually their widowed father, Captain von Trapp. This production will transport audiences to a turbulent time in history, and they will learn that, sometimes, following your heart means making tough decisions  and that love is the pillar that can stand up against the tidal wave of tyranny.

Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on March 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25, and at 3:30 p.m. on March 19. Tickets are available in advance online for $16, or at the door for $20. To add a fun element and incorporate audience participation, a costume contest will be held on March 23.

Anyone who comes to the show in a Sound of Music-related costume will pay just $5 for admission. Costumes will be judged and winners will take home cash prizes.

To purchase tickets in advance online, visit www.centerstagealliance.org. All admission is general seating.

The Sound of Music would not be possible without the support of show sponsors Griffin Insurance, Simply Southern Smiles, Iredell Health System, Sir Speedy, the Iredell Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council, The United Way of Iredell County and many others.
Last fall, Kevin James Reynolds, 41, led authorities on a multi-day manhunt in Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon that reportedly included taking a hostage and shooting at a moving vehicle.

Reynolds was arrested in July for cutting down a tree, only to climax in November with the alleged hostage-taking and shooting.

He is expected to be in a Columbia County courtroom in July and is facing multiple charges including burglary, unlawful use of a weapon, kidnapping and attempted murder.

Reynolds was released on bail prior to the manhunt, and various law and justice leaders and reports differ on how bail impacts suspects lives and crime rates.

Reynolds timeline

On July 31, Reynolds allegedly stole items and cut down a cedar tree on a Kelso mans property. He faces malicious mischief, forgery, and attempted theft charges. Bail was set at $1,500.

He was arrested again on Aug. 17 for allegedly threatening the same Kelso man he reportedly stole from in July. On the same day Reynolds was also arrested for allegedly carjacking a man at gunpoint and stealing his wallet and drugs. When police placed him in custody, Reynolds reportedly struck a cop in the face. His bail was set at $30,000 and he bailed out on Sept. 6.

Reynolds was arrested again three days later for allegedly possessing a stolen motorcycle. Like the other interactions, Reynolds was arrested, booked and then issued a bail, this time in the amount of $10,000. He was released on bail on Sept. 18, court records show.

Weeks later, from Oct. 19 to Oct. 24, Reynolds went on a reported crime spree in which he allegedly stole a utility truck, tools, attempted to steal a car, engaged in a high speed police chase, and broke into a Kelso mans home. Reynolds allegedly told the victim he was a gangbanger while armed with an AR-15-style weapon and wearing body armor. He also reportedly stole the victims cell phone.

According to court documents, police say Reynolds threatened to shoot it out with police. Law enforcement searched the area, but did not locate him.

On Nov. 15, court records show authorities located Reynolds in a home near Highway 30 and Heath Road in Columbia County. When he was alerted by police, Reynolds reportedly exited a trailer with a gun to the head of a woman, threatening to kill her as he headed to a vehicle then drove away. The vehicle crashed, records show, so Reynolds took the hostage on foot and shot at a passing vehicle. He reportedly entered a home on Old Rainier Road with the hostage, then another home, but evaded police.

He was detained for the last time on Nov. 17 in Clatsop County and is in Columbia County Jail. Court records show his release amount is set at $3 million.

How is bail set?

In determining the amount of bail, several factors are taken into consideration, including whether the accused will appear in court, whether witnesses will be tampered with, and the type of crime the accused is charged with.

Washington is a right to bail state, as specified in the states constitution. Only bail can be denied for offenses punishable by the possibility of life in prison and if the defendant shows clear and convincing evidence of a propensity to violence that creates a substantial likelihood of danger to the community or any persons.

Bail is typically paid through the use of a bail bondsman according to a 2019 report by the Office of the Washington State Auditor.

Defendants pay a bail bondsman a fee thats usually 10% to 15% of the total bail amount, and the bondsman pays the full amount of bail to the court. If the defendant appears for all court dates, the bail money is then refunded to the bondsman. The defendant, however, is not refunded the bail fee, even if they are found innocent, the report states.

Bail affects on low income

The same report states cities and counties hold a disproportionate number of low-income defendants awaiting trial.

In Washington state counties jails, 60% of the inmates have not been convicted of a crime, according to the ACLU Washington branch. Instead, they are only behind bars because they couldnt afford to pay for bail. Since 2000, 95% of the people in jail are just waiting for their trial to start.

Twenty-two states have established task forces to review bail, like Washington did in 2017. The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, Superior Court Judges Association and the District and Municipal Court Judges Association created recommendations for pretrial reform.

Pretrial detainees are four times more likely to be sentenced to prison than those released before trial, the taskforce found. In addition, they are also more likely to receive longer prison sentences than other defendants in similar circumstances who are released before trial, according to the Pretrial Task Force.

Cowlitz County Superior Courts presiding Judge Gary Bashor told The Daily News the recommendations presented by the task force do not address the causes of crime, nor does the report attempt to do so.

Increasing community resources for mental health and addiction would be helpful to increase public safety by providing services designed to address problems often at the root of criminal behavior, he said.

The Washington State Auditor also issued an audit and found on any given day, about 4,700 people held in Washington jails are candidates for pretrial services, and releasing them could save Washington state taxpayers between $6 million and $12 million a year.

Perhaps more importantly, extended jail time before trial can have significant consequences for defendants, as they become more likely to be convicted, more likely to receive a longer sentence, and less likely to gain and maintain future employment, the auditors report states.

Does bail impact crime?

Bryan Nester, of A-Affordable Bail Bonds near the Cowlitz County Hall of Justice, said bail is a safer way to get people back to court, especially for those who rely on family, friends or even their employer to put up the funds to bail a loved one out of jail.

According to a 2021 study, Harvard researchers found bail reform in various jurisdictions did not significantly increase crime.

Angus Lee, a Vancouver-based attorney, also doesnt see the rise in crime due to the states bail structure, but more by the decriminalization of possession of hard drugs and how its leading people to make terrible decisions while on drugs.

Lee said he believes the state downgrading simple drug possession from felony to a misdemeanor skyrocketed the number of people doing illicit drugs, and making reckless decisions.

Lee harkened to former New York Mayor and personal attorney to former U.S. President Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, who Lee said cleaned up the cesspool that was New York with his famous broken windows theory.

According to the broken windows theory, visible evidence of criminal activity, anti-social behavior and general turmoil fosters a criminal climate in cities that leads to more serious crimes. For example, if you dont come down on jaywalkers, it could lead to an environment where people perceive mass lawlessness that could lead to real violent crimes.

Lee said allowing lower-level crimes like breaking windows and vehicle prowls creates a feeling of lawlessness.

Those who are inclined to commit crime, those are the real drivers of whats going on here, said Lee.
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts:

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Posts misrepresent rioter's actions in Jan. 6 Capitol attack

CLAIM: Footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol shows that Jacob Chansley, who participated in the riot sporting face paint, no shirt and a fur hat with horns, was "led through the Capitol by police the entire time he was in the building."

THE FACTS: Court documents and video footage from the attack on the Capitol make clear that Chansley, who is widely known as the "QAnon Shaman" and is one of the most recognizable Jan. 6 rioters, entered the Capitol without permission, was repeatedly asked to leave the building and was not accompanied at all times.

After Fox News host Tucker Carlson broadcast previously unseen Jan. 6 security footage on his Monday night primetime show, social media users began sharing segments from his program that misrepresented Chansley's involvement in the riot. "BREAKING: Never before seen video of January 6 shows Jacob Chansley, the QAnon Shaman, being led through the Capitol by police the entire time that he was in the building," reads a tweet that includes a clip from Carlson's show.

But the footage leaves out important context about Chansley's time in the Capitol that day.

A statement prepared by the Department of Justice, which was signed by Chansley and his attorney, provides a timeline of the rioter's movement in the Capitol. For example, the statement explains that Chansley entered the Capitol through a broken door as part of a crowd that "was not lawfully authorized to enter or remain in the building" and that he was one of the first 30 rioters inside. It goes on to note that although officers asked Chansley and others multiple times to leave the Capitol, he did not comply and actively riled up his fellow rioters. The statement describes Chansley's interactions with officers, but also points out that he "entered the Gallery of the Senate alone."

Chansley pleaded guilty in September 2021 to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding. He was sentenced in November 2021 to 41 months in prison.

Asked about claims that protesters were led through the building, a Capitol Police spokesperson pointed The Associated Press to an HBO documentary about the riot, "Four Hours at the Capitol," in which an officer describes his encounter with Chansley, including how he asked the rioter and others to leave the Senate wing. Footage from the interaction appears in the documentary. "Any chance I can get you guys to leave the Senate wing?" the officer says as Chansley sits in the presiding officer's chair on the Senate Dais. A video of Chansley walking into the Capitol through the broken door is publicly available on the website of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger lambasted Carlson's segment on the Jan. 6 footage in an internal memo Tuesday. "Last night an opinion program aired commentary that was filled with offensive and misleading conclusions about the January 6 attack," Manger wrote. "One false allegation is that our officers helped the rioters and acted as 'tour guides.' This is outrageous and false."

 Associated Press writer Melissa Goldin in New York contributed this report.

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No, the military hasn't recorded a 500% increase in HIV cases

CLAIM: The U.S. military has recorded a 500% increase in new HIV infections since COVID-19 vaccines were introduced.

THE FACTS: The U.S. military has not recorded any such increase, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Defense. Conservative commentators are baselessly claiming that rates of HIV in the military have skyrocketed since COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out to sow suspicion about the shot.

"The Armed Forces of the United States recorded a five hundred percent (500%) increase in AIDS after administering the COVID-19 Vaccine to US Troops. The COVID-19 Vaccine is implicated," wrote Hal Turner, a right-wing radio host, on his website last week. Turner gave no evidence for his claims. He did not respond to a request for comment.

But figures from the Defense Department and the Congressional Research Service show that the 500% figure is massively exaggerated. Further, medical experts have repeatedly emphasized that COVID-19 vaccination has not been linked to developing HIV, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is caused by HIV. Nor does a condition called "VAIDS"  vaccine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome  exist.

A total of 1,581 service members, including those in the National Guard and Reserves have been diagnosed with HIV infections since 2017, said Cmdr. Nicole Schwegman, a spokesperson for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Three-hundred and seventeen service members were diagnosed with HIV in 2017; 280 in 2018; 314 in 2019; 237 in 2020; 309 in 2021; and 124 in 2022. These rates are consistent with figures that were cited in a 2019 Congressional Research Service report. That report cited estimates from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center showing that approximately 350 service members are diagnosed with HIV annually.

COVID-19 vaccinations first became available to the public in December 2020. In 2021, 72 more cases of HIV were diagnosed compared to 2020, constituting a 30% increase  but nowhere near the 500% claimed. And in 2022, when the vaccine rollout was well underway, 185 fewer new HIV cases were diagnosed, marking a 60% drop from 2021.

Though Turner did not give the source of his data, it matches claims spread about other illnesses purportedly linked to COVID-19 vaccination among military members that have been shared in the past. In those cases, the numbers stemmed from what the bloggers and social media users said was "leaked" data from Defense Medical Epidemiology Database, or DMED, an internal database that documents medical experiences of service members throughout their careers. It is only accessible by military medical providers, epidemiologists, medical researchers and clinical support staff. However, Schwegman told the AP that the claims citing this database were flawed due to an error in the data for the years 2016 to 2020. The Defense Health Agency's Armed Forces Surveillance Division reviewed the data in the system, comparing it to the source data, and found that the total number of medical diagnoses from 2016 to 2020 that were accessible in DMED "represented only a small fraction of actual medical diagnoses for those years," said Schwegman. In contrast, the total number of medical diagnoses for the year 2021 were accurate, which temporarily made it appear that there was a disproportionate increase in medical conditions between the 2016 to 2020 figures and those reported in 2021. She said that the Armed Forces Surveillance Division has since corrected the data corruption.

 Associated Press writer Sophia Tulp in New York contributed this report.

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Hospital COVID payments tied to patient treatment, not deaths

CLAIM: U.S. hospitals are earning a $48,000 government subsidy for every patient that dies from COVID-19 in their care.

THE FACTS: Hospital industry officials and public health experts confirm the federal government provides hospitals with enhanced payments for treating COVID-19 patients, but the payments are only currently applicable to those on Medicare and aren't contingent on a patient's death.

Social media users are claiming American hospitals have a financial incentive to let people with coronavirus die under their watch. But hospitals have never been compensated by the federal government based on a patient dying of COVID-19 in one of their facilities, say industry officials and public health experts. During the pandemic, hospitals have received additional money for treating COVID-19 patients as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES, the 2020 law meant to address the economic fallout of the pandemic. But those increased payments don't apply to every COVID-19 patient treated in a hospital, just the ones under Medicare, which is the federal healthcare program serving people 65 and over.

Colin Milligan, a spokesperson for the American Hospital Association, confirmed that hospitals are currently eligible to receive a 20% increase in Medicare payments for caring for COVID-19 patients. "These patients are often very costly and time and labor-intensive for hospitals to treat," he explained in an email Wednesday. And despite what the social media posts claim, the enhanced COVID-19 payments aren't based on whether the patient lives or dies, experts said. In general, Medicare payments are based on the severity of the patient's condition and the types of treatments provided, said Juliette Cubanski, deputy director of Medicare policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. The average cost of a COVID-19 hospitalization for a Medicare patient is about $24,000, she said, citing claims data from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. But the reimbursement for more severely ill patients  such as those placed on a ventilator for multiple days  is roughly $40,000, according to KFF's analysis. Social media posts citing a $48,000 subsidy for COVID-19 deaths appear to be taking that $40,000 average cost for treating the sickest COVID-19 patients and factoring in the special 20% reimbursement rate increase.

But Cubanski argued that's not a fair assessment of the potential payout to hospitals. "My understanding of the estimates from CMS is that they already include the 20% payment increase in the stated amount," she wrote in an email. "So the payment for an extreme case would be $40k including the 20% increase, not $40k plus 20%." Spokespersons for CMS and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the agency, didn't respond to emails seeking comment this week. But President Joe Biden has announced the federal government's declaration of a public health emergency for COVID-19 will end on May 11. That means the enhanced Medicare payments  along with other measures the federal government enacted to weather the pandemic  will soon be a thing of the past.

 Associated Press writer Philip Marcelo in New York contributed this report.

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Florida blogger bill falsely tied to DeSantis

CLAIM: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants bloggers to register with the state or face fines.

THE FACTS: A bill filed in the Florida Senate  that DeSantis says he does not support  would require bloggers to register with the state and submit periodic reports if they are paid for posts about elected officials.

Social media users have erroneously claimed in recent days that DeSantis is in favor of the bill, which was filed last week and introduced to the Senate on Tuesday. But it was Republican Florida Sen. Jason Brodeur who filed the bill and DeSantis has not publicly supported the legislation since it was filed. DeSantis clarified his position on Tuesday at a press conference following his State of the State address.

"I see these people filing bills and then there's articles with my face on the article saying that oh, they're going to have to  bloggers are going to have to register for the state," he said. "And then it's like, attributing it to me. And I'm like, ok, that's not anything that I've ever supported, I don't support."

Brodeur's bill would require bloggers to register with the state of Florida if they are paid for posts about its governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet members or legislative officials. They would also have to file periodic reports with the state disclosing information such as who paid them and how much. Failure to file a report would result in fines of $25 a day, up to $2,500. The legislation states that it would not apply to content "on the website of a newspaper or other similar publication." Bryan Griffin, the governor's press secretary, confirmed to the AP in an email that DeSantis "does not support the bill." However, Griffin also explained that "the governor will ALWAYS consider every bill on its merits in final form if and when a bill passes the legislature and reaches his desk" before making a decision. The AP previously reported that DeSantis' office was not aware of the blogger registration legislation until it was filed. First amendment groups have argued that the proposal violates press freedoms.

 Melissa Goldin

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Some Washington businesses could face more safety regulations if lawmakers in Olympia succeed in reversing a 20-year-old prohibition on new regulations targeting common workplace injuries.

The state Senate this month passed legislation meant to lower the risk of musculoskeletal disorders for workers. Also known as MSDs, musculoskeletal disorders range from wrist sprains to lower back injuries to carpal tunnel syndrome. They can be caused by long hours, repetitive motions and awkward postures.

In 2000, Washingtons Department of Labor and Industries issued rules meant to prevent workplace injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. Three years later, voters overturned those rules with an initiative led by business groups, which raised concerns that the proposed rules were hard to implement and too costly for employers.

This year, state Sen. Manka Dhingra, a Democrat representing Redmond, introduced legislation that would reverse the course again.

I just think we have to make sure that people arent getting injured on the job, Dhingra said in an interview. These are issues that follow individuals for life, and its challenging for them and its challenging for employers.

Senate Bill 5217 narrowly passed with a 27-21 vote March 1 and heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Its introduction reignited that decades-old fight, which saw more than $1.4 million spent, a nod of approval from the U.S. Navy and a ploy to get the Seattle Mariners involved.

Work-related musculoskeletal injuries account for at least a third of workers compensation claims that resulted in time off work in Washington, according to the legislation.

These types of injuries are nothing new. Twenty years ago, they accounted for about 40% of all workers compensation costs.

We know these injuries are preventable and we know how to prevent them, Michael Silverstein, the former assistant director for industrial safety and health at L&I, told The Seattle Times in 2003.

Silverstein was one of the main architects of the rules thrown out by voters in 2003. The rules would have required employers to identify jobs that put employees at risk and take steps to reduce or eliminate those hazards.

The department said at the time it wouldnt tell employers how to reduce the risk. But it did offer some suggestions, like rotating employees through different jobs, using more than one person for heavy lifts and using machines instead of people when possible.

Now, workers in many industries say theyre facing the same hazards they did decades ago.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration found in recent inspections of Amazon warehouses that the company could implement the same suggestions made in 2000 to lower the risk of injury for its workers.

Workers from around the state have been testifying in Olympia in support of the bill, which has broad union support. Business advocates, including the Washington Food Industry Association, the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Associated Builders and Contractors, have opposed the effort, arguing that there isnt a one-size-fits-all approach to reducing injuries.

Debby Chandler, an office worker at a high school in Spokane, told lawmakers at a recent public hearing she needs neck surgery from holding a phone between her shoulder and her ear for hours at a time.

Karen Heister, a meat cutter at Albertsons, said her 24-year career left her with a torn rotator cuff, carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands and wasted vacation days spent at the doctors office.

Its time we start preventing repetitive-motion injuries in Washington state rather than just reacting to them, Heister said.

After L&I issued rules regarding workplace safety in 2000, voters walked them back three years later with Initiative 841. That initiative not only overturned L&Is original rules but prohibited the department from attempting to set up similar rules in the future.

Dhingras legislation would overturn Initiative 841.

During the debate between 2000 and 2003, business leaders argued the rules were too complex, too vague and too bureaucratic. The standards and the proposed fixes would be difficult to implement in the workplace, they argued at the time. One campaign worker even suggested that the Mariners catcher  then Dan Wilson  would exceed the squatting limit under the new regulations.

It was also unnecessary, the groups argued, because L&I could already enforce safe workplace standards under Washingtons Industrial Safety and Health Act.

Its the worst rule Ive ever seen, Tom McCabe, former executive vice president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, told The Seattle Times in 2003.

The Building Industry Association and other business groups poured more than $1 million into the campaign to pass Initiative 841. A coalition of labor unions spent more than $400,000 to fight the initiative.

The workplace safety rule got an unexpected boost from the U.S. Navy, which adopted Washingtons ergonomic standards in 2003. The states worksheets for identifying what it called caution-zone jobs and reducing hazards were included almost verbatim in the Navys workplace safety manual.

This time around, business groups are voicing the same concerns. Bruce Beckett, from the Washington Retail Association, said at a public hearing that the regulations would be time-consuming and controversial, rather than getting right at the heart of the problem.

Amber Carter, from Identity Clark County, a nonprofit made up of business leaders, argued it would take too long to enact the rules and, therefore, to see changes in the workplace. If the bill is signed into law, L&I will be able to start making new rules three years from now.

We can do a better job of providing technical assistance, interventions and solutions in real time  and help workers today, help employers today, she said. Dont make them wait.

This isnt the first attempt to get L&I more authority. Rep. Dan Bronoske, D-Lakewood, introduced legislation in the House last year to restore the states ability to address work-related musculoskeletal injuries. The bill passed the House but not the Senate.

Meanwhile, legislators are also considering bills that target quotas for warehouse workers, particularly at Amazon. Federal and state safety regulators have accused Amazon of creating an unsafe work environment and exposing workers to injuries, including musculoskeletal disorders.

The legislation would require employers to disclose more information about quotas that workers are expected to fill, part of an effort to ensure those requirements dont put workers at risk by encouraging them to skip breaks or cut corners to meet the threshold.

That bill passed the House on March 6, and a companion bill is slated for a vote in the Senate.

In crafting her legislation, Dhingra said she asked business leaders what hadnt worked in the past. They asked for a clear, transparent process that was rooted in data and that wouldnt allow L&I to make any emergency rules, she said.

Under the proposed bill, L&I could only make one set of rules for an industry each year. Before making a rule, the department would have to set up an advisory committee of workers and employers.

The rules would apply to industries, not individual employers, and only those industries that consistently had high rates of injuries. To be eligible for rule-making, industries would have to have workers compensation claims for musculoskeletal disorders that were twice the overall state claim rate for these types of injuries over a five-year period.

The department will publish a list of eligible industries each year. Its too soon to know which industries might be subject to rules, since the numbers could change in that five-year window, Dhingra and L&I said.

The legislation would also make money available to industries that are subject to rule-making so employers can purchase new equipment to reduce injury rates, Dhingra said.

She is optimistic the system will put pressure on companies to lower injury rates because one company could make an entire industry eligible for rule-making. Other industry groups could start to say, Hey, bad actors, you need to shape up, she said.

Weve been talking about this for years. This is not a new concept, Dhingra said. The industries that are two times the state average know who they are. This gives them three years to try to get their claims down.
When it comes to green fuels, how good is good enough?

Thats the question Columbia County must answer. A company called NEXT Renewable Fuels is trying to build a $2 billion renewable diesel biorefinery near Clatskanie, and the Port of Columbia County leased the company about 90 acres of land in 2019 on which to build it. The plan calls for NEXT to have organic oils and fats shipped to the Port Westward site, where the high-tech process will turn them into diesel and sustainable aviation fuel  providing around 200 long-term jobs.

By NEXTs numbers, this represents a large victory in the fight against global warming, with the emphasis on large. The company says it would be able to output 50,000 barrels a day at full capacity. BPs existing Cherry Point biorefinery near Bellingham produces less than a tenth of that. NEXT promotes the potential climate benefits of this project as equivalent to removing a million cars from the road; given the sheer capacity, that seems like a fair assessment.

When The Daily News recently interviewed University of Washington researchers about the credibility of NEXTs claims, they didnt doubt the chemical processes the company plans to use. But they questioned where the plant would get the quantity of fats and oils shown on its projections. The company answers this, first, by pointing to the availability of fish oil from Asia, and second, by promising it can adapt to a variety of materials. The company has also received support from an investment arm of United Airlines, which lends credibility to its argument that it can find what it needs.

In any case, its unfair to gloss over the fact that NEXTs products would serve as an alternative to fossil fuels, whether a little or a lot. Even if it makes only 25,000 barrels instead of the 50,000 the company would prefer, thats still 25,000 barrels that were never a fossil fuel. We see no reason to sneer at that.

A more troubling objection is the one raised by some Columbia County landowners near the proposed site. Together with the environmental group Columbia Riverkeeper, theyve painted the refinery as dirty, dangerous and generally a bad neighbor.

The world is full of powerful leaders urging us all to do exactly the thing NEXT is trying to do in Columbia County, from the U.N., to the federal government, to the state of Oregon. This plant would help fulfill reams of climate-change targets demanding more renewables, in large amounts, as soon as possible. But meeting the goals of distant bureaucrats is a hollow victory if NEXT befouls the land, air and water where we live.

We encourage everyone near NEXTs site to hold it accountable, to go to the public meetings, to keep registering concerns, to make sure the company knows our standards are high.

But by the same token, the goalposts need to stay firmly planted in one place. The concerns we raise need to have right answers, and if those answers are provided, we need to act accordingly. Impacts on neighbors can be minimized. Safety inspections can be passed. But there is no reason for industry to work with us if we entrench ourselves and leave no way to earn approval. Stick to the real health and safety concerns and leave obstruction tactics out of it.

Some of the anti-refinery arguments dont sit right with us. For example, NEXT wanted to build a 4.7-mile rail line to its site as a backup to river transportation. Riverkeeper and some Clatskanie residents appealed that and got it denied. Did removal of the railroad earn their support? It did not. If youre against the plant with the rail line and without it, what was the point?

The same dynamic is happening with regard to the main facilitys overall effect on the natural landscape. The Corps of Engineers hasnt yet released its environmental impact statement. Why are Riverkeeper and its allied groups already convinced the project shouldnt be built? The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality gave its approval; maybe the Corps will agree. Whats lost by waiting for their verdict? This is not what arguing in good faith looks like.

Its important to let NEXT know that we are protective of our natural resources and valuable farmland. But protectiveness turns ugly when it comes in the form of predetermined outcomes and unchangeable minds. If the company finds an acceptable way to turn fish oil, french-fry grease or whatever other oils and fats into biodiesel, we should welcome it.

This story has been updated to correct details of NEXT's land lease.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao developed abdominal discomfort on Sunday morning following which he was examined. He was brought to AIG Hospitals, and CT as well endoscopy was performed. A small ulcer in the stomach was found which is being managed medically. His all other parameters are normal. Appropriate medication has been started, Dr. Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of AIG Hospitals. (File Photo)

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had to abruptly end a meeting with his daughter and BRS MLC K. Kavitha, ministers K.T. Rama Rao and Harish Rao at the Pragathi Bhavan on Sunday after falling ill and rushed to the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) hospital in Gachibowli on Sunday morning.

The CM's wife Shobha also underwent medical check-ups at the hospital after she complained of uneasiness, sources said. The hospital noted in a statement that the CM was admitted to AIG after experiencing abdominal pain, and that after performing a CT scan and endoscopy, the doctors detected a minor ulcer in his stomach.

"Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao developed abdominal discomfort on Sunday morning following which he was examined. He was brought to AIG Hospitals, and CT as well endoscopy was performed. A small ulcer in the stomach was found which is being managed medically. His all other parameters are normal. Appropriate medication has been started," Dr. Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of AIG Hospitals and chief gastroenterologist stated. The CM was discharged from the hospital at around 7 pm and he returned to Pragathi Bhavan thereafter.
Denise Camp and Rose Mary Garcia are bringing fairytale dreams to life for high school juniors and seniors searching for the perfect prom dress.

The Princess Project of Bryan/College Station, originated in 2009 by Bryan High School graduates Camp and Garcia, allows families to shop for prom dresses free of charge during six Saturdays in March and April.

Theres going to be plenty of time once they graduate to worry about the money part of things, Camp said. If it gives them the opportunity to actually be able to go to prom without having to worry so much about the money, thats awesome.

Based out of Camps three-car garage at 18544 Anasazi Bluff Drive in College Station, the pair has collected over 600 formal gowns to ensure there is something for everyone. Having started with about 75 dresses, she said it has been incredible to see The Princess Project grow over the years.

Well probably see close to 50 girls, Camp said.

On the first Saturday alone, they gave away about 13 dresses.

The Princess Projects prom dress shop will be open for four more Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 18, April 1, April 15 and April 29. Camp and Garcia accept dress donations year-round that can be dropped off (preferably on hangers) at Camps address or Garcias work address at 103 N. Main Street in Bryan during business hours (9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday).

With 600 dresses currently in her garage, Camp said she and Garcia have the opportunity to be picky with the dresses they accept for their shop. Whether someone is shopping for a short, long, sequined, satin, or any color dress, Camp and Garcia have made it their mission to make dress dreams come true.

Weve gotten to the point where we can be super picky with the dresses that we keep, so we make sure that everything is still in really good shape, Camp said. We get a lot of dresses that still have tags on them.

With that in mind, she posed the question of, Why not come check them out?

Rudder High Schools Abigail Castillo was beaming Saturday as she walked away with a beautiful maroon ball gown adorned with sequins. A junior in high school, this will be Castillos first time attending prom.

I feel very grateful because I know prom dresses are really expensive, and getting one for free is very wonderful, Castillo said.

After trying on seven dresses, she said as soon as she put on the maroon dress she knew it was the one.

Micah Smith, a senior at the International Leadership of Texas Aggieland High School, said this is the first year the school has hosted a prom. After trying on a yellow sequined dress, Smith said she felt the most comfortable and pretty in a midnight blue dress.

Smith said she had a great time picking out her dress among the encouragement of The Princess Project and was excited about her first prom experience.

Giovanna Quintanilla and Jacqueline Rodriguez are students at Texas A&M University who dedicated their Saturday morning to volunteer with The Princess Project. Rodriguez is from Houston, and Quintanilla is from Dallas, so they said this was a great opportunity to get to know people in the Bryan-College Station community.

This was Quintanillas second weekend in a row to volunteer and she said she would be coming back because she was having so much fun.

I love looking at the girls smile; just the joy of them trying on the dresses and being like Oh, this is the one Im going to wear, Quintanilla said.

Rodriguez said she would return as well because she admires The Princess Projects mission.

Whenever I was shopping for my prom dress, I was limited in money, so it was more of a stressful thing than a joyous kind of thing, and its nice that they have a way out of that, Rodriguez said. They dont have to think about the price of the dress; they can find the dress, and thats their only worry.

Although The Princess Project is based in Bryan-College Station, Camp said people travel from surrounding towns to explore their selection of gowns. One year, she said a bus full of Navasota students unloaded in front of her house to find their ideal prom dresses.

Camp and Garcia ask that dress donations are cleaned, damage-free and current in style, and students who find a dress will be asked to show their high school ID to prove they are currently a high school junior or senior.

For more information about The Princess Project of B/CS, visit princessprojectbcs.com.
KEARNEY  The Northwest High School FCCLA chapter of joined more than 370 other Nebraska members and advisers at the State Peer Education Conference on Feb. 27 in Kearney.

The theme of the meeting was Channeling Your Inner Leader. The State Peer Officer Team encouraged chapters to focus their leadership efforts at a local level through their Community Outreach Project. Chapters were encouraged to hold school food drives and donate to a local shelter or similar organization. Members from the Northwest High School FCCLA donated 854 items and $1,175.63 to the Salvation Army.

Candidates for the 2023-2024 State Peer Officers Team were also introduced during the conference. Many other awards were presented at the Peer Conference. The Northwest chapter was recognized for attending, and earning certificates of participation in the State Peer Officer Family Team Capture the Action and Stand Up for Families outreach projects.

Elks Lodge honors local students

The Grand Island Elks Lodge has named five area students as February Teenager and Student of the Month.

Aurora Middle School seventh-grader Charlee Wiesen and Northwest ninth-graders Jace Koza and Elaina Ahrens were named Teenagers of the Month.

Northwest seniors Autumn Graczyk and Carter Nabity were named Students of the Month.

The Elks Lodge recognizes students in Grades 7-9 as Teenagers of the Month and Grades 10-12 as Students of the Month. Students are nominated by school principals, counselors, and teachers or other school staff.

Students are nominated based on academic performance, school and community activities and volunteer work. All students recognized are presented a certificate, and their schools are notified of the awards.

In May 2023, the Elks Lodge will choose two Teenagers of the Year recipients and two Students of the Year recipients.
ST. LIBORY  Instead of spending her birthday money on herself, Hannah Moeller applied the money to more important needs.

She took $400 worth of items to Hope Harbor and $200 worth of goods to Voice for Companion Animals.

Moeller received the cash for her 16th birthday, which was Feb. 20.

On Feb. 18, she and her mother, Tausha Hansen, brought pet toys and cat litter to Voice for Companion Animals. An employee of Petco used his employee discount to help Moeller's money go further.

Robyn Mays of Voice for Companion Animals appreciated the gift. "It goes a long way," she said.

On Feb. 22, the Moellers delivered personal hygiene products and blankets to Hope Harbor.

She took the items to Voice for Companion Animals because shes always had a love for animals.

In addition, the fact that her own life is blessed made me want to do something nice for someone else.

Moeller is a sophomore at Northwest High School. Her 17-year-old sister, Hailie, is a junior.

Moellers favorite animals are dogs and cows. At her St. Libory home, she has a yellow lab named Millie, who is commonly known as Meatball.

She also spends a lot of time on her dad's farm. There, she has a silver lab named Grover.

Growing up, Moeller showed cows for 4-H. Once you get cows trained, theyre kind and caring animals, she said. Cattle can sense that you trust them.

When she was younger, she had a couple of birthday parties at the Central Nebraska Humane Society. Instead of gifts, she asked her friends for donations to the Humane Society.

Moellers father is Artie Moeller. Her stepfather is Brian Hansen.

Moeller does have some fun ahead of her.

On May 18-26, in celebration of her 16th birthday, she and her sister will travel to Germany. The trip is courtesy of her aunt and uncle, Marnie Jensen and Kenny Bogus of Nebraska City. The couple took Moeller and her sister to Paris last year, in honor of Hailie's 16th birthday.

Moeller has had six dogs over the years. She loves the energy level and temperament of dogs. Theyre just very loving animals, she said.

When she grows up, she wants to have two Great Denes. She had a couple of them earlier, and she loved them. Great Danes are a lot calmer than other dogs, she says.

Moeller doesn't love all animals. Her least-favorite creatures are rodents, insects and snakes.
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Jana Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan greets party leaders and activists at the BC's round table meeting at the party office near Mangalagiri in Guntur District on Saturday. (Photo by arrangement)

VIJAYAWADA: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Saturday called upon people from backward classes to unite for their financial sustenance and political empowerment.

Addressing party leaders and activists from BC community at a round table conference here on Saturday, he asked them for how long they will let people of other communities rule them, despite BCs being the majority community within Andhra Pradesh.

Pawan Kalyan vowed to take people from most backward classes on his shoulders for empowering them financially and politically.

Referring to BCs selling away their votes for 2,000 to leaders of other communities during elections, the JS chief pointed out that when divided per day, each voter would get 50 paise. He wondered how a precious vote is being sold to leaders from other communities for such an amount.

He expressed concern over AP government diverting 34,000 crore meant for welfare of BCs. He said when BCs population is nearly two crore in AP, but only 4.37 lakh among them are being given a financial benefit of 10,000 per head per annum.

Referring to the age-old rivalry between people belonging to Kapu and Settibalija communities in erstwhile East Godavari district, Pawan Kalyan said that he is practising social engineering to make the two communities remain united.

Describing BCs as the backbone of Indian society, the Jana Sena president asked backward class communities like rajaka, yadava, weaver, goldsmith and others to carve political power for themselves, so that each BC would be able to find financial sustenance.

"I have started Jana Sena with an objective to help BCs attain political power, as they are a majority community in the state, but are yet being subject to injustice owing to lack unity among themselves," Pawan Kalyan observed.
LOS ANGELES  The best actress category at the 95th Oscars is full of great awards season drama, from the surprise nomination of Andrea Riseborough to the potential history to be made if Michelle Yeoh wins, which AP's film writers predict will happen.

All will be celebrated during Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, which airs live on ABC beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. There's still time to catch up on their performances before the show.

Here's a bit more about the contenders.

Ana De Armas

"Blonde" may have been reviled by many critics, but you'd be hard-pressed to find any who didn't admire Ana de Armas's portrayal of Marilyn Monroe nonetheless. De Armas prepped for a year and was thrown into the fire on her first day on set: In the actual apartment Norma Jeane lived in with her mother  a nightmare sequence in which she rescues a baby from the dresser drawer that she was kept in as an infant, as the place burns around her. Her second day was her visit to her mother in the mental hospital, where she got to speak as Marilyn for the first time on camera.

"I wasn't in character all the time. But ... I felt that heaviness and that weight in my shoulders. And I felt that sadness," de Armas said. "She was all I thought about. She was all I dreamed about. She was all I talked about."

Trivia: De Armas is the first Cuban woman to be nominated for best actress.

Age: 34

Cate Blanchett

"Tar" wouldn't exist without Cate Blanchett because Todd Field, the writer and director, wouldn't have done it with anyone else. That might be Hollywood bluster from most, but with Field you believe it. In the process of preparing to play Lydia Tar, the fictional conductor of a German orchestra, she'd learn to play piano, to speak German and conduct an orchestra, all of which she does really does in the film.

"I am still processing the experience, not only because it spoke to a lot of things that I had been thinking about, but I feel so expanded by having been in Todd's orbit," Blanchett said. "It was a very, very fluid, dangerous, alive process making the film."

Lifetime Oscar nominations: 8

Wins: 2. Best Supporting Actress for "The Aviator" in 2005 and Best Actress for "Blue Jasmine" in 2014

Age: 53

Notable Wins: Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup, BAFTA, Golden Globes (Drama).

Andrea Riseborough

Riseborough was unexpectedly nominated for her performance as an alcoholic Texas single mother in the scantly seen indie drama "To Leslie," a pick that shocked Oscar pundits and resulted in an investigation into campaigning techniques by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

Riseborough rose into the Oscar ranks thanks largely to the grassroots efforts of "To Leslie" director Michael Morris and his wife, actor Mary McCormack. They urged stars to see the film and either host a screening or praise Riseborough's performance on social media. And a whole lot of them did: Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Adams and Courteney Cox all hosted screenings for the film.

After a review of the campaign, the Academy said that Andrea Riseborough would not be stripped of her nomination.

Age: 41

Michelle Williams

The pivotal event of "The Fabelmans" comes when Mitzi Fabelman, a fictionalized version of Steven Spielberg's own mother played by Michelle Williams, reluctantly leaves her husband for his best friend.

"I thought she already suffered a near-death experience. When she gave up her dream of being a concert pianist, she experienced what it's like for part of you to die," says Williams. "So when she's faced with another near-death experience  Do I stay in this marriage or do I allow myself to go where my heart is leading?  she knows that she can't die again. There will be nothing left of her.

"What is this thing in her that allows her to make this decision? Is it her artistry? Is it bravery? Is it how big her emotions are? What allowed this woman to stake a claim on her life like this?" says Williams. "I don't know but I do think it's what's allowed her children to do the same thing, to stake a claim on their own lives. That, I think, is one of the greatest gifts that you give to your kids, showing them how they can be a full person."

Lifetime Oscar Nominations: 5

Age: 42

Michelle Yeoh

After decades first as a star in Hong Kong cinema and then more mainstream hits like "Tomorrow Never Dies" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," the Malayasian-born Yeoh has grown into a movie queen. She's had integral roles in what have been the first large U.S. studio movies in years with Asian-led castsMarvel Studios' "Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings" and "Crazy Rich Asians." As much as those films mean to her, she was a polished supporting player in them  then came "Everything Everywhere All At Once."

The Daniels originally named the multiverse hopping matriarch Michelle, as a "love letter" to Yeoh. But then she asked to change that and Evelyn was born.

"I'm like 'No, no, no' because I believe this person, this character that you've written so rich, deserves a voice of her own. She is the voice of those mothers, aunties, grandmothers that you pass by in Chinatown or in the supermarket that you don't even give a second glance to. Then you just take her for granted," Yeoh said. "She's never had a voice."

Trivia: If Yeoh were to win, she would become the first Asian woman awarded in that category.

Age: 60

Notable Wins: Golden Globes (Musical/Comedy), Screen Actors Guild, Film Independent Spirit Award.
LOS ANGELES  It's always fun when an Oscars category is filled with first-time nominees at varying stages of their careers. Best actor is another three-way race, between Austin Butler, Colin Farrell and Brendan Fraser, with each having scored notable wins from guilds and critics groups. The Associated Press' film writers predict Fraser to have the edge.

Here's a bit more about the nominees and their roles before the Oscars on March 12, which airs live on ABC beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. And if you've missed a performance, there's still time to watch this year's nominees.

Brendan Fraser

Brendan Fraser doesn't mind that people have called his turn in Darren Aronofsky's "The Whale," in which he plays a reclusive English teacher named Charlie who is grappling with his past in the midst of a dire prognosis, a "comeback." But it's not the word he'd choose.

"If anything, this is a reintroduction more than a comeback," Fraser told The AP. "It's an opportunity to reintroduce myself to an industry, who I do not believe forgot me as is being perpetrated. I've just never been that far away."

The film, an adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter's play, shows a different side of Fraser as an actor than the affable action/comedy roles that made him beloved and famous in the 1990s.

"I gave it everything I had every day," he said. "We lived under existential threat of COVID. An actor's job is to approach everything like it's the first time. I did but also as if it might be the last time."

Age: 54

Notable Wins: Critics Choice, Screen Actors Guild.

Colin Farrell

In Martin McDonagh's tragicomic tale of the end of a friendship "The Banshees of Inisherin," Colin Farrell's Padraic is the one being broken up with by Brendan Gleeson's Colm on their small Irish island in 1923.

"He has an innocence where he can't comprehend why his friend of so many years has cut him out," Farrell said of his character last year at the Venice Film Festival, where he'd go on to win the best actor prize. "It shakes him to his core ... He lives in a beautiful life and that beauty is taken away."

The film was a reunion for the trio who developed a deep bond on "In Bruges" 14 years ago.

"From the start, there was a deep sense of kinship and an understanding of each other," Farrell told The AP. "In a strange way, I understand myself more through Martin and his mind and his heart and his work. And I understand myself more through my interactions with Brendan."

Age: 46

Notable Wins: Venice Film Festival, New York Film Critics Circle, National Board of Review, Golden Globes (Musical/Comedy)

Austin Butler

Austin Butler spent so much time and mental and emotional energy in preparing to play and playing Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann's colorful drama that he finds it difficult to talk about without "sounding incredibly pretentious and self-important," he told The AP. "There are certain aspects that even I don't fully understand."

The past few weeks have brought their own emotional highs and lows too, with his Golden Globe win, his Oscar nomination and the tragic death of Lisa Marie Presley in the span of a few days.

"The peaks are so high and the valleys have been so low," Butler said.

"I just wish Lisa Marie were here with us to celebrate. At times, in the midst of intense grief and just a shattering loss, it feels sort of bizarre to celebrate. But I also know how much this film meant to Lisa Marie, how much her father's legacy meant to her. So I feel so proud and humble to be a part of that story."

Age: 31

Notable Wins: Golden Globes (Drama), BAFTA.

Bill Nighy

Bill Nighy plays a British civil servant who receives a terminal diagnosis in 1953 London in Oliver Hermanus's remake of the Kurosawa classic "Ikiru."

"I was very moved by it when we were making it, the fact that we were making it, that we were back and that it was the first thing I'd done since the pandemic," Nighy told The AP. "The pandemic forced us to look at our priorities in our lives and all that and this film discusses how to make the most of every day. So I suppose in that regard it was timely."

The veteran actor said he thought they were making something special, but he was unprepared for the rapturous reception everywhere. And thematic resonance aside, it hasn't got him thinking about his own legacy.

"I don't ever think in terms of legacy," he said. "I find it difficult to get enthusiastic about a world which is not going to include me."

Age: 73

Notable Wins: Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal did not expect to come out of "Aftersun" friends with an 11-year-old. But that's what happened with his co-star Frankie Corio on the set of Charlotte Wells' personal and evocative film about a young father and his daughter on vacation in Turkey in the 1990s.

"Both of us got out two weeks before filming started. There was kind of a loose plan that we might rehearse. And we did some of that, but ultimately, we just spent the two weeks where I was playing like pretending to be her dad," Mescal told The AP. "It's one of the greatest professional experiences that I've had. It really surprised me. I fell in love with her and I adore her and she's just a phenomenal actor."

The Irish actor said he likes working on smaller films with first-time directors. If anything, he hopes that his raised profile following his nomination might help him be able to get another project like that made.

"I take great pride in the fact that there's an appetite for those films still," he said.

Age: 27
Visual artists from places where fields and trees outnumber roads and street signs may not be influenced by trends or movements.

They may not have much in common with other rural creators.

What they often do share is an artistic expression evolved from contemplation and observations that imagination in solitude can produce.

Imagination in solitude is what the six artists whose works make up Creative Connectors: The Rural Experience have in common.

Even though their styles, media and themes are vastly different, the connectors are their rural expressions. The excitement and delight these juxtaposed pieces bring to this exhibition communicates the same harmony the six artists have for each other and the work they have produced.

The artists who came together from across the state to contribute to the collection at the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center are:

 Terrance Washington from Barnwell County

 Ian Thomas Dillinger from Colleton County

 James E. Wilson III from Bamberg County

 Robert Matheson from Newberry County

 Ernest Lee from Richland County

 Rajasekhar Yarraguntla, who teaches in Barnwell County

The exhibition, located at 649 Riverside Drive, Orangeburg, runs through April 21. The Artists Reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, and is free and open to the public.

Seeing the artists greet each other with such warmth, helping one another with final preparations before hanging the works, listening to their lively conversations, it quickly became obvious that the Arts Center has a very special show by these confident, energetic artists, said Vivian Glover, director of community arts and development. They have an air of excitement around them. Combined, they pull together something current and significant out of South Carolina. And this dynamic came from rural perspectives.

Ernest Lee is probably the best known of the artists, having honed his own reputation by painting and selling his pieces in a devised outdoor street corner gallery. His iconic dancing chickens are popular and recognizable.

Most people know me as the chicken artist, says Lee, who has painted all his life. This time I wanted to show my other paintings.

James Wilson III has been a photographer for over 25 years, capturing images in deeply rural settings that strike him as unique or as natural phenomena, which he regards as an experience akin to reverence.

I look for something different, uncommon. Something that you wont see again," Wilson said.

Wilson includes the solitary and long-deserted homes he spots while driving in Pickens County.

Back in the day, most people lived in small houses alongside a road," Wilson said. "Now they are dilapidated. Ten or twenty years from now, they will be gone. Their structures say something about the people who lived there. I try to imagine those lives during their time, to appreciate how people used their homes.

Travel is what Rajasekhar Yarraguntla did leaving India in 2014 for the United States and finding himself an educator in the most rural sections of Mississippi and Louisiana, before accepting a teaching position in Barnwell County. Still teaching in a remote area, where the nearest stores and businesses are miles away, he is as unique as his art, with his use of flower patterns and colors.

Yarraguntla began teaching himself art during his own school days.

I like to experiment with natural materials and to represent nature in my work, he says of his art, which was recognized by Indias Ministry of Education. I apply different materials like dried grass, sticks and magazines upon acrylics.

Coming from a culture with thousands of years cultivating the arts in paintings, sculptors, pottery and textiles, Yarraguntla is self-assured experimenting with modern, abstract compositions including those of Hindu gods. He is intertwining traditional and sacred art, from his perspective of the past and present, now influenced by his years in the rural South.

Terrance Washington, also an educator, has roots entrenched in Blackville. His paintings are a tribute to his affection and devoted appreciation of the artistic beauty his sees.

That same sensitivity takes measure of the world from his homebase, especially these parts of the world that can be perilous for a young Black man. Living in rural domesticity doesnt divert his attention from watchfulness or the urge to articulate the continued struggle for justice. His works manage to convey aesthetic messaging using rich colors and defining lines.

I see myself as a modern-day Impressionist, illustrating what is going on in the world around me," Washington says.

Washington wants to create works that evoke conversations, that prompt people to think, especially about the role of art in his time.

Robert Mathesons digital images celebrate the present, but with a broad historical premise that has captured his imagination since moving to Newberry from Utah, via California. Hes become engrossed in the history of South Carolina.

He agrees that South Carolina, as a state, may have the most significant places and fascinating people of the 50 states. His current focus is the Revolutionary War battles and, in particular, a battle in Orangeburg.

Fortunately, there were no causalities, but it was a significant battle, observes Matheson.

Digitizing prints for his contribution to the exhibition really pushed the limits of my digital art skills while telling the story of the Surrender of Orangeburg, which to my knowledge has never been illustrated before. He is excited about introducing a key element of the War for Independence to the area.

I hope the community enjoys it and learns a bit about Orangeburg from interpretation. I know I did, Matheson said.

Matheson, who describes his work as using technology as the paintbrush noted that the title of the series is Re-Imagining the Surrender of Orangeburg.

I trained an AI to blend a sketch in my style with descriptions of the American Revolution battle that took place on May 10 and 11, 1781, in Orangeburg, he said.

Ian Thomas Dillinger, from Colleton County, creates and actively lives the life of an outdoorsman residing in a rural South Carolina setting.

Dillinger makes his home beside the Edisto River in Walterboro. A former educator, Ian now farms, does carpentry and paints, inspired by the rural decay and natural beauty of the river and its inhabitants.

He is known for his reuse of natural and man-made materials in the creation of his work.

I hope visitors to the Arts Center are intrigued by the experimental techniques I use to demonstrate how art and nature can ingeniously and harmoniously make a statement, Dillinger says.

Portions of this exhibition were previously shown at the Aiken Center for the Arts.

For this show, several new works were added by artists, including all the works by Robert Matheson.

The invitation from the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center was summed up by Dillinger: It was encouraging to the group to have another opportunity to be shown. It inspired me to make new work to be seen.

For more information, call 803-536-4074 or email vglover@orangeburgarts.org.
A Bamberg County woman was transported to a hospital after gunmen opened fire on a vehicle, according to Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell.

We're still following up on multiple leads in the investigation, but if you have any information, I urge you to call us, Ravenell said in a release.

At around 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Orangeburg County Sheriff's investigators received a call reporting a shooting incident.

Investigators learned that somewhere in the Whittaker Parkway and Five Chop Road area, shots were fired as a vehicle drove past another.

An 18-year-old female was struck by gunfire and was transported to an undisclosed hospital. Her condition has not been released.

Anyone who has information can contact the sheriffs office at 803-534-3550.
The Tri-County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse is adding 6,500 square feet to provide space for a psychiatric residency training program.

The commission broke ground on the $2.4 million expansion on Feb. 24. The addition is located behind the facility at 910 Cook Road.

The residency program is a huge opportunity for our area and state to train psychiatrists with the hope that many will stay in the area or South Carolina once they complete their residency, William J. McCord Adolescent Treatment Facility Executive Director Mike Dennis said. The need for more psychiatrists and behavioral health services in South Carolina and, in particular, rural communities is huge, he said.

The addition will include exam rooms, offices, lab space and multipurpose rooms for education and outreach.

The building's architect is Lexington-based G3S Architecture and Design. OCain Construction is the general contractor for the expansion.

The completion date for the expansion is targeted for October 2023.

About $501,000 of the funds will come from state-appropriated money from the S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services and the state legislature.

The addition is designed to take advantage of the commission staff already on-site for support services.

The groundbreaking comes at an opportune time as the commission has just been approved to provide a psychiatric residency training program.

The commission applied to the national Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in July 2022 and a virtual site visit was made in September 2022.

The program is designed to fill the need for psychiatry graduates.

Currently the Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center does have psychiatrists, but outside of OAMHC there is one part-time psychiatrist available in Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties, Dennis said.

The commission is already licensed as a psychiatric hospital.

The targeted goal for the residency program to begin is July 2023. The residency students will be able to use some existing offices until the addition is built.

Their first year will be primarily spent at the MUSC/RMC hospital and its outpatient family medicine and neurology offices, so weve got some time to get the addition built, Dennis said.

The residents would rotate through MUSC Orangeburgs inpatient and outpatient departments, as well as the emergency department.

Residents will also rotate through the Orangeburg County Detention Center, which has a mental health specialist but not a psychiatrist. Plans are for residents to provide services for the detention center.

The program will include 10 residents per year, with residency being a four-year process. By the fourth year of the program, there are expected to be 40 residents in training for mental health and addiction.

In addition to MUSC Health Orangeburg, other partners in the program will include HopeHealth, Orangeburg County, the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, the S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services and all 31 alcohol and drug commissions throughout the state.

Physicians and psychiatrists will serve as faculty and attending physicians.

Programmatic funding will come from the S.C. Department of Health and Health Services and grant funds.

Dennis said the commission is seeking other funding sources, including federal funds, for the program.

Citing the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which tracks health care access, there is one psychiatrist for every 7,280 individuals in Calhoun County; one for every 2,320 individuals in Bamberg County and one for every 590 in Orangeburg County.

Dennis said the statistics show there needs to be a ratio of 300 individuals per one counselor.

Untreated behavioral health issues affect all sectors of a community from workforce productivity issues, school performance and safety, social services, crime and family well-being, Dennis said. Research also shows untreated behavioral health issues have a tremendous impact on an individuals physical health, which increases the cost of treating their physical health issues and creates a burden on hospital emergency rooms.

Mental Health America reports that South Carolina ranks 43rd in the nation in access to mental health services.

Dennis said mental health centers  including Orangeburg Area Mental Health  have a shortage of psychiatrists and wait times to see a psychiatrist through a state Department of Mental Health center can be up to three months.

The residency program would include both pediatric and adult training.

Dennis said the commission is envisioning eventually having a program to provide training for social workers and clinicians that could partner with South Carolina State University and Claflin to help with internships.

Established in 1973, the Tri-County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse provides prevention, intervention and treatment services to adolescents and adults affected by alcohol, tobacco and other drug use as well as mental health issues.
(TBTCO) - Nhieu san pham bao hiem nhan tho hien nay la bao hiem lien ket au tu. ieu nay co nghia la khach hang mua bao hiem a chuyen sang san choi au tu kinh doanh cua cac hang bao hiem. Ve nguyen tac, au tu co loi nhuan va cung co rui ro, theo luat choi ma cac hang bao hiem a soan thao rat chi tiet, trong o co nhieu che tai. Do vay, can tranh hien tuong mua bao hiem nhan tho ket hop voi au tu, khi chua hieu ro cac che tai ap dung, cung nhu nhung rui ro cua dang san pham nay. ay la khuyen nghi cua Luat su Tran Minh Hai  Giam oc ieu hanh Cong ty Luat Basico, khi trao oi voi phong vien TBTCVN.
Israeli airstrikes targeting a weapons depot in Syria on Sunday killed two pro-Iran fighters and wounded three soldiers, a war monitor said.

"Israeli strikes targeted a weapons depot belonging to pro-Iran forces located... between Tartus and Hama provinces," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

"Two pro-Iran fighters were killed and three Syrian soldiers were wounded," he told AFP.

Syrian state news agency SANA, citing a military source, reported that "at around 7:15 a.m. (0415 GMT), the Israeli enemy carried out an air attack, firing missiles from the direction of north Lebanon with targets in the Tartus and Hama countryside."

SANA did not specify the target, but said the attack "wounded three soldiers and caused some material losses," adding that Syrian air defenses intercepted some of the missiles.

The Israeli military said it did not comment "on reports in the foreign media."

Since Syria's civil war erupted in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes against its northern neighbor, targeting government troops as well as allied Iran-backed forces and Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters.

The Israeli military rarely comments on individual strikes against Syria, but has vowed repeatedly to keep up its air campaign to stop archfoe Iran consolidating its presence.

On Tuesday, Israeli warplanes killed three people in a raid on the airport in Aleppo, Syria's second city, the Observatory said.

On Feb. 19, an Israeli airstrike killed 15 people in a Damascus district that houses state security agencies, according to the war monitor.
Total 22 candidates are contesting from the graduate constituency and eight are in fray for the teachers' seat. (Photo: PTI/Representational Image)

TIRUPATI: Combined districts of Prakasam, Nellore and Chittoor will witness polling on Monday from 8 am to 4 pm for their two MLC seats  one from the teachers and the other from graduates constituency.

According to Chittoor district collector and returning officer M. Hari Narayanan, there are total 3,81,181 voters in the graduate constituency and 27,694 voters for the teachers seat. Total 22 candidates are contesting from the graduate constituency and eight are in fray for the teachers seat. There are 453 polling centres for graduates and 176 centres for teachers spread over Prakasam, Nellore and Chittoor districts, so that voters can exercise their franchise.

"All necessary arrangements, including deployment of security forces and webcasting in problematic voting stations, have been made to ensure peaceful voting. To exercise their right to vote, voters must carry one of the 12 photo identity cards, as suggested by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Only the pen mandated for use by ECI should be used for marking the ballot paper," Hari Narayanan pointed out.

He said 98 percent of voter slips have already been issued to the electors. Counting of votes will be on March 16.

Ruling YSRC Congress, opposition Telugu Desam and Progressive Democratic Front, which presently holds the two MLC seats, are vying to capture the two constituencies during Mondays polling.

The main candidates from the teacher's constituency are YSRCs P. Chandrasekar Reddy, PDFs P. Babu Reddy, and AP United Teachers Federation-backed candidate L.C. Ramana Reddy.

In graduates constituency, an intense competition is expected between YSRC candidate Pernati Shyam Prasad Reddy and TD nominee K. Srikanth.
Lawmakers often say that everyone wants the same things: to be happy and healthy, to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Differences arise, though, in lawmakers' understanding of what exactly that means and how to best go about making those wants a reality. Debates in the Wyoming Legislature around the matter of abortion, as well as the questions those discussions elicit about how Wyoming should support its people, illustrate those differences.

Earlier this month, lawmakers passed the Life is a Human Right Act, a new abortion ban bill that aims to end abortion sooner than Wyomings current trigger law, which is being challenged in court. With the trigger law at least temporarily blocked, abortion up to fetal viability remains legal in Wyoming for now.

The Life is a Human Right Act wouldnt be substantially different from House Bill 92  last years abortion trigger ban. The act as it emerged from the Legislature is meant to supersede the legal challenges that House Bill 92 has faced, though it also adds reporting requirements for abortions in cases of rape and incest and states that the procedure is not health care  an assertion thats likely to be decided by the courts. The bill as originally written would have erased rape and incest exceptions and provided greater authority to the Legislature to interfere in legal challenges to the bill. But lawmakers stripped out those provisions.

Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, the bills sponsor, has said that the legislation is meant to go beyond protecting the unborn  that its also about supporting women.

Essentially what the Life is a Human Right Act does is it confirms that the people of Wyoming, through their elected representatives, have made clear that they believe life is a human right, that women deserve real support, Rodriguez-Williams told the House Judiciary Committee in early February.

My colleagues and I that have cosponsored this bill want to preserve the lives of the most vulnerable while ensuring that women have real support.

While proponents of the bill have argued that abortion itself is a trauma and that, therefore, women are better off if the service is banned altogether, House Bill 152 doesnt include any other provisions specifically aimed at supporting women. Because of that, Rodriguez-Williams assertion that sponsors of House Bill 152 want to ensure that women have real support falls flat for some lawmakers.

I dont see how banning abortion is supporting [women] in any way, shape or form, Laramie Democrat Rep. Karlee Provenza, who has adamantly advocated for access to abortion and other reproductive health services, told the Star-Tribune. It would be one thing if the bill said, Were banning abortion, and in place of it, you have access to free health care and child care services. But thats not what the bill says.

***

If numbers are any indication, Wyoming women  and particularly mothers  could benefit from more support.

The gender wage gap in Wyoming persists, with women earning $0.75 to every dollar that men earn, according to the 2022 Wyoming Womens Foundation wage gap report. In the realm of health care, the Wyoming Community Foundations 2022 report shows that 24% of women received less than adequate prenatal care in 2020. Low birth weights and preterm deliveries increased slightly the same year from 2011, and maternal mortality also rose from 2018. Labor and delivery services in Wyoming are at risk too; last year, two hospitals in the state cut these services because of their inability to keep up with costs.

The meaning of real support for women  and more generally for families  varies among lawmakers. (Rodriguez-Williams has not responded to requests for comment from the Star-Tribune to explain what she envisions as being real support for women.)

Some lawmakers who sponsored House Bill 152 think that it should be up to families and local communities to provide that support independent of the government. They emphasize strong, traditional families, local and religious connections and personal responsibility. Theyre generally averse to expanding government social programs tied to federal dollars. They believe that many of the challenges women face can be traced back to a breakdown of family, as Lingle Republican Sen. Cheri Steinmetz put it, and that reinforcing families and marriages could help alleviate those challenges.

Others think government programs are an important supplement where support and resources in families and local communities are lacking. Though lawmakers who lean toward this perspective often value personal responsibility as well, they believe that providing government support for those who struggle  with the goal of helping them achieve greater independence  has rippling social benefits.

The divide in these strains of thought is evident in lawmakers varied votes this session on legislation designed to help women and families.

For instance, 29 of the 36 sponsors of the Life is a Human Right Act voted against House Bill 4  legislation that extends postpartum Medicaid coverage for low-income mothers from two months to a year. Gov. Mark Gordon signed that legislation into law last week.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicaid covered low-income moms for 60 days after delivery. Roughly 70% of these women lost Medicaid eligibility after the 60-day postpartum period, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. But that postpartum Medicaid coverage was temporarily extended to one year after delivery during the pandemic. The 2022 Wyoming Community Foundation report states that 31 Wyoming women made claims for serious medical conditions, and 561 made claims for mental health care, as a result of the extended postpartum coverage.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Gordon, who also signed last years abortion trigger ban into law, touted the passage of House Bill 4 as an incredible achievement and called it a very strong pro-life bill.

Others have also taken to describing the postpartum legislation as pro-life, co-opting a term that typically refers to anti-abortion sentiment and upsetting some anti-abortion lawmakers. Casper Republican Rep. Jeanette Ward, a staunch anti-abortion freshman lawmaker, criticized a member of the public who testified in support of House Bill 4 for using the term to describe the legislation.

I dont think we should use pro-life as a justification to expand entitlement programs, Ward said at a January committee meeting.

The use of the pro-life label to describe House Bill 4 perhaps illustrates the irony some see when lawmakers who voted for House Bill 152  legislation that sponsors say is meant to save lives  didnt also vote for House Bill 4, which in a broad sense has a similar objective.

To me, if youre pro-life, youve got to be pro-birth, and youve got to be pro-humans. Weve got to take care of each other, Evanston Republican Sen. Wendy Schuler told the Star-Tribune. Schuler, who cosponsored House Bill 152, voted in support of the postpartum Medicaid extension bill, as well as this years broader Medicaid expansion legislation, which again failed to clear the Legislature.

We cant just say were going to take care of the little baby and then once its born say, See ya, bye!

Nevertheless, many anti-abortion lawmakers voted against House Bill 4. That discrepancy goes back to the belief among some House Bill 152 proponents that support for women should come from outside of the government  from families, friends, religious communities and other local organizations. That kind of support, Steinmetz told the Star-Tribune, trumps any assistance that an impersonal government can give.

Schuler doesnt believe those resources are always sufficient.

If youve got that kind of support in those areas, thats lovely, she said. But unfortunately, we know that thats not available for everybody. So thats when we we need to pick up the slack and fill in the gaps and do what we can to try to improve their lives.

***

Some anti-abortion advocates have pointed to one alternative resource to government programs in the maternal health care realm: pregnancy resource centers.

There are about a dozen such centers across the state. They dont promote or offer abortions, but generally provide some counseling and limited health services, like pregnancy testing and ultrasounds. Rodriguez-Williams, the sponsor of House Bill 152, was herself the former executive director of the Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center, which is run by a Christ-centered ministry and has locations in Cody and Powell.

House Majority Floor Leader Chip Neiman, a Hulett Republican and cosponsor of House Bill 152, said he and his wife give a substantial amount of money to such facilities, like the Womens Resource Center in Gillette and the Bella Pregnancy Resource Center in Spearfish, South Dakota. He was among lawmakers who voted against the postpartum Medicaid extension bill.

We are trying to give money to things that are going to create a family, that are going to create something stable for that little person, Neiman, who unsuccessfully tried to intervene alongside Rodriguez-Williams in the lawsuit challenging the current abortion trigger ban, told the Star-Tribune.

I like those types of support mechanisms, because its not that were just gonna pay forever. Were going to help you get on your feet, were going to help you try to get your feet underneath you, and were going to help you realize that you can do this, were going to help you realize that you have the capacity to be a responsible parent.

Like the Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center, many of these facilities are run by Christian organizations. Some lawmakers, like Provenza, are skeptical about relying on such centers as a main support for mothers, given that theyre built around religious views not everyone subscribes to. She said some of her constituents have visited pregnancy resource centers accidentally and left feeling judged and belittled.

There are people who are going to be in these crises that want to go seek religious help. Thats fine. I support them in doing that. But for those that arent, what are they supposed to do?

Those who support these centers assert that their Christian bent doesnt impact the quality of care they give to each patient. As Neiman put it, the door is wide open to anybody that needs help. Wyoming Family Alliance President Nathan Winters, a former lawmaker who lobbied in support of House Bill 152, had a similar view.

Historically  youll find this to be true throughout the centuries  Christians care very, very deeply about people. So its not an attempt to push religion on anyone. Its genuinely an attempt to help the mom and the baby, Winters told the Star-Tribune.

It appears that at least one of these centers does try to bring Christianity to patients. Sawyer Poitra, CEO of the Gillette Womens Resource Center, said at an October fundraising event that the center evangelizes and therefore doesnt seek steady government funding, County 17 News reported.

We know that Jesus is the real answer that so many are looking for when they walk through our doors, Poitra said at the October event.

***

As Neiman said, one thing that appeals to him about pregnancy resource centers is that they try to help people become self sufficient and take personal responsibility.

Freedom is awesome. But with freedom comes responsibility, Neiman said. I think we as a society have just kind of taken that and thrown it out the window, and were just kind of standing there waiting for somebody else to pick up the pieces.

People have different stances on how much government should be allowed to step in and help; enabling people to become self sufficient seems to be a common objective.

On a broader sentiment, our mission is to invest in the economic self sufficiency of women, said Rebekah Hazelton, director of the Wyoming Womens Foundation. Its similar to the sentiments that are put forward by other people who maybe dont share our same views on policies. But like I said, sometimes you do need a little bit of support to get to where you can be self sufficient.

The Wyoming Womens Foundation doesnt have a stance on House Bill 152 in particular, though it opposed House Bill 109, legislation that would ban chemical abortions in Wyoming. Gordon has yet to take action on House Bill 109, which cleared the Legislature earlier this month.

Hazelton said the foundations main focus this year was to push the passage of the postpartum Medicaid extension bill and advocate for access to contraception and childcare.

There werent any bills this year that focused in particular on providing more access to contraception.

Schuler, the Republican senator from Evanston, along with Laramie Democrat Sen. Chris Rothfuss, tried to add an $140,000 appropriation to the supplemental budget bill to provide greater access to intrauterine devices, or IUDs. But that amendment was shot down. On the House side, Provenza, the Laramie Democrat, tried to pass a budget amendment to fund outreach efforts to increase the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives like IUDs. That amendment also failed.

Childcare didnt fair much better. There were several bills this session that aimed specifically to increase access to childcare services in Wyoming  a state where more than a third of families live in childcare deserts, according to the Wyoming Community Foundations 2022 report.

Four bills related to expanding child care in Wyoming came up this session: one sponsored by Green River Republican Rep. Scott Heiner, and three by Jackson Democrat Rep. Mike Yin. Only Heiners bill, which exempts some part-time preschool facilities from needing certification, with some sideboard restrictions, made it into law this session.

***

Gordon hasnt taken action yet on House Bill 152 and has until the end of this week to either sign or veto the bill. He could also let the legislation become law without his signature. Regardless of what the governor decides to do, its likely that abortion will remain legal in Wyoming for some time while court challenges over banning the procedure unfold.

Meanwhile, lawmakers will continue to grapple over how much the government should be involved in the lives of Wyomingites, where extra support should be extended and where personal responsibility should kick in.

Thats the tough part. Wheres the balance between what some people consider government overreach and government help? Schuler, the Republican senator from Evanston, said. At the same time, she looks around and sees how the state spends government money on schools, on highways, on law enforcement. She sees that the government is in the lives of Wyomingites already.

So if we have the resources, and we can help out, we should do it.

Correction: A previous version of this story stated that Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams is the executive director of the Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center. Rodriguez-Williams resigned from that post at the end of last year.

PHOTOS: Abortion in Wyoming Pro-choice protest Abortions rights protest Abortion-rights protesters The Women's Health Center and Family Care Clinic of Jackson Pro-life Protest Pro-life Protest Abortion-rights protest Abortion-rights protest Abortion-rights protest Abortion clinic fire Abortion-rights protest Abortion-rights protest Pro-life Protest Pro-life Protest Pro-life Protest Pro-life Protest Pro-life Protest
CHEYENNE  The recent failure of an attempt to sanction certain marijuana use through a ballot initiative bodes poorly for similar efforts in the future.

I am thinking of Medicaid expansion and their proponents plan to take their proposal to the voters through the ballot initiative route.

This was the alternate left after the Legislature this session once against didnt move the medicaid expansion bill.

The sponsoring marijuana group called NORML, headquartered in Gillette, issued a small news release last week announcing it failed by the March 7 deadline to get enough signatures to warrant a slot on the 2024 general election ballot.

The group sponsored two proposals. One would legalize the medical use of marijuana. The companion proposal would decrease penalties for nonviolent cannabis offenses.

The sponsors were required to collect the signatures of 41,776 veried voters.

They exceeded the threshold by collecting 48,687 signatures for medical marijuana, and 47,426 for nonviolent use cannabis penalties.

Both initiatives received more signatures from voters than any other in history, and we are excited to announced we have met the threshold requirement, Wyoming NORML Executive Director Bennett Sondeno said in a news release.

However, Wyoming highly restrictive ballot initiative law also calls for signatures from 15% of those voting the past general election from two-thirds of the counties.

Both initiatives met that threshold in 14 of the 16 counties required.

They missed the mark in two counties. That failure ends the initiative effort.

The supporters, however, say they will continue to work with legislators on bills that are identical or similar to the two initiatives.

I was unable to reach any NORML folks by email or phone last week.

I would like to learn which two counties they failed in.

Also, if they hired professional signature collectors. And how much they spent on this effort.

Meanwhile voters in Oklahoma last week rejected a ballot proposal that would have legalized recreational marijuana.

That state already has a law, adopted through a 2018 ballot initative, that legalized medical marijuana.

According to an Associated Press story, the voters in Oklahoma rejected the recreational marijuana proposal following a late blitz of opposition from faith leaders, law enforcement and prosecutors.

Oklahoma would have become the 22nd state to legalize adult use of cannabis and would join conservatives sites like Montana and Missouri that also approved that use.

Last year Maryland and Missouri approved the measures, and voters in Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota rejected the proposals.

Most of those adopted deal only with medical marijuana which appears to be more acceptable than widespread use for recreation use.

Meanwhile, Wyomings record on ballot initiatives is fairly bleak.

Legislators who were active in 1969 when they passed the initiative and referendum package said they deliberately made the requirements onerous.

They didnt want to clutter up the ballot, like Colorado.

Wyomings law, unlike Colorados for example, does not allow voters to change the constitution through a ballot initiative, however.

The Legislature stiffened the requirements further in 1997 when they put an amendment on the 1998 ballot that required the signatures be collected from two-thirds of the counties.

The voters passed it.

The purpose of that amendment was to prevent signature collectors from getting the signatures of the bulk of voters while standing outside box stores in Casper and Cheyenne.

The amendment forced them to go into the smaller counties to get those signatures.

The initiatives that were able to reach the new thresholds were primarily those well financed. The sponsors hired professional signature gatherers. And that takes money.

I think  and polls show  that a medical treatment amendment would pass if it could ever get to the voters.

Its also clear that the movement toward legalization of marijuana, at least for medical purposes, has been speedy and successful in other states.

Supporters now are looking to the federal government to follow suit.

Right now this is a problem for law enforcement in a city like Cheyenne which is seven miles from Colorado where it is legal and fully accessible.

This is a wacky system we have here.
Living in Wyoming requires an acceptance that simple tasks like driving to the store can be difficult or even dangerous during the winter months. Were used to snow, ice, wind, polar temperatures and even the occasional blizzard. But by any measure, this winter has been especially brutal for travel. On March 3, Wyoming recorded its 31st crash death of 2023. At that time last year, only 12 people had died in crashes here. In 2021, that number was 18.

Some of the carnage can be attributed to this winters severity. Weve experienced more storms than normal, more snow that wed typically expect. Multiple times this year, nearly the entire states highway system was either shut down or severely impacted by storms. Icy roads have caused cars to slide into oncoming semi-trucks, resulted in massive pile-ups and left drivers struggling to see the road in front of them.

Weve also witnessed wrecks that are difficult to prevent. Most notably, five young people died in a chain-reaction crash that authorities say was triggered by a man driving the wrong way on Interstate 80 while high.

The tragically high number of road deaths this year should give us pause and put a renewed focus on steps that can be taken to keep travelers safe as they navigate Wyomings highway system. Were always going to have to contend with the snow, wind and ice. But there are steps we can take to minimize the loss of life.

As drivers, we can make the choice simply not to go. When the roads are an ice rink, we can postpone travel until the outlook improves. Yes, there are trips that cannot be put off: health care being a prime example. But we can weigh the value of a trip to watch a concert or sporting event, for example, versus the risk of a winter-related crash.

We can also drive at the right speed for the conditions. Many of us know the frustration of driving carefully on a snowy highway only to have someone tailgate us as they speed down the road. Or a semi-truck passing us in dangerous conditions, kicking up snow and making it almost impossible to see for several moments. Look through Wyoming Highway Patrol reports on this years fatal crashes and you will see a common refrain: driving too fast for the conditions.

Its also worth asking whether there are things we can do as a state to better improve road safety. The Wyoming Department of Transportation offers a helpful app and website for road conditions. Could they be improved upon to provide drivers with more information ahead of a trip?

Theres also the question of money. We recently discussed the ongoing shortage of Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers, with a quarter of the positions currently vacant. Those vacancies are the result of multiple factors, one of which is pay. Keeping our highways safe requires an investment in the people responsible for that safety. Those include troopers, but also snowplow drivers, road workers and those who communicate road and weather conditions to the public.

As Wyomingites, we tend to spend a lot of time behind the wheel. The population of our state is spread out and there is very little public transportation. That makes road safety especially critical. As individual drivers, lets do what we can to reverse the deadly trend that weve seen this year. And lets encourage our leaders to promote policies that do the same.
Telecoms provider Flow will increase prices next month.

In a notice to its customers on Wednesday, Flow said the 3.5-per cent increase in its Internet and cable packages will come into effect on May 1.

Another notice was sent to customers with multiple cable boxes via e-mail on Wednesday.
Kevin Solomon was a healthy baby with no complications. But at nine months old, when his parents noticed that a bruised knee wasnt healing properly, they knew something was wrong.

Solomon was diagnosed with haemophilia A, an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly. This can lead to spontaneous bleeding as well as bleeding following injuries or surgery.
The regional symposium on crime to be held tomorrow and Tuesday is an important step toward addressing the problem facing Caricom countries.

So said Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne yesterday.

Trinidad and Tobago will host the two-day symposium at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) hotel in Port of Spain.
AICC media cell chief Pawan Khera aid it was the Congress that submitted a written complaint to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. (Photo: ANI)

HYDERABAD: AICC media cell chief Pawan Khera on Saturday claimed that the party had forced the BJP-led Centre to probe the Delhi liquor scam despite its "jugalbandi (understanding)" with the BRS.

Addressing mediapersons at a joint press conference with AICC incharge Manikrao Thakre at Gandhi Bhavan, he ridiculed MLC K. Kavithas statement on Oppositions unity.

He said it was the Congress that submitted a written complaint to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. "Now, after the investigation has come to this stage, you seek help from Congress. Why do you think we come to your rescue? It was Congress which had made the complaint about the scam," he said.

Khera also questioned why Kavitha had never raised the issue of womens reservation when she was an MP.

Referring to BRS posters and flexies highlighting Kavitha as the symbol of woman empowerment, Khera questioned the sincerity of BRS on womens reservation, as no other woman from the party was on the poster.

"Contradictory to its claims of fighting for womens reservation, the BRS has one woman (Kavitha) to highlight as its face. Why is it that the party does not have any other women," he asked.

Accusing the BRS of trying to divert attention from the issue, he said: "Why should the probe not be taken up? The probe should progress and the guilty should be punished. We shall continue to raise our voice against these kind of scamsters. BRS should now transform into VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme)."

Responding to a question from Deccan Chronicle, Khera said the party would continue to raise the issue till all responsible are held accountable.

Thakre questioned the BRS government as to where loans taken were being spent. "Telangana has lakhs of crore of debt, but no scheme was completed. Poor remains at the receiving end. TRS is playing the politics by looting the poor of the state," he said.
Once again I must extend congratulations to Dr Keith Rowley for recognising and rewarding excellence in performance.

Just recently Richie Sookhai was chosen as a senator, and Friday he was made a minister in the Ministry of Works. Everyone knows this is a very prestigious promotion, and working in this ministry is both demanding and taxing.
Addressing the future of farming in an ever-drying climate is the focus of a three-year, almost $4.8 million grant to the University of Arizona and others from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The goal is to support a transition to more native and climate-adapted crops that will not only reduce water consumption but curb carbon emissions and help growers weather increased uncertainty when it comes to the weather.

The grant comes as Arizona enters its 27th year of consecutive drought and faces a 21% cut in its Colorado River allocation.

Irrigated agriculture is the largest water user in the state and consumes approximately 74% of the available water supply, according to the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

The grant-funded Arizona Partnership for Climate-Smart Food Crops includes the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Tucson City of Gastronomy, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Local First Arizona.

Desert Museum Conservation Research Scientist Erin Riordan credits her nonprofits participation to renowned ethnobotanist and author Gary Paul Nabhan, a long-time advocate for sustainable desert farming rooted in traditional and indigenous practices.

Nabhan served as the Kellogg Endowed Chair in Southwestern Borderlands Food and Water Security and recently retired from the UA Southwest Center. He and Riordan were colleagues when she was employed at the university.

When this call came from the USDA, Gary put it on my radar, Riordan said. We thought, Well, probably the biggest thing you can do for climate change and greenhouse gas emissions in Arizona and the arid West is reduce your groundwater pumping.

She said the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences will help create models to predict growing conditions in 30 to 50 years.

Greg Barron-Gafford, co-principal investigator on the grant and a professor in the UAs School of Geography, Development and Environment, will look at how to pair food production with solar panels, a practice known as agrivoltaics he has been working on for years.

Part of the grant is earmarked for market development, namely how to cultivate consumer interest in these new, desert-adapted crops.

That is where Danielle Corral comes in. She is the farmland preservation program manager at Local First Arizona.

Farmers not only need support with processing and harvesting new crops but with generating demand for what they are growing, Corral said. Making some of these crops affordable will be a challenge, and educating consumers will be key, she said.

A lot of times people dont understand that when they say, Instead of growing this, grow that, its not that simple. You have to have that whole chain of a system built for them, she said.

Right now, Corral said, growers are incentivized and subsidized to grow a handful of cheap, water-intensive crops that dont require as much labor.

I dont know if you know this, but 75% of what we all eat globally are 12 crops and five livestock, she said.

Such a small selection of crops leads to a lack of diversity in our nutrition and leaves our food supply susceptible to pests and diseases.

Growing native and arid-adapted crops using desert-appropriate growing techniques is asking farmers and ranchers to think differently, Corral said.

Things like kale and quinoa were once considered a novelty, Corral said, so why cant we introduce mesquite, prickly pear, agave and other products as potential staples into our food pyramid?

Instead of having a wheat product that is simply your baseline wheat, why cant we have wheat products from our desert-adapted White Sonoran Wheat, such as whats grown at Oatman Flats Ranch? she said.

The grant also includes specific benefits and incentives for Native American farmers.

Michael Kotutwa Johnson is a member of the Hopi Tribe in Northern Arizona, who continues to practice Hopi dry-farming. He is also an assistant specialist with the UAs School of Natural Resources and the Environment and is affiliated with the universitys Indigenous Resilience Center and Cooperative Extension.

The grant partnership will draw upon the expertise of native farmers, Johnson said, adding that his primary role will be to engage with those growers in Arizona. He also wants to ensure that heritage farming practices are passed on to future generations of native farmers.

Currently, the USDA is proposing an update to school nutrition standards in a few key areas, and Johnson sees this as a chance to introduce traditional crops into the lunch programs of schools that serve the native population.

This is an opportunity to give growers an economic prospect and to find ways to feed their own people, he said.

Corral acknowledged that it will take more than three years of grant funding to fundamentally change the way food is grown in the Southwest, but she hopes the partnership will help bring together the right people and groups needed to make that change.

After all, she said, our increasingly unsustainable system of industrial agriculture is a relatively new development. A course correction is still possible.
Many mountain ranges near Tucson have significantly contributed to Arizonas mining history. These include the Sierrita, Silver Bell, Patagonia and Santa Rita Mountains, which have a similar geological origin.

They were formed by a volcanic caldera cycle involving the creation of volcanic peaks from underground magma chambers and distributed by basin and range detachment faulting.

The rugged and remote Sierrita Mountains have been mined for centuries by Spanish explorers and missionaries for silver-lead deposits and more extensively for copper in the mid-20th century at operations, including the Mission Mine Complex and the Twin Buttes open pit mine. Geologically the Sierrita Mountains consist of an intrusive granitic core surrounded by metamorphic rock.

The Sierritas are one of the few localities in Arizona that host aquamarine found in quartz veins in granite. The mountains encompass 60 square miles measuring 12 miles north to south and up to six miles wide. Aquamarine, a gem variety of beryl, has been documented from the Palo Verde and Bella Donna claims. The location of these claims remains unknown as they have never been patented.

Other mines in and nearby the Sierrita Mountains include the Copper Glance Mine in the Twin Buttes Mining district, which had its own railroad spur for ore transport; along with the Senator Morgan Mine, worked for copper since the late 1870s.

Operated by the Twin Buttes Mining & Smelting Co., established in 1903, the Senator Morgan Mine was leased to Bush-Baxter from 1906 and 1913. It was extensively developed and stopped with a shaft depth of 900 feet and a production of 152,000 tons of copper ore valued in conjunction with silver extracted at over $2 million. Scheelite, an ore of tungsten (WO3), was later found in quartz deposits along with lime and silicified sandstone.

In 1942, Maurice d Autremont and David Richards leased the property from Charles M. Taylor, who discovered scheelite in disseminated quartz veins using a fluorescent lamp the prior year. They shipped more than 100 tons of ore to the Jacobs tungsten mill, northwest of the intersection of Speedway and Silverbell, 2 miles west of downtown Tucson, for testing. Low-grade values at 1.25% and faulted conditions in the geology necessitated greater mining costs, hindering ore production, and no further work was done after 1943.

The Silver Bell Mountains west of Tucson host the large Silver Bell Open Pit Mine. The formation of Silver Bells copper deposits dates back 75 million years. They were created by intense volcanic activity, causing the accumulation of thick layers of volcanic debris and magma chambers to form at great depths below the surface. As the magma solidified, copper-rich fluids were ejected and channeled to the surface along a fault zone spread out along a network of fractures, forming the current deposition of copper minerals.

Mining in the area is extensive and began with the discovery of high-grade oxidized copper ore at the Old Boot Mine in 1865. The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad 15 miles to the southwest in 1881 heightened development, with a 30-ton-per-day furnace built onsite by the Huachuca Mining and Smelting Co.

A decade later, the Silver Bell Mining Co. erected a small Tucson smelter that refined the mine sites ore for several years.

By 1903, the Imperial Copper Co. was organized by E.B. Gage and W.F. Staunton, along with the Development Co. of America or DCA, created in 1901 to finance and oversee a network of mining and railroad operations in Arizona by magnate Frank M. Murphy.

Soon established, the Silver Bell townsite reached a population of around 1,000. And by 1909, the Southern Arizona Smelter Co. (SASCO) established the company town of Sasco and a smelter west of Red Rock to process the ores of the Silver Bell Mine. The town and smelter were short-lived due to the bankruptcy of DCA involving its mining operations in Tombstone, the Spanish flu pandemic, and falling copper prices.

Dropping copper prices also forced ASARCO to suspend operations at the nearby Silverbell Mine. The mine was developed by ASARCO in 1951, including two ore bodies, El Tiro Pit and Oxide Pit, separated by two and one-half miles. Copper production continues to the present.

The Helvetia Mining district, 30 miles southeast of Tucson in the northern end of the Santa Rita Mountains, includes more than 50 mines and prospects worked sporadically since discovery in the 1870s.

By 1899, the mining camp of Helvetia was one of the largest in Pima County, with more than 300 miners on the payroll of the Helvetia Copper Co. and development occurring at the Copper World, Exchange, Heavy Weight, Isle Royal, Narragansett and Omega mines.

Despite extensive development, including an 8,000-foot narrow gauge railroad connecting the mines in the Helvetia district to a 175-ton smelter, the mines themselves never produced significant profit, though at one time, they were on the map to receive a branch railroad from the Southern Pacific. Today, the mines are of interest among mineral collectors for the specimens they produced.

The Flux Mine in the Harshaw Mining district, four miles south of Patagonia, was a steady producer of lead and zinc from 1884 to 1963. The mine was first discovered in the 1850s and was owned and optioned with greatest production (over $3 million in period dollars) since 1940 under ASARCO.

In 1919 a 6,200-foot-long aerial rope tramway connected the mine to the 100-ton daily capacity gravity-flotation concentrating mill capable of processing lead carbonates. The operation was financed by the Flux Syndicate and lasted only several years due to high operational costs. Four thousand tons of ore and tailings were milled, producing 14 carloads of lead and silver concentrates at period markets for $16,000.

Geologically, the mine consists of rhyolite porphyry and related volcanic sedimentary deposits. The mine reached the 750-foot level, including more than 6,000 feet of tunnels, shafts, drifts, crosscuts and stopes, after which it became too low grade to profit from the metals market. The lead concentrates were shipped by rail to the El Paso smelter, and the zinc concentrates were shipped to the Amarillo smelter.
Nearly a year after Tucson voters approved extending a sales tax for road improvements, city officials have developed initial plans for how the slate of projects will be carried out in a worst first approach.

Voters approved Proposition 411 last May, extending a half-cent sales tax for 10 years to fund road improvements across neighborhood streets in Tucson.

The city began collecting sales tax revenue in July of 2022 and has amassed about $39 million, according to the Transportation Department. These funds will go towards an initial list of priority streets, approved last month by the Independent Oversight and Accountability Commission.

The first year of projects includes roads that were given an evaluation grade of 20% or lower, based on a 0-100% scale. The roads were selected based on a worst first approach, said Dale Calvert, who chairs the commission.

Projects are slated to start as soon as this summer. However, official construction dates for each road project have yet to be determined.

Going forward, the commission will discuss a body of standards to approve the projects while taking equity into account.

There are at least two functions to equity  Are people in all parts of the city getting their reasonable share of the funds? And are those funds being applied in the most equitable way to maintain the streets in great shape as (much as) possible? Calvert said.

The goal is to maintain roadways that are not yet failing, but could use some extra maintenance.

Its addressing the pavements that we are driving on primarily and replacing that asphalt surface or upgrading it in some fashion, said James DeGrood, the Proposition 411 team lead. It depends on the nature of the distress on the pavement  We are going to be looking at each of the neighborhoods individually and trying to come up with the most cost-effective approach.

The city expects to collect about $740 million over the next 10 years to go toward street improvement projects. The funding will go toward improving neighborhood streets and safety conditions, with funding being split between the two components 80% and 20%, respectively.

Two groups are charged with overseeing Proposition 411 projects: the Independent Oversight and Accountability Commission, which approves pavement projects, and the Complete Streets Coordinating Council, which oversees safety projects like bike networks, traffic signals and accessibility.

Safety upgrades

Safe Streets, the second component of Proposition 411, will be further split into four different categories: pedestrian accessibility, bikeway improvements, general safety improvements and traffic signal upgrades, said Patrick Hartley, the Complete Streets Program Coordinator.

The 17-member Complete Streets Coordinating Council looked at past data from Move Tucson, the citys master plan for transportation, to determine areas in the most need of safety improvements.

Hartley said the council looked at corridor improvement opportunities while emphasizing the importance of where we know those safety improvements are needed, as well as looking at the areas in the community that have been historically under-invested in.

The Complete Streets team is working on design plans for the identified projects approved to begin this calendar year. Hartley explained that while citizens can expect some work to start this year, a bulk of the big projects will not begin until next calendar year.

Were going to be doing a lot of work in the coming years to make sure that our roadways are more comfortable, safe and accessible for all usersWed like to thank the voters of Tucson for approving this measure, and were looking forward to getting the work started, Hartley said.

Tucson citizens can send their roadway concerns to tdotconcerns@tucsonaz.gov. While this line of communication is primarily used for urgent issues like pothole fillings or obscured signs, the transportation department will be keeping a close eye on reports that express the need for further roadway improvements.

The city projects it will collect $740 million over the next 10 years to go toward street improvement projects. The funding will go toward improving neighborhood streets and safety conditions, with funding being split between the two components 80% and 20%, respectively.

Photos: Tucson Controlled Access Highway in 1954 "Citizen Charlie" on SR 84A in Tucson "Citizen Charlie" on SR 84A in Tucson "Citizen Charlie" on SR 84A in Tucson "Citizen Charlie" on SR 84A in Tucson "Citizen Charlie" on SR 84A in Tucson "Citizen Charlie" on SR 84A in Tucson
It took 1 hour and 38 minutes Thursday afternoon to crawl from the back of the vehicle line to the inspection station at the DeConcini Port of Entry in downtown Nogales.

The inspection itself? Less than a minute.

That inspection was detailed enough in our case: My colleague Danyelle Khmara and I are U.S. citizens who were bringing nothing more than a handful of cookies across the border after a few hours reporting in Mexico.

But it struck me again, as we drove into Nogales, Arizona, how impossible the task is of stopping people from bringing packages of illegal pills  fentanyl and the like  into the country.

U.S. inspectors seize a lot of them  more than 11,000 pounds at Mexican-border ports in the six months through January  but it cant be more than a small fraction of the total coming across. Unlike the bulky marijuana that occupied so much effort over decades of the drug war, the pills are tiny and easy to hide.

Fifty years of experience tells us that, unfortunately, there is no realistic way to stop these devastating drugs from coming into the country. Many of our families, including my extended family, are dealing with the disastrous result. But if we couldnt stop bundles of weed, we arent going to stop bags of pills.

Despite that, last week we found ourselves embroiled in another go-round of threats and recriminations between the United States and Mexico over fentanyl.

GOP members of the U.S. Congress threatened military action in Mexico against the so-called cartels, a word invented and used to create a sense of existential threat. In response, Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, formerly an ally of President Donald Trump, threatened to badmouth Republican candidates to Hispanic voters in the U.S.

Both sides smacked of ridiculousness.

The GOP members of the House and Senate who have supported military attacks across the border on Mexican drug traffickers have shown no path to success:

They treat the cartels as sort of monolithic paramilitary corporations, instead of the shape-shifting network of alliances that they really are

They ignore or underestimate the likely deaths and injuries resulting from any attack on drug traffickers or their facilities in Mexico, and the resulting fallout

They fail to show how or why any destruction of drug-trafficking sites wouldnt simply lead to a shift in manufacturing and trafficking patterns, as has happened before.

Threatening military action in Mexico, or actually carrying it out, may make some people feel like theyre doing something serious about the problem, but 50 years of Drug War experience tells us it will not have any long-lasting effect.

Mexico has tried a military attack on drug traffickers before, during the administration of Felipe Calderon, from 2006-2012  a period that former U.S. Attorney General William Barr applauded in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed supporting U.S. military intervention. It did not stop the drug supply but escalated violence in Mexico to the levels that persist today.

You can take out a capo, you can wipe out fields of poppies or coca, you can dismantle a lab, and yet the problem goes on, with illegal-drug prices rarely even increasing from our wildest successes.

Now, the American congressmen werent the only ones making absurd assertions over this conflict.

Lopez Obrador was lying when he said Thursday: Here, we do not produce fentanyl, and we do not have consumption of fentanyl.

It wasnt even a month ago when, on Feb. 14, Mexican soldiers raided a laboratory in Sinaloa and seized 630,000 pills. Mexicans produce lots of fentanyl, using chemicals largely obtained from China, and send them on to the United States, through ports of entry like the ones in Nogales.

So that comment was insulting, but he was sadly on point in his subsequent comments.

We regret deeply whats happening in the United States, but why dont they address the problem? Lopez Obrador went on. Why dont they take care of their youth? Why dont they address their problem of social decay? Why dont they tamp down the growth in the consumption of drugs?

I dont deny that the supply of cheap opioids helps create its own market, so suppliers in Mexico bear some responsibility for our addiction crisis. But indeed, as Lopez Obrador suggested, why dont we focus on ourselves, the consumers, rather than the suppliers outside our borders?

Internationally, the United States is an outlier, with the worst opioid-addiction problem in the world. Its an outgrowth of the over-prescription of OxyContin and other prescription narcotics beginning more than two decades ago, but its also a symptom of deeper problems that Mexicos president was alluding to.

Family disintegration, a torn social safety net, uneven education opportunities, unaffordable housing and expensive health care  these social factors all help create the market that fentanyl producers and dealers are exploiting.

We could deeply inspect every vehicle and person crossing into the United States from Mexico, catching all the fentanyl and causing waits that last for days instead of hours, but that wouldnt stop the problem.

Suppliers would happily use other routes as long as we have a market to supply. Imagine all the ships and planes coming into the United States daily, all the vast empty spaces on the Canadian border where smugglers can cross. The package of pills, or the chemicals to make them, would easily find a way.

But maybe if we put the same energy into reducing demand that we put into stopping supply, we could start to have a lasting impact. In the end, its the only way.
AP Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. (Twitter)

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has thanked the YSR Congress partys rank and file for "standing solidly with the party" in the past 12 years of its historic journey as a major political entity in Andhra Pradesh.

The ruling YSRC celebrated its 13th Formation Day at the party headquarters here and across the state on Sunday. Taking to Twitter, the CM said, "I thank the activists who have taken the party flag into their hearts and the party activists who stood by me solidly in the partys 12-year-long journey. I wish our journey shall continue in the same vein in future too."

Senior leaders, ministers, MLAs and activists in large numbers attended the formation day celebrations at Tadepalli. The party general secretary and adviser to the government (political affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy hoisted the party flag at the YSRC central office and cut the cake, besides initiating various service activities.

Ramakrishna said, "The YSRC has earned a permanent place in the hearts of the people through the implementation of a series of welfare schemes, and it will continue to march ahead with great success at every step despite the misleading propaganda by the Opposition."

He said the government led by chief minister Jagan Reddy was providing good governance with the principal aim of achieving the three objectives -- peoples welfare, development and social progress. "As long as we continue to stick to these three objectives, the people will stand by us," he said.

Ramakrishna said chief minister Jagan was striving hard like a party activist, day and night, for the peoples welfare and development of the state. "Jagan Reddy is following the path shown by the former chief minister and his father Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The state will witness elections after a year, but the opposition leaders are worried, spreading falsehood and indulging in gimmicks like the demon, Mareecha."

He said, "The YSRC would overcome all the obstacles from the opposition, and the people would bless the party again, as it is going from strength to strength through its peoples welfare agenda."

Ramakrishna said Jagan has shown how a peoples leader should be, by rendering justice to the BCs, SCs, STs and the minorities in the distribution of political posts. The state government would continue to work for the welfare of all sections with dedication, he said.

He said that with the state government all set to launch the Jaganannaku Chebudam programme, the YSRC would move closer to the people and the programme would help solve all their problems.

Minister for social welfare Merugu Nagarjuna and MLC Lella Appi Reddy expressed confidence of a clean sweep by the YSRC, winning 175 MLA seats in the 2024 elections. MLC Ummareddy Venkateswarlu, YSRC women wing president and MLC Pothula Sunitha, YSRC state general secretary Nandamuri Lakshmi Parvathi, former MLA SM Ziauddin and others too spoke.

The YSRC formation day was celebrated in Guntur on Sunday, at which MLA Md Mustafa and MLC Dokka Manikyavaraprasada Rao were the main speakers. Similar programmes were in all other cities, towns and villages across the 26 districts. The events were marked by free clothes distribution, poor-feeding and other social service activities.
Threatened by a wrecking ball, slowed by a pandemic and teased by visions of redevelopment that never materialized, the Laura Dester project has faced a slew of barriers since the blighted area became city of Tulsa property eight years ago.

No longer.

The newly named Quincy Park Apartments, the first phase of the sites re-imagining, is racing toward a May completion.

If anything, it is a testament to the perseverance of the development community in Tulsa and the willingness of the city of Tulsa, PartnerTulsa and the Tulsa Development Authority to craft creative solutions to difficult problems, said Casey Stowe, senior vice president of finance and real estate for PartnerTulsa.

One of the things that we like to say in the office is hard things are hard. To repurpose these structures into quality, affordable housing is hard. It takes a lot of grit, determination and creativity, and I think thats what we see here.

Located at Eighth Street and Rockford Avenue, the acreage is where Tulsa Boys Home dormitories were built beginning in the late 1940s. Tulsa Boys Home moved to Sand Springs in 1979, and the property later became the Laura Dester Childrens Center.

Local developer Amenome is investing roughly $6.5 million into Quincy Parks phase one, which will spread a total of 72 studio apartments into the complexs five buildings. Rent for the 350-square-foot units will run about $700 a month, Amenome owner Kevin Rice said.

Ive looked at these buildings for a long time; they have been abandoned for a long time, he said of the land, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. When we threw the Hail Mary to save them before they were demolished, we just thought it was a viable project. Once we got into it, it looked really good from an historical perspective, not only because of what these were built for and who built them and who designed them. So we thought we had to save them.

The state of Oklahoma sold the site to the city of Tulsa in 2015 as part of the citys Sixth Street Infill (Pearl District) Plan, and in January 2016 the city authorized the Tulsa Development Authority to act as an agent to acquire other properties in the area to redevelop.

In subsequent years, development plans from a pair of groups fell by the wayside, and on more than one occasion, the property faced demolition.

Redevelopment there always has been troublesome because the city bought the property for storm water retention needs, said Kian Kamas, executive director of PartnerTulsa, also known as the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity.

That was one of the complicating factors that made it tough for the early developers to figure out how to develop the site while also making sure the city could retain some level of control over what we now lovingly refer to as the doughnut hole, Kamas said. Theres a portion of the property that the city retains in the center of the site that they need for a potential future storm water facility.

With the buildings nearing the chopping block, Amenome swooped in with its innovative plan in 2019. But a month after the TDA approved a contract to sell the land to the company for redevelopment, the COVID-19 pandemic landed, causing shutdowns and, eventually, supply-chain issues.

In the meantime, the structures remained a haven for vagrants and illicit activity.

A lot of crime, Rice said. It wasnt good for this property as a whole because they were doing damage to the site. But it also was bad for the neighborhood. It was depressing for them.

It took a lot of creative thinking and determination not to give up on this. Here we are.

Amenome closed on the purchase of the Quincy Park property in February 2022. Method Group, led by managing principal Josh Kunkel, is the architect of the project.

The one benefit to having this take so long is that weve seen Eleventh Street kind of materialize, Rice said. There is a lot more development and a lot more restaurants. You can easily walk there from here.

Quincy Park, which lies just a few hundred feet from the citys Bus Rapid Transit line, will include a dog park. Phase two, estimated to cost $8 million, is scheduled to encompass a three-story, mixed-use building and about 11 town homes.

The project coincides with a recently released municipal study shows that Tulsa needs to invest roughly $245 million annually into housing over the next decade if it hopes to meet the demand and provide for equitable growth.

It does have such a long history of stops and starts, Kamas said of Quincy Park. Especially with the housing study coming out, it is such a great example of the creativity we will have to have to solve the citys housing problems.

Video: Mayor G.T. Bynum announces Tulsa Housing Challenge during 2022 State of the City address
Editors note: This story has been updated with funeral service information for Nayson Brockman and a donation account for Jimmy Rhotenberry.

Three teenagers from Sapulpa who were killed Wednesday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash have been identified, and services for two of them have been set.

Donita Bierman said her grandson, 15-year-old Jimmy Paul Jay Rhotenberry III, was among the crash victims.

Services for Rhotenberry are under the direction of Schaudts Funeral Home in Glenpool. A public viewing is planned for 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, and a funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 15, at the funeral home, Bierman said.

An account has been established to help Rhotenberrys family with funeral expenses. That account can be found at bit.ly/JRhotenberryFund.

Nayson Brockman, 15, also died in the crash, according to his stepmother, Carrie Belt. She said a funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at Green Hill Funeral Home in Sapulpa.

An account has been established to help Brockmans family with funeral expenses. That account can be found at bit.ly/NaysonBrockmanFund.

The Rev. Brady Thelander of Sapulpa Church of the Nazarene said Lacy Krause, 17, a member of his congregation, was the third crash victim.

The church is planning a memorial service for Krause beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, followed by a meal for her family, Thelander said. The service is open to all.

A second memorial service for Krause is scheduled for noon Friday, March 17, at Smith Funeral Home in Sapulpa.

The three teenagers were passengers in a 2013 Ford Focus driven by a 16-year-old boy when they crashed about 3:40 p.m. on 161st West Avenue about a quarter-mile north of 101st Street near Lake Sahoma in Creek County, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

The three passengers were all ejected, troopers reported, and the driver, who was pinned in the vehicle for a time, suffered extensive injuries and was admitted to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa in critical condition.

Two of the teenagers who died were Sapulpa Public Schools students, a district news release confirmed Thursday.

The school district was making counseling resources available to students and staff members in response to the news.
Former Tulsan David Halpern first developed a love for this countrys national parks as a teenager, when he made his first visit to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

In 1984, Halpern returned to that same Colorado wilderness, this time as an artist-in-residence with the National Parks Service, spending weeks hiking through the park with a large-format camera, capturing the landscape in all its splendor.

Halpern would go on to hold a dozen more artist-in-residence positions at several national parks, including Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, Glacier National Park in Montana, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado, Maines Acadia National Park and New Mexicos Bandelier and Salinas Pueblo Missions national monuments.

His photographs have been featured in group and solo exhibitions throughout the country, including many in Tulsa. Gilcrease Museum featured his work in a solo show, The Essence of Place: Celebrating the Photography of David Halpern, which was on display at the museum for more than a year.

Now, more than 800 images from Halperns years exploring these areas of American wilderness are a part of the permanent archive of the National Parks Service.

Halperns images will be digitized from the original negatives and transparencies so that they can be used in a variety of ways, from public exhibits to educational programs to environmental research.

The quality, composition and artistry of David Halperns images, combined with his experience as an artist-in-residence at multiple national parks, adds significantly to our museum collection, said Nancy J. Russell, NPS History Collection archivist.

Halpern, who now makes his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, said a friend from the National Parks Service recommended he offer his collection to the agency.

I was at the point where I needed to figure out what to do with my collection, Halpern said. Originally I had planned to leave everything to my kids and have them manage it, but I realized they really didnt need to have that burden placed on them. And I liked the idea of them all being in one place, where anyone could go and see them or use them for their own study.

So I wrote to the curator of the archives to see if she would be willing to look at the collection, he said. She asked how many images were involved, and when I said More than 800, she asked to see some examples and then told me they would be delighted to have the collection.

Most of the images were made with large- and medium-format cameras and are in black-and-white. An exception to that are the images Halpern took during his residency in Maines Acadia National Park.

I was there in the fall, and the amazing colors of the trees at that time demanded I use color film, Halpern said. I know Oklahoma can get pretty colorful in the fall, but its nothing like what my wife Sue called the cacophony of color that you see in the Northeast.

Halpern often returned to certain parks  he was artist-in-residence four times in Rocky Mountain National Park and three times in Bryce Canyon National Park  but said his favorite of all to photograph was Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Its probably the most difficult one to shoot, simply because the landscape can be pretty treacherous, he said. You can get yourself killed pretty easily, and there were a couple of times I came close to getting seriously hurt.

Halpern said he hopes his work will help spark in those who view and study it a greater appreciation of the natural world, and a greater commitment to help preserve it.

I just want future generations to be able to enjoy the things Ive enjoyed. I think all of us would like that, Halpern said. Im very much concerned about the fact that Congress has not in recent years appropriated enough money for needed improvements and infrastructure for the national parks. So many people are visiting the parks now that many have gone to requiring reservations; otherwise things become so crowded no one can enjoy the parks.

Halpern also does not recommend that people try to find the spots from which he took many of the images he made.

A lot of these images were made at off-trail locations, and getting there can be very risky even for experienced hikers, he said. I just hope when people see these photographs that they appreciate the natural beauty of these parts of our country, as well as the tremendous work of the people who had the foresight to create the National Parks Service and the people who keep it going today.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Gov. Kevin Stitt on Sunday said he rejected a shipment of toxic waste that was coming to Oklahoma from the site of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

In a series of tweets, Stitt said he was made aware Saturday that a shipment of toxic waste would be coming to the state as the Environmental Protection Agency works to clean up the Ohio site where a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed last month.

Stitt said he worked in concert with U.S. Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin to block the shipment late Saturday night.

There are too many unanswered questions and ultimately I made the decision that this is not in the best interest of Oklahomans, he tweeted.

Stitt did not specify how much toxic waste was en route to Oklahoma or where it was set to be delivered before he blocked the shipment.

Lankford said Stitt was right to push back on the EPA, adding that the federal agency has not guaranteed the safety of Ohio residents amid the cleanup effort.

There are too many unknowns for this proposal to shift hazardous waste from East Palestine, Ohio to Oklahoma, Lankford said in a tweet.

The EPA is working to remove about 2 million gallons of contaminated liquids and hundreds of tons of soil from where a Norfolk Southern train derailed in Ohio on Feb. 3. The derailment resulted in massive amounts of toxic chemicals being released into the air, soil and water.

Michigan and Texas have also rejected shipments of hazardous materials from the derailment site. Officials in several states have said they received no advance notice that they would be on the receiving end of shipments of hazardous waste.

The Biden administration, and by extension the EPA, has come under fire from critics for how it has handled the train derailment and cleanup efforts.
The school bus driver had put all of the windows down, despite the crisp morning air. And most of the students poked their heads outside, waving and cheering as they drove through downtown Jenks.

More than 50 cars filled with parents, teachers and school administrators fell in line behind the bus and  forming a long, winding caravan  headed south shortly after 9 a.m. Dec. 16, 1946. They were on a mission to change Jenks forever.

Tulsa County was going to vote the very next day on whether to replace the old Jenks bridge  not the bridge people know today as the Old Jenks Bridge, but the really old one that came before it.

The original one-lane bridge dated back to the early 1900s and had become so rickety that town officials warned drivers that it might collapse any day now, loaded with people.

Even opponents, who were campaigning against the next days bond issue, agreed that Jenks needed a new bridge. They just wanted to build it somewhere else.

96th Street, where the original bridge crossed the Arkansas River and where the new structure was being planned, goes nowhere except to Jenks itself, the Tulsa Tribune complained in a 1946 editorial.

The people of Jenks have a right to a safe, smooth route to Tulsa, the newspaper conceded. But couldnt a new bridge be located so that it would serve that purpose and many others besides?

The newspaper endorsed an alternative plan to build a new bridge at 51st Street, where it would connect south Tulsa with Red Fork, a bustling commercial district that had a population five times bigger than Jenks at the time.

Crossing the river at 51st Street would still open a new route from Jenks to Tulsa, even if commuters would have to go five or 10 minutes out of their way, the Tribune argued.

In Jenks, however, officials werent just looking for a way to get to Tulsa. They wanted a way to get more people from Tulsa to come to Jenks.

Tulsa was on the cusp of a post-war building boom that would transform the southern outskirts of town into the sprawling suburbs of south Tulsa. And a new 96th Street bridge would channel some of that growth toward Jenks.

Most importantly, with the Jenks school district extending east of the river, a new bridge would bring more students into local schools, which would play a key role in the towns growth.

School officials became the biggest cheerleaders for a new Jenks bridge. And on the day before the referendum, they took the high school band on a high-paced tour of Tulsa County, stopping at rallies in Glenpool, Owasso, Sand Springs and nine other communities.

At each stop, officials told the crowds that more than 200 students a day crossed the old bridge on the way to and from Jenks schools, according to the archives of the Tulsa World.

If for no other reason than to consider the safety of our children, high school Principal W.R. Riddle said, citizens should vote for this bridge.

The cost to save a life is little, Riddle said, emphasizing that the $530,000 bridge would add only 17 cents per $1,000 of valuation to Tulsa County property taxes.

Seventeen cents is cheap enough for the safety of our children, he said.

The bond issue passed by a nearly 3-to-1 margin. And the new Jenks bridge, now known as the Old Jenks Bridge, opened in late June 1948.

A few years later, 51st Street got a bridge, too. But it was part of the Skelly Bypass, which evolved into Interstate 44. And the expressway seemed to take more traffic past Red Fork than to it. The district fell into decline in the 1950s and never recovered.

Jenks, meanwhile, embarked on several decades of almost unparalleled growth. The population doubled by 1970, more than doubled again by 1980, and then nearly doubled yet again before the end of the century, according to the U.S. Census.

But that was only the beginning. The size of Jenks has nearly tripled since 2000, and the town doesnt show any sign of slowing down.

Municipal leaders recently documented about four dozen building projects that have either been finished in the last year or so or are in various stages of construction or planning.

Ongoing developments include restaurants, multifamily residences and recreation centers worth more than $630 million, not to mention a 330,000-square-foot outlet mall that is scheduled to open in 2024.

Jenks is going to look a lot different, Heather Turner, president of the Jenks Chamber of Commerce, told the World.

The Jenks bridge definitely isnt a bridge to nowhere anymore.
SANTA FE, N.M.  Legislators in New Mexico are advancing legislation to rein in paramilitary patrols that popped up in recent years to halt migrants near the international border with Mexico and at a protest over a statue of a Spanish conquistador.

The bill places New Mexico among several states weighing changes this year to restrictions on paramilitary organizations.

Lawmakers in Oregon and Vermont also are considering initiatives aimed at limiting activities by private militarized groups.

Legislators in Idaho are moving in the other direction by advancing a bill to repeal a state law banning private militias, despite criticism that the move could dangerously embolden existing paramilitary groups in the region. A narrow ban on municipal-run paramilitary groups would remain in place.

Democratic state Rep. Raymundo Lara of Sunland Park is co-sponsoring the New Mexico initiative and says it would give district attorneys new tools and discretion by making it a crime for armed paramilitary organizations to engage in public patrols capable of causing injury or death with provisions regarding intimidation. The bill includes felony penalties including prison.

The bill emerged from House committee vetting for a possible floor vote, with the backing of Democrats. Republican House legislators raised concerns that the proposal could interfere with neighborhood-watch style groups that respond to crime or limit opportunities for businesses in New Mexico that have provided tactical training to visiting security forces.

Lara said the proposal doesnt interfere with private firearms training or New Mexicos relatively permissive gun laws that allow both open carry of firearms and concealed handguns with permit and training requirements.

Thats going to be up to the district attorney, whether they do an investigation  (to) find out if they are connected in any way, if theres some kind of command structure, he said.

Lara said the proposal responds to incidents in 2019 in which armed members of the United Constitutional Patriots stopped migrants near the international border in southernmost New Mexico at Sunland Park, and in 2020 when men with long guns and tactical equipment showed up at a chaotic protest in Albuquerque about a statute of early Spanish settler Juan de Onate, who is both revered and reviled.

The armed group in Albuquerque known as the New Mexico Civil Guard was recently barred by a state district court judge from publicly acting as a military unit without authorization.

James Grayson, a chief deputy state attorney general who previously worked on the case against the New Mexico Civil Guard, told legislators that prosecutors dont have adequate tools to address militarized groups that can pose a danger to public protesters and authorized law enforcement.

The bill from Lara defines a paramilitary organization as a group of three or more people with a command structure aimed at functioning in public as a combat, enforcement or security unit.

Banned paramilitary activities also include interfering with government operations or a government proceeding and actions that deprive others of their rights. Paramilitary groups also would be prohibited from posturing deceptively as police officers.

At Sunland Park, the United Constitutional Patriots were eventually pressured into leaving by local law enforcement amid accusations of trespassing on railroad property. One member of the group was convicted of impersonating a federal officer, while another was convicted on federal firearms charges.

Armed civilian groups have been an intermittent presence on the border for years, portraying themselves as auxiliaries to the U.S. Border Patrol and operating in areas where agents are not stationed.
For cockfighters in Oklahoma, the chickens never come home to roost, and they have friends wanting to keep it that way.

Despite more than 20 years of this purposeless blood sports being illegal, a legislative measure supported by a political action committee seeks to downplay the penalties. Evidence is mounting that Oklahoma, including some in law enforcement, are ignoring this underground criminal network.

As former Attorney General Drew Edmondson points out, The problem is not that the penalties are too high; the problem is that (the law) is not being effectively enforced.

Cockfighting is a grotesque display of animal cruelty that puts knives on the legs of birds to slice apart other birds. Its a spectacle of barbarism of gouged eyes, punctured organs and blood.

The only reason these fights are held is for illegal gambling, which naturally attracts weapons, drugs and other crime.

Those are reasons why Oklahoma voters approved in 2002 State Question 687, which banned cockfighting. It is a felony to hold, encourage or witness a cockfight. Keeping birds for fighting purposes is also illegal. Violators are supposed to face up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Cockfighting is illegal in all states and the 16 U.S. territories. Federal law makes it a crime to knowingly sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver or receive fighting chickens across state lines.

There is no reason to be raising fighting birds.

The Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission, a registered political action committee, backs proposals to help cockfighters and prevent the kind of drone surveillance that has located cockfighting breeders. The Ethics Commission shows at least 50 legislators have received donations of between $500 and $2,500.

Rep. Justin Humphrey, a Republican from Lane, is leading the charge to lower penalties. His House Bill 3283 would allow county-by-county votes to reduce cockfighting crimes to misdemeanors. The bill passed out of the Criminal Justice Corrections Committee by a 5-2 vote.

In a recent press conference, Edmondson called that proposed hodgepodge criminal classification ludicrous.

At no time in the history of the state of Oklahoma has the Oklahoma Legislature given the option to counties to take felonies and reduce them to misdemeanors, Edmondson said. There is no reason to do this for the blood sport of cockfighting.

Humphrey argues that his bill is about criminal justice reform, equating it to the voter-approved reduction in penalties for some drug-possession crimes. Thats conflating two different things.

Criminal justice reform around addiction and drugs is about decriminalizing brain health disorders. Cockfighting is not a mental health disease; its organized crime and animal abuse.

Humphrey has stated in legislative discussions that no one has died from cockfighting. Thats another simplification.

Cockfighting is a brutal death game playing into the worst of human behavior. Numerous reports over decades find that those who engage in animal cruelty are more likely to be violent to other people. That isnt limited to harming cats and dogs; it includes cockfighting.

The only reason this could be back on Oklahomas radar is a proliferation of cockfighting going unprosecuted.

Data from the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council indicates that since cockfighting has been illegal, only six people have gone to prison for the crime. Two who received the maximum 10 years also had other felonies such as grand larceny, sex offenses and drug dealing. Also, there have been only 29 total enforcement actions related to cockfighting in all counties but Oklahoma County, which hasnt reported.

These kinds of arrest and prosecution numbers would imply a lack of cockfighting in the state, but that isnt what animal rights and watchdog groups are finding.

An investigative report from Animal Wellness Action found that tens of thousands of fighting birds bred and trained in Oklahoma go to Mexico and the Philippines. The activist group Showing Animals Respect and Kindness  or SHARK  used undercover cameras to show illegal cockfights in Oklahoma and drones to video record rural land used for raising fighting birds.

These groups say no arrests have been made in counties well-known for illegal cockfighting rings, including Atoka, Coal, LeFlore, Marshall and McCurtain.

In a recent op-ed, Col. Thomas Pool, a Lawton native who was the Guam territorial veterinarian, reported that 40% of about 11,500 fighting birds entering the territory for illegal cockfights in the last five years came from Oklahoma.

All these different groups and individuals have photos, videos, receipts, shipping invoices and other evidence that could be used in prosecutions. In one case, an Oklahoman is featured on the cover of a magazine about cockfighting. A Jan. 18 New York Times article about illegal cockfighting profiled a cockfighter breeder in Stringtown.

Cockfighting has a public health aspect that people ought to take more seriously after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pool and fellow veterinarian James Keen published research on the link between cockfighting and the proliferation of avian diseases. Viruses jumping from birds to human is rare, but the science shows it is possible and potentially dangerous.

At a minimum, the spread of avian diseases disrupts the international food supply and increases the cost of eggs.

Gamefowl are high-risk disease vectors and reservoirs because they are widely sold and traded, deliberately mixed under stressful conditions at fighting derbies, reared under poor biosecurity, and employ husbandry or fighting practices that spread disease, according to a summary of the veterinarians work.

Oklahoma voters had their say on this issue two decades ago. Its frustrating that law enforcement agencies in some parts of Oklahoma are turning a blind eye to crime, particularly one that breeds cruelty and disease.

Watering down penalties would tarnish the states reputation and only aid lawbreakers. The Legislature ought to bypass coddling these criminals and focus on making sure the law is enforced, instead.
Countless months of dry conditions in Oklahoma finally pushed Tulsa County into an exceptional drought, or D4 category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor over the summer. But a recent surplus of rain this calendar year may have finally moved us back toward improving conditions.

I have had a lot of questions recently about the drought situation.

How are drought conditions looking for Oklahoma?

 Mike, Tulsa

This past Thursday, March 7, the U.S. Drought Monitor came out with the most recent conditions. Finally, a chunk of Tulsa County has been lifted from all drought conditions, aside from the far north and western fringe of the county, which is still considered D0, abnormally dry, and D1, or moderate intensity drought.

However, this may very well change as soon as next week when the new rain totals are counted.

I recently spoke with Nicole McGavock, a hydrologist and meteorologist with the Tulsa National Weather Service Office, about drought conditions and how they are monitored.

The data cutoff for input into the weekly drought monitor is 7 a.m. on Tuesdays, McGavock said. This gives the Drought Monitor author time to consider all of the data and input for the release on Thursday morning.

That means this past weeks drought conditions still didnt account for all the rainfall we accumulated from Tuesday through Thursday, which in Tulsa County totaled anywhere from a half inch in north Tulsa County to 2 inches in south Tulsa County. And then there were the showers on Saturday, as well. All of which may very well have continued to improve drought conditions for the northern and western outskirts of Tulsa County.

Back in February, McGavock explained a calculation used to estimate the amount of rainfall needed to bring conditions back to near normal. The Palmer Drought Severity Index, or PDSI, is a monitoring system that uses temperature and precipitation data to estimate relative dryness. It is a standardized index that spans from -10 (dry) to +10 (wet).

McGavock said that for northeast Oklahoma it was estimated that 3 inches of rain would be needed over the coming month to bring the PDSI to normal.

Since that time frame, south Tulsa County received more than 3 inches, with a total of 5.35 inches in the past 30 days. And north Tulsa County was almost there, totaling 2.64 inches in the past 30 days, proving that the PDSI was again correct in this case.

This coming Thursday, March 16, look for updates on the new drought conditions, as I would suspect that conditions improve even more since our most recent rainfall.

As for western and central Oklahoma, unfortunately it continues to seem that where we need the rain the most in the state, it has yet to fall.

Drought conditions, especially for the north central and northwestern counties near the state line with Kansas, still remain under a D4, or exceptional drought, conditions, with little relief in sight at this point.
Discovering the origins of COVID-19 is a moral imperative and all hypotheses must be explored, the head of the World Health Organization said, in his strongest comments yet that the U.N. body remains committed to finding how the virus arose. A U.S. agency was reported by the Wall Street Journal to have assessed the pandemic had likely been caused by an unintended Chinese laboratory leak, raising pressure on the WHO to come up with answers. Beijing denies the assessment. "Understanding #COVID19's origins and exploring all hypotheses remains: a scientific imperative, to help us prevent future outbreaks (and) a moral imperative, for the sake of the millions of people who died and those who live with #LongCOVID," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter late on Saturday. He was writing to mark three years since the WHO first used the word "pandemic" to describe the global outbreak of COVID-19. Activists, politicians and academics said in an open letter this weekend that the focus of the anniversary should be on preventing a repeat of the unequal COVID-19 vaccine rollout, saying this led to at least 1.3 million preventable deaths. In 2021, a WHO-led team spent weeks in and around Wuhan, China where the first human cases were reported and said in a joint report that the virus had probably been transmitted from bats to humans through another animal but further research was needed. China has said no more visits are needed. Since then, the WHO has set up a scientific advisory group on dangerous pathogens but it has not yet reached any conclusions on how the pandemic began, saying key pieces of data are missing.

Discovering the origins of COVID-19 is a moral imperative and all hypotheses must be explored, the head of the World Health Organization said, in his strongest comments yet that the U.N. body remains committed to finding how the virus arose.

A U.S. agency was reported by the Wall Street Journal to have assessed the pandemic had likely been caused by an unintended Chinese laboratory leak, raising pressure on the WHO to come up with answers. Beijing denies the assessment.

"Understanding #COVID19's origins and exploring all hypotheses remains: a scientific imperative, to help us prevent future outbreaks (and) a moral imperative, for the sake of the millions of people who died and those who live with #LongCOVID," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter late on Saturday.

He was writing to mark three years since the WHO first used the word "pandemic" to describe the global outbreak of COVID-19.

Activists, politicians and academics said in an open letter this weekend that the focus of the anniversary should be on preventing a repeat of the unequal COVID-19 vaccine rollout, saying this led to at least 1.3 million preventable deaths.

In 2021, a WHO-led team spent weeks in and around Wuhan, China where the first human cases were reported and said in a joint report that the virus had probably been transmitted from bats to humans through another animal but further research was needed. China has said no more visits are needed.

Since then, the WHO has set up a scientific advisory group on dangerous pathogens but it has not yet reached any conclusions on how the pandemic began, saying key pieces of data are missing.
Four crew members aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule splashed down off Florida's Gulf coast on Saturday, returning safely from a five-month science mission on the International Space Station. The SpaceX capsule, dubbed Endurance, parachuted into waters off the coast of Tampa just after 9 p.m. EST (0200 GMT) carrying two NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and one Russian cosmonaut after a roughly nine-hour flight from the orbital research lab, a NASA-SpaceX webcast showed. The Crew-5 team launched from Florida on Oct. 6 to conduct routine science aboard the station. It included cosmonaut Anna Kikina, 38, who became the first Russian to fly on an American spacecraft in 20 years, and NASA flight commander Nicole Aunapu Mann, 45, the first Native American woman sent into orbit. NASA pilot Josh Cassada, 49, and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, 59, a veteran of four previous spaceflights, were also aboard. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, a gumdrop-shaped pod designed to launch atop SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets, undocked from the space station early on Saturday morning and re-entered Earth's atmosphere around 8:11 p.m. EST (0111 GMT Sunday), enduring frictional heat that sent temperatures outside the capsule soaring to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,930 degrees Celsius). Two sets of parachutes deployed to brake the capsule's descent to 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers per hour) just before splashdown. The mission was SpaceX's sixth crewed flight for NASA since its Crew Dragon spacecraft first flew humans in May 2020, when it restored crewed launches from American soil after nearly a decade of U.S. dependence on Russia's Soyuz program for space station flights. Kikina, the only woman in Russia's cosmonaut corps, was the first Russian to fly on an American spacecraft under a renewed agreement signed in 2022 between NASA and Russia's space agency to conduct joint flights. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, currently on the station, launched there on a Soyuz rocket in September.

Four crew members aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule splashed down off Florida's Gulf coast on Saturday, returning safely from a five-month science mission on the International Space Station.

The SpaceX capsule, dubbed Endurance, parachuted into waters off the coast of Tampa just after 9 p.m. EST (0200 GMT) carrying two NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut and one Russian cosmonaut after a roughly nine-hour flight from the orbital research lab, a NASA-SpaceX webcast showed.

The Crew-5 team launched from Florida on Oct. 6 to conduct routine science aboard the station. It included cosmonaut Anna Kikina, 38, who became the first Russian to fly on an American spacecraft in 20 years, and NASA flight commander Nicole Aunapu Mann, 45, the first Native American woman sent into orbit.

NASA pilot Josh Cassada, 49, and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, 59, a veteran of four previous spaceflights, were also aboard.

The Crew Dragon spacecraft, a gumdrop-shaped pod designed to launch atop SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets, undocked from the space station early on Saturday morning and re-entered Earth's atmosphere around 8:11 p.m. EST (0111 GMT Sunday), enduring frictional heat that sent temperatures outside the capsule soaring to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,930 degrees Celsius).

Two sets of parachutes deployed to brake the capsule's descent to 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers per hour) just before splashdown.

The mission was SpaceX's sixth crewed flight for NASA since its Crew Dragon spacecraft first flew humans in May 2020, when it restored crewed launches from American soil after nearly a decade of U.S. dependence on Russia's Soyuz program for space station flights.

Kikina, the only woman in Russia's cosmonaut corps, was the first Russian to fly on an American spacecraft under a renewed agreement signed in 2022 between NASA and Russia's space agency to conduct joint flights.

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, currently on the station, launched there on a Soyuz rocket in September.
They may be derided elsewhere but in Denmark, hobby archaeologists who hunt treasures with metal detectors are such an asset the National Museum has dedicated an entire exhibit to their finds. "What they save now means the world for what we can do in the future and how we can build our museums," exhibit curator Line Bjerg told AFP. "What they do really matters." In Denmark's muddy soil, if objects "are not saved, then they are lost to history", she added. In three rooms on the museum's bottom floor, visitors can learn about "detectorists" and admire some of their discoveries, including rings, necklaces and gold coins, all marked with the name of their finder. In the Scandinavian country once populated by Vikings, amateurs can use metal detectors almost everywhere as long as they get permission from the landowner. They are not, however, allowed to dig beneath the top layer of soil. Any archaeological finds have to be turned over to a local museum for an initial evaluation before they are transferred to the National Museum for an in-depth assessment -- and a possible reward. Detectorists' hauls can be abundant. "Last year, we had almost 18,000 objects that were sent for treasure trove processing. The year before that it was 30,000 objects," Bjerg said. Known as "Danefae", any archaeological artefacts found by treasure hunters automatically belong to the state, under an old medieval law. According to Torben Trier Christiansen, an archaeologist with the Historical Museum of Northern Jutland, the collaboration with the hobbyists is invaluable. They are "one of the most important collaborators of the museum", he insisted. There are more than 250 detectorists in his region, with the most active among them handing over around a hundred objects per year. Arne Hertz, a 64-year-old pensioner who heads a local association of detectorists, said "people are pleased to do the right thing by handing over the findings". Writing history together The unique collaboration is based on a mutual understanding. On the one hand, archaeological sites won't be looted. On the other, authorities are able to showcase the amateur discoveries. "Sometimes it's these particular finds that change our history because they add knowledge that we simply did not have before," Bjerg noted. One section of the biggest exhibition room is dedicated to the "Vindelev Treasure". Comprised of 22 gold objects, it was buried in the sixth century in southwestern Denmark and found in late 2020 by an amateur who had just bought a metal detector. The treasure trove includes a bracteate -- a thin coin stamped on one side. "And on the inscription of the bracteate is mentioned the name of Odin, the Norse god. And it puts Odin 150 years before we actually knew that he existed as a god," Bjerg said. "We're building our history together in Denmark." For detectorists, whose finds have on occasion been displayed at local museums, the exhibit at the National Museum is a major recognition. "It's very impressive to see how the things we've found are displayed -- and to see that we are actually helping a little to enrich Denmark's history," 38-year-old Simon Grevang, who works in online marketing and has been a detectorist for four years, told AFP. The exhibit has drawn crowds since opening in February. Annie Lund, a 72-year-old retiree who was enthralled by the jewellery on display, said it was a good way of making history accessible. "Twenty or forty years ago, this was only for a small group of people, scientists... not for the general public. So I think this is really good," she said.

They may be derided elsewhere but in Denmark, hobby archaeologists who hunt treasures with metal detectors are such an asset the National Museum has dedicated an entire exhibit to their finds.

"What they save now means the world for what we can do in the future and how we can build our museums," exhibit curator Line Bjerg told AFP.

"What they do really matters."

In Denmark's muddy soil, if objects "are not saved, then they are lost to history", she added.

In three rooms on the museum's bottom floor, visitors can learn about "detectorists" and admire some of their discoveries, including rings, necklaces and gold coins, all marked with the name of their finder.

In the Scandinavian country once populated by Vikings, amateurs can use metal detectors almost everywhere as long as they get permission from the landowner. They are not, however, allowed to dig beneath the top layer of soil.

Any archaeological finds have to be turned over to a local museum for an initial evaluation before they are transferred to the National Museum for an in-depth assessment -- and a possible reward.

Detectorists' hauls can be abundant.

"Last year, we had almost 18,000 objects that were sent for treasure trove processing. The year before that it was 30,000 objects," Bjerg said.

Known as "Danefae", any archaeological artefacts found by treasure hunters automatically belong to the state, under an old medieval law.

According to Torben Trier Christiansen, an archaeologist with the Historical Museum of Northern Jutland, the collaboration with the hobbyists is invaluable.

They are "one of the most important collaborators of the museum", he insisted.

There are more than 250 detectorists in his region, with the most active among them handing over around a hundred objects per year.

Arne Hertz, a 64-year-old pensioner who heads a local association of detectorists, said "people are pleased to do the right thing by handing over the findings".

Writing history together

The unique collaboration is based on a mutual understanding. On the one hand, archaeological sites won't be looted. On the other, authorities are able to showcase the amateur discoveries.

"Sometimes it's these particular finds that change our history because they add knowledge that we simply did not have before," Bjerg noted.

One section of the biggest exhibition room is dedicated to the "Vindelev Treasure".

Comprised of 22 gold objects, it was buried in the sixth century in southwestern Denmark and found in late 2020 by an amateur who had just bought a metal detector.

The treasure trove includes a bracteate -- a thin coin stamped on one side.

"And on the inscription of the bracteate is mentioned the name of Odin, the Norse god. And it puts Odin 150 years before we actually knew that he existed as a god," Bjerg said.

"We're building our history together in Denmark."

For detectorists, whose finds have on occasion been displayed at local museums, the exhibit at the National Museum is a major recognition.

"It's very impressive to see how the things we've found are displayed -- and to see that we are actually helping a little to enrich Denmark's history," 38-year-old Simon Grevang, who works in online marketing and has been a detectorist for four years, told AFP.

The exhibit has drawn crowds since opening in February.

Annie Lund, a 72-year-old retiree who was enthralled by the jewellery on display, said it was a good way of making history accessible.

"Twenty or forty years ago, this was only for a small group of people, scientists... not for the general public. So I think this is really good," she said.
Check out the news you should not miss today in Vietnam: Politics -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday congratulated Li Qiang on his election as Premier of China. Society -- The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has proposed adding the biometric information, such as iris, ADN, and voice, into chip-based ID cards of citizens with previous convictions to serve the crime prevention and control. -- With the spirit To go far, go together, Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta localities will prioritize the cooperation in sectors that they have strengths, said leaders of these localities at a conference on Saturday. -- Obstacles in the first phase of a tidal flood prevention project with the impact of climate change taken into account, which requires an estimated investment of VND10 trillion (US$422.6 million), in Ho Chi Minh City have been removed. The project will be resumed following the capital disbursement, said municipal vice chairman Bui Xuan Cuong. -- A male teacher and another man in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam have been prosecuted for allegedly raping a seventh-grade student. The teacher had been earlier accused of sexually harassing a fifth-grade student during a private class at his house. -- Nguyen Chien Thang, head of the Enterprises Management Department under the Ministry of Transport, has been named the new head of the Vietnam Register, replacing Dang Viet Ha, who was arrested in January for allegedly receiving bribes. -- Although the southeastern region is the largest economic zone in Vietnam, the investment in its infrastructure is not corresponding to its contributions, heard a seminar on Friday. The southeastern region, including Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, and Tay Ninh Provinces, contributing 30 percent of the countrys gross domestic product and 45 percent of the state budget revenue. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Check out the news you should not miss today in Vietnam:

Politics

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday congratulated Li Qiang on his election as Premier of China.

Society

-- The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has proposed adding the biometric information, such as iris, ADN, and voice, into chip-based ID cards of citizens with previous convictions to serve the crime prevention and control.

-- With the spirit To go far, go together, Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta localities will prioritize the cooperation in sectors that they have strengths, said leaders of these localities at a conference on Saturday.

-- Obstacles in the first phase of a tidal flood prevention project with the impact of climate change taken into account, which requires an estimated investment of VND10 trillion (US$422.6 million), in Ho Chi Minh City have been removed. The project will be resumed following the capital disbursement, said municipal vice chairman Bui Xuan Cuong.

-- A male teacher and another man in Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam have been prosecuted for allegedly raping a seventh-grade student. The teacher had been earlier accused of sexually harassing a fifth-grade student during a private class at his house.

-- Nguyen Chien Thang, head of the Enterprises Management Department under the Ministry of Transport, has been named the new head of the Vietnam Register, replacing Dang Viet Ha, who was arrested in January for allegedly receiving bribes.

-- Although the southeastern region is the largest economic zone in Vietnam, the investment in its infrastructure is not corresponding to its contributions, heard a seminar on Friday. The southeastern region, including Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, and Tay Ninh Provinces, contributing 30 percent of the countrys gross domestic product and 45 percent of the state budget revenue.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Infrastructure facilities and services at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City need improving to attract more foreign investors and travelers in the coming time, the municipal Department of Tourism proposed. The proposal was made at a recent meeting of the municipal Peoples Committee with relevant departments and agencies and the Tan Son Nhat International Airport authority to remove bottlenecks and improve passengers experience, especially during the upcoming summer travel season. Many providers of services at the airport said that the deteriorating infrastructure at the airport and obstacles in policies have hindered the improvement of services there. Vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Bui Xuan Cuong said many foreign investors and overseas Vietnamese have complained about the long waiting time to complete immigration procedures or the overcrowded passenger terminal. Passengers to Noi Bai [International Airport in Hanoi] find it more convenient to go to the toilet, while they have to queue up at Tan Son Nhat International Airport during peak hours, Cuong added. He asked the relevant agencies to review proposals and mobilize resources to improve the service quality at the airport. Of which, it is needed to better ground services, reduce flight delays and cancelations, arrange more spaces for passengers and effectively regulate the flow of passengers. According to Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the municipal Department of Tourism, the department had received many international investors and travel companies complaints about difficulties at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, especially the immigration area. Therefore, Hoa proposed separate lanes for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourists and business-class passengers. Tran Quang Lam, director of the municipal Department of Transport, said check-in counters at the airport should accelerate the procedure completion so that passengers do not have to line up for hours. Lanes for business-class passengers and services for priority customers should be offered. In addition, the immigration procedure completion process needs improving, while conveyor belts should be regulated in a reasonable manner, he said. At the meeting, Nguyen Nam Tien, deputy director of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, said it is hard to upgrade the infrastructure at the airport. For example, fans as well as ventilation and deodorization systems have been installed in restrooms. However, passengers have to still queue up in front of restrooms during rush hours. He marks only five to six points out of a maximum of 10 points to toilets at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Capital is needed to upgrade [infrastructure and services at the airport]. The airport is willing to invest in equipment to improve passengers experience. We have installed larger flight information boards to serve passengers, Tien noted. Speaking at the meeting, Nguyen Quoc Phuong, deputy general director of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which manages and operates 22 local airports, said Tan Son Nhat International Airport is operated at a capacity that exceeds its designed capacity. The airport currently has T1 and T2 passenger terminals with an annual capacity of 28 million passengers but are serving 38 million, even 40 million passengers per year. The ACV will invest heavily in infrastructure and equipment, such as automated boarding gates and 16 new normal boarding gates. The investor of an overpass from the domestic passenger terminal to the TCP parking area remains unknown, Phuong added. At a seminar Easing visa policies, recovering tourism held by Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on Friday, Pham Quoc Hung, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City border gate police, said its hard to arrange lanes for tourist groups and business-class passengers. Even when these lanes are made available, its hardly probable that procedures will be completed more quickly. In reality, 40 police officers are working at the immigration area at Tan Son Nhat International Airport around the clock. The number of passengers passing through the airport increases continuously, by 5 and 16 percent per month on average for passengers entering and getting out of Vietnam, respectively. As a result, passengers have to queue up to complete immigration procedures. Hung attributed the issue to downgraded infrastructure and outdated computers, which have been used since 2015, resulting in the slow information processing. Tan Son Nhat International Airport welcomed nearly 2.3 million international visitors in 2022, accounting for 65.5 percent of the total number of international arrivals to the country. The airport is always overloaded during peak seasons. Photo: Cong Trung / Tuoi Tre Visa policies need improving At the seminar, Duong Anh Duc, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, affirmed that obstacles in visa policies need removing to attract international guests to Vietnam. The visa waiver period of 15 days is too short and should be extended to 30 days to meet the demand of tourists from far markets, Duc added. Moreover, multiple-entry visas should be offered. It is also important to issue e-visas. Dr. Luong Hoai Nam, a member of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, agreed that relaxing visa policies is an urgent solution to attract foreign travelers, thus helping the tourism and aviation sectors recover. The government should consider visa policies as a tool to attract international visitors, Nam suggested. Lodging facilities in Da Nang prepare to welcome back Chinese customers In addition to travel companies, many hotels and resorts in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, have actively worked with their partners in China to prepare for the serving of Chinese guests. The move was made after the northern neighbor added Vietnam to a list of countries where its tour agencies are allowed to organize group tours, beginning on March 15. Nguyen Duc Quynh, general director of Furama Resort Danang, said Chinese travel companies have worked with lodging facilities in Da Nang. In the initial period, Chinese tourists will travel to Vietnam on charter flights. After the number of visitors is stable, air carriers will reopen regular direct air routes between Da Nang and cities in China. Besides South Koreans, Chinese tourists will help boost the tourism development in Da Nang and Hoi An as China is a large traditional source market of these two Vietnamese destinations, Quynh said. Meanwhile, Nguyen Minh Xoang, director of Hai Van Cat International Travel JSC, which specializes in the Chinese market, said first Chinese tourist groups may enter Da Nang in April or May. The resumption of air routes is needed, so travel companies are waiting for the move from airlines of the two countries. According to local enterprises specializing in the Chinese market, there is no obstacles to welcome back Chinese tourists as the central region has been experienced in serving Chinese tourists. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Infrastructure facilities and services at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City need improving to attract more foreign investors and travelers in the coming time, the municipal Department of Tourism proposed.

The proposal was made at a recent meeting of the municipal Peoples Committee with relevant departments and agencies and the Tan Son Nhat International Airport authority to remove bottlenecks and improve passengers experience, especially during the upcoming summer travel season.

Many providers of services at the airport said that the deteriorating infrastructure at the airport and obstacles in policies have hindered the improvement of services there.

Vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Bui Xuan Cuong said many foreign investors and overseas Vietnamese have complained about the long waiting time to complete immigration procedures or the overcrowded passenger terminal.

Passengers to Noi Bai [International Airport in Hanoi] find it more convenient to go to the toilet, while they have to queue up at Tan Son Nhat International Airport during peak hours, Cuong added.

He asked the relevant agencies to review proposals and mobilize resources to improve the service quality at the airport.

Of which, it is needed to better ground services, reduce flight delays and cancelations, arrange more spaces for passengers and effectively regulate the flow of passengers.

According to Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the municipal Department of Tourism, the department had received many international investors and travel companies complaints about difficulties at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, especially the immigration area.

Therefore, Hoa proposed separate lanes for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourists and business-class passengers.

Tran Quang Lam, director of the municipal Department of Transport, said check-in counters at the airport should accelerate the procedure completion so that passengers do not have to line up for hours.

Lanes for business-class passengers and services for priority customers should be offered.

In addition, the immigration procedure completion process needs improving, while conveyor belts should be regulated in a reasonable manner, he said.

At the meeting, Nguyen Nam Tien, deputy director of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, said it is hard to upgrade the infrastructure at the airport.

For example, fans as well as ventilation and deodorization systems have been installed in restrooms. However, passengers have to still queue up in front of restrooms during rush hours.

He marks only five to six points out of a maximum of 10 points to toilets at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Capital is needed to upgrade [infrastructure and services at the airport]. The airport is willing to invest in equipment to improve passengers experience.

We have installed larger flight information boards to serve passengers, Tien noted.

Speaking at the meeting, Nguyen Quoc Phuong, deputy general director of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which manages and operates 22 local airports, said Tan Son Nhat International Airport is operated at a capacity that exceeds its designed capacity.

The airport currently has T1 and T2 passenger terminals with an annual capacity of 28 million passengers but are serving 38 million, even 40 million passengers per year.

The ACV will invest heavily in infrastructure and equipment, such as automated boarding gates and 16 new normal boarding gates.

The investor of an overpass from the domestic passenger terminal to the TCP parking area remains unknown, Phuong added.

At a seminar Easing visa policies, recovering tourism held by Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on Friday, Pham Quoc Hung, deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City border gate police, said its hard to arrange lanes for tourist groups and business-class passengers.

Even when these lanes are made available, its hardly probable that procedures will be completed more quickly.

In reality, 40 police officers are working at the immigration area at Tan Son Nhat International Airport around the clock.

The number of passengers passing through the airport increases continuously, by 5 and 16 percent per month on average for passengers entering and getting out of Vietnam, respectively.

As a result, passengers have to queue up to complete immigration procedures.

Hung attributed the issue to downgraded infrastructure and outdated computers, which have been used since 2015, resulting in the slow information processing.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport welcomed nearly 2.3 million international visitors in 2022, accounting for 65.5 percent of the total number of international arrivals to the country.

The airport is always overloaded during peak seasons. Photo: Cong Trung / Tuoi Tre

Visa policies need improving

At the seminar, Duong Anh Duc, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, affirmed that obstacles in visa policies need removing to attract international guests to Vietnam.

The visa waiver period of 15 days is too short and should be extended to 30 days to meet the demand of tourists from far markets, Duc added.

Moreover, multiple-entry visas should be offered. It is also important to issue e-visas.

Dr. Luong Hoai Nam, a member of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, agreed that relaxing visa policies is an urgent solution to attract foreign travelers, thus helping the tourism and aviation sectors recover.

The government should consider visa policies as a tool to attract international visitors, Nam suggested.

Lodging facilities in Da Nang prepare to welcome back Chinese customers

In addition to travel companies, many hotels and resorts in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, have actively worked with their partners in China to prepare for the serving of Chinese guests.

The move was made after the northern neighbor added Vietnam to a list of countries where its tour agencies are allowed to organize group tours, beginning on March 15.

Nguyen Duc Quynh, general director of Furama Resort Danang, said Chinese travel companies have worked with lodging facilities in Da Nang.

In the initial period, Chinese tourists will travel to Vietnam on charter flights. After the number of visitors is stable, air carriers will reopen regular direct air routes between Da Nang and cities in China.

Besides South Koreans, Chinese tourists will help boost the tourism development in Da Nang and Hoi An as China is a large traditional source market of these two Vietnamese destinations, Quynh said.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Minh Xoang, director of Hai Van Cat International Travel JSC, which specializes in the Chinese market, said first Chinese tourist groups may enter Da Nang in April or May.

The resumption of air routes is needed, so travel companies are waiting for the move from airlines of the two countries.

According to local enterprises specializing in the Chinese market, there is no obstacles to welcome back Chinese tourists as the central region has been experienced in serving Chinese tourists.

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The slow confirmation of incentives for the Southern Petrochemical Complex project in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam has created a high risk of slowing down the execution of the project, which requires an estimated investment of US$5.1 billion. The Ministry of Planning and Investment has written to the Ministry of Finance, asking the latter to deal with the projects financial issues. Long Son Petrochemicals Company Limited, the developer of the project, had earlier sent a report to the two ministries pointing out difficulties in applying preferential tax policies during the execution of the project. In particular, the company proposed maintaining incentives for the project, which is currently 97 percent complete and began operating on a trial basis in January of this year. According to Long Son Petrochemicals, the project is entering its final phase, so the application of preferential policies approved for the project is critical. These preferential policies include an import duty exemption applicable to key materials for production for 30 years from the operation date of the project. In addition, polypropylene, polyethylene, sodium hydroxide, and vinyl clorua monome used in the project are entitled to a three-percent most favored nation import tariff within 10 years from the commercial operation date of the project. Furthermore, the project will also enjoy a 10-percent corporate income tax for three decades from the time it generates revenue as well, as a tax exemption for four years and a tax reduction by half in the next nine years after it reports a taxable income. Long Son Petrochemicals said that that adjustments in the scale, investment, and progress of the project for the 2019-22 period in its investment certificate were approved in 2020. The prime minister also asked the Ministry of Finance to instruct the Peoples Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to review the application of incentives for the project. However, since the approval of adjustments to the investment certificate in April 2020, the revision of preferential policies for the project has yet to be completed. In December 2021, the investor wrote to the Ministry of Finance proposing speeding up the process. Key material imports, which are entitled to a tax exemption, were planned to be shipped to Vietnam last month and the company should confirm the orders one to two months in advance. The company has worked with customs agencies in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to adopt preferential policies but the confirmation of the General Department of Vietnam Customs or the Ministry of Finance is required. However, both agencies have yet to make the confirmation, resulting in the projects slow progress. Therefore, Long Son Petrochemicals proposed the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance quickly draw a conclusion on incentives for the project and guide the implementation of these incentives. The Southern Petrochemical Complex project was kicked off in February 2018 in the Long Son Industrial Park in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. The investment certificate for the project was passed in 2008. After five adjustments, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and Vietnam National Chemical Group withdrew from the project. Thailands Siam Cement Group, the investor of the project, later raised its investment in the project from $3.7 billion to $5.1 billion. The project, once completed, will help reduce petrochemical imports and supply materials for domestic industries. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The slow confirmation of incentives for the Southern Petrochemical Complex project in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam has created a high risk of slowing down the execution of the project, which requires an estimated investment of US$5.1 billion.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has written to the Ministry of Finance, asking the latter to deal with the projects financial issues.

Long Son Petrochemicals Company Limited, the developer of the project, had earlier sent a report to the two ministries pointing out difficulties in applying preferential tax policies during the execution of the project.

In particular, the company proposed maintaining incentives for the project, which is currently 97 percent complete and began operating on a trial basis in January of this year.

According to Long Son Petrochemicals, the project is entering its final phase, so the application of preferential policies approved for the project is critical.

These preferential policies include an import duty exemption applicable to key materials for production for 30 years from the operation date of the project.

In addition, polypropylene, polyethylene, sodium hydroxide, and vinyl clorua monome used in the project are entitled to a three-percent most favored nation import tariff within 10 years from the commercial operation date of the project.

Furthermore, the project will also enjoy a 10-percent corporate income tax for three decades from the time it generates revenue as well, as a tax exemption for four years and a tax reduction by half in the next nine years after it reports a taxable income.

Long Son Petrochemicals said that that adjustments in the scale, investment, and progress of the project for the 2019-22 period in its investment certificate were approved in 2020.

The prime minister also asked the Ministry of Finance to instruct the Peoples Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to review the application of incentives for the project.

However, since the approval of adjustments to the investment certificate in April 2020, the revision of preferential policies for the project has yet to be completed.

In December 2021, the investor wrote to the Ministry of Finance proposing speeding up the process.

Key material imports, which are entitled to a tax exemption, were planned to be shipped to Vietnam last month and the company should confirm the orders one to two months in advance.

The company has worked with customs agencies in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to adopt preferential policies but the confirmation of the General Department of Vietnam Customs or the Ministry of Finance is required.

However, both agencies have yet to make the confirmation, resulting in the projects slow progress.

Therefore, Long Son Petrochemicals proposed the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance quickly draw a conclusion on incentives for the project and guide the implementation of these incentives.

The Southern Petrochemical Complex project was kicked off in February 2018 in the Long Son Industrial Park in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

The investment certificate for the project was passed in 2008. After five adjustments, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and Vietnam National Chemical Group withdrew from the project.

Thailands Siam Cement Group, the investor of the project, later raised its investment in the project from $3.7 billion to $5.1 billion.

The project, once completed, will help reduce petrochemical imports and supply materials for domestic industries.

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The poultry and livestock industry is facing a heightened risk of the spread of animal diseases such as bird flu and African swine fever. Many localities are expected to be hit by these diseases, so they should brace for the worst-case scenario to prevent the widespread to minimize losses on cattle and poultry, a representative of the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development told a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday. According to the department, in 2022, the country reported 1,256 clusters of African swine fever (ASF) in 54 cities and provinces, culling 60,442 infected pigs. As of March 7, Vietnam had detected 68 clusters of ASF in 22 cities and provinces, resulting in over 2,980 pigs slaughtered, dipping by 50 percent, 87.4 percent and 87.95 percent in the number of localities, disease clusters and culled pigs, respectively, from the year-ago period. In spite of lower disease severity, the Department of Animal Health warned of a high risk of the spread of ASF to many localities. The virus is very dangerous to pigs, can stay viable for a long time in the environment and spreads through several complicated ways, while the number of farming households accounts for a large proportion. Furthermore, poor weather conditions weaken the health of cattle and poultry, but increase the spread of disease outbreaks. As for the bird flu, in the year to March 7, the nation had discovered four clusters of the influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (A/H5N1) in four districts of four provinces. About 6,560 infected poultry were killed. Compared to 2022, the number of clusters tumbled 33.3 percent, while the number of culled poultry dipped by 71.3 percent. Nguyen Van Long, head of the Department of Animal Health, said that the risk of the widespread of the bird flu is high due to many flocks of poultry, the large number of small farms and poor veterinary hygiene conditions. Many poultry flocks get unvaccinated, while several bird flu variants such as H5N1, H5N6 and H5N8 survive in many localities, at a high rate of 6 percent. In addition, the skin disease on buffaloes and cows is developing complicatedly, with 14 clusters having been detected in some cities and provinces over the past few days. The provincial and municipal authorities should stay on high alert for animal diseases to promptly take aggressive measures in the fight against these diseases in line with the Law on Veterinary, and launch vaccination drives for cattle and poultry. Moreover, the provinces and cities should improve biosafety in production and build disease-free farming areas, said Long. A representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the ministry would propose the prime minister allow drafting a decree on special mechanisms and policies for animal disease control and prevention. The farming industry is following the governments Decree 02/2017, but it is tough and complicated to amend and supplement the decree due to its involvement in many other fields. Earlier on February 26, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien issued an urgent telegraph asking provinces and cities to take more drastic measures to prevent the spread of A/H5N1. The provinces and cities were told to quickly check and monitor animal farms, and tighten control over illegal transport of animals to Vietnam. The nations neighbor, Cambodia, has detected a human fatality of A/H5N1, the local media reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The poultry and livestock industry is facing a heightened risk of the spread of animal diseases such as bird flu and African swine fever.

Many localities are expected to be hit by these diseases, so they should brace for the worst-case scenario to prevent the widespread to minimize losses on cattle and poultry, a representative of the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development told a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.

According to the department, in 2022, the country reported 1,256 clusters of African swine fever (ASF) in 54 cities and provinces, culling 60,442 infected pigs.

As of March 7, Vietnam had detected 68 clusters of ASF in 22 cities and provinces, resulting in over 2,980 pigs slaughtered, dipping by 50 percent, 87.4 percent and 87.95 percent in the number of localities, disease clusters and culled pigs, respectively, from the year-ago period.

In spite of lower disease severity, the Department of Animal Health warned of a high risk of the spread of ASF to many localities.

The virus is very dangerous to pigs, can stay viable for a long time in the environment and spreads through several complicated ways, while the number of farming households accounts for a large proportion.

Furthermore, poor weather conditions weaken the health of cattle and poultry, but increase the spread of disease outbreaks.

As for the bird flu, in the year to March 7, the nation had discovered four clusters of the influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (A/H5N1) in four districts of four provinces.

About 6,560 infected poultry were killed. Compared to 2022, the number of clusters tumbled 33.3 percent, while the number of culled poultry dipped by 71.3 percent.

Nguyen Van Long, head of the Department of Animal Health, said that the risk of the widespread of the bird flu is high due to many flocks of poultry, the large number of small farms and poor veterinary hygiene conditions.

Many poultry flocks get unvaccinated, while several bird flu variants such as H5N1, H5N6 and H5N8 survive in many localities, at a high rate of 6 percent.

In addition, the skin disease on buffaloes and cows is developing complicatedly, with 14 clusters having been detected in some cities and provinces over the past few days.

The provincial and municipal authorities should stay on high alert for animal diseases to promptly take aggressive measures in the fight against these diseases in line with the Law on Veterinary, and launch vaccination drives for cattle and poultry.

Moreover, the provinces and cities should improve biosafety in production and build disease-free farming areas, said Long.

A representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the ministry would propose the prime minister allow drafting a decree on special mechanisms and policies for animal disease control and prevention.

The farming industry is following the governments Decree 02/2017, but it is tough and complicated to amend and supplement the decree due to its involvement in many other fields.

Earlier on February 26, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien issued an urgent telegraph asking provinces and cities to take more drastic measures to prevent the spread of A/H5N1.

The provinces and cities were told to quickly check and monitor animal farms, and tighten control over illegal transport of animals to Vietnam.

The nations neighbor, Cambodia, has detected a human fatality of A/H5N1, the local media reported.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Looking at last weeks ratings, Nine leads Reality, Seven leads News and ABC leads Scripted content.

Married at First Sight again snared the top 4 positions of the week giving Nine another unbeatable week.

Network:

Nine: 31.8

Seven: 25.1

ABC: 18.4

10: 16.3

SBS: 8.4

Primary channel:

Nine: 24.4

Seven: 17.4

ABC: 14.0

10: 10.2

SBS: 3.9

Multichannels:

7TWO: 3.2

10 Peach: 2.8

10 Bold: 2.5

9GO! / 9GEM / ABC Kids TV Plus: 2.2

SBS VICELAND: 1.8

ABC News: 1.7

9Life: 1.6

SBS World Movies: 1.5

7flix / 9RUSH: 1.3

SBS Food: 1.0

7Bravo / 10 Shake: 0.8

ABC ME: 0.4

NITV: 0.2

SBS World Watch: 0.0

Nine topped the demos 16-39 and 25-54.

Nine led from Sunday  Friday, while Seven scooped up Saturday. ABC bettered 10 on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday.

Nine claimed victory in all cities except Perth, forever loyal to Seven.

Best brands last week were:

Nine: Married at First Sight (Sun: 990,000), Nine News (Sun: 797,000), A Current Affair (548,000 across the network) and 60 Minutes (462,000).

Seven: Seven News (Sun: 808,000), Home & Away (465,000), The Chase (460,000) and Australian Idol (Mon: 457,000).

ABC: ABC News (Sun: 630,000), Vera (608,000), Death in Paradise (569,000) and Hard Quiz (516,000).

10: Australian Survivor (Mon: 540,000), Gogglebox (403,000), The Dog House (326,000) and Taskmaster (306,000).

SBS: Ancient Egypt by Train (133,000), SBS World News (122,000), The Worlds Most Beautiful Landscapes (107,000) and Adrian Dunbars Coastal Ireland (103,000).

Infogram supplied by Nine:
Humiliation: England were torn apart by France in their heaviest-ever home loss at Twickenham (Getty Images)

England arrived for Steve Borthwicks first acid test against France and left wishing they could hide all the litmus paper.

England suffered their heaviest-ever Twickenham defeat, had to spend almost 20 minutes with a forward in the centres  and lost any shred of stability in new boss Borthwicks nascent tenure.

The boos would have been deafening on the final whistle of this 53-10 hammering, but by that time the ground was already half-empty.

The corridors of RFU power will be a lonely place this week. Chief executive Bill Sweeney carries the can for Englands current predicament, whoever recommended Eddie Jones sacking.

Damian Penaud ran in two tries in three minutes in the dying embers to snuff out every England flame. Thibaud Flament crossed twice, so did Charles Ollivon and the excellent Thomas Ramos claimed a try to boot.

Man of the match Thomas Ramos got rampant France off to the best possible start (Action Images via Reuters)

Freddie Steward claimed Englands sole score on a day that must leave no one in any doubt  even on their best day, England are average. Drop below that, and against quality opposition, they are exposed.

France had never before beaten England by more than eight points at Twickenham, and this was just their 12th win on English soil and a first since 2007. The stellar triumph eclipsed Englands previous Twickenham nadir of the 42-6 loss to South Africa in 2008.

At times Antoine Dupont was playing a whole different ball game from England. The staggeringly good scrum-half skinned Maro Itoje at the base of one ruck, then fired in a 50:22 kick from the next.

In stark contrast, just minutes later, Jack van Poortvliet tried to set up a caterpillar ruck to clear only for France to disrupt and his box-kick fall flat. France prop Cyril Baille had been screaming use it, use it! at the Leicester half-back, almost offended by the home malaise.

The moment Gael Fickou broke around a ruck and picked the loose ball from under Englands nose, a day to forget was set in motion. France were away before England had quite realised what was up, Flament and Ethan Dumortier cut loose and Ramos powered in at the corner.

Story continues

England could not deal with the marauding French lock Thibaud Flament all evening (Action Images via Reuters)

Ramos banged over the conversion and a quick penalty to stop England recovering, before the hosts bungled two quick and wasted trips to Frances 22. The peerless Dupont dummied around Itojes attempted charge-down as though the Saracens talisman was not even there, then just moments later boomed a 50:22 punt into the corner.

France won the lineout and Flament powered home all too easily. If the finish was soft defence from England, the tee-up was world-class from Toulouses magical scrum-half Dupont. Marcus Smith and Ramos traded penalties as England finally troubled the scorers, but the hosts kept going backwards.

Jack Willis produced a rare charge-down on Dupont, and the loose ball fell kindly to England on the France 22. And yet, Borthwicks men still failed to capitalise. Gregory Alldritt pulled off perhaps the finest of a string of France turnovers in a chastening half for England, and so the visitors stormed away again.

France still found time to run in a third score before the break, Alldritt powering off a scrum before Ollivon stepped the cover to slide across the whitewash. Frances 27-3 lead required no embellishment in Englands half-time team talk.

Max Malins was unlucky to knock on across the tryline in attempting to score from Smiths cross-field kick to open the second half. England returned with renewed intensity, and quickly had their first try  but not before Owen Farrell and Alex Mitchell stepped into the contest.

Freddie Stewards try was the only highlight of a wretched 80 minutes for England (Action Images via Reuters)

Steward ran straight over the top of Ramos to finish a fluent England attack, by which time Farrell had replaced Henry Slade, and Mitchell had stepped in for Van Poortvliet.

Mitchell was on to give England more pace, Farrell more shape. Both elements improved, only for France to come again. When Dupont dinked over the top from a ruck deep in Englands 22, France had their fourth and bonus-point try.

Steward was blocked by team-mate Ollie Lawrence, allowing the chip to bounce  and Romain Ntamack flicked the ball back for Flament to canter home. France's fifth try came straightaway, Ramos cut loose all too easily before punting deep into the England 22.

Smith recovered for England but was dragged right to the line by Dupont. Somehow France stole the ball at the ruck and Ollivon bundled in.

An injury to Lawrence deepened Englands crisis still further, forcing the hosts to put a forward into their backline with all their wide recruits already in action.

Damian Penauds late quick-fire brace rubbed further salt into the wound for England (REUTERS)

Alex Dombrandt was forced into midfield as a makeshift outside centre, with Englands disarray at a new low. England threw everything they had left at France, with absolutely nothing to lose.

France picked them off quickly, with Penaud coasting home for two tries in three minutes. Borthwick had mercy on Dombrandt, sending David Ribbans on instead.

England flailed and failed at a last-gasp response, before being booed off. The home support would rightly defy anyone in the Red Rose set-up to argue with that assessment.